“What Price Gloria? – October 16, 1961” is episode four of season two of Quantum Leap.
The leap that Sam does isn’t the one that follows on from the last episode, “The Americanization of Machiko – August 4, 1953”, but the one from the season one finale, “Play It Again, Seymour – April 14, 1953”.
Sam has leaped into someone also called Sam, who’s in the bath when a young woman, Gloria, enters. The Sam he’s leaped into, though, is called Samantha. Al appears; he appreciates Samantha’s appearance.
Sam is in Detroit and he and Gloria are heading to work; Samantha sounds like a bit of a gold digger. They work for a car company and Gloria is upset because Buddy got a promotion and didn’t tell her. Nor did he ask Gloria to be his secretary. Buddy is the man she’s seeing, and he’s also married.
Sam is at Samantha’s desk, not appreciating the mail boy trying to hit on Sam, when Buddy asks her to come into his office. He then locks the door. And invites her out to drinks to celebrate her new position. Sam’s natural inclination is to punch him, but he has to act like Samantha. Buddy has never heard of sexual harassment, but he likes the sound of it. Sam suggests he see his wife. He says she won’t be sober enough to say hello when he gets home.
Buddy told Sam to put on some makeup, which he’s attempting to do in the bathroom when Al startles him. Gloria comes in; Buddy explained everything. He wants to marry her. Sam points out Buddy is already married. Al says that’s why Sam is here. Gloria says that Buddy told her he’s going to leave his wife. Al says no to that. Gloria is happy, but when she’s gone, Al says that when she finds out Buddy won’t marry her, she commits suicide.
Gloria tells Sam that if anyone other than her best friend was working as Buddy’s secretary, she’d be worried. Sam remarks that if it was anyone else, she’d have good reason. Gloria says that Buddy loves her and she loves him. His wife is a monster who drinks and fights and doesn’t care about their kids and is having an affair.
Sam attends a meeting with Buddy and his boss, Ted, where Buddy is talking about the new designs of cars. Ted wants to know what the public will want in 5-10 years. Buddy thinks more of the same. Sam asks about the fuel economy; Ted thinks that’s a point. But Buddy doesn’t.
Sam is making coffee for them both when Gloria talks to him. Buddy is going to come by tonight and she’d like Sam to head to the movies, so she and Buddy can plan their future. Sam doesn’t think Buddy is going to be planning anything.
Gloria is convinced that Buddy is going to marry her, but Sam is rightfully less convinced. And can’t seem to talk Gloria out of her beliefs.