DISCLAIMER: "The Mirror Shattered" trailer and screenplay written by R. Joy Helvie. "Quantum Leap", Dr. Samuel Beckett, Admiral Albert Calavicci, Al the Bartender, and all other characters which may have appeared on the show are property of Donald P. Bellisario, Belisarius Productions, and Universal Studios. All other characters are property of R. Joy Helvie, and permission must be granted by the author before the characters can be used in any other story.

AUTHOR NOTE: About the references contest--there are going to be SEVERAL references within this part and the upcoming Part IX. A couple will have double meanings--meaning that they could be referencing more than one thing. I will accept either reference, but if you get BOTH, I might give you a little bonus (of course, that's to be determined, since I haven't even decided what the grand prize is going to be! hehehe). You will eventually need to go to the screenplay's website (http://themirrorshattered.cjb.net) to get updates on this contest and others that will eventually be created.

Italicized Underlines are used for emphasis.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: You may reach the author by e-mail at: quantum_revival@hotmail.com

***

QUANTUM LEAP
THE MIRROR SHATTERED

SCREENPLAY: PART VIII

***

The squealing of the handlink breaks the silence. Johnny sighs, once again consulting the hand-held computer. A smile finds its way to his mouth as he speaks.

JOHNNY (cont'd)
Sammy Jo needs my help with the Retrieval Program. She's saying we'll be able to retrieve you both within the hour.

Johnny breaks into a wide grin. Ruthie bounces happily on the balls of her feet, looking very much like her father. Sam and Al give each other reassuring glances, and Alia smiles with satisfaction.

ALIA
(to Johnny)
You'd better go. I'm sure your uncle is pretty anxious to get home.

Johnny nods and calls up the Imaging Chamber Door with the handlink. He hugs Ruthie to him, kisses her forehead gently, and leaves, the light of the Door falling upon his darkened figure until it vanishes.

ALIA (cont'd)
When you Leap home, I will be coming with you.

AL
Why?

ALIA
Because I don't trust Sam.

SAM
(looking hurt)
Alia, you can trust me.

Alia crosses her arms and eyes him doubtfully.

ALIA
Right. I can really trust you to destroy your life's work. Yeah, I'm believin' it.

AL
(chuckling and slapping Sam's back lightly)
Sam, old buddy, she's right. And I couldn't possibly ask her to trust me. I could never convince you to do this.

Alia smirks and takes both men by their arms. She walks between them, leading them down the tunnel. Ruthie follows close behind.

RUTHIE
(curiously)
Daddy, what's it like?

AL
What do you mean, Honey?

RUTHIE
What's it like to be in another person's body?

AL
(laughing)
Well, it would be much better if I had been a man, but at least women's clothes in the future have built-in bras. No strappy thingies.

SAM
(playfully pouting)
That's totally unfair.

They laugh as Alia leads them into a large room just off the main tunnel. There is an advanced computer system that looks like the control table in one corner. A vinyl couch, bed, and small table take up the rest of the room. The room is covered with clothes, food wrappers, and other junk.

Ruthie stands to one side and watches the following exchange between Sam and Alia very carefully.

ALIA
Welcome to my not-very-humble abode.

SAM
So, is this where you operate from?

ALIA
Yes, it is.

SAM
I've been meaning to ask you... Why have you been calling yourself Stephanie instead of just using your real name?

ALIA
(looking down)
Uh... because it is my real name. Stephanie is my first name.

SAM
Your name is Stephanie Alia?

Alia nods.

SAM (cont'd)
I'm just curious; what's your last name?

Alia's face becomes flushed, and her jaw tightens. Al holds up his hand before Alia can answer.

AL
Sam, this isn't some sort of interrogation, you know. Does it even matter what her name is? She's our ally, and that's all that matters.

SAM
(shaking his head)
I guess you're right.

Alia has a look of genuine relief on her face. She gives Al a look of pure gratitude. She shows Al and Sam around the room as Ruthie, a look of suspicion in her eyes, pulls out a handlink from her pants pocket. It is more reminiscent of the earlier handlink design, looking much more like a PDA. There is even an electronic pen hooked to the side, which Ruthie pulls out of its socket and uses to scribble on the handlink's screen.

As she moves to put the handlink away, it beeps. Ruthie brings it back up and peruses the data stream.

RUTHIE
(grinning)
Hey, you guys?

All heads turn to her, questioning.

RUTHIE (cont'd)
I need to leave the Imaging Chamber. Sammy Jo's gonna try to retrieve you now.

Sam and Al grin and nod simultaneously.

AL
Okay, sweetie. See you in a little bit.

Ruthie gives Al a loose salute, calls up the Imaging Chamber Door, and vanishes.

CONTROL ROOM -- INT. -- NIGHT

Johnny and Sammy Jo are hunched over the control table. Ruthie walks down the ramp from the Leaping Plexus. She goes up to Johnny and hugs his waist.

RUTHIE
Are you ready?

JOHNNY
Just about.
(taps a few buttons)
There. That should do it.

SAMMY JO
Okay, Johnny. I'll need you up in the Accelerator's ob-deck. Keep an eye on the radiation levels, and report major changes immediately.

Johnny gives Sammy Jo a thumbs up. He turns to Ruthie. They hug for several seconds. Ruthie is the last to let go.

JOHNNY
Wish us luck.

RUTHIE
(sadly)
Good luck.

Johnny frowns. He lifts Ruthie's chin so her eyes are gazing into his.

JOHNNY
What's wrong?

RUTHIE
I... I'm afraid something bad is going to happen.

JOHNNY
(smiling reassuringly)
Don't you worry about a thing, baby. The RP's as sound as it could ever be. We'll retrieve Uncle Sam and your dad, then we'll all celebrate their return.

Ruthie lifts her head and brushes her lips against Johnny's. Johnny kisses her back with all the passion he has in him. They break free several moments later.

RUTHIE
I love you.

Johnny pauses. We see a smile trying to work its way from his eyes to his mouth as he says...

JOHNNY
I know.

Ruthie stares at him in mock horror. She then grins and playfully slaps Johnny's chest.

RUTHIE
(laughing)
That's so mean.

Johnny puts his hands up in surrender, laughing.

JOHNNY
Of course I love you, Ruthie. Always and forever.

Ruthie smiles and gently pushes Johnny toward the ramp to the Leaping Plexus.

RUTHIE
Get a move-on, nerf-herder. I want my dad back.

Johnny skips up the ramp.

JOHNNY
(half-singing)
We're off to see the Wizard...

Ruthie and Sammy Jo laugh as Johnny trips at the top of the ramp. He immediately jumps to his feet and brushes himself off.

JOHNNY
I'm okay!

Johnny goes through the door, and it slides down on his retreating figure. Sammy Jo goes to the control table and presses a large button. A soft beam of light shines toward Ziggy's orb.

ZIGGY
(offscreen; in fake Australian accent)
G'day, mates.

SAMMY JO
Cut it out, Ziggy.

ZIGGY
(offscreen; normal voice)
My apologies, Sammy Jo. I was just watching Ben Browder's interview on CNN.

SAMMY JO
You've been watching that video for two years now! Get over it!

ZIGGY
(offscreen; vehement)
You expect me to forgive those unintelligent mules for canceling my favorite show after only four seasons? I loved--

SAMMY JO
(interrupting)
Ziggy. Tell you what. After we've retrieved Dr. Beckett and Admiral Calavicci, I will personally see to it that Ben Browder contacts you through e-mail.

ZIGGY
(offscreen; her voice excited)
Would you?

SAMMY JO
(eyes rolling)
Yes, Ziggy. Now, can we get on with this? We're ready to run the Retrieval Program.

ZIGGY
(offscreen; pouting)
Very well. I do hope this works.

RUTHIE
We all do.

The main Control Room door opens and Donna, Beth, Verbena, and Violet enter. They gather around the control table.

DONNA
Is everything ready?

SAMMY JO
(looking down at control table)
Yes, we're just about to begin.

RUTHIE
Where's Kyle?

DONNA
He's taking a much-needed nap; he went to his friend's pool party yesterday, and he's pooped. Tina's watching over him.

Sammy Jo looks up from the control table with a smile on her face.

SAMMY JO
All right. We're ready.

Beth takes Donna's hand in hers, and they eye each other reassuringly. Violet nods at Verbena. Ruthie braces herself against the control table. Sammy Jo punches a button on her comlink and speaks into it.

SAMMY JO (cont'd)
We're ready.

JOHNNY
(off-screen)
Affirmative.

Sammy Jo switches off her comlink. She presses some buttons on the control table. A low rumble emits from what seems to be all directions at once, causing the room to vibrate slightly. The rumble becomes louder, and electricity can be heard building up.

SAMMY JO
(yelling above noise)
Beginning Retrieval Process!

Sammy Jo slaps her hand on a large block of the control table. Several bolts of electricity emit from the control table and connect with Ziggy's orb. The orb changes from its deep blue to flashing all the colors of the rainbow.

ACCELERATOR OBSERVATION DECK -- INT. -- NIGHT

Johnny is sitting at a computer in the observation deck, overlooking the Accelerator Chamber. He watches one screen in particular. Numbers and letters fluctuate, as one column to the right steadily counts down. Johnny looks satisfied.

Lightning-like flashes of electricity fill the Accelerator Chamber. The large observation windows automatically darken to dim the brightness. The snap-crackle of electricity building rises a few notches.

As Johnny looks on, a strong bolt of electricity hits the window. Johnny jumps back, startled. He hits a switch on the keyboard.

JOHNNY
(yelling)
Sammy Jo, it's getting pretty wild in here!

SAMMY JO
(off-screen; metallic-like ring to her voice from intercom)
We're halfway through! Just hold on a bit longer!

JOHNNY
Acknowledged!

Johnny flips the switch. He taps on the keyboard. The countdown number hits "10". Johnny begins to count along.

JOHNNY
Diez. Nueve. Ocho. Siete.

Johnny stops as he eyes a number on the other side of the monitor. He scrutinizes it carefully. It continues to rise rapidly.

Johnny reaches for the com switch. A bolt of electricity envelopes the computer console and zaps Johnny.

CUE Leap FX