Amy: Is it Penny? Anyhoo, Leonard will be back in a couple days and I need a welcome home gift for him. Bernadette: Oh, that happened right after you left. By the way, you have something on your shirt. Howard (crying): Can't believe we forgot to tell him. Howard: That's so great. I had to rub her ointment all over her again. I mean, that's just your solution to everything. I'm catching her in the act. Leonard: And, oh, that's me getting rescued after I fell in. Leonard: That is not fair. Penny: He's still mad at Leonard, huh? Raj: Nice. Raj: Oh. Scene: Sheldon and Amy listening at Penny's door. Scene: The apartment. Sheldon: Keep it up? Sheldon: She claimed to be alone when there was obviously someone else in her apartment. So, mmm. Why would Leonard come home early and waste his time kissing Penny when he could be hanging out with his best buddy?
Plan: A: Leonard; Q: Who surprises Penny by arriving back early? A: Sheldon; Q: Who does Leonard ask Penny to keep his return a secret from? A: the act; Q: What does Sheldon want to catch Penny in? A: Howard's help; Q: Who helps Sheldon and Leonard reconcile? A: his mother; Q: Who does Howard apply estrogen ointment to? A: gloves; Q: What did Howard not wear when applying ointment to his mother? A: Bernadette; Q: Who is shocked by Raj's comment? A: the gang; Q: Who is having dinner at Leonard's apartment? A: women; Q: Who does Raj say he can talk to without alcohol? A: alcohol; Q: What does Leonard notice Raj can do without consuming? A: North Sea; Q: Where did Raj go on his expedition? Summary: Leonard surprises Penny by arriving back early and hiding in her apartment. He asks her to keep it a secret from Sheldon, so they can spend some time alone. Sheldon suspects that Penny is cheating on Leonard when he finds clear signs that someone else is in her apartment. Bursting into Penny's place to catch her in the act, he and Amy find Leonard there. Sheldon gets mad at Leonard for not telling him he is home, and refuses to believe anything he says, though with Howard's help they eventually reconcile. Meanwhile, Howard experiences weight gain and mood swings; he had applied estrogen ointment to his mother without gloves, so absorbing it through his skin. Raj reassures him in a way that's just too intimate, shocking Bernadette. While the gang is having dinner at their apartment, Leonard notices that Raj can talk to women without consuming alcohol. They reveal that this happened after he left for the North Sea expedition.