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.

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 XI

***

DONNA'S CAR -- EXT. -- MORNING

A sleek white Lamborghini races through the New Mexican desert down a lone two-lane highway. The sun is low in the sky, but is speedily rising.

DONNA'S CAR -- INT. -- MORNING

Al is behind the wheel, with Alia sitting next to him. Sam sits behind Al with Donna behind Alia.

AL
(to Sam)
Alamogordo is about seventy miles from the Project, so we should be there within forty-five minutes.

Donna scowls.

DONNA
(threatening)
Not in my car, we won't.

Al winces, and we see through the windows that the car is slowing considerably.

DONNA (cont'd)
Thank you.

AL
No problem.

SAM
So, what are we going to do once we get to the bar? Trace the call from the payphone?

ALIA
That's what we'll have to do. That will be our only clue as to where Kyle has been taken.

AL
And if not, I'm sure Mike saw or heard something. He's a very good observer.
(smiles and chuckles)
He should come work at the Project.

DONNA
If he gives us information that will lead us to Kyle, I'll hire him on as Project Director.

AL
Oh, yeah, and take my job. I don't think so. I like him, but not that much.

Sam and Donna exchange looks. Al sees this by peering at the rear-view mirror, and he begins to laugh.

O.K. CORRAL -- INT. -- LATE MORNING

We are in a bar that strangely looks quite like Al's Place. The only difference is the decor that includes neon lights, posters for Guinness and Pabst Blue Ribbon, and a 2006 Playgirl calendar taped to the large mirror behind the bar counter. The bar is somewhat dark, having no windows except a small opening near the door.

MIKE ELLIS, a man whose hair is graying, is swiping the bar counter with his rag. He is humming the tune of the first verse of Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" along with the song playing in the background. He sets the rag on the counter, walks around to the other side of the bar and begins to take down the chairs that are set atop the tables. As the song hits its chorus, Mike goes over to the bar counter, picks up a spoon, and begins to use it as a microphone, lip-synching to the music. He sways and dances about the bar.

We FOCUS tightly on Mike as he continues to "sing" when suddenly a bright light shines on him. He stops singing, an embarrassed look on his face, as he turns to greet his first customers.

Al, Sam, Donna, and Alia walk through the door and stop just inside. Mike rushes over and greets Al with a hug.

MIKE
Al! Dude, I didn't think you were gonna come back here so soon! How ya doin', man?

AL
I'm doing great.

MIKE
That's wonderful.
(gestures at the bar counter)
Why don't ya'll come and get a drink and I'll tell you what's been goin' on today.

AL
Sounds great.

Mike leads Al over to the bar, and the bartender goes behind the counter. He then turns to face his new customers. This is when he first notices Sam.

MIKE (cont'd)
Sam Beckett! You're back!
(to Al)
You didn't tell me he was back.
(smiles)
You wanted to surprise me, right?

AL
Well, actually--

MIKE
(turning to Sam)
Doesn't matter. I'm just glad to see you back, Sam. You've been gone a long, long time. You're gonna have to tell me all about your trip.

SAM
It wasn't exactly a tr--

MIKE
(interrupting; whispers)
I think my place is bugged.
(aloud)
Wasn't exactly a walk in the park, huh? Too bad. I thought you'd have a great time doing research in Antarctica.

AL
(lowered voice)
Antarctica?

Mike shrugs. He leans on the counter toward the four people in front of him and begins to talk. Al, Sam, Donna, and Alia lean in to hear what the bartender has to say.

MIKE
(conspiratorially)
Okay. It's like this. Dr. Legs--

Donna rolls her eyes, Sam squints in confusion, Al grins, and Alia shows no reaction.

MIKE (cont'd)
(oblivious to the reactions)
--pulls up to the bar early this morning in your--
(indicates Al)
--Ferrari. She's got the kid with her and drags him with her into the bar. I tell her that the bar isn't open yet, and she asks me--quite roughly, I might add--if she could use the payphone. I tell her she can. She sets Kyle on the barstool closest to the phone. While Tina's making her call, I talk quietly to Kyle. He tells me that Tina's goin' through PMS--

Mike gets strange looks from Donna and Sam, but Al grins.

MIKE (cont'd)
--and is going on a rampage. I'm thinkin' there's somethin' more to it. Well, before he can say more, Tina hangs up the phone, grabs Kyle, and leaves. No one has made any calls on that payphone since then. I put an "out of order" sign on it so you guys could trace the last call. And I think she stuck a bug on it.

Mike leans back.

MIKE (cont'd)
So, what'll it be?

Mike turns his back on the crew.

DONNA
Bloody Mary.

ALIA
Same here.

AL
Guinness.

SAM
Ginger ale.

Mike turns around and eyes Sam.

MIKE
You hang out with any angels during that trip of yours?

SAM
Ah, actually... yeah. Once. At least, that's what Al told me.

MIKE
(curious; to Sam, but looking at Al)
Really?

AL
Could you get our drinks, Mike? I'm thirsty from all that--
(peers at Donna)
--slow driving.

MIKE
(turning back to the drinks)
You're using Donna's car, aren't ya?

AL
(dripping with sarcasm)
How did you ever guess?

Mike shrugs and laughs. He pours their drinks and hands the beverages to the crew. Sam and Donna take theirs, stand up, and walk toward the payphone.

SAM
We're gonna go see about tracing that call.

Mike turns to Al and Alia.

MIKE
So, Alia... What's up on the front lines?

Al looks at Mike in confusion.

ALIA
Nothing much. Aldrin's still tending bar at Al's Place. Chip is now acting as Senior Guardian over the pilots at UNE Academy in 2100.

MIKE
I always knew he would be the right man for that job.

AL
Ah, excuse me, but... do you guys know each other?

MIKE
Oh, sure.
(sees Al's look of surprise)
Al, I guess I oughtta tell you.

AL
Tell me what?

MIKE
You see, after you were taken from our POW camp back in April of '70, the rest of us were, ah... shot to death.

Al looks horrified.

MIKE (cont'd)
I was recruited by the Man Upstairs--
(points upward)
--as one of his agents. Alia and Aldrin trained me. Then I was allowed to set up here so I could be near you. That's why I suddenly showed up here back in March of '95 without you ever seeing this bar exist before.

AL
So, you're... dead?

MIKE
The old Mike is dead. But I'm as alive as I've ever been.

AL
How does that, uh, work?

ALIA
God can do anything. If someone who was going to be essential in the development of the Earth later on in life is killed, God makes them what you could call special agents who go to Earth and carry out the deeds they were set to do. Mike was always supposed to have been there for you, but things happened during Sam's Leap that caused the timeline to skew. God needed Mike for you, so He sent him here.

Al takes all this in, and a smile creeps onto his face.

AL
(to Mike)
I always did think you were a bit... stranger than you had been when I first met you.

Mike laughs.

AL (cont'd)
(to Alia)
You mentioned someone named Chip. Is that by any chance--?

ALIA
Yes, Al. It is.

Al's eyes tear up as he grins.

AL
This is great.

Sam and Donna walk over.

SAM
We traced the call to an airport on the other side of town. We've set up an appointment with the airport owner.

AL
(to Mike)
I guess we've gotta go.

MIKE
All right. I'll see ya'll later.

AL
Thanks for all the help.

MIKE
Anything for you, buddy.

Al and Mike shake hands. Then Al, Sam, Donna, and Alia leave the bar.