Line #57 Recap/QuantumLeapS3E07BlackOnWhiteOnFire


1	[floatboxright:
2	Previous: Recap/QuantumLeapS3E06MissDeepSouth\
3	Next: Recap/QuantumLeapS3E08TheGreatSpontini]
4
5	'''''Series/QuantumLeap'''''\
6	'''Season 3, Episode 7:'''
7
8	!Black on White on Fire
9
10	-->'''Al''': The Watts riots were not just anything, Sam.\
11	'''Sam''': And we can't stop it?\
12	'''Al''': No. We would've had to come here fifty years ago.\
13	'''Sam''': You said it started this afternoon when Frye was arrested.\
14	'''Al''': It started when the first black couldn't find a job or live where he wanted to. It started when the first baby went hungry. Or the first cop hassled some guy just because he was black. [[ForegoneConclusion This match has been burning a long time, Sam.]]
15
16	Written by Creator/DeborahPratt
17
18	Directed by Joe Napolitano
19
20	Airdate: November 9, 1990
21
22	------------
23
24	August 11, 1965
25
26	Sam lands on the streets of Watts just as the infamous race riots begin. As a black man engaged to a white woman, he finds himself torn between two communities set to explode.
27
28	!Tropes:
29
30	* AllForNothing: In the middle of breaking down and cradling Lonnie's corpse, Sam says that he[[note]]and he ''specifically'' means himself, not just Ray[[/note]] ''has'' to stay in Watts so that Lonnie's death and all the destruction of the riots can't result in this trope.
31	-->'''Sam''': It can't be for nothing, Al. I can't let his death be for nothing.
32	* AngryBlackManStereotype: Lonnie is pretty much a textbook definition.
33	* BigFun: Papa D clearly sees himself as this. Even as the riots are starting, he is only interested in hosting his house party.
34	* ChildOfTwoWorlds: Ray's mother is concerned that any children Ray and Susan might have would not be this, but instead be children of ''neither'' world.
35	* CurbStompBattle: Sam winds up experiencing the brunt of the riot in the worst possible way on his way to Lonnie and Susan, as a group of cops viciously beat him within an inch of his life.
36	* DatingWhatDaddyHates: {{Downplayed\|Trope}}. Captain Brewster isn't thrilled about his daughter dating a black man, but only starts losing his cool after the riots begin.
37	* DespairEventHorizon: After Papa D dies, Lonnie snaps, takes Susan hostage, and swears to execute her if the police kill another black man.
38	* DownerEnding: Despite Sam managing to talk Lonnie down and getting him to let him and Susan leave, the cops assume the worst and shoot him dead. [[RayOfHopeEnding The literal only bright spot is that Sam gets Ray and Susan to stay in Watts so that Lonnie wouldn't die in vain.]]
39	-->'''Al:''' ''[reads from the handlink; glumly]'' Sam, you did it.\
40	'''Sam:''' ''[broken]'' Is it enough, Al? Is it enough? ''[leaps out]''
41	* GreaterScopeVillain: The riots themselves are a conflict beyond the scope of what Sam can fix.
42	* HeroicBSOD: Sam is utterly ''devastated'' when Lonnie gets killed by the cops despite managing to get through to him.
43	* IChooseToStay: Ray, with Sam's help, decides to stay in Watts, a community that needs a good doctor. Susan affirms that she will stay with him.
44	* InspirationalMartyr: Al thinks that Lonnie wants to become one.
45	* JerkassHasAPoint: Captain Brewster is rightly concerned for Susan's safety once the riots get started.
46	* MalignedMixedMarriage: No one is supportive of Ray and Susan's relationship.
47	* NWordPrivileges: Lonnie uses the word to his own little brother.
48	* OhCrap: After holding Susan hostage, Lonnie issues out his demand: if any more black people die during the riots, Susan dies. And as Susan quickly realizes, [[UnwinnableByDesign he knows this is impossible]].
49	-->'''Susan:''' ''[dawning horror]'' You're going to kill me, no matter what.\
50	'''Lonnie:''' If your daddy stops murdering my people, I'll let you go.\
51	'''Susan:''' He can't stop what's happening out there.\
52	'''Lonnie:''' ...no. ...I don't suppose he can.
53	* PoliceBrutality: Once the riots kick off in earnest, so does this trope as the police and the rioters clash. In fact, Sam almost gets beaten to death by several police officers towards the end.
54	* PursueTheDreamJob: Ray and Susan are both in medical school. For Ray, he also sees it as a chance to get out of Watts.
55	* WhereDaWhiteWomenAt: Sam has leapt into Ray, a black medical student in the 60's who was engaged to a white woman. Neither of their families approved (although Ray's mother was more concerned about Susan's safety than disapproval of her son dating a white woman.)
56	* YouCantFightFate: {{Discussed\|Trope}}. Al states that even if Sam had been able to prevent the arrest of Marquette Frye, racial tensions in LA had been building for half a century and the riots were inevitable.
57	------------
58	->'''Mama Harper:''' Back in Mariposa, it was the white man's hatred. Now it's the Negroes angry about what's supposed to be. Seems no matter where we go, we can't get away from the hate.\

Context Recap / QuantumLeapS3E07BlackOnWhiteOnFire