The Big Bang Theory (2007–…): Season 4, Episode 15 - The Benefactor Factor - full transcript

To secure needed funding for the university, Sheldon convinces Leonard to get friendly with a wealthy benefactor.

Here's what I wonder about zombies.

(SHELDON, LEONARD & HOWARD GROAN)

What happens if they can't get
any human flesh to eat?

They can't starve to death,
they're already dead.

You take this one.
I spent an hour last night...

...on how do vampires shave when
they can't see themselves in the mirror?

Well-groomed vampires meet in pairs
and shave each other. Case closed.

- Yeah, okay, so, zombies?
- I guess it depends on the zombies, Raj.

Are we talking slow zombies,
fast zombies?

Like in 28 Days, if those zombies
didn't eat, they starved.

That's 28 Days Later. 28 Days is where
Sandra Bullock goes to rehab...



...and puts the audience
into an undead state.

Hey, don't bag on Sandra Bullock.

You think it makes you look cultured,
but you just come off as bitter.

Dr. Siebert, 12 o'clock.

Why's the president of the university
slumming in the cafeteria? Ha, ha.

Perhaps he's emulating
Shakespeare's Henry V...

...who dressed as a commoner
and mingled...

...to find out how he was
perceived by his subjects.

If he'd have read any of the
1300 e-mails I've sent him...

...on the subject of his administration
he could have saved himself the trouble.

Or maybe he heard
it's Tater Tot Tuesday.

That's why I'm here.

Hey, there's my favorite geniuses.

- How are we doing today?
- That depends.



How much longer do you plan
on fondling my shoulder?

Sorry, Dr. Cooper.
I forgot you have a touch phobia.

It's not a touch phobia,
it's a germ phobia.

If you'd like to go put on latex gloves,
I'll let you check me for a hernia.

Yeah. So listen, fellas, who's up for
a little party this Saturday night?

Open bar, good eats,
might even be a few pretty girls.

- Sounds good.
- I'm in. Ha, ha.

Hold on. Just because
the nice man is offering you candy...

...doesn't mean you should jump into
his windowless van.

- What's the occasion?
- Just a fundraiser for the university.

Aha. The tear-stained air mattress
in the back of the van.

I understand your reticence,
Dr. Cooper.

And I sympathize.

But the facts are,
we have to shake a few hands...

...and kiss butts to raise money
for our research.

I don't care, it's demeaning
and I refuse to be trotted out...

...and shown off like a prize hog
at the Texas State Fair...

...which is something
you don't want to attend...

...wearing a Star Trek
ensign's uniform.

All right, let me put it this way.

You're gonna put on a suit,
you're gonna come to this party...

...and you're gonna explain
your research to old people...

...or I swear to God, I'll blind you
with a hot spoon...

...like they did to that little boy
in Slumdog Millionaire.

Oh. You don't want that.

So Saturday night.
It's gonna be off the hook.

- Unh.
- Get over it.

Oh, boy,
Tater Tots and a party invitation?

What a great day.

There you go.

Are you sure this is right?

Yeah, just tuck that part in your pants,
you'll be fine.

Okay, let's go smooch
some rich, wrinkled tuchis.

Oh, Howard, I can't believe Bernadette let
you go to a fancy party wearing a dickey.

Ha, ha. Excuse me, my girlfriend
doesn't pick out my clothes.

My mother does.

Oh, we should get going.

- What about Sheldon?
- Sheldon is not going.

Really? What do we tell Siebert?

Tell him Dr. Cooper feels
that the best use of his time...

...is to employ his rare
and precious mental faculties...

...to tear the mask off nature
and stare at the face of God.

Sheldon, it's Saturday night.
You'll be doing laundry.

Don't tell him that.
Tell him the mask thing.

- Hey, put your tie back in your pants.
- Thanks.

Nice place.

Reminds me of my parents'
house back in New Delhi.

- You're kidding.
- No, we are very wealthy.

But the only difference is
we have more servants.

- More than this?
- More than we can use.

See, in India we don't make the mistake
of letting our poor people have dreams.

Ah. There's my band of brainiacs.
Where's Dr. Cooper?

(SIGHS)

He's tearing the mask off nature
to look at the face of God.

The board of directors insists he has a
beautiful mind, I think he's just bananas.

Let me introduce you to
one of the university's leading donors.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I think we were misled
about the cute girls.

Mrs. Latham, I'd like you to meet
our outstanding researchers.

This is Dr. Leonard Hofstadter,
Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali...

...and Howard Wolowitz.

What happened to you, Wolowitz?

Couldn't stick with it
long enough to get your Ph. D?

I'm an engineer. Most engineers
don't bother with a Ph.D.

You may be interested to know I designed
the zero-gravity waste system for NASA.

Got it. You're a space plumber.

I'm gonna go hit the bar.

Tell me about these two.

Do him first.

Dr. Hofstadter is representing our
experimental physics program.

You'll hear about his fascinating work.

Right. Fascinate me.

(STAMMERS)

They're cute when they're about
to wet themselves, aren't they?

I'll make it easy.

When you arrive at the lab in the
morning, what machine do you turn on?

Coffee maker?

All right, Dr. Kooth...
Whatever it is. You're up.

It's Koothrappali. I have to tinkle.

And so, instead of bowing to pressure
and going to that pointless soiree...

...I stayed right here
and did a load of whites.

Well, normally I respect your macho
rebellious attitude toward the man...

...but in this case
I think you've made a foolish mistake.

Unlikely...

...but make your case.

Keeping in mind
that your critical attitude...

...is ruining our night together...

...and I'm not above
minimizing your window.

Sheldon, like it or not...

...until you upload your intelligence
to a self-sustaining orbiting satellite...

...equipped with high-speed Internet
and a cloaking device...

...you will be dependent on other
members of the human race.

That's it, prepare to be minimized.

I'm not finished.
All scientists have to fundraise, Sheldon.

How do you think I paid for my lab?

I went to Saudi Arabia, met with a prince
who had an interest in neurobiology.

Your lab is funded by some
Middle Eastern dilettante?

Technically, Faisal is my fianc?...

...but I do have a
two-photon microscope...

...and a place to stay in Riyadh
for the winter.

That explains those puzzling camel race
photos on your Facebook page.

And consider this: Without you to make
the case for the Physics Department...

...the task falls to people
like Leonard and Raj.

Are you trying to scare me?

Because you're succeeding.

Well, then prepare to be terrified.

If your friends are unconvincing...

...this year's donations might go to
the Geology Department.

Oh, dear, no, not the dirt people.

Or worse, it could go to
the Liberal Arts.

No.

Millions of dollars being showered
on poets, literary theorists...

...and students of gender studies.

Oh, the humanities.

I don't think President Siebert...

...will be making us
go to any more fundraisers.

It was so much easier
at my bar mitzvah.

The old people came up to you, pinched
your cheek, handed you a savings bond.

Oh, don't be such gloomy Gusses.

Look at the size of these shrimp.

At what point
do we start calling them lobsters?

Face it, Raj,
we crashed and burned tonight.

Oh, you didn't do that badly.

The first machine I turn on is the helium-
neon laser, because it needs to warm up.

I no longer care, dear.

But don't worry, I really enjoyed
meeting you this evening.

You're kidding?
That was good for you?

Because I was sweating
through my T-shirt.

Excellent.
There's nothing I like better...

...than making smart people
feel ill at ease.

- Why?
- I don't know, it's one of the fun things...

...you get to do
when you have lots of money.

Watch. Hey! Who said
you could eat that shrimp?

See? Fun.

SHELDON:
No, no, no. I'm just...

...here for your money. I don't wanna
shake anyone's germy hands.

Explain it to them, Siebert.

I must confess, I don't understand you,
President Siebert.

First you say you want me to appear
at your fundraisers.

But now you say you never want me
to go anywhere near your fundraisers.

Forgive me, but that sounds
like a mixed message.

Here we go again. If there's simply
no talking to me, then why did you call?

I'm sorry, someone's on the other line.

Uh, why don't you see if you can organize
your thoughts and we'll try again later.

Cooper-Hofstadter residence.
Go for Cooper.

Good morning, Mrs. Latham.

Yes, of course I remember you.

A woman well past her prime
seeking to augment her social status...

...by doling out her late husband's
ill-gotten gains.

So how much money
are you going to give me?

I'm not crazy,
my mother had me tested.

If you're not going to give me money,
then why are you calling?

She wants to talk to you.

Who's crazy now?

Hello, Mrs. Latham.

Yes, I live with him.

I don't... I really don't know why.

Tonight? Sure. That'd be great.

Okay, I'll see you then. Bye.

Uh, she wants to have dinner
and talk about my research.

An entire dinner
to talk about your research?

Where are you going,
the drive-through at Jack in the Box?

Well, wherever we're going,
she's sending a car to pick me up.

- Okay, I see what's happening.
- What?

My stature intimidates her...

...so she's using you to get to me.

Crafty old gal.

Excuse me...

...but you are not the only
scientist in this apartment.

I've been published in journals...

...I received a dissertation-of-the-year
award for experimental particle physics.

No, that can't be it.

Since you seem to have forgotten...

...the reason we live together
is we're best friends.

And I got your back, Jack.

That was a great meal.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I eat this well
when my mom's in town...

...and she takes me out to dinner.
- Is that so?

You kind of remind me of her.

She enjoys
making people uncomfortable too.

Well, you remind me of a boy
I dated in college.

- No kidding.
- Sweet boy, very smart.

- Huh.
- Lf only he'd had money.

Yeah, um, so hey...

...speaking of money, how are you feeling
about helping the Physics Department...

...get a cryogenic centrifugal pump
and molecular sieve?

Well, I must say you make
a very persuasive case for it.

Oh, good, good.

And I'm seriously considering
taking it to the next level.

Terrific. Great.

What level is that?

Okay, now you don't remind me
of my mom.

I'm sorry, so eventually zombies...

...are going to attack the rehab facility
where Sandra Bullock is?

Yes, Sheldon. Keep watching.

It's a shame,
all that work she's doing to get sober...

...only to be torn apart and eaten alive.

- Hey, how was dinner?
- Swell. I need a drink.

Do we have any alcohol?

No. But we have potatoes.

I could make you vodka.

It'll take two weeks.

Leonard, are you okay?

Uh, I'm not sure.

- What's going on?
- Well...

...Mrs. Latham said she was seriously
considering donating money...

...so we could get
a cryogenic centrifugal pump.

- Oh, wow.
- Yes!

Then she stuck her tongue
down my throat.

Why?

We can't keep explaining everything.
Read that book we got you.

She hit on me.

Wait. Are you telling us that old lady
wanted to have sex with you...

...in exchange for giving
your department millions of dollars?

- I think so.
- You lucky duck.

You're really a broken toy, aren't you?

I was able to get out of there, but she
wants to see me again tomorrow night.

Excellent.
What are you planning to wear?

- What?
- Penny.

You're an expert on trading
sexual favors for gain.

Walk him through this.

Whoa, uh, hold on a second.
I'm not going to sleep with her.

But we need
a cryogenic centrifugal pump.

Forget it. It's not gonna happen.

Well, come now, Leonard...

...this may be your only chance
to make a real contribution to science.

I repeat, not gonna happen.

What was all that about me trading
sexual favors for material gain?

It was a compliment.

I believe in giving credit
where credit is due.

Fine, I'll tell him. Ahem.

Leonard. Mrs. Latham's car
is here for you.

I won't be late. I'm gonna make a pitch
for the funding and say good night.

Hold on. I have something for you.

- What's this?
- Few things you may need tonight.

There's baby oil, condoms...

...and, uh, a little something I procured
from the School of Pharmacology.

They say it is to Viagra
as Viagra is to a green M&M.

I am not going to have sex with her.

Maybe this will overcome
your reluctance.

I went on the Internet
and found a photograph...

...of a 25-year-old Mrs. Latham
to get your libido humming.

Check out those saddle shoes.

(GROWLS)

Are you insane?

I'm not going to prostitute myself
just so we can get some new equipment.

- Oh, come on, why not?
- Oh...

Good night, Sheldon.

Given how much time you spend
engaging in pointless self-abuse...

...you might consider just this once...

...using your genitalia
to actually accomplish something.

- Still won't shag the old lady, huh?
- No. But thank you for asking.

- Hey, hi.
- Hello, Leonard.

I hope you're hungry.

I'm very hungry.

For food, right?

Oh, I made you uncomfortable
last night. I'm so sorry.

No, that's okay.

No, it most certainly is not.

I'm making the donation
to your department...

...regardless of what happens
between us.

- Really?
- Of course.

There's no quid pro quo here.

You and your colleagues do remarkable
research and you deserve the money.

Oh...

Then what was last night about?

I took a shot. Sue me.

- Oh.
- You're a very handsome man, Leonard.

Thank you.

It was foolish of me to think someone
your age might ever be interested in me.

Oh, don't say that.
You're a very attractive woman.

- Please.
- It's true.

Well, aren't you sweet.

(INHALES DEEPLY)

Just for the record...

...you'd remember a night
with me for the rest of your life.

I'm sure I would.

But why exactly?

You're a very smart man. How do you
think I landed such a rich husband?

- I hadn't really given it much thought.
- Well, think about it.

- You mean?
- Yep, I'm that good.

Oh, what the hell.

(SIGHS)

Good morning, slut.

What?

Oh, please. I recognize
the walk of shame when I see it.

All you're missing
is smeared mascara...

...and a purse with panties
wadded up in it.

- What's going on?
- Oh, nothing's going on. Excuse me.

- Are you just getting home?
- Yeah.

That's a good sign, right?

- Oh, yeah.
- I'm so proud of you!

You sold yourself out
like a common streetwalker.

No, I didn't do it for the money.

She stiffed you?

I believe that's what
your roommate did to her.

- What?
- Again, read the book we gave you.

No, I got the money first.

Smart. Get paid up front.

Yeah, I think you have a real knack
for gigolo work, Leonard.

I'm...

- I'm gonna go lie down.
- That's a good idea, get your rest.

There are more rich old ladies out there
and daddy needs a new linear accelerator.

And I thought he didn't learn anything
from his relationship with you.

- Hey!
- Another compliment.

Learn to recognize them.

Oh, there he is! The man of the hour!

He took one for the team.

(CHEERING)

I didn't do it for the money.

Keep telling yourself that.
It makes it easier.

Trust me, I know.

RAJESH:
Cool, buddy. That's awesome.

HOWARD:
How was she?