The Big Bang Theory – The Plagiarism Schism

By starrymag | May 8, 2019

By: Sammi Turano

 

 

The episode opens with Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) having dinner with Dr. Pemberton (Sean Astin) and Dr. Campbell (Kal Penn). Amy is apologizing for her outburst and Sheldon says she was so stressed over it that she chewed through her night guard like jerky.

 

Dr. Pemberton says what she said was very hurtful because he thought they were friends. Sheldon wonders why he would think that. Dr. Pemberton says “ouch” and Dr. Campbell says they are mean people. President Siebert (Joshua Malina) says they are sorry, not mean. Dr. Pemberton says his therapist says they are angry over their own insecurities and Dr. Campbell asserts they are jealous of the attention they are getting, which is why they lashed out. Sheldon says that he remained clam during this whole fiasco. Dr. Pemberton says that is a compliment because they think they will win the Nobel Peace Prize. Amy disagrees and Sheldon says they will see that he and Amy discovered it. Dr. Pemberton and Dr. Campbell say they proved it. Amy says it was by accident and they say things like this are proved by accident. Amy still disagrees. President Siebert says that if they keep fighting someone else win, so they agree to remain civil….yet keep fighting. Sheldon says it’s impressive he isn’t talking.

 

When it is time to pay the bill Dr. Campbell tries to take care of it, but Sheldon says his money is no good here and gives the check to President Siebert.  Dr. Pemberton says may the best team win and Sheldon agrees, whispering to Amy that they are the best team.

 

As the doctors leave they run into Kripke (John Ross Bowie) who turns out to be an old college classmate of Pemberton’s. Kripke says they should meet up at a strip joint because nothing beats a lap dance and a baked potato bar. Campbell says it is a hard pass when he gets an invite.

 

Kripke goes up to Sheldon and Amy and says he hates Pemberton. Sheldon is confused and Kripke says Pemberton is a weasel whose MO is to steal other people’s ideas. He even Googled where to buy a thesis when it was time for him to write his own. He offers to help them get proof despite not wanting either one of them to win. Amy thinks it is sleazy, but Kripke says being sleazy is his specialty.

 

At home Sheldon tells Amy he told his mom about the situation.  She makes a reference to the Old and New Testament and when he questioned it he says he was full of California sass.

 

They go over to see Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) to ask them for advice about what to do if they had damaging information about someone. Howard (Simon Helberg) asks if it has to do with tastes they have that they look at online. Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) says she knows about his tall girl fetish because it goes on their credit card. Amy explains the situation and Leonard doesn’t think it will sit well with the Nobel committee. Penny doesn’t think it is fair to hold something someone did in school against them. Leonard reminds her it isn’t about her. Bernie says cheaters should be held accountable and Penny thinks that is crazy talk. Howard belives this could blow up his career and Bernie says “KABOOM.” Leonard agree with Bernie and doesn’t think Pemberton should have a career and there are plenty of people who did not plagiarize. Penny says those who did did it because The Scarlet Letter was so boring. Leonard says that book got him interested in bad girls.

 

Sheldon wonders why this is so hard. Raj (Kunal Nayyar) says it is because they want to win, but know this is not the honorable way to do it…..because they already would have.

 

Amy and Sheldon continue to discuss what to do at home and think if bad people do bad things to win they are bad people. They agree they are good people and Sheldon says talking to her is like listening to himself with a girl voice.

 

Howard and Bernie are also discussing it at home. Howard thinks they should take the high road and Bernie thinks they shouldn’t let Pemberton get away with it and do what they have to do. Howard asks her the worst thing she did to get what she wanted. She doesn’t want to tell him, but finally admits another waitress had a thing for Howie when they met. She told the waitress Howie had all the Hepatitis A-Z. Howie says there aren’t that many and Bernie says that if she figured that out she wouldn’t be still working at the Cheesecake Factory.    Howie wants to know who it is, but Bernie doesn’t think it matters. He thinks it is Susan and Bernie wonders if it is because she is tall…and he says goodnight.

 

Leonard and Penny also discuss the situation. He wonders why Sheldon doesn’t want to say anything when he loves to tell on people when they do something wrong. Penny thinks he has changed and Leonard says he hasn’t because when Leonard got bags of chips from the vending machine Sheldon called his mom. He said it forced him to call his mom, who is now polyamorous. Penny is glad they want to win on their own, but Leonard disagrees. Penny says this is their decision to make, but Leonard thinks he can expose Pemberton on the sly. He thinks Amy and Sheldon deserve it and will get his hands dirty if he has to in order to make it happen.

 

Kripke gives Leonard the envelope and says that there is no turning back now. Leonard says he could decide not to use the information and Kripke says he can make anything boring. As Leonard leaves, he runs into Amy and acts awkward.

 

Howard and Raj discuss the mystery waitress who had a thing for Howard. He is glad women find him appealing. He tries to figure out who it was, ruling out Penny and Susan who had a type. Howard names all the waitresses and Raj finds it creepy he remembers their names. Howard admits he also remembers their eye colors, cars and relationship statuses.

 

Amy and Penny enjoy wine as Amy discusses her run in with Leonard. She thinks he was acting guilty about something and Penny says he has resting guilt face.

 

Penny finally admits the plan and Amy thinks she is implicated now. Penny argues she wanted to know and Amy says she also wanted Penny to be her jester at the fair. Penny says she wanted to be the princess and Amy say she was the only one who could be the princess. Penny is sorry she told and Amy forgives her because that is what a princess would do.

 

At dinner Sheldon is happy over the meatballs Amy made. He notices Amy is distracted and she tries to explain without giving too much away, but Sheldon insists he must know. Sheldon goes to confront Penny and Leonard. Penny is mad Amy told and Amy says she told her.  Penny says that is where she heard it. Leonard and Sheldon argue, but Leonard says he is doing what he has to do. Amy doesn’t want him to compromise his integrity. Sheldon disagrees and thinks they were worried about looking bad. Amy says it could be both. Sheldon asserts they are going with his reason because hers is too complicated.

 

Howie tells Bernie he tried to find out the waitress who liked him and then realized it doesn’t matter because he has Bernie. She says the manager told her and he creeped a lot of people out. He says he only wants to creep out the mother of his children.

 

Amy and Sheldon meet with Dr. Pemberton and Dr. Campbell and tell them they are not blackmailing them, but doing the opposite. Pemberton is confused and Amy wonders how he is up for a Nobel. They are giving it to them so nobody can use it against them. Campbell can’t believe Pemberton cheated and he admits he wasn’t smart enough to write his thesis. Campbell is mad his name is attached to Pemberton’s and says Linda was right, he is always looking for shortcuts. Pemberton wonders when he talked to his ex-wife and they begin to argue over her and their lakehouse. Campbell says he is in love with Linda and Pemberton throws ice tea in Campbell’s face and fights him. Sheldon is mad because it was his drink.

 

The episode ends with Campbell drunkenly bursting into Sheldon and Amy’s office to say someone exposed Pemberton….and it was him. Pemberton lost his job and his ex-wife is now with the contractor. He suggests they team up despite Pemberton being out for revenge. Amy tosses him out and Sheldon wonders what Linda saw in either of them.