Mary: What time is the game?
Missy: 12:30.
Sheldon: Why are we talking about baseball and not my impending docent-hood?
Missy: Who wants to tell him it's stupid?
George Sr.: Leave it alone.
Missy: And why do they make you wear that goofy costume?
Sheldon: Ha. They don't. This is all me.

Mary: Sheldon, you sure about this?
Sheldon: Yes, leave the crusts on. I'm a docent now.

Sheldon: [on the phone] Hello. I understand you're looking for a docent. I'm 11 years old, but you should know I have a high school diploma and I know more about trains than anybody. You still sound on the fence.
Adult Sheldon: It was time to break out my unique ability.
Sheldon: Let me tell you about every model train I own and what each of them means to me. The first locomotive I ever received...
Adult Sheldon: Wouldn't you know it, 47 short minutes later, I got the job.

Sheldon: It's almost opening time. Can I flip the sign?
Lawrence: Have at it.
Sheldon: [pulls out stopwatch] Five, four, three, two, one. [flips sign] We're officially open for business. [Sheldon peeks outside to see nobody waiting for the store] Anticlimactic.

Lawrence: I like your conductor's uniform.
Sheldon: You know what they say. Dress for the job you want. Do I get an "ask me" button, too?
Lawrence: Well, thank you for asking, and yes, you do. I'll be right back. [exits]
Sheldon: Do you see that bell? That's from Texas and New Orleans locomotive number 701. I'd tell you more, but you haven't contributed the suggested donation.
[Sheldon stares at Meemaw until she puts some money in the donation box]
Sheldon: Number 701 was built in 1930 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It was a superheated 44 class GS-1 with ...
Meemaw: I want my money back.
Lawrence: Here you go.
Sheldon: Thank you. [to Meemaw] I know you're supposed to pick me up at 4:00, but I may live here now.
Meemaw: Send me a Christmas card.

Lawrence: Just let me know if you have any questions.
Sheldon: This is a very nice builder's plate. How can you be sure it's not a replica?
Lawrence: Now, that is a great question.
Sheldon: Thank you. I also know the answer. Do you?
Lawrence: Well, there's, uh, rust and soot on the back of it from when it was mounted to the engine's smokebox.
Sheldon: Very good. Ah, the 1947 Santa Fe diesel. I've always loved that paint scheme. I wonder if they had a name for it.
Lawrence: Cat's Whiskers.
Sheldon: Correct.
Lawrence: Ha! Two for two.
Sheldon: Did you know that the word "train" comes from the French verb traîner, which means to draw or drag?
Lawrence: [chuckles] Well, I just learned something.
Sheldon: Well, if you enjoy learning things, then you and I are on the "fast track" to friendship. Speaking of fast tracks, the Japanese bullet train, or Shinkansen...

Principal Petersen: Our next young speaker needs no introduction, but that didn't stop him from writing one and making me read it. [laughter] "Fun fact." [audience groans, murmurs] I hear you. "The word 'valedictorian' is from the Latin 'valedicere,' meaning 'to say farewell.' It is primarily used in the United States, Canada, the Philippines and Armenia." Maybe that fact's more fun in Armenia. Please welcome your valedictorian, Sheldon Cooper.
Mary: Yay, Shelly!
Sheldon: Hello. I'm not very comfortable speaking in front of crowds. But there's a technique to reduce stage fright by focusing on one person in the audience and delivering your speech just to them. That's what I'll be doing today. If it weren't for this person, I wouldn't be here right now. They've taught me a lot, and it's by their example that I found the courage to move forward into this new and exciting chapter of my life. Missy... ...this is for you. Change can be scary, but I know we're going to be fine... ...because like you said, "It's okay to be scared. We just have to do it anyway." So if any of my fellow graduates are nervous about the future, know that you're not alone. I suggest you all try to be as brave as my twin sister. That's my plan. Missy, I wish I could give you advice about middle school, but I was so smart, I skipped it. If you make it to high school, we'll talk. Thank you. [applause]

Sheldon: [knocks three times] Mom? [knocks three times] Dad?
Mary: [o.s.] Yeah, baby? [Sheldon opens his parents' bedroom door]
Sheldon: I'm ready to graduate. Good night. [exits]
George Sr.: That's because I supported him.

Kimberly: We're here with the Cooper family. Mary, George and eleven-year-old Sheldon, who's going to be Medford High School's valedictorian. Mom and Dad, you must be so proud.
George Sr.: Oh, very proud.
Mary: But we're proud of all of our children.
Sheldon: She has to say that.

Sheldon: I was a little worried about missing Professor Proton, but I'm going to tape it and watch it at night. Once I'm in college, can we push my bedtime to 8:30?
Mary: Let's talk bedtime when we're not on the news, honey.
Sheldon: I'm sure it'll work out since I have all summer to recalibrate my bathroom schedule.
Mary: Let's not talk about that, either.

Kimberly: Sheldon, tell us what you're gonna miss the most about high school.
Sheldon: Nothing.
Kimberly: Really? Not your teachers, your friends?
Sheldon: I only have one friend. And I don't think he's gonna miss me because he already found other people to have lunch with.
Mary: Oh, I'm sure he'll miss you.
Sheldon: And I said I'm okay with watching Professor Proton at night, but that'll never work. I get overtired... everybody knows that!
George Sr.: Maybe we could turn the camera off.
Sheldon: And the other day, I couldn't find my safety goggles and I freaked out in school, and my dad asked is this how I plan on acting when I get to college, and I said no, but it probably is because even though I'm smart, I'm just a little boy!
Kimberly: I think we have enough.
George Sr.: Cut.

Principal Petersen: One other bit of business. Since you're graduating early, and you're top of the class, that makes you our valedictorian.
George Sr.: Way to go, buddy!
Mary: I'm so proud of you, baby.
Sheldon: You seem surprised.
Mary: Well, it's quite an accomplishment.
Sheldon: Being top of the class in this school? I don't think so.
Principal Petersen: We're really gonna miss you.

Adult Sheldon: I never understood why kids didn't like being sent to the principal's office. I thought it was great.
Principal Petersen: Sheldon, you are a remarkable young man.
Sheldon: Thanks, and you're a remarkable old man.
Mary: Sheldon.
George Sr.: So you sure he's got all the credits he needs?
Principal Petersen: Yeah, between his coursework and his AP tests, he's met all of his academic requirements. He even managed to get a good grade in P.E.
Sheldon: I earned extra credit snitching on kids who were smoking behind the equipment shed.
Principal Petersen: I don't have to buy cigarettes for a year.

Sheldon: I imagine my leaving will be hard for you.
Tam: Oh, yeah, being best friends with a little kid really boosted my game with the ladies.
Sheldon: Makes sense. I'm a conversation starter.

Sheldon: Do you think I can make it from one end of the college campus to the other in under ten minutes, including a bathroom break?
Mary: I don't know. How important is the bathroom break?
Sheldon: Very. The class schedules are designed for fully-grown bladders, and mine is child-sized.
Mary: Then don't put your classes so close together.
Sheldon: Well, it's either this or I move my labs to Tuesday afternoons.
Mary: Is that bad?
Sheldon: Yes. That's when Professor Proton is on.
Mary: Well, we'll tape it, and you can watch it later.
Sheldon: But what if I have a lot of homework and can't get to it until the next day and one of the kids in my class spoils the episode for me?
Mary: Sheldon, has anyone ever spoiled Professor Proton for you?
Sheldon: No.
Mary: Has anyone even talked to you about Professor Proton?
Sheldon: Do you count?
Mary: No.
Sheldon: Then no.

Sheldon: Just think. You'll have this table all to yourself.
Tam: Actually, I joined the jazz band. Those guys have their own table in the cafeteria.
Sheldon: Oh.
Tam: They're pretty cool. The drummer's even got a goatee.
Sheldon: Well, I'm glad I knew you before you became a heroin addict.

Sheldon: Safety pins, safety scissors, no safety goggles.
[cut to Sheldon looking under a student's desk:]
Sheldon: Did you happen to see a pair of safety goggles?
Ms. Ingram: Sheldon, we're in the middle of a test.
Sheldon: Sorry. [whispers] I can't give you the answer, but what you have is not even close.
Ms. Ingram: Out!
[cut to a girl crying in Principal Petersen's office:]
Principal Petersen: These things happen.
Girl: [sobs]
Principal Petersen: My mother had me when she was young.
Sheldon: [enters] Sorry to interrupt. I can't find my safety goggles.
Principal Petersen: Well, they're not here.
Sheldon: I have to find them. Nothing's more important than protection!
Girl: [sobs loudly]

Sheldon: Dad, you need to take me home.
George Sr.: Why? What's the matter?
Sheldon: I don't have my safety goggles. Let's go.
George Sr.: Sheldon, I'm busy.
Sheldon: You're just watching TV.
George Sr.: I'm reviewing game tape.
Sheldon: So you know how it ends. I'll meet you at the car.

[on the "Why Sheldon Cooper Should Go to College" tape:]
Sheldon: Sheldon Cooper, ready for college, ready to change the world.
George Sr.: Cut.
Sheldon: If that doesn't convince her, I don't know what her problem is.

[As Sheldon finally retrieves the errant piece of hot dog meat from under the refrigerator:]
Sheldon: Whew. That was driving me crazy. Thank you for getting me into college.