Chandler accidentally reveals Ross's feelings for Rachel as Ross heads to China. Joey joins a fertility study and struggles with his new girlfriend.
11 Scenes292 Lines
Scene 1
Central Perk, the whole gang is there, Ross is showing pictures of his new baby boy, Ben, to the group.
25 lines
Ross
And here's little Ben nodding off...
Monica
Awww, look at Aunt Monica's little boy!
Phoebe
Oh, look, he's got Ross's haircut!
Rachel
Oh, let me see! (grabs picture) Oh, God, is he just the sweetest thing? You must just want to kiss him all over!
(Ross is practically drooling over Rachel at this point.)
Ross
(quietly) That would be nice.
(Chandler, annoyed with Ross's fawning, makes a 'pfft' noise.)
Rachel
Pardon?
Chandler
Nothing, just a little extra air in my mouth. Pffft. Pffffffft. (walks over to where Joey is seated)
(Joey is looking at his check.)
Joey
Hey, Chan, can you help me out here? I promise I'll pay you back.
Chandler
Oh, yeah, right, OK... inlcuding the waffles last week, you now owe me... 17 jillion dollars.
Joey
I will, really. I'll pay you back this time.
Chandler
(sigh)... And where's this money coming from? (gives money to Joey)
Joey
Well... I'm helping out down at the N.Y.U. Med School with some... research.
Ross
(overhearing) What kind of research?
Joey
Oh, just, y'know.... science.
Ross
Science. Yeah, I think I've heard of that. (everyone's interest is piqued, they all look over)
Joey
(sigh)... It's a fertility study.
(Rachel laughs.)
Monica
Oh, Joey, please tell me you're only donating your time.
Joey
Alright, come on you guys, it's not that big a deal. Really... I mean, I just go down there every other day and... make my contribution to the project. Hey, hey, but at the end of two weeks, I get seven hundred dollars.
Ross
Hey.
Phoebe
Wow, ooh, you're gonna be making money hand over fist!
OPENING CREDITS
Scene 2
Monica and Rachel's, Monica and Phoebe are preparing for a barbecue for Rachel's birthday.
108 lines
Monica
OK, we got the cole slaw, we got the buns...
Phoebe
We've got the ground-up flesh of formerly cute cows and turkeys, ew... (hands meat to Monica)
(Chandler and Joey enter with charcoal.)
Chandler
(in a deep voice) Men are here.
Joey
We make fire. Cook meat.
Chandler
Then put out fire by peeing, no get invited back.
Phoebe
Ewww!
Monica
Oh Joey, Melanie called, said she's gonna be late.
Joey
Oh, OK.
Phoebe
So how are things going with you two? Is she becoming your (provocatively) special someone?
Joey
I don't know, she's, uh.... she's pretty great.
Monica
Yeah? What does she think of your little science project?
Joey
What, you think I'm gonna tell a girl I like that I'm also seeing a cup?
Monica
Man's got a point.
Joey
Well, the tough thing is, she really wants to have sex with me.
Chandler
Crazy bitch.
Joey
Yeah, well, I still got a week left to go in the program, and according to the rules, if I want to get the money I'm not allowed to conduct any... ersonal experiments, if you know what I mean.
Monica
Joey... we always know what you mean.
[Time lapse. Chandler and Joey are making the fire, Monica and Phoebe are inside. Ross enters, carrying luggage.]
Phoebe
Hey.
Monica
Hey.
Ross
Hey. (Phoebe sees his bags)
Phoebe
How long did you think this barbecue was gonna last?
Ross
I'm going to China.
Phoebe
Jeez, you say one thing, and...
Monica
You're going to China?
Ross
Yeah, i-it's for the museum. Someone found a bone, we want the bone, but they don't want us to have the bone, so I'm going over there to try to persuade them to give us the bo-it's-it's a whole big bone thing. Anyway, I'm gonna be gone for like, uh... like a week, so, uh, if you wanna reach me, y-you can't. So here's my itinerary (hands a sheet of paper to Monica). Um... here's a picture of me... (hands it to Monica)
Phoebe
Oh, let me see! (takes the picture)
Ross
(to Monica): Could you take it to Carol's every now and then, and show it to Ben, just so he doesn't forget me?
Monica
Yeah.
(Phoebe puts the picture of Ross up to her face.)
Phoebe
Hi, Ben. I'm your father. I am... the head. Aaaaaahhhh.... (puts picture down, sees Ross staring at her) Alright, this barbecue is gonna be very fun.
Ross
Hey, is Rachel here? Um, I wanted to wish her a happy birthday before I left.
Monica
Oh no, she's out having drinks with Carl.
Ross
Oh. (pause) Hey, who's Carl?
Monica
You know, that guy she met at the coffeehouse.
Ross
No.
Phoebe
Oh, well, see, there's this guy she met at the...
Ross
At the coffeehouse, right.
Phoebe
So you do know who he is! (laughs, Ross stares at her) Sorry.
Ross
OK, I'm gonna go say goodbye to the guys.
Phoebe
Oh, hey, y'know what? Tell them that bone story.
(Ross goes outisde on the balcony.)
Ross
Hi.
Joey
Hey!
Chandler
Hey!
Ross
(sigh)....I have to go to China.
Joey
The country?
Ross
No no, this big pile of dishes in my mom's breakfront. Do you guys know who Carl is?
Oh no! How can she do that when she's never shown any interest in you?!?
Chandler
Forget about her.
Joey
He's right, man. Please. Move on. Go to China. Eat Chinese food.
Chandler
Course there, they just call it food.
Ross
Yeah... I guess. I don't-I don't know. Alright, just... just give her this for me, OK? (gives Chandler a gift for Rachel)
Joey
Listen, buddy, we're just looking out for you.
Ross
I know.
Joey
We want you to be happy. And I may only have a couple beers in me, but... I love you, man. (Joey gives Ross a hug)
Chandler
I'm still on my first. I just think you're nice.
[Time lapse. Melanie, Joey's girlfriend, is there with Joey, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel. Ross is gone.]
Melanie
Anyway, that's when me and my friends started this whole fruit basket business. We call ourselves 'The Three Basketeers.'
Joey
Like the three musketeers, only with fruit.
Chandler
(sarcastic) Ooooh. (looks dumbfounded at Joey's stupidity)
Monica
(gets up) OK, how does everybody like their burgers?
Rachel
Oh, no, no, no. Presents first. Food later. (walks into living room)
(Everyone follows Rachel to the living room. Monica pulls Joey aside.)
Monica
Hey, hold on there, tiger. How's it going? How you holding up?
Joey
Well, not so good. She definitely thinks tonight is the night we're gonna... complete the transaction, if you know what I...
(Monica rolls her eyes.)
Joey
Then you do. Heh, heh.
Monica
So, uh, have you ever thought about being there for her?
Joey
What do you mean?
Monica
Y'know, just be there for her.
(Long pause... Joey looks confused.)
Joey
Not following you.
Monica
Think about it.
(They both walk over to where Rachel is opening her gifts. Rachel sees her first gift is a fruit basket.)
Rachel
OK, I'm guessing this is from...
(Melanie smiles.)
Rachel
Well, thank you, Melanie.
Chandler
(pointing out a gift) OK, this one right here is from me.
Rachel
(picks it up) OK... ah, it's light... (shakes it)...it rattles... it's... (opens it) Travel Scrabble! Oooohhh, thank you! (she gives it back to him)
(Chandler looks dejected. Rachel picks up another gift.)
Rachel
This one's from Joey... feels like a book. Thinks it's a book... feels like a book. And...(opens it)...it's a book!
Phoebe
Oh, it's Dr. Seuss!
Joey
(to Rachel): That book got me through some tough times.
Melanie
There is a little child inside this man!
Chandler
Yes, the doctors say if they remove it, he'll die.
(Rachel picks up the next gift.)
Rachel
Who's this from?
Chandler
Oh, that's Ross's.
Rachel
Oh... (opens it)... (sees it is a pin) Oh my God. He remembered.
Phoebe
Remembered what?
Rachel
It was like months ago. We were walking by this antique store, and I saw this pin in the window, and I told him it was just like one my grandmother had when I was a little girl. Oh! I can't believe he remembered!
Chandler
Well, sure, but can you play it on a plane? (pats his Travel Scrabble game)
Phoebe
Oh, it's so pretty. This must have cost him a fortune.
Monica
I can't believe he did this.
Chandler
Come on, Ross? Remember back in college, when he fell in love with Carol and bought her that ridiculously expensive crystal duck?
(Everyone looks at him. He realizes he just spilled the beans about Ross's crush on Rachel. You can hear this entire classic scene by clicking here.)
Rachel
What did you just say?
Chandler
(panicked) ahem... um... Crystal duck.
Rachel
No, no, no.... the, um, the... 'love' part?
Chandler
(stuttering incoherently) F-hah.... flennin....
Rachel
Oh.... my God.
Chandler
(rubbing his temples) Oh, no-no-no-no-no....
Joey
(pats Chandler on the leg) That's good, just keep rubbing your head. That'll turn back time.
Nuh-uh. I don't think any of our lives are ever gonna be the same ever again.
Chandler
OK, is there a mute button on this woman?
Monica
I think this is so great! I mean, you and Ross! D-did you have any idea?
Rachel
No! None! I mean, my first night in the city, he mentioned something about asking me out, but nothing ever happened, so I just... (to Joey): W-well, what else did he say? I mean, does he, like, want to go out with me?
Joey
Well, given that he's desperately in love with you, he probably wouldn't mind getting a cup of coffee or something.
Rachel
Ross? All this time? Well, I've got to talk to him. (gets up to leave)
Chandler
(quickly) H-He's in China!
Joey
The country.
Monica
No, no, wait. (checks Ross's itinerary) His flight doesn't leave for another forty-five more minutes.
Chandler
What about the time difference?
Monica
From here to the airport?
Chandler
Yes! (Rachel walks towards door) You're never gonna make it!
Monica
Rachel, what're you gonna say to him?
Rachel
I-I-I don't know.
Chandler
Well then maybe you shouldn't go.
Joey
He's right, cause if you're just gonna, like, break his heart, that's the kind of thing that can wait.
Monica
Yeah, but if it's good news, you should tell him now.
Rachel
I don't know. Maybe I'll know when I see him.
Phoebe
Here, look, alright, does this help?
(Phoebe gets up, holds the picture of Ross up to her face.)
Rachel
Noooo... look, all I know is that I cannot wait a week until I see him. I mean, this is just too big. Y'know, I just, I've just gotta talk to him. I... I gotta... OK, I'll see you later. (opens door)
Chandler
Rachel, I love you! Deal with me first! (she leaves)
Scene 4
Airport, Ross has headphones on, and is listening to a 'How To Speak Chinese' tape. Occasionally, he makes an outburst in Chinese in accordance with the tape. He is getting on the jetway. The flight attendant is there.
21 lines
Ross
(something in Chinese)
Flight Attendant
Alright!
Ross
Ni-chou chi-ma! (walks onto jetway)
(Rachel runs into the airport, trying to catch Ross, moving people out of the way.)
Rachel
Ross! Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me....
(Rachel gets up to the jetway.)
Flight Attendant
Hi!
Rachel
Hi.
Flight Attendant
May I see your boarding pass?
Rachel
Oh, no, no, I don't have one. I just need to talk to my friend.
Flight Attendant
Oh, oooh. I'm sorry. You are not allowed on the jetway unless you have a boarding pass.
Rachel
No, I know, but I-he just went on. He's right there, he's got the blue jacket on, I... can I j-just...
Flight Attendant
No no no! Federal regulations!
Rachel
OK, alright, OK, um... then could you please, uh... just give him a message for me? Please? This is very important.
Flight Attendant
Alright. What's the message?
Rachel
Uh... I don't know.
[Cut to the Jetway, the flight attendant enters, walks past Ross, and approaches an older man with his wife who is also wearing a blue jacket.]
Flight Attendant
Sir? Sir? Excuse me, sir? Uh... I have a message for you.
Man
(confused) What?
Flight Attendant
It's from Rachel. She said that she loved the present, and she will see you when you get back.
Man
(to wife): Toby... Oh, for God's sake, I don't know what she's talking about! There's no Rachel! Don't give me that deep freeze.
Scene 5
Joey's Bedroom, he and Melanie are in bed together.
11 lines
Melanie
Mmmmmm... Oh, Joey, Joey, Joey... I think I blacked out there for a minute!
Joey
Heh, heh. It was nothin'.
Melanie
Well, now we've gotta find something fun for you! (she starts kissing his chest)
Joey
(panicked) Uhhh.. y'know what? Forget about me. Let's, uh... let's give you another turn.
Melanie
(surprised) M-Me again?
Joey
Sure! Why not?
Melanie
Boy, somebody's gonna get a big fruit basket tomorrow.
(Joey starts to kiss her.)
Melanie
Oooh, I gotta tell you... you are nothing like I thought you would be.
Joey
How do you mean?
Melanie
I don't know, I-I guess I just had you pegged as one of those guys who're always 'me, me, me.' But you... you're a giver. You're like the most generous man I ever met. I mean... you're practically a woman.
Scene 6
Monica and Rachel's, Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel are there. Monica is holding the wrapping paper from one of Rachel's gifts.
21 lines
Monica
Uh, so, uh, Rach, uh... do you wanna save this wrapping paper, I mean, it's only a little bit torn... so are you gonna go for it with Ross or should I just throw it out?
Rachel
I don't know. I don't know... I thought about it all the way there, and I thought about it all the way back... and, uh, oh, you guys, y'know, it's Ross. Y'know what I mean? I mean, it's Ross.
Phoebe
Sure.
Rachel
I don't know, I mean, this is just my initial gut feeling... but I'm thinking... oh, I'm thinking it'd be really great.
Monica
Oh my God, me too! Oh! Oh, we'd be like friends-in-law! Y'know what the best part is? The best part is that you already know everything about him! I mean, it's like starting on the fifteenth date!
Phoebe
Yeah, but, y'know, it's... it would be like starting on the fifteenth date.
Monica
Another good point.
Phoebe
No, I mean, I mean, when you're at the fifteenth date, y'know, you're already in a very relationshippy place. Y'know, it's... you're committed.
Rachel
(confused) Huh?
Phoebe
Well, I mean, then what happens if it doesn't work out?
Monica
Why isn't it working out?
Rachel
I don't know... sometimes it doesn't.
Monica
Is he not cute enough for you?
Rachel
No!
Monica
Does he not make enough money?
Rachel
No, I'm just....
Phoebe
Maybe there's someone else.
Rachel
Wha...
Monica
Is there? Is there someone else?
Rachel
No! There is.. there is noone else!
Monica
Then why the hell are you dumping my brother?!?
Scene 7
Chandler and Joey's, Chandler is eating breakfast, Joey quietly opens his bedroom door.
12 lines
Chandler
Hey, big...
Joey
Shhhh!
Chandler
(quietly) ...spender.
Joey
She's still asleep.
Chandler
So how'd it go?
Joey
Oh, it was amazing. You know how you always think you're great in bed?
Chandler
The fact that you'd even ask that question shows how little you know me.
Joey
Well, it's like, last night, I couldn't do the thing that usually makes me great. So I had to do all this other stuff. And the response I got... man, oh man, it was like a ticker tape parade!
Chandler
Yes, I know, as it happens my room is very very close to the parade route.
Joey
It was amazing! And not just for her... uh-uh. For me, too. It's like, all of a sudden, I'm blind. But all my other senses are heightened, y'know? It's like... I was able to appreciate it on another level.
Chandler
I didn't know you had another level.
Joey
I know! Neither did I!
Scene 8
Monica and Rachel's, one week later. Monica is seated, Rachel comes out of her bedroom.
16 lines
Monica
Hey, great skirt! Birthday present?
Rachel
Yeah.
Monica
Oh, from who?
Rachel
From you. I exchanged the blouse you got me.
Monica
Well, it's the thought. Hey, doesn't Ross's flight get in in a couple hours? At gate 27-B?
Rachel
Uh, yeah. Uh, Monica, y'know, honey, I've been thinking about it and I've decided this-this whole Ross thing, it's just not a good idea.
Monica
Oh, why?
Rachel
Because, I feel like I wouldn't just be going out with him. I would be going out with all of you. Oh, and there would just be all this pressure, and I don't wanna...
Monica
(gets up) No, no, no, no, no, no pressure, no pressure!
Rachel
Monica, nothing has even happened yet, and you're already so...
Monica
I am not 'so'! OK, I was a teensy bit weird at first, but... I'll be good. I promise.
(Door buzzer goes off. Rachel answers it.)
Rachel
Who is it?
Intercom
It's me, Carl.
Rachel
C'mon up.
Monica
Behind my brother's back? (Rachel glares at her) ... is exactly the kind of crazy thing you won't be hearing from me.
Scene 9
Chandler and Joey's, Chandler is seated, and the apartment is filled with baskets of fruit. Joey enters, check in hand.
5 lines
Joey
Seven hundred bucks!
Chandler
Alright, you did it! Do we have any fruit?
Joey
Man, hell of a two weeks, huh? Y'know what, though? I really feel like I learned something.
Chandler
Really? So, you're gonna stick with this 'it's all for her' thing?
Joey
What, are you crazy? When a blind man gets his sight back, does he walk around like this? (Joey closes his eyes and walks around with arms spread.)
Scene 10
Monica and Rachel's Balcony, Rachel is having drinks with her date, Carl.
32 lines
Carl
I'm just sayin', if I see one more picture of Ed Begley, Jr. in that stupid electric car, I'm gonna shoot myself! I mean, don't get me wrong... I'm not against environmental issues per se.... it's just that guy!
(Rachel looks bored. At this point, Ross-a figment of Rachel's imagination- shows up on the balcony and starts talking to her.)
Ross
I can't believe you'd rather go out with him than me.
Rachel
Would you excuse me, please? I'm trying to have a date here.
Ross
Fine, just stop thinking about me.
(She tries, and Ross disappears momentarily. He reappears, standing closer to her.)
Ross
Can't do it, can you?
Rachel
So I'm thinking about you. So what?
Ross
I don't get it. What do you see in this guy, anyway?
Rachel
Well... he happens to be a very nice... guy....
Carl
I mean, come on, buddy, get a real car!
Ross
Rachel, come on. Give us a chance.
Rachel
Ross, it's too hard.
Ross
No, no, no... why, because it might get weird for everyone else? Who cares about them. This is about us. Look, I-I've been in love with you since, like, the ninth grade.
Rachel
Ross, you're like my best friend.
Ross
I know.
Rachel
If we broke up, and I lost you...
Ross
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What makes you think we're gonna break up?
Rachel
Well, have you been involved with someone where you haven't broken up?
Ross
(pause) No. But... it only has to happen once. Look, you and I both know we are perfect for each other, right? I mean... so, the only question is... are you attracted to me?
Rachel
I don't know... I mean, I've never looked at you that way before.
Ross
Well, start looking.
(They kiss. Ross walks away, and then fades out.)
Rachel
Wow.
Carl
Exactly! And you just know I'm gonna be the guy caught behind this hammerhead in traffic!
Rachel
Right! You're right!
Carl
Heh... y'know?
Rachel
You know what?
Carl
What?
Rachel
I forgot... I am supposed to pick up a friend at the airport. I am so sorry! I'm so... if you want to stay, and finish your drinks, please do.... (gives him her drink) I mean-I'm sorry. I-I-I gotta go. I'm sorry.
(Rachel leaves.)
Carl
But...
Scene 11
Airport. Madonna's Take A Bow plays in the background as Rachel waits at the gate with flowers.