(Formerly #86289) November 95, 1988 Rev. ll1/28/88 Rev. 12/ 7/88 Rev. 12/ 8/88 QUANTUM LEAP Written by Donald P. Bellisario

Rev. 12/8/€8 PLEASE NOTE: THE PART OF HANK STRATTON IS NOW TOM STRATTON

12/8788 QUANTUM LEAP SAM EBICKETT/TOM STRATTON/TIM FOX THE OBSERVER PEG STRATTON MIKEY STRATTON BILL "BIRD LCOG" JEANIE DR. BURGER DR. ERNST (WEIRD ERNIE) CAPTAIN TONY LA MOTT SALLY Lucy CAPTAIN DOUG WALKER LUCY’S LITTLE GIRL DR. BLAUSTEIN SALLY'’S LITTLE GIRL INTERIOPRS: eSTRATTON HOUSE EEDROOM KITCHEN EATHROCM LIVING ROOM BACKYARD B-50 COCKPIT BEOME BAY COCKPIT X-2 COCKPIT T-EIRD CHEVY EDWARDS AFE HANGAR/OFFICE/BRIEFING ROOM HOSPITAL/CORRIDOR HOSPITAL ROOM CHASE PLANE COCKPIT EASEEALL PARK ROOM . BIRDELL OLD MAN MATT POP ‘JACK’ (FOX TERRIER) CLYDE PEPPER DOUG IBOLD UMPIRE BAT BOY JOHN BECKETT (DAD) YOUNG SAM TOM STRATTON TIM FOX BARNES EXTERIORS: EDWARDS AFEB STRATTON HOUSE TARMAC BASE HOUSING ROADHOUSE INN MOJAVE DESERT HIGHWAY MUROC DRY LAKE MOUNTAIN TROUT STRIAM MOUNTAIN BRUSH TEXAS BASEBALL PARK THIRD BASE BLEACHERS DUGOUT VEHICIES: ‘56 T-BIRD CHEVY JEEPS TRAILERS MINIATURES B-50

¥83549 Rev. 12/7 QUANTUM LEAP ACT ONE FADE IN EXT. CLOUDS - DAWN - AERIAL UNIT We are rushing through their tops at incredible speed. Wisps of vapor, rose-tipped by the rising sun, tear past as we accelerate faster and faster and faster until the clouds warp into a surrealistic stream of dawning colors. It seems we’re about to enter another dimensicn when we abruptly snap roll and plunge straight down into the streaming clouds. Our world goes gray for a moment, then a new vision bursts upon us as we spin out of the clouds over a vast desert. The spinning slows, but we continue to plummet toward a steadily growing patch of white. It becomes a great dry lake with a cluster of structures to one side. Then, with fr;ghtenzng the rushes up at us. The last image we have is of a small house with a red swing set, barbecue and triple clothes line in the back yard. The last sound we hear is a terrifying boom. CUT TO INT. BEDROOM - DAWN - CLOSE ON SAM He is a young man of pleasant features with an overright stubble and sleep-tousled hair. His eyes pop open as the boon echoes away. SAM’S VOICE When startled to consciousness, the human mind takes a few moments to orient, especially in strange surroundings. It‘s a temporary dysfunction, instantly rectified by the sight of a familiar object. Eis eyes focus. SAM’S POV - CLOCK RADIO It’s an electron tube model with rolodex card numbers. A card flips from 4:59 to 5:00 a.m. and the radio turns on. CONTINUED

486289 2 CONTINUED As the tubes warm up so does the sound of Elvis singing "Heartbreak Hotel". BACK ON SaM He lifts his head and looks around the small room. A pair of yellow curtains and a colorful Mondrian print brighten the otherwise drab cream walls. In addition to the bleached mahogany bed, there’s a matching dresser with mirror and a blue USAF trunk. SAM’S VOICE When nothing’s familiar. You’re either still dreaming or in big trouble. Sam closes his eyes for a beat, then opens thenm again. No improvement. SAM Oh, boy. Someone stirs in the bed beside him and he leaps out onto the tile floor as if he had been electrically shocked. ON PEG A poodle-cut blonde in baby doll pajamas, she sits up slowly on the edge of the bed with her back to us. PEG I’'l1l put the coffee on, Hank. SAM’S VOICE . I didn‘t know where I was. But I knew my name wasn’t Hank and that I’'d never seen this woman before 1in my life. Peg stands and turns. She is young, pretty and 6 montihs pregnant. She waddles past Sam, kissing him on the cheex with her eyes still half-closed from sleep. We hcld on h:s stunned expression. DISSOLVE TO INT. KITCHEN - DAY - CLOSE ON A TOASTER Like the clock radio, it‘s from the fifties. The toast pops up anc as Feg removes 1t we....

#86289 3 WIDEN tc reveal a tiny kitchen built during tre Seccnd w ar i ar.. INT. still using the same appliances. Peg is frying sausage on a small gas range. PEG (calling) ) Come on, Hank. Bird Dog will be picking you up in ten minutes. BATHROOM - DAY - CLOSE ON HANK He is sitting on the teoilet in his skivy shorts sti wide-eyed with fear. SAM’S VOICE I was obviously hallucinating. Something I’d eaten last night. Only I couldn’t remember what I’d eaten. Or where I’d eaten. (beat) Hell, let’s face it, I remember last night! PEG’S VOICE Hank, the PX was out of your shaving cream so I got some cf that....what do you call it? The one with those cute little signs along the highway. Sam looks up at the cabinet, then stands and cpens :it. It is filled with products cf Burma Shave. S POV - MEDICINE CABINET BACK ON SAM He slowly reaches in and removes the Burma Shave. opens and Peg leans in, popping a piece of sausace Sam’ Sam s mouth. PEG That’s it. Burma Shave. I love those little sigrs. (looking at him) You haven’t showered. watches her turn on the shower. CONTINUED from the ’50s including a car ar

10 11 486289 4 CONTINUED PEG in there. obedientiy steps intc the shower, still holding the Burma Shave and wearing his skivies. Peg bursts out laughing. PEG Hank....sometimes. She closes the door. CLOSE ON SAM The water is pouring over his stunned face. SAM’S VOICE Maybe hallucinating isn’t the answer. The water feels real. And so does the can of Burma Shave even if it hasn’t been sold in thirty years. Sam pours some Burma Shave on his hand, smells it, then slathers it on his face. He turns in the open shower to look at himself in the medicine cabinet mirror. ON THE MIRROR (=] n [+ The lathered face staring back at him isn‘t his. stranger. ON SAaM n He yelps and leaps back in horror. The docr opens and rushes 1in. PEG (alarmed) What’s wrong? Sam is staring, wide-eyed at the mirror. SAM Who do you see in the mirror? PEG oh, God, Hank. Cut it out. You nearly scared me into delivering! CONTINUED

13 786289 S CONTINUT®D SAM Who do you see in the mirror? Peg looks in the mirror, then back to him. PEG You. SAM Me? PEG And me. (looking at herself) I look awful. Most women bloom when they get pregnant. I shrivel. Sam continues to stare at the strange face in the mirror mimicking every move and motion he makes. 1It’s eerie. PEG I’'ve been mixing that cactus juice Sally gave me for burns with my cold cream, but I don’t know if it’s doing any good. (beat) God, Hank, I loock like a prune. SaM My name’s not Hank. PEG You’re supposed to say, "Peg, I love prunes." What do you mean your name’s not Hank? . MIKEY’S VOICE (calling) An 8-year old boy, wearing Davy Crockett pajamas a si:ce O small for him, sticks his head into the crowded bathroom. MIKEY (continuing) Captain Birdell’s on the phone. Sam blinks at this latest unfamiliar face. Peg looks at his obvious confusion with growing concern. CONTINUED

13 #86289 6 CONTINUED (2) PEG Hank, are you sick (beat) You’re not going to fly if sick, are you? Fly? PEG Mikey, tell Captain Birdell, Daddy will call him when he gets out of the shower. MIKEY (leaving) Roger. PEG (loudly) (to Sam) ....he never sleeps at the B.0.Q. SAM (suddenly) Five-five-five...two-two-three-one! PEG Huh? Sam doesn’t try to explain, he rushes past a bewildered Pecg and out the door. INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Mikey is picking up the receiver of a rotary dial phone as Sam rushes in and grabs it from him. He frantically the cradle until he gets a dial tone, then begins cialing. Mikey loocks tec his mother for an explanation as she waddles up holding her stomach. SAM (dialing) Five-five-five....two-two-three-one. PEG What are you up to? SAM I'm calling my coffice.

14 #86289 7 CONTINUED ‘fhe phone gnes crazy with a mis-dial. Sam slams receiver 'n on the cradle, picks it up and starts re-dial. T.= rotary system is slow and frustrating. PEG It’s Blockfield eight-four-seven. Sam gets another mis-dial signal. SAM What the hell’s with the phone! PEG You’re dialing too many numbers. SAM Too many? (1dea) Maybe not enough. What’s the area code? PEG Area code? MIKEY You never tell us codes, Dad, that'’s secret stuff. SAM Sec—et? What the hell is secret 2 3 PEG Hank, are you testing one of your gags on us? Cause, Honey, I don’‘t have time for it. And neither do you. Peg turns back to the stove to serve breakfast. Mikey at the table and starts to drink his milk, but his eves never leave his father. Bew.ldered, Sam looks down at phone. SAM’S POV - PHONE DIAL The number is simply Blockfield 343.

16 17 19 20 #83549 8 Rev. CLOSE ON SAM He looks back up Peg in her baby dolls, Mikey in his Crockett pajamas then around the room at the and chreme dining roem table, swag lamp and black and whizs TV set. He hears Doris Day singing "Que Sera, Sera" over the bedroom radio and what he begins to realize scares the shit out of him. cUT TO EXT. THE SMALL HOUSE - DAY With water dripping from his skivy shorts and his face lathered in Burma Shave, Sam slowly walks out cf the house. SAM’S POV - THE STREET A dozen identical flat roofed houses with TV antennas, evaporative coolers and heating cil tanks line the gravel road. There’s a ’'55 Chevrolet sedan in his carport and similar GM or Ford models in his neighbors’. A mile away the air base with its small tower and hangars abuts the vast dry lake and beyond that are the purple mountains. A jet whistles overhead. SAM’S POV - 8 - The Korean war vintage fighter eases down toward the runway on the lake bed. MOVING IN CLOSE ON SAM’S FACE He searches his mind for a rational explanation te this Twilight Zone and can find none. SAM’S VOICE heard somewhere that shrinks ask three guestions to check your sanity. VYour name. The name of the President. And the date. (beat) I had a feeling I‘d flunk all three. DISSOLVE TO EXT. DESERT - DAY - ON A ‘56 THUNDERBIRD Driving through the middle cf nowhere as the Platters sing "The Great Pretender" cover the radio.

22 483549 9 Rev. INT. ‘56 T-BIRD - DAY - CLOSE ON SAM He’s wearing Air Force %tans captain’s bars, aviatsr sunglasses and barrack’s cep. From the bits of tissue paper adhering to his face, he had a nervous shave. SAM’S VOICE I have a new theory. (beat) I’ve been given a post-hypnotic suggestion. When I woke up <lLis morning I was supposed to think it was nineteen fifty six and that I was an Air Force captain named Hank Stratton with a wife called Peg and one and two-thirds children. (beat) All I have to do to keep my sanity is play along until the yoyo who hypnotized me snaps his fingers. Fingers reach in and snap next to Sam’s ear, startling hi-. WIDER The snapping fingers belong to the driver, Captain Bill "Bird Dog" Birdell. He points to a cute girl in short shorts exiting a car parked in front of "The Ranch," a roadhouse and motel whére the pilots hang out. BIRD DOG {Texas accent) Hey. Hey. Look at this, Pard. (squinting) And I don‘t see no wedding ring. EXT. MOVING WITH THE GIRL - DAY as Bird dog pulls off the road and up to her. BIRD DOG Morning, Sweet Pea. &allow me to introduce myself. 1I’'m Captain Bill Birdell and my facially wounded friend here is Captain Hank Stratton. (beat) . You may have heard of us. We’re the only two pilots 1n the entire United States Air Force brave enough to fly the X-2. . CONTINUED

2 wm 4 #86289 10 CONTINUED JEANIE What about LaMott? BIRD DOG (sadly) Oh, Lord, don’t tell me you have been led astray by that junior birdman. Captain LaMott may have a complicated wristwatch but he is not anywhere close to being otherwise test pilot equipped. Jeanie’s laughter is all the encouragement Bird Dog needs. . BIRD DOG This being Friday I assume you‘re at the Ranch as his weekend guest. JEANIE (coyly) Well....I’m staying at the Ranch. Bird Dog breaks into a big infectious grin and Jeanie loves it. BIRD DOG Then expect a dance tonight. And the sonic booms you hear today will be dedicated to you. Bird Dog winks and hite the gas, leaving Jeanie S ~eanie at the bullshit, but also glowing with ant1c1pat orn. INT. THUNDEREBIRD - DAY Driving away, Bird Dog watches Jeanie in his side-view mirrcr as Sam nervously eyes him. SAM Oonly two guys brave enough to fly the X-27? BIRD DOG Gotta impress the ladies, Pard, if you wanna score. ) (grins) Besides, it‘s true. SAM (cautiously) What if I told you I fly? CONTINUED '

25 26 26A #83549 CONTINUED 11 Rev. BIRD DOG You sick? SAM No. But, when I woke up this morning I....I couldn’t remember how to fly. Bird Dog squints at him for a moment, then grins. OMITTED BIRD DOG I like it. so crazy, I like it. (beat) Who we gcnna pull it on? SAM It’s not a joke. BIRD DOG You sound like you mean it. SAM) (sincere) I do. BIRD DOG (admiringly) Damn, Hank, that’s what makes you the best. That sincere look. 1If I could lie with a straight face like ycurs my pocntang rate would (idea) Hey, what say we pull it on Weird rnie. cuT TO EXT. ON THE T-BIRD - DAY - 2ND UNIT In the distance we can see the hangars of as the convertible speeds toward them. SAM’S VOICE Weird Ernie? CUT TO o™

#83549 12 26B INT. HANGAR BRIEFING ROOM - DAY Dr. Ernst, the test pilots have nicknamed Weirz E-nie. stands before a chalked blackboard precfiling the ni ssicr, using his slide-rule as a pointer. Bird Dog is sprawl e~ in an old lounge chair with Sam standing behind him. The other pilots, technicians and the flight surgeon are seatec on a mismatched collection of chairs or standing along the walls. Through the windows ground personnel can be seen pushing one of the needle-nosed X-2s out of the hangar. Next to Sam is a strange little technician in his mig- forties with disheveled hair and an impish face. Dressed in a smock with a black tuxedo bow-tie, we will come tc know him as the Observer. WEIRD ERNIE We believe the fire-warning light Captain Birdell got at the speed of Mach two-six was caused by inadequate insulation. (beat) We’ve re-wired the system and expect no further problems. TONY Hey, Dr. Ernst. What‘s all this ' ‘we’ stuff? going to be up there with me? WEIRD ERNIE I wish I could Captaln LaMott. I truly wish I could. But as ycu know. '™ weird Ernie raps his knuckles against a scar on his skul and we hear a metallic clank. WEIRD ERNIE (continuing) ..my war wounds physlcally dlsquallfy me. (beat) If you should get a red light around Mach two-six, shut down until the chase plane can catch up and lecok you over for visible signs of fire. BIRD DOG A fella could be barbecued doing that. You get a fire light, I‘d recommend punching out, Tony.

26B 26C #83549 122 CONTINUED WEIRD ERNIE You didn’t eject. BIRD DOG Yeah. But I’m a damn hero. ANOTHER ANGLE As the pilots laugh, the little technician turns to OBSERVER I like this guy. He reminds me of me in the old days. CONTINUED Rev. sam. (54 m n ~ (B8]

26C 13 CONTINUED Sam doesn’t know guite how to respond andé just cives a small, agreeing smile. WEIRD ERNIE If there are no further guestions.... BIRD DOG Ah, Dr. Errest. 1I’ve got one. It’'s something been meaning to ask you, but it’s going to sound a little weird. WEIRD ERNIE (leery) Yes? BIRD DOG Could there be something at the edge of that Mach three envelope affecting our minds? WEIRD ERNIE Affecting your minds? How? BIRD DOG Doctor, the faster I fly the less I remember about - DOUG Hey. experienced that. I'm starting to forget things, like my wife’s barthday. I never Sally’s birthday until I flew at Mach two-five. TONY . The last time I busted Mach twc I forgot where I parked my car. WEIRD ERNIE Fascinating. (beat) Doctor Burger could you design a test to quantify these apparent memory losses? CONTINUED rRev.

26C 27 28 29 30 #83549 14 Rev. CONTINUED (2) DR. BURGER , I should be able to come up with something. WEIRD ERNIE ] Good. This is a most interesting development. Thank you, gentlemen. (beat) Now. Let’s mount up. OMITTED CLOSE ON ALL - FEATURE SAM as the meeting breaks up, Bird Dog slaps an arm arcunc Sam. BIRD DOG (gleefully) He swallowed it hook, line and slide rule! Bird Dog moves on and the strange technician passes Sam. OBSERVER Isn’t this a kick in the butt! On Sam’s reacticn, we.... CUT TO EXT. THE STRATTON HOUSE - DAY Over the light desert wind, rustling the dust-covered in the front yard, we hear.... PEG’S VOICE Which thigh has less stretch marks.... INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Peg, wearing only a loose blcuse and underpants, is standing in front of the dining room table where Sally an Lucy, the pregnant wives of two other pilots, sip ccifee and contemplate her legs. CONTINUED e 1 s m

30 32 #86289 15 CONTINUED - - PEG; (continuing) ....the right or the left? SALLY (pointing) Gosh, Peg, I think this one has less. Lucy And they’re not as wide, either. PEG (smiles) That’s the one I’ve been putting my cactus cream on. Lucy Peg, you’re going tc make a fortune. SALLY Starting with me. I’m only five months and my thighs already look like zebra stripes. Peg and Lucy’s laughter is abruptly cut short by the growing roar of a B-50 Superfortress taking cff. The thundering ncise builds, rattling their coffee cups as the B-50 "mother ship" with an X-2 cradled in it’s belly passes overhead. It’s followed a moment later by the whistling whoosn of an chase plane. Both aircraft gradually fade into the distance until the only sound is the ticking of the evaporative cooler fan against the screen. The wives, who have unconsciously been holding their breath, exhale and hide their fear with small, reassuring smiles. CLOSE ON PEG - Her coffee cup rattles slightly in the saucer anc she puts it down. PEG I’'ve got to stop drinking ccffee. It makes me junmpy. CUT TO EXT. HIGH ABOVE THE MOJAVE DESERT =~ DAY - STOCK the west, a few small cumulus clouds are begirning to build over the mountains, precursors of the big thunder pumpers that will top forty thousand by late afterncon.

w w 786289 16 EXT. ON THE B-50 SUPERFORTRESS - STOCK Slowly rising into frame with the X-2 nestled in her followed a moment later by the trailing F-86 chase-plane. . SAM’S VOICE . I’ve got a new theory. Someone 1is pulling an elaborate hoax on me. They'’ve recreated an Air Force base in the fifties and populated it with hundreds of actors. (pause) I know. I don’‘t believe it either. INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY Bird Dog is in the command pilot’s seat with Sam in the co-pilot seat. Tony, in a silver pressure suit, is crouched between the two of them. BIRD DOG (to Tony) When did you go into the import business? TONY (wary) What are you talking about? BIRD DOG That long-legged honey staying at the ranch thls weekend. TONY (to Sam) What’s he do, Hank, smell ’‘em coming? BIRD DOG It’s a natural gift, son. A natural gift, like a bird dog flushing guail. TONY (shaking his head) I gotta mount up. Bird Dog winks at Sam as Tony exits through the narrow passage to the bomb bay. INT. B-50 SUPERFORTRESS BOMB BAY - DAY A couple cf engineers assist Tony into the X-2 cockpit. «

3 w 6 #86289 17 INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY Bir Dog adjusts the slightly and dials in a rew on the radio. Watching him, Sam gets an idea. SAM'’S VOICE You know, maybe my hoax theory isn’t as crazy as 1t sounds. (beat) I mean, I could have been assigned tc fly the X-2 or the chase plane. Instead, here I in a co-pilot’s seat, the only pilot who doesn’t have to actually fly. Bird Dog takes his hands off the yoke and unbuckles his harness. BIRD DOG She’s all yours, Pard. (beat) Take her on up to twenty-five while I answer Mother Nature. Sam gasps in disbelief as the Texan slips out of his harness and disappears aft. CLOSE ON SAM He stares at the yoke wobbling back and forth as we.... FADE OUT w "

38 w \D 40 #86289 18 ACT TWO FADE IN EXT. B-50 AND F-86 - DAY - STOCK The Superfortress continues its climb with the chase plane trailing close astern. Gradually, the right wing begins to drop and the big bomker initiates a gentle turn to the right. INT. F-86 COCKPIT - DAY Flying chase, Captain Doug Walker keys his mike as he after the Superfortress. DOUG Mother Hen. Chase one. 1Is there a change in the flight profile? Over. INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY Sam is sweating blood as he stiffly holds onto the yoke. DOUG’S VOICE over the radio) ..... - N - - Bird Dog, you reading CcUT TO EXT. MUROC DRY LAKE - DAY Outside the radar-equipped trailers, a dozen technic.ans and military personnel are scanning the sky with binoculars. Weird Ernie, seated in a radic jeep, .owers a field phone from the tracking trailer and speaks intc mike. WEIRD ERNIE Mother Hen. Edwards. Radar indicates you are in a forty degree-per-minute turn to the right. (beat) Are you experiencing a problem? CuUT TO

42 43 44 46 736289 13 INT. B-597 COCKPIT - DAY - CLOSE ON SAM happens, then the bi, Superfortress responds as the righz wing lifts and lifts and lifts. He guickly turns tht yoke left. For a moment nething SAM EXT. ON BOTH - DAY - STOCK The Superfortress is now in a steep left bank with the F-36 on its tail. INT. B-50 BOMB BAY - DAY Everyone’s grabbing for hand holds as the bank steepens. EXT. ON BOTH AIRCRAFT - DAY - STOCK The sun glints off their silver fuselages as they turn. DOUG’S VOICE (over the radio) Bird Dog. Hank. Can you read me? Over. INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY Sam is desperately reversing the control yoke tc the Again, there is no response for a few seccnds, then the left wing begins to lift and keeps lifting until the Superfortress enters a steep bankinc to the right. At that moment, Bird Dog slips intc the pilot’s seat and locks his harness. BIRD DOG What’s wrong? ' SAM I can’t fly! Bird Dog grabs the yoke and Sam lets go. It only takes 2 few seccnds for him to wrest the Superfortress back Iintc a steady climb. With the aircraft stable again, he dons his headset and looks to Sam. CLCSE ON BIRD DOG For a moment, he almost believes him.... (o] CONTINU NP "

#86289 20 47 CONTINUED WEIRL ERNIE’S VOICE (over the radio) Mother Hen. Edwards. Do you have a problem! Over! ....then, he shakes his head and grins. BIRD DOG You’re crazier than Weird Ernie. (keys his mike) Edwards. Mother Hen. We must have had a bubble in the hydraulic system cause for a while this bird was flying like a Mack truck. Whatever it was she burped it out. (beat) We’re continuing our climb to twenty-five thousand. Bird Dog clicks off the mike and leans toward Sam. BIRD DOG ‘ Save it for Weird Ernie, Pard. You ain’t never gonna sucker me. SAM Just don’t ask, me to fly. Bird Dog laughs, but there’s doubt creeping into his mind. CUT TO 48 INT. STRATTON HOUSE - DAY Peg is at the dinette table watching a TV soap anc a pair of Mikey'’s pants. As it spin dries, her small, portable washer vibrates across the kitchen floor until it reaches her. Without looking, she shoves it back into the corner with her foot. The washer bangs into the wall, shudders and starts vibrating back across the lincleum. Peg glances nervously at the clock. 49 ON THE CLOCK It’s ticking down to 9:30. BIRD VOICE (over the radio) Edwards. Mother Hen. Level at twenty-five thousand. CUT TO

#86289 21 S0 EXT. MUROC DRY LAKE - DA. ~ ON TEE RADIO JEEP wm Weird Ernie looks up from his watch keys the nmike. WEIRD ERNIE Roger, Mother Hen. VYou are clear to drop. He gently taps his head with a knuckle getting a metallic ring. WEIRD ERNIE (to himself) Good 1luck. CUT TO 51 EXT. B-50 AND F-86 -DAY - STOCK From below the Superfortress looks like some gilant carrying cff its prey. wm [N} INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY Bird Dog is holding it steady at altitude. BIRD DOG (keys his mike) Tony, I’'m tired of hauling your butt around. I’m gonna cut you loose and see which of us gets to that blonde first. TONY’S VOICE (over the radio) Turn around Bird Dog. Bird Dog and Sam both turn and look back into the bemb wm w THEIR POV - X-2 COCKPIT Tony flashes a gloved finger at them. BIRD DOG’S VOICE (over the radio) take that to mean a ’‘roger’ for the drop. Tony laughs and gives a thumbs up.

54 Sé wm ~ wm « 486289 22 SAM Bird Dog turns back forward, but Sam is still looking where something is puzzling him. SAM’S POV - BOMB BAY AND X-2 All the technicians are'strapped into the canvas seats, except one; the strange guy in the smock and bow tie. He’s standing behind the tail where he’ll have a perfect:, but highly precarious view of the drop. CLOSER ON THE OBSERVER The slipstream whips his smock open and he’s actually wearing a tuxedc underneath. He sees Sam and waves. BACK ON saM Not knowing what else to do, he waves back. SAM Is everyone back there okay where they’re at? BIRD DOG (glancing back) Looks fine to me. {turns forward) Two forty indicated. Here we go, ladies. (beat) Drop in ten....nine....eight.... INT. X-2 COCKPIT - DAY Tony makes a last second adjustment of his safety harness and grasps the control stick. BIRD DOG'’S VOICE (over the radio) ....seven....six....five.... EXT. MUROC DRY LAKE - DAY Weird Ernie lifts his binoculars to his eyes. BIRD DOG’S VOICE (over the radio) ....fcur....three....two. m

€0 €2 €3 64 #83549 23 EXT. ON THE SUPERFORTRESS - DAY - STOCK AND Boring straight through the deep blue desar:t BIRD DOG’S VOICE (over the radio) ....0ne. Bombs away! The X-2 drops cleanly from the Superfortress. As scon as Tony is clear, he fires two of the three rockets anrc a stream of flame and white smoke shoots from the tail. The rocket plane accelerates away as if the B-50 and F-36 were standing still. INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY . Both men watch the X-2 emerge from beneath them and clinkt away. BIRD DOG (to himself) Ride her cowboy. EXT. ON THE X-2 - DAY - MINIATURE It streaks for the heavens breaking the sound barrier in a steep climkb. CCT TO INT. STRATTON KITCHEN - DAY Peg is spooning coffee into a double glass percclat the scnic boom rattles the windows. She Jjumps slich then lights the with a match. CUT TO INT. X-2 COCKPIT - DAY continues to climb, monitering his instrument pane.. TONY (into mike) . Fifty thousand. Mach one-three and accelerating. Nosing over. He eases the stick forward. Rev.

€5 66 67 €8 69 #83549 24 Rev. EXT. ON THE X-2 - DAY - MINIATURE Her thrust continues to carry her upward even the nose is coming down. TONY’S VOICE (over the radio) One-eight. One-nine. Mach two. (beat) She’s leveling off. Sixty five six.... INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY No longer able to see the X-2, Bird Dog and bcth stare at the radio. TONY’S VOICE Level at seventy one thousand. Mach two peint four. On profile. (beat) Starting my run. INT. X-2 COCKPIT - DAY Tony eases the stick forward into a shallow dive, then flips the toggle switch firing the third rocket. The sudden acceleration compresses him into his seat. EXT. ON THEE X-2 - DAY - MINIATURE The curvature cf the earth can be clearly seen against the dark blue sky as the rocket plane streaks downwarc. TONY'’S VOICE (over the radio) Mach two five....two six. Outside skin temperature six eight three. (beat) No fire warning light. I guess we beat that gremlin. INT. X-~2 COCKPIT - DAY Concentrating on his controls and instruments, he aware of a sound, like coffee percolating. TONY the mike) Mach two seven. Skin temperature eight hundred. CONTIN (=] C G o

69 70 71 73 783549 25 Rev. CONTINUED He’s listening to the perking sound grow louder, when.... CLOSE ON FIRE WARNING LIGHT It blinks on and a buzzer sounds. BACK ON TCNY He instantly shuts down all three rocket engines and scans his instruments. TONY Fire warning light. Rockets cff. (beat) Everything looks okay. Mach two-four....two-three. I think it’s another false alarm. (beat) Where are you, Dougie? DOUG Five miles behind you at thirty thousand. TONY Roger. Coming back to you for a look see. Bird Dog instantly keys his mike. . BIRD DOG Don’t turn above Mach Two! EXT. ON THE X-2 - DAY - MINIATURE Into the turn, the test plane suddenly flips kettle, gcing divergent on all three axes. INT. X-2 COCKPIT - DAY (8] Despite the harness, Tony is being battered silly the forces. TONY (with great effort) I....lost her!

74 75 76 77 78 30 #86289 26 INT. F-86 CHASE PLANE - DAY Doug spots the spinning plane hurtling toward earch. DOUG Punch out, Tony! Punch out! INT. B-50 COCKPIT - DAY The technicians are in the cockpit behind ther, over their shoulders for some sign of the X-2. CUT TO EXT. MUROC DRY LAKE - DAY Weird Ernie and the others watch the spirnning white dot grow larger and larger. CUT TO INT. STRATTON KITCHEN - DAY - ON COFFEE POT As Peg approaches it with her cup she hears a distant explosion. She drops the cup and runs out. We hold on the fiercely bubbling pot. EXT. BASE HOUSING - DAY All along the street wives are gathering in small clusters cf fear to stare at the billowing cloud of black smoke rising from the dry lake bed. Peg joins Sally and Lucy just as a woman up the street yells and points Everyone turns and looks. ' SALLY (pointing) There! WIVES POV - PARACHUTE White and beautiful, drifting slowly down from the sky. BACK ON THE THREE WOMEN They hug each other in joy and dance in a circle. We the "Moonglow" theme from Picnic and.... DISSOLVE TO

g1 82 23 27 INT. THE RANCH - NIGHT - ON A DANCING COUPLE They spin away from came-ra to reveal the smoke-filled roadside inn where the pilots hang out. It’s Friday and most of them are here with their wives or girlfriencs dancing to music and overloading on steaks, fries and beer. Even Weird Ernie and the Flight Surgeon, Doctcr Burger are here, drinking at the western style bar. CLOSE ON TONY AND JEANIE never know he almost lost his life from the mellow way he’s dancing. BIRD DOG’S VOICE Maybe the X-2 didn’t get him, but she’s sure gonna auger him in. ANGLE ON A TABLE In a corner, over-looking the room, where Bird Dog, Doug and Sally, Sam and Peg watch Tony dancing. Leng-neck beer bottles and the remnants of their meal litter the table between them. . PEG Think so? BIRD DOG He’s got that sick calf look. SALLY Here we go, gang, Bird Dog’s about to pounce. BIRD DOG _ well, shoot, he‘s the only pilot left in the B.0.Q. Be awful lonesome there without him. PEG How would you know? You never sleep in the B.0.Q. FEATURE BIRD DOG He flashes her a look as the others laugh, then empties hls and does a dance-walk in his cocwboy boots acrcss the floor toward Tony and Jeanie. He cuts 1in and Tcny moves to bar for a beer.

86 #86289 28 BACK ON SaM’S TABLE Doug and Sally get up to dance, leaving Sam and Peg alcne. For a moment they sit there saying nothing, then Peg takes his hand. It’s a natural gesture that catches Sam a bit off-guard, but he manages a smile and lets her continue to hold his hand. SAM’S VOICE I guess I'd accepted being here enough to finally take a look at ..my wife. CLOSE ON PEG She has a wistful smile as she sways slightly with the music and watches the couples dancing. SAM'’S VOICE Peg obviously loved...Hank. And that couldn’t be easy. Being married to a test pilot she must wonder every time he walks out the door if he’ll ever walk back in. (beat) I wonder where she hides that fear? WIDER Sar is studying her, although she doesn‘t realize it. SAM’S VOICE (continuing) She’s beautiful, too. Although she’d never believe it, no pregnant woman does. You’ve got to keep telling them and words are never enough. SAM Would you like to dance? PEG (surprised) What? SAM Dance. PEG With this stomach? CONTINUED m

87 €8 89 S0 #86289 29 CONTINUED SAM I can reach around it. ANOTHER ANGLE She is really touched by the gesture and shows it as thev dance, in to cuddle on his shoulder. They dance’ well despite her stomach. Finally.... PEG I want to know who you’ve been dancing with Mister. SAM What? PEG Sam, you may be the best pilot in the Air Force, but you were born with two left feet. Until tonight. SAM Maybe I Jjust needed a well rounded f partner. Peg laughs and for the first time, Sam does, too. She nestles in his arms and they smoothly dance away. ANOTHER ANGLE The strange technician is standing just inside the screen door taking everything in with that impish grin. still wearing the tux only it‘s a bit wrinkled and his =i is undone. . No one speaks or seems to pay any attention him as he walks with a slight list to the juke box where Sally and Doug are making their selections. e CLOSE ON SAM AND PEG She doesn’t even lift her head from his shoulder as "Moonglow" ends and "Friendly Persuasion" begins. SAM Peg. PEG Hmmmmmm. SAM who'’s the guy at the juke box? CONTINUED

90 92 0 #86289 30 TONTINUED She \s her eyes to look, then lays her down. PEG Doug. SAM No. The guy in the tux. PEG (not looking) A tux? In here? Peg laughs and a little chill runs through Sam. CLOSE ON THE OBSERVER Watching Doug and Sally dancing away from the juke box, he spots Sam. Again, he grins and waves. CLOSE ON SAM Watching the man at the juke box as he dances with Peg. SAM (softly) You don’t see a man in a black tux standing by the juke box? PEG (eyes closed) Oh, Hank, this is so nice. Don’‘t spoil it. ANOTHER ANGLE Sam decides not to press it and smoothly dances Peg back to their table. SAM’S VOICE Either someone blocked Peg’s view of the little guy in the tux or this twilight zone I was in had taken a new twist. (beat) Whichever it was, I was going to find out. Reaching the table, Sam gently pulls away from Peg and pulls out a chair. CONTINUED "

e3 #8628¢° 31 PEG Hank.... SAM You’re six months along, Peg. At six months you dance one and sit one out. (beat) Doctor’s orders. Sam hesitates. His words tickle a memory but it away before he can capture it. PEG (plea) I feel fine and we haven’t danced in so long. I love this song. SAM I just don’t want you to overdo it. We’ve got all night. (smiles) Okay? PEG (reluctant) Okay. SAM I’m going to feed the old juke box. Be right back. We hold on Peg as Sam walks back through the dancers to juke box. Her smile fades and she looks troubled ANGLE ON THE JUKE BOX Sam drops a quarter into the slot and scans the selecticrs while watching the strange tuxedoed man out of the ccrner cf his eye. OBSERVER Isn‘t this great. Isn’t this just great! It really brings back the old memories. Hey is "Be-Bop-A- Lula" on there? It got me through some long, cold nights at MIT. (MORE) CONTINUED "

94 #86289 CONTINUED 32 "Be-Bop" and a little Lithuanian girl named Danesa who worked in the chemistry lab researching the effect of.... SAM (interrupting) Am I dead? . OBSERVER What? SAM Dead. Am I dead? (beat) It would explain a lot. I could be in a reverse reincarnatiocn that’s entered in mid-life. OBSERVER (tentative smile) That’s good, Sam. SAM You know my name! OBSERVER I'm not that wasted. SAM Why do you know who I am when no one else does? OBSERVER (alarmed) Are you serious? SAM Dead serious. No pun intended. The Observer studies Sam closely for a beat befcre speaking. OBSERVER My God, you don’t recogrize me, you? : SAM (shaking his head) Nope. CONTINUED

S4 w 56 #86289 CONTINUED 33 (2) OBSERVER Or remember the experiment? SAM (quickly) What experiment? OBSERVER What do you remember. prior to waki.g this morning? SAM Other than my name and a telephone number, not a.hell of a lot. What experiment? (hopeful) If I'm part of an experiment than all this isn’t a psychotic hallucination, is it? OBSERVER (stunned) Oh, my God, that putz Ziggy was right! SAM (vague recollection) Ziggy? I remember a Ziggy. Little guy with bad breath. FEATURE BIRD DOG As he dances past the juke box he calls out to Sam. ON SAM BIRD DOG You’re slipping, Pard. No one’s gonna fall for the old ’talking to someone who ain’‘t there’ gag. He looks puzzled for a beat, then turns back to Observer only to find he’s gone. CUT TO the o (4

#86289 34 EXT. BAR - NIGHT Sam bangs throuch th screen door and races off the enc the porch. S7A SAM’S POINT OF VIEW - THE OBSERVER running ahead of him. The tuxedo-clad figure sprints between the parked cars and cnto the deserted road where he disappears in mid-stride as if a black hole swallowad him. 98 CLOSE ON SAM stunned, he slows to a stop. Unable to believe his evyes, he looks up and down the empty highway: there is no one be seen. On the verge of losing his sanity, he desperatly looking up to the stars. SAM Please God, I’d like to wake up now. God doesn’t answer as we slowly pull back and away. FADE OUT END OF ACT TWO

100 101 #86289 35 ACT ™ o) FADE IN EXT. MOJAVE DESERT - NIGHT The distant headlights of the ’56 Chevy speeding down the desert road are all that can be seen against the vast expanse of black. INT. CHEVY - NIGHT On the radio, Sinatra is singing "The Tender Trap". Sam is having a tough time seeing the road. SAM’S POV - DESERT HIGHWAY The cil-covered center stripe has almest faded into the black top. Except for an occasional yucca tree difficult to tell where the pavement ends and the desert begins. BACK CLOSE ON BOTH Y Peg watches Sar as he drives, concentrating on the road. SAM I never realized how hard it was to follow a road without striping. PEG Striping?: SAM (glances at her) I was just thinking if they painted white stripes along the sides of the road, it would be easier to see. PEG (thinks about it) That’s a good idea, Hank. SAM I got a few of them. They smile at each other and she slides over beside him on the bench seat. She lays her head on his shoulder which makes him feel a bit awkward. CONTINUED "0

102 #86289 CONTINUED Sam doesn’t know what to say. and smiles. 38 PEG Tonight was fun. SAM Good. PEG It was also....a little scary. SAM Why scary? PEG I don’t know. (beat) Maybe because you wanted to dance. SAM It’s not the first time we danced. PEG And you didn’t drink more than one or two beers. Or talk flying. I can’t remember you at a table full of pilots not talking airplanes. SAM Seems to me that’s all we talked about. PEG That’s all they talked about. You didn’t say a word. SAM I wasn’t in a talkative mood, that’s all. PEG (softly) You were at the juke box. SAM (reading) Why is it.... Peg sees it too and sits up. CONTINUED Then he sees something ahez:Z

#86289 37 102 CONTINUED (2) PEG (reading) ....when you.... 103 THEIR POV - BURMA SHAVE SIGNS The third sign is just coming up. SAM’S VOICE (reading) ....try to pass.... Fourth sign appears. PEG’S VOICE ....the guy in front.... 104 BACK ON BOTH Reading the next sign. SAM ....goes twice as fast. BOTH (laughing) Burma-Shave. 10 wm THEIR POV - THE LAST BURMA-SHAVE SIGN Whipping by in their headlights. 106 BACK ON SAM AND PEG She leans over and strokes his cheek. PEG Feels good. How’d it work? SAM Better than my electric razor. Peg’s smile drops and she moves her back against the and stares at him. SAM (realizing) I don’t use an electric razor, do CONTINUED

#86289 38 106 CONTINUED PEG No. (beat) What is going on? SAM I wish I knew. PEG Hank, please. SAM (after a beat) What if I told you my name wasn’t Hank. PEG You said that this morning. SAM It’s Sam. Don’t ask me my last name, because I can’t remember it. 107 CLOSE ON THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR Sam adjusts it to see himself and sees the same face he saw in the bathroom mirror. SAM’S VOICE When I look in a mirror I see Hank Stratton, I guess. But he’s not me. I can’‘t fly. 1In fact I don’t what I can do. 102 BACK ON BOTH Sam re-adjusts the mirror for the road. Sqgueezed against her door, Peg begins to cry. SAM (continuing) When I woke up this morning I didrn’t know you or Mikey or anyone on the base. (beat) I know I sound like I belong in a looney bin, but it‘s the truth. The reason I’'m acting different is I am different. (beat) I’'m not your Hank. CONTINUED

39 She cries harder. SAM Please don‘t.... PEG (between sobs) Then stop doing this! You asked me to explain.... PEG (sobbing hard) Stop it! Just stop it, Hank! Sam touches her shoulder and she jerks it away, crying harc into the window. He can’t stand to see her sobbing and realizes she’s never going to believe him. There’s only one thing for him to do. SAM Peg, I’'m sorry. I’m being a real nerd. (beat) You were right. I’'m setting up a gag. FEATURE PEG A wave of relief sweeps through her. PEG Thank, God. SAM I...I shouldn’t have tried it on you. PEG (wiping her eyes) Hank, you had me really scared. I thought you had a brain tumor. SAM (to himself) Never thought of that. PEG what? CONTINUED

#86289 40 109 CONTINUED SAM Bird Dog and I have been dreaming up theories to explain why I can’t fly. That’s the gag. I tell Weird Ernie I forgot how to fly. PEG You forgot how to...Hank, that’s the dumbest thing I ever heard. SAM oh, I don’t know. It sounds pretty plausible to me. 110 CLOSER ON BOTH . She blows her nose and moves back over to him, laying her head on his shoulder. They ride for a while listening tc the music, then.... PEG Hank.... SAM Yeah. PEG a nerd? 111 CLCSE ON SAaM He can’t help but smile. 112 EXT. ON THE ‘56 CHEVY - NIGHT As it drives away from us down the desert highway, we.... DISSOLVE TO 113 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT - CLOSE ON THE RADIO CLOCK The Rolodex card numbers read 4:38 AM. Beyond it, Peg and Sam lie sleeping. For a while, the only sound is their gentle breathing, then there’s a soft sighing sound and room begins to glow. The numbers on the clock begin tc advance, picking up speed as the glow intensifies. By time the room is bathed in pure white light, the numbers the clock are a whirling blur and we.... SMASH CUT TO W

- wn $83549 41 Rev. 12/7 EXT. DOWN ANGLE THE HOUSE - NIGHT - AERIAL UNIT We accelerate like a2 launched missile: our view expanding from the one house to many, then to the entire air base, the dry lake and finally the vast desert. Then we slow and, as we enter the first tendrils of a cloug, hang suspended for a brief moment before we reverse and begin to plummet back to earth. The last image we see is the Stratton’s house. We hear a boom and.... SMASH CUT T INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT - CLOSE ON SAM His eyes pop open. SAM (gasps) Ah.... Beside him Peg rclls over and half opens her eves. PEG (sleepily) What.... SAM (recovering) Nothing. Go back to sleep. She doesn’t need any further encouragement. Samn takes & deep breath and slowly exhales. He slides back pillow and closes his eyes. in SAM’S VOICE That’s all I need; a good night’s sleep. ) (beat) I’11 figure it out in the morning when I milk the cows. (beat) Milk the cows? His eyes pop back open ard he sits up. SAM’S VOICE (remembering) I was raised on a dairy farm in Indiana until I was eighteen! I went to college at...at...damn, I can‘t remember! (MORE)

115 118 #86289 42 CONTINUED SAM’S VOICE (Cont‘d) (beat) Stick to the farm. I was raised on a farm....with my sister Kate! Katie married a naval officer. Ah, Lieutenant John, no Jim. Jim Bellows. Yeah. Katie and Jim Bellows. Mom’s lived with them in Hawaii ever since dad.... (slowly) ...died in seventy four. MOVING IN ON SAM’S FACE He realizes this is 1956 and his father is alive. CUT TO LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - ON THE PHONE Sam lifts the receive and dials the operator. CLOSE ON SAM The excited look on his face turns to panic even before the operator answers. OPERATOR’S VOICE Operater. SAM Operatcr. I’d like long distance. The panicked looks is growing as Sam realizes he can’t remember his last name or old phone number. LONG DISTANCE OPERATOR’S VCICE Long Distance. SAM Indiana, please. Ah....Elk Ridge, Indiana. LONG DISTANCE OPERATOR’S VOICE Number, please. Sam sqgueezes his eyes tightly shut as he tries to rememter. LONG DISTANCE OPERATOR’S VOICE Number, please. CONTINUED