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[Scene: Central Perk. The whole gang is there, Ross is showing pictures of his new baby boy, Ben, to the group.]

ROSS: And here's little Ben nodding off...

MNCA: Awww, look at Aunt Monica's little boy!

PHOE: Oh, look, he's got Ross's haircut!

RACH: 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.]

RACH: Pardon?

CHAN: Nothing, just a little extra air in my mouth. Pffft. Pffffffft.

[Scene: Monica's apartment. Monica and Phoebe are preparing for a barbecue for Rachel's birthday.] [Chandler and Joey are making the fire, Monica and Phoebe are inside. Ross enters, carrying luggage.]

PHOE: Hey.

MNCA: Hey.

ROSS: Hey. [Phoebe sees his bags]

PHOE: How long did you think this barbecue was gonna last?

ROSS: I'm going to China.

PHOE: Jeez, you say one thing, and...

MNCA: 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]

PHOE: 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?

MNCA: Yeah.

[Phoebe puts the picture of Ross up to her face.]

PHOE: 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.

MNCA: Oh no, she's out having drinks with Carl.

ROSS: Oh. [pause] Hey, who's Carl?

MNCA: You know, that guy she met at the coffeehouse.

ROSS: No.

PHOE: Oh, well, see, there's this guy she met at the--

ROSS: At the coffeehouse, right.

PHOE: So you do know who he is! [laughs, Ross stares at her] Sorry.

ROSS: OK, I'm gonna go say goodbye to the guys.

PHOE: Oh, hey, y'know what? Tell them that bone story.

[Ross goes outside on the balcony.]

ROSS: Hi.

JOEY: Hey!

CHAN: 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?

CHAN: Uh, let's see... Alvin... Simon... Theodore.... no.

ROSS: Well, Rachel's having drinks with him tonight.

JOEY: Oh no! How can she do that when she's never shown any interest in you?!?

CHAN: Forget about her.

JOEY: He's right, man. Please. Move on. Go to China. Eat Chinese food.

CHAN: 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]

CHAN: I'm still on my first. I just think you're nice.

[Time lapse. Melanie (MELN), Joey's girlfriend, is there with Joey, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel. Ross is gone.]

MNCA: [gets up] OK, how does everybody like their burgers?

RAC: Oh, no, no, no. Presents first. Food later. [walks into living room]

[Everyone follows Rachel to the living room.

.....

[Rachel is opening her gifts. Rachel sees her first gift is a fruit basket]

RACH: OK, I'm guessing this is from...

[Melanie smiles.]

RACH: Well, thank you, Melanie.

CHAN: [pointing out a gift] OK, this one right here is from me.

RACH: [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.]

RACH: 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!

PHOE: Oh, it's Dr. Seuss!

JOEY: [to Rachel]: That book got me through some tough times.

MELN: There is a little child inside this man!

CHAN: Yes, the doctors say if they remove it, he'll die.

[Rachel picks up the next gift.]

RACH: Who's this from?

CHAN: Oh, that's Ross's.

RACH: Oh... [opens it]... [sees it is a pin] Oh my God. He remembered.

PHOE: Remembered what?

RACH: 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!

CHAN: Well, sure, but can you play it on a plane? [pats his Travel Scrabble game]

PHOE: Oh, it's so pretty. This must have cost him a fortune.

MNCA: I can't believe he did this.

CHAN: 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.]

RACH: What did you just say?

CHAN: [panicked] ahem... um... Crystal duck.

RACH: No, no, no.... the, um, the... 'love' part?

CHAN: [stuttering incoherently] F-hah.... flennin....

RACH: Oh.... my God.

CHAN: [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.

[Scene: Same as before, a few moments later.]

RACH: I mean, this is unbelievable.

PHOE: I know. This is really, really huge.

CHAN: No it's not. It's small. It's tiny. It's petite. It's wee.

PHOE: Nuh-uh. I don't think any of our lives are ever gonna be the same ever again.

CHAN: OK, is there a mute button on this woman?

MNCA: I think this is so great! I mean, you and Ross! D-did you have any idea?

RACH: No! None! I mean, my first night in 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.

RACH: Ross? All this time? Well, I've got to talk to him. [gets up to leave]

CHAN: [quickly] H-He's in China!

JOEY: The country.

MNCA: No, no, wait. [checks Ross's itinerary] His flight doesn't leave for another forty-five more minutes.

CHAN: What about the time difference?

MNCA: From here to the airport?

CHAN: Yes! [Rachel walks towards door] You're never gonna make it!

MNCA: Rachel, what're you gonna say to him?

RACH: I-I-I don't know.

CHAN: 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.

MNCA: Yeah, but if it's good news, you should tell him now.

RACH: I don't know. Maybe I'll know when I see him.

PHOE: Here, look, alright, does this help?

[Phoebe gets up, holds the picture of Ross up to her face.]

RACH: Noooo... , 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]

CHAN: Rachel, I love you! Deal with me first! [she leaves]

[Scene: 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 (FLGT) is there.]

ROSS: [something in Chinese]

FLGT: Alright!

ROSS: Ni-chou chi-ma! [walks onto jetway]

[Rachel runs into the airport, trying to catch Ross, moving people out of the way.]

RACH: Ross! Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me....

[Rachel gets up to the jetway.]

FLGT: Hi!

RACH: Hi.

FLGT: May I see your boarding pass?

RACH: Oh, no, no, I don't have one. I just need to talk to my friend.

FLGT: Oh, oooh. I'm sorry. You are not allowed on the jetway unless you have a boarding pass.

RACH: 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...

FLGT: No no no! Federal regulations!

RACH: OK, alright, OK, um... then could you please, uh... just give him a message for me? Please? This is very important.

FLGT: Alright. What's the message?

RACH: Uh... I don't know.

[Scene: On the jetway. The flight attendant enters, walks past Ross, and approaches an older man with his wife who is also wearing a blue jacket.]

FLGT: Sir? Sir? Excuse me, sir? Uh... I have a message for you.

MAN: [confused] What?

FLGT: 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: Monica's apartment. Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel are there. Monica is holding the wrapping paper from one of Rachel's gifts.]

MNCA: 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?

RACH: 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.

PHOE/MNCA: Sure.

RACH: 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.

MNCA: 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!

PHOE: Yeah, but, y'know, it's... it would be like starting on the fifteenth date.

MNCA: Another good point.

PHOE: 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.

RACH: [confused] Huh?

PHOE: Well, I mean, then what happens if it doesn't work out?

MNCA: Why isn't it working out?

RACH: I don't know... sometimes it doesn't.

MNCA: Is he not cute enough for you?

RACH: No!

MNCA: Does he not make enough money?

RACH: No, I'm just....

PHOE: Maybe there's someone else.

RACH: What?

MNCA: Is there? Is there someone else?

RACH: No! There is.. there is no one else!

MNCA: Then why the hell are you dumping my brother?!?

. . . . .

[Scene: Monica's apartment, one week later. Monica is seated, Rachel out of her bedroom.]

MNCA: Hey, great skirt! Birthday present?

RACH: Yeah.

MNCA: Oh, from who?

RACH: From you. I exchanged the blouse you got me.

MNCA: Well, it's the thought. Hey, doesn't Ross's flight get in a couple of hours? At gate 27-B?

RACH: Well, yeah. Uh, y'know, honey, I've been about it and I've decided this-this whole Ross , it's just won't happen.

MNCA: Oh, why?

RACH: 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--

MNCA: [gets up] No, no, no, no, no, no pressure, no pressure!

RACH: Monica, nothing has even happened yet, and you're already so...

MNCA: 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.]

RACH: Who is it?

VOICE: It's me, Carl.

RACH: C'mon up.

MNCA: Behind my brother's back? [Rachel glares at her] ... is exactly the kind of crazy thing you won't be hearing from me.

 . . . . .

[Scene: The balcony of Monica's apartment. Rachel is having drinks with her date, Carl.]

CARL: I'm just saying', 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.

RACH: 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?

RACH: So I'm thinking about you. So what?

ROSS: I don't get it. What do you see in this guy, anyway?

RACH: 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.

RACH: 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.

RACH: Ross, you're like my best friend.

ROSS: I know.

RACH: If we broke up, and I lost you...

ROSS: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What makes you think we're gonna break up?

RACH: 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?

RACH: 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.]

RACH: Wow.

CARL: Exactly! And you just know I'm gonna be the guy caught behind this hammerhead in traffic!

RACH: Right! You're right!

CARL: Heh... y'know?

RACH: You know what?

CARL: What?

RACH: 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: Airport. Rachel waits at the gate with flowers.]

RACH: [sifting through crowd] Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me, excuse me, sorry. Hi.

[Scene: Jetway. The old man who the flight attendant delivered Rachel's message to gets off the plane, his wife still upset with him.]

MAN: For God's sake, will you let it go? There's no Rachel!

[A Chinese woman getting off the plane drops one of her bags. Ross gets off next.]

ROSS: Oh, hey, hey, I got that.

[Ross picks up the bag... then he and the woman (JULIE) kiss.]

JULIE: Oh, thanks, sweetie.

ROSS: No problem. I cannot wait for you to meet my friends.

JULIE: Really?

ROSS: Yeah.

JULIE: You don't think they'll judge and ridicule me?

ROSS: No, no, they will. I just... uh...

ROSS/JULIE: Can't wait.

ROSS: Come on, they're gonna love you.

[Scene: Close-up of Rachel, eagerly awaiting Ross's arrival... not knowing he is getting off the plane with another woman ...]

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Last updated: 16/3/99