The Big Bear Precipitation Season 9, Episode 20 -  Aired April 7, 2016

The Big Bear Precipitation

Sheldon spills a secret of Leonard's when the two take a weekend cabin trip with Penny and Amy. Also, when Koothrappali goes overboard with pregnancy gifts, Wolowitz and Bernadette must draw the line.

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Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Dave Goetsch (Story), Tara Hernandez (Story), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Steve Holland (Teleplay), Jim Reynolds (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 13.5 million Households Rating: 9.2/15 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.1/12

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to the trip that Leonard, Penny, Sheldon and Amy took to Big Bear, California, and the rain that kept them inside over the weekend, and also the big bear that Raj bought for the expectant couple, Howard and Bernadette.

Episode Quotes

Raj: Of course. I'll give you guys some space. Let me just get this out of your way. (Raj fumbles around trying to move the gigantic teddy bear. He knocks over various objects in Howard & Bernadette's living room)
Howard: You need some help?
Raj: No, I got it.
Bernadette: Raj, Raj, wait.
Raj: Please, Bernadette. Let me leave with my dignity. (Raj falls over the teddy bear as he tries to move it out the door)

Bernadette: He's just trying to be supportive.
Howard: Just supportive. Not over-the-top in any way?
Bernadette: No.
Raj: Hello. (Raj walks in with a gigantic teddy bear)
Bernadette: You saw him carrying that?
Howard: Astronauts saw him carrying that.

Penny: I'll see if it's available.
Amy: You know, if that study's real, Leonard might come back smarter than you.
Sheldon: Are you trying to manipulate me?
Amy: Yes.
Sheldon: Well done, it worked, we're going.
Amy: Yay!

Howard: I didn't know you needed help running errands today.
Bernadette: I didn't, but Raj volunteered.
Howard: Really?
Bernadette: Yeah, ever since you told him I was pregnant, he's really been making a fuss over me.
Howard: Oh. Well, I guess that's kind of sweet.
Raj: Bernie, I just forwarded you a list of the top five lactation consultants in Los Angeles. I know my favourite, but I'd love to hear what you think.
Howard: And it just got weird.

Howard: Hey, where you been?
Bernadette: Uh, Raj took me to the baby doctor and then we swung by the grocery store.
Howard: Did you get graham crackers? I mean, are - uh, is the baby okay?

News Stories

Title Date Posted
920 'The Big Bear Precipitation' Press Release March 30, 2016

CBS has issued the press release for next week's episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Big Bear Precipitation".  Full story

Recap

Sheldon is wearing a virtual reality headset at his desk and seeing a forest scene as Leonard, Penny and Amy return to the apartment. When Sheldon holds out his finger for a butterfly, Leonard puts his face up against Sheldon’s finger and surprises him. After Sheldon takes off the VR set, he explains he was trying to experience the outdoors because of a study that showed the cognitive benefit of spending time in the wilderness.

When Amy brings Sheldon a cup of tea as he is once again immersed in the wild, she tells him they should rent a cabin if he really wants to experience nature. Penny mentions there’s a cabin in Big Bear that a doctor keeps offering her. Amy thinks they could all go for the weekend and it would be fun. Leonard and Penny are up for it, but Sheldon doesn’t see the appeal of the actual wilderness on account of all the mosquitos, bees, bears, possums, snakes, etc. Amy manages to change Sheldon’s mind by pointing out if his study is real, Leonard might return from the woods smarter than he is.

After Bernadette and Raj return to her house with groceries, he is carrying all the shopping bags for her as she is carrying a baby. After Howard pauses his video game, he asks her where she was. Bernadette explains they went to the OBGYN and then to the grocery store. Howard didn’t know she needed help running errands, but Bernadette says Raj just volunteered. Bernadette says Raj has been making a fuss over her ever since he found out she was pregnant. Howard thinks it’s sweet, until Raj starts talking about lactation experts.

Penny goes back up to the apartment to tell Leonard that Amy is ready downstairs. As Leonard packs a rucksack, Penny is not impressed by his new baseball cap. When Sheldon comes out wearing a beekeeper's hat, Penny doesn’t have any negative comments.

When Howard goes to the kitchen after hearing some strange screams, he wonders what Bernadette is watching on her iPad. Bernadette explains it’s one of many childbirth videos that Raj sent her. Howard asks her if she feels Raj is getting a little carried away with all the baby stuff, but Bernadette thinks he just wants to be part of the experience. When Howard finds a box in the kitchen, Bernadette explains it’s an ultrasonic microphone that Raj bought her. Howard wants to try it, but she promised Raj they would wait until he was there to use it so he can be part of the experience.

As Leonard drives Penny, Sheldon and Amy to the cabin, Penny says it’s nice and rustic out there. After Sheldon points out his cell service has dropped to one bar, Amy asks if he’s ever been off the grid before. Sheldon says once, when the battery on his phone ran out and he had to wait for his iPad to turn on.

In Howard and Bernadette’s living room, he is looking out the window as Raj pulls up. Howard tells Bernadette that he’s going to say something to Raj about how involved he is in the pregnancy. Bernadette thinks he should leave Raj alone as he means well. When Howard questions whether he needs to rein it in a little, Bernadette argues he’s just being supportive. Howard asks if he’s not being over-the-top, but Bernadette insists not. As Raj walks in, he is carrying a stuffed teddy bear that’s larger than he is.

After they arrive at their destination, Penny is impressed by how great the cabin is. Leonard thinks it’s wonderful that doctor at work just let her use it, but Penny admits she has to go to an Indigo Girls concert with her. When Sheldon suggests they check each other for ticks, Amy doesn’t see a need as they only walked in from the car. But when Sheldon drops his pants, she is more than happy to examine him.

As the rain pours down outside, Sheldon expresses faux disappointment that they won’t be able to go on their planned hike. Amy wonders what they should do now. Leonard points out there’s board games, but Sheldon already checked and they’re all missing pieces. After Penny proposes lighting a fire, Sheldon and Leonard start discussing the thermodynamic principles of lighting an optimal fire. In the meantime, Penny just flicks a switch and ignites the fire.

In Howard and Bernadette’s living room, Howard tells Raj he is his best friend and he really appreciates his enthusiasm about having a baby. Bernadette says she and Howard do want him to be a part of this pregnancy, but Howard says they have to set some boundaries. Howard points out the three of them aren’t having this baby, just him and Bernadette. Raj agrees to back off and give them some space. He decides to take the massive teddy bear back, but he struggles to carry it away. As Raj gracelessly fights to shift the brobdingnagian bear, Bernadette tells Raj to wait but Raj asks to leave with his dignity.

Back at the cabin, as Penny pours wine for everyone, she asks her friends if they want to play a drinking game. After Penny explains the rules of “Never Have I Ever”, she offers to go first. Penny declares she has never… well, it takes her a while to think of something she’s never done before, so Leonard goes next. When Leonard says never have I ever been arrested, the group are shocked as Sheldon takes a drink. Sheldon explains he jaywalked to escape an aggressive-looking girl scout during cookie season. A police officer witnessed the whole thing and arrested Sheldon. After he confronted the officer for doing nothing about his jaywalking, that is.

As Howard tidies up the mess caused by Raj’s bear, he admits he feels like he made a huge mistake telling Raj to back off. After Bernadette starts crying, Howard decides to go get Raj. Bernadette asks him to get the bear back, too.

After Leonard tells Penny this game is dangerous and he could get her in trouble, he demonstrates by saying never have I ever used Sheldon’s toothbrush to clean the sink. Penny returns the favor by saying never have I ever come up with a nickname for my own genitals. On Amy’s turn, she says never have I ever rocked my girlfriend’s world in bed and urges Sheldon to drink. When Sheldon says never have I ever kept a secret bank account because I think my wife can’t handle money, Penny glares at Leonard as Sheldon wonders whether he won. Penny confronts Leonard, pointing out she earns more money than he does. Penny says they’re married and are supposed to share everything, but Leonard wonders whether that means her massive credit card debt. Penny storms off to the bedroom.

Raj tells Howard he appreciates the apology, but he understands he overstepped his bounds. After Raj asks if there’s anything he can do to help, Howard says they can try out the ultrasonic microphone to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Raj is pleased they would let him stay for that, but he makes it weird again by asking if he can squirt the ultrasound on her stomach.

As Penny paces around the bedroom in anger, Leonard comes to apologize and say she has every right to be angry. After Penny asks about the bank account, Leonard admits he’s had it a few years and has saved around $6,400. When Penny asks if he knows what she could do with that kind of money, Leonard says he does and that’s why he hid it. After Leonard apologizes for keeping it a secret, Penny says she has been keeping a secret from him. She admits she doesn’t like flirting with doctors for sales and has not liked her job for a while. After Leonard asks why she didn’t tell him, Penny explains it’s because she knows her success is important to him. Leonard insists he would be happy if she want back to being an actress and waiting tables, but Penny admits she doesn’t want to do that. She says she’s going to do the grown-up thing and see this job through.

Back in Howard and Bernadette’s living room, Howard puts the microphone up against her belly. They are all amazed when they hear the baby’s heartbeat. A stunned Raj tells them they made a person. As Howard puts his head on Bernadette’s shoulders, Raj does the same and says he’d like to think he helped. Howard points out he didn’t.

In the cabin, Sheldon and Amy are still playing “Never Have I Ever” but are struggling to find anything either of them have actually done. When Sheldon says never have I ever pushed all the buttons in an elevator, Amy takes a sip.