That doesn't sound right.
My research has shown that it takes three to five years
of shameless begging.
Honey, neither of us comes off good in that story.
Yeah, I-I...
I saw that article you're talking about.
Uh, the participants ask each other a series
of questions designed to promote intimacy.
And then they finish it off by staring
into each other's eyes for four minutes.
Oh, that's nonsense.
I proclaimed my love for you.
And the last time I looked into your eyes
was when you thought you had conjunctivitis.
Other than the fact that I had it,
that was a magical night.
Raj, would you ever try an experiment like that with Emily?
What? I don't need science to win her heart.
I have my family's wealth for that.
I'm telling you, you can't create love in a few hours.
Right? Oh, careful.
You're poking at the whole foundation of The Bachelor.
Yeah, but
we don't have to debate this.
We're scientists.
We can conduct our own research.
Yeah, I propose that we imprison
two street people. No.
And...
You didn't even let me finish.
Forget it! Oh!
So, you can experiment on all the apes you want.
But I want to manipulate the emotions of two captive
human beings, suddenly I'm the monster.
Why don't you
just do the test?
In the interest of science, I'd be willing to.
What? You're okay with an experiment where you have
to answer awkward questions about your innermost feelings?
Yes.
Please, can I do it with him? Please?
I've been listening to Sheldon's feelings on things
for ten years. Tag, you're it.
Yeah, but what if the experiment works?
I'm not gonna fall in love with Sheldon.
That's what I said.
Before I knew it, he pontificated his way
right into my heart.
Uh, fun fact... "pontificate"
comes from the Latin word "pontifex,"
which means "bridge builder" or "Pope."
In love yet?
== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man
Just out of curiosity, Penny,
if this experiment does make us fall in love,
would you drive me to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
for Gary Con?
It's the only convention celebrating
the life and work of Gary Gygax,
the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons.
You know what?
I can honestly say if we fall in love,
not only will I drive you there, I will buy you
all the dragon T-shirts you want.
Okay, babe, let's do this.
You guys are really being calm
about Penny and Sheldon doing this thing.
If it were me,
I-I'd be a little nervous.
Why? Well,
even if the study's nonsense,
I-I don't believe in tempting fate.
Same reason I wouldn't use a Ouija board,
or pick a fight with an Asian guy.
He probably doesn't know karate, but... why risk it?
I think we're safe.
Well, that's what the bullies
at Bruce Lee's high school thought.
And then, bam!
Karate.
Well, are we just gonna
sit here while they do the experiment?
The two of us could do it.
Yeah, sure, that might be fun.
What's the first question?
Hang on.
Okay.
"Given the choice of anyone in the world,
whom would you want as a dinner guest?"
Hmm.
I can honestly say Penny.
Oh... then I choose a janitor.
'Cause I'm about to throw up.
I'm in love.
Let's do something else.
Ooh, uh, Emily gets off work soon.
Why don't the four of us go out?
Okay. Sounds good.
Should we call Howard and Bernadette?
I don't know what time their plane gets in,
but let me, let me shoot them a text.
Did he say anything about the funeral?
Not much, but he seemed to be in a pretty good place.
Are you kidding me?
You lost my mother's ashes?
No, I-I'm just saying that sometimes
bags are misrouted.
All right, fine. Where did you misroute
the only woman who ever loved me?
The first... well, first, I meant first.
I just need some information.
Uh, what's the flight number?
816.
I really did mean first.
Just drop it.
And can you describe the bag?
Um, well,
it's, uh, black.
There's a red ribbon tied to the handle...
The world's greatest mom is in the shoe compartment!
You ready to begin?
Yup. Be right there.
I assume you don't want wine.
Correct. You're not supposed to drink alcohol
when operating heavy machinery.
What heavy machinery?
Let's just start.
Well, as a Texas gentleman,
I'm inclined to say ladies first.
Although, I'm concerned that level of politeness and charm
might make you fall in love with me before the test even begins.
Perhaps we should flip a coin.
Or if you're familiar with the rules
of Rock, Paper, Scissors...
Question one.
"Given the choice
"of anyone in the world, whom would you want
as a dinner guest?"
Hmm.
Living or dead?
Just says "anyone in the world."
I guess that means living.
Ah, that's just as well.
As much as I'd love to meet Euclid...
inventor of the geometric proof...
he probably wore sandals and I cannot
look at toes during dinner.
Oh, I know!
The person I'd most like to have dinner with
is myself.
You sure that's your choice?
'Cause I've had that dinner.
Well, I haven't.
And while they say never meet your heroes,
I just don't see how I could disappoint.
Who would you choose?
Robert Downey, Jr. You...
Oh!
I didn't think of Iron Man.
You know, maybe after myself and I have dinner,
we can meet you two for dessert.
So, what do you guys want to do?
Well, we're the ones tagging along, you pick.
Ooh!
Have you ever been to an escape room?
Mm-mm, what's that? Um...
it's kind of like interactive theater,
except you have to solve puzzles
in a certain amount of time to get out.
There's one downtown where they
trap you in a room with a zombie.
Oh!
So, kind of like what's happening with Penny right now.
"What would constitute
a perfect day for you?"
Uh, well...
I'd probably sleep in, do a little yoga,
then lie on the beach while
cute cabana boys brought me drinks and...
probably get a massage and then cap off the night
with some dancing.
That's it? Yeah, why?
You didn't mention Leonard.
He's there.
I don't think so.
Leonard can't stand
yoga, the beach, massages or dancing.
Yeah, well, he brought a book, okay?
What's yours? Yeah...
Uh, I wake up.
Uh, I enjoy some French toast with butter and syrup.
Uh, then a wormhole opens,
and whisks me millions of years
into the future where my towering intellect
is used to save the last remnants of mankind
from a predatory alien race.
Interesting, you didn't mention Amy.
Who do you think made the French toast with butter and syrup?
You're about to enter the lab
of the late Dr. David Saltzberg.
While conducting studies on slowing
the aging process, there was a catastrophic accident
and he died.
Or did he?
Ladies?
Are you being polite or scared?
Yup.
Ah, what a room!
Oh-oh! Oh!
This is cool.
So, how do we start?
We have to look for the clues hidden around the room.
Uh, wasn't there supposed to be a zombie?
Ooh!
Okay, let's hope one of the clues
is written on a pair of clean underwear.
Mr. And Mrs. Wolowitz?
As far as I can tell, your bag arrived in Los Angeles.
So, where is it?
I don't know, perhaps somebody
took it off the carousel by mistake?
So, some stranger has my mom?
Is that what you're telling me?
My poor mother can be anywhere in Los Angeles right now?
I-I wish I was telling you that.
Um...
but the passenger could've gotten
on an international flight.
Oh, okay, great!
So, your entire job is to find lost luggage,
and you've narrowed down the location
of my mother to the planet Earth!
I'm sorry!
W-Would 500 frequent-flyer miles help?
That could get you to Sacramento.
"If you could wake up tomorrow
"having gained any one quality or ability,
what would it be?"
Well, not to steal from the Bible,
but turning water into wine sounds pretty good.
I don't think you're taking this seriously.
Come on, I'm just having some fun with you.
I believe
what you're doing is using humor
to avoid vulnerability.
Fine.
Honestly...
if I could have one quality...
I wish I could be as smart as you guys.
Ha! Keep dreaming.
Sheldon!
I'm sorry.
That was me having fun with you.
Look.
You may not be as...
academically inclined as are we.
Yes, that's how you say it.
But...
You possess an intelligence I envy.
Which leads me to my answer.
I would choose the ability
to read people's minds.
Well, I can't read people's minds.
Actually, that's not true.
I can read men's minds.
But only 'cause it's usually the one thing.
When are we going to get robot eyes?
You're all alike.
Well, what I meant was...
I often misinterpret
how others are feeling.
Like, I can't always tell if someone is only joking
or laughing at me.
You know, like, uh, if they're mad at something I've done
or just in a bad mood.
It-it's incredibly stressful.
Really? You always seem so confident.
Well, I'm not.
And if I could read people's minds,
life would be so much simpler.
Well, now I wish I had
the ability to make that stuff easier for you.
Thank you.
Wow, I just felt this wave
of affection for you.
You sure it's not too much Bible juice?
And the wave is gone.
Brains!
Keep it down! We're working here.
Okay, we've got the cipher decoded!
How's it going with the globe?
We used the coordinates to locate the cities.
I'm putting the city names in the grid now.
I'm sure that'll give us the code to the safe.
Solve puzzle too fast!
Slow down!
Yup! Got the code.
Just saying...
no refund for finish early!
Sure you don't want to go home?
When the bag's returned, they'll deliver it to us.
No, I'm not leaving without her.
All right, we'll wait.
I could've driven her.
What?
The day she left for Florida.
She asked me to drive her to the airport.
I-I was too busy.
And...
I made her take a cab.
I was too busy.
There's no way you could've known.
Be right back.
Excuse me?
Yes?
You better find my husband's mother
'cause one way or another,
we're walking out of this airport with a dead woman!
Which book are we looking for? Uh...
Origin of Species.
Here it is.
There's a black light.
Oh, hang on.
Oh, okay.
Uh, "Brothers and sisters
"I have none, but this man's father
is my father's son. Who am I looking at?"
Yeah, yeah, we get it... you want brains. Calm down.
Well, if I don't have a brother,
my father's son is me.
And if I'm this man's father, then he's my son.
The answer's "son."
Ooh! There's a picture of the sun over there.
I bet the key's behind it.
Could be somewhere else!
Oh, got the key!
So, that's the key to the door?
That's it?
We spent $200 on six minutes of fun?
It's like when you bought that remote-controlled helicopter,
and it just... flew away.
Sorry, guys. Really thought the puzzles would be better.
Well, to be fair, we do all have advanced degrees.
Remember that before you post on Yelp!
"If you were to die this evening with no opportunity
"to communicate with anyone,
what would you most regret not having told someone?"
So, it would be today?
Huh.
Well, I suppose there's something satisfying
about dying on my birthday.
Today's your birthday?
Yes.
Well, that's always been a secret!
Not even Amy knows!
Well, I don't enjoy presents.
And the thought of people
jumping out and yelling "Surprise!" fills me
with more dread than the words
"George Lucas Director's Cut."
So, why did you finally tell me?
The point of the experiment is
to be completely honest with each other.
Well, thank you for sharing it with me.
I won't tell anyone.
Thank you.
That is so funny.
I never would have pegged you for a Pisces.
You're making it difficult to love you right now.
Great news! Your bag was returned.
Oh, thank God!
It's okay, she's here!
Ma's here.
Okay, thank you so much.
Ma?
I'm sorry I didn't
take you to the airport. I just want you to know
that I'll never forgive myself for being so selfish.
And I promise
to keep you close
for the rest of my life.
Oh, no. That thing's gonna end up in my bedroom.
That's it! We're done with the questions.
All that's left to do is
stare into each other's eyes
for four minutes without talking.
Okay. Wait, hang on!
Bladder check.
We're good to go.
You ready?
Yes.
And begin.
This is kind of creepy.
We're not supposed to talk during this part.
Sorry.
This is kind of creepy.
Do you want to stop?
I know you have trouble with eye contact.
Well, you have a brown fleck
in your right iris that looks
like a Formula One race car.
So... I'm just concentrating on that.
Plus, it's easier around people that I'm comfortable with.
Aw, sweetie, I'm comfortable around you, too.
Of course you are, I'm warm and soothing.
I'm like a human bowl of tomato soup.
I meant more like a little brother.
Oh.
Well, I suppose I do think of you as a sister.
And sometimes, a mother.
It's getting creepy again.
What?
Just thinking about the day
I met you and Leonard.
It was a Monday afternoon.
You joined us for Indian food.
Can you believe it's been eight years?
Yeah, and you're still eating our food.
I... can't remember a time
you guys weren't in my life.
I remember it perfectly.
But I have an eidetic memory.
If you're interested, I also remember
how much you owe us for the food.
That's it.
That wasn't so bad.
No, it wasn't.
Uh, now let's tabulate
the results of the experiment.
Okay.
I think it's safe to say that you're not in love with me
and I'm not in love with you.
And psychology has once again
proved itself the doofus of the sciences.
Well, maybe.
But I'm still glad we did it.
I do feel closer to you.
And I, you.
And yes, that's how you say that.
Yeah, so, given our newfound intimacy,
I'd say we have
some hard choices to make.
Like what?
Gary Con... do we fly or drive?
Do we wear costumes?
And if so...
who gets to be Gary?
Thank you for walking me home.
I just want to make sure you get there safe.
Well, this is me.
It's been a very interesting evening.
It really has.
Surprise! Aah!
And after I let you be Gary!
== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man