“Dead Man Sliding” is episode three (originally shown as episode ten) of season three of Sliders.
The Sliders are in Hollywood and Quinn and the professor are talking about the randomness of where they appear since Logan replaced part of the timer in “Double Cross”. Rembrandt wonders how they can even know it’s Hollywood. Other than the signs. Wade wants them to have fun. Then they spot a loaded wallet on the ground. A woman is watching.
Everyone passing by is avoiding the wallet; the professor suggests because of the security cameras. The woman watching takes a weapon out. Quinn says they should check the wallet for ID and bends down. The woman fires, but hits someone else with what looks like a tranquiliser dart. The professor tells Quinn to put the wallet down again and he does. The woman is running towards them, but they’re gone when she arrives.
In a hotel, they’re looking at photos Wade had them appear in and talking about stars in this world. On the television is a programme called The Judgement Game, America’s number one gameshow, that lets you be the judge. People are placing bets and Wade comments on the number of wallets lying around where anyone can grab. The professor suggests there’s no crime. Quinn says that with the wallet, people were looking afraid. Rembrandt suggests terrified.
Then the woman from earlier turns up, with a man, and greets Quinn by name. Quinn is handcuffed and Rembrandt tasered, then Quinn is tranked. The woman tells them if they interfere, they will play the game too. The professor runs out after them, but they’re gone. Wade and Rembrandt come out; apparently the woman is allowed to do that. The bartender said Quinn is heading to the show.
Quinn is trying to tell the woman, Taryn, that he isn’t who she thinks he is. She agrees, to an extent; the Mallory she knows would never have done this. Her boss says he’ll pit Quinn on today’s show and settle up with Taryn. Is she a bounty hunter? No, a contestant coordinator.
The others arrive at The Judgement Game as a man is being caned in front of a crowd, and cameras, for spray-painting. They try and get in and are told that only one is allowed inside, as their friend’s advocate. Quinn is brought out onto the show, a returning contestant, now being tried for murder. Guilty or innocent, will he live or die? You’ll decide! The viewing audience is the jury. The Quinn of this world is watching. The professor enters as Quinn’s advocate, to boos, and has to swear he’s never been an attorney, been to law school, taken the LSAT or the bar in any way. The other side is Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, as himself, who reads Quinn’s previous crimes. The professor objects, using legal knowledge. Apparently not allowed. Lawyers were banned.
There’s a video of Quinn attacking someone, possibly killing them since this is a murder trial. Wade and Rembrandt outside think it looks bad. A man tells them the tape doesn’t mean anything; this is an LA audience and Quinn might not be the first guilty guy to beat a murder rap. They decide to break in.
The professor is speaking, and getting food thrown at him. He retreats and tells Quinn that all they want is entertainment, not the truth. So they should make the truth entertaining, by telling them who they are wand where they came from.
This goes well, but this is a gameshow with only limited time, and time runs out. Punishment is very swift on this world, which means the sentence will be carried out the next day. Wade finds Taryn and tries to convince her that something must be different about this Quinn to the one she’s met before. They don’t have long to sort things out before Quinn is executed, though.