2 –

Penny knew that everyone was over at 4A the next night but she really didn't feel like dealing with Leonard. She was looking at a couple of scripts her agent sent over when she heard someone banging on her door and found herself looking at a very angry Bernadette.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"Um, I had just moved here and it was the first part I was offered and…'

"Not that. You're a pretty actress. I assumed that sooner or later I'd see your tits and ass on the big screen. I just don't like seeing it on my Howie's computer screen. And that's where it's been for the last day."

"Howard is the one who first found it. I thought he'd be the best one to help me get rid of it."

"I don't want him going back to being the perv he used to be. And you're making him go to parts of the Internet that I don't want him going to."

"Fine. Tell Howard that I'll find another way to deal with it."

"Okay. I'm going back over to tell him. And I hope you can find another way to get rid of it."

"Bye, Bernadette. Um, thanks for your support."

A few minutes later Amy Farrah Fowler came to Penny's door.

"Why didn't you tell me about Serial Apist? I'm your bestie."

"I didn't really tell anyone Amy. I was hoping it would just go away. And I certainly didn't expect my boyfriend to be showing it to everyone he meets."

"Well, I for one don't understand the problem."

"Excuse me?"

"What could be wrong with Leonard showing the whole world how beautiful you are?"

"Okay Amy. We're dealing with two different issues here. One is that there's something on YouTube from a movie that I was in before I knew what I was doing and I'm very happy that the movie ended up not getting released. Unfortunately there's a clip of me from the movie on YouTube and in it I'm naked in a shower. I'm embarrassed about it and I'd prefer that nobody saw it."

"I don't really understand why. You certainly have nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Amy, you don't understand very much about show business but that kind of thing could affect the kinds of roles I could possibly get."

"But you're not getting any roles. Wouldn't being naked in a movie be better than not being in a movie at all?"

"No, Amy, it wouldn't."

"I know I'd like to see it. Everyone else has."

"I thought you might and I prefer that you don't. Can you respect that please?"

"I also don't understand why you have a problem with Leonard over this. He's proud of you and he wanted to show you off to the people on the boat."

"Amy, again, this is something you don't know very much about. I never told Leonard about the clip. I never invited him to watch it. I never said it was okay to show it to other people. It makes me seem like I'm a possession of his."

"But I'm sure that lots of people have watched it on YouTube. Why can't he?"

"Amy, I think this might be something that you just won't understand."

"But, Penny, I want to understand. Just let me have the link and I'll try to understand the problem you have with it."

"You just want to see it, don't you?"

"Well, yes."

"Well, find it yourself then. And don't ever, ever speak to me about it again. Good night."

Amy went back over to the boys' apartment. Penny slumped on her couch and started to cry. None of her friends seemed to understand why she had a problem with Leonard's actions. A little while later…

Knock. Knock. Knock. Penny.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Penny.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Penny.

"Go away, Sheldon."

"Penny, I brought you a cup of tea. I know you're upset and I'd like to try to help."

"It's open."

"Penny, I really do want to help. I think I understand what's going on."

"Well, Sheldon, you'd be the first one of my friends who does."

"You told me over the summer that you were ashamed of having done that scene in Serial Apist. And even though I revealed that we've all seen it I know I'm the only one that you've ever spoken to about it."

"That's right."

"So Leonard taking it upon himself to share it with strangers is a sort of violation of your relationship."

"Oh my God. You do understand."

"There are things that have happened to me over the years that I've never told anyone about. I'd hate it if someone were to find out about them and then tell everyone."

"Sheldon. You actually do get it. What should I do? I'm so confused."

"Well, I think you have to make Leonard understand that he violated your trust. I'm not sure that will be easy. He doesn't believe he's done anything wrong. He believes he was, in his words, 'proud of his hot girlfriend'."

"Sheldon, do you understand that makes me seem like some kind of object that he trots out to impress others."

"I do. I feel that way when Gabelhauser introduces me to possible donors."

"How do I make Leonard understand?"

"I don't know that you can. Leonard very much identifies through the people he's with, especially though those he dates. It's because of his feelings of inadequacy. His mother and I have discussed this many times."

"So you think it's hopeless."

"It may be."

"Should I break up with him?"

"Penny, you know that I've felt that this relationship has been doomed from the start. I didn't understand why the two of you got back together. And even though I asked you not to hurt him I have watched him hurt you repeatedly and treat you disrespectfully. If you were to decide to break up with Leonard over this I would support you."

"Oh thank you, sweetie. That really means a lot."

"Penny, you know that I believe in homeostasis. I'm not a fan of change. But you are my friend and you are not happy. You've been better since you rededicated yourself to your craft but Leonard has never given you his wholehearted support in that regard. Please understand that you have mine. No matter what happens I am your friend and I am here for you."

"Oh, Sheldon."

"Please don't cry, Penny. I don't know what to do when you cry."

Sheldon handed Penny a box of tissues that was on the table. Penny wiped her tears.

"Sheldon, you're a good friend. I appreciate your advice and now I have a lot to think about but I think I know what I have to do."

Penny was successful in avoiding Leonard for the next week. He kept texting her and inviting her over to 4A but luckily she had a couple of auditions to prepare for and that took up a lot of her time. She just couldn't get her mind around what Leonard had done. It was just such a…a violation. But her friend's reactions really surprised her.

Of course Leonard told everyone about the situation, assuming that they'd take his side. "After all," he said, "I didn't put the clip on the Internet. It's not my responsibility. Anybody can find it." Even though Howard had promised Bernadette that he'd stop helping Penny eliminate the clip from the Internet he sent Penny a text a couple of days later telling her he'd been reasonably successful and asked her not to say anything to Bernadette. Raj promised Penny that he'd never looked at it since Howard first found it and never would. Sheldon told Penny that Amy nagged Leonard for the link and he'd given it to her. Penny started to think a lot about her relationship with Amy and Bernadette and concluded that even though she loved them, she needed to start spending time with some other women who maybe understood her a little better and could be a little more supportive. Penny met someone in her history class named Nora and they'd hit it off. She was also an actress. And Penny really appreciated Sheldon's reaction and support.

Finally Penny was ready to speak with Leonard again.