Episode Recap
Sheldon and Dr. Sturgis stand in front of a chalkboard detailing their grant database plan. Gary joins via conference call, suggesting "Grant Daddy" as a name. Despite Sheldon's belief that naming should come later, Gary persists with more ideas: "Grant-opolis," "Grant-cano," and "The Grant Canyon." Sheldon, covering the phone, tells John that Gary isn't helping and asks if they can hang up. John reminds Sheldon that Gary is funding the project and should be involved. Uncovering the phone, Sheldon informs Gary that "The Grant Canyon" is a terrible idea, as it sounds like a place where grants go to die.
As Meemaw accompanies Mandy to a doctor’s appointment, Dr. Nicholson asks Mandy how she’s feeling. “Fat and disgusting.”, she quips. After Dr. Nicholson asks if she have any discomfort or fatigue, Mandy jokes that’s all she has. When Georgie arrives, he apologizes for being late and reminds the doctor he doesn’t want to know the sex of their baby. Meemaw wonders who’s looking after the laundromat, video store and their “other establishment”. “The gambling room?”, Dr. Nicholson wonders, admitting he lost a hundred bucks there last week. After Mandy asks how things are looking with the baby, Dr. Nicholson says the baby seems okay, but he is worried about her blood-pressure. Georgie wonders if it’s preeclampsia. Mandy tells him to let the doctor speak, but Dr. Nicholson admits that is a possibility, so he puts Mandy on bed rest for a week.
When Sheldon goes to Dr. Linkletter’s office with a question about today’s lecture, he’s confused to a find a young man using Linkletter’s computer. After Sheldon asks who he is, Toby doesn’t say his name but realizes he’s speaking to Sheldon. Toby explains he was told not to talk to Sheldon, and was told not to tell him why. “Ah, I see you've met Toby.”, Linkletter says as he arrives. Sheldon says he hasn’t as Toby wouldn’t even tell him his name. Sheldon notices something on Linkletter’s whiteboards, saying it looks like the algorithm for a searchable database. Linkletter admits it is. Sheldon argues it was his idea, but Linkletter points out they thought of it together. When Sheldon questions whether Toby is programming a searchable database for him, Linkletter gives Toby permission to speak: Toby admits he is.
A furious Sheldon goes to see President Hagemeyer, accusing her and the university of stealing his idea. Hagemeyer points out Linkletter was part of the conception of the idea and, as an employee of the university, they do have a claim to it. Sheldon points out he’s building his own database and has an investor lined up. Hagemeyer says they’ll just have to see who gets to market first then. ”Have you already started programming?”, she asks. Sheldon admits they have not. “Do you have access to a mainframe?”, she questions. Sheldon says that depends on whether he can use the university’s, but Hagemeyer says no. “Then we're still figuring it out.”, Sheldon concedes. When Sheldon asks if they already have a name, Hagemeyer says, in fact, they do. They’re calling it “Granted”. Sheldon begrudgingly admits that’s a good name. “ And what's yours?”, Hagemeyer asks. “Never mind.”
At the laundromat, a woman complains to Georgie that their washing machine turned her underwear pink. Georgie offers her change for a free wash, then rushes to the gambling room and apologizes to waiting customers. As he helps them trade their teddy bear prizes for cash, a customer tries to cash in a laundry ticket. After a light flashes on the video store sign, Georgie dashes over to assist an indecisive customer holding a copy of "Sister Act".
Meanwhile, at Meemaw’s, she takes food up to a bed-ridden Mandy. After Meemaw asks how she’s doing, Mandy points out a nice lady just brought her food as she lays in bed, so it’s not too bad. Meemaw jokes she hasn’t tasted the food yet; no salt on doctor’s orders. Meemaw explains she’s going out to help Georgie at the laundromat. After Meemaw asks Mandy if there’s anything she needs before she goes, Mandy says she can’t find the TV remote. Meemaw bends down and finds it under the bed, but she suddenly cries out in agony as her back goes out. Mandy offers to try help her up, but Meemaw insists Mandy stay in bed.
When Mary stops by Meemaw’s house, she is shocked to find her mother on the floor. Mary offers to lift her up, but Meemaw wants to stay there. She explains her back does this occasionally and she’ll get up when she’s ready. After Mary asks what’s up with Mandy, she explains under doctor’s orders to rest in bed. Mary offers to skip work and look after them, but Meemaw insists they’re fine. “Fine? You’re on the floor.”, Mary tells her mother. After Mary wonders what she’d do if she needed the bathroom, Meemaw replies “Depends.” “Depends on what?”, Mary asks. After Meemaw chuckles and explains it was a joke, Mandy laughs and says she understood it. A confused Mary wants them to tell her what the joke is.
In Dr. Sturgis’s office, Sheldon and John call Gary with bad news: the university is competing with them on a grant database. Gary doesn’t mind a little competition, explaining he wasn’t the only person selling anti-static lab gear. He researched the competition, outbid their manufacturers and tied them up in court so long they ran out of money. After John says that sounds a little ruthless, Gary argues “If you're not ruthless, you're toothless.” John points out the university is already ahead of them. But do they have a cool name, Gary wonders. Sheldon admits they do, explaing they’re calling it “Granted”. “Damn, it was right there.”, Gary says.
When George and Missy join Georgie at the video store, he says he can’t cover all three businesses at once. Missy wants “the other room”, but her father quickly says no, so Missy calls dibs on the video store instead. George says he wanted the video store, but Georgie says too bad, “dibs are dibs”. Missy tells her brother he’s a good boss.
As Mary tries to help Meemaw walk over to the bed, Meemaw keeps asking her to take it slow. After Mary leaves her mother to go check on Mandy, Mandy insists she’s fine and doesn’t need Mary to fuss over her. Mandy insists she’s used to taking care of herself. Mary says this is what family’s for, and speaking of family, she wonders if Mandy wants her to let her family know about her condition. Mandy says if they want to find out how she is, they can pick up the phone and ask. Mary thinks if Mandy’s mom knew what was going on, she’d be over here. Mandy points out her mom stopped talking to her when she found out she was pregnant. After Mary presses, Mandy tells her it’s none of her business.
After Toby emerges from a stall in the university bathrooms, he finds Sheldon and Dr. Sturgis waiting for him. Toby says he was told not to speak to Sheldon, but John points out nobody told Toby not to speak to him. They want to offer Toby a job. Toby says he already has a job. They explain they want to offer Toby more money to do the same thing. “Okay.”, Toby says. Sheldon is a little surprised how easy it was, and wonders where Toby’s loyalty is. If someone offers him more money again, would he leave them? “Probably.”, Toby admits. “We can hire him, but he cannot go to the bathroom alone.”, Sheldon says.
At the video store, Missy sees an older boy checking out a video. She tells him that if he’s looking for something to watch, he should try Princess Bride. She knows it sounds kind of girly, but it has an awesome sword fight and also stars Andre the Giant. After he thanks her, Missy says she’s just doing her job. “I’m Melissa, by the way.”, she tells him. Meanwhile, George approaches an older woman at the laundromat and asks if she needs any help. “Are you trying to touch my underwear?”, the woman shrieks. “No, ma’am.” She tells him to step away then. “Yes, ma’am.”
When Sheldon, Dr. Sturgis, and Dr. Linkletter join President Hagemeyer in her office, she expresses disbelief that Sheldon and John poached their programmer. Linkletter explains he only left him alone for five minutes to use the bathroom. Sheldon, quoting his new business philosophy, says, "Business is a high-stakes game where if you're not ruthless, you're toothless." President Hagemeyer tells them if they want to play hardball, the university can too. She reminds Sheldon he receives a lot of perks that could quickly disappear. "But I like my perks," Sheldon whimpers. Hagemeyer wonders how he would feel about a roommate or two in his dorm. As Sheldon considers conceding, John urges him to stay strong. Hagemeyer argues that Sheldon and John need the university as much as it needs them, pointing out the university has a mainframe and they don’t. When Sheldon insists they can get their own, John is surprised considering how much they cost. "I'm trying to be ruthless. Work with me here," Sheldon tells him. "We can," John affirms.
Over at Meemaw’s house, Mary takes a snack to bedbound Mandy, who is reading a pregnancy book. Mandy jokes that she already knows how the book ends: with bodily fluids everywhere. When Mary adds “and a sweet little boy or girl”, Mandy reveals that her baby is a girl, saying Georgie didn’t want to know. Mary insists it’ll be their little secret, but from her bedroom Meemaw shouts to say she already knows so Mary shouldn’t feel special. "As you can see, the mother-daughter bond is strong.”, Mary jokes to Mandy. Mandy argues the two of them are magic compared to her and her mother. Mary admits they’ve had their ups and downs, saying Meemaw wasn’t the easiest mother to grow up, but now they’re best friends. Meemaw hears them whispering and warns Mandy not to listen to Meemaw. Mary snaps back, “Dear Lord, I was just telling her how you and I are best friends!” “That’s how you talk to your best friend?”, a scolded Meemaw wonders.
At the laundromat, George asks another female customer if she needs any help. Eileen says she’s heard of him, he’s that panty sniffer. George insists there was no sniffing. After Eileen tells Barbra, the woman from earlier, that he’s at it again, George gives up.
Meanwhile, Missy is talking to older boy Charlie at the video store, saying she likes “old” movies… naming ones from the ‘80s. When George comes to the video store, Missy tries to keep her father moving. As George heads for the gambling room, he hears Charlie ask what Missy’s doing later tonight. George says Missy’s going home with her father. When George asks Charlie if he knew Missy was in the seventh grade, Charlie admits he thought she was older. “Well, now you know. Beat it.”, George tells him. After Charlie leaves, Missy asks her dad if he’s happy. George tells Missy he was way too old for her. “Have you seen you and Mom?”, Missy asks. “Hey, your mother and I were high school sweethearts.”, George says in his defense. Missy sarcastically says her mother was in high school and her dad was, like, 25. George argues people looked older back then.
Sheldon is surprised when a delivery man knocks on his dorm room door, saying he’s there to fit bunk beds. Sheldon doesn’t need bunk beds, he’s just one person. Carlos says they’re turning the room into a triple. Cut to Sheldon using the pay-phone in the corridor to tell Gary the university is playing hardball. “And hardball is just one more type of ball I'm bad at.”, Sheldon confesses. Gary tells Sheldon to calm down, saying he’ll be able to find them a mainframe. “Where? How? From whom?”, Sheldon wonders. “I don't know,” Gary says, “but Jupiter just entered Sagittarius, so I have a good feeling.” Sheldon tells Gary he’s not filling him with confidence.
Back at Meemaw’s house, Mandy finishes the pregnancy book and picks up the phone. Mandy tells her mother she just wanted to talk. “No, I am not calling to apologize.”, Mandy insists. Mary eavesdrops from the hallway as she passes by. Mandy continues, “No, I don't need any money. No, I don't need anything from you.” After a pause, Mandy says “You know what? This was a mistake. Yeah, goodbye.”
When a male customer enters the video store, Missy welcomes him and introduces herself. “Hi. Welcome to Video Village. I'm Missy, I'm in seventh grade, and that's my father.” After George apologizes for Missy, he asks her what she’s doing. Missy says she’s saving him the trouble of embarrassing her. George admits it’s not easy seeing her talk to guys, especially older guys. Missy says what’s not easy is hearing from Billy Sparks how her father was hanging out with Brenda Sparks in the chicken coop. Billy saw George the other day. As George tries to insist they were talking about chickens, Missy says Billy told her it wasn’t the first time. “They got a lot of chickens.”, George claims.
In Dr. Sturgis's office, Sheldon complains about the bunk beds in his dorm room. "It's like summer camp," he says, "Two words I loathe." John argues that roommates can become lifelong friends, mentioning he still receives letters from his former roommate in the mental hospital. "They’re written in a language he made up, but it’s nice to know he cares," John adds. A delivery man interrupts, announcing a delivery for Sheldon Cooper. Sheldon is delighted that Gary came through on the mainframe computer. When the delivery man asks where to put it, John suggests his office. Sheldon has a different idea: "I can't have roommates if my dorm has no room for those mates.”
As George drives home with Missy, he insists he and Brenda are just friends. Brenda’s going through a rough patch and needed someone to talk to, George explains. Missy wonders why he lied and said they were talking about chickens. George says this is Brenda’s personal business, and he was just trying to be a good neighbor. And they use the chicken coop because they didn’t want Billy to worry. “Which all makes sense, right?”, he asks. “I guess.”, Missy says. George says he’s happy they can talk about these things. “Me too.”, Missy tells her father, saying “Someday we'll talk about Mom and Pastor Rob.”
Mary stops by the McAllister’s tire store to speak to Audrey. Mary introduces herself, then says “I don't know what's going on between you and your daughter, but you need to get over it. She is scared, she is pregnant, and she needs her mother.” Audrey questions whether she’s getting parenting advice from the mother of the 17-year-old who got her daughter pregnant. “Yes, you are.”, Mary tells her. “Georgie made a mistake, but I did not cut him out of my life.”, Mary explains. As Audrey tries to interrupt her, a stern Mary plows on, “I don't care. You are her parent. Act like it. So, grow up, call your daughter and make it right. Now!” Audrey attempts to speak, “Well, I need-”, but an insistent Mary continues, “I said now.” Audrey was going to say she needs the phone number. “Okay. Do you have a pen?”, Mary offers.
As Sheldon and John admire the large mainframe towers that now litter Sheldon’s dorm room, John tells him to plug them in. When there’s a knock at the door, John is surprised to open it to President Hagemeyer. Sheldon asks if she’s come to see his new dorm mate, VAX6000. President Hagemeyer tells Sheldon he can’t have a mainframe computer in his dorm room. Actually, Sheldon says, he looked it up and there’s no rule against it. “I can't have a candle, a microwave, a hot plate, a coffee maker, a toaster or a waterbed. But there's nothing against a mainframe.”, Sheldon explains. John once again tells Sheldon to plug it in. After Sheldon plugs it in, the mainframe units light up and the hard drives whir to life. A moment later, Sheldon's dorm room, the building, and the whole university are plunged into darkness. “There really should be a rule against this.”, Sheldon concedes.
