The Big Bang Theory (TV Series)

The Tam Turbulence (2018)

Jim Parsons: Sheldon Cooper

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sheldon Cooper : Did she let you play with her train set?

  Tam Nguyen : In a manner of speaking.

• Sheldon Cooper : When I got accepted to grad school at CalTech, I was afraid to move so far away from home. So Tam said he'd move out here with me and be my roommate. Then, over the summer, he got a girlfriend, even after reading all the pamphlets I gave him about social diseases.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : Aw, I remember when you gave me those pamphlets.

  Sheldon Cooper : Anyway, Tam stayed with her in Texas, and I had to move out here all by myself.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : That must've been scary.

  Sheldon Cooper : It was. I was lonely, and I thought I'd never make a friend again. And for a long time, I didn't.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : But then you did. And great friends. If you think about it, if Tam had moved out here with you, who knows what your life would've been like.

  [flashbacks to various episodes, with Tam in place of Leonard] 

  Sheldon Cooper : No, my life would've still been great.

• Leonard Hofstadter : I'm glad you guys made up.

  Sheldon Cooper : Well, I realized my life turned out great, and it's silly to hold a grudge.

  Tam Nguyen : And I had no idea we were fighting, so it was easy.

• [first lines] 

  Amy Farrah Fowler : Hey, watcha doing?

  Sheldon Cooper : [on his laptop]  Improving our wedding photos.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : Oh, that's nice. Wait, I'm still in them, right?

  Sheldon Cooper : Of course. And not only you. I've added some guests who couldn't be there.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : [sitting down and looking at the screen]  Who's that next to my father?

  Sheldon Cooper : The Wright brothers.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : And why are they at our wedding?

  Sheldon Cooper : Orville, because I admire him; Wilbur, because he was Orville's plus-one.

• Amy Farrah Fowler : You've got an e-mail from someone named Tam.

  Sheldon Cooper : Tam? What does he want?

  Amy Farrah Fowler : Uh... looks like he's coming to give his son a tour of CalTech. He's hoping you guys can meet up.

  Sheldon Cooper : [scoffs]  He would like that, wouldn't he?

  Amy Farrah Fowler : Well, that's the gist of the e-mail.

• Amy Farrah Fowler : Who's Tam?

  Sheldon Cooper : He was my best friend in the whole world growing up.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : Really? Why have I never heard you mention him before?

  Sheldon Cooper : Oh, of course I have. I'm sure I've mentioned him, like, five times this week.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : I don't think you have.

  Sheldon Cooper : [irritably, counting on his fingers]  Tam! Tam! Tam! Tam Tam! There. It's only Thursday.

• Tam Nguyen : Sheldon, so good to see you.

  Sheldon Cooper : [impersonally]  Tam.

  Tam Nguyen : It's been a long time.

  Sheldon Cooper : Hm, not long enough to erase the sting of betrayal.

  Tam Nguyen : How did I betray you?

  Sheldon Cooper : You know what you did.

  Raj Koothrappali : Uh, let me catch you up. He does not.

• Sheldon Cooper : When I moved to California, what did you do?

  Tam Nguyen : I stayed in Texas.

  Sheldon Cooper : [to the others]  Do you believe this guy?

  Howard Wolowitz : [Sheldon storms off]  So, he was your best friend growing up?

  Tam Nguyen : Yes.

  Howard Wolowitz : Were there no other kids in Texas?

• Leonard Hofstadter : You know, I was curious to find out what Tam had done wrong. Why am I not surprised the answer is nothing?

  Sheldon Cooper : So you're taking his side. You scurvy dog. You watch yourself; there is room on my enemies list now that the cafeteria ladies finally told me what's in the chili. By the way, don't eat the chili. Wait, wait, wait. You know what? Do.

  Leonard Hofstadter : [turning to leave]  Be careful, Sheldon. I don't think you can afford to lose a second best friend. I don't see anyone lining up to be your third.

  Sheldon Cooper : D... wait.

  [typing on his laptop] 

  Sheldon Cooper : "Snarky comebacks..." Oh, here we go. "You have your entire life to be a jerk. Why not take today off?"

  [rolling his eyes, Leonard leaves] 

  Sheldon Cooper : That was harsh, but he was asking for it.

• Sheldon Cooper : Howard, today is your lucky day. Leonard's out, you're my new best friend. Well, I'm not thrilled about it, either, but here we are. Okay, fine. Is Bernadette there? Sh... no. Just Stuart? Let me call you back.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : [he hangs up]  Let me guess. This thing with Tam escalated, and now you're mad at Leonard and looking for a new best friend?

  Sheldon Cooper : You know me so well. It's too bad you can't be my best friend.

  Amy Farrah Fowler : I can be.

  Sheldon Cooper : Oh, you can't be my wife and my best friend. Who would I complain about you to?

• Tam Nguyen : Sheldon, I needed to stay in Texas. And you needed to come here. I knew you were gonna do amazing things and meet amazing people who were gonna respect you, because you're brilliant. And because they never had to fish you out of a dumpster.

  Sheldon Cooper : Well, they have, but it was during my short-lived parkour phase.

• Leonard Hofstadter : What is going on with you?

  Sheldon Cooper : I don't want to talk about it.

  Leonard Hofstadter : Well, I'm sure you have a perfectly stupid reason.

  Sheldon Cooper : I don't do anything for a stupid reason. Except perhaps Talk Like a Pirate Day, and I'd argue that's more whimsical than stupid.

• Sheldon Cooper : Leonard talked to Tam behind my back and took his side. And after what he did to me. Can you believe it?

  Amy Farrah Fowler : No. I'm-I'm shocked and outraged. Now, tell me why I'm shocked and outraged.

• Sheldon Cooper : Hello Tam. Thank you for coming. I just want you to know that, um... I forgive you.

  Tam Nguyen : I didn't do anything.

  Sheldon Cooper : And yet, here I am, still being the bigger man.