Plimpton Stimulation

Plimpton Stimulation
Writers	Story by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, & Lee Aronsohn; teleplay by Steven Molaro, Jim Reynolds, & Maria Ferrari
Director	Mark Cendrowski
Starring	Judy Greer as Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton
Air Date	May 10, 2010
Vanity	Card #286
Guide	Episode #321
Quotes	Episode #321
Forums	Discuss Episode

Season 3, Episode 21 (0321)

Spaghetti Catalyst . . . << Plimpton Stimulation >> . . . Staircase Implementation

Summary

Leonard and Sheldon compete for the attention of a famous female physicist.

Episode Outline

I. Cafeteria

• Sheldon informs Leonard that he will have Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton, a famous physicist, staying at their apartment for two nights. The guys are puzzled.

Titles and Opening Themes

II. First floor of the building and Stairway

• Sheldon asks Penny for advice about a "female hygiene product" he bought and she's "puzzled" as well.

III. Living room

• Sheldon and a very nervous Leonard welcome their guest Dr. Plimpton.

IV. Sheldon's bedroom

• Sheldon shows Elizabeth her room and explains the "features" and "emergency provisions".

V. Leonard's bedroom

• Elizabeth enters, starts flirting with Leonard and later undresses...

VI. Living room

• Sheldon wakes up and is greeted by smiling Leonard and Elizabeth.
• When Penny asks for a ride to work and is introduced to Elizabeth, she immediately figures out the situation. Sheldon overhears her talk to Leonard and is shocked.

VII. Cafeteria

• Leonard tries to tell Raj and Howard that he had a good night, but the two fail to take the hint.
• When Sheldon turns up with Elizabeth, she immediately starts flirting with Raj.

VIII. Raj's apartment

• Howard turns up for Halo Night, but Raj is having wine with Elizabeth. She invites Howard to join in a "role-playing game" with Raj.
• When Leonard turns up, Elizabeth invites him as well, but the three guys don't want to "be naked in front of each other".
• Raj tricks Howard and Leonard into leaving the apartment and then locks them out.

IX. Stairway

• Leonard tries to explain to Penny why he slept with Elizabeth: "She let him".

Resources

List of entries from this episode

David Saltzberg's science blog about this episode

Notes and Trivia

The title "The Plimpton Stimulation" appeared for the first time in a photo posted by Bill Prady on his Twitter account. The script shown was the table draft, dated March 17, 2010.

Timeline

Sheldon informs Leonard 24 hours prior to Dr. Plimpton's visit. The day following her first night with the guys is Halo Night, suggesting it's a Wednesday (see Schedule). This means, we can assume this episode starts on a Monday (nicely timed again with the airing of the episode) and ends on a Wednesday night.

Title

The title refers to the "stimulating" impact that Dr. Plimpton's visit has on the guys' lives.