The Vartabedian Conundrum Season 2, Episode 10 -  Aired December 8, 2008

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After Leonard comes to the realization that Stephanie has moved into his apartment, he begins to feel their relationship is progressing too quickly for him. Leonard turns to Penny for advice on how to slow down his relationship. Meanwhile, Sheldon requires Stephanie's medical attention when he's convinced he has a mystery illness.

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Guest Stars: Sara Rue as Stephanie

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Steven Molaro (Story), Bill Prady (Teleplay), Richard Rosenstock (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 10.5 million Households Rating: 6.2/10 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.9/10

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title references the guys' downstairs neighbor, Mrs. Vartabedian, with whom Leonard claimed to have had breakfast in the past. Sheldon, wondering why he had never been invited to breakfast with Mrs. Vartabedian, was told by Leonard that she doesn't like him.
  • This episode ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger as Leonard doesn't officially end the relationship in this episode, yet Stephanie is never seen or mentioned again.

> Roommate Agreement

When Sheldon judges that Stephanie is living in the apartment with Leonard, he calls an emergency meeting under Article One, Section Three of the roommate agreement. The roommate agreement judges that a girlfriend shall be deemed living with Leonard when she has stayed over for A, ten consecutive nights or B, more than nine nights in a three week period or C, all the weekends of a given month plus three weeknights. Another clause names Sheldon as Leonard's sidekick if he ever gets superpowers.

> Sheldon's Knock

After Stephanie tricks Sheldon into believing his larynx is inflamed, Sheldon uses a text-to-speech program on his laptop to say "Penny" when knocks on Penny's door.

Episode Quotes

Stephanie: I don't see anything at all, Sheldon.
Sheldon: Well, you're the doctor, but I am constantly hearing this annoying sound.
Leonard: Me too.
Sheldon: Is it a high frequency whistle?
Leonard: No, it's more of a relentless, narcissistic drone.

Leonard: Don't you think if a woman was living with me I'd be the first one to know about it?
Penny: Oh, sweetie, you'd be the last one to know about it.

Sheldon: I trust Leonard satisfied you sexually last night.
Leonard: Oh good God! Sheldon we don't ask questions like that!
Sheldon: I heard you ask it over and over. How is it inappropriate for me to ask it once?
Stephanie: He did very nicely.
Sheldon: See? She's not offended. And now you finally have an answer.

Stephanie: Where did you get the stethoscope and the blood pressure cuff?
Sheldon: My aunt Marion gave them to me for my 12th birthday. She thought if I failed at theoretical physics that I should have a trade to fall back on.

Sheldon: I've never once been invited to have cereal with Mrs. Vartabedian.
Leonard: She doesn't like you.

Recap

Leonard is taken by surprise when Sheldon wants to amend the roommate agreement because he thinks Stephanie is now living with them. Leonard denies that Stephanie has moved in, though he is forced to accept it's the case when Penny points out the changes Stephanie has made to Leonard's bedroom. At the university cafeteria, Leonard arrives wearing a new and uncomfortable pair of pants Stephanie bought him - just another change she's made in his life. Elsewhere, Stephanie treats a hypochondriac Sheldon at the hospital.

In the apartment laundry room, Leonard asks for Penny's advice over his relationship with Stephanie, which Leonard realizes is now moving too fast for him. Penny tells Leonard to talk to Stephanie and explain that he wants to slow things down. Leonard returns to the apartment to find Stephanie diagnosing Sheldon with a larynx infection which means he should stop talking instantly. Leonard tries to talk to Stephanie, but gets sidetracked when they have sex. Leonard goes back to the laundry room to tell Penny he didn't manage to talk to Stephanie. Penny is surprised by how quickly Leonard returned considering he just had sex. Back in Leonard's bedroom, Leonard tries to have the talk after sex but aborts the mission when Stephanie tears up.

At the cafeteria, Leonard explains his predicament to Howard and Raj, who suggest he ends things by text. Leonard tries this but soon receives a text from Stephanie inviting him back to bed. Leonard leaves to see Stephanie, though the fate of his relationship with her is never explained.