The Monetary Insufficiency

"The Monetary Insufficiency" is the twenty-second episode of the eleventh season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired April 26, 2018.

Summary
Sheldon goes to {{w|Las Vegas to win {{w|money for {{w|science. Also, Penny and Bernadette take Amy {{w|wedding dress shopping, but her terrible choice entangles them in a web of {{w|lies.

Extended Plot
Leonard and Sheldon are playing a driving video game where Sheldon keeps stopping at {{w|traffic lights even though he his driving a {{w|stolen{{w| police vehicle with a dead {{w|hooker in the {{w|trunk. Raj and Howard return from the faculty mixer. Sheldon considers it a waste of {{w|money since he would rather have them fund a {{w|proof of concept of his new formulas on {{w|entropy decrease due to {{w|quantum decoherence. Raj tells him that to prove it; one must create a {{w|black hole that could destroy the {{w|earth. Sheldon is fine with that as long as he is proven right. Leonard suggests creating a contained {{w|microscopic-black hole.

Amy and [Penny]] are lolling through {{w|wedding dress magazines where Penny asks is she wants a dress that is simple an elegant or whether to have a {{w|dress train|train. Sheldon comes in thinking they are discussing his kind of train. Then Sheldon asks them what he should where to the {{w|university when he asks for funding for his project. He needs $500 million to construct an {{w|experiment to help prove his latest string theory assertion. He needs 2148 high powered {{w|{{w|lasers focused on 20 micrograms of {{w|gold to generate a microscopic-black hole. Amy understands the problem because she wanted {{w|funding for a project to make {{w|brains grow younger, which she can’t really do. Sheldon then considers getting it in installments. Penny tells him to start asking for $20 million. Amy explains it to Sheldon that he should take something big and advance with it slowly even if it take eight long {{w|years trying to not refer to her relationship with Sheldon.

Sheldon is now explaining his scientific approach to the Caltech President Siebert. He is impressed and then asks how much funding her needs. Sheldon asks for $20 million and then add $50 million and then must {{w|double down, and again, and again. The president looks exasperated and Sheldon asks if they have a deal. Back in apartment 4A, his friends commiserate with him. Higgs of the Higgs Boson particle took fifty years to prove his theory. Sheldon wants to play with his theory now. Sheldon decides to try and raise the money now.

Penny and Bernadette are enjoying the dress shop service while helping Amy with her wedding dress choice. Amy feels beautiful in the first dress she tries on. Penny tells her not to buy the first one she tries on. It’s like marrying the first man she….scratch that. She brings out another one that Bernadette thinks she looks beautiful in. Penny adds that when Sheldon sees her in it, he take if off of her, carefully put it way and then ravish her. Finally she has one with long lacy sleeves and way too many ruffles that she loves. All the girls can say is “WOW!”

Sheldon comes into to bother Leonard to help him shoot a kick-starter video. Sheldon wants to raise some seed money to help attract some major investors. He is willing to offer to create a customized bathroom schedule, design a flag for your house or apartment or come over and tell one what is wrong with them. All within Sheldon’s talents.

At Bernie’s, the girls talk about that Amy found a dress that she likes until they finally admit that it is awful. Penny thought that she wanted their honest opinion. Bernie says that no one wants that she mentions Penny’s dumb Cookie Monster tattoo. Was that fun? They both agree to tell her gently. And together. Later Penny tells Amy that she doesn’t like her dress. Bernadette calls it beautiful.

At the comic book store Sheldon bring in some of his comics to sell to raise his money. He doesn’t sound like he wants to sell the, but advancing science is more important to him. He then quickly leaves when Stuart starts to open them.

Penny is mad a Bernadette for throwing her under the bus. Bernadette admits that it makes her look bad, but she wonders if it’s the first day that Penny has been a girl.

Now Sheldon is eating his own tuna fish sandwich because his mother wouldn’t ship them from Texas. Up until know Sheldon has raised $65,000. Raj suggests that he goes to Las Vegas. Sheldon doesn’t think it’s a bad idea. Leonard does. Sheldon mentions that scientist and mathematicians have beaten them all the time.

Penny goes to see Amy who asks if she should change first. She apologizes and says that all that matters is that she feels beautiful. "Thank you," Amy replies. Amy is still not okay because all she’ll think about is that Penny hates it. She’s the coolest, best dressed person she knows. Penny adds that it’s just not a dress that she would buy. They are different people. Penny is going to may sure that the wedding is just about her. Amy calls her a good maid of honor. Then Bernadette calls and says that s e doesn’t like the dress either.

Sheldon is now in Las Vegas studying the craps wheel. An employee asks if he can help Sheldon and he explains exactly what he was doing. The casino guard reports the code word “pelican” and Sheldon is escorted from the casino.

Back in apartment 4B, Amy is wearing her wedding dress. Sheldon comes in describing his adventure in Vegas, is surprised and tells her that she looks beautiful. She looks like a pile of swans. He can’t wait to mar y her.

Credits

 * Guest starring:
 * Joshua Malina as President Siebert
 * Mark Berry as Pit Boss
 * Evan Charest as Croupier
 * D'Kia Anderson as Hostess
 * Seth Coltan as Earl
 * Teleplay: Steve Holland, Eric Kaplan & Jeremy Howe
 * Story: Dave Goetsch, Maria Ferrari & Tara Hernandez

Critics

 * IMDb user reviews

Trivia

 * Bernadette and Penny lie to Amy about her wedding dress choices.
 * Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas!!!
 * Sheldon needs $500 million for his string theory research to generate a micro-blackhole.
 * Penny decides to be a good maid of honor over a good friend.

Quotes
To be entered.