Big Bang Theory by Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady (outline)

Lorre really doesn't get enough love. We love him though. These pilots are so clean. Outline on next page. 

 COLD OPEN
 
SCENE 1:
Sheldon has a crisis of conscience. Makes them leave the sperm bank.
 
Note: Great way to differentiate two similar sounding characters. ACTION.
 
SCENE 2:
They climb the steps. Sheldon is still annoying Leonard. They meet Penny as she burns a picture of her ex.
 
They keep hitting the idea that they don’t quite connect with people well.
 
SCENE 3:
Leanard convinces Sheldon to invte her in for lunch.
 
SCENE 4:
Back at Penny’s doorway… They succeed in inviting her over. But not in making appropriate social conversation.
 
ACT ONE
 
SCENE 1: Dinner with Penny. Getting to know you stuff. Competing to impress her. We learn her exposition and some of theirs. Then she asks to use their shower.
 
SCENE 1 PART B:
The two friends come over, ready to nerd out over a Hawking DVD. But Penny comes out asking for help and one of them tries to charm her. Act out on Sheldon taunting Leanard - - “Oh, he’s good.”
 
Note: This scene is 13 pages in the script. The cold open is like 12.
 
ACT TWO

​SCENE 1:
Picks up where the previous scene left off. The nerds talk as Leonard leads Penny to the bathroom to ix the shower. Then he comes out and tells Sheldon that they have to go run an errand for her. There’s some discussion, but finally he agrees.
 
SCENE 2:
We learn that they’re going to retrieve her clothes from her ex bf and wanted to “avoid a scene.”
 
Note: Sheldon is the sarcastic one. Leonard doesn’t understand sarcasm.
 
SCENE 3:
The friends are being weird to Penny back at the apartment. Wolowitz is trying to seduce her with string cheese fondue.
 
SCENE 4:
They struggle to get inside. Then a retarded menu delivery guy cracks the code by buzzing every buzzer and they follow him in.
 
SCENE 5:
They flub the interaction with the ex as they bicker about who wants to fornicate with Penny in front of him.
 
FLIP TO: (this is a cool way to cut between scenes)
 
SCENE 6:
They exit the building without their pants.
 
SCENE 7:
Leonard apologizes for dragging Sheldon. Sheldon forgives him. These two have each other’s backs. Decide they can meet women next week at the sci-fi convention in San Diego.
 
SCENE 8:
Penny sees what happens and hugs them. Then she exits to get her purse so she can buy them dinner. In her absence, Leonard vows that he’s going to keep trying to win her heart.
 
TAG
 
The guys are super weird as they try to figure out where to go for dinner, consulting Penny on her opinion.
 
Once again, we hit the idea that Leonard really likes this girl.
 
Note: I love the element of the guy really liking her, and that being part of the thrust of the show. I’d really like to do something with a very similar romantic story in our show. There just needs to be an obstacle as to why they don’t get together right away (in this show, it’s his total weirdness, but it could also be another man etc. etc.) 
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