- Howard and Leonard become upset after they discover that Sheldon has been working with the military without telling them; Bernadette asks Raj to investigate her suspicions that Ruchi is attempting to take her job away from her.
- When Leonard and Howard find out that Sheldon worked with the military behind their backs, they are furious and ask Kripke to help them, much to Sheldon's annoyance. Meanwhile, Bernadette asks Raj to see if Ruchi is trying to steal her job.
- Sheldon lets it slip (quite easily) to Leonard that the military has rehired him to work on the guidance system as Sheldon approached them with a way to turn it into a communications system. Colonel Williams confirms that fact to Leonard and Howard. Feeling betrayed that Sheldon is benefiting from what was originally their project, Leonard and Howard, as an insult, accuse Sheldon of being a Thomas A. Edison - a scientist he considers opportunistic - as opposed to being a Nikola Tesla - a scientist he truly admires as standing by his principles. Beyond that insult, Howard, on an idea Leonard has regarding the guidance system, believes there is a better way to get back at Sheldon. However they require the help of a third party, who may have his own motives. Meanwhile, Bernadette, still bedridden, receives a social visit from Raj and Ruchi. Stemming from what most would consider a friendly comment made by Ruchi, Bernadette believes that Ruchi is out to steal her job. Incensed, Bernadette asks Raj, Ruchi's current friend with benefits, to act as her mole, placing Raj in the middle between his sex partner and his goddess idol.—Huggo
- The gang is waiting in apartment 4A for Sheldon to show up so they can watch a movie. Sheldon finally shows up after Amy finishes tying his shoe on the stairs. The movie of the night is a documentary about the rivalry between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Penny wonders if Tesla invented the electric car which causes snickering. Penny then reminds Sheldon that he went to see the movie "It" because he thought it was about I.T (Information Technology) guys. Tesla was the genius who invented the alternating current system that all our current electrical distribution is based on. They felt that Edison was too self-promoting. He also electrocuted an elephant named Topsy and was the first pornographer, according to Sheldon, because he filmed the first kiss.
The next day Penny admits that that documentary wasn't too bad. Sheldon shows up and asks for a ride to work. Leonard asks Sheldon if they want to go out to see the Tesla coil at the observatory, but Sheldon is busy. He can't tell Leonard because it's classified, but Leonard figures out that it's for the military. Leonard also warns him that he better not be working on their gyroscope project that the Air Force took from them last year.
While Bernadette is resting in bed, Raj and Ruchi show up to visit and bring a plant from work. Bernie says none of the girls like her enough to send her a gift. Ruchi tells her to not worry and she doesn't have to return soon. Bernie gets peeved and is certain that Ruchi is after her job while she is stuck at home taking care of her useless plant and her dumb family.
Howard is concerned about Sheldon working with the military so they call Colonel Williams (Dean Norris). The Colonel tells them that Sheldon had contacted him that using their guidance system, he could develop a new type of communications system. Sheldon also told the Colonel that he was the leader of the team. As Howard and Leonard start to object, he cuts off their call.
Bernie asks Raj to come and see her. She needs to know if Ruchi is trying to steal her projects while she is at home on bed rest. Raj says that she isn't like that, but that she is also sleeping with him. If she is, then she needs to explain to her that boundaries need to be respected and that it is really the best thing for the company.
At Sheldon and Amy's they are deciding what to watch, Sheldon doesn't want to see any comedy or drama because he already saw Amy stub her toe and he found it funny. Leonard and Howard come in and complain to Sheldon that he went behind their backs. He had an idea about a neutrino based communications system based on their earlier work. Leonard refutes Sheldon's idea that he is not a rebel like Tesla, and that he is like Edison taking credit for their work. Howard and Leonard claim to be the Teslas of the group and they leave.
Later, Sheldon is blaming the problem on his mother who insisted that he go make friends. Amy indicates that Sheldon does not understand the problem. Amy thinks that Sheldon is upset that his friends' feelings are hurt.
Raj and Ruchi are in bed together. Raj wants to bump fists with her because the sex was good and she wants to just be friends. Ruchi doesn't want to get weird. At work, Ruchi is glad to handle all of Bernadette's projects and hopes that she is not coming back too soon. Talking to Penny, Raj feels that Ruchi is trying to take over Bernadette's projects. Penny insists that he should tell Bernadette; however, Raj is worried about Ruchi ending their causal relationship.
Howard is now complaining to Leonard about Sheldon and claiming that they didn't even need him. He did admit that it was a great idea to use their quantum technology for a new communications system. Leonard then gets the idea to swap out the helium gas with xenon to improve it more. Leonard wants to tell Sheldon, but he doesn't deserve it though they still need someone to help them with the math.
Bringing Bernie a food tray, Raj explains that it sounds like Ruchi is already trying to take over Bernadette's work. Also she is parking in Bernie's place and calling her "Pregnadette" at work. Bernie wants to kill Ruchi, but Raj tells her that she would have done the same thing. Bernadette claims that the cat incident was a harmless prank that got her a corner office. Raj tells her to look in the mirror at her hypocrisy as he storms out.
Howard and Leonard are working with Kripke (John Ross Bowie) on the math portion of their new idea. Sheldon comes in and finds them working with his rival. They tell him that they are improving on his idea, which thrills Kripke. In response, Sheldon says that there is a big gap in their system, then he childishly wipes away some of their calculations and runs out.
While Raj is in bed with Ruchi again, she mentions that Bernadette isn't returning any of her texts. Raj suggests that she is jealous of her and is also hormonal. Did Raj say something to her? Raj claims to have defended her. Ruchi gets mad that she doesn't need defending and that Raj isn't her boyfriend. Raj says that they can deal with it. Ruchi then dumps him.
Looking over their project, Leonard and Howard really feel that it will work. Sheldon comes in and congratulates them that the Air Force has dropped his project in favor of theirs. The guys are perplexed since they haven't yet talked to Colonel Williams. Going to see Kripke, they ask him if he had screwed them over. Kripke can't say anything because it's classified.
In 4A, they are all complaining, especially about Sheldon who should have come to Howard and Leonard first. Amy thinks that they all behaved badly. Sheldon objects that Amy's social skills are very poor. Penny tells them that maybe they are more like the guy that didn't invent the electric car and less like the guy that didn't invent the light bulb. Maybe they're all Teslas! Amy adds that he died broke and insane. Howard agrees with Sheldon about Amy's social skills.
Title reference: The men's discussion of Tesla and Edison.
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