Killin’ Time – Episode 80

Killin’ Time was the fifth episode of Quantum Leap’s fifth season to air, with Sam holding a family hostage while a serial killer escapes from Quantum Leap in 1999. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss what the future looks like.



Sam leaps into Leon Stiles (Cameron Dye) during a hostage situation. Having killed a number of police officers during an escape from custody, Stiles has now taken refuge in the home of Carol Pruitt (Connie Ray) and has captured Carol and her young daughter Becky (Beverley Mitchell). Outside, Sheriff Hoyt (Jim Haynie) is armed and ready to take revenge for Stiles’ killing his daugher.


Meanwhile in 1999, Stiles disarms a guard and goes on the run in an entirely unfamiliar future. Making his way to the subtly named ‘Sex World’, he makes the acquaintance of a sex worker (Carolyn Lowery), one of the few dynamics he can get his head around. With Al in pursuit, Stiles realises he needs to get back to his own time.


Killin’ Time was directed by Michael W. Watkins, the last of his six episodes for the show. The writer was again Tommy Thompson, the tenth of his thirteen Quantum Leap tales.


In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the merits of de-escalation.


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You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.


Killin’ Time was released in 1992. It is 46 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on NBC’s Peacock streaming service in the UK and in the United States. The show is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries.