Plot

The guys befriend one of Penny's clients when he shows up at her apartment. Meanwhile, Bernadette gets upset when Amy torpedoes an article about her for a local magazine.

Bernadette is excited to be asked to be included in a magazine photo shoot featuring the fifty sexiest female scientists. The topic places a wedge between her and Amy, who doesn't believe that strutting one's sex appeal advances the scientific profession... or does Amy have ulterior motives in her stance? Meanwhile, Dr. Lorvis, one of Penny's clients who has done an Internet search looking for her, stops by her apartment unannounced with flowers hoping to initiate a romantic relationship with her, because she seemed single (i.e. she was not wearing her engagement ring, at least not on her left ring finger), she touched his arm for "two Mississippis", and she winked at him. Leonard is able to intercept him before he gets to Penny, who ultimately does admit she flirts to make sales. But Dr. Lorvis ends up making a bigger impression on the entire gang than he did on Penny.—Huggo

The girls are having tea and Bernadette tells them that she has been picked as one of the fifty sexiest scientists in California for a magazine article. Amy thinks the news is awful because Bernadette is a successful microbiologist and should be celebrated for her achievements and not her looks. Penny disagrees since she does flirt with her clients to sell the product.

On the stairwell, Sheldon runs into a middle-aged man carrying roses, Dr. Oliver Lorvis (Billy Bob Thornton), whom Sheldon mistakes as a deliveryman. He is actually a doctor who is delivering the flowers to a female pharmaceutical sales rep who was very flirty with him. He thinks he can impress her since he tracked her down on the Internet and shows up to her door with flowers. He walks up to Penny's door.

In 4A, Sheldon mentions the guy with flowers calling on Penny. Leonard approaches the doctor and Lorvis explains They met in his office on a sales call and he was hoping to initiate a romantic relationship. She winked at him seductively and touched his arm for two Mississippi's. Leonard explains that he must be mistaken since Leonard is engaged to Penny. The doctor didn't see her wearing an engagement ring. The other guys exclaim "Really," as they are eating their dinner and watching Leonard's predicament. The doctor concludes that she was just trying to make a sale. The same thing happened to him with a cute girl at a pet store when he bought a $2000 iguana habitat. She touched his arm for five Mississippi's. He gives the flowers to Leonard to give to Penny and calls Leonard a lucky man. He walks away looking sad so Sheldon invites him in for a hot beverage. Leonard says that he tried to score with Penny. Sheldon snaps back that so have Howard and Raj and they are still having dinner with them.

Amy and Bernadette are at a bar having wine discussing the day's events. Bernadette says that the magazine canceled the article she was to be in which should make Amy happy. Amy then admits that she wrote an email complaining about the article since they would not have written about male scientists exploiting their sexuality. Bernadette is angry that Amy got jealous and took away her chance to get some publicity. Also she thinks that Amy doesn't want her to express her sexuality since no one would ask Amy to do it. Amy gets insulted and leaves.

Sheldon gives the doctor his tea, who is impressed by the Star Trek mug. He mentions that he has one of the original series phasers because Gene Roddenberry needed a vasectomy. The doctor turns out to be a celebrity urinary specialist. He carries around James Cameron's kidney stones. James Cameron was so happy to get those out that he gave him a terminator. The doctor offers to show them his collection. Originally Dr. Lorvis thought it would be a good way to meet women, but that didn't work out. Then he wants to know how Leonard got a girl like Penny. Penny shows up and is surprised to see the doctor. Leonard describes her flirting without her engagement ring on. Penny is embarrassed and upset since she is not supposed to see her clients after hours though the doctor is her biggest client. Leonard confronts Penny in the hallway who says that she does flirt to make sales. She also lets them think that she is a single person by not showing off her engagement ring. Leonard feels that Lorvis is harmless and a nice guy, but Penny still wants him to get rid of him since she can't fraternize with clients. The other guys are off to see this great movie prop collection and Leonard joins them.

The guys enter a room full of like-size movie mannequins, vintage quarter video games, posters and other assorted moving props including a large iguana habitat. The doctor welcomes them to his fortress of solitude. Leonard finds his favorite video game, Donkey Kong. Sheldon thinks it interesting that the game is about an oddly shaped man pursuing a blonde woman, but don't fret Leonard you got the girl. The doc excuses himself

Amy is entering the apartment building as the doctor grabs the closing door behind her. She admires the flowers which he says are for a girl who is sending him mixed signals. Amy tells him that she hopes he gets it as she puts her hand on his back. He starts counting: One Mississippi, two...

The guys are still in the doctor's den playing a table game while wearing movie prop helmets.

The doctor and Amy reach the fourth floor with Amy now holding the flowers. She says that she can't take the flowers. He says that they both want the same thing and that they had two wonderful Mississippi's. Amy wonders about the other girl. He goes over to Penny's apartment to tell her that they'll just be friends. Penny realizes what is going on with Amy.

Back in the doctor's basement, Leonard wonders where the doctor went and then finds out that the door is locked. Sheldon thinks that the day keeps getting better.

Penny, Amy and the doctor are having tea. He explains that he left the guys so he and Penny could get to know each other better, but then he met Amy. Penny replies that what he is doing is a bit creepy. Penny tells him that he just can't chase after every girl that is nice to him. Dr. Lovis replies that that is not what Sheldon says and he knows his way around the ladies. Leonard calls Penny saying that they are locked in and Penny demands that they go over right now and let them out. As Penny pushes him out the door he starts counting the Mississippi's since she has touched him. They meet Bernadette who came over to apologize to Amy. Amy tells her where they are going, while Dr. Lorvis tells Penny that she seems nice. Penny again pushes him out the door.

All the guys are excitedly watching Leonard going for his personal best in Donkey Kong. After they open the door, Penny asks if Leonard is okay. He is having the game of his life. The doctor apologizes for locking them in. Howard says that that was uncool, but never takes his eyes off the game. Then the guys cheer again. Penny wants to leave; however, Leonard doesn't want to stop playing his game. Then the doctor offers to show them Toby Maguire's prostate sonogram and they go with him.

Title reference: Penny's flirting causing Dr. Lorvis to misinterpret Penny's interest in him and then irritate the women.