The Convergence Convergence Season 9, Episode 24 -  Aired May 12, 2016

The Convergence Convergence

Chaos ensues when Leonard's recently divorced parents, Alfred and Beverly, and Sheldon's devoutly religious mother, Mary, come to town. Also, Wolowitz and Koothrappali think the government is out to get them when they are contacted about their guidance system.

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Guest Stars: Christine Baranski as Beverly Hofstadter, Laurie Metcalf as Mary Cooper, Judd Hirsch as Alfred, Marcus Folmar as Police Officer

Writers: Steven Molaro (Story), Tara Hernandez (Story), Adam Faberman (Story), Chuck Lorre (Teleplay), Steve Holland (Teleplay), Jeremy Howe (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 14.73 million Households Rating: 3.4/14 Adults 18-49 Rating: 9.8/17

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to Sheldon and Leonard's parents descending on Pasadena for Leonard and Penny's improptu wedding ceremony.

Episode Quotes

Mary Cooper: So who else is coming to this shindig?
Amy: Oh, well, the usual gang. Penny's family is coming tomorrow.
Sheldon: Yeah, and Leonards mother's already here.
Mary Cooper: Oh. Beverly. How nice.
Amy: You've met her, right?
Mary Cooper: Yes, I have. (reveals her cross necklace)
Sheldon: Mother, she's an atheist, not a vampire.
Mary Cooper: Either way, let's stop and get some garlic.

Alfred Hofstadter: Well, on that note, there are many cultures that have an apocalyptic flood as part of their mythology.
Mary Cooper: I don't have a mythology. I have the unerring Word of God. But that's very interesting.
Alfred Hofstadter: Oh. I, I didn't mean to disparage your faith. Actually, I admire it.
Mary Cooper: Really?
Alfred Hofstadter: Yes. Yes, I'm an agnostic myself. But I have prayed many times to God, to turn my wife into a pillar of salt.
Mary Cooper: Well, He came close. Turned her into a giant block of ice.

Penny: So, what did we miss?
Alfred Hofstadter: Oh, just Mary and I getting to know each other a little.
Mary Cooper: Leonard, your father is just charming.
Beverly Hofstadter: He's also broke. Did he mention that?

Raj: Okay, look, I'm on the Air Force Web site, and the department that e-mailed you is in charge of acquisitions. So maybe they just want to give you a lot of money for your invention.
Howard: Oh, please, that's not how it works. You saw E.T., Avatar, Jurassic World. The military just shows up and takes over.
Bernadette: You do realize those weren't documentaries, right?

Mary Cooper: I've always had a special place in my heart for Leonard. Taking care of my baby all these years.
Sheldon: Excuse me, I take care of him.
Mary Cooper: Sure you do.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
924 'The Convergence-Convergence' Press Release May 4, 2016

CBS has released the synopsis for the ninth season finale of The Big Bang Theory, "The Convergence Convergence", which airs next Thursday, May 12. Judd Hirsch (Taxi) guest stars as Alfred, Leonard's father. Christine Baranski and Laurie Metcalf reprise their roles as Dr. Beverly Hofstadter and Mary Cooper, respectively, in the episode.  Full story

Recap

When Leonard retires to his bedroom after a night at the movie theater, he tells Penny about how Sheldon caused a scene and invoked the name of Rosa Parks. After Leonard asks how it went with his mother, Penny says it started a little rocky but they ended up in a good place. Penny mentions that she promised Beverly they would have another wedding ceremony which she could attend this time. After Penny says they can invite their friends and family this time, Leonard admits he would love it if his dad can come.

In the apartment, Penny tells Amy and Bernadette that it’s not a legal ceremony, just a chance for them to redo their vows. Sheldon comes to say he just got off the phone with his mother and she’s coming to the wedding. Bernadette thinks it’s sweet Penny is going to all this trouble for Beverly. Penny says she’s also doing it for Leonard, as she thinks this could really help his relationship with his mother.

As Leonard drives his mother from the airport, Beverly is furious that he invited his father without consulting her. Leonard argues he doesn’t need her permission to have his father at his wedding. Beverly reminds him that her marriage ended because his father cheated on her.

In his lab, Howard excitedly tells Raj that the quantum vortex is working. Raj is amazed that they have a working guidance system. Just as they celebrate, Howard receives an email from the U.S. Air Force to discuss the guidance system. Raj wonders whether there’s a window around there that they don’t know about, but Howard is sure it’s just a coincidence.

As Amy drives Sheldon and his mother from the airport, Mary thanks Amy for picking her up. Mary remarks that it was nice of Leonard and Penny to invite her, admitting she has a special place in her heart for Leonard for taking care of her son. When Mary asks who else is coming, Amy mentions Penny’s family is coming tomorrow and Sheldon explains Leonard’s mother is already here. Mary is less than thrilled to meet Beverly again, taking her cross necklace out from under her shirt.

In the apartment, Mary and Beverly sit from across from each other in stony silence. They break the quiet by engaging in unconvincing small talk. Over in the kitchen area, Penny and Amy comment on how chilly things are between the two mothers, forgetting they can hear them.

In Howard’s kitchen, he is freaking out about the military taking over their whole project. Bernadette tells him he’s overreacting, but Howard claims the military will erase him if he objects to their plan. Raj thinks the military is probably just looking to purchase the idea, but Howard argues that’s not how it works.

After Leonard walks with his father into the building, Alfred notices that the elevator is out of order. Alfred is fine taking the stairs, figuring he won’t need to see Beverly if he has a heart attack before he reaches the fourth floor. Leonard tells Alfred that even though things are rough between him and Beverly, he is really glad he’s there.

Up in the apartment, Sheldon, Amy and Penny are caught in the uncomfortable silence between Beverly and Mary. After Leonard arrives with Alfred, Penny thanks him for coming. Alfred has already met Sheldon, so Leonard introduces him to Mary and Amy. When Leonard gets to his mother, Alfred and Beverly exchange insults.

Leonard asks his parents not to start as he and Penny are throwing this wedding for their benefit. Penny mentions they have a dinner reservation soon. Elsewhere, Howard asks Raj what he should do about the Air Force email. Howard is afraid if he responds they’ll know he got it, but Raj argues they’ll have known the minute he opened the email.

As Leonard drives Penny and his mother to the restaurant, Beverly tells Penny she hopes that the example of her failed marriage won’t discourage her from the commitment she’s made to Leonard. When Penny says of course not, Beverly remarks that she and Alfred had a lot more going for them than they do.

As Amy drives Sheldon, Mary and Alfred to the restaurant, Mary asks Alfred what he does for a living. Alfred explains he is an anthropologist who studies ancient peoples and cultures. Alfred laughs when Mary mentions that’s “all the way back to the flood”. Sheldon explains she wasn’t not joking. Alfred says there are many cultures which have an apocalyptic flood as part of their mythology. Mary points out she doesn’t have a mythology, just the unerring word of God, but she thinks that’s very interesting. Alfred tells her he didn’t mean to disparage her faith, in fact he admires it. Alfred admits he’s agnostic himself, but he has prayed many times to God to turn his wife into a pillar of salt. The pair laugh as Mary says He came close and turned her into a giant block of ice.

As Howard drives Bernadette and Raj to the restaurant, Raj tells him there must be someone at the university he can turn to for help. Howard thinks they’re probably the ones who leaked it to the military in the first place. Howard fears he’s being harassed by the government, but Bernadette tells him all the movies and TV shows he’s watched have twisted his thinking. She tells him no one's after him, no one's listening to him, and no one cares about him.

When Leonard wonders whether the car in front is Howard’s, Penny tells him to get closer. Howard starts to fear somebody is following them, but Bernadette says he’s being ridiculous. Raj tells him to turn left and see if he turns with them. Leonard and Penny are puzzled when Howard turns away from the restaurant, but Leonard thinks he might have been guided by a traffic app to avoid an accident. Howard and Raj are fearful when the car turns with them. Bernadette thinks it’s a coincidence, but tells Howard to speed up a little and see if the car stays with them. As Howard pulls away, Penny urges Leonard to go faster and flash his lights so Howard knows it’s him. Raj is alarmed that the car behind wants them to pullover. A suddenly nervous Bernadette tells Howard not to pullover as she doesn’t want to raise the baby alone. Howard tells them to hang on as speeds up.

As they snack on bread at the restaurant, Alfred talks to Mary about life after her husband passed away. When Alfred and Mary toast each other. Amy wonders if Sheldon sees what’s going on here. He doesn’t. After Leonard, Penny and Beverly arrive, Amy asks what took them so long. Leonard explains they were following Howard, but for some reason he turned off his headlights and went up a one-way street. When Penny asks what they missed, Alfred says just him and Mary getting to know each other a little. After Mary tells Leonard his father is charming, Beverly points out he’s also broke.

When Penny calls Bernadette to see what’s keeping them, Bernadette is surprised to learn the car behind them was Leonard’s. Bernadette tells them to go ahead and eat, as they’re going to be a while. Outside the car, Howard is performing a roadside sobriety test for a police officer, insisting he’s not on drugs but the government is out to get him.

Back at the restaurant, Alfred and Mary joke about a recent anthropological discovery. After Leonard proposes a toast to Penny, telling her that this last year has shown he not only loves her but also loves being married to her. Leonard thanks her for saying yes, and she thanks him for asking until he did. When Alfred toasts Leonard for finding a woman who loves and cares for him, Beverly questions what that’s supposed to mean. Alfred and Beverly start trading barbs as Mary tries to calm the situation with a quote from the bible. As the tension mounts, Alfred tells Leonard he’s feeling a tired and is going to call it a night. Mary says she is also tuckered out and will see everyone tomorrow. As Mary and Alfred leave together, they decide to share a cab to the hotel where they’re both staying. Leonard wonders what is happening on there.

Back in the apartment, Sheldon is puzzled that his mother is still not picking up the phone. Leonard’s father isn’t texting him back either. Penny thinks it’s because they both turned their phones off. Sheldon and Leonard share a concerned look, admitting they don’t like this at all. Penny, however, is loving the situation.