“Star-Crossed – June 15, 1972” is episode three of season one of Quantum Leap.
There’s a new introduction, by Sam this time, in which he recaps some of the events of “Genesis” and “Genesis: Part II”, explaining how he is putting right things that went wrong. And just about the time he starts to enjoy being a hero, the big guy with the remote-control switches channel on him.
Sam has arrived in a classroom full of young women. He appears to be the professor and he drops said professor’s pipe. Sam thinks he needs to figure out who he is, where he is and why all the young women are staring at him as if he’s Tom Cruise. Going by a response to a question, it seems they were studying Wuthering Heights. And his name is Dr Bryant. The women are talking and one asks Sam what he thinks. Fortunately, he’s saved by the bell. And there’s no class tomorrow.
Outside, Sam is looking at Dr Gerald Bryant’s ID when one of the young women comes up to him. She’s been trying to get him alone all afternoon. Her name, Jamie-Lee, is fortunately on one of her books. She repeats a quote from Bryant’s lecture on expressing love, to the extent that Sam says that as he’s a teacher and she’s a student, there should be no fraternising. Which is apparently not what he said last night. Then Sam sees a student he recognises – Donna Eleese – and realises he’s at Lawrence. Sam starts heading off and Jamie-Lee asks where he’s going. To the Rathskeller. Jamie-Lee tells him it’s closed. Donna works there.
Back at Bryant’s home and Sam sees Bryant in the mirror. It wouldn’t seem to be looks that have the young women doting on him. So, it might be words. Jamie-Lee is telling him their love will conquer all. She told her father everything. He’s going to have Sam horsewhipped. And Oscar, a Neanderthal from Ohio State, promised to kill Sam with his bare hands.
Jamie-Lee is lighting Bryant’s pipe. Al is now there. Jamie-Lee mentions Romeo and Juliette and Al says Juliette committed suicide. When Sam repeats the word, Jamie-Lee thinks a love pact is romantic. Jamie-Lee asks what else they can do. The kettle is whistling and Sam suggests having a cup of tea.
With Jamie-Lee out of the room, Al tells Sam this is an easy one. He can be out of there quickly. Sam doesn’t want to leave quickly. Jamie-Lee returns and he suggests she take her tea back to her room. Sam finally manages to get her out of the door talking and Lancelot and Guinevere, and he will see her again when the moon rises over Camelot.
Al tells Sam that Bryant marries Jamie-Lee on June 20th. A shotgun wedding; Al even gives the gauge of the shotgun used. Sam is here to ensure they don’t marry. Sam says that isn’t the reason. Donna Eleese is here; he can have a second chance. The woman he loves in the future and o-one, not even Al, can stop him from having a second chance.
Al tells him this breaks Sam’s own rule about a time traveller not taking advantage of his position to improve or alter his life. Sam says he rescinds it. This apparently can’t be done without committee approval. And the committee is trying to get him declared non compos mentis. They head into the Rathskeller – the black light makes Al look like a ghost – and Sam sees Donna. When he knew her, she was just turning thirty. There was a weeding. Sam didn’t show. Al says Sam did; Donna didn’t. Al can’t tell Sam personal data, or he will be removed.
Al bails and Sam speaks to Donna. She thinks Bryant is trying something for her to get an A – she can manage that by doing the work – even though it seems she knows how Sam likes his burgers. Sam telling Donna to gaze into his eyes and see another soul doesn’t work either.
Then a young man says he’s there to break Sam’s face. Well, Bryant’s. This is Oscar. Sam wants to talk. If Oscar doesn’t like what he has to say, he can always break his face afterwards. Sam tries to convince Oscar that Jamie-Lee is infatuated by Oscar, and that he needs to be romantic to her. And no, limericks are not poetry and telling a woman she makes you horny is not romantic. Oscar thinks it’s rubbish, but is willing to try.
That night, Jamie-Lee climbs through Bryant’s window. Dressed as Guinevere. Al thinks Sam brought this one on himself. She’s been waiting for the moon to rise over Camelot. And, it seems, Bryant has a Lancelot costume. And other things, involving rubber and leather, according to Al who is admiring them in the cupboard.
Sam’s real mission is to get Jamie-Lee and Oscar together. Which would likely be easier if he wasn’t also trying to help Donna no longer fear commitment. And going against the rules Sam himself set up in the process, which gets Al into trouble.