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"The Stockholm Syndrome" is the twenty-fourth and series finale episode of the twelfth season of American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. This is the 279th episode of the series. It aired on Thursday, May 16, 2019, as part 2 of a two-episode finale.

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.[1]

Extended Plot[]

Two months 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 constructed the model as a genetic code for an advanced race of human beings. Penny and Amy come back from the tailor's with the dresses they're going to wear to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. Amy's dress had to be let in and Penny's had to be let out, which delighted Amy. Penny thanked her friends for the clothes and the airline tickets. Amy explained that it 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 Sheldon can practice his speech. As soon as Sheldon and Amy leave, Leonard asks Penny if Amy suspected anything on why she needed her dress let out. No. She is expecting. Leonard is thrilled though Penny hasn't yet wrapped her head around it. Leonard feels wrapped. Penny quips that if they had wrapped something else, they wouldn't be in this situation. Also, she is not yet ready to tell her friends. It happened after she went drinking with Sheldon two months ago. She wanted to have sex and Leonard agreed to it. Presently, they decide to do it now, which Penny has no issue agreeing to since she can't get more pregnant.

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 and 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, or in Howard's case, Stuart's last 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.

Nobel36

Pre-trip conference.

Raj is leaving Cinnamon in the care of Bert. He hopes that he can attract girls with her. Bert also states he'll 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 1.5 hours. Amy suggests cutting the story of his childhood, even though he put it in to relate to everyone. 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 Prize should he accepted with humility; however, Sheldon thinks that humility is for all those other Nobel Prizes categories peace, chemistry, literature and not the one for physics, which displeases Amy.

Nobel84

We can't leave. I have to be there for Amy.

Before heading to the airport at their pre-trip meeting, 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. Why? Bernadette asks if she is pregnant. No. She just doesn't drink went she flies. Bernadette points out that Penny would drink anywhere, including in the shower. They get ready to leave and try to find various ways to get people and luggage into the newly operating elevator. Finally, through Leonard's suggestion, the luggage goes down the elevator by itself and the gang ends 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 suspects that Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is sitting next to him, even though Howard denies it. Penny is feeling sick and runs back to the lavatory. Sheldon is worried that she has a stomach bug, but Amy figures that it's just air sick. 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. Leonard assures Sheldon that he won't get what she has. Then Penny shows up and tells him that she is really pregnant as Leonard breaks into a big smile. Sheldon is happy that he won't get sick and shocks them by just leaving. He goes back and tells Amy that Penny is just pregnant, who is also flabbergasted.

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 not getting sick. Sheldon just takes it as a recap of what just happened. Meanwhile, Amy isn't happy that Penny didn't tell her best friend, namely herself. Bernadette stops by, finds out and calls that news fantastic while still being furious about being kept in the dark about it. 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 it happened anyway, and 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, using Howard as an example. Angered, Leonard calls him a selfish jerk and to hell with him and his Nobel. Raj pulled the ticket of his neighbor out of her purse and finds out that it is really Sarah Michelle Gellar.

The Stockholm Syndrome 01

Sheldon Waving to Buffy's actress

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

In Penny's hotel 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 he and Bernie are having a meltdown about their kids. Sheldon tells him to keep it together for his big day, which leads to Howard making up his mind and choosing to leave. Leonard and Penny are also with Howard on choosing to leave, still angry at Sheldon.

All dressed for the ceremony, Sheldon thinks that their friends are being incredibly selfish. Amy sarcastically tells him that he would be the authority on that. Sheldon can tell the tone's insincere. Amy says the Nobel is never more important than their friends, who Sheldon says is abandoning them. Amy declares they're all leaving because he broke their hearts even if Sheldon didn't mean it, and that is the reason people tolerate him. Sheldon taking it in asks if it's true between himself and Amy, which she replies yes. Sheldon stands there looking and feeling ashamed but he takes his wife's words to heart.

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 regardless of how nutty Sheldon can be, she still loves him very much. Leonard points out that 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 too. Her parents came over and took over for Stuart and Denise, with Leonard saying that Mike accidentally broke one of Stuart's ribs with a hug.

The End 11

Big Bang Theory End

At the Nobel Prize ceremony, both Sheldon and Amy are presented their medals on stage, with the whole gang watching. The guys cheer and Raj is seen having escorted Sarah Michelle Gellar as his guest (not as his date, even though he was holding her hand, which he sheepishly releases after she points it out). In her acceptance speech, 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, as it is the greatest job in the world. Sheldon doesn't hear her and is still reflecting. After Amy gets his attention, he takes the stage. He first mentions his very long self-centered speech, but he throws it away, much to the gang's delight. After momentarily looking surprised, Sheldon continues and says what an honor it is and that he wouldn't be there without the most important people in his life: his family and his friends. He tells the audience he was under the misconception that his accomplishments were his alone, but he came to realize that he had been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated by both his wife and the greatest group of friends anyone ever had. He has them stand up as he introduces them and even acknowledges Howard as an astronaut. Sheldon then calls Leonard and Penny his dearest friends in the world. Recalling when they first met, he tells the audience that Leonard said the two of them would have smart and beautiful children, and since they are now expecting, he had no doubt that they would. Choking up, Penny thanks him, even though her parents didn't know yet and he had just inadvertently let the cat out of the bag. After apologizing and imploring the audience to keep the secret, he wraps up his speech by apologizing to his friends for not being the friend that they deserved, but that in his own way, he loves them all, moving Penny to tears. He then includes that he loves his wife. Sheldon thanks everyone and gives Amy a kiss as the audience applauds.

The last scene has everyone back at the apartment after the ceremony, eating take-out food as always and enjoying each other's company. Sheldon and Amy are still wearing their Nobel medals, while Leonard and Penny kiss as Leonard places his hand on Penny's stomach. An acoustic version of the theme song slowly plays as the screen fades to black in the last seconds, a gentle ending to a saga that "all started with a big bang."

Credits[]


Note[]

  • Title Reference: The title refers to Sheldon thinking that Penny is ill on the flight to Stockholm.
  • Taping date: April 30, 2019
  • This episode was watched by 18.52 million people with a rating of 3.2 (adults 18–49).
  • This episode aired in Canada on May 16, 2019.
  • Chuck Lorre's vanity card. [1]
  • One last Chuck Lorre's vanity card. [2]

Critics[]

  • Caroline Preece at Den of Geek! - The simplest thing to say about The Change Constant and The Stockholm Syndrome (which function well as a single episode) is that they do what they need to. No more, no less...That's not to say there isn't plenty to get annoyed about in this finale alone. Penny being pregnant is a massive insult to her character, and doesn't play at all well considering the current news cycle...On the flip-side, I’ve actually come full circle on my feelings regarding a single Raj...Kripke and Bert get their victory laps, Leonard reveals that he's been chilly for twelve years because he still hasn't dared change the thermostat, and the elevator finally gets fixed...That final zoom-out was perfection. [3]
  • IMDb user review [4]

Trivia[]

  • Title reference: Stockholm, Sweden is the location of the Nobel Prize ceremony. Stockholm syndrome is the psychological condition of a victim who identifies with their captor and his or her goals.
  • Bert Kibbler, Halley Wolowitz, and Neil Michael Wolowitz are the only recurring characters who appear in this episode. However, Bert is the only recurring character to appear in this episode who made a physical appearance.
  • Last taping date was April 30, 2019. As of then The Big Bang Theory is out of production though clues to the future of the characters are revealed in Sheldon's narration on Young Sheldon.
  • 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 last 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 kids, with Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Someday, We'll Be Together" 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 139½ hours rebuilding the DNA model. While the DNA model wouldn't take that long to rebuild, this is a subtle reference to the number of TBBT episodes that have been produced (including this one) and their total approximate length: 139½ hours divided by 30 minutes (i.e. 0.5 hours) equals 279.
  • This is one of the few if not only episodes that is named after an actual scientific concept.
  • This episode is the 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).
  • The episode's title refers to the condition where hostages develop positive feelings towards their captors.
  • Only appearance of Amy's tiara since Season 11's "The Bow Tie Asymmetry" and the second last scene is near similar to the season 5 finale in terms of main character clothes with the main boys in bow ties and the center 1 in the moment having something different, Bernadette in her tube top etc.
  • Some points of the episode features the ladies wearing their gifts from their husbands, just like in "The Convention Conundrum". Amy wore her tiara with her Nobel Prize ceremony outfit, and if one looks closely during the last scene, Penny wore her heart locket and Bernadette wore her star pendant.
  • In "Young Sheldon", Sheldon tells his father that he'd thank him while accepting his Nobel Prize. He does exactly this while thanking the rest of their family.
  • He showed a marked regression in his behavior and personality as the pressure of winning the Nobel Prize 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.
  • The friends and family that Sheldon didn't thank in his speech included: Stuart, Wil Wheaton, Pop-pop, Tam, Professor Proton, Stephen Hawking and Doctor Sturgis. Though Wheaton and Professor Proton have left the series at this point, Tam wasn't major enough to be mentioned, Dr Sturgis was never seen or mentioned on the former show, thus making Sheldon not mentioning him relatively expected and Sheldon's grandpa died when Sheldon was only 5.
  • Though Penny insisted on multiple occasions that she didn't want to have kids, 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.
  • As a result of Penny's pregnancy, this is the only episode where she doesn't willingly follow through with her love of alcohol.
  • In "The Proposal Proposal", Bernadette rejected Howard's idea of sex after discovering their second pregnancy. Meanwhile, in this episode, Penny had no problem agreeing to sex with Leonard in spite of her pregnancy. Both instances with the couples include the statement that "[they] can't get more pregnant".
  • Howard's former personality comes to light one last time, shades at least when he became intrigued at the thought of Penny and Bernadette showering together and even smiled since neither of them said "no".
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar 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 Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
    • 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 didn't have any dialogue together.
    • Gellar is married to Freddie Prinze Jr. 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 are gathered around the coffee table in Apartment 4A eating take-out food (a regular recurring event throughout the series), while a wistful, acoustic guitar version of the theme song The History of Everything 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 eventually be overdubbed with the acoustic theme song. This scene was shot the day before the final taping.
    • The acoustic version of the theme song at the end of the episode is sung by Ed Robertson, the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the Barenaked Ladies, who performs the show's actual theme song. [5]
  • As of this episode, Penny's maiden name will forever remain unknown, the same going for who Howard's dad is unless there is a sequel. Whether another series with Penny will reveal her last name will happen is unknown.
  • Sheldon's original acceptance speech name-checked his high school science teacher, Hubert Givens (portrayed by Brian Stepanak on "Young Sheldon").
  • When Penny is on the bathroom floor she 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 except for the last scene of the series which is more of a final curtain call rather than part of the plot.
  • Despite Sheldon's heartfelt speech, the main couple Leonard and Penny still get the last word on their friend Sheldon beforehand:
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, Howard, and Raj. 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 and the other characters, is "thank you" by Sheldon as he concludes his acceptance speech. Thus, Sheldon has the first and the last lines of the series.
  • Even with the elevator fixed, the gang sends the luggage down in it and still has to walk down the stairs one last time. The thing operates almost like an actual airport where one goes on the plane then picks their stuff up in their destination.
  • Amy didn't seem to mind that in her mind, Penny had slept with Sheldon. She just found it interesting that they were "sister wives". When Leonard took Amy to her colleague's wedding in "The Pulled Groin Extrapolation", she did express an interest in being defiled by the same man as Penny. This was one last time that Amy showed an interest in an unconventional relationship with Penny.
  • If Stuart wasn't looking after Howard and Bernadette's children, there's a slight chance he would've come to Stockholm.
  • This is one of the few episodes in the series to not end with audience laughter or a joke, due to the song and the fade to black that wrapped up the series. The audience laughter wasn't fitting for this scene, as this is the end of the series. Something for tears of goodbye.
  • The scene preceding the Nobel Prize ceremony with Sheldon and Amy where Sheldon says his friends are being selfish and Amy brutally telling him that he never means to hurt their feelings as that is why everybody tolerates him remains the only scene in the series without a joke and/or studio laughter other than the last scene.
  • When Sheldon introduces his friends, he is providing a role call for the cast during the second to last scene of the series. There is one more scene, but that's an instrumental scene that doesn't have any significant speaking parts heard.
  • Sheldon and Amy's work mirrors Pierre and Marie Curie's work since they are both married and both won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Sheldon also reveres the scientist Madame Curie.
  • Johnny Galecki was an expectant father when he filmed the scene where the audience learns that Penny is pregnant.
  • Sheldon exclaiming that "this is Outbreak and [Penny's] the monkey" refers to the 1995 film Outbreak, about an Ebola-like disease, brought over from Africa by a smuggled capuchin monkey, that spreads throughout a small California town and the efforts to contain and eliminate it.
  • This is one time Sheldon Cooper matured into a better person.

Quotes[]

(two months after "The Change Constant", Leonard and Sheldon are still reassembling the DNA model)
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 a half hours.
Sheldon: Agreed.
Leonard: What kind of DNA is this, anyway?
Sheldon: I was trying to design the genetic code of an advanced race of human being. 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.
(Penny and Amy enter)
Sheldon: Hello.
Leonard: Hi.
Amy: Hey.
Penny: Hey, babe.
(Penny pulls on the door and it starts to close)
Leonard and Sheldon: Don’t slam the...!
(the door slams shut but the DNA structure remains intact, to everyone's relief)
Sheldon: That was exhilarating.
Leonard: Pick up your dresses?
Amy: Yep. The tailor had to take mine in and let Penny’s out. Best day of my life.
(Penny simply smiles at Amy's comment)
Sheldon: What about the day you met me?
Amy: I stand by my statement.
Penny: Thank you guys so much for the clothes and the shoes, the plane tickets. You’ve been so generous.
Amy: Well, it’s important that all of 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. Well, 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. (Sheldon walks to the door with some of the DNA balls stuck to the back of his pants)
(as soon as Sheldon and Amy leave, Leonard approaches Penny, both of whom are smiling)
Leonard: Was Amy suspicious when they had to let your dress out?
Penny: No. She was so happy, she didn’t even question it.
Leonard: Someone’s gonna figure it out. Why don’t we just tell people?
Penny: 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 think I said, "Do you wanna?"
Leonard: Yeah, and I was helpless.
Penny: Uh-huh.
(they kiss)
Leonard: So... (chuckles) Do you wanna?
Penny: (smiles) Well, I can’t get more pregnant.
Leonard: Hmm. We’ll see about that. (chuckles)
Penny: Uh-huh.
(they continue to embrace)

Bernadette: Now, Michael, Mommy and Daddy are going away for a couple days, so if you're gonna say your first words, you got to do it now or wait till we get back. (picks up Michael from his crib)
(Howard walks in with Halley, who's all smiles)
Howard: Somebody just peed in the big girl potty.
Bernadette: Oh, I’m so proud! It was her, right?
Howard: Yes. (Halley joins Michael on the floor to play) You still feel good about leaving them with Stuart and Denise for a couple 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.
(Howard and Bernadette low-five each other)

Bert: You really think walking her 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, okay? 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? (Raj gets a worried look) Kidding. If she dies, I’ll just tell you.

Sheldon: Ready?
Amy: Oh, hang on. (puts on tiara) Go.
Sheldon: (speaking quickly) 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 you, high school science teacher Mr. Hubert Givens…
Amy: (interrupting) 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 all 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 a great honor.
Sheldon: Amy, we won the Nobel Prize for Physics. Humility is for people who win the goofy Nobels like Literature, Economics and Peace.
Amy: Please tell me that’s not in your speech
Sheldon: Oh, I can cut it, but it’s the only joke I have.
(Amy is dismayed with Sheldon's attitude)


Sheldon: All right, bagels down. Before we head to the airport, I’d like to go over a few things. (everyone else groans) 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 all encouraged to pair off and practice once were in the air and the seat belt sign is off. (Penny raises her hand) Yes, Penny.
Penny: Oh, do we have to go?
(Leonard silently laughs)
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: (laughs nervously) What? No. It's just, 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: (smiles) 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 meetings?
Group: Oh my God. (everyone proceeds to shake hands) Huh. Yeah, great. Whatever.

(the gang struggles to get into the elevator with their massive amount of luggage)
Leonard: (to Raj) Go on. You first, go.
(moments later)
Amy: Wait...
Bernadette: (buried behind the luggage) Help me! Help me!
Penny: Oh, wait. Come here.
(moments later)
Leonard: We got this.
Penny: Yeah, get in, get in, get in.
(the pile of luggage starts collapsing on the others)
Leonard: Hang on. I've got an idea.
(moments later, everyone has walked down the stairs while the luggage rides in the elevator)
Sheldon: Well done. You know, you’re proving to be an invaluable part of my entourage.
Leonard: (sarcastically) Cool.

Bernadette: Yeah?
Howard: How you doing?
Bernadette: Fine. Why?
Howard: Well, this is the furthest we’ve ever been away from the kids. I was just checking to see if you were okay.
Bernadette: I’m on my second Jack Reacher. I’m doing great.
Howard: Good. Me too. 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 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?
Howard: Yeah.
Raj: 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? (covers the photo's eyes)
Penny: Uh-oh. (heads to the lavatory)
Sheldon: That’s the fourth time she been in the bathroom in the last 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's 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: (covers his face) Unclean. Unclean.
Penny: What?
Leonard: He thinks you’re sick.
Penny: Oh. Should we tell him?
Leonard: Well, if we 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: (relieved) You’re right. I can’t catch that. (Sheldon leaves and goes back to his seat, with Leonard and Penny annoyed) Good news, Amy. She’s just pregnant.
(Amy is surprised by this news)

Leonard: (furiously) 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 relieved she’s not gonna get you sick?
Sheldon: (unfazed) 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: (ecstatic) That’s fantastic! (bluntly hits Penny) Why didn’t you tell me?
Amy: She didn’t tell me either.
Bernadette: But I’m her best friend.
Amy: (chuckles with feisty nature) We’ll get into that later. (to Penny) What happened to "I’m never going to have kids"?
Penny: It was an accident. I went out drinking with Sheldon.
Amy: (gasps) Oh my, gosh? We’re sister wives?
Penny: (slightly disturbed) No. Then I went home and slept with Leonard.
Amy: While fantasizing about…
Penny: Leonard. And a little Idris Elba. I mean…ahh.
Bernadette: Oh, yeah.
(Penny and Bernadette fist bump)
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 so you know we weren’t going to tell anybody so we wouldn’t upstage your big day.
Sheldon: Oh Please. You couldn't upstage us. We won a Nobel Prize. Any idiot can have a baby (disgusting Leonard).
Howard: (comes over) Hey, what’s going on?
Sheldon: Case in point.
Leonard: (bitterly) 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: (calmly) Well, ah, all right. Um, Michael had a little fever last night.
Bernadette: Michael had a fever?
Stuart: (tries to continue explaining) Do you want to hear about Halley or not?!
Howard: What happened, Stuart?
Stuart: (reassuringly) He was running a little fever, nothing to worry about. And Halley, bless her heart, wanted to bring him 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: (worried) Oh, Stuart.
Stuart: She's fine! 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 didn’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: Sounds gross. Looks gross. Smells gross. (eats it) It's delicious! (a knock on their door, Penny gets excited) Ooh, that might be my salted cod!
(Leonard answers it. Sheldon and Amy are there)
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 maybe we should go back to LA.
Amy: Why?
Howard: We just can’t be this far away from the kids. Bernie’s having a meltdown and, frankly, so am I.
Sheldon: (unsympathetic) Yeah, well, pull it together. This is a big day for me.
Howard: (annoyed) Yeah, I wasn’t sure what to do. Now I am. We’re going home.
Leonard: We'll 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 and Amy are dressing for the Nobel ceremony)
Sheldon: (angrily) 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: Sheldon, no one is happier than I am to win the Nobel, but it’s not more important than our friends.
Sheldon: (incredulous) How can you call them friends when they’re abandoning us?
Amy: (upset) They’re abandoning us because you broke their hearts!
Sheldon: (pauses) 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: (sadly) Sometimes, yeah.
(Amy leaves the room, leaving Sheldon to his thoughts)

(Penny vomits, then flushes the toilet and leans back against the tub)
Penny: Okay, that’s it for the fish. We’ll be back with the meatballs after a short word from our sponsor. (takes a washcloth from Leonard and wipes her mouth) Oh, thank you. (sighs) 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 still 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.” (Penny laughs as the phone rings and Leonard answers) Hello. Hey. (to Penny) It’s Howard. (into phone) Oh, us, too.
Penny: Wait, what?
Leonard: They’re gonna stay. The kids are fine. Bernie’s parents took over. (into phone) Really? Oh, poor little guy.
Penny: Is Michael okay?
Leonard: Yeah, it’s Stuart. Bernie’s dad gave him a hug, cracked a rib. (into phone) Yeah, okay, we’ll meet you in the lobby. (hangs up) How long is it gonna take you to get ready?
Penny: 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 accept their medals as the gang applauds, whistles, and whoops)
Sarah Michelle Gellar: (to Raj) Just to be clear, this isn't a date.
Raj: Yeah, I know.
Sarah Michelle Gellar: (holds their hands up) Then why are you holding my hand? (Raj sheepishly releases it)
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! (Bernadette smiles) 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: What? 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, and Amy sports an "oh, wow!" look)
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. (everyone stands as their names are called) 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: (choking up) Thanks, Sheldon. I haven't told my parents yet, but thanks.
Sheldon: Oh, sorry. (to audience) Don't tell anyone that last thing. That's a secret. (to his friends) Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Penny, Leonard. I apologize if I haven't been the friend you deserve. But I want you to know, in my way, I love you all (Penny Cries). (to Amy) And I love you. (to audience) Thank you.
(Sheldon kisses Amy on the cheek as the audience applauds shortly before the end)

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