Friends

[Scene: Chandler and Monica’s, Chandler is sitting at the kitchen table
eating cheesecake. The box it came in is also on the table.]

Chandler: Ohh. Mmm.

Rachel: (Comes in the front door and walks towards the kitchen.) Hi.

Chandler: Hey, you have got to try this cheesecake.

Rachel: Oh, y’know I'm not that much of a sweet tooth. I...(Chandler puts
a forkful of the cheesecake in her mouth.)...Wow. My God, so
creamy. Oh my God, this is the best cheesecake I have ever had.
Where did you get this? (She reaches over to look at the label
on the box.)

Chandler: (nervously) It was at the front door. When I got home. Somebody
sent it to us.

Rachel: Chandler, this is not addressed to you. This is addressed to Mrs.
Braverman downstairs. (Gasping) Thief.

Chandler: I...no! I didn't read the box before I opened it. And you can't
return a box after you've opened the box.

Rachel: Why, why not?

Chandler: Because it's too delicious.

Rachel: Chandler, you stole this cheesecake. That is wrong.

Chandler: No-no-no! It is going to be okay, because Mrs. Braverman is
gonna send away for a free one and that way we all win! The
only losers are the big cheesecake conglomerate, (Reading the
label) Momma’s Little Bakery. (Pause) I feel terrible, I’m a
horrible, horrible, horrible person.

Rachel: (taking a bite) Oh, I’m sorry what?

Opening Credits

[Scene: Central Perk, everyone except Rachel is there as Joey gets up and
starts putting on his coat.]

Joey: All right, I should get going, big day at work. Y’know I’m in a
coma? Today, they do this test on me and it turns out I’m not
brain dead.

Chandler: So...

Joey: Ah-ah-ah Mr. Smartie Pants, it’s just not my character that’s not
brain dead. Hey, so Pheebs, we still on for tonight?

Phoebe: Absolutely!

Joey: I’ll see you at 8:00.

Phoebe: Okay. (Joey exits.)

Chandler: Oh, what’s at 8:00?

Phoebe: Oh, I have dinner plans with Joey. We get together about once a
month to discuss the rest of you guys.

Ross: Wow, did not know that! May I say how lovely you look today?

Phoebe: Duly noted.

Ross: Thanks. (Phoebe gets up to get a refill.) (To Monica) Oh! So for
tomorrow, do you want to rent a car and drive down together or what?

Monica: What are you talking about?

Ross: Cousin Frannie’s wedding, its tomorrow night.

Monica: You were invited?!

Ross: No.

Monica: My God, I can’t believe this! I mean I knew that mom and dad were
invited, but I thought that was it! I mean from the ages 7 to 9
Frannie and I were inseparable!

Chandler: Well, maybe since the age of 9, Frannie’s made some new friends.

Ross: Well l-look okay, it’s probably just a mistake. Let me call Aunt
Sheryl okay? Maybe you are invited and the invitation just got lost
in the mail.

Monica: Yeah, well you call her and tell her that y’know when we were
kids her precious little Frannie tried to undress me several
times, okay? And if I hadn’t have stopped her, there probably
wouldn’t even be a wedding to go too.

Ross: Y’know, she tried to undress me too.

Chandler: I used to undress my cousin Glenn. (Monica looks at him then
sushes him.)

[Scene: Joey and Rachel's, Monica, Chandler, Rachel, and Ross are playing
Monopoly as Phoebe enters angrily.]

Phoebe: Joseph Francis Tribbiani are you home yet?!!

Rachel: Umm, I think he’s still out. What’s wrong?

Phoebe: Well, I’ll tell you Rachel Karen Green, I had plans with Joey
tonight and he left me this note. (Hands it to Rachel.)

Rachel: (reading the note) "Pheebs, can’t make it, got a date. Talk to
you later. Big Daddy." (Laughs) Big Daddy?

Phoebe: Oh that’s a nickname we were trying out.

Ross: Hey, y’know what nickname never caught on? The Ross-A-Tron! (Monica
shakes her head in disgust.)

Joey: (entering) Hey!

Phoebe: Oh! Here’s Joseph Francis!

Joey: Oh-Wha-Ho! What are you middle naming me for?! I left you a note!

Phoebe: So what?! That doesn’t give you the right to ditch me!

Joey: Hey, you can cancel plans with friends if there is the possibility
for sex!

Ross: Phoebe he’s right, that is the rule.

Phoebe: I don’t accept this rule. When me make plans, I expect you to
show up. Okay, I can’t just be a way to kill time ‘til you meet
someone better! Y’know boyfriends and girlfriends come and go,
but this (Motions that their friendship) is for life!

Joey: Wow! I’m so sorry; I had no idea it would bother you this much.

Phoebe: Well, it does.

Joey: Okay, can I-can I make it up to you? Huh? I’m sorry. (They hug.)
How about uh, dinner tomorrow night?! I’ll pay for myself!

Phoebe: Okay, you wore me down.

Ross: Hey Joe, while you’re over there how about another beer for the
Ross-A-Tron?

Joey: The Ross...Is that back?!! (Chandler motions no.)

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's, Rachel enters to find Chandler staring at
another cheesecake box.]

Rachel: Hi!

Chandler: Another cheesecake came! They delivered it to the wrong address
again!

Rachel: So just bring it back downstairs, what’s the problem?

Chandler: I can’t seem to say goodbye.

Rachel: Are you serious?! Chandler, we ate an entire cheesecake two days
ago and you want more?

Chandler: Well I’ve forgotten what it tastes like okay?!

Rachel: It was cheesecake. It was fine. It had a buttery, crumbly, graham
cracker crust, with a very rich yet light, cream cheese filling...
(Pause) Wow! My whole mouth just filled with saliva!

Chandler: (closing the box) Y’know what? Forget it! We are just hungry!
We have not had lunch! We are just light-headed! So let us go
out and have lunch and forget about the cheesecake.

Rachel: Yeah and we’ll drop it off downstairs so that we’re not tempted.

Chandler: Good idea. Where do you want to go to lunch?

Rachel: Momma’s Little Bakery, Chicago, Illinois. (They exit with the
cheesecake.)

[Scene: Central Perk, Monica and Joey are there. Joey is reading a
newspaper.]

Joey: Awww! Mel Torme died.

Monica: Joey, that paper’s like a year old!

Joey: Aw! Does that mean the Sam Goody’s sale is over?!

Ross: (entering) Hey.

Joey: Hey.

Monica: Hey.

Ross: So I finally heard back from Aunt Sheryl and apparently it wasn’t
a mistake. Ahh, there’s-there’s limited seating in the hall.

Monica: Limited seating?! (Screechingly) I am just one tiny person!

Ross: Well yeah, but she doesn’t know that. I mean, the last time she
saw you-you would’ve turned one of those little wedding chairs
into kindling.

Monica: (disgusted) Limited seating! Oh, that is such a lame excuse!
That’s not the reason she’s not inviting me!

Ross: Oh what’s the big deal?! I wasn’t even invited to the ceremony,
just the reception. And-and y’know what? If it makes you feel any
better, Joan and I will just make an appearance and then, and then
we’ll-we’ll leave early as a sign of protest.

Monica: Joan?

Ross: Yeah, Joan Tedeski my date. She’s an assistant professor in the
Linguistics department. Tall, very beautiful, and despite what
some people say, not broad backed!

Monica: Wait a minute, you got Ross Gellar and guest?! I wasn’t invited
and you got "and guest?!"

Joey: Uh-uh, excuse me, I do have to interrupt on Ross’s behalf. I-I
think the rule applies here y’know, since she has a chance to get
on broad back...

Ross: (interrupting) Not broad backed!

Monica: Wait a minute, y’know, you’re bringing me!

Ross: What? I can’t cancel on Joan!

Monica: Why not?!

Ross: Bec...Did you not hear me?! She’s an assistant professor in the
Linguistics department, okay? They’re wild! Why do you want to
come anyway?

Monica: Because! She’s my cousin. I mean, we grew up together! We’re
family y’know? Well that’s important to me.

Ross: Okay, all right, I’ll take you. I’ll go call Joan. (Does so.)

Joey: Aww that’s nice. Family should be there, huh? This is her wedding,
happiest day of her life.

Monica: (laughs) We’ll see.

[Scene: The Lobby of Chandler and Rachel’s building, Chandler and Rachel
are returning from lunch.]

Chandler: Well, thank you for lunch.

Rachel: What? Wait a minute, I didn’t pay, I thought you paid!

Chandler: So apparently we just don’t pay for food anymore. (Rachel
laughs then Chandler notices something.) Do you see what I see?

Rachel: (gasps) Its still there! (The cheesecake they returned to Mrs.
Braverman is still lying in front of her door.)

Chandler: Mrs. Braverman must be out. (They move closer to it.)

Rachel: She could be out of town. Maybe she’ll be gone for months.

Chandler: By then, the cheesecake may have gone bad. We don’t want her to
come back to bad cheesecake.

Rachel: No that could kill her.

Chandler: Well, we don’t want that.

Rachel: No so we’re protecting her.

Chandler: But we should take it.

Rachel: But we should move quick.

Chandler: Why?

Rachel: Because I think I just heard her moving around in there.

Chandler: Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! (Rachel grabs the
cheesecake and they take off upstairs.)

[Scene: Central Perk, Monica and Phoebe are entering. As Phoebe is
sitting down, she recognizes someone sitting at the counter.]

Phoebe: (gasps) (whispering) Oh my God! That’s David!

Monica: David who?

Phoebe: David the scientist guy, David that I was in love with, David who
went to Russia and broke my heart David!

David: (noticing Phoebe) Oh my God!

Phoebe: Oh, you say someone’s name enough, they turn around.

David: Phoebe?

Phoebe: David! (He kisses her cheek) What-what are you doing here? Aren’t
you supposed to be in Russia?

David: Yeah, I’m just, I’m just in town for a conference. Umm, God you
look phenomenal!

Phoebe: Well... Yeah. You look great too. Did you get a haircut?

David: Yeah. Well I-I got like thirty of them.

Phoebe: Yeah.

David: Umm, look I-I-I got a confession to make....

Phoebe: Uh-huh.

David: Uh, I-I-I was hoping to run into you here. I didn’t know whether
I should call or not, y’know I-I was only in town for a few days.
And y’know, I didn’t want to intrude on your life or-or anything
like that, but I-I really wanted to see you and...but I didn’t know
if you wanted to see me.

Phoebe: Well, of course I would want to see you. I...I think about you all
the time.

David: Really? Because I think about you all the time.

Phoebe: Really?

David: I mean, there’s a statue in Minsk...

Phoebe: Uh-huh.

David: That reminds me of you so much, I mean umm, it-it’s actually of
Lenin. But, y’know at certain angles...

Phoebe: Yeah.

David: Umm, anyway...Do you want to have dinner tonight?

Phoebe: (excited) Yes! Oh no!

David: (disappointed) Oh. Uh, what?

Phoebe: I can’t. I can’t believe I have plans, I can’t. Can you do it
tomorrow night though?

David: Uh no, I have to go in a few hours. I have to be on the red-eye.
Well listen, y’know, next time you’re in Minsk umm...

Monica: Phoebe, can I talk to you for a second?

Phoebe: Uh-huh. (They go over and talk.)

Monica: What are you doing?

Phoebe: Well, I have plans with Joey tonight.

Monica: So! He’ll understand!

Phoebe: No he won’t. And that’s not even the point! Monica, I made a
whole speech about you do not cancel plans with friends! And now
y’know what? Just because, potentially, the love of my life comes
back from Russia just for one night, I-I should change my
beliefs?! I should change beliefs! No! No! No, if I don’t have
my principles, I don’t have anything!

Monica: God, you are so strong.

Phoebe: Or! I should rush through dinner with Joey and I can meet David
at 9:00!

Commercial Break

[Scene: Joey and Rachel's, Rachel and Chandler are eating the cheesecake
right out of the box.]

Rachel: (taking a bite) Oh my God! That is so good!

Chandler: I’m full, and yet I know if I stop eating this, I’ll regret it.

Joey: (entering) Hey!

Rachel: Hey!

Joey: (seeing what they’re doing) What do you got there?

Rachel: Oh it’s umm, it’s tofu cake. Do you want some? (He makes a
disgusted noise and heads for his room, Chandler follows him in.)

Chandler: What are you doing tonight?

Joey: Huh? Uh... (He starts taking off his pants.)

Chandler: Dude! Dude! (Motions that Joey should pull up his pants.)

Joey: Oh! (Pulls up his pants.) Sorry. Uh, I’ve got those plans with
Phoebe, why?

Chandler: Oh really? Uh, Monica said she had a date at 9:00.

Joey: What?! Tonight?!

Chandler: That’s what Monica said.

Joey: After she gave me that big speech?! She goes and makes a date with
a guy on the same night she has plans with me? I think she’s trying
to pull a fast one on Big Daddy!

[Scene: Cousin Frannie’s Wedding Reception, Monica and Ross are entering
and finding their table.]

Ross: Oh here, I think this is us. (Reading the name cards.) Yeah.

Monica: Limited seating my ass. Let’s see who made the cut. (To the
couple sitting to her right.) Hi!

The Wedding Guest: Hi!

Monica: I’m Monica Gellar. Who do you know the bride and groom?

The Wedding Guest: Oh, I used to work with Frannie.

Monica: Used to work with her. Used to! I’m a relative and I didn’t get
invited! A blood relative! Blood!!

Ross: (To Monica) Stop saying, "Blood" to strangers.

Monica: (to the couple on her left) So, how about you huh? How do you
know the happy couple?

The Second Guest: We went to college with both of them and now we live
next door.

Monica: Okay, you’re fine.

[Scene: Iridium Restaurant, Phoebe and Joey are looking at the menus as
the waiter comes to take their order.]

The Waiter: Hey!

Phoebe: Hey!

The Waiter: Are you guys ready?

Phoebe: Yes! I will have the green salad, umm the house salad, and
water’s fine.

The Waiter: Okay.

Phoebe: Okay.

The Waiter: (To Joey) And for you sir?

Joey: Yeah, this slow roasted salmon, just how slow are we talkin’ here?

The Waiter: It’s uh, it’s already been roasted.

Joey: Ohh, then no. Maybe I should hear those specials again.

Phoebe: Oh Joey, we’ve heard the specials three times! Okay? There’s
prime rib, mahi mahi, and a very special lobster ravioli. (She
grabs his menu and hands it to the waiter.)

The Waiter: Actually we’re out of the lobster ravioli. (Putting Joey’s
menu under his arm.)

Joey: Oh well, that changes everything! (Grabs his menu and starts
looking at it again. The waiter leaves.) Y’know what Pheebs?

Phoebe: Huh?

Joey: You were right before. I mean, friends are so important.

Phoebe: (checking her watch) Yeah, I’m very wise. I know.

Joey: Y’know-y’know what I really want?

Phoebe: What?

Joey: Is to have a long, long talk. Y’know? Get Joey out on the open
road and really open him up.

The Waiter: (returning) Any progress?

Joey: Yes! I will have the lobster ravioli.

Phoebe: God Joey, this is taking forever!

Joey: What’s the rush? What?

Phoebe: W-w...I just...it’s that...I have...y’know I have-I have an
appointment. And it’s very important.

Joey: Whoa-whoa, what is it?

Phoebe: Well... It’s a date.

Joey: A date?! No, no Pheebs you-you must be mistaken, because I know
you wouldn’t schedule a date on the same night you have plans with
a friend!

Phoebe: Come on Joey, don’t make me feel badly about this.

Joey: No, I’m gonna!! That’s right! Yeah, you made me feel really guilty
about goin’ out with that girl! Like-like-like I did something
terrible to you! And now Pheebs, you’re doing the same thing!

Phoebe: That...It’s not the same thing! This is totally different! This is
with David! Remember David, the scientist guy? Okay, he’s very
special to me.

Joey: Okay, well my girl from the other night was special. She was a
scientist too!

Phoebe: She was?

Joey: Well, she graduated from high school!

Phoebe: Okay, whatever. Y’know what? I don’t have time have time to
convince you because he’s only here for four hours, and I’m gonna
go see him! (Gets up and leaves.)

Joey: Fine!

Phoebe: Yeah!

Joey: Fine!

Phoebe: Yeah! (She exits.)

Joey: (to the waiter) What are you still doin’ here?! I told you, lobster
ravioli!

[Scene: Outside Central Perk, Phoebe is running up to meet David.]

Phoebe: Hey!

David: Hey! Oh, I was just about to leave. I-I-I-I didn’t think you were
coming.

Phoebe: Oh, I wouldn’t miss this.

David: Well, I’m very glad you’re here. (Kisses her hand.)

Phoebe: Oh, you’re such a gentleman. (Grabs his arm.) Come on! We’re
going to my place! (Drags him off to her place.)

[Scene: Joey and Rachel's, Rachel is eating the cheesecake and Chandler
enters and catches her in the act.]

Chandler: Are you eating the cheesecake without me?!

Rachel: (with a mouthful) Mm-mmm. (Nods no.)

Chandler: I will give you a hundred dollars to whistle right now. (She
tries to whistle and blows little chunks of cheesecake out of
her mouth.) How can you eat the cheesecake without me?!

Rachel: Oh, what are you going to do?! Are you gonna go run tell Monica?!
Are you gonna tell Joey?! No! Because then you will have to tell
them what we did! We are desert stealers! We are living outside
the law!

Chandler: Y’know what? I don’t trust you with this cake anymore! And I
got it first, and I’m takin’ it back! (Grabs the cheesecake
and heads for his apartment.)

Rachel: What?! What?!

Chandler: Oh yes!

Rachel: Wait a minute!

Chandler: Oh yes!

Rachel: Oh no-no-no-no-no, no you don’t!

[Cut to Chandler and Monica’s as they enter.]

Chandler: Oh yes! Oh yes!

Rachel: You think I trust you with it?! No! We’re gonna split it! You
take half and I take half!

Chandler: Well that’s not fair, you’ve already had some!

Rachel: What? Oh, well then y’know what? I think Monica would be very
interested to know that you called her cheesecake dry and mealy.

Chandler: What do we use to split it?

Rachel: Okay! (Grabs a knife and cuts it in half.) All right, pick a half.

Chandler: (examining the cake) Okay well, this side looks bigger. Uh...
There’s more crust on this side. Y’know? So, maybe if I
measured...

Rachel: Oh for God sake just pick a piece!

Chandler: All right, I’ll pick that one. (Points.)

Rachel: That’s also the smaller piece. (Puts the piece onto a plate.)
Okay, there you go. Enjoy your half my friend, but that is it.
No sharing. No switching, and don’t come crying to me if you eat
your piece to fast. (As she’s saying that she is backing out the
door, when she finishes she turns around to return to her place,
stumbles and drops the cheesecake on the floor.) Oh!!!!

Chandler: (gloatingly and holding his piece) Ohhh!

Rachel: Okay, you gotta give me some of your piece.

Chandler: Oh-ho-ho-ho-no! No! No switching! No sharing, and don’t come
crying to me! Ha-ha-ha! I may just sit here and have my cake
all day! Just sit here in the hallway and eat my... (Rachel
knocks the plate from his hand and it falls on the floor. That
process leaves just the forkful Chandler has, Rachel starts to
go after that little bit and Chandler retreats into his
apartment.)

[Scene: Cousin Frannie’s Wedding Reception, Monica and Ross are sitting
at the table, alone as a woman approaches.]

The Woman: Ross, sweetheart!

Ross: Oh, hey Aunt Millie.

Aunt Millie: Isn’t it a beautiful wedding?!

Ross: Yes, yes it is. It’s uh... (Aunt Millie uses this opportunity to
grab Ross and kiss him on the lips. After she leaves Ross quickly
wipes his mouth with a napkin.) Every time on the lips! Why?! Why
on lips?!

(Cousin Frannie and her husband enter.)

Monica: Here’s Frannie. Hmm, won’t she be happy to see me? (Starts to get
up and greet Frannie.)

Ross: Now wait a minute, you be nice! All right? I didn’t bring you here
so you can ambush her.

Monica: Frannie was the one who found your Playboys and showed them to
mom.

Ross: That bitch! (He gets up and they go over to ambush Frannie. Monica
taps on Frannie’s shoulder.)

Frannie: (turning around) Monica! What...

Monica: Am I doing here? Why? Surprised to see me? Ross brought me. How
do you like that?!

Ross: (to Frannie) Hi Frannie, congratulations.

Monica: You invite my brother, you invite my whole family, and not me?!
Why?! What...Why wouldn’t you want me at your wedding? What
could I have possibly done?! (Frannie’s husband walks up.) Stuart!

Frannie: I believe you know my husband.

(Monica is shocked into silence.)

Ross: So it’s really a question of who could you have possibly done.

[Scene: Outside Central Perk, David has a cab waiting to take him to the
airport and he’s saying goodbye to Phoebe.]

David: Oh, I hate this but I-I-I have to go. I-I can’t miss my flight.

Phoebe: Are you sure? I’ll bet there’s another flight to Minsk in like...

David: July. Umm, (He speaks Russian.)

Phoebe: That’s really beautiful. What does it mean?

David: Please, clean my beakers. I don’t get out of the lab much.

Phoebe: That’s good. I got to admit, I thought it was something else.

David: Yeah, I... Well I really actually wanted to say umm, that, but um,
I figured I probably shouldn’t because y’know, I...have to leave.

Phoebe: You’re right! You’re right. Don’t say it.

David: I-I do though.

Phoebe: I do too. (They kiss.)

David: Bye Phoebe. (He gets in and the cab drives off. Joey walks up and
witnesses that event.)

Phoebe: (seeing him) Okay, now’s not the time Joey. All right? You can
yell at me tomorrow.

Joey: No! No! No Pheebs, I’m not gonna yell at you. I just y’know,
started thinking about you and David and I...remember how bummed you
were the first time he left. And I just... Oh Pheebs, come here. (He
hugs her.) Are you okay?

Phoebe: No I’m not okay. The only guy I’ve ever been crazy about has
gone to Minsk and I may never...I may never see him again. (Crying.)

Joey: Hey, y’know you could always visit him.

Phoebe: Oh right, like they’re gonna let me have a passport.

Joey: Anything I can do? Whatever you need.

Phoebe: Well...But...Now, if-if you can achieve positronic distillation
of sub-atomic particles y’know before he does, then he can come
back. (They hug again.)

Joey: I can give it a shot.

[Scene: The Hallway, Chandler and Rachel are on their knees with forks
trying to salvage what they can of the cheesecake off of the floor.]

Rachel: Oh! Yay! Look! There’s a piece that doesn’t have floor on it!

Chandler: Stick to your side!

Rachel: Hey, come on now!

(Joey finishes climbing the stairs and sees them. Chandler and Rachel
both stop and look up at him. Joey sits down on the step.)

Joey: (pulls out a fork) All right, what are we havin’? (Starts digging in.)

Ending Credits

[Scene: Cousin Frannie’s Wedding Reception, Ross and Monica are at the door
and about to leave.]

Monica: Oh wait I forgot my wrap.

Ross: What? Oh, okay. Wait here. (Goes to get it, but before he gets
there Aunt Millie sits down on it forcing him to pull it out
from behind her which gets her attention.)

Aunt Millie: Hi sweetie! Are you leaving?

Ross: Well...

Aunt Millie: Give us a kiss. Come on! Come on!

(Ross hesitates then leans down trying to get her to kiss his cheek,
but she moves his head around and kisses him on the lips again.)

Ross: Why?! Why on the lips?! (He wipes his mouth on Monica’s wrap and
walks off, leaving Aunt Millie stunned.)

END

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