"A Tale of Two Sweeties"


Leap Date:

February 25, 1958

 


Episode Adopted by: Eleiece <aka> Sherdran
Additional info provided by: Brian Greene


Synopsis:

Sam finds himself in the life of a bigamist married to two women and two sets of kids that are both starved for his attention! Al tells Sam that Ziggy predicts he must choose one family or the other while making sure that they never find out about each other. At the same time, he must settle up with a couple of gamblers who want their money.

 

Audio from this episode



TV Guide Synopsis
Place
Leap Date
Name of the Person Leaped Into
Music
Sam Trivia
Al Trivia
Al's Women
Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode
Miscellaneous Trivia
Writers
Director
Producers
Crew
Broadcast Date
Guest Stars
Guest Cast Notes
Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes
Personal Review
Best Lines
Best Scenes
Say What?
Quotable Quotes

 


 

Production # : 68118



TV Guide Synopsis:
Sam's a bigamist with only even odds that he'll make the right choice between his two wives and families, whose futures are riding on it. Ellen: Mary Lou Childs. Rachel: Jill Tracy. Jessica: Ashley Peldon. Sam: Scott Bakula. Al: Dean Stockwell.






Place:
Pompano Beach, Florida




Leap Date:
February 25, 1958




Name of the Person Leaped Into:
Martin Joseph "Marty" Ellroy, Sr.




Broadcast Date:
January 5, 1993 - Tuesday




Commercial:




Music:
Score: Velton Ray Bunch
Theme: Mike Post




Sam Trivia:
In this episode Sam uses the quote, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," for which most people give credit to The Immortal Bard a/k/a William Shakespeare. Actually, "Hell hath..." is only part of a quote, and Shakespeare didn't write it, in fact he couldn't have written it since he died in 1616. The correct (full) quote is: "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned," is from "The Mourning Bride"
penned in 1697 by English poet and playwright, William Congreve.

Sam's Outfits Worn in the Episode:
(1) Light-blue seersucker summer suit; white shirt; diagonally-striped
tie in shades of blue, black and gray; black & white (maybe brown
& white) wing-tip shoes and a tan (or a straw) fedora.

(2) Light blue-gray jacket, a tropical shirt in shades of blue, gray
and green; dark-gray trousers, and the same wing-tip shoes.




Al Trivia:
Al carried a cigar throughout most of this episode.

He used the multi-colored 'candy-cube' handlink in this episode.



 

Al's Women:
Al was impressed with Marty's marital set-up to the point that he told Sam, "I think I found a new idol. Just think, if I'd done it like Marty, I could've gone
through ten wives instead of five!"

He recalls a trip to Cleveland with Ruthie. They used a massage bed for nine hours straight!

Al likes Ellen better than Rachel, which is very surprising to Sam.




Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode:
(1) Red jacket; a red, black & white patterned shirt; white trousers;
white shoes; lapel pin; red fedora with a black band, and a
black-banded watch with a round face.

(2) Pinkish-rose satin jacket with what looks like leather panels
(dyed the same color) on the sleeves; dark-pink shirt, black
pants and belt; a dark-rose string tie and black shoes.

(3) White suit, a patterned shirt in dark shades of olive, brown
and orange; a square pin at the throat, and white socks and shoes.







Miscellaneous Trivia:

The title of this episode refers to the book, "A Tale of Two Cities."

Woody Woodpecker was created in 1941 by Walter Lantz, one
of the early pioneers of animation. Mel Blanc (best known
as the voice of Bugs Bunny) did the voice of Woody in the
early years, but in the 1950s, Gracie Lantz (Walter's wife)
secretly auditioned for and got the nod to take over doing
Woody's voice. Production of new Woody cartoons ceased in 1975.

---

Trivia about Marty Elroy:

1. Had 3 wives: Ellen, Rachel and Gina (wife #3 who shows
up just before Sam leaps out);

2. Had 3 homes in 3 different states (all 3 of which support
horse racing and/or dog racing): Florida, New York, and
(this is a guess based on Gina's accent) Kentucky;

3. Married into 3 different faiths: Catholic (Ellen - married
by Father Robert Murphy), Jewish (Rachel -married by Rabbi
Barry Goldstein), and, mostly likely, Baptist (Gina - married
by Reverend 'whoever'); and last, but by no means least,

4. 2 children with each wife: Marty, Jr. and Mary with Ellen;
Josh and Jessica with Rachel, and a boy and girl with Gina.




Crew:


Writer: Robin Jill Bernheim


Director: Christopher Hibler


Producers:
Supervising: Richard Oakie and Harker Wade
Co-Executive: Deborah Pratt and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Producer: Robin Jill Bernheim




Regular Cast:
Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett
Dean Stockwell as Al Calavicci




Guest Stars:

Mary Lou Childs as Ellen Louise Ellroy
Jill Tracy as Rachel Thelma Ellroy
Ashley Peldon as Jessica Ellroy
J.D. Daniels as Josh Ellroy
Shay Astar as Mary Ellroy
Michael Bellisario as Martin Ellroy, Jr.
Larry Manetti as Vic
J.C. Wendel as Receptionist
Jack Yates as Gus
Kristie Transeau as Gina
David Bellisario as Commentator
Uncredited as
Martin Joseph "Marty" Ellroy, Sr.





Guest Cast Notes:

At the age of six Ashley' Peldon was the youngest child ever to be nominated for an Emmy award. Ashley worked with Scott Bakula in the animated film "Cats Don't Dance"; she was the speaking voice of 'Darla Dimple'.

Kristie Transeau is a co-founder of the Women's Theater Alliance.


ASHLEY PELDON - (Jessica):
The Mommies (1993)
Guiding Light (1989-1991)
Undressed (2001)
That '70s Show (2001)
Tucker (2001)
The Pretender (1996 - 2000)
Home Improvement (1997)
Ellen (1996)
The Pretender (1998)
Skinwalker (2003)
GHOST WORLD (2000)
Can I Play? (1998)
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998 - voice)
Waking Up Horton (1998)
With Friends Like These (1998)
Cats Don't Dance (1997) - speaking voice of Darla Dimple)
The Westing Game (1997)
The Crucible (1996)
Black Scorpion (1995)
Jake's Women (1995)
The Secretary (1995)
Without Warning (1994)
Shameful Secrets (1993)
Going Underground (1994)
Child of Rage (1992)


J. D. DANIELS - (Josh):
The Little Mermaid (1992) - Little Manta Ray
Going Places (1990) - Nick Griffin
Hey Arnold! (1996)
Gargoyles (1995 - 1996)
Burke's Law (1995)
The Nanny (1994 - 1995)
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1994)
Mad About You (1994)
Full House (1993)
Going Places (1991)
Kate & Allie (1989)
Gargoyles (1994 - 1996)
Roswell (1994)
Beanstalk (1994)
Man's Best Friend (1993)
The Pickle (1993)
CB4 (1993)


J.C. WENDEL (Receptionist):
Dave's World (1993)
Diagnosis Murder (2000)
The Love Boat: The Next Wave (1999)
Clueless 1998)
The X-Files (1997)
Caroline in the City (1997)


JACK YATES - (Gus):
JAG (1997)
Sisters (1995)
Parker Lewis Can't Lose (1993)
The Golden Girls (1991)
Knots Landing (1990)
Good Grief (1990)
Knots Landing (1990)
Married ... with Children (1989)
Matt Houston (1984)
The Dukes of Hazzard (1983)
M*A*S*H (1983)
The Powers of Matthew Star (1982)
McClain's Law (1982)


JILL TRACY - (Rachel):
In the Wake (2000)
Above Freezing (1998)
Over My Dead Body (1990)
Scrubs (2003)
Spin City (2000 & 2002)
Law & Order (1998)
Murphy Brown (1994)
Melrose Place (1992)
Over My Dead Body (1990)


KRISTIE TRANSEAU - (Gina, the 3rd wife)
Paulie (1998)
Dancing On The Edge
Flesh and Blood
Unsolved Mysteries


LARRY MANETTI - (Vic, the bookie):
Magnum, P.I. (1980)
The Duke (1979)
Black Sheep Squadron (1976)
JAG (1997 & 1999)
Walker, Texas Ranger (1999)
The Net (1999)
Cobra (1994)
Street Justice (1993)
Swamp Thing (1992)
Raven (1992)
Magnum, P.I. (1987)
Tales from the Darkside (1986)
Hotel (1984)
Fantasy Island (1982)
The Rockford Files (1979)
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
Starsky and Hutch (1975)
Barnaby Jones (1974)
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
The Streets of San Francisco (1974 & 1976)


MARY LOU CHILDS - (Ellen):
The Powers That Be (1993)
Babes (1991)
Head of the Class (1990)


MICHAEL BELLISARIO - (Martin, Jr.):
JAG (1998 - 2003)
Quantum Leap (1993)
Quantum Leap (1993)
Quantum Leap (1991)
Tales of the Gold Monkey (1983)
JAG (1995)
Quantum Leap (1989)


SHAY ASTAR - (Mary Ellroy):
The Oz Kids (1996 - voice)
The Good Life (1994)
3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-1999)
ER (1995)
Boy Meets World (1995)
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992)
Designing Women (1992)
China Beach (1991)
Jake and the Fatman (1991)
Christmas in Oz (2000 - voice)
Who Stole Santa? (2000 - voice)
Deal of a Lifetime (1999)
The Nome Prince and the Magic Belt (1999 - voice)
Toto Lost in New York (1999 - voice)
Seduced By Madness (1996)
Samantha (1992)
Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)







Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes:
J. D. Daniels also appeared in "Mirror Image" as one of the 2 boys working on their bikes outside of Al's Place.

Michael Bellisario made three other appearances in Quantum Leap: "Camakazi Kid", "Play Ball", and "Mirror Image".






Personal Review:
I loved the way that Donald Bellisario took not one but two
serious subjects, bigamy and gambling, and still managed to
make a funny and entertaining episode around them. He didn't
shove morality or personal opinions about either subject
down our throats. Yet with just the right amount of both
comedy and honesty, "A Tale Of Two Sweeties" still got across
some of the all too real ramifications common to each, such
as the effect it has on a marriage, finances, and even more how
it can affect the children of such marriages. Marty's marriages
to Ellen and Rachel ended, but at least this time they and their
kids all apparently came out with a better future.

But you know, I wonder... did Gina get wise to Marty and change
the locks on her door, too?




Best Lines:

Rachel: "I know another way to make the bed shake."
---
Al: "A Massage-O-Matic! I remember one time Ruthie and I were
in Cleveland and we had one of those things running for nine
hours straight. There was nothing else to do."
---
Al: "Well, I was talking to the real Marty. I think I've found
a new idol."
---
Sam: "Whoever said 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned',
never scorned two women."
---
Al: "I think I better go get Ziggy to see if she can tilt
these odds."
---
Sam: "I decided honesty was the best policy."
Al: "For Boy Scouts, not for bigamists!"
---
Al: "Ohhh....they're bonding! That's bad! Sam, the train
is going in the wrong direction!"





Best scenes:

First 'best' scene:

[Rachel's just fallen for Sam's 'note' lure to get her out
of the beauty shop. Al pops in beside Sam.]

**********

Al: "Sam, that note idea is brilliant. I'm impressed."

Sam: "Thanks."

Al: "Thanks? So?"

Sam: "So?"

Al: "So what'd the note say?"

Sam: "All the right things."

Al: "Like?"

Sam: "Believe me, she'll love the note."

Al: "Ah, okay."

Sam: "Al, I figured it out. I know why I'm here. I know
what Marty doesn't know."

Al: "Oh. Well, tell me, tell me, tell me!"

Sam: "No."

Al: "No?"

Sam: "No."

Al: "No?!"

Sam: "I can't."

Al: "Why not?"

Sam: "You're biased."

Al: "No, I'm not!"

Sam: "I know who you're rooting for."

Al: "No, you don't!"

Sam: "Yes, I do. And I don't want to argue about it."

Al: "Sam! Tell me... who gets him?"

Sam: "You'll find out tonight at six."



And, the second 'best' scene is:

[Ellen's just invited Rachel to the house for coffee,
Al's chuckling and Sam's very quietly exulting.]

**********

Sam (under his breath): "Yes! Yes!"

Al: "Great."

[He sees Sam's victory reaction.]

Al: "You know something."

[He crosses to Sam]

Al: "You know something."

Sam (wearing a sort of smug little smile): "Um, hmm. What?"

Al: "I don't believe this! You figured out that you leapt in
to blow Marty's scam, and you didn't tell me!"

[He gets in Sam's face.]

Al: "You knew! You knew, Sam! You knew, and you didn't tell me!"

Sam: "Would you have listened to me?"





Say What?

Sam drops his handkerchief slower than Marty does in a mirror shot.

February 25th in reality is a Tuesday, but Ellen says it's Friday night.

Sam reflects Scott Bakula in a glass door when he talks to Martin, Jr.




Quotable Quotes:

Whoever said 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned',
never scorned two women.
-- Sam

Al, I'm a bigamist!
-- Sam

Have fun with Ellen, but don't be late for Rachel.  This is my kind of leap!
-- Al

This is my kind of leap.
-- Al

I was talking to the guy in the waiting room, I think I found a new idol.
-- Al

I decided honesty would be the best policy.
For boy scouts, not bigamists!
-- Sam and Al


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