"A Stolen Truck and Going on the Lam" is an episode of Young Sheldon that first aired March 30, 2023.
Missy runs away again, only this time she's stolen George's truck. Along with Paige (Mckenna Grace), they head out on the road; while back at home, the Coopers and the Sparks deal with the fallout of George's perceived infidelity.
Tropes:
- Cannot Tell a Lie: Paige tells Missy to lie to the police officer who pulls them over, but Missy panics and tells the truth.
- Know-Nothing Know-It-All: Downplayed. Sheldon is convinced that he can deduce what Missy's thought pattern was and consequently where to find her, but he is far off. However, he was able to make some correct conclusions, like that Missy would likely contact Paige.
- Parental Neglect: Mary and George don't notice Missy having run from home. They notice George's truck missing, and report it to the police. It takes the cop insisting on asking their daughter if she'd heard anything during the thievery for them to go call Missy and realize she's gone.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Missy's erratic driving style easily tips off a cop that there's something suspicious going with this vehicle.
- Tourist Bump: Discussed In-Universe. Sheldon deduces that Missy is going to Los Angeles, as she is a big fan of Beverly Hills, 90210. To be fair, Missy and Paige considered going there, but since they had already driven five hours east, they kept going that way.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Paige is treated as such, being a veteran runaway, but the parents agree that this time it was on Missy.
- Unwanted Assistance: Some of Sheldon's and Georgie's inputs about the situation are not appreciated by their parents. When Georgie "consoles" them by saying that being ignored by them isn't so bad, as he enjoyed getting away with most things, George angrily exclaims: "Stop helping!".
- Wham Line: After Missy and Paige are pulled over, it looks like this episode is just going to press the Reset Button from the previous episode. But then, while Mary and George are driving home with Missy, Adult Sheldon says that this was the beginning of Missy's "difficult period".
