The Big Bang Theory – The Conference Valuation

The episode opens with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) talking to her staff about the new medication they are promoting. Her coworkers are grumbling about being there so late, but she tells them she has a surprise for them…B12 shots!

Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) comes in to see why they are still there. Karen (Chasty Ballesteros) pretends to be enthused, despite being tired and annoyed. Bernie sends them all home because it is actually the next day. Penny says she wants them all prepared for the conference, which is why she is being so tough. Bernie says they are scared of her (Penny) and Penny is scared of Bernadette.

At home Bernie is getting ready to leave and says goodbye to Howard (Simon Helberg), who is going to be watching the kids. He says he is capable of babysitting and she reminds him it is parenting and he doesn’t get paid. He assures her he has it covered, but fails the test Bernie gives them as to where the kids are as he thinks they are upstairs, but they are in daycare.

Penny is at her own house saying goodbye to Leonard (Johnny Galecki), who comments on the fact that she brought a lot of luggage. She worries about making a good impression and he gives her the same pep talk she gave him when they first had sex.

Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) come in to settle a bet: will there be people dressed as superheroes in San Diego if it is not Comic Con. They debate on if a crazy person in a cape counts and Sheldon asks her to find his pillow he left at Comic Con last year. She agrees and he says there will be at least one hero in San Diego that weekend.

At the comic book store Sheldon, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Leonard are discussing what to do over the weekend. Leonard plans to watch movies with subtitles and Sheldon wants to play his new chess game. Raj quips that the new game should be called “Bishops Be Crazy,” causing Sheldon to correct his grammar and Raj to give him some sass back.

Stuart (Kevin Sussman) is also there with Howard, who scares him into thinking the kids are lost. Howard then invites the guys over, who think he just wants help babysitting. Sheldon says no offense, but he doesn’t want to be around loud, sticky babies. When Howard gets offended Sheldon says he can’t be because saying no offense is like saying no backsies, but for offense.  Howard says they will play games and compares it to college when Leonard complains.

At the convention the girls are trying to sell their new medicine. Bernie thinks Penny is doing great and Penny quips that she was a mediocre actress but a good drug pusher. Danny (Jason Kravits) comes up to hear about their drug. Penny starts to explain, but Bernie says he is their rival.  The three get into a bit of a tiff until he leaves. Penny says she scared him away like a good girl.

The guys are babysitting and playing games when Sheldon and Amy come over to experiment on the kids. Raj and Howie say there will be no experimentation, but Sheldon insists they are games. Amy and Raj look at the book of experiments that Sheldon brought over and the guys finally decide to give it a try because it is like playing  games. Sheldon doesn’t know why they agreed when Amy suggested it, but is excited to finally experiment.

Back at the convention the ladies are watching the Chantix booth where Ray Liotta is signing autographs. Bernie gets a call and walks away.  Danny takes that moment to come back and offer Penny a job. She says she is happy, but Karen says she isn’t. Penny tells her to save it for her therapist.

Howard ends up calling Bernie. He wants BBQ tongs to play with the kids. She asks why and he hangs up quickly.  The guys are playing with the babies and Sheldon wants to make it into a double blind experiment. Bernie comes back and sends Danny away. Karen tattles that he offered Penny a job. Bernie tells her that no one likes a tattletale. She calls Penny a traitor and Penny yells at Karen.

The guys continue to experiment. Halley says Raj is her favorite uncle.Sheldon gets Michael to grab his finger (and becomes a bit carried away with the experiments, including wanting to do more featuring food and what is in their diapers) and Leonard realizes this is what his mom did to him. Raj questions Amy about why Sheldon is so into this and she tells him to not overthink it.

Bernie and Penny are fighting about Danny’s offer. Penny is flattered and Bernie tells her this was the only offer she was given. Penny leaves and reminds Bernie that she gave her pears and she said thank you. Bernie wants to know what she is supposed to do with them, have a pear party?

Raj eats one of the pears and asks Amy if she can get Sheldon to like babies. She says she slept with him, married him and does he really want to bet against her? She and Sheldon leave, but not before Sheldon sprouts off more ideas about what to do with the babies.

Leonard is in the bathroom talking to his mom (Christine Baranski) about the experiments she did on him as a child. She says it was a ton of small experiments and he was her baby. It was time they spent together and her fondest memories. However, the experiment isn’t over.

Penny meets with Danny to discuss the offer. He thinks she is playing hard to get and she quips she never heard that before and jokes that he should slide the number he wants to offer her on a napkin. Bernie comes over to tell Danny she won’t give Penny up without a fight. Penny declines Danny’s offer and leaves. She wants to know what was written on the napkin Bernie took away, but Bernie plays dumb.

The episode ends with Amy and Sheldon discussing children. He wants sets of triplets or quintuplets, but as long as they are healthy babies. He says it will be hard for her, but not if she were a frog. He says she is good enough for him.