Episode Recap
As Dr. Linkletter gives a lecture on measuring the speed of sound, Sheldon puts his briefcase up onto the desk, takes out a knife and fork, a napkin to wrap around his neck, and a tupperware jar. Dr. Linkletter stops himself mid-speech, distracted by the smell of Sheldon’s food. Sheldon explains he’s trying to acclimate his body to the Germanic diet he’ll be experiencing over the summer. Linkletter questions why he’s doing it at 11:00, but Sheldon points out that it is dinnertime in Heidelberg. Linkletter decides to get back to his lecture, if that doesn’t interfere with Sheldon’s meal. “Oh, dinner and a show, I love it.”, Sheldon responds. “Here are two words you don't often hear”, Dr. Linkletter remarks, “...poor Germany.”
When George arrives home through the kitchen door, Mary - who is busy at the kitchen table - asks him to go to the grocery store, saying there’s a list on the counter. “Nice to see you too”, George remarks. Mary is swamped: she has to get passports for Sheldon and herself, make sure that the house is stocked, and now that Sheldon has read about deep-vein thrombosis, find compression socks for the flight. George notices Mary is stressed and suggests maybe he should spend the summer with Sheldon in Germany instead. After all, he gets summer off, and he’s been preparing his whole life for a diet of sausage and beer. Sheldon walks into the kitchen in his pajamas and tells his Dad to get tin foil if he’s heading to the store. After George sarcastically wonders whether Sheldon is making a hat, Sheldon explains he needs to block out his windows. It’s 10:00 pm in Germany. “Gute Nacht.”
Over at Meemaw’s, Georgie is holding baby CeeCee as he cooks. Mandy asks Georgie if he has any plans for the weekend, explaining she got a spa voucher at the baby shower. Georgie is free at the weekend, so he offers to watch CeeCee. Mandy says the voucher’s actually for two people. Mandy was thinking he could go with her, saying he deserves a break as much as she does. Georgie doesn’t seem very excited. He admits he doesn’t know what guys do at spas, or even what girls do at spas. After Georgie wonders who will watch CeeCee, Mandy figures Meemaw can look after her for one night. Georgie reluctantly agrees to go if his grandmother agrees to watch the baby. Mandy, however, is excited - particularly at the prospect of going to bed early, napping, or even sleeping in.
At dinner in the Cooper house, George asks Missy how her day was. Missy remarks that since Sheldon isn’t there, they should just enjoy the silence. With a chuckle, George agrees that it’s nice. Mary wonders why George would say that and still want to spend two months listening to Sheldon in Germany. Missy is confused as she thought Mary was going, but George insists they’re still considering their options. Mary points out that George has traveled the world while she’s never left the country, although George doesn’t consider being in the army “traveling the world”. Missy wonders if she gets a vote. Mary says no, but George wants to hear her out. After Missy votes for her mom to go, George says she doesn’t get a vote. Mary reminds George he took Sheldon to Cal-Tech. George argues a college visit isn’t exactly two months in Europe, but Mary insists she wouldn’t know. When Sheldon emerges from his bedroom, he asks them to keep it down as it’s “the middle of the night in here”.
As Meemaw carries a laundry basket into the kitchen, she runs into Georgie. After Meemaw mentions Georgie and Mandy’s weekend trip, she insists she doesn’t mind watching the baby. Georgie asks if she’s sure, as she’s never watched CeeCee over night before. Meemaw jokes that it’s fine as both she and CeeCee get up to pee a lot. After Georgie tells his grandmother he doesn’t have to go away if she’s not sure, she gets the sense he doesn’t want to go. She wonders if he’s worried about getting a massage from a guy. Georgie says he wasn’t, but that’s not helping. After Meemaw asks what’s going on, Georgie says he and Mandy have never been away from CeeCee before, and they’ve never spent the night away together. Meemaw wonders if Georgie’s worried about messing up their relationship. He wasn’t. “No. Quit making me worry about new things!”, he complains.
Adult Sheldon explains that although it’s midnight in Medford, it’s morning in Heidelberg. “The perfect time to enjoy a hearty breakfast of leberwurst on pumpernickel.” After Sheldon takes a bite, he wonders what the German word for “blech” is. Adult Sheldon says he’ll save us Googling the answer, it’s “eklig”. As Sheldon looks out the kitchen window, he sees Missy walking up to the house.
As Missy climbs into her bedroom window, Sheldon asks her where she’s been. Missy gasps and wonders why he’s up, telling him to go back to bed. Sheldon explains he’s up enjoying a revolting German breakfast. What’s her excuse? Missy says she was with her friend Tonya, and insists it’s not a big deal. Sheldon notices she smells like cigarettes. Missy denies this, so Sheldon suggests he get a second opinion from their mom. “Sheldon, stop and think.”, Missy tells her twin brother, “If I get in trouble, neither Mom or Dad is gonna want to leave me and go to Germany. And if they don't go, you don't go.” Sheldon insists he has to go. Missy tells him to forget all about this then. Sheldon reminds her he can’t forget, he remembers everything. “Then when you're old and not a famous scientist, you'll remember this is the moment you blew it.”, Missy warns him. “Well? What's it gonna be?”, Missy asks Sheldon as he ponders this dilemma. Sheldon says he’s going to brush the liver out of his teeth and mull this over.
As Sheldon paces up to his parents’ bedroom, Adult Sheldon explains he was presented with a moral dilemma. “Cover for Missy and protect my trip, or sing like a canary and spend a muggy summer in Texas with my clean conscience.” Before Sheldon can even knock on the door, Mary opens it and asks him if everything’s okay. Missy, standing in her bedroom’s doorway, repeats Mary’s question. In an unconvincing monotone, Sheldon answers “Everything is okay.” before awkwardly walking off. Mary questions what all that was about. Missy insists she doesn't know, saying she just woke up. Mary sighs and returns to her room.
Over at Meemaw’s in the morning, Connie pours Mary a cup of coffee. Meemaw is surprised that George wants to go to Germany with Sheldon. Mary claims he thinks it’ll be like a vacation. Meemaw sarcastically points out, “Because the two things that Sheldon loves are change and new people.” “Thank you.”, Mary replies. After Meemaw wonders which one of them will go then, Mary insists they’re still discussing it. “So you?” “Mmm-hmm.” When Georgie and Mandy come downstairs, Meemaw asks if they got CeeCee to sleep. Mandy confirms they did, explaining they’re going to head out before she wakes up again. Mary says she’s pleased the two of them are spending time together. Georgie is embarrassed and wants his mom to stop talking. Mary carries on undeterred, admitting she’s not happy with the idea of the two of them sharing a hotel room. Georgie’s discomfort increases as Mary points out they’re not married. After Georgie and Meemaw tell her to stop, Mary insists she’s done, but Meemaw knows better and tells Georgie and Mandy to get going.
Back home, as Sheldon reads a book in the den while George watches TV, Missy and Tonya are laughing as they take a magazine quiz. Adult Sheldon explains he was annoyed that they got away with one transgression and now were plotting their next. Sheldon imagines them making plans to rob a mall for shoes and makeup, since those are the things girls like. As Sheldon imagines this, George notices Sheldon is distracted. George tells Sheldon it makes sense to be a little nervous with his Germany trip coming up. George reminds Sheldon how nervous he got when they flew to Pasadena, but they got through it together. George notes Germany is much further away and Mary has never been on a flight that long, but he has when he was in the army. George claims that if Mary gets nervous, Sheldon might be the one calming her down. “But that's what she does for me.”, Sheldon says. George keeps pressing his point, saying “Well, I'm sure she'll do her best. But if she can't, there's lots of strangers on the plane. You can hold one of their hands.”
After Dale walks into Meemaw’s house, she thanks him for coming. Dale says he wasn’t going to pass on a free lunch, he’s no dummy. He asks Meemaw what she’s making. After Meemaw says chicken salad, Dale wonders if it’s supposed to smell that bad. Meemaw realizes it must be CeeCee. Dale wonders why people keep having babies when they do that. Meemaw asks him to go change CeeCee’s while she finishes their meal. Dale doesn’t understand. “I mean, like, go get a new diaper and put it on her.”, Meemaw explains. Dale says no, so Meemaw tells him not to be a baby and go change the baby. Dale insists the first diaper he changes is gonna be his own. Meemaw is shocked he’s never changed a diaper before, given he not only has kids but also has grandkids. “How did you get away with never changing a diaper?”, she asks. “It wasn't easy.”, Dale admits, but adds “When there's something important to you, you find a way.”
As Missy and Tonya play a card game on Missy’s bed, Tonya suggests having a sleepover. When Missy replies it can’t be there, Tonya wonders why. After Sheldon knocks on Missy’s door, Missy explains that’s why. “I've been reading up on German history and I've realized that appeasement in the face of rule-breaking is a slippery slope. Let's say that sneaking out was your ‘occupying the Sudetenland’. What's your ‘invasion of Poland’ going to be?”, Sheldon says after coming into Missy’s room. Missy wonders what he’s talking about, so Sheldon explains he needs Missy to promise she won’t break any more rules while he’s away, now he’s not telling their parents. Missy promises, but Sheldon wonders whether he can believe her. Tonya suggests Missy make a promise that she was telling the truth. Sheldon is pleased, until he wonders whether he can trust that promise. After Missy promises she wasn’t lying about the promise, Sheldon leaves in frustration.
When Georgie and Mandy arrive at the spa, Mandy is impressed by the luxurious hotel room, but Georgie doesn’t seem interested. Mandy points out he lives in a garage, and says this is the nicest room he’s ever seen in his life. Mandy sits down on the bed and jokes she may never leave. Noticing Georgie is still lacking enthusiasm, Mandy asks what’s wrong. Is it still the massage? Georgie insists it’s not the massage… okay, maybe a little. “I thought this is what you wanted... us together.”, Mandy tells him. Georgie admits he did want that, but claims it’s different. Just as Mandy asks him how it’s different, there’s a knock at the door. Georgie opens it to find two masseuses for their couple’s massage. Georgie says it’s not a good time, but Mandy shouts, “Screw you. I’m getting a massage.”
As Mary puts a load of laundry in the washer, George comes to the kitchen to grab a beer. George tells her he feels they’ve been making Sheldon’s trip to Germany all about them, when it should be about Sheldon. George proposes that Sheldon have a say in who goes with him. Mary is instantly suspicious, and wonders what George has been telling Sheldon. George claims Sheldon mentioned he was nervous about the flight, and they reminisced about how he calmed Sheldon down on their flight to California. “Did he mention it or did you mention it?”, Mary wonders. George insists it’s tough to say, really. “You are unbelievable.", Mary tells her husband. When Sheldon wanders into the kitchen to grab a drink, Mary asks him what his father’s been saying. After George tells Mary not to confuse him, Sheldon admits he is now confused. George says it’s Sheldon’s choice, prompting Sheldon to wonder what’s his choice. George insists Sheldon should choose who he goes to Germany with. Mary says she can’t believe George is putting Sheldon in the middle, but George argues he’s just treating Sheldon like a responsible adult. A confused and flustered Sheldon instead confesses that Missy has been sneaking out of the house at night. And he thinks she’s smoking.
In the living room, Mary and George address Missy and Tonya. They ask where Missy snuck out and what they did, but Missy answers “nowhere” and “nothing”. “Well, you went somewhere and did something.”, George says. Missy wonders why they believe Sheldon and not her. “Because he's a Goody Two-shoes and you stole my truck!”, George replies. Missy admits she snuck out, but insists they just walked around. Mary mentions that Sheldon said they were smoking. “And we learned it's a disgusting habit.”, Missy disingenuously claims. When Pastor Jeff arrives to pick up Tonya, he thanks George and Mary for the call, and tells Tonya her parents will be hearing about this. After they leave, Mary tells Missy that she is grounded for the whole summer. When Missy complains that it's three months, George threatens to extend it to Christmas. Missy storms off after saying there’s nothing to do in this stupid town anyway. George wonders if there’s a way they can both go to Germany.
During their couple’s massage in the hotel room, Georgie and Mandy continue the argument in front of the two masseuses. Georgie accuses Mandy of sending mixed signals, of acting all into him one moment and then pushing him away. Mandy insists that’s not true. “Yes, it is.”, Georgie responds, “You sleep with me, then you tell me to date other people. I ask you to marry me, you say no.” Georgie asks why it’s gonna be different this time. “I- I don’t know.”, Mandy stammers, “Maybe I’m ready now.” Georgie doesn’t want to risk what they have on a "maybe." As Mandy questions why Georgie came to the spa if he wasn't willing to try, Georgie admits he didn’t want to say no and make things weird. “Oh, well, you nailed it.”, Mandy retorts.
After Sheldon knocks on Missy’s bedroom door, she shouts for him to go away. A somber Sheldon addresses his sister through the door: “I know you're angry but I was genuinely worried about you. I realize we have our differences, but... I would never be able to forgive myself if anything bad happened to you.” Missy opens the door to tell Sheldon to his face that she hates him.
Over at Meemaw’s, she tells Dale she’s going to give CeeCee a bath and asks if he wants to help. “Nah, I’m good.”, Dale responds. Meemaw figures he's never given a baby a bath before. “It was a different time.”, Dale argues. Meemaw points out it’s not the '50s anymore, so he is going to help her. Dale reluctantly agrees. Meemaw then orders him to change CeeCee’s diaper afterward. Dale says to himself that he misses the ‘50s.
As George finds Mary furiously folding a towel, he jokes that the towel didn’t sneak out. Mary admits she’s worried that Missy managed to sneak out when the both of them were home. What’s going to stop her running wild when there’s just one of them there? George wonders if Mary’s saying neither of them should go to Germany. Mary doesn’t know. She doesn’t want to punish Sheldon, but she’s also worried about Missy. George admits he is too, but he thinks Mary should go. “I got the summer off. My full-time job can be keeping her in line.”, he tells her. Mary wonders if he’s sure he’s up for that. “Mary, I'm a football coach. I can handle a 13-year-old girl.”, George says. Adult Sheldon explains that Missy snuck out 32 times that summer and got her belly button pierced. “The poor guy had no idea.”
As Georgie drives home with Mandy from the spa, out of nowhere she says “All right, let's get married.” “What?”, a confused Georgie asks. Mandy insists that even though Georgie thinks she’s not all in, she is. Georgie says he is all in, too. As they agree they’re really doing this, Georgie pulls the car over so he can kiss Mandy.
