History Recap / QuantumLeapS1E07TheColorOfTruth

* ActorAllusion: When informing Sam about [[YouCanSeeMe somehow]] managing to make Melny avoid the train, [[Creator/DeanStockwell Al]] describes it as being "real ''[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S3E15AQualityOfMercy Twilight]] [[Recap/TheTwilightZone1985S3E21 Zone]]'' stuff".

* BenevolentBoss: Though Melanie is subject to some of the prejudices of her time and social standing, she's overall a very fair and reasonable employer. She and Jesse are clearly more than boss and employee, they were genuinely friends.

* BookEnds: The episode starts with Sam entering the diner and (unaware he's currently a black man) sitting down at the counter. At the end, Sam re-enters the diner and, upon Melanie's request, sits down at the counter with her.
* ControllableHelplessness: There is no worse time for Al to be a hologram than when Melanie gets into her car during the climax. She cannot hear his pleading to not drive off, Sam accidentally left the keys in the ignition, and Al is unable to physically block her as, again, he's a ''hologram''. [[ZigZaggedTrope It's only when in the car with her, right as she's about to reach the railroad tracks, that Al's desperate shouting manages to get through to her]].
* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Discussed: When trying to get her to hear him and stop the car before it reaches the railroad tracks, Al bitterly notes that Melanie should've been able to realize the ringing in her ears was in reality the train whistle in the distance.

* DoubleTake: When the nurse attempts to have Melanie wait at the hospital (as Sam requested), and Al watches:

-->'''Melanie''': Did he? Well... He's in for a surprise. [[OhCrap (approaches car)]]

* GrandeDame: Melanie Trafford is one of these.

** After the nurse has the police arrest Sam, Sam makes a request that the nurse tells Melanie to wait for at least thirty minutes (as to prevent her from getting hit by the train), something the officer insists the nurse abide by. Shortly after Sam's taken away, Melanie is informed of what happened... and ''explicitly'' ignores the nurse in order to bail Sam out.
** Shortform: When Al realizes to his horror that Melanie's about to drive off and get hit by the train, he clasps his hands and loudly hopes that Sam kept the keys on him... and it then turns out they were still in the ignition.

** Averted in the end when, after the attempted manslaughter of Nell, the sheriff assures Sam-as-Jessie that no one will harm him or his family again.

* ProperLady: Melanie is well-dressed, dignified and speaks respectfully to everyone around her. She doesn’t tolerate swearing and finds the N-word repugnant.

* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Melanie's late husband Charles once said of Jesse’s late wife that "there wasn't a finer Negro woman in all of Alabama." Sam seems taken aback, but appears to accept the compliment in the spirit it was intended.
* YouCanSeeMe: This is the first episode where someone other than Sam can notice Al. At the last possible moment, Al manages to get Melanie to stop her car before she gets hit by the train, and it's implied she heard him.

-->(Melanie turns her car, narrowly avoiding the train)
-->'''Melanie''': Thank you, Charles. ...you didn't have to swear.

* AdultFear: Both Melanie and Jesse had lost children.

* AdultFear: Both Miz Melny and Jesse had lost children.
* BenevolentBoss: Miz Melny is a very fair and reasonable employer. She and Jesse and clearly more than boss and employee, they were genuinely friends.
* BookEnds: The episode starts with Sam entering the diner and (unaware he's currently a black man) sitting down at the counter. At the end, Sam re-enters the diner and, upon Miz Melny's request, sits down at the counter with her.
* ControllableHelplessness: There is no worse time for Al to be a hologram than when Miz Melny gets into her car during the climax. She cannot hear his pleading to not drive off, Sam accidentally left the keys in the ignition, and Al is unable to physically block her as, again, he's a ''hologram''. [[ZigZaggedTrope It's only when in the car with her, right as she's about to reach the railroad tracks, that Al seemingly finally manages to get through to her.]]
* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Discussed: When trying to get her to hear him and stop the car before it reaches the railroad tracks, Al bitterly notes that Miz Melny should've been able to realize the ringing in her ears was in reality the train whistle in the distance.

* DoubleTake: When the nurse attempts to have Miz Melny wait at the hospital (as Sam requested), and Al watches:

-->'''Miz Melny''': Did he? Well... He's in for a surprise. [[OhCrap (approaches car)]]

* EvenEvilHasStandards: While Toad is eager to harass Jesse and his family, when Billy Joe starts escalating the attacks, his resolve starts to crack. He states flat out that he won’t kill Jesse (though this is more for concern over what will happen to himself) and when Billy Joe runs Nelle off the road, Toad tries to check to see how badly she’s been injured. In the end, when Sam-as-Jesse comes into the diner, Toad is too ashamed to even look him in the eye.

* GrandeDame: Melny Trafford is one of these.

** After the nurse has the police arrest Sam, Sam makes a request that the nurse tells Miz Melny to wait for at least thirty minutes (as to prevent her from getting hit by the train), something the officer insists the nurse abide by. Shortly after Sam's taken away, Miz is informed of what happened... and ''explicitly'' ignores the nurse in order to bail Sam out.
** Shortform: When Al realizes to his horror that Miz Melny's about to drive off and get hit by the train, he clasps his hands and loudly hopes that Sam kept the keys on him... and it then turns out they were still in the ignition.

* JustInTime: Al [[YouCanSeeMe somehow]] manages to get Miz Melny to pull away from the train tracks mere ''seconds'' before the train passes through.

** Averted in the end when, after the attempted manslaughter of Nelle, the sheriff assures Sam-as-Jessie that no one will harm him or his family again.
* ProperLady: Miz Melny is well-dressed, dignified and speaks respectfully to everyone around her. She doesn’t tolerate swearing and finds the N-word repugnant.

* SpannerInTheWorks: If that nurse hadn't decided to call the cops when Sam showed up with Nelle, the conflict with the train could've been avoided outright.
* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Miz Melny's late husband once said of Jesse’s late wife that "there wasn't a finer Negro woman in all of Alabama." Sam seems taken aback, but appears to accept the compliment in the spirit it was intended.
* YouCanSeeMe: This is the first episode where someone other than Sam can notice Al. At the last possible moment, Al manages to get Miz Melny to stop her car before she gets hit by the train, and it's implied she heard him.

-->(Miz Melny turns her car, narrowly avoiding the train)
-->'''Miz Melny''': (turns her head towards Al) Thank you, Charles. ...you didn't have to swear.

-->'''Al''': ''PULL INTO THE CEMETERY, DAMNIT!''

-->'''Miz Melny''': Did he? Well. He's in for a surprise. [[OhCrap (approaches car)]]
-->'''Al''': [[FailedASpotCheck Attagirl.]] [[LateToTheRealization (it clicks in Al's head)]] ''[[RapidFireNo Oh, no, no, no, no!]]'' Oh, no, I take that back!

* HopeSpot: Shortform: When Al realizes to his horror that Melny's about to drive off and get hit by the train, he clasps his hands and loudly hopes that Sam kept the keys on him... and it then turns out they were still in the ignition.

* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Miz Melny’s late husband once said of Jesse’s late wife that “there wasn’t a finer Negro woman in all of Alabama.” Sam seems taken aback, but appears to accept the compliment in the spirit it was intended.

* PoliceAreUseless: The sheriff makes no effort to investigate the cross burned in front of the Tyler house, even though Sam can identify the culprits by name. Of course, given that one of the perpetrators is the sheriff’s son…

Written by Deborah Pratt

-->'''Nurse''' Sheriff Blount said you was to wait here.

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