'Mirror Image' Story Code '68126' by Donald P. Bellisario

8th August 1953: Arriving in a mining town in Pennsylvania, Sam is stunned to find that he has leaped into himself as an adult – at the exact time and date that he was born. Entering ‘Al’s Tavern’ he meets the enigmatic owner-bartender who appears to know all about Sam’s time-travelling exploits, a Ukranian cripple named Stawpah who may be another leaper, and several coal-miners who bear an uncanny resemblance to people Sam met during his leaps. Back at Project Quantum Leap, Al and Gushi realise that with no-one in the Waiting Room, Sam must have leaped into himself; unable to locate him, they fear that Sam is now somewhere lost in time… Back at the tavern, Sam’s attempts to unravel his situation are interrupted by an explosion at the mine shaft; two men are trapped in the tunnels, but the mine’s boss, Collins, refuses to allow anyone to attempt a rescue because it is too dangerous. Is Sam there to save the miners? What is real or imaginary? And is Al the bartender the higher power responsible for Sam’s leaping – or does the key to Sam’s destiny lie within himself..?

Scott Bakula (Doctor Samuel ‘Sam’ Beckett), Dean Stockwell (Rear Admiral Albert ‘Al’ Calavicci), Bruce McGill (Al the Bartender), John DiAquino (Tonchi), Dan Butler (Mutta), W. Morgan Sheppard (Bearded Gushie), Stephen McHattie (Stawpah), Dennis Wolfberg (Gushie), Richard Herd (Miner Ziggy Ziganovich), Susan Diol (Beth), Mike Genovese (Mr. Collins), Kevin McDermott (Kruger), Ferdinand Carangelo (Ghee), Brad Silverman (Pete), James Whitmore Jr. (Police Captain)

Directed by James Whitmore Jr.
Executive Producer Donald P. Bellisario

TX (US): 5th May 1992

Notes:
*Featuring Doctor Samuel ‘Sam’ Beckett and Rear Admiral Albert ‘Al’ Calavicci

*This episode has no opening series-recap, and uses the title sequence and music from season 4

*The final on-screen caption says "Dr. Sam Becket never returned home" – you’d think after five seasons they could spell his surname correctly wouldn’t you??