“Pool Hall Blues – September 4, 1954” is episode eighteen of season two of Quantum Leap.
At the end of the previous episode, “Good Night, Dear Heart – November 9, 1957”, Sam leaped into someone playing pool for money. The other man bets he can’t sink the 8 ball for $300. And he doesn’t.
At this point, another man, Grady, wants to tell the second player something. That Sam is Charlie ‘Black Magic’ Walton, the greatest pool player in the world. The woman who was singing comes over and tells Sam to give the other player his money back. The other bets more, but Sam bluffs him down. The other also seems to be a fan of ‘Magic’; Sam doesn’t remember anything he is supposed to have done of course.
Another man, Eddie, comes over. It seems he owns the marker for the pool hall they’re in and it’s due in two days. When he’s gone, the woman, Violet – Magic’s granddaughter – and Grady check Sam’s eyes, saying the look different.
Al shows up and starts gushing over Magic’s cue, Alberta. Named after Magic’s wife. They head to the men’s room and Al explains he met Magic over 40 years ago when he ran away from the orphanage. He tried picking Magic’s pocket but Magic didn’t turn him in. Instead, Al travelled with Magic until he was busted for playing in a white zone. Al says the months he spent with Magic turned his life around.
Violet borrowed money to change the pool hall into a blues club and Eddie bought the marker so he’d play a game against Magic. Eddie doesn’t think he will lose, because he knows Magic’s eyesight is gone. However, Sam has perfect vision. He doesn’t know how to shoot pool, though.
Violet is removing a lamp over the pool table when Grady objects. Apparently, it’s got history with Magic. Sam thinks they can go to the bank to get a loan to pay back Eddie. They have apparently already tried that and Al says a single black woman in the 50s doesn’t stand a chance.
They head to the bank and do manage to speak to a loan officer. But a pool hall and blues club and good businesses to lend against. Hearing they need the loan to pay off a loan shark doesn’t go down so well either. Violet agrees that borrowing money from a loan shark wasn’t the best way. It was the only way. They still get declined.
Violet thinks the only option is to give Eddie what he’s been after since she was 13. Magic can’t see well enough to beat Eddie and this is her dream. Sam won’t let her do that. Which means he’s somehow got to learn how to shoot pool really well in a matter of hours.