Quantum Leap
Season 1, Episode 7:
The Color of Truth
Sam: I didn’t know exactly where I was, but it was obviously too far South to be a black man.
Written by Deborah Pratt
Directed by Michael Vejar
Airdate: May 3, 1989
August 8, 1955
Sam leaps into a life of a black valet to an old Southern woman. He must save her life while trying to avoid the wrath of racist goons.
Tropes:
- Benevolent Boss: Though Melny 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.
- Book Ends: 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 Melny's request, sits down at the counter with her.
- Controllable Helplessness: There is no worse time for Al to be a hologram than when 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. 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.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: Discussed: When trying to get her to hear him and stop the car before it reaches the railroad tracks, Al bitterly notes that Melny should've been able to realize the ringing in her ears was in reality the train whistle in the distance.Al: You have to hear that whistle!
- Double Take: When the nurse attempts to have Melny wait at the hospital (as Sam requested), and Al watches:Nurse: Sheriff Blount said you was to wait here.Melny: Did he? Well... He's in for a surprise. (approaches car)
- Even Evil Has Standards: 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 Nell 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.
- Failed a Spot Check: A particularly bad case: After Sam attempts to report Toad and Billy Joe to the cops for burning a cross the previous night, he unknowingly uses a "Whites Only" water fountain.
- Grande Dame: Melny Trafford is one of these.
- Hope Spot:
- After the nurse has the police arrest Sam, Sam makes a request that the nurse tells 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, Melny is informed of what happened... and explicitly ignores the nurse in order to bail Sam out.
- 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.
- I Remember Because...: Al knows a lot about the Civil Rights Movement because he was there and was beaten and arrested.
- Just in Time: Al somehow manages to get Melanie to pull away from the train tracks mere seconds before the train passes through.
- Police Are Useless: 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...
- Averted in the end when, after the attempted manslaughter of Nell, the sheriff assures Sam-as-Jesse that no one will harm him or his family again.
- Precision F-Strike: "PULL OFF INTO THE CEMETERY, DAMN IT!"
- Proper Lady: Melny is well-dressed, dignified and speaks respectfully to everyone around her. She doesn’t tolerate swearing and finds the N-word repugnant.
- Refuge in Audacity: Due to the timing of certain actions and certain ambiguities, in simplest terms, Al manages to save the day by swearing at an old woman.
- Regional Queasine: Sam has to make chitlins and finds out the hard way that they are stewed pig intestines.
- Spanner in the Works: If that nurse hadn't decided to call the cops when Sam showed up with Nell, the conflict with the train could've been avoided outright.
- Some of My Best Friends Are X: Subverted. Sam is initially taken aback that Al would use this phrase, but then Al explains it is because he actively took part in the marches and was beaten along with them.
- You Are a Credit to Your Race: Melny'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.
- You Can See Me?: This is the first episode where someone other than Sam can notice Al. At the last possible moment, Al manages to get Melny to stop her car before she gets hit by the train, and it's implied she heard him.Al: PULL OFF INTO THE CEMETERY, DAMN IT!(Melny turns her car, narrowly avoiding the train.)Melny: Thank you, Charles. ...you didn't have to swear.
Al: (singing) Deep in my heart, I do believe that we shall overcome, someday.
