Quantum Leap/It's a Wonderful Leap

It's a Wonderful Leap
Season 4, Episode 18
Airdate	April 1, 1992
Production Number	67324
Teleplay by	Danielle Alexandra and Paul Brown
Story by	Danielle Alexandra
Directed by	Paul Brown
← 4x17 Roberto!	4x19 → Moments to Live
Quantum Leap — Season Four

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It's a Wonderful Leap is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of Quantum Leap, and the seventy-first episode overall.

Starring: Scott Bakula (Sam Beckett)

Starring: Dean Stockwell (The Observer)

Guest Starring: Liz Torres (Angelita Carmen Guadalupe Cecelia Jiminez), Jerry Adler (Lenny Greenman), Peter Iacangelo (Frank), Robin Frates (Elizabeth), Jack R. Orend (Tony)

Co-Starring: Milt Kogan (Lucky), Douglas MacHugh (Moe), Vaughn Armstrong (Father), Frank Girardeau (Sergeant McCann)

with Ed Wasser (Young Executive), Justin Thomson (Son), Ross Partridge (Max/Mirror)

Uncredited: Deborah Pratt (Narrator)

Plot Overview

Sam is a cabbie trying to make enough money to earn a medallion, but has to avoid being shot and left comatose during a robbery. Things are different on this leap when Sam runs into (and over) a woman who claims to be his guardian angel.

Notes

Leap Date

• May 10, 1958

Location

• New York City, New York

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Angelita claims to be a guardian angel. She can see Al, seems to know certain things she shouldn't, and her name is that of someone who died in 1928. She later says that when she leaves, no one will remember her except Al. As her mission is finished, she reveals that she could Sam, revealing that she was his angel (not Max's). As she leaves Sam seems to actually forget who she is, seemingly all confirming that she is a guardian angel.

Characters

• In a curious reversal, it's Sam who is inclined to believe Angelita is an angel whereas Al is trying to provide rational explanations.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• The title of this episode is a reference to the movie It's A Wonderful Life, which the characters mention in regard to the character of guardian angel Clarence.

Kiss with History

• Sam drives a father and son, explaining to the boy that there's gonna be a lot of money made in real estate in the future. The two turn out to be a young Donald Trump and his father Fred. The tall tower Sam points out that will be next to Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue is where Trump Tower would be built.

This scene would be revisited when Trump ran for president in 2016. Scott Bakula reprised his role for a skit in the June 15th episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where Stephen steps into the role of the Observer and goes back to try to convince Sam to prevent Trump from running for president.

Quotes

• Angelita: I was born Angelita, which means "little angel", but as you can see, I grew up.

Al: Yeah, they must serve plenty of sweets in heaven.

Angelita: You never gonna get there, so you're never gonna know.

Al: What do you mean? Why not?

Angelita: There's a dress code.

• Al: Sam, don't tell me. You think she's an angel.

Sam: I... I don't know. I don't know. All I can tell you is I ran over her with my car and she's alive.

Al: Give me a shot at her and see how she comes out.

• Al: All right, if you were an angel, where's your halo? Under your hat?

Angelita: You're the devil, but I don't see no horns.

Sam: One for the angel.

Al: But she doesn't look anything like an angel. Angels are... lighter.

Angelita: I got stuck in limbo too long. I got hungry. (laughs) I make a little angel joke.

Al: Funny.

Sam: I always thought angels would be like that guy in, uh, uh, It's A Wonderful Life.

Angelita: Clarence? Clarence! You know, he ruined this job for all the rest of us. Yes, because every time I show up, everybody wants to know, "Where is Clarence?"

Al: I don't know, I think it'd be kinda neat to have an angel like him around. You know, one not so loud.

Angelita: I'm not loud! I'm just Puerto Rican.