Episode Recap
At the kitchen table that morning, Sheldon announces there are only 42 days left until he leaves for college. Mary thinks that can’t be right, but Missy confirms it is, saying she has it marked in her diary. Mary insists that Missy shouldn’t be so excited, but Missy thinks it’s a bit late to start pretending she likes Sheldon now. Sheldon lists all the things he has to do before he goes: write his graduation speech, take one last trip to the comic book store, and have a final lunch with Tam at the high school. Mary expresses surprise that he’s still friends with Tam. Sheldon wonders why she would think that. “Because you never see him”, Mary points out. Sheldon argues that’s his favorite kind of friend. Mary reminds Sheldon to leave time for the “blue bonnet photo”, a Texas tradition. Adult Sheldon explains that forcing your family to dress in matching outfits and be photographed in a field of fire ants and bees is a traditional Texas torture dating back to the Great Depression. An unenthusiastic Sheldon says he’ll try and pencil her in, if time permits. But Mary insists they’re doing it, explaining she’s already bought the outfits and booked the photographer. “Doing what?”, George asks as he walks into the kitchen. When Missy explains it’s the “blue bonnet photo”, George groans, “Aw, come on. I don't want to.” Mary holds her ground, declaring “We are all doing it, and we're all gonna be happy whether you like it or not.”
George walks into Principal Petersen’s office, having been asked to come by Tom. When Petersen asks him to close the door, George does so but admits it’s making him nervous. Tom reassures him it’s good news, prompting George to wonder why the door couldn’t stay open then. Tom relents and agrees he can keep it open, but George has already sat down and can’t be bothered to get up again. After George asks what’s up, Tom remarks that they’ve had a hell of a season. George wishes the door was open for people to hear. Tom goes on to explain he has a buddy who coaches at Rice University who was asking about George. Tom jokes that he told his friend that George was happy at the school, but he’s just messing with him. In reality, he told the coach George would be a fantastic addition and they'd be crazy not to take him. George doesn’t know what to say. Tom jokes he can say no and stay there. “Well, I sure ain't saying that”, George replies with a chuckle, though he admits moving to Houston is a big deal. Tom says that’s why he wanted to give George a head’s up, so he and Mary can discuss it before an official offer comes through. George appreciates the gesture. Tom tells George he’s always believed in him. “What about that time you fired me?”, George questions. “We're having a nice moment, do you have to?”, Tom groans.
At the comic book store, Nathan asks Sheldon what’s up. Sheldon explains he’s leaving soon and wants to remember this place exactly the way it is. As he tries to take a mental photograph, Sheldon asks a male customer to move out of the way as he doesn’t recognize him. Nathan asks where Sheldon is going. “California”, Sheldon replies. Nathan recognises it as the home of “San Diego Comic-Con”, adding, “Rad. It's how they talk there.” Sheldon didn’t realize he’d have to learn another language. Sheldon then asks Nathan if he knows of any comic book stores in Pasadena. Nathan argues a comic book store is only as good as the people who hang out there. Sheldon, wearing a Green Lantern tee, adds that he’s hoping to stock-up on t-shirts before he goes. “Well, guess I'll see you around”, Nathan says. “You probably won’t”, Sheldon responds flatly. “Okay”, Nathan replies. Adult Sheldon adds that he never saw Nathan again.
Later that day, as George sits down on his bed, he tells Mary he was hoping to talk to her alone. He asks her to shut the bedroom door. Mary worries it’s bad news, but George insists it’s actually pretty exciting. “And it’s also a little scary”, he adds. Mary asks him to come out with it. George explains that he’s going to be offered a coaching job at Rice. He acknowledges moving away is a big deal and maybe now’s not the right time. “You should take it”, Mary says, cutting him off. “You sure?”, he asks. Mary points out Georgie and Mandy are out of the house, Sheldon's leaving soon, and Missy's starting a new school anyway. “It seems like a good time to do this”, she argues. George stammers, asking about Meemaw and CeeCee. Mary isn’t saying it’s going to be easy, but Houston’s not that far away. “Yeah, I guess but…”, George trails off. “George, you deserve this”, Mary insists. George admits college ball has always been his dream. After Mary declares, “Sounds like we're moving to Houston”, she and George hug and share a chuckle.
At dinner that night, after Mary says grace, she tells the family that she and George want to discuss something important. Missy wonders what’s wrong now. George reassures her it’s not bad news. Sheldon, sitting next to Mandy, points out, “Last time we had a family meeting it was because Georgie got a girl pregnant out of wedlock”. George explains he got a job offer from Rice. “A-roni?”, Georgie asks. George clarifies that it’s Rice University. Mary adds that he is going to be offered a coaching job. Meemaw congratulates him, noting that college ball is a big deal. When Missy asks where Rice University is, Mary explains it’s in Houston. Missy realizes she’d be starting high school in a new city. Mary tries to reassure her about such a big move, but on the contrary, Missy is excited about starting high school in a city with malls and a Six Flags. Mary and George expected her to be upset. Mandy admits she’s upset, saying it’s a lot of babysitters to lose. Meemaw points out she’s still here, but Georgie jokes that her bed time is earlier than CeeCee’s. “Excuse me, don't I get a say in this?”, Sheldon asks. Missy wonders why, pointing out he’s leaving in 41 days. Sheldon argues that doesn’t matter. This is still is home. Mary reassures him he will always have a home. “Maybe with a pool”, George adds. Missy is excited that “the new girl gets a pool.” Sheldon puts his cutlery down, stands up with his plate and heads to his room. Mary asks where he’s going. “To eat in my room while I still have one”, he says. “Sheldon's upset and Missy's good.”, George remarks, “Yeah, sounds about right.” Missy chuckles, “The new girl has a pool”.
In his room, Sheldon’s plate of food lies untouched on his bedside table as he lays on his bed with his eyes closed. Mary knocks on the door and asks if they can talk. Mary knocks on the door and asks if they can talk before she and George walk in. “Can we talk?” she begins. Seldon responds, “About you not moving?” George reminds Sheldon how excited he is to go to Caltech, saying that’s how he feels about moving to Houston. Sheldon argues that when he was going to Caltech, he still had this home to come back to. Mary assures him he’ll still have a room wherever they end up, but Sheldon insists, “This is my room.” Mary offers to take all his things with them and set it up exactly like this room, prompting Sheldon to ask, “So your plan is to gaslight me?” George sighs and tells Sheldon that he knows this is a lot of change, but sometimes change can be good. Sheldon quickly retorts, “Tell that to the woolly mammoth. You can’t, because they went extinct.” In an unusually stern tone, Mary delivers a firm lecture. “Sheldon, this isn’t about you. This job is good for your father and for our family, so you’re going to have to deal with it. Now pick up that plate, get back out there, and have dinner with your family while we’re all still together.” “Yes, ma’am.”, Sheldon responds a moment later, picking up his plate and walking out of his room. After Sheldon leaves, George turns to Mary and says, “Dang. That was hot.”
Adult Sheldon explains that his world had been rocked, but it was nice to know there were some things that would always stay the same, like lunch with his old friend, Tam. In the high school library, Sheldon and Tam sit together at a table. Tam asks why they’re there, and Sheldon responds, "This is where we always eat." Tam points out that he graduated last year. “Oh, good for you”, Sheldon says before asking, “So, where's your food?” Tam explains that when Sheldon invited him to lunch, he was expecting a restaurant. Sheldon offers him half his sandwich, prompting Tam to realize Sheldon still doesn’t eat the crusts. “Cutting them off gives my mother purpose”, Sheldon explains. After Sheldon asks Tam how he has been, Tam starts to reply, “Good. I actually have a girlfriend now and-” Sheldon interrupts to talk about how he’s about to go to Caltech and now his parents have decided to sell their house and move to Houston. Sheldon worries about what will become of his bedroom. Tam tries to get a word in, saying he’s thinking of marrying his girlfriend, but Sheldon keeps on talking about himself. “Are you at all interested in my life?”, Tam asks. Sheldon bluntly replies, “No, but thank you for asking.” As Ms. Hutchins walks by with her library cart, Sheldon greets her. She wonders what they’re doing there. “Taking comfort in the familiar”, Sheldon answers. “Still no wedding ring, I see. That feels good.”, he remarks. “Yeah, feels great.”, she responds as she continues on her way. Sheldon, unfazed, returns to talking about his own life.
At Dale’s house, he sits at the kitchen table, watching Meemaw iron a white shirt. When he asks if that’s what she plans to wear for the family portrait, Meemaw explains that the whole family is wearing white shirts. It’ll make Mary happy. When Dale comments on the whole family being there, Meemaw wonders if he’s upset he’s not gonna be in the picture. “Standing in a field full of pollen with this nose? Are you kidding me?”, Dale replies. Sheldon knocks on the door, performing three sets of three knocks, calling out Meemaw’s name after each set. When he enters, Meemaw jokingly asks if that means she has to say hello three times. Sheldon agrees that would be crazy. Meemaw asks what’s up. “How much do you love me?”, Sheldon asks. “What do you want?”, Meemaw presses. Sheldon explains that he wants her to buy their house, so his room is always there when he needs it. Dale points out that Sheldon couldn’t wait to leave Medford. “Just because I don't want to come back to a place doesn't mean I don't want to have a place that I don't want to come back to”, Sheldon explains. “Makes sense to me”, Dale concedes. “Great, let's talk escrow.”
Sheldon sits at the kitchen table, across from Meemaw and Dale, and explains that it’s completely logical for Meemaw to buy his house, since she doesn’t have her own house and is always complaining about living with Mr. Ballard. “Wait a minute. You complain to him about me?”, Dale asks. Meemaw clarifies that she complains about Dale near Sheldon. Sheldon adds that he has excellent hearing. Meemaw insists she is actually very happy living with Dale. “Well, first you're complaining, now you're complimenting?”, Dale queries. Meemaw says she can go back to complaining. “No, no, no. Compliment away”, Dale responds. Meemaw says, “Fine. I really enjoy living with you, and your... moose lodge decor has come to feel like home.” Dale wonders whether that’s a compliment or a complaint. Meemaw admits it’s a little of both. “I’ll take it”, Dale says. Sheldon wonders where they landed on his proposal: “Buy my home outright? Take over our mortgage? Interest rates are looking darn attractive.”
At the McAllisters’ house, Sheldon sits across the kitchen table from Georgie and Mandy, telling them he can't think of a better starter home for a new family such as the one they've accidentally created. Mandy, however, points out they wouldn’t be living at her parents’ house if they could afford their own place. “Well, the history of banking in this country is rife with ill-advised loans made to poor people.”, Sheldon remarks, “You could be their next mistake.” Georgie points out CeeCee would have her own room and they’d have a spare bedroom for whatever they’d like. Sheldon interrupts to insist they keep his bedroom exactly how it is. But when they “accidentally have more kids”, he adds, then they can talk. Georgie starts to joke, “It happened once bef-”, but Mandy cuts him off with a firm “No”.
At the university, Sheldon sits across from President Hagemeyer at her desk. “Why on Earth would I buy your house?”, she wonders. Not her, the university, Sheldon clarifies. Hagemeyer can’t see why the university would buy his house either. Sheldon insists they’ve been over this before. He’s gonna win a Nobel prize one day, meaning his house will be turned into a museum. “It's gonna be like the thinking man's Graceland”, he argues. Hagemeyer points out that she’s always gone out of her way to do anything to make him happy. “But... how can I say this nicely... you're Caltech's problem now, so, yay.” Sheldon argues if his parents sell the house, he has no reason to come back. Hagemeyer wonders if Sheldon’s actually worried about moving away to California, but Sheldon insists he’s excited about that. “Well, things can be exciting and scary at the same time,”, Hagemeyer tells him. Maybe he’s focusing on his parents' move because that's easier than focusing on what lies ahead. He is moving far away, she points out. Sheldon recognises this and notes that he doesn't know anyone there. “And I'm scared of the ocean. And they have earthquakes. What am I doing? Maybe I should stay here.” Hagemeyer is suddenly alarmed at the prospect of Sheldon becoming her problem again. She reminds him Professor Hawking is at Caltech. Sheldon agrees, adding that he’ll never win a Nobel Prize at this “third-rate university.” “Second-rate”, Hagemeyer corrects him. “Now, get out of here. I don't want you to see me cry.” Sheldon leaves as he doesn’t want to see that either. Linda crosses another day out of her calendar, telling herself she can do it.
At the Cooper house, George and Mary welcome a realtor. Mary acknowledges that it looks a little lived-in, but insists the house has “good bones.” George comes right out and asks how much they’ll get for it. The realtor has only seen the living room, so she says she’ll need to see the rest of it first. When they reach the bathroom, Mary points out they just redid the plumbing. “And it was pricey”, George adds. “Write that down.” Next, they head to Missy’s room. George admits they told her to tidy up, but he makes no promises. When they open the door, it’s spotless. Missy sits on the bed, dressed in her finest Sunday clothes, reading the Bible. “Oh, hello, ma'am”, she says politely to the realtor. The realtor describes the room as charming. “It's been such a blessing to grow up here”, Missy beams. “I just hope some lucky family loves it as much as I have.” The realtor is sure they will. Missy decides to pray on it. Mary has seen enough and decides to move the realtor on.
When George and Mary take the realtor to Sheldon’s room, they find him wearing a hazmat suit and walking around with a geiger counter. “Might want to stay there until I finish my sweep”, Sheldon tells them. George asks what he’s doing. Sheldon explains that he’s checking to make sure his room isn’t still radioactive. Mary insists the room was never radioactive. “We don't know that.”, Sheldon counters, “I did have radioactive material.” George tries to reassure the realtor, mentioning that the FBI intervened before Sheldon acquired any radioactive material. “Oh, you're talking about the uranium I tried to buy. I'm referring to the americium isotopes I was using to make a nuclear reactor.” George tells the realtor not to write that down.
Outside, Georgie finds his dad up a step ladder examining the roof and gutters. Georgie asks if his dad should be up there. George explains the realtor said they'd get a better price if the roof was in good shape, so he’s just taking a look. “Yeah, but a man your age. And size.”, Georgie replies. George wonders if he came out there just to insult him, but Georgie admits that his mom sent him out to help - the insults just come natural. Georgie questions if his dad even knows what he’s looking for. “Broken shingles, loose flashing”, George answers. Georgie wonders how his dad knows such stuff. George tells his son one day he’ll own a house and will need to learn this stuff. Georgie claims that he’ll be rich enough to pay for someone to do it. “I'd love to see that”, George responds. Georgie thinks his dad’s now making fun of him, but George insists he means it. “'Cause I got a plan. I'm gonna be rich”, Georgie states. George wonders what the plan is. “To be rich.” George chuckles and acknowledges his son’s got confidence, at least. “You get a second thing, you'll be unstoppable.” Georgie thinks that sounds like he’s halfway there. “I suppose you are”, George tells him.
When Sheldon knocks on Missy’s door, delivering his now customary three sets of three knocks, calling her name after each set. “Yeah?” Missy asks after the first set. “What?” after the second. After the third set, an annoyed Missy opens the door to ask what he wants. Sheldon asks if she’s nervous about moving to a new city. Nope. He points out she won’t know anyone there, but Missy sees that as the best part. “I won't be the dumb sister of the smartest boy in town.”, she says. Sheldon asks if she’s not going to brag about him to her new friends. “Hell, no. I'm gonna tell people you were sent away to a school for special kids.” Sheldon insists Caltech is a school for special kids, which, Missy notes, works on two levels. Missy asks Sheldon if he’s nervous. He admits he is. What if nobody likes him in California? Missy points out that no one likes him here. Sheldon counters, “No one understands me here.” Missy reassures him that there are plenty of other smart weirdos at “Cowtech.” Sheldon can’t believe she called it that. “Caltech”, he corrects her. “Like calculators?”, she asks. Like “California”, he responds. Missy likes hers better. Missy tells him she’s sure he’ll make lots of friends. “Maybe even a smart, weird girlfriend”, she adds. Sheldon insists he has a girlfriend - her name is science. Missy’s patience wears thin. “Cool. When do you leave?”
The next morning in the kitchen, Sheldon sits at the table eating breakfast while Mary prepares food and Missy packs her bag. When Mary guesses that Sheldon doesn’t have classes today, he wonders how she knew. Missy jumps in, commenting, “Because you’re dressed like a six-year-old,” referring to Sheldon’s t-shirt. Mary reminds him that the family portrait is today. Missy asks if they really have to stand in a field of flowers. Sheldon says if she’s worried about getting stung, he has a spare beekeeper outfit. Mary is adamant he’s not wearing that, although Missy wants her mom to reconsider, arguing that it would help her story about Sheldon going to “special school.” When George walks into the kitchen, ready to go to work, he asks what’s happening. Mary reminds him of the 4:00 bluebonnet photo shoot and tells him not to be late. George insists he wouldn’t miss it. He asks Missy if she wants a ride to school. “Nah, I’ll take the bus”, she tells her dad. “Suit yourself”, George replies. “See y’all”, George says but nobody responds. Sheldon doesn’t even look up from his cereal. Mary reminds George once again that the photo is at 4:00. George nods before heading out the door. Sheldon then tells Mary that if he gets stung, he will be reporting her to child protective services.
Later that afternoon, everyone is dressed in white as they wait in the living room. Georgie and Mandy are with CeeCee on the couch. Meemaw is adjusting Sheldon’s bowtie. When Meemaw asks Sheldon what she’s smelling, he explains he’s wearing peppermint oil because it’s a natural bee repellent. After Missy says he smells like a candy cane, Sheldon tells her not to lick him. “Speaking of smells…”, Mandy asks if she has time to change CeeCee. Mary says they’re still waiting on George so go ahead. Georgie asks if Mandy needs help with that. Mandy initially says no, but realizes she is in all white, so says yes.
As Georgie and Mandy leave to change CeeCee, there’s a knock at the door. Mary opens it to find Principal Petersen and Coach Wilkins, both looking somber. Instantly alarmed, Mary asks what’s going on. Coach Wilkins’ voice is heavy as he says, “Mary, we’ve got some bad news.” “Where's George?”, Mary asks with urgency. Missy and Meemaw wander over and stand behind Mary. Principal Petersen shakes his head. “I’m so sorry”, he says. A look of shock spreads across Meemaw’s face, and she places a hand on Missy’s shoulder for support. “He uh…”, Principal Petersen stammers, “He had a heart attack.” Missy starts to sob. “He’s okay, right?”, she asks. Meemaw starts to cry and holds Missy tighter. “He’s gone”, Principal Petersen tells them. Mary exhales sharply, her lip quivering. Missy and Meemaw continue to sob, turning toward one another for comfort. Sheldon stands quietly, watching the scene unfold. Slowly, he lowers himself into a nearby chair. Coach Wilkins and Principal Petersen remain at the door the family takes in the news. As Mary covers her mouth, almost hyperventilating, Meemaw reaches out a hand to her. Sheldon stares off into the distance… as the sound of his family members sobbing fades out.
