“Luck of the Draw” is episode ten (and was originally shown as that) of season one of Sliders and the season finale.
Wade has decided to keep a journal of their experiences, to keep some kind of record of what they’ve encountered. The San Francisco of the latest world they’ve arrived in seems like a small town. In the 18 hours they’ve been here, they haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t look content.
The Sliders are looking at the, extremely cheap, prices at a fruit and veg stall when the professor discovers he’s lost his wallet. Which a skateboarder promptly returns to him. There appears to be no crime, pollution, poverty or racial strife, and there’s a lottery that will give out money whenever wanted. Sadly, they are only in town for three days.
The Sliders are asking a man how the lottery works. The more money you take, the more chances you have to win it; free money from an ATM equals entries in The Lottery. Rembrandt likes the idea; the professor warns him to be careful to take no more than needed as they know nothing of this world. Rembrandt takes $5,000; Arturo, $5. Wade takes $1,000. As they leave, the man they were speaking to says to another that you have to admire high rollers. May they rest in peace. Well, that’s not a worrying comment.
The professor asks a couple about taxis. Apparently, there are public cars you can use when you need. Whilst having a picnic, Quinn is reading. There are only 500 million people on the world, less than 100,000 in San Francisco. The professor suggests a smaller population is an antidote to the ills of civilisation.
Wade and Quinn head to ride horses whilst the other two go fishing. Quinn clotheslines himself on a branch and suggests they rest a bit. Wade thinks the place feels like home, a great place to raise kids. She’s tired of Sliding and thinks they will never get home. Better to stay someplace good than be stuck somewhere terrible if the timer gives up. She’s thinking about staying; Quinn isn’t.
In their motel room, after a comment on the news by Thomas Malthus, the professor explains who he was and how this world seems to have taken his warnings to heart. The Lottery comes on. Each winner will get $5 million and unlimited white card privileges, the card only winners can get. And Wade wins.
In a limo with The Lottery’s host, Geoff Edwards (a real presenter playing a fictional role), the host says that Wade will ride in limos for the rest of her life. There are no more poor people and the white card allows a lottery winner to get anything from any merchant. It’s society’s way of saying thank you. Quinn asks the important question; thank you for what? For playing The Lottery. Quinn looks uncertain.
Wade enjoys herself getting things when Geoff tells her another winner, Julianne Murphy, would like to join them. Rembrandt goes over to her and starts babbling. Quinn bails and Wade follows. Quinn is uncertain and admits he is a bit worried Wade will stay.
The Lottery winners have a ball and the professor escorts Wade there, Quinn not having returned yet. Rembrandt is already there with Julianne. The professor comments that security seems tight for a gala and is told that it’s in case the Right to Lifers cause a disturbance. Wade is given some forms to fill; beneficiary forms for her next of kin. Another winner, a man who introduces himself as Ryan (Nicholas Lea), explains he left his winnings to the Sierra Club.
Quinn arrives outside and runs into some of the Right to Life protesters, who give him a pamphlet. What he reads worries him greatly. Inside, some comments by Geoff are worrying the professor. The professor was right to originally be concerned about taking too much money. They do know nothing of this world, which means they don’t know things others take for granted. There have been various comments throughout that suggest there is more to The Lottery than the Sliders think. And there are.
The episode ends on a cliff-hanger leading into season two and “Into the Mystic”.