Episode Recap
At dinner that night, Sheldon wonders what Mary has served. Missy explains it's Hamburger Helper, confirming they're poor. Sheldon asks if they'll still say grace now that Mary is taking a break from the church. Mary hadn't thought about it, but says they can if they wish. Sheldon thinks it's nonsense but admits he does find the ritual comforting. When Missy asks if she can say grace, Mary agrees. Missy says the usual blessing for the food and the hands that prepared it, then asks God to ensure she has a good hair day for picture day later that week. After Meemaw tells her to wrap it up, Missy ends by praying that her dad finds a full-time job before they lose cable.
In the kitchen, as Mary cleans the dishes, George goes to the refrigerator. He asks her how the no-church thing is going. Mary admits it’s a little weird but says she’s figuring it out. When George asks if she might go back, Mary says she doesn’t know yet. George suggests moving to a different church, but Mary repeats that she doesn’t know yet. George gives up on the conversation and says he’s going to get a beer. When George asks if Mary wants one, she explains that just because she’s no longer going to church doesn’t mean she’s suddenly a drinker. George and his two beers say good night.
As Sheldon works on his computer in his bedroom, Missy comes in to ask him something. She points out that Sheldon does their parents' taxes and asks how bad their financial situation is. Sheldon says that based on their parents’ part-time income, they'll run out of money by the end of the year. Missy wonders if it will be before or after Christmas. After Sheldon confirms it’ll be before, Missy sighs and asks if there's anything they can do. Sheldon proposes selling their stuff, but Missy makes it clear she likes her belongings. Sheldon likes his too, so they decide to keep thinking.
As Meemaw watches TV, she gets a phone call from Dr. Linkletter. He looked at his calendar and realized it’s been six weeks since he last asked her out, so he’s trying again. Meemaw is surprised he asks every six weeks. Linkletter says it used to be nine, but they’re not getting any younger. Meemaw agrees to go out with him but insists it's just a platonic thing. Linkletter asks if she wants to try his cooking, mentioning that he makes seven kinds of soup. Meemaw would rather stick to a restaurant.
After George makes a phone call, saying, “Chicken coop. Now,” Brenda Sparks walks into her chicken coop to find him. George asks why she hired Mary at the bowling alley, calling it weird. Brenda points out that meeting in a chicken coop is weird. She insists she was just being nice by offering Mary a job. When George scoffs, Brenda wonders if he's drunk. "Not enough," George replies. After Brenda asks if he wants her to fire Mary, George says no as that would be weird. Realizing they're back where they started, Brenda says good night.
Back in Sheldon’s room, he and Missy brainstorm ways to make money. After Sheldon asks what Missy can do, Missy says she’s popular, but Sheldon doesn’t think that’s a skill. Missy retorts that he can’t do it. She suggests Sheldon go on Jeopardy!, but Sheldon refuses. He likes his questions in the form of questions and answers in the form of answers. Sheldon then mentions selling story ideas to Star Trek. Missy doubts they’ll buy ideas from a kid. As Sheldon explains his idea for a Worf storyline, Missy suggests they could charge people a buck to punch him. Sheldon points out they’d end up spending all their profits on medical expenses.
At the bowling alley, after Mary tells Brenda she’s struggling with the books, Brenda offers to find someone else if Mary needs help. Brenda puts on a brave face when Mary insists she’ll figure it out. As Mary passes by the lanes, she encounters Pastor Rob playing a game with his girlfriend, Shannon. Mary feels uncomfortable as Shannon recalls how, as her babysitter, Mary used to let her stay up late and watch TV while Mary made out with her boyfriend. When Mary says she doesn’t remember that, Shannon isn’t surprised given how Mary used to raid her father’s liquor cabinet. Mary insists she was young and hadn’t found the Lord yet, before telling them to have a good night.
Another night at the bowling alley, Brenda notices Pastor Rob is here again. When Mary asks if he comes often, Brenda replies, "Not with Shannon." “Good for him,” Mary adds. Brenda comments that in a small town like this, a single, good-looking pastor might as well be Roger Staubach. Seeing Mary’s confusion, Brenda explains he plays for the Dallas Cowboys and can't hide her disdain that Mary doesn’t know that. Mary awkwardly excuses herself to go do “office things” in her office.
In Dr. Linkletter’s office, Sheldon is boring him with details of his idea for a Star Trek storyline. As Linkletter calls a restaurant to book a table, Sheldon is surprised he wants to continue the conversation over dinner. Linkletter explains he’s taking Sheldon’s grandmother out. Sheldon says she never mentioned it, but Linkletter argues that’s probably because it doesn’t concern him. Sheldon points out that he is at the center of the Meemaw and Dr. Linkletter Venn diagram. When Linkletter says he’d like a table at 8:00, Sheldon argues that’s a little late for his Meemaw. Since she’s old, Meemaw prefers to eat no later than 6:30. As Linkletter is about to confirm his reservation, he checks with Sheldon whether Meemaw even likes French food. Sheldon gives a thumbs down, so Linkletter ends the call. To get more useful info from Sheldon, Linkletter wonders where this “Worf character” would take Meemaw out to dinner.
At the comic book store, Missy goes to the counter and says she saw their "help wanted" sign and wants to help. After Nigel asks how old she is, Missy asks how old she needs to be. Nigel says she needs to be fourteen, so Missy scoffs and asks if she doesn’t look fourteen. Nigel admits he doesn’t care, so Missy wonders when she can start. Nigel wants to make sure she actually likes comic books so he asks for her favorite. "Um…", Missy hesitates before remembering Sheldon talking about comic books in the car with their mom. "And the cool thing about the X-Men is not just that they have superpowers, but they act as a metaphor for outsiders… trying to find their place in society," Missy parrots to Nigel. When Nigel asks who her favorite X-Man is, Missy says all of them, which is Nigel’s view too.
Back home, Missy tells Sheldon she got the job. Sheldon argues that if anyone should be working at the comic book store, it should be him. "Sorry, we’re not hiring.", Missy tells her brother. After Sheldon asks if he can at least get a discount, Missy cheerfully informs him that she does.
After Brenda hears Mary sobbing in her office at the bowling alley, she goes in to ask if she’s okay. Mary admits it’s been a rough couple of days. Brenda says she’s sorry and mentions that even though she’s had a good couple of days, she is still going to get drunk. When Brenda asks if Mary wants to join her, Mary says that would be nice, although Brenda argues it’s more sad than nice.
At a tiki restaurant, Meemaw tells Linkletter this is a surprise. Linkletter explains he knew she likes margaritas, so his first thought was a Mexican restaurant. Good thought, says Meemaw, but Linkletter figured other men had the same idea. They have, Meemaw confirms. This led him to Polynesian fare. He likes to think of the mai tai as the margarita of the South Pacific.
Back home, as George watches TV alone in the den, Sheldon tells him about his idea for a Star Trek episode. After George wonders why Sheldon chose him, Sheldon explains he needs to know if a common man can understand it. George understands he's been insulted. As Sheldon explains his idea, George notices his beer is empty. Sheldon continues talking while George goes to the fridge, gets another beer, and returns to his chair. When Sheldon finishes his introduction to the episode, he asks if his father is hooked. "Oh, yeah.”
At a bar, Brenda tells Mary it seems like seeing Pastor Rob earlier left her flustered. Mary claims it’s because she was asked to leave the church while Rob's still there, but Brenda seems unconvinced. After Brenda says Rob seems like a great guy, Mary agrees. “Cute as a button,” Brenda says. Mary responds, “I guess,” adding she prefers a bigger man. “Like George?”, Brenda wonders. “Oh, yeah. Bigger the better,” Mary replies.
Back at the Coopers’, Sheldon stands outside the bathroom, sharing the end of his Star Trek story idea. When George emerges, Sheldon asks his father what he thought. Sheldon is left speechless when George identifies a plot hole. Adult Sheldon explains that with Missy getting a job at the comic book store and George finding a hole in his plot, it was a good day for the common man. Nevertheless, Sheldon had an idea that, like Future Worf, was ahead of its time. He goes to Missy and declares he’ll be rich, explaining his idea for a digital currency. As she reads a comic, Missy asks Sheldon if he knew Batman is secretly a rich dude. Either that or he lives in a rich dude’s basement; Missy is still figuring it out.
At the Polynesian restaurant, Meemaw asks Dr. Linkletter about work. He tries to avoid boring her with work talk, but Meemaw insists she's interested. Linkletter explains they're racing against a Finnish team to correct the unification of the leptons. “So, the Finnish may be at the finish line?” Meemaw jokes. Dr. Linkletter, fawningly, says Meemaw is witty. Meemaw starts to worry he's forgotten this is purely platonic, so she suggests ordering dinner. Linkletter points out there’s food right there. “Pineapple, prickly on the outside, but beautiful inside, just like you,” he says.
At the bar after a few drinks, a more talkative Mary tells Brenda how Shannon wet the bed at ten years old. When Brenda jokes that maybe Pastor Rob will have a surprise on his honeymoon, Mary scoffs and insists they're not getting married, declaring Rob can do better. Brenda asks Mary if she has feelings for Rob. "No!" Mary exclaims, pointing out she's a married woman. Brenda was married once, but it didn't stop her from looking. Mary insists she isn't looking, and decides to get up and dance. When Brenda remarks that she didn't think Baptists danced, Mary points out they don't drink either.
Back at the tiki restaurant, Dr. Linkletter admits he doesn’t go on many dates, to which Meemaw feigns surprise. Linkletter claims he did okay as a younger man, but there was a war on and most of the able-bodied men were abroad. But here’s the thing, Linkletter says, when you put off matrimony beyond a certain point, women start to think of you as… “Creepy?”, Meemaw wonders. “There it is.”, Linkletter says as he commends Meemaw on being a Texas firecracker, playing life’s games by her own set of rules. After Linkletter wonders whether he can ask her a personal question, Meemaw says she’d rather he didn’t. “How would you like to make love to a man who shook the hand of Albert Einstein?” Meemaw regrets that he asked the question. Linkletter suddenly gets up, saying, “Excuse me for a moment. I have to toss my cookies.”
At the comic book store, Missy “introduces herself to Sheldon, saying he should let her know if he has any questions. Sheldon replies that he doesn't have any questions because he knows more about comic books than she does. Missy mentions that the new Green Lantern just came in, and then starts listing other “green things” like Green Arrow and the Hulk. After Missy notes that the Hulk’s skin is green, an indignant Sheldon responds that he knows that. Everyone knows that. Missy jokes, "Uh-oh, are you gonna smash things? That's something the Hulk does when he gets upset." Sheldon insists he's not upset. “Cool,” Missy says, before telling Sheldon that if he needs her, she'll be at the front counter, where she works.
