Previously on Young Sheldon...
Hello. I'm Sheldon Cooper, and this is
Why Sheldon Cooper Should Go to College.
I firmly believe that I'm ready
for this next step in my academic life.
I guess our baby's going to college.
So I don't want to get married. It's nothing personal.
After everything that I've done for you and your family.
You give my grandson a job so I'm supposed to marry you?
Well, you can forget I even asked.
Oh, no.
I screwed up.
You're fired.
Here's for firing my grandson.
Jackass!
I never understood why kids didn't like
being sent to the principal's office.
I thought it was great.
Sheldon, you are a remarkable young man.
Thanks, and you're a remarkable old man.
Sheldon.
So you sure he's got all the credits he needs?
Yeah, between his coursework and his AP tests,
he's met all of his academic requirements.
He even managed to get a good grade in P.E.
I earned extra credit snitching on kids
who were smoking behind the equipment shed.
I don't have to buy cigarettes for a year.
So he's really good to graduate?
He sure is. I got to tell ya,
usually when kids leave school after two years,
it's not for college.
It's for prison or pregnancy.
Well, between Georgie and Missy, we may hit the trifecta.
George!
Well, I'm not rooting for it.
It's just a thing that could happen.
One other bit of business.
Since you're graduating early,
and you're top of the class,
that makes you our valedictorian.
Way to go, buddy!
I'm so proud of you, baby.
You seem surprised.
Well, it's quite an accomplishment.
Being top of the class in this school?
I don't think so.
We're really gonna miss you.
♪ Nobody else is stronger than I am ♪
♪ Yesterday I moved a mountain ♪
♪ I bet I could be your hero ♪
♪ I am a mighty little man ♪
♪ I am a mighty little man. ♪
I imagine my leaving will be hard for you.
Oh, yeah, being best friends
with a little kid really boosted my game with the ladies.
Makes sense. I'm a conversation starter.
Just think. You'll have this table all to yourself.
Actually, I joined the jazz band.
Those guys have their own table in the cafeteria.
Oh.
They're pretty cool.
The drummer's even got a goatee.
Well, I'm glad I knew you before you became a heroin addict.
Where are my safety goggles?
I don't have no orange today.
No, I have a lab later.
Just use the room goggles like everyone else.
And risk eyebrow lice?
They don't just like head hair, Tam.
They must be in my locker.
Don't eat my fluffernutter!
I won't.
Mmm.
"Don't eat my fluffernutter."
Hello.
Thank you for seeing me.
You might not be so happy I did by the time we're done.
(sighs)
All right, let me start by saying
that I owe you an apology.
You can finish with an apology, too.
I'm sorry we had a fight. I'm...
I'm really sorry I lost my temper,
and I'm very sorry that I took it out on Georgie.
That wasn't great.
But I want you to know that I'm trying to change.
'Cause that's what people do-- they change.
I mean it. You know, I'm tired of being a cranky old bastard.
It's tiring for everybody else, too.
Would you please?
Sorry. Go ahead.
(sighs)
I'm admitting I was wrong, and that's not something I do.
What do you want from me?
One more chance.
I don't know.
Oh, come on.
I went to three stores to find these purple flowers.
They are pretty.
They're not as pretty as you.
(laughing): Oh, God.
(laughing)
Safety pins, safety scissors,
no safety goggles.
Did you happen to see a pair of safety goggles?
Sheldon, we're in the middle of a test.
Sorry.
I can't give you the answer,
but what you have is not even close.
Out!
(sobbing)
These things happen.
(sobbing)
My mother had me when she was young.
Sorry to interrupt. I can't find my safety goggles.
Well, they're not here.
I have to find them.
Nothing's more important than protection!
(sobbing loudly)
Dad, you need to take me home.
Why? What's the matter?
I don't have my safety goggles. Let's go.
Sheldon, I'm busy.
You're just watching TV.
I'm reviewing game tape.
So you know how it ends. I'll meet you at the car.
Sheldon, I'm not driving you home.
I got practice in 20 minutes.
Then call Mom and tell her to bring them to me.
She's working, too.
But I need my goggles!
Then use the ones in class.
And I don't want to hear about eyebrow lice.
The ones in class are too big for me.
What if they fall off and something happens to my eyes?
If I go blind, I'll need a Seeing Eye dog,
and I'm scared of dogs.
Hey!
Is this how you plan on acting when you get to college?
No.
Good, 'cause you're gonna need
to handle stuff like this on your own.
I can handle it.
I hope so.
ADULT SHELDON: I ended up using the class goggles that day
and did not get eyebrow lice.
But eight months later,
I did contract a mild case of pink eye.
Were the two events related? This scientist says yes.
Do you think I can make it from one end
of the college campus to the other
in under ten minutes, including a bathroom break?
I don't know. How important is the bathroom break?
Very. The class schedules are designed
for fully-grown bladders, and mine is child-sized.
Then don't put your classes so close together.
Well, it's either this or I move my labs to Tuesday afternoons.
Is that bad?
Yes. That's when Professor Proton is on.
Well, we'll tape it, and you can watch it later.
But what if I have a lot of homework and can't get to it
until the next day and one of the kids
in my class spoils the episode for me?
Sheldon, has anyone ever spoiled Professor Proton for you?
No. Has anyone even talked to you about Professor Proton?
Do you count? No.
Then no.
Thanks again for giving me another shot.
Oh, my pleasure.
And I got something else for you.
(drawer opens)
(drawer closes)
Wow. Thank you, but why?
Well, I'm trying to get better at forgiving people.
Well, I'm glad to hear you say that,
'cause I'm the one who egged your store last night.
That was you?
Well, me and Meemaw.
Oh.
It's okay.
I forgive you.
Cool. Thanks again for the money.
Mm, forgiving people sucks.
Bless us, Lord, for the food we are about to receive,
and bless the hands that prepared it.
And thank you
for Georgie getting his job back. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
That was nice of Dale.
I know. He even forgave me for egging his store.
You went egging without me?
Georgie Cooper!
Dale already forgave me, and God has to.
You can't get mad.
Ha. Burn.
Oh. Hold on. Hold on.
Your chair, milady.
"Milady"?
Where did that come from?
I don't know.
My brain. (laughs)
Can I get y'all started with some drinks?
Yeah. Uh, margaritas?
Mm-hmm. Split a pitcher?
Mm, no, I think I'm okay.
More of a beer night?
No, not really.
I'm gonna take a little break.
I'll just stick with water.
Really?
Well, you know, I don't do my best thinking
after I've been drinking. (laughs)
(chuckles)
Should I not get one, then?
No, no, you go ahead.
I don't want it to get weird.
I can come back.
No, no. Hey, just bring her a margarita.
No, don't. I insist.
I don't want one.
Yeah, you do.
It's getting weird.
Maybe come back.
Missy, how would you and Sheldon like a graduation party?
Why would Missy have a graduation party?
'Cause I'm graduating elementary school.
That counts? Of course it counts.
Yes, it's a big deal. She's going to a new school.
New friends, new teachers.
Same clothes 'cause we're poor.
(phone ringing) We're not poor.
So I can get new clothes?
We're not rich, either.
Do I really got to sit through two graduations?
Yes. It is a special day for your brother and your sister.
I'm giving the valedictorian speech.
And I'm singing "This Land Is Your Land"
with a bunch of other kids.
And we are proud of you both equally.
Guess what. The local news wants
to do story on Sheldon being valedictorian.
(chuckles) Isn't that great?
What?
Cheers.
How is it?
Good. Yours?
A little watery.
I want to tell you how much I appreciate you
giving Georgie his job back.
Well, I didn't do it just for you.
It was the right thing to do.
I even forgave him for egging the store.
(gasps) He egged your store?
That rascal!
I know you did it, too.
Okay, I did.
You go to church, don't you?
Yeah, when I'm not hungover.
Well, maybe I'll go with you sometime.
Really? You?
Yeah, I was thinking a little religion might do me some good.
Well, good for you. (chuckles)
I was thinking it was a fajita night.
Your daughter runs a Bible study, doesn't she?
Uh-huh.
ADULT SHELDON: The next day, the local news showed up to interview me
and my family, which may sound impressive,
but this is the same local news that covered a potato chip
shaped like Texas.
So act natural. We're just having a chat.
I'm gonna ask y'all a few questions
about Sheldon's high school graduation.
I'm graduating, also.
Really? You're graduating from high school, too?
No, elementary school.
Oh.
My class is singing "This Land Is Your Land."
Want to hear it?
♪ This land is your land... ♪
Hey, can I ask my girlfriend to the prom on TV?
It would blow her mind.
♪ To the New York Islands, from the... ♪
We're here with the Cooper family.
Mary, George and 11-year-old Sheldon,
who's going to be Medford High School's valedictorian.
Mom and Dad, you must be so proud.
Oh, very proud.
But we're proud of all of our children.
She has to say that.
I was a little worried about missing
Professor Proton, but I'm going to tape it
and watch it at night.
Once I'm in college,
can we push my bedtime to 8:30?
Let's talk bedtime when we're not on the news, honey.
I'm sure it'll work out since I have all summer
to recalibrate my bathroom schedule.
Let's not talk about that, either.
So what's it like being the parents of such a special child?
Get it away! Get it away!
Fascinating.
(chicken clucking, Sheldon screaming)
Every day's a blessing.
Sheldon, tell us what you're gonna miss
the most about high school.
Nothing.
Really?
Not your teachers, your friends?
I only have one friend.
And I don't think he's gonna miss me because
he already found other people to have lunch with.
Oh, I'm sure he'll miss you.
And I said I'm okay with watching Professor Proton
at night, but that'll never work.
I get overtired-- everybody knows that!
Maybe we could turn the camera off.
And the other day, I couldn't find my safety goggles
and I freaked out in school, and my dad asked
is this how I plan on acting when I get to college,
and I said no, but it probably is
because even though I'm smart, I'm just a little boy!
I think we have enough. Cut.
Here you go, baby.
I don't know if I can go to college next year.
Are you kidding me?!
George.
Buddy, I know you're upset.
But are you kidding me?
Don't listen to him.
There is no pressure.
If you want to spend another year in high school,
that is your decision.
I don't know.
May I be excused?
Uh, of course.
We support you, buddy!
I get it.
What do you get?
Why you don't want to go to college.
I doubt that you do.
You're scared everything's gonna be different
and it'll be hard.
And you're gonna miss the way that it was.
How do you know that?
'Cause that's how I feel.
You're scared?
Yeah.
So what do we do?
I guess be scared and do it anyway.
Hmm.
It's comforting to know that you feel the same way that I do.
That's why I said it, dumbass.
(sighs)
Mom?
Dad?
MARY: Yeah, baby?
I'm ready to graduate.
Good night.
(door closes)
That's because I supported him.
(page turns)
(sighs)
(applause)
PETERSEN: Our next young speaker needs
no introduction, but that didn't stop him
from writing one and making me read it.
(laughter)
"Fun fact."
(audience groaning, murmuring)
I hear you.
"The word 'valedictorian' is from the Latin 'valedicere,'
"meaning 'to say farewell.'
"It is primarily used in the United States,
Canada, the Philippines and Armenia."
Maybe that fact's more fun in Armenia.
Please welcome your valedictorian, Sheldon Cooper.
Yay, Shelly!
Hello.
I'm not very comfortable speaking in front of crowds.
But there's a technique to reduce stage fright
by focusing on one person in the audience
and delivering your speech just to them.
That's what I'll be doing today.
If it weren't for this person, I wouldn't be here right now.
They've taught me a lot,
and it's by their example that I found the courage
to move forward into this new and exciting chapter of my life.
Missy...
...this is for you.
Change can be scary,
but I know we're going to be fine...
...because like you said,
"It's okay to be scared.
We just have to do it anyway."
So if any of my fellow graduates are nervous about the future,
know that you're not alone.
I suggest you all try to be as brave as my twin sister.
That's my plan.
Missy,
I wish I could give you advice about middle school,
but I was so smart, I skipped it.
If you make it to high school, we'll talk.
Thank you.
(applause)
(kids singing) ADULT SHELDON: The following day,
I attended my sister's elementary school graduation.
She didn't deliver a speech to me,
but she did make eye contact
while she sang "This Land Is Your Land."
♪ From the Redwood Forest ♪
♪ To the Gulf Stream waters ♪
♪ This land was made for you and me... ♪
ADULT SHELDON: Later that day, we had
a graduation party for me and my sister.
I don't normally care for parties,
but this one wasn't so bad.
Who's ready for cake?
Me!
Hey, should we say grace?
Heck, yeah! Let's hold hands.
Oh, cool. Let's say grace.
ADULT SHELDON: Dale invited Jesus to the party,
and while he wasn't on my guest list, it was okay
because it made my mom happy.
And bless our friends and family...
ADULT SHELDON: In fact, it was the best graduation party
I had ever been to,
until the one we had for my son, Leonard Cooper.
ALL: Amen. Cake!
ADULT SHELDON: I wanted his name to be
Leonard "Nimoy" Cooper, but Amy wouldn't let me.
AMY: Be happy I let you name him Leonard!
ADULT SHELDON: Okay, okay!
AMY: Love you. ADULT SHELDON: Love you, too. me.