Soon, she is being asked to appear on television shows. However, the round of publicity begins to take an unpleasant turn. Gladys explains she obtained the signs simply in order to, "Make a name for herself," but does not seem to be aware she is being treated as a figure of fun. Evan Adams III, however, decides she is ripe for exploitation as, "The average American girl," and hires her to do a series of advertisements for Adams Soap. As Gladys pursues what is becoming a lucrative career, relations between her and Pete become strained. At the same time, Adams is showing an increasing interest in her. The situation reaches a crisis when Gladys breaks a date with Pete and his parents in order to attend what Adams says is a business conference to discuss a cross-country publicity tour. The conference turns out to be an attempted seduction. As Adams reaches to embrace Gladys, she spills a full glass of champagne down the back his neck, breaking the spell. Gladys says, "I don't mind the way you're acting, exactly. What I mind is the way you give the idea you're sort of "entitled."" Adam then says, "Maybe I am. Oh, sure, if you want to make it into a sort of business proposition. That's what you're doing, isn't it?" Gladys says, "The way it looks to me, Mr. Adams, is that there are two sorts of people. The people who will do anything to make a name for themselves, and the people who will do almost anything. Soon there will be signs all over saying I'm the average American girl. That was your idea wasn't it? Well, I don't think the average American girl should do... "this"" then Gladys walks out.