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  •  /  Friends  /  S01E08 The One Where Nana Dies Twice


    • new scene
    • Scene 1

      Chandler's Office, Chandler is on a coffee break. Shelley enters.

    • Shelley
      Hey gorgeous, how's it going?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Dehydrated Japanese noodles under fluorescent lights... does it get better than this?
    • Shelley
      Question. You're not dating anybody, are you, because I met somebody who would be perfect for you.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Ah, y'see, perfect might be a problem. Had you said 'co-dependent', or 'self-destructive'...
    • Shelley
      Do you want a date Saturday?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Yes please.
    • Shelley
      Okay. He's cute, he's funny, he's-
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      He's a he?
    • Shelley
      Well yeah! ...Oh God. I- just- I thought- Good, Shelley. I'm just gonna go flush myself down the toilet now...(backs out of the room) Okay, goodbye...
    • OPENING CREDITS
    • new scene
    • Scene 2

      Monica and Rachel's, everyone is there.

    • chandler
    • Chandler
      ...Couldn't enjoy a cup of noodles after that. I mean, is that ridiculous? Can you believe she actually thought that?
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Um... yeah. Well, I mean, when I first met you, y'know, I thought maybe, possibly, you might be...
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      You did?
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Yeah, but then you spent Phoebe's entire birthday party talking to my breasts, so then I figured maybe not.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Huh. Did, uh... any of the rest of you guys think that when you first met me?
    • monica
    • Monica
      I did.
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Yeah, I think so, yeah.
    • joey
    • Joey
      Not me.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Nono, me neither. Although, uh, y'know, back in college, Susan Sallidor did.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      You're kidding! Did you tell her I wasn't?
    • ross
    • Ross
      No. No, it's just 'cause, uh, I kinda wanted to go out with her too, so I told her, actually, you were seeing Bernie Spellman... who also liked her, so...
    • (Joey congratulates Ross, sees Chandler's look and abruptly stops.)
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Well, this is fascinating. So, uh, what is it about me?
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      I dunno, 'cause you're smart, you're funny...
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Ross is smart and funny, d'you ever think that about him?
    • Everyone
      Yeah! Right!
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      WHAT IS IT?!
    • monica
    • Monica
      Okay, I-I d'know, you-you just- you have a quality.
    • Everyone
      Yes. Absolutely. A quality.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Oh, oh, a quality, good, because I was worried you guys were gonna be vague about this.
    • (Phone rings; Monica gets it)
    • monica
    • Monica
      Hello? Hello? Oh! Rachel, it's Paolo calling from Rome.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Oh my God! Calling from Rome! (Takes phone) Bon giorno, caro mio.
    • ross
    • Ross
      (to Joey) So he's calling from Rome. I could do that. Just gotta go to Rome.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Monica, your dad just beeped in, but can you make it quick? Talking to Rome. (Showing off to Phoebe and Chandler) I'm talking to Rome.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Hey dad, what's up? (Listens) Oh God. Ross, it's Nana.
    • new scene
    • Scene 3

      The Hospital, Mr. and Mrs. Geller are there, along with Aunt Lillian. Ross and Monica enter and everyone says hi and kisses.

    • ross
    • Ross
      So, uh, how's she doing?
    • Aunt Lillian
      The doctor says it's a matter of hours.
    • monica
    • Monica
      How-how are you, Mom?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Me? I'm fine, fine. I'm glad you're here. ...What's with your hair?
    • monica
    • Monica
      What?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      What's different?
    • monica
    • Monica
      Nothing.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Oh, maybe that's it.
    • (Monica strides over to Ross, who is making coffee, and talks to him aside.)
    • monica
    • Monica
      She is unbelievable, our mother is...
    • ross
    • Ross
      Okay, relax, relax. We are gonna be here for a while, it looks like, and we still have boyfriends and your career to cover.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Oh God!
    • (They hug.)
    • [Cut to the hospital, later. Everyone is talking about Nana.]
    • monica
    • Monica
      The fuzzy little mints at the bottom of her purse.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Oh! ...Yeah, they were gross. Oh, you know what I loved? Her Sweet 'n' Los. How she was always stealing them from- from restaurants.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      Not just restaurants, from our house.
    • (The nurse comes out of Nana's room.)
    • Nurse
      Mrs. Geller?
    • (Everyone stands up. Cut to Ross and Monica in Nana's room.)
    • ross
    • Ross
      She looks so small.
    • monica
    • Monica
      I know.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Well, at least she's with Pop-Pop and Aunt Phyllis now.
    • monica
    • Monica
      G'bye, Nana. (She kisses her on the forehead.)
    • ross
    • Ross
      Bye, Nana.
    • (He goes to kiss her but she moves. Monica screams. Ross shouts and stares in disbelief. Monica runs out of the room.)
    • monica
    • Monica
      Ross!
    • (Ross runs out too.)
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      What is going on?!
    • ross
    • Ross
      Y'know how-how the nurse said that-that Nana had passed? Well, she's not, quite..
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      What?
    • ross
    • Ross
      She's not- past, she's present, she's back.
    • Aunt Lillian
      (reentering) What's going on?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      She may have died.
    • Aunt Lillian
      She may have died?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      We're looking into it.
    • (Monica returns with the nurse and they go into Nana's room.)
    • ross
    • Ross
      I, uh, I'll go see. (He goes in)
    • Nurse
      This almost never happens!
    • (Nana passes for the second time and the nurse pulls the blanket over her. Ross and Monica go to tell the family)
    • ross
    • Ross
      Now she's passed.
    • new scene
    • Scene 4

      Central Perk, Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, and Rachel are there.

    • chandler
    • Chandler
      I just have to know, okay. Is it my hair?
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      (exasperated) Yes, Chandler, that's exactly what it is. It's your hair.
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Yeah, you have homosexual hair.
    • (Monica and Ross enter.)
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      So, um, did she...
    • ross
    • Ross
      Twice.
    • joey
    • Joey
      Twice?
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Oh, that sucks!
    • joey
    • Joey
      You guys okay?
    • ross
    • Ross
      I dunno, it's weird. I mean, I know she's gone, but I just don't feel, uh...
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Maybe that's 'cause she's not really gone.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Nono, she's gone.
    • monica
    • Monica
      We checked. A lot.
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Hm, I mean maybe no-one ever really goes. Ever since my mom died, every now and then, I get the feeling that she's like right here, y'know? (She circles her hand around her right shoulder. Chandler, sitting on her right, draws back nervously) Oh! And Debbie, my best friend from junior high- got struck by lightning on a miniature golf course- I always get this really strong Debbie vibe whenever I use one of those little yellow pencils, y'know? ...I miss her.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Aw. Hey, Pheebs, want this? (Gives her a pencil)
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Thanks!
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Sure. I just sharpened her this morning.
    • joey
    • Joey
      Now, see, I don't believe any of that. I think once you're dead, you're dead! You're gone! You're worm food! (realises his tactlessness) ...So Chandler looks gay, huh?
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Y'know, I dunno who this is, but it's not Debbie. (Hands back the pencil)
    • new scene
    • Scene 5

      Nana's house, Ross, Mrs. Geller and Aunt Lillian are going through clothes.

    • ross
    • Ross
      I thought it was gonna be a closed casket.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Well, that doesn't mean she can't look nice!
    • (They open a cupboard which, amongst other things, contains a chest of drawers)
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Sweetie, you think you can get in there?
    • ross
    • Ross
      (sarcastic) I don't see why not.
    • (He tries pushing against the chest of drawers. Then he opens one of the drawers and climbs into the closet using that; he falls behind the chest of drawers with a shout.)
    • ross
    • Ross
      Here's my retainer!
    • new scene
    • Scene 6

      Monica and Rachel's, Monica is talking to her father.

    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      I was just thinking. When my time comes-
    • monica
    • Monica
      Dad!
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      Listen to me! When my time comes, I wanna be buried at sea.
    • monica
    • Monica
      You what?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      I wanna be buried at sea, it looks like fun.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Define fun.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      C'mon, you'll make a day of it! You'll rent a boat, pack a lunch...
    • monica
    • Monica
      ...And then we throw your body in the water... Gee, that does sound fun.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      Everyone thinks they know me. Everyone says 'Jack Geller, so predictable'. Maybe after I'm gone, they'll say 'Buried at sea! Huh!'.
    • monica
    • Monica
      That's probably what they'll say.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      I'd like that.
    • new scene
    • Scene 7

      Chandler's Office, Shelley is drinking coffee; Chandler enters.

    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Hey, gorgeous.
    • Shelley
      (sheepish) Hey. Look, I'm sorry about yesterday, I, um-
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      No, nono, don't- don't worry about it. Believe me, apparently other people have made the same mistake.
    • Shelley
      Oh! Okay! Phew!
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      So, uh... what do you think it is about me?
    • Shelley
      I dunno, uh... you just have a-a...
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      ...Quality, right, great.
    • Shelley
      Y'know, it's a shame, because you and Lowell would've made a great couple.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Lowell? Financial Services' Lowell, that's who you saw me with?
    • Shelley
      What? He's cute!
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Well, yeah... 's'no Brian in Payroll.
    • Shelley
      Is Brian...?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      No! Uh, I d'know! The point is, if you were gonna set me up with someone, I'd like to think you'd set me up with someone like him.
    • Shelley
      Well, I think Brian's a little out of your league.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Excuse me? You don't think I could get a Brian? Because I could get a Brian. Believe you me. ...I'm really not.
    • new scene
    • Scene 8

      Nana's Bedroom, Ross is holding a dress out from inside the closet.

    • ross
    • Ross
      (holding a dress out from inside the closet) This one?
    • Aunt Lillian
      No.
    • ross
    • Ross
      I have shown you everything we have. Unless you want your mother to spend eternity in a lemon yellow pant-suit, go with the burgundy.
    • Aunt Lillian
      You know, whatever we pick, she would've told us it's the wrong one.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      You're right. We'll go with the burgundy.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Oh! A fine choice. I'm coming out. (Starts to climb over the furniture)
    • Aunt Lillian
      Wait! We need shoes!
    • (Ross falls back inside)
    • ross
    • Ross
      Okay. Um, how about these? (Holds out a pair)
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      That's really a day shoe.
    • ross
    • Ross
      And where she's going everyone else'll be dressier?
    • Aunt Lillian
      Could we see something in a slimmer heel?
    • ross
    • Ross
      (forages around) Okay, I have nothing in an evening shoe in the burgundy. I can show you something in a silver that may work.
    • Aunt Lillian
      No, it really should be burgundy.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Mm. Unless we go with a different dress?
    • ross
    • Ross
      No! Nonono, wait a sec. I may have something in the back.
    • (He finds a shoebox (out of shot), pulls it down and opens it. It is full of Sweet 'n' Lo's.)
    • ross
    • Ross
      Oh my God..
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Is everything all right, dear?
    • ross
    • Ross
      Yeah, just... just Nana stuff.
    • (He reaches up higher and knocks down another shoebox lid. Sweet 'n' Lo's rain down on him)
    • COMMERCIAL BREAK
    • new scene
    • Scene 9

      Monica and Rachel's, Monica and Rachel are preparing to leave for the funeral.

    • ross
    • Ross
      (entering) How we doing, you guys ready?
    • monica
    • Monica
      Mom already called this morning to remind me not to wear my hair up. Did you know my ears are not my best feature?
    • ross
    • Ross
      Some days it's all I can think about.
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      (entering) Hi, sorry I'm late, I couldn't find my bearings.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Oh, you-you mean your earrings?
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      What'd I say?
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      (sticking her foot out) Hm-m.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Are these the shoes?
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Yes. Paolo sent them from Italy.
    • ross
    • Ross
      What, we-uh- we don't have shoes here, or...?
    • joey
    • Joey
      (entering with Chandler) Morning. We ready to go?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Well, don't we look nice all dressed up?...It's stuff like that, isn't it?
    • (They all leave.)
    • new scene
    • Scene 10

      The cemetary, after the funeral.

    • monica
    • Monica
      It was a really beautiful service.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      It really was. Oh, c'mere, sweetheart. (Hugs her) Y'know, I think it might be time for you to start using night cream.
    • (Joey listens to his overcoat for a second and sighs, then notices Chandler watching)
    • joey
    • Joey
      What?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Nothing, just your overcoat sounds remarkably like Brent Mussberger.
    • joey
    • Joey
      Check it out, Giants-Cowboys. (He has a pocket TV)
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      You're watching a football game at a funeral?
    • joey
    • Joey
      No, it's the pre-game. I'm gonna watch it at the reception.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      You are a frightening, frightening man.
    • (Rachel steps in a patch of mud)
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Oh no! My new Paolo shoes!
    • ross
    • Ross
      Oh, I hope they're not ruined.
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      God, what a great day. ...What? Weather-wise!
    • ross
    • Ross
      I know, uh, the air, the-the trees... even though Nana's gone there's, there's something almost, uh- I dunno, almost life-aff- (Not looking where he is going he falls into an open grave)
    • Everyone
      God! Ross!
    • ross
    • Ross
      I'm fine. Just-just... having my worst fear realised...
    • new scene
    • Scene 11

      The Wake, at the Gellers' house. Ross is lying on his back, with Phoebe squatting over him, checking to see if he's injured.

    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Okay, don't worry, I'm just checking to see if the muscle's in spasm...huh.
    • ross
    • Ross
      What, what is it?
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      You missed a belt loop.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Oh! No-n-
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Okay, it's in spasm.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Here, sweetie, here. I took these when I had my golfing accident. (Hands Ross a bottle of pills. Then turns to Monica and pats her hair over her ears)
    • (Cut to Chandler and a woman, Andrea, reaching for the same slice of meat)
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Oh, no-
    • Andrea
      Sorry- Hi, I'm Dorothy's daughter.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Hi, I'm Chandler, and I have no idea who Dorothy is.
    • (They shake hands. Cut to Ross emerging from a hallway, grinning inanely. He is obviously very stoned)
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Hey, look who's up! How do you feel?
    • ross
    • Ross
      I feel great. I feel- great, I fleel great.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Wow, those pills really worked, huh?
    • ross
    • Ross
      Not the first two, but the second two- woooo! ...I love you guys. You guys are the greatest. I love my sister (Kisses Monica), I love Pheebs... (Hugs her)
    • phoebe
    • Phoebe
      Ooh! That's so nice...
    • ross
    • Ross
      ...Chandler!
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Hey.
    • ross
    • Ross
      (hugs him) And listen, man, if you wanna be gay, be gay. Doesn't matter to me.
    • Andrea
      (turns to a friend) You were right. (They walk off and leave Chandler.)
    • ross
    • Ross
      Rachel. Rachel Rachel. (Sits down beside her) I love you the most.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      (humouring him) Oh, well you know who I love the most?
    • ross
    • Ross
      No.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      You!
    • ross
    • Ross
      Oh.. you don't get it! (Passes out and slumps across her)
    • (Cut to Joey watching TV in the corner. He makes an extravagant gesture of disappointment.)
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      Whaddya got there?
    • joey
    • Joey
      (hides the TV, but he still has an earphone) Just a, uh... hearing disability.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      What's the score?
    • joey
    • Joey
      Seventeen-fourteen Giants... three minutes to go in the third.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      Beautiful! (Turns to watch with him)
    • (Time lapse. A large crowd of men are now watching the game)
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      (still trapped under Ross) Pheebs, could you maybe hand me a cracker?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      (to Monica) Your grandmother would have hated this.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Well, sure, what with it being her funeral and all.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      No, I'd be hearing about 'Why didn't I get the honey-glazed ham?', I didn't spend enough on flowers, and if I spent more she'd be saying 'Why are you wasting your money? I don't need flowers, I'm dead'.
    • monica
    • Monica
      That sounds like Nana.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Do you know what it's like to grow up with someone who is critical of every single thing you say?
    • monica
    • Monica
      ...I can imagine.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      I'm telling you, it's a wonder your mother turned out to be the positive, life-affirming person that she is.
    • monica
    • Monica
      That is a wonder. So tell me something, Mom. If you had to do it all over again, I mean, if she was here right now, would you tell her?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Tell her what?
    • monica
    • Monica
      How she drove you crazy, picking on every little detail, like your hair... for example.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      I'm not sure I know what you're getting at.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Do you think things would have been better if you'd just told her the truth?
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      ...No. I think some things are better left unsaid. I think it's nicer when people just get along.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Huh.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      More wine, dear?
    • monica
    • Monica
      Oh, I think so.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      (reaches out to fiddle with Monica's hair again, and realises) Those earrings look really lovely on you.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Thank you. They're yours.
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mrs. Geller
      Actually they were Nana's.
    • (There is a cry of disappointment from the crowd of men.)
    • Mr. Geller
    • Mr. Geller
      Now I'm depressed! ...(To everyone) Even more than I was.
    • new scene
    • Scene 12

      Central Perk, the gang are looking at old photos.

    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Hey, who's this little naked guy?
    • ross
    • Ross
      That little naked guy would be me.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Aww, look at the little thing.
    • ross
    • Ross
      Yes, yes, fine, that is my penis. Can we be grown-ups now?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Who are those people?
    • ross
    • Ross
      Got me.
    • monica
    • Monica
      Oh, that's Nana, right there in the middle. (Reads the back) 'Me and the gang at Java Joe's'.
    • rachel
    • Rachel
      Wow, Monica, you look just like your grandmother. How old was she there?
    • monica
    • Monica
      Let's see, 1939... yeah, 24, 25?
    • ross
    • Ross
      Looks like a fun gang. (They all look at each other and smile)
    • joey
    • Joey
      Ooh, look-look-look-look-look! I got Monica naked!
    • ross
    • Ross
      (looking) Nono, that would be me again. I'm, uh, just trying something.
    • CLOSING CREDITS
    • new scene
    • Scene 13

      Chandler's Office, Chandler is on a coffee break as Lowell enters.

    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Hey, Lowell.
    • Lowell
      Hey, Chandler.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      So how's it going there in Financial Services?
    • Lowell
      It's like Mardi Gras without the paper mache heads. How 'bout you?
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Good, good. Listen, heh, I dunno what Shelley told you about me, but, uh... I'm not.
    • Lowell
      I know. That's what I told her.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Really.
    • Lowell
      Yeah.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      So- you can tell?
    • Lowell
      Pretty much, most of the time. We have a kind of... radar.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      So you don't think I have a, a quality?
    • Lowell
      Speaking for my people, I'd have to say no. By the way, your friend Brian from Payroll, he is.
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      He is?
    • Lowell
      Yup, and waaay out of your league. (Exits)
    • chandler
    • Chandler
      Out of my league. I could get a Brian. (Brian enters behind him) If I wanted to get a Brian, I could get a Brian. (Sees him) Hey, Brian.
    • END