The Relaxation Integration

"The Relaxation Integration" is the third episode of the eleventh season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on October 9, 2017.

Summary
While Sheldon struggles with picking a wedding date, Amy suggests that he learn to relax. Meanwhile Raj and Stuart fight over one of Bernadette's co-workers.

Extended Plot
While having dinner in ]apartment 4A, Sheldon mentions that he sent everyone a wedding "save-the-date" email for eighty separate dates since picking a unique date to get married was a textbook organizational problem. Amy thought they had chosen June 15, but that is just after Flag Day and Sheldon thinks that everyone will be partied out. The date can't be near someone's birthday, Comic-con or a famous person's birth or death. Leonard suggest at Comic-Con causing Penny, Bernadette and Amy to say "No!" simultaneously.

Sheldon is dreaming that he walks into the kitchen where Amy announces that they are out of Apple-Jacks. Sheldon doesn't care and says "Whatev." He also claims to like smooth Jazz and starts playing the coronet. Amy wakes up beside him because Sheldon is playing the coronet out loud in his sleep.

At Wolowitzes, Bernadette mentions that she is going out for non-alcoholic drinks with a new female co-worker. She wants to dispel the office rumors that she is mean. And Bernadette refuses to set up the single woman with either Raj or Stuart. At least she wants to get to know her before she ruins her life with one of their friends.

Amy is having tea with Leonard and Penny telling them about Sheldon talking in his sleep and how relaxed he is unlike his usual uptight personality. She feels that the wedding plans are putting too much pressure on Sheldon. Penny thinks that all people dreams about things they'd like to do in real life. Of course Penny only dreams about being Leonard's wife she claims nervously.

Bernadette is visiting with Ruchi, her new Indian co-worker. She is new the area and finds everyone so nice. Raj and Stuart so up and introduce themselves.

In apartment 4B, Sheldon has found the perfect day, only it's 21 years in the past and one of the Dr. Who's died on that day. Amy appreciated that Sheldon is trying to make the wedding perfect; however, it is also making him miserable. Amy suggests that he tries to relax, kick-back and say "Whatev." Sheldon gets upset that she won't finish the word and Amy stomps off going "er..er..er!"

At the bar, Raj is trying to connect with Ruchi since they are both from India. They start to discuss their work and end up describing each other's faults to Ruchi.

That night Amy is recording Sheldon's sleep talk about him uncharacteristically enjoying being in public pools, the beach and seagulls. She plays the recordings to Leonard and Penny who think that he sounds crazy. Sheldon wanders in the apartment and thinks that he guy on the recording is an idiot. Sheldon is not happy when he learns what Amy did. She tells Sheldon that she was worried and that he may be exhibiting part of his repressed personality. Sheldon runs out saying that she makes noise when she spells and he didn't accuse his or repressing her inner chainsaw.

At the comic book store Raj and Stuart are arguing about which of them should pursue Ruchi. They wondered what Bernadette thoughts and she was just peeved that Howard told "those idiots" where she was. Leonard thinks that Ruchi should have a word on the subject and that it is probably, "No." Both Raj and Stuart agree to meet with her as friends and then they'll see what happens.

Down in the laundry room, Sheldon is upset about his sleep talking and is not doing his laundry on laundry night. Penny thinks that he is stressed about getting married and how big a change that is. Maybe his brain is trying to tell him that he should relax some. Penny suggests that he start out small like take a yoga class. Sheldon decides to try wearing flip-flops, the official footwear of laid-back people. And he needs to get a tetanus shot since his feet are so exposed.

Raj at the bar getting Ruchi some wine. She thinks that it is too bad that Stuart couldn't make it. Raj makes a comment about Stuart can now live near school again as he shows up. Ruchi takes a call while Stuart can't believe that Raj went behind his back. She returns and Stuart tells her what Raj did. She thinks that that is weird. Also she tells them that she is not interested in a relationship right now and only wants to make some friends.

Sheldon shows up at home dirty, wearing trash bags on his feet and walking with a cane. Amy is shocked and learns that Sheldon got flip-flops, coated the exposed tops of his feet with sunblock and tripped on a sewer grating since his feet were slippery. Then ne petted something furry that licked him so he ran down the street on one flip-flop. He lost his other flip-flop as the story got worst. Finally he asks Amy to take charge of the wedding. He just wants to know where and when and he'll show up in a tuxedo over a Star Trek uniform. The last point is non-negotiable. They embrace and Amy mentions that she always wanted a June wedding on a cliff at sunset. Sheldon agrees and then mentions that he might be jumping off the cliff because its an outdoor wedding.

Finally Sheldon is presiding over the Council of Sheldon's. Science Sheldon, Texas Sheldon, Fanboy Sheldon, Germaphobe Sheldon, Humorous Sheldon. The chairman wants to know if they will let Laid-Back Sheldon on the council. The answer is no.

Credits

 * Guest starring:
 * Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom
 * Swati Kapila as Ruchi
 * Teleplay: Maria Ferrari, Andy Gordon & Tara Hernandez
 * Story: Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland & Adam Faberman

Critics

 * Caroline Preece at Den of Geek! - When Amy starts to notice her fiance is talking in his sleep, pondering the interesting conversations he could have with a hitchhiker or what it would be like to befriend a seagull, she worries that the pressure of organising the perfect wedding might be getting to him. The point of conflict this week is that he can’t find the perfect wedding date, whether because of the death of a beloved celebrity or the fact that everyone would be partied out after flag day. When Leonard suggests tying the knot at Comic-Con, the girls shut it down immediately...While the ‘Sheldon Show’ is more entertaining than it’s been in a while, the same can’t be said for the ‘Raj and Stuart Are So, So Lonely’ show...That aside, which may feel more objectionable because of the year we’re having, it’s just boring and repetitive, and I wish that someone in the writers room could come up with something new for the two characters - both portrayed by talented comedic actors - to do.
 * IMDb user reviews

Trivia

 * Raj and Stuart compete for Ruchi, Bernadette's co-worker and both of them don't get the girl. Both of them mess up.
 * Amy is now wearing new glasses, for an unknown reason.
 * Amy is now in charge of planning the Fowler-Cooper wedding.

Quotes

 * Leonard Hofstadter: [Howard is nervous about having a son] It's okay. We're all here to help.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Yes. And this baby will have plenty of manly role models. You know, I'm certain that whatever Bernadette can't teach him, Penny can.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Uh, she can pee into a bottle.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Mm-hmm. Anything with a neck wider than a nickel.

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 * Penny Hofstadter: Hey, Beverly.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Oh, hello, Penny.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Uh, Leonard just left. He's gonna be so upset he missed your call.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Why?
 * Penny Hofstadter: Because he... yeah, I don't know. How are you?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Did you mean personally or professionally?
 * Penny Hofstadter: Um, personally? Like, what'd you do last night?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: I had Cuban food at the home of a man with whom I shared unsatisfying intercourse.
 * enny Hofstadter: Wow. Okay.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: And to anticipate your next questions, roasted pork and sideways missionary.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Sure. Sure. 'Cause you were full.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: [as the doctor's office] It feels like it wasn't that long ago we were here doing this for Halley.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: 'Cause it wasn't. Which reminds me, before we leave, let's get you a vasectomy.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Oh, that's sweet, but today is all about you.

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 * Dr. Sanders: So, you two ready to find out the sex of this baby?
 * Howard Wolowitz: Yeah.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: Absolutely.
 * Dr. Sanders: Is Halley hoping for a little brother or a little sister?
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: Well, she's nine months old, so unless it jingles or is in my bra, she doesn't care.

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 * Raj Koothrappali: Come on, you can't really be disappointed.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Hey, I barely know how to be a man myself. Now I have to teach someone?
 * Sheldon Cooper: Hmm. As the saying goes, those who can't do, teach.

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 * Amy Farrah Fowler: Don't you want a little version of Howard?
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: I already have a little version of Howard.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Now I'm having a son? I'll have to teach him how to play sports, and... and *watch* sports, and... and... and... and... and... and...
 * Raj Koothrappali: [to Leonard] He just ran out of man things. He's in trouble.

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 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: Howie, there's a lot of amazing things you can teach a son.
 * Raj Koothrappali: Yeah. You do always know how to pick just the right antacid.
 * Howard Wolowitz: I don't know if I can teach that. It's just something I was born with.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: You know, as a kid, I used to make model rockets. That'd be pretty cool to do with a son.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Model rockets. Finally, something interesting. What is your preferred mode of conveyance?
 * Amy Farrah Fowler: Sheldon, we're helping our friends.
 * Sheldon Cooper: And we got to model rockets, yeah? It was a tedious road, but well worth the effort.
 * Amy Farrah Fowler: So, have you thought of any names?
 * Sheldon Cooper: Amy, we finally got to model rockets. Why are you turning back?

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 * Penny Hofstadter: Hey, where you going?
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Back to the dry cleaner. Look at this. They didn't get the stain out of my Starfleet uniform.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Well, if you didn't make me wear the green body paint in bed, you wouldn't have to get it dry cleaned so much.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Nah, it's worth it.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: [in his garage] I haven't looked at all this stuff in years.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Had it. Had it. Burned down my garage with it.
 * Raj Koothrappali: I had three model rockets as a kid, and that was the largest space program in India.
 * Sheldon Cooper: You have a replica Saturn V?
 * Howard Wolowitz: Yeah. My dad bought it before he, you know, abandoned our family.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Lucky duck.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: [about a model rocket from his childhood] Could never bring myself to open it without him. It's silly.
 * Sheldon Cooper: No, it's not silly. I always wanted my dad to build rockets with me, but he wasn't interested.
 * Raj Koothrappali: Ah, yes, disappointing fathers. Tell me about it. I remember for my sixteenth birthday, my dad bought me a Mercedes. Like, a little one, like a starter Mercedes. He had barely handed me the keys before he had to rush back to work. I didn't see him again 'till, like, pretty late that night.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Anyway... as angry as I was with him leaving, building this stuff is probably what led me to become an engineer.
 * Sheldon Cooper: I suppose, in his own way, my dad also encouraged me to pursue science. I mean, he is the one that taught me that flatulence is combustible. And also, polyester gym shorts don't burn. They melt.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: You know what? Forget the past. What do you say you and me build this rocket?
 * Sheldon Cooper: That sounds like it could be a real bonding experience for us.

Howard Wolowitz: Right?
 * Sheldon Cooper: Oh, I see. Oh, you think that's a positive.

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 * Raj Koothrappali: What's all this?
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: I'm just boxing up all the clothes Halley's outgrown. I guess we won't need them anymore.
 * Raj Koothrappali: Oh, well, slow down. I'm sure there's some you could re-use for a boy.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: [holding up a onesie] "Daddy's little girl"?
 * Raj Koothrappali: Okay, well, what if we, uh, change it to say "Daddy's little girl magnet"? Boom! Boy shirt.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: [holding up a tutu] What about this?
 * Raj Koothrappali: Uh, okay. Uh, pull off the skirt, slap a lightning bolt on the front, and you got baby Flash. Ooh! Stick a long sleeve under it, boom! Baby Sheldon.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: Wow, you're really good at this.
 * Raj Koothrappali: Oh, please. This isn't my first time turning girl clothes into boy clothes.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: Why? You got your sister's hand-me-downs?
 * Raj Koothrappali: Yeah, that.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: I should have brought peanuts.
 * Sheldon Cooper: You can't eat peanuts. You're allergic. If you die, who's going to drive me home?
 * Howard Wolowitz: I'm not gonna eat them. It's a thing they do at JPL. When the Ranger mission finally had a successful launch, there were peanuts in the room. Ever since then, they have them at every launch.
 * Sheldon Cooper: That sounds like a silly supersition.
 * Howard Wolowitz: It's more of a tradition.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Oh! I do love a tradition. Pull over at the next peanut store.
 * Howard Wolowitz: I don't think that's a real thing.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Oh, don't be pedantic. Any nut store will do.
 * Howard Wolowitz: I... I don't think we can get peanuts out here.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Ah, well, then this whole day's ruined.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Now that I think about it, maybe it is more of a superstition.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Whew! That was close.

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 * Penny Hofstadter: Oh, uh, hey, Beverly, you called my phone, not Leonard's.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Actually, I was hoping to speak with you. Is this a good time?
 * Penny Hofstadter: Uh, that depends. What time is it where you are?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: [checking her watch] Uh, just after 5:00.
 * Penny Hofstadter: [taking a wine bottle from the fridge] Yeah, that counts. What's up?

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 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: You may find this surprising, but I don't have a lot of what you would call girlfriends.
 * Penny Hofstadter: [exaggerated surprise] What?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Of course, there are my female colleagues, but, uh, they're all Freudians, so the only boy that I can dish about is my father.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Uh, well, you know, I'm here for you. What do you want to talk about?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Well, last time, we focused on my life. If we're going to be real girlfriends, we should talk about you, as well.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Well, you know, if we're gonna be real girlfriends, we should get a third girl we can trash behind her back.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Oh, so we'd be catty. Oh, I like it. What about Sheldon's fiancee? She seems a bit dour.
 * Penny Hofstadter: Ooh, "dour". Meow.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: All right, here we go. L-minus ten, nine...
 * Sheldon Cooper: Wait, what are you doing? It's "T-minus".
 * Howard Wolowitz: I was an astronaut. We used "L-minus".
 * Sheldon Cooper: But this is a Saturn V, and when they launched those, they said "T-minus".
 * Howard Wolowitz: It's my rocket! We're doing it my way.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Fine. I'm not saying I know why your dad left, but I think I'm getting anidea.
 * Howard Wolowitz: L-minus ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
 * Sheldon Cooper: 'Cause you're kind of bossy.
 * Howard Wolowitz: ...five, four, three, two, one...

[rather than lifting off, the model blows up]
 * Sheldon Cooper: I remember them going up higher.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: Well, that's perfect. I mean, the one thing I thought I could do with my son, I can't even do that right.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Well, if you want to see it again, I got it on video. Looks pretty cool in slow motion.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Thank you for your support.
 * Sheldon Cooper: You're welcome.
 * Howard Wolowitz: I was being sarcastic.
 * Sheldon Cooper: How dare you!
 * Howard Wolowitz: Sheldon, what am I gonna do? I mean, what do I know about raising a boy?
 * Sheldon Cooper: What do you know about raising a girl?
 * Howard Wolowitz: Oh, my god, you're right.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Well, I don't know if that was sarcasm or not. So either "You're welcome" or "Hey!".

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 * Penny Hofstadter: [her phone chimes] Leonard, did you really just text me from the couch to put extra mustard on your sandwich?
 * Leonard Hofstadter: I was worried you might not check your e-mail.
 * Penny Hofstadter: [her phone chimes again] I swear to god, I will throw this out.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: That one was not me.
 * Penny Hofstadter: [checking her phone] Oh, wait, it was just your mom.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: My mother's texting you?
 * Penny Hofstadter: Yeah. We've been talking a lot lately.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Why? She sick of talking to the magic mirror on the wall?

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 * Penny Hofstadter: Do you not want me to be friends with your mom?
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Well, let's be clear. I... I married you to hurt her. You're kind of ruining it.

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 * Sheldon Cooper: Reason number thirteen to feel good: as a launch, it was bad, but as an explosion, it was glorious. Reason fourteen: you still have all your fingers, and boys prefer a dad with fingers.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Thanks for trying, but you're not gonna be able to cheer me up.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Well, how about this, then? You quit your whining before I give you something to cry about, young man.
 * Howard Wolowitz: What?
 * Sheldon Cooper: Those are comforting words my father would often say.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Did it help?
 * Sheldon Cooper: I turned out great. You tell me.

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 * Sheldon Cooper: Are you gonna be this mopey all the way home?
 * Howard Wolowitz: I don't know. Maybe.
 * Sheldon Cooper: There any chance you'd be cheered up by an amazing trigonometry riddle?

[Howard looks at him in exasperation]
 * Sheldon Cooper: Well, if you can't answer that, there is no way you're gonna get this riddle.

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 * Raj Koothrappali: [using a sewing machine] Oh, hey. Hey, what do you think?
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: Just because it's a boy, I don't think you need to put a picture of genitals on his shirt.
 * Raj Koothrappali: But that's a baseball bat with two little baseballs.

[tilting his head]
 * Raj Koothrappali: Okay, and now I see it.

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 * Raj Koothrappali: So, you know, I understand why Howard is nervous about having a son, but are you really upset about it?
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: No, I'm fine. It's just I grew up with a bunch of brothers, so I thought it'd be nice for Halley to have a sister. Is that wrong?
 * Raj Koothrappali: Of course it's wrong! You don't know what this little boy's gonna be like. Maybe he'll be rough and tumble, or maybe he'll be sweet and sensitive, or maybe he'll be all those things, like me.
 * Bernadette Rostenkowski: You're rough and tumble?
 * Raj Koothrappali: You bet I am, bitch. But I'm also sensitive and regret saying that.

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 * Leonard Hofstadter: You got a sec?
 * Amy Farrah Fowler: Sure. What's up?
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Penny's been talking to my mother like they're best friends, and it's kind of freaking me out.
 * Amy Farrah Fowler: Okay... I am pretty sure they're not best friends. 'Cause you can only have one best friend. And Penny has that, and...

[she clicks her tongue]
 * Amy Farrah Fowler: ...it's me.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Oh, really? Is she FaceTiming with you right now? Because she's FaceTiming with my mom, and believe me, that is not a face you want to spend time with.

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 * Amy Farrah Fowler: Well, I have been pretty busy lately. Maybe I've been neglecting our friendship.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Penny knows I have a complicated relationship with my mother; it's like she doesn't even care.
 * Amy Farrah Fowler: And with everything going on at the lab and planning the wedding, I just... I have so little free time.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Penny doesn't know how manipulative my mother can be. Did you know there's such a thing as reverse, reverse, reverse psychology? Because...

[indicating his head]
 * Leonard Hofstadter: ...there is.

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 * Sheldon Cooper: You know, studies have shown that people distracted by emotional issues are poor drivers.
 * Howard Wolowitz: What about people distracted by irritating passengers?
 * Sheldon Cooper: That would be hard to test, because "irritating" is a subjective quality.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Strongly disagree.

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 * Sheldon Cooper: Can I drive?
 * Howard Wolowitz: No. You can't drive. You don't even have a license.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Actually, I do?
 * Howard Wolowitz: Really? Since when?
 * Sheldon Cooper: Three years ago. I went on a bit of a license kick. I'm also a commercial fisherman.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Then why don't you ever drive yourself?
 * Sheldon Cooper: Honestly, I barely passed my test. And the one time I drove on my own, I made a U-turn, got dizzy, threw up, and walked home.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: You really want to drive?
 * Sheldon Cooper: It seems like the perfect time. The roads are straight, there's no one around, and you don't seem to care if you live or die.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Live, Sheldon. I want to live.
 * Sheldon Cooper: That makes things a little trickier, but I'll do my best.

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 * Leonard Hofstadter: I want to know, why aren't you proud of me?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Well, isn't the real question why aren't you proud of yourself?
 * Leonard Hofstadter: No, that is *a* question - and I ask it a lot - but let's stick with the one I asked you.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: But why do you think I'm not proud of you?
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Because you never say it? But two days into chatting with Penny, and you can't stop telling her how great she is.
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: She is great. Honestly, of all of my children's spouses, she's the one that I'm most impressed by.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: Seriously?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: Yes. She's confident, she's thoughtful, and she never complained about you once. I know what kind of strength that takes.
 * Leonard Hofstadter: So Penny's your favorite?
 * Dr. Beverly Hofstadter: I suppose she is. You married well, Leonard, and for that, I am proud of you.

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 * Howard Wolowitz: [letting Sheldon drive] Your hands are at 10:00 and 2:00. Good. Steady on the gas. Okay. Now, you're gonna want to slowly switch lanes.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Why?
 * Howard Wolowitz: Because there are only two, and you're not in either of them.

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 * Sheldon Cooper: Do you think I could try going a little faster?
 * Howard Wolowitz: Go for it, champ.

[he gives Sheldon a soft, fatherly shoulder punch]
 * Sheldon Cooper: Ow.
 * Howard Wolowitz: Sorry. Just ease on the gas and...

[as Sheldon steps on the gas, the car lurches forward]
 * Howard Wolowitz: OH, TOO MUCH! TOO MUCH!
 * Sheldon Cooper: Why was I scared of this? This is exhilarating!
 * Howard Wolowitz: No, it's not! Slow down!
 * Sheldon Cooper: Don't tell me what to do! You're not my father!

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 * Police Officer: Do you know how fast you were going?
 * Sheldon Cooper: 112.
 * Police Officer: Let me see your license.
 * Sheldon Cooper: [quietly to Howard] Okay, here's the plan.
 * Howard Wolowitz: No.
 * Sheldon Cooper: Fine.

[handing the officer his license]
 * Sheldon Cooper: There you go. You know what? You can just keep it.

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