The Stockholm Syndrome

"The Stockholm Syndrome" is the twenty-fourth episode of the twelfth season and the series finale of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The final episode aired on Thursday, May 16, 2019, the second of two episodes to air that night.

Summary
Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time; Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret; Sheldon and Amy stick together; and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future.

Extended Plot
Two after receiving Sheldon and Amy’s Nobel Prize news, Sheldon and Leonard are seen repairing the DNA model after 139.5 hours of work. Leonard actually found it enjoyable. Sheldon has constructed the genetic code for an advanced race of human beings. Penny and Amy come in with the dresses they were going to wear to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. Amy’s had to be let in and Penny’s had to be let out which thrilled Amy. Penny thanked her friends for the clothes and the airline tickets. Amy added that that was so important for their friends to share the moment with them. The Coopers go back to Apartment 4B so Amy can show him the dress and he can practice his speech. Leonard asked Penny if Amy suspected anything on why she needed her dress let out. No. She is  expecting. Both are thrilled and it happened after she went drinking with Sheldon. It's partly his fault.

Bernadette is talking to her son Neil about going away for a few days as she picks him up. Howard brings in Halley who is a big girl who just went on the potty. They feel good about leaving them with Stuart and Denise, though Bernadette hopes she doesn’t miss Neil's first words. It the first time in years they will be away and alone together. In their hotel on their big bed they plan to....sleep their asses off.

Raj is leaving Cinnamon in the care of Bert. He hopes that he can attract girls with her. Bert also wants to know where he can get another one just like her, in case she dies on him. Just kidding. Bert will just tell a worried Raj that she died if she does.

Amy is in her dress and tops it off with her tiara. Sheldon begins reading his speech very fast to get it under 90 minutes. Amy suggests cutting the story of his childhood. He also lists lots of people who said that he'd never win a Nobel. He figured that they would rue the day and he wants to make sure that they are filled with rue. Amy feels that the Nobel should he accepted with humility. Sheldon thinks that humility is for all those other Nobel Prizes (peace, chemistry, literature, etc.) and not the one for physics.

Before heading to the airport Sheldon explains that they are all ambassadors for him and Amy and that they must be on their best behavior. Amy gives them tips on how to interact with the Swedish people. Be punctual. Shake everyone's hand when social events start and are completed. Sheldon reminds Penny to watch her alcohol intake since it’s free on the plane in business class. Penny says that she won't be drinking. Bernadette asks if she is pregnant. No. She just doesn't drink went she flies. They get ready to leave and try to find various ways to get people and luggage into the newly operating elevator. Finally the luggage goes down by itself and the people end up walking down the stairs for the last time.

On the plane, Bernadette is doing fine watching Jack Reacher movies, until Howard mentions how they are getting further and further away from their children. She knows that everything is fine. "So the Force is with her?" asks Howard. Bernadette uses the Jedi mind trick to make him stop annoying the woman. Raj thinks that Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is sitting next to him. Penny is feeling sick and runs back to the lavatory. Sheldon is worried that she has a stomach bug, but Amy figures that its just air sickness. Penny comes back out and then runs back in. Sheldon goes to Leonard to complain about Penny and that he doesn’t want to get sick on the greatest day of his life. Penny shows up and then tells him that she is rally pregnant as Leonard breaks into a big smile. Sheldon is happy that he can't catch that and shocks them by just leaving. He goes back and tells Amy that Penny is just pregnant. A peeved Leonard goes back to Sheldon complaining that the woman who has loved and cared for him for twelve years says that she is pregnant and all he cares about is that he's not getting sick. Sheldon just takes it as a recap of what just happened. Amy isn’t happy that Penny didn’t tell her best friend. Bernadette stops by, finds out and calls that news "fantastic". First Amy reminds her that she said she didn't want kids. Penny describes how it happened. She went out drinking with Sheldon…Amy breaks in and asks if they are going to be sister wives. No, it's Leonard's baby. Back with Sheldon, Leonard thinks that congratulations are in order. Sheldon reminds him that Penny didn’t want any kids. Leonard explains that they didn’t want to upstage their day in Stockholm. Sheldon reacts that this is the Nobel Prize and any idiot can have a baby. Leonard calls him a selfish jerk and to hell with his Nobel. Raj pulled the ticket of his neighbor out of her purse and finds out that it is really Sarah Michelle Gellar.

At their hotel, Bernadette Skypes with Stuart who sounds like he lost Halley while playing hide and seek, that she lost a tooth when she rolled down the stairs and Neil has a fever. The Wolowitzes look worried.

In Penny’s room she is eating everything including pickled herring. Leonard is complaining that after all these years, Sheldon would for once consider other people's feelings. Someone is at the door and Penny hopes that it's her salted cod. Instead it's Sheldon who apologizes and congratulates them on the baby news. Howard joins them and says that they are thinking of heading home since Bernie is having a meltdown about the kids. Leonard and Penny are also heading home because of Sheldon's behavior as long as Penny can get pickled herring on the plane.

All dressed for the ceremony, Sheldon thinks that their friends are being incredibly selfish. Amy tells him that he is the authority on that subject. They are all leaving because he broke their hearts even if Sheldon didn't mean it. The only reason they tolerate him is because they are friends. Amy admits that it is also true for her, sometimes. Sheldon starts thinking about what his wife said.

Penny is still sick from all the food she ate. She is in no shape to head home and they both want to be there for Sheldon and Amy. Penny says that no matter how thoughtless and selfish he is, she still loves Sheldon. He was like their practice kid. Penny likens him to the first pancake that turns out wonky. Leonard says that the university prefers quirky. Howard called and said that they are staying. Her parents came over and took over for Stuart and Denise.

At the Nobel Prize ceremony both Dr. Cooper and Dr. Fowler are presented their medals on stage with the whole gang is watching. The guys cheer and Raj is seen having escorted Sarah Michelle Gellar as his guest, not a date even though he was holding her hand. Amy says what an honor it is to get the Nobel Prize and tells young girls everywhere who are interested in science to go for it. It is the greatest job in the world. Sheldon doesn't hear her and is still thinking. He steps up and mentions his very long self-centered speech, but instead says what an honor it was and that he wouldn't be there without the important people in his life, his family and his friends. He was under the misassumption that his accomplishments were his alone. No, he has been encouraged, sustained, inspired and tolerated by his wife and the greatest group of friends any one ever had. He has them stand up and introduces them. Sheldon calls Leonard and Penny his dearest friends in the world. Recalling the pilot, he remembers when they first met and when Leonard mentioned that they would have smart and beautiful children. And he was sure now that they will because they are expecting. Penny thanks him for letting her parents know. Then he apologizes for not being the friend that they deserve. He tells them that in his own way, he loves them all and also his wife. Sheldon thanks everyone and gives Amy a kiss. The audience applauds as it all ends with a big bang.

The final TBBT scene has everyone eating take-out food and enjoying each other's company as an acoustic version of the theme song is slowly played, with the screen fading to black in the end.

Credits

 * Guest starring:
 * Alfredo Tavares as Pharmacy Rep/Convention Attendee (not in final edit)
 * Kevin Sussman as Stuart
 * Brian Posehn as Bert
 * Cinnamon as Herself
 * as Herself
 * Thomas Albany as King of Sweden
 * Sailah Nicol as Halley Wolowitz
 * Nate Ash as Neil Michael Wolowitz
 * Ulf Bjorlin as Announcer
 * Teleplay: To be entered.
 * Story: To be entered.

Note

 * Title Reference: Sheldon was thinking Penny is ill on the flight to Stockholm, thus the term Stockholm Syndrome.
 * Taping date: April 30, 2019
 * This episode was watched by xx.x million people with a rating of xx.xx (adults 18-49).
 * Total viewers including DVR users TBD million.
 * This episode aired in Canada on May 16, 2019.
 * Chuck Lorre's vanity card. (last TBBT card)

Critics

 * To be entered.
 * IMDb user review

Trivia

 * Title reference: Stockholm, Sweden is the location of the Nobel Prize ceremony.
 * The final taping date was April 30, 2019. As of April 30, The Big Bang Theory is out of production.
 * This episode aired as the second half of an hour-long series finale event, preceded by "The Change Constant." Following this episode was the season two finale of "Young Sheldon" and a half-hour retrospective of the series, hosted by Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki.
 * The final scene of the Young Sheldon season two finale (which was also Nobel-themed) tied into The Big Bang Theory by showing a montage of Leonard, Penny, Raj, Howard, Bernadette, and Amy as children, with ' "" playing in the background, showing that despite 10-year-old Sheldon's fears, he was not destined to be alone and friendless the rest of his life.
 * This episode takes place two months after the previous episode, "The Change Constant."
 * Leonard states that he and Sheldon worked 139&frac12; hours rebuilding the DNA model. This is a subtle reference to the number of TBBT episodes that have been produced (including this one): 139½ hours divided by 30 minutes (i.e. 0.5 hours) equals 279.
 * This episode is the first and only time that the Wolowitz children, Halley and Neil, are actually seen. In previous episodes, only their crying could be heard off-screen (with Halley's cries an eerie reflection of her late grandmother, Debbie Wolowitz).
 * Sheldon showed a marked regression in his behavior as the pressure of winning the Nobel weighed on him, contrasting with the growth he had shown over the last few seasons. But, just like many scientific discoveries, he made a giant leap forward in the end, culminating in his Nobel acceptance speech where he admitted that he couldn't have done everything without the love and support of his friends.
 * Although Penny insisted on multiple occasions that she didn't want to have children, she and Leonard are finally expecting a child, thanks to them fooling around after she got drunk with Sheldon at the Cheesecake Factory in the previous episode. This seems appropriate, as Sheldon and his idiosyncrasies have always been in the middle of their relationship. Despite this, Penny has no regrets being pregnant.
 * guest starred as herself, and was Raj's guest at the Nobel ceremony. Gellar is perhaps best known for her role as the title character of the TV series .
 * Gellar and Johnny Galecki both starred in the 1997 film , and though they shared two scenes in this episode (the plane trip and the Nobel ceremony), they did not have any dialogue together.
 * Gellar is married to in real life. This is pointed out by her reminding Raj that they are not on a date, and she is seen wearing a wedding ring on her right hand when she waves to Sheldon. According to executive producer Steve Holland, this was done intentionally in order to avoid confusion, and though Raj and Gellar are "just friends," Raj would likely consider it a win to be able to "spend the evening hanging out with one of his celebrity crushes."
 * The tag scene has no audible dialogue. Instead, it shows the characters gathered around the coffee table in Apartment 4A eating take-out food (a common event throughout the series), while a wistful, acoustic version of the theme song plays.
 * Penny is wearing the same shirt in this scene that she wore in the pilot episode and in "The Recombination Hypothesis," the series' 100th episode.
 * For this scene, the actors ad-libbed their own dialogue, which would be eventually overdubbed with the acoustic theme song. This scene was shot the day before the final taping.
 * As of this episode, Penny's maiden name will remain a mystery.
 * Sheldon's original acceptance speech name-checked his high school science teacher, Hubert Givens (portrayed by on Young Sheldon).
 * When Penny is on the bathroom floor and says, "We’ll be back with the meatballs after a short word from our sponsor"; there are in fact no more commercials left for them to complete their story. This is true as long as you don't count the final epilogue that did not add to the story line.
 * Despite Sheldon's heart felt speech, the main couple Leonard and Penny still get the last word on their friend Sheldon:


 * Penny: It’s so strange. No matter how thoughtless and selfish he is, I still love him.
 * Leonard: If you think about it, he has kind of been our practice kid.
 * Penny: Like when you make pancakes and the first one comes out a little wonky.
 * Leonard: The University prefers “quirky”.


 * As of this episode, the only characters that have appeared in all episodes of the series remain the original four main male cast members: Leonard, Sheldon, Wolowitz, and Koothrappali. If the original unaired Pilot is counted, then in that case, only Leonard and Sheldon have appeared in all episodes.
 * The last line of the show, not counting the different variation of the theme song playing during the epilogue, is "thank you" by Sheldon as he concludes his acceptance speech. Thus, Sheldon has the first and the last lines of the series.
 * The theme song at the end of the episode is sung by Ed Robertson.
 * Even with the elevator fixed, the gang sends the luggage down in it and still have to walk down the stairs one last time.

Quotes

 * Sheldon: Carbon. Hydrogen. Carbon. Carbon. And last, but not least, carbon.
 * Leonard: This might be the glue talking, but that was a very pleasurable 139 and ½ hours.
 * Sheldon: Agreed.
 * Leonard: What kind of DNA is this, anyway?
 * Sheldon: I was trying to design this genetic code of an advanced race of human beings. One of my rare failures actually.
 * Leonard: What went wrong?
 * Sheldon: The balls kept sticking to my pants.
 * Leonard: Let’s just let them dry. [Girls come in.]
 * Sheldon: Hello.
 * Leonard: Hi.
 * Amy: Hey.
 * Penny: Hey, babe.
 * Leonard: Oh, don’t slam the door!
 * Sheldon: Don’t slam the… That was exhilarating!
 * Leonard: You pick up your dresses?
 * Amy: Yep. The tailor had to take mine in and let Penny’s out. Best day of my life.
 * Sheldon: What about the day you met me?
 * Amy: I stand by my statement.
 * Penny: Well, thank you guys so much for the clothes and the shoes, the airline tickets. You’ve been so generous.
 * Amy: Well, it’s important that all our friends get to share this moment with us.
 * Sheldon: And then for years to come you tell others that you has a front row seat to history. Although technically, I think your seats are in the second row.
 * Amy: Do you want to go back to the apartment and see me try on my dress?
 * Sheldon: Shouldn’t I see it for the first time at the Nobel ceremony?
 * Amy: It’s not a wedding.
 * Sheldon: Okay, give me a minute to think of another reason I don’t want to see it.
 * Amy: How about this – you can practice your acceptance speech while I try on the dress.
 * Sheldon: AH great. You can help me whittle it down to 90 minutes.
 * Leonard: Was Amy suspicious when they had to let your dress out?
 * Penny: No. She was so happy she didn’t question it.
 * Leonard: Someone’s gonna figure it out. Why don’t we just tell people?
 * Penny: No, no. It’s too early. I haven’t even wrapped my head around it.
 * Leonard: I have. My head is wrapped…
 * Penny: Yeah, well. If something else had been wrapped we wouldn’t be in this situation.
 * Leonard: Excuse me, but if I recall, you’re the one that went out drinking with Sheldon, then came home and attacked me.
 * Penny: Attacked you? I said: Do you wanna?
 * Leonard: Yeah. I was helpless.
 * Penny: Uh-huh.
 * Leonard: So. Do you wanna?
 * Penny: Well, I can’t get more pregnant.
 * Leonard: We’ll see about that.


 * Bernadette: Now Michael, Mommy and Daddy are going away for a couple of days, so if going to say your first words, you got to do it now or wait till we get back.
 * Howard: Someone just peed in the big girl potty.
 * Bernadette: Oh, I’m so proud. It was her, right?
 * Howard: Yes. You feel good about leaving them with Stuart and Denise for a couple of days.
 * Bernadette: I guess. I just hope we don’t miss Michael’s first words.
 * Howard: Or Stuart’s last words.
 * Bernadette: You realize it’s been years since we got away just the two of us?
 * Howard: I know I can’t wait. Fancy hotel room. The big bed.
 * Bernadette: Yeah. We’re gonna sleep our asses off.


 * Bert: You really think is gonna help me meet girls?
 * Raj: Cinnamon is chick bait.
 * Bert: Good, cause I’m not.
 * Raj: Just remember you’re in charge. Don’t let her pull you.
 * Bert: That seems like an unnecessary thing to say.
 * Raj: And please if you have any problems, any questions, call me immediately. She’s my baby.
 * Bert: It shouldn’t come up, but just in case: where could I buy a dog that looks exactly like her? Kidding. If she dies, I’ll just tell you.


 * Sheldon: Ready?
 * Amy: Oh, hang on. Go.
 * Sheldon: Your majesties, members of the Nobel academy. When I was a young boy growing up in East Texas I always knew I’d wind up on this stage and everybody who said I wouldn’t looks pretty damn foolish right now. I’m talking about high school science teacher Mr. Hubert Givens…
 * Amy: Sheldon. Sheldon. Why are you talking so fast?
 * Sheldon: I’m trying to get my speech down to 90 minutes.
 * Amy: Nobody’s going to understand a word you’re saying.
 * Sheldon: Welcome to my life.
 * Amy: I think you need to do some editing, like maybe cut out all the stuff about your childhood.
 * Sheldon: Are you kidding? Growing up in the backwoods of East Texas is what makes me warm and relatable.
 * Amy: Well, what about all these pages calling out everyone who said you wouldn’t succeed?
 * Sheldon: I told them they would rue the day. How is it going to make me look, if that day finally comes and they’re not filled with rue?
 * Amy: Sheldon, this isn’t about ruing. This is about humbly accepting great honor.
 * Sheldon: Amy, we won the Nobel Prize for Physics. Humility is for the goofy Nobels like Literature, Economics and Peace.
 * Amy: Please tell me that’s not is your speech
 * Sheldon: Oh, I can cut it, but it’s the only joke I have.


 * Sheldon: All right, bagels down. Before we head to the airport I’d like to go over a few things. From the moment we step off the plane, each and every one of you is an ambassador for Amy and myself.
 * Howard: I told you those tickets weren’t free.
 * Sheldon: As such, your behavior must reflect the highest standards. Uh Raj, bagel down.
 * Raj: If my blood sugar drops and I get bitchy, it’s on you.
 * Sheldon: Amy, why don’t you kick us off?
 * Amy: Thank you. The challenging climate of Scandinavia has left its mark on the Swedish character. Those dour latter-day Vikings are slow to warm up to strangers, but if you follow a few easy steps a Swede can be your friend for life.
 * Sheldon: Number one, in Sweden punctuality is taken very seriously. In other words the loosey-goosey attitude in Helsinki will not fly in Stockholm.
 * Amy: Two, at the beginning and end of all business and social meetings shake hands with everyone present – men, women and children.
 * Sheldon: Yes, you’re al encouraged to pair off and practice once were in the air and the seatbelt sign is off. Yes, Penny.
 * Penny: Oh, do we have to go?
 * Sheldon: Yes. And a reminder Penny, there’s free alcohol in business class – don’t abuse it.
 * Penny: Relax. I’m not gonna drink.
 * Bernadette: Why? You pregnant?
 * Penny: What? No. I don’t like to drink when I fly.
 * Bernadette: Please. I’ve seen you drink in the shower.
 * Howard: You guys have showered together?
 * Bernadette: Sometimes you’re just…ech.
 * Howard: That’s wasn’t a no.
 * Sheldon: All right, well. We should head out now if we’re going to get to the airport six hours before boarding. Excuse me? Hello. What did we just learn about the end of business meeting?
 * Group: Oh my good. Huh. Yeah, great. Whatever.


 * Bernadette: (trapped in the elevator) Help me! Help me!


 * Leonard: Hang on.., I have got an idea.
 * (everyone walks down the stairs with the luggage in the elevator.)
 * Sheldon: Well done. You know you’re proving an invaluable part of my entourage.
 * Leonard: Cool.


 * Bernadette: Yeah.
 * Howard: How you doing?
 * Bernadette: Fine. Why?
 * Howard: Well, this is the further we’ve ever been away from the kids. I just checking to see if you were okay.
 * Bernadette: I’m on my second Jack Reacher. I’m doing great.
 * Howard: Good. Me to. I was just looking at the map. Couldn’t help thinking, we’re here and they’re there and if anything happened, we’d have to go to here to get all the way back there.
 * Bernadette: Why are you trying to freak me out?
 * Howard: This is our vacation. I thought we should do things together.
 * Bernadette: Howard, the kids are okay.
 * Howard: How do you know that?
 * Bernadette: I just know. A mother knows.
 * Howard: So what? Now the Force is with you?
 * Bernadette: Let’s see. [Making Jedi hand motion.] This is not the woman you want to annoy.
 * Raj: Howard. Howard.
 * Howard: What?
 * Raj: You see the woman sitting next to me? Is this her? [Sarah Michelle Gellar.]
 * Howard: Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
 * Raj: Shhh. Be cool.
 * Howard: No that’s not her.
 * Raj: Okay. How about now?
 * Penny: Uh-oh. [Heads to toilet.]
 * Sheldon: That’s the fourth time she been in the bathroom in less than two hours.
 * Amy: So?
 * Sheldon: Her breakfast was binding. I made sure of that.
 * Amy: So?
 * Sheldon: She clearly has some sort of stomach distress. If it’s viral we’re all susceptible.
 * Amy: She’s probably just airsick.
 * Sheldon: Yeah, but what if she not. What if we infect the King of Sweden? That’s how wars start! [Penny comes out and returns.] All right. That’s it. This is “Outbreak” and she’s the monkey.
 * Amy: [Softly.] Wait. Stop. Be reasonable.
 * Sheldon: [Sheldon confronts Leonard.] Leonard. We need to do something about your wife.
 * Leonard: What’s the matter?
 * Sheldon: She’s clearly sick and she’s going to take us all down with her.
 * Leonard: She’s not sick, Sheldon.
 * Sheldon: She is and I’m gonna catch it and it’s gonna ruin the greatest day of my life.
 * Leonard: I promise you’re not going to get what she has.
 * Penny: What’s going on?
 * Sheldon: Unclean. Unclean.
 * Penny: What?
 * Leonard: He thinks you’re sick.
 * Penny: Oh. Should we tell him?
 * Leonard: Well, if you don’t, he may try and jump out of the plane.
 * Penny: Yeah. Doesn’t answer my question.
 * Sheldon: Tell me what?
 * Penny: I’m pregnant, Sheldon.
 * Sheldon: You’re right. I can’t catch that. [Sheldon leaves.] Good news, Amy. She’s just pregnant.


 * Leonard: Are you kidding me? You have just found out that a woman who has loved and cared for you for twelve years is pregnant, and all you can say is you’re relieve she’s not gonna get you sick?
 * Sheldon: There’s no need for a recap. I was there.
 * Amy: Why didn’t you tell me?
 * Penny: I didn’t tell anybody.
 * Amy: I’m not anybody. I’m your best friend.
 * Bernadette: What’s going on?
 * Amy: She’s pregnant!
 * Bernadette: That’s fantastic! Why didn’t you tell me?
 * Amy: She didn’t tell me either.
 * Bernadette: But I’m her best friend.
 * Amy: We’ll get into that later. What happened to I’m never going to have kids?
 * Penny: It was an accident. I went out drinking with Sheldon.
 * Amy: Oh my, gosh? We’re sister wives?
 * Penny: No. Then I went home and slept with Leonard.
 * Amy: Fantasying about…
 * Penny: Leonard. And a little Iris Elba. I mean…
 * Bernadette: Oh, yeah.
 * Sheldon: What would you like me to say?
 * Leonard: How about congratulating us?
 * Sheldon: Are congratulations even in order? I didn’t think Penny even wanted children.
 * Leonard: Well, she didn’t. Now she does. And just for you to know, we weren’t going to tell anybody so we wouldn’t upstage your big day.
 * Sheldon: Oh. Please. You could upstage us. We won a Nobel Prize. Any idiot can have a baby.
 * Howard: Hey, what’s going on?
 * Sheldon: Case in point.
 * Leonard: You are a selfish jerk. To hell with you and your Nobel Prize.
 * Raj: I found her boarding pass in her purse. It’s totally her.


 * Bernadette: Hi, Stuart. Just checking in. Seeing if everything’s okay.
 * Stuart: Oh, yeah. We’re having fun. Me, Halley and Denise played hide-and-seek all day. I found Denise right away.
 * Bernadette: Where was Halley hiding?
 * Stuart: Uh, the important thing is that she’s not there now.
 * Bernadette: Okay, so, everyone’s happy and healthy?
 * Stuart: Well, that depends.
 * Bernadette: What’s that mean?
 * Stuart: Uh, how many teeth did Halley have when you left?
 * Howard: All of them!
 * Stuart: Oh, yeah. That’s what I was afraid of.
 * Bernadette: What happened?
 * Stuart: Well, ah, all right. Um, Michael had a little fever last night.
 * Bernadette: Michael had a fever?
 * Stuart: Do you want to hear about Halley or not?
 * Howard: What happened Stuart?
 * Stuart: He was running a little fever, nothing to worry about. Halley, bless her heart, wanted to bring his boo-boo bear, so she climbed over the safety railing and took a little tumble down the stairs.
 * Bernadette: She fell down the stairs?
 * Stuart: She rolled down the stairs; laughing the whole time. Anyway when she got to the bottom, there was a tooth missing.
 * Bernadette: Oh, Stuart.
 * Stuart: She thought it was funny.
 * Howard: Did you at least save it for the tooth fairy?
 * Stuart: No we couldn’t find it. We have a theory about where it is, but it’ll take six to eight hours to confirm. Speaking of which, where do you keep the spaghetti strainer?


 * Penny: Come on, you don’t seriously expect him to react like a normal human being?
 * Leonard: No, but still, after all these years, after all the crap I put up with, you’d think just this once he’d care about someone else’s feelings.
 * Penny: Oh my God!
 * Leonard: What?
 * Penny: Pickled herring. Who knew how good it was?
 * Leonard: Really?
 * Penny: Sound’s gross. Look’s gross. Smell’s gross. It delicious! Oh, that might be my salted cod!
 * Leonard: What?
 * Amy: Sheldon has something he’d like to say.
 * Sheldon: I’m sorry I didn’t react appropriately. You and Penny are bringing new life into the world. Congratulations. I can’t wait to meet it.
 * Leonard: It?
 * Sheldon: That’s a gender-neutral pronoun. If you’re offended take it up with the English language.
 * Howard: Oh, good you’re here. Listen, we’re thinking we may have to go back to LA.
 * Amy: Why?
 * Howard: We just can’t be that far away from the kids. Bernie’s having a meltdown and, frankly, so am I.
 * Sheldon: Yeah, well, pull it together. This is a big day for me.
 * Howard: Yeah, well, I wasn’t sure what to do. Now I am. We’re going home.
 * Leonard: Well, join you.
 * Penny: Oh, wait. Don’t I get a vote in this?
 * Leonard: They’ll have pickled herring on the plane.
 * Penny: Bye-bye.


 * Sheldon: Well. I hate to say it, but I think everyone is being incredibly selfish.
 * Amy: Well, you would be the authority on the subject.
 * Sheldon: What does that mean?
 * Amy: No one is happier than I to win the Nobel. But it’s not more important than our friends.
 * Sheldon: How can you call them friends when they’re abandoning us?
 * Amy: They’re abandoning us because you broke their hearts.
 * Sheldon: I didn’t mean to.
 * Amy: I know! You never mean to. That’s the only reason people tolerate you.
 * Sheldon: Does that include you?
 * Amy: Sometimes, yeah.


 * Penny: [Vomiting.] Okay, that’s it for the fish. We’ll be back with the meatballs after a short word from our sponsor. Oh, thank you. Leonard, I can’t go home. I have to be there for Amy.
 * Leonard: Yeah. I was thinking that, too. As angry as I am at Sheldon, I want to see him win that medal.
 * Penny: It’s so strange. No matter how thoughtless and selfish he is, I still love him.
 * Leonard: If you think about it, he has kind of been our practice kid.
 * Penny: Like when you make pancakes and the first one comes out a little wonky.
 * Leonard: The University prefers “quirky”. [Phone rings.] Hey, it’s Howard. Oh, us, too. Wait, what? They’re gonna stay, too. Bernie’s parents took over. Really? Oh, the poor little guy.
 * Penny: Is Michael okay?
 * Leonard: Yeah, it’s Stuart. Bernie’s Dad gave him a hug and cracked a rib. Yeah, Oaky. We’ll meet you in the lobby. How long is it gonna take you to get ready?
 * Penny: Oh, I just need like, five or ten minutes.
 * Leonard: Really?
 * Penny: No. What is wrong with you?


 * Announcer: And in the field of physics, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler and Dr. Sheldon Cooper for their discovery of super-asymmetry.
 * (Amy and Sheldon thank the medal presenter as the gang applauds, whistles, and whoops)
 * Sarah Michelle Gellar: (to Raj) Just to be clear, this isn't a date.
 * Raj: I know!
 * Sarah Michelle Gellar: Then why are you holding my hand? (holds her hand up, which Raj sheepishly releases)
 * Amy: Thank you, your majesties. Thank you to the Nobel committee. We are deeply honored. I would just like to take this moment to say to all the young girls out there who dream about science as a profession: go for it! It is the greatest job in the world, and if anybody tells you you can't, don't listen.
 * (Amy turns to Sheldon, who is staring contemplatively into the audience)
 * Amy: And now, speaking of not listening, my husband, Dr. Sheldon Cooper. (pausing, as Sheldon is still distracted) Sheldon?
 * Sheldon: Oh, did you finish? Great job. (steps to podium) Thank you, Dr. Fowler. (to audience) I have a very long and somewhat self-centered speech here... (stares at his friends) ...but I'd like to set it aside. (the gang cheers and applauds) Because this honor doesn't just belong to me. I wouldn't be up here if it weren't for some very important people in my life, beginning with my mother, father, Meemaw, brother, and sister... and my other family, who I'm so happy to have here with us... (points) Is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
 * (Sarah Michelle Gellar waves while Raj nods excitedly)
 * Sheldon: I was under a misapprehension that my accomplishments were mine alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated, not only by my wife, but by the greatest group of friends anyone ever had. I'd like to ask them to stand. Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali... Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz... astronaut Howard Wolowitz... and my two dearest friends in the world, Penny Hofstadter and Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I was there the moment Leonard and Penny met. He said to me that their babies would be smart and beautiful, and now that they're expecting, I have no doubt that will be the case.
 * Penny: (tearfully) Thanks, Sheldon. I haven't told my parents yet, but thanks.
 * Sheldon: Oh, sorry. (to audience) Don't tell anyone that last thing, it's a secret. Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Penny, Leonard, I apologize if I haven't been the friend you deserve. But, I want you to know, that in my way, I love you all. (to Amy) And I love you. (to audience) Thank you.
 * (Sheldon kisses Amy on the cheek as the audience applauds)

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