S01E24

The One Where Rachel Finds Out

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
Ross
And here's little Ben nodding off...
monica
Monica
Awww, look at Aunt Monica's little boy!
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, look, he's got Ross's haircut!
rachel
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
Ross
(quietly) That would be nice.
(Chandler, annoyed with Ross's fawning, makes a 'pfft' noise.)
rachel
Rachel
Pardon?
chandler
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
Joey
Hey, Chan, can you help me out here? I promise I'll pay you back.
chandler
Chandler
Oh, yeah, right, OK... inlcuding the waffles last week, you now owe me... 17 jillion dollars.
joey
Joey
I will, really. I'll pay you back this time.
chandler
Chandler
(sigh)... And where's this money coming from? (gives money to Joey)
joey
Joey
Well... I'm helping out down at the N.Y.U. Med School with some... research.
ross
Ross
(overhearing) What kind of research?
joey
Joey
Oh, just, y'know.... science.
ross
Ross
Science. Yeah, I think I've heard of that. (everyone's interest is piqued, they all look over)
joey
Joey
(sigh)... It's a fertility study.
(Rachel laughs.)
monica
Monica
Oh, Joey, please tell me you're only donating your time.
joey
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
Ross
Hey.
phoebe
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
Monica
OK, we got the cole slaw, we got the buns...
phoebe
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
Chandler
(in a deep voice) Men are here.
joey
Joey
We make fire. Cook meat.
chandler
Chandler
Then put out fire by peeing, no get invited back.
phoebe
Phoebe
Ewww!
monica
Monica
Oh Joey, Melanie called, said she's gonna be late.
joey
Joey
Oh, OK.
phoebe
Phoebe
So how are things going with you two? Is she becoming your (provocatively) special someone?
joey
Joey
I don't know, she's, uh.... she's pretty great.
monica
Monica
Yeah? What does she think of your little science project?
joey
Joey
What, you think I'm gonna tell a girl I like that I'm also seeing a cup?
monica
Monica
Man's got a point.
joey
Joey
Well, the tough thing is, she really wants to have sex with me.
chandler
Chandler
Crazy bitch.
joey
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
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
Phoebe
Hey.
monica
Monica
Hey.
ross
Ross
Hey. (Phoebe sees his bags)
phoebe
Phoebe
How long did you think this barbecue was gonna last?
ross
Ross
I'm going to China.
phoebe
Phoebe
Jeez, you say one thing, and...
monica
Monica
You're going to China?
ross
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
Phoebe
Oh, let me see! (takes the picture)
ross
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
Monica
Yeah.
(Phoebe puts the picture of Ross up to her face.)
phoebe
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
Ross
Hey, is Rachel here? Um, I wanted to wish her a happy birthday before I left.
monica
Monica
Oh no, she's out having drinks with Carl.
ross
Ross
Oh. (pause) Hey, who's Carl?
monica
Monica
You know, that guy she met at the coffeehouse.
ross
Ross
No.
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, well, see, there's this guy she met at the...
ross
Ross
At the coffeehouse, right.
phoebe
Phoebe
So you do know who he is! (laughs, Ross stares at her) Sorry.
ross
Ross
OK, I'm gonna go say goodbye to the guys.
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, hey, y'know what? Tell them that bone story.
(Ross goes outisde on the balcony.)
ross
Ross
Hi.
joey
Joey
Hey!
chandler
Chandler
Hey!
ross
Ross
(sigh)....I have to go to China.
joey
Joey
The country?
ross
Ross
No no, this big pile of dishes in my mom's breakfront. Do you guys know who Carl is?
chandler
Chandler
Uh, let's see... Alvin... Simon... Theodore.... no.
ross
Ross
Well, Rachel's having drinks with him tonight.
joey
Joey
Oh no! How can she do that when she's never shown any interest in you?!?
chandler
Chandler
Forget about her.
joey
Joey
He's right, man. Please. Move on. Go to China. Eat Chinese food.
chandler
Chandler
Course there, they just call it food.
ross
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
Joey
Listen, buddy, we're just looking out for you.
ross
Ross
I know.
joey
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
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
Joey
Like the three musketeers, only with fruit.
chandler
Chandler
(sarcastic) Ooooh. (looks dumbfounded at Joey's stupidity)
monica
Monica
(gets up) OK, how does everybody like their burgers?
rachel
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
Monica
Hey, hold on there, tiger. How's it going? How you holding up?
joey
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
Joey
Then you do. Heh, heh.
monica
Monica
So, uh, have you ever thought about being there for her?
joey
Joey
What do you mean?
monica
Monica
Y'know, just be there for her.
(Long pause... Joey looks confused.)
joey
Joey
Not following you.
monica
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
Rachel
OK, I'm guessing this is from...
(Melanie smiles.)
rachel
Rachel
Well, thank you, Melanie.
chandler
Chandler
(pointing out a gift) OK, this one right here is from me.
rachel
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
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
Phoebe
Oh, it's Dr. Seuss!
joey
Joey
(to Rachel): That book got me through some tough times.
Melanie
There is a little child inside this man!
chandler
Chandler
Yes, the doctors say if they remove it, he'll die.
(Rachel picks up the next gift.)
rachel
Rachel
Who's this from?
chandler
Chandler
Oh, that's Ross's.
rachel
Rachel
Oh... (opens it)... (sees it is a pin) Oh my God. He remembered.
phoebe
Phoebe
Remembered what?
rachel
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
Chandler
Well, sure, but can you play it on a plane? (pats his Travel Scrabble game)
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, it's so pretty. This must have cost him a fortune.
monica
Monica
I can't believe he did this.
chandler
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
Rachel
What did you just say?
chandler
Chandler
(panicked) ahem... um... Crystal duck.
rachel
Rachel
No, no, no.... the, um, the... 'love' part?
chandler
Chandler
(stuttering incoherently) F-hah.... flennin....
rachel
Rachel
Oh.... my God.
chandler
Chandler
(rubbing his temples) Oh, no-no-no-no-no....
joey
Joey
(pats Chandler on the leg) That's good, just keep rubbing your head. That'll turn back time.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Scene 3

Monica and Rachel's, continued from earlier.

25 lines
rachel
Rachel
I mean, this is unbelievable.
phoebe
Phoebe
I know. This is really, really huge.
chandler
Chandler
No it's not. It's small. It's tiny. It's petite. It's wee.
phoebe
Phoebe
Nuh-uh. I don't think any of our lives are ever gonna be the same ever again.
chandler
Chandler
OK, is there a mute button on this woman?
monica
Monica
I think this is so great! I mean, you and Ross! D-did you have any idea?
rachel
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
Joey
Well, given that he's desperately in love with you, he probably wouldn't mind getting a cup of coffee or something.
rachel
Rachel
Ross? All this time? Well, I've got to talk to him. (gets up to leave)
chandler
Chandler
(quickly) H-He's in China!
joey
Joey
The country.
monica
Monica
No, no, wait. (checks Ross's itinerary) His flight doesn't leave for another forty-five more minutes.
chandler
Chandler
What about the time difference?
monica
Monica
From here to the airport?
chandler
Chandler
Yes! (Rachel walks towards door) You're never gonna make it!
monica
Monica
Rachel, what're you gonna say to him?
rachel
Rachel
I-I-I don't know.
chandler
Chandler
Well then maybe you shouldn't go.
joey
Joey
He's right, cause if you're just gonna, like, break his heart, that's the kind of thing that can wait.
monica
Monica
Yeah, but if it's good news, you should tell him now.
rachel
Rachel
I don't know. Maybe I'll know when I see him.
phoebe
Phoebe
Here, look, alright, does this help?
(Phoebe gets up, holds the picture of Ross up to her face.)
rachel
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
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
Ross
(something in Chinese)
Flight Attendant
Alright!
ross
Ross
Ni-chou chi-ma! (walks onto jetway)
(Rachel runs into the airport, trying to catch Ross, moving people out of the way.)
rachel
Rachel
Ross! Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me....
(Rachel gets up to the jetway.)
Flight Attendant
Hi!
rachel
Rachel
Hi.
Flight Attendant
May I see your boarding pass?
rachel
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
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
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
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
Joey
Heh, heh. It was nothin'.
Melanie
Well, now we've gotta find something fun for you! (she starts kissing his chest)
joey
Joey
(panicked) Uhhh.. y'know what? Forget about me. Let's, uh... let's give you another turn.
Melanie
(surprised) M-Me again?
joey
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
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
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
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
Phoebe
Sure.
rachel
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
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
Phoebe
Yeah, but, y'know, it's... it would be like starting on the fifteenth date.
monica
Monica
Another good point.
phoebe
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
Rachel
(confused) Huh?
phoebe
Phoebe
Well, I mean, then what happens if it doesn't work out?
monica
Monica
Why isn't it working out?
rachel
Rachel
I don't know... sometimes it doesn't.
monica
Monica
Is he not cute enough for you?
rachel
Rachel
No!
monica
Monica
Does he not make enough money?
rachel
Rachel
No, I'm just....
phoebe
Phoebe
Maybe there's someone else.
rachel
Rachel
Wha...
monica
Monica
Is there? Is there someone else?
rachel
Rachel
No! There is.. there is noone else!
monica
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
Chandler
Hey, big...
joey
Joey
Shhhh!
chandler
Chandler
(quietly) ...spender.
joey
Joey
She's still asleep.
chandler
Chandler
So how'd it go?
joey
Joey
Oh, it was amazing. You know how you always think you're great in bed?
chandler
Chandler
The fact that you'd even ask that question shows how little you know me.
joey
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
Chandler
Yes, I know, as it happens my room is very very close to the parade route.
joey
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
Chandler
I didn't know you had another level.
joey
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
Monica
Hey, great skirt! Birthday present?
rachel
Rachel
Yeah.
monica
Monica
Oh, from who?
rachel
Rachel
From you. I exchanged the blouse you got me.
monica
Monica
Well, it's the thought. Hey, doesn't Ross's flight get in in a couple hours? At gate 27-B?
rachel
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
Monica
Oh, why?
rachel
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
Monica
(gets up) No, no, no, no, no, no pressure, no pressure!
rachel
Rachel
Monica, nothing has even happened yet, and you're already so...
monica
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
Rachel
Who is it?
Intercom
It's me, Carl.
rachel
Rachel
C'mon up.
monica
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
Joey
Seven hundred bucks!
chandler
Chandler
Alright, you did it! Do we have any fruit?
joey
Joey
Man, hell of a two weeks, huh? Y'know what, though? I really feel like I learned something.
chandler
Chandler
Really? So, you're gonna stick with this 'it's all for her' thing?
joey
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
Ross
I can't believe you'd rather go out with him than me.
rachel
Rachel
Would you excuse me, please? I'm trying to have a date here.
ross
Ross
Fine, just stop thinking about me.
(She tries, and Ross disappears momentarily. He reappears, standing closer to her.)
ross
Ross
Can't do it, can you?
rachel
Rachel
So I'm thinking about you. So what?
ross
Ross
I don't get it. What do you see in this guy, anyway?
rachel
Rachel
Well... he happens to be a very nice... guy....
Carl
I mean, come on, buddy, get a real car!
ross
Ross
Rachel, come on. Give us a chance.
rachel
Rachel
Ross, it's too hard.
ross
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
Rachel
Ross, you're like my best friend.
ross
Ross
I know.
rachel
Rachel
If we broke up, and I lost you...
ross
Ross
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What makes you think we're gonna break up?
rachel
Rachel
Well, have you been involved with someone where you haven't broken up?
ross
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
Rachel
I don't know... I mean, I've never looked at you that way before.
ross
Ross
Well, start looking.
(They kiss. Ross walks away, and then fades out.)
rachel
Rachel
Wow.
Carl
Exactly! And you just know I'm gonna be the guy caught behind this hammerhead in traffic!
rachel
Rachel
Right! You're right!
Carl
Heh... y'know?
rachel
Rachel
You know what?
Carl
What?
rachel
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.

16 lines
rachel
Rachel
(sifting through crowd) Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me, excuse me, sorry. Hi.
[Cut to the 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
Ross
Oh, hey, hey, I got that.
(Ross picks up the bag... then he and the woman kiss.)
Julie
Oh, thanks, sweetie.
ross
Ross
No problem. I cannot wait for you to meet my friends.
Julie
Really?
ross
Ross
Yeah.
Julie
You don't think they'll judge and ridicule me?
ross
Ross
No, no, they will. I just... uh...
Ross And Julie
Can't wait.
ross
Ross
Come on, they're gonna love you.
[Cut to a close-up of Rachel, eagerly awaiting Ross's arrival... not knowing he is getting off the plane with another woman.]
END