That night, Mimi joined Sheldon for dinner, and it was then that Mimi broke her big news.
"Guess what, Sheldon!" She said, excitedly. "The producer of the Phantom lives in our apartment, and today, he casted me to play the part of Meg in his performance next week!"
"That sounds nice." Sheldon said. "You love that musical."
"I asked the producer if I could invite you all to see it," Mimi said, "and he said yes! You'll be there too, right?"
"I guess." Sheldon said. "Since you're onstage." Sheldon smiled at her.
Just then, Leonard and Penny came into the apartment.
"Hear this, Leonard!" Sheldon said. "Mimi is playing Meg on the Phantom next week and we're all invited!"
Penny's jaw dropped open. "She is what?"
"Playing Meg at the Pasadena Playhouse next week." Sheldon said. "Really, which part didn't you get?"
"So that was what that was about at the Cheesecake Factory this morning?" Penny asked, mind-blown.
"Yes?" Mimi said carefully.
"I don't believe it!" Penny cried, and stormed out of the apartment.
"Penny, wait!" Leonard called after her.
"I don't understand." Sheldon said.
"She's not happy, isn't she." Mimi said to Leonard. Leonard nodded.
"Why wouldn't she be happy?" Sheldon said. "It's great – and besides, it's laundry night! Oh, excuse me Mimi, I should be on my way."
"Ok, I'll be at my place if you need me again." Mimi said.
Sheldon took his laundry basket and went to the basement, where Penny was already getting her clothes washed. She was muttering, "I can't believe she got it, this is a disaster!"
Sheldon tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me."
Penny jumped.
"It's laundry night. Please get away from the washing machine so that I can get mine done." He said.
Putting his clothes in the washer, Sheldon asked, "By the way, what did you mean when you were talking to yourself right now? Are you going insane, talking to oneself is a common sign of early stages of insanity."
Penny sighed. "No. I just can't believe Mimi got the part. This can't be happening!"
Sheldon looked at her, puzzled, and asked, "Why is that a bad thing?"
"Uh…" Penny said. "Oh, if because Mimi sings in front of all those musical people, she'll get invited to sing in more shows! Then she'll get famous and have to travel around the world to sing, and you'll be left behind!"
Penny sighed. Whew, that was one hell of an excuse.
"NO!" Sheldon shouted.
"It's true." Penny shrugged. "That's why so many artists break up." Penny wasn't sure if that was true, but it didn't matter.