S12E24 - The Stockholm Syndrome

No: 279  |  Season: 12   Episode: 24  |  Air Date: 2019-05-16  |  Runtime: mins

Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state...

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Summary

Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time; Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret; Sheldon and Amy stick together; and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future.

Director and Writers

Director: Mark Cendrowski
Writers: Chuck Lorre & Steve Holland & Steven Molaro & Bill Prady & Dave Goetsch & Eric Kaplan & Maria Ferrari & Andy Gordon & Anthony Del Broccolo & Tara Hernandez & Jeremy Howe & Adam Faberman

Script

Script: S12E24 - The Stockholm Syndrome

Quotes

Sheldon: What would you like me to say?
Leonard: How about congratulating us?
Sheldon: Are congratulations even in order? I didn't think Penny wanted children.
Leonard: Well, she didn't, now she does. And just so you know, we weren't gonna tell anybody so we wouldn't upstage your big day.
Sheldon: Oh, please, you couldn't upstage us. We won a Nobel Prize. Any idiot can have a baby.
Howard: (approaching) Hey. What's going on?
Sheldon: Case in point.
Leonard: You are a selfish jerk. To hell with you and your Nobel Prize.

Amy: The challenging climate of Scandinavia has left its mark on the Swedish character. These dour, latter-day Vikings are slow to warm up to strangers, but if you follow a few easy steps, a Swede can be your friend for life.
Sheldon: Number one: in Sweden, punctuality is taken very seriously. In other words, the loosey-goosey attitude in Helsinki will not fly in Stockholm.
Amy: Two: at the beginning and end of all business and social meetings, shake hands with everyone present; men, women, and children.
Sheldon: Yes, you're all encouraged to pair off and practice this once we're in the air and the seat belt sign is off.
(Penny raises her hand)
Sheldon: Yes, Penny.
Penny: Oh. Do we have to go?

Penny: Thank you guys so much for the clothes and the shoes, the plane tickets. You've been so generous.
Amy: Well, it's important that all of our friends get to share this moment with us.
Sheldon: And then for years to come, you can tell others you had a front-row seat to history. Althought, technically, I think your seats are in the second row.

Amy: Why didn't you tell me?
Penny: I didn't tell anybody.
Amy: I'm not anybody. I'm your best friend.
Bernadette: (approaching) What's going on?
Amy: She's pregnant.
Bernadette: That's fantastic!
(hitting Penny)
Bernadette: Why didn't you tell me?
Amy: She didn't tell me, either.
Bernadette: But I'm her best friend.
Amy: (sardonic laugh) We'll get into that later.

Howard: I was just looking at the map. Couldn't help thinking: we're here, and they're there, and if anything happened, we'd have to go here to get all the way back there.
Bernadette: Why are you trying to freak me out?
Howard: This is our vacation. I thought we should do things together.
Bernadette: Howard, the kids are okay.
Howard: How do you know that?
Bernadette: I just know. A mother knows.
Howard: So what, now the Force is with you?
Bernadette: Let's see.
(waving her hand, a la the Jedi mind trick)
Bernadette: This is not the woman you want to annoy.

Amy: Do you want to go back to the apartment and see me try on my dress?
Sheldon: Shouldn't I see it for the first time at the Nobel ceremony?
Amy: It's not a wedding.
Sheldon: Okay. Well, give me a minute to think of another reason I don't want to see it.
Amy: How about this: you can practice your acceptance speech while I try on the dress.
Sheldon: Ah, great. You can help me whittle it down to 90 minutes.

Leonard: Was Amy suspicious when they had to let your dress out?
Penny: No. She was so happy, she didn't even question it.
Leonard: Someone's gonna figure it out. Why don't we just tell people?
Penny: No, it's too early. I haven't even wrapped my head around it.
Leonard: I have. My head is wrapped.
Penny: Yeah, well... if something else had been wrapped, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Bernadette: Hi, Stuart, just checking in. Seeing if everything's okay.
Stuart: Oh, yeah, we're having fun. Me, Halley, and Denise played hide and seek all day.
Howard: Oh, that's nice.
Stuart: Yeah. I found Denise right away.
Bernadette: Where was Halley hiding?
Stuart: Uh, the important thing is she's not there now.

Howard: How you doing?
Bernadette: Fine. Why?
Howard: Well, this is the furthest we've ever been away from the kids. I was just checking to see if you're okay.
Bernadette: I'm on my second "Jack Reacher". I'm doing great.

Amy: I would just like to take this moment to say to all the young girls out there who dream about science as a profession: go for it. It is the greatest job in the world. And if anybody tells you can't, don't listen.
(glancing at Sheldon)
Amy: And now, speaking of not listening, my husband, Dr. Sheldon Cooper.

Howard: Oh, good, you're here. Listen, we're thinking maybe we should go back to L.A.
Amy: Why?
Howard: We just can't be this far away from the kids. Bernie's having a meltdown, and frankly, so am I.
Sheldon: Yeah, well, pull it together. This is a big day for me.
Howard: (scoffing) Yeah, I wasn't sure what to do. Now I am. We're going home.
Leonard: We'll join you.
Penny: Oh, wait. Do I get a vote in this?
Leonard: They'll have pickled herring on the plane.
Penny: Bye-bye.

Penny: Come on, you didn't really expect him to react like a normal human being.
Leonard: No, but still, a-after all these years, after all the crap I've put up with, you'd think just this once he'd care about someone else's feelings.
Penny: Oh, my god!
Leonard: What?
Penny: Pickled herring. Who knew how good it was?
Leonard: Really?
Penny: Sounds gross. Looks gross. Smells gross.
(taking a bite)
Penny: It's delicious!

Penny: (throwing up) Okay, that's it for the fish. We'll be back with the meatballs after a short word from our sponsor.

Howard: What happened, Stuart?
Stuart: He was running a little fever, nothing to worry about. And Halley, bless her heart, wanted to bring him his boo-boo bear, so she climbed over the safety rail and... took a little tumble down the stairs.
Bernadette: She fell down the stairs?
Stuart: (stammering) She rolled down the stairs, laughing the whole time. Anyway, when she got to the bottom, there was a tooth missing.
Bernadette: Oh, Stuart!
Stuart: She's fine! She thought it was funny.
Howard: Did you at least save it for the Tooth Fairy?
Stuart: No, we couldn't find it. We have a theory about where it is, but it'll take six to eight hours to confirm. Speaking of which, where do you keep the spaghetti strainer?

Sarah Michelle Gellar: Just to be clear, this isn't a date.
Raj: Yeah, I know.
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Then why are you holding my hand?

Leonard: What kind of DNA is this, anyway?
Sheldon: I was trying to design the genetic code of an advanced race of human being. One of my rare failures, actually.
Leonard: What went wrong?
Sheldon: The balls kept sticking to my pants.
Leonard: Let's just let it dry.
Amy: (entering with Penny) Hi.
Leonard: Hey.
Sheldon: Hello.
Penny: Hey, babe.
Leonard, Sheldon: Oh, don't slam the...!
(they shut the door, but the model remains intact)
Sheldon: That was exhilarating.

Leonard: (on the phone with Howard) Oh, us, too.
Penny: Wait, what?
Leonard: They're gonna stay. The kids are fine. Bernie's parents took over.
(listening)
Leonard: Really? Oh, poor little guy.
Penny: Is Michael okay?
Leonard: Yeah, it's Stuart. Bernie's dad gave him a hug, cracked a rib.

Amy: What happened to "I'm never gonna have kids"?
Penny: Well, it was accident. I went out drinking with Sheldon.
Amy: (gasp) Oh, my gosh. We're sister wives?
Penny: No! Then I went home and slept with Leonard.
Amy: While fantasizing about...
Penny: Leonard. And a little Idris Elba.

Sheldon: We need to do something about your wife.
Leonard: What's the matter?
Sheldon: She is clearly sick, and she's gonna take us all down with her.
Leonard: She's not sick, Sheldon.
Sheldon: She is, and I'm gonna catch it, and it's gonna ruin the greatest day of my life.
Leonard: I promise you're not gonna get what she has.

Bernadette: Now, Michael, mommy and daddy are going away for a couple days, so if you're gonna say your first words, you gotta do it now or wait 'till we get back.
Howard: (leading Halley out of the bathroom) Somebody just peed in the big girl potty.
Bernadette: Oh, I'm so proud! It was her, right?

Penny: Leonard, I can't go home. I have to be there for Amy.
Leonard: Yeah. I was thinking that, too. As angry as I am at Sheldon, I still want to see him win that medal.
Penny: You know, it's so strange. No matter how thoughtless and selfish he is, I still love him.
Leonard: If you think about it, he has kind of been our practice kid.
Penny: Like when you make pancakes and the first one comes out a little wonky.
Leonard: The university prefers "quirky".

Leonard: You pick up your dresses?
Amy: Yep. The tailor had to take mine in and let Penny's out. Best day of my life.
Sheldon: What about the day you met me?
Amy: I stand by my statement.

Amy: I think you need to do some editing, like maybe cut out all that stuff about your childhood.
Sheldon: Are you kidding? Growing up in the backwoods of East Texas is what makes me warm and relatable.
Amy: Well, what about all these pages calling out everyone who said you wouldn't succeed?
Sheldon: I told them all they would rue the day. How is it gonna make me look when the day finally comes and they're not filled with rue?
Amy: Sheldon, this isn't about ruing. This is about... humbly accepting a great honor.
Sheldon: Amy, we won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Humility is for people who win the goofy Nobels like Literature, Economics, and Peace.
Amy: Please tell me that's not in your speech.
Sheldon: Oh. I-I can cut it, but it's the only joke I have.

Leonard: Are you kidding me? You just found out that a woman who has loved and cared for you for twelve years is pregnant, and all you can say is you're relieved that she's not gonna get you sick?
Sheldon: There's no need for a recap. I was there.

Sheldon: (seeing Penny enter the airplane bathroom) That's the fourth time she's been to the bathroom in the last two hours.
Amy: So?
Sheldon: So... her breakfast was binding. I made sure of that.
Amy: So?
Sheldon: So she clearly has some sort of stomach distress. If it's viral, we're all susceptible.
Amy: She's probably just airsick.
Sheldon: Yeah, but what if she's not? What if we get what she has? What if we infect the King of Sweden? That's how wars start.
(Penny exits the bathroom, then immediately turns back around)
Sheldon: All right, that's it. This is "Outbreak" and she's the monkey.

Sheldon: All right, bagels down. Before we head to the airport, I'd like to go over a few things.
(the others all groan)
Sheldon: From the moment we step off the plane, each and every one of you is an ambassador for Amy and myself.
Howard: (quietly to Bernie) Told you these tickets weren't free.
Sheldon: As such, your behavior must reflect the highest standards. Uh, Raj, bagel down.
Raj: If my blood sugar drops and I get bitchy, it's on you.

Sheldon: As a reminder, Penny, there's free alcohol in business class; don't abuse it.
Penny: Relax. I'm not gonna drink.
Bernadette: Why? You pregnant?
Penny: (scoffing and laughing it off) Wha...? No. No. I just, you know, I don't... I don't like to drink when I fly.
Bernadette: Please. I've seen you drink in the shower.
Howard: You guys have showered together?
Bernadette: Sometimes, you're just... ick.
Howard: That wasn't a "no".
Sheldon: All right, well, we should head out now if we're gonna get to the airport six hours before boarding.
(everyone moves to leave)
Sheldon: Excuse me? Hello? What did we just learn about the end of business meetings?
Penny: Oh, my god.
(they all groan and shake hands)

Raj: I found her boarding pass in her purse. It's totally her.

Amy: Sheldon has something he'd like to say.
Sheldon: I'm sorry I didn't react appropriately. You and Penny are bringing new life into the world. Congratulations. I can't wait to meet it.
Leonard: It?
Sheldon: That's a gender-neutral pronoun. If you're offended, take it up with the English language.

Sheldon: Well, I hate to say it, but I think everyone is being incredibly selfish.
Amy: Well, you would be the authority on the subject.
Sheldon: What does that mean?
Amy: Sheldon, no one is happier than I am to win the Nobel. But it's not more important than our friends.
Sheldon: How can you call them friends when they're abandoning us?
Amy: They're abandoning us because you broke their hearts.
Sheldon: I didn't mean to.
Amy: I know! You never mean to. It's the only reason people tolerate you!
Sheldon: Does that include you?
Amy: Sometimes, yeah.

Penny: Hey, what's going on?
Sheldon: (covering his mouth) Unclean! Unclean!
Penny: What?
Leonard: He thinks you're sick.
Penny: Oh. Should we tell him?
Leonard: Well, if we don't, he might try and jump out of the plane.
Penny: Yeah. Doesn't answer my question.
Sheldon: Tell me what?
Penny: I'm pregnant, Sheldon.
Sheldon: You're right, I can't catch that.
(returning to his seat)
Sheldon: Good news, Amy. She's just pregnant.

Sheldon: I have a very long and somewhat self-centered speech here. But I'd like to set it aside.
Penny: Yeah!
Howard: Way to go!
Sheldon: Because this honor doesn't just belong to me. I wouldn't be up here if it weren't for some very important people in my life. Beginning with my mother, father, meemaw, brother, and sister. And my other family, who I'm so happy to have here with us. Is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
(Sarah waves from her seat next to Raj)
Sheldon: I was under a misapprehension that my accomplishments were mine alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated not only by my wife, but by the greatest group of friends anyone ever had. I'd like to ask them to stand.
(they do so as he acknowledges them)
Sheldon: Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali. Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski Wolowitz. Astronaut Howard Wolowitz. And my two dearest friends in the world, Penny Hofstadter... and Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I was there the moment Leonard and Penny met. He said to me that their babies would be smart and beautiful. And now that they're expecting, I have no doubt that that will be the case.
Penny: (crying) Thanks, Sheldon. I-I haven't told my parents yet, but thanks.
Sheldon: Oh. I'm sorry. Don't tell anyone that last thing. That's a secret. Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Penny, Leonard, I apologize if I haven't been the friend you deserve. But I want you to know in my way, I love you all.
(to Amy)
Sheldon: And I love you. Thank you.

Amy: Why are you talking so fast?
Sheldon: I'm trying to get my speech down to 90 minutes.
Amy: Nobody's gonna be able to understand a word you're saying.
Sheldon: Welcome to my life.

Howard: You still feel good about leaving them with Stuart and Denise for a couple days?
Bernadette: I guess. I just hope we don't miss Michael's first words.
Howard: Or Stuart's last words.
Bernadette: You realize it's been years since we've gotten away, just the two of us.
Howard: I know. I can't wait. Fancy hotel room. The big bed.
Bernadette: Yeah. We're gonna sleep our asses off.

Bert: You really think walking her is gonna help me meet girls?
Raj: Cinnamon is chick bait.
Bert: Good. 'Cause I'm not.
Raj: Just remember, you're in charge. Don't let her pull you.
Bert: That seems like an unnecessary thing to say.
Raj: And please, if you have any problems, any questions, call me immediately, okay? She's my baby.
Bert: It shouldn't come up, but just in case, where could I buy a dog that looks exactly like her?
(seeing his look)
Bert: Kidding. If she dies, I'll just tell you.

Sheldon: (repairing his DNA model) Carbon. Hydrogen. Carbon. Carbon. And last but not least, carbon.
Leonard: This might be the glue talking, but that was a very pleasurable 139 1/2 hours.

Bernadette: So everyone's happy and healthy?
Stuart: Well, that depends.
Bernadette: What's that mean?
Stuart: Uh... how many teeth did Halley have when you left?
Howard: All of them.
Stuart: Oh, yeah, that's-that's what I was afraid of.
Bernadette: What happened?
Stuart: Um, well, all right. Um, Michael had a little fever last night.
Bernadette: Michael had a fever?
Stuart: Do you want to hear about Halley or not?

Leonard: If I recall, you're the one who went out drinking with Sheldon, then came home and attacked me.
Penny: What? Attacked you? I think I said "Do you wanna?".
Leonard: Yeah. And I was helpless.
Penny: Uh-huh.
Leonard: (they kiss) So... do you wanna?
Penny: Well, I can't get more pregnant.
Leonard: Mm-hmm. We'll see about that.

Raj: You see the woman sitting next to me?
Howard: (looking) What about her?
Raj: (showing him his phone) Is this her?
Howard: Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
Raj: Shh! Be cool.
Howard: (looking again) No, that's not her.
Raj: Okay.
(covering Sarah's eyes on the picture)
Raj: How about now?

Notes and Trivia

Chuck Lorre had Ed Robertson record an acoustic version of the show's theme song to recreate the demo version that Robertson first recorded for Lorre before the show started.

During the final scene, Penny is wearing the same top she was wearing when she met Leonard and Sheldon for the first time in the Pilot (2007).

Howard's belt buckle in the scene when Sheldon and Amy have the meeting about what to do in Stockholm is the logo for The Big Bang Theory (2007).

In the final scene of the series, the group is eating in Leonard and Penny's living room. Their arrangement in their seats is exactly the same as the final shot of the group in the season 12 opening credits. Leonard also places his hand on the pregnant stomach of Penny and kisses her.

Nobody from the regular cast call their guest Sarah Michelle Gellar or any variation. Everyone who refers to her calls her Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997).

Penny's maiden name was planned to be revealed when Sheldon calls out their names during his and Amy's acceptance speeches, but in fear of that moment upstaging the rest of the scene, it was decided at the last minute not to do so. Therefore, Penny's maiden name remains undisclosed.

The purpose of the large DNA model in Leonard and Sheldon's old room, which was already there before Leonard moved in, is finally revealed. When Sheldon explains to Leonard what he tried to invent with it, he says that it failed because the balls he used kept sticking to his pants. When he leaves with Amy a few moments later, a collection of balls can be seen stuck to the butt of his pants.

The title of the final episode (The Stockholm Syndrome (2019)) mirrors the feeling Sheldon had during the whole episode, complaining about his friends' (captors) flaws; until he finally accepted and started loving them when he read his final speech.

Goofs

None

Cast

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