- Leonard is disappointed when Penny develops an interest in an attractive physicist at the university. Meanwhile, Sheldon struggles to find an appropriate Christmas gift for Penny.
- Sheldon is angry at Penny because she bought him a Christmas gift. Sheldon now feels he has to reciprocate and go through the trouble of buying something for someone he doesn't really understand, all at the same price of the gift he is about to receive. Meanwhile, David Underhill, last year's MacArthur grant award winner based on his work which has basically rendered Leonard's recent work meaningless, is a new addition to the Physics department at Cal Tech. Regardless, Leonard is enthralled to be working with Dave, who is not only good looking, but Leonard learns is a Renaissance man. Upon their meeting, Dave is attracted to Penny, and vice versa, and they decide to date. Penny even pretends to be a science geek to impress him. Leonard is angry at Penny's hypocrisy, since she was scared that Leonard was too smart for her to date. Penny, however, has some more important news about her relationship with Dave.—Huggo
- Leonard begins hanging out with David a fellow scientist, a hunky guy who recently won the MacArthur Genius Grant. When David meets Penny, she is immediately attracted to him, leaving Leonard out in the cold. When Leonard confronts her, he finds out the uncomfortable truth about David and the two friends make up.—Jerry Roberts
- Leonard meets visiting researcher and fellow experimental physicist Dr. David Underhill (Michael Trucco) (who won the MacArthur Genius grant last yr). Though Leonard envies David for being handsome (collects vintage motorcycles, plays in a rock band and other cool stuff) and a more successful physicist than himself, he jumps at David's offer to help him in his research. Leonard attempts to go bike riding with David, but ends up hurting his leg when the bike falls on him when he was taking it off its stand.
Things come to a halt when David meets Penny and the two start dating (she goes on motorbike rides with him and tours the university and suddenly has an interest in science) - though they quickly break up when Penny discovers nude photos of his wife on his phone. Leonard only learns this when he comes to Penny's apartment to yell at her about their own on-off relationship. When he realizes his mistake, he and Penny cuddle each other to comfort each other.
Meanwhile, Sheldon worries about the approaching Christmas holidays (Penny learns that Sheldon doesn't celebrate Saturnalia, but is determined to bring him gifts) and his indecision about what to buy for Penny, as he needs it to match the value of her gift (as well as the same perceived level of friendship) to him. Sheldon believes that Christmas is a pagan holiday which was appropriated by Christians to bring their new religion into the mainstream. He explains that pagans used to bring green crops into their home during Saturnalia to represent the continuity of life over the winter death of trees and crops. This tradition was later adopted by the Europeans in the form of a Christmas tree.
After deciding on a basket of bath items he discovers a large selection, so not knowing what Penny will get him (he tries to simulate gifting a basket to a sales girl and asks her about her feelings towards him: friend, lover, colleague, grandmother.. which makes the sales girl uncomfortable.. to this Howard exclaims that it is exactly like the relationship between Sheldon and Penny), he buys the entire range to cover all contingencies.
Penny's gift to Sheldon is a napkin both autographed and used by Leonard Nimoy to wipe his mouth. Sheldon, overwhelmed since he now possesses Nimoy's DNA and can grow his own Leonard Nimoy (all he needs is a healthy ovum), gives Penny all the gift baskets and also a rare "Sheldon" hug since he finds the baskets inadequate in comparison to the perceived value of the gift that Penny brought him (Leonard calls it a Saturnalia Miracle). Leonard gets a gift certificate for motorcycle lessons (as David's bike fell on his when he tried to start it.. taking the bike off the stand without it falling on you was lesson # 1). Leonard gifts her 101 science experiments for Kids (as she claimed to David that she is into science)
Title reference: The gift that Sheldon gives to Penny and part of a line from the episode.
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