S02E08

The One With the List

Ross weighs Julie against Rachel with a pros-and-cons list. Monica takes a job making a revolting chocolate substitute.

13 Scenes246 Lines
Scene 1

Monica and Rachel's apartment. Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel are there, discussing the night before.

13 lines
rachel
Rachel
Ross kissed me.
monica
Monica
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!
rachel
Rachel
It was unbelievable!
monica
Monica
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!
phoebe
Phoebe
Ok, all right. We want to hear everything. Monica, get the wine and unplug the phone. Rachel, does this end well or do we need to get tissues?
rachel
Rachel
Oh, it ended very well.
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh.
monica
Monica
[getting the wine] Do not start without me. Do not start without me.
phoebe
Phoebe
Ok, all right, let's hear about the kiss. Was it like, was it like a soft brush against your lips? Or was it like a, you know, a "I gotta have you now" kind of thing?
rachel
Rachel
Well, at first it was really intense, you know. And then, oh, god, and then we just sort of sunk into it.
phoebe
Phoebe
Ok, so, ok, was he holding you? Or was his hand like on your back?
rachel
Rachel
No, actually first they started on my waist. And then, they slid up, and then, they were in my hair.
monica
Monica
Ohhhh.
Scene 2

Ross' apartment. Ross, Chandler, and Joey are there eating pizza.

5 lines
ross
Ross
And, uh, and then I kissed her.
joey
Joey
Tongue?
ross
Ross
Yeah.
joey
Joey
Cool.
OPENING CREDITS
Scene 3

Central Perk. Joey, Phoebe, Monica, and Chandler are there; Chandler is showing everyone his new computer.

34 lines
chandler
Chandler
All right, check out this bad boy. 12 megabytes of ram. 500 megabyte hard drive. Built-in spreadsheet capabilities and a modem that transmits at over 28,000 b.p.s.
phoebe
Phoebe
Wow. What are you gonna use it for?
chandler
Chandler
[doggedly] Games and stuff.
monica
Monica
[reading the paper] There are no jobs. There are no jobs for me.
joey
Joey
[reading over her shoulder] Wait, here's one. Uh, would you be willing to cook naked?
monica
Monica
There's an ad for a naked chef?
joey
Joey
No, but if you're willing to cook naked, then you might be willing to dance naked. And then... [rubs his fingers together]
[Ross enters, distraught.]
ross
Ross
Hi.
phoebe
Phoebe
Hey, oh, so, um...how'd you make out last night?
ross
Ross
That, that is funny. That is painfully funny. No, wait. Wait, yeah, that's just painful
monica
Monica
Wait a minute. I thought last night was great.
ross
Ross
Yeah, it was, but...I get home, ok, and I see Julie's saline solution on my night table. And I'm thinking to myself, oh my god, what the hell am I doing? I mean, here I am, I am with Julie, this incredible, great woman, who I care about and who cares about me, and I'm like, what, am I just gonna throw all that away?
joey
Joey
You got all that from saline solution?
monica
Monica
We are talking about Rachel here. You and Rachel.
ross
Ross
Believe me, I've been dreaming about me and Rachel for ten years now. But now, I'm with Julie, so it's like me and Julie, me and Rachel, me and Julie, me and... [Rachel enters, carrying a tray]... Rachel. Rachel, Rachel.
rachel
Rachel
[to Ross] Hey, you.
ross
Ross
How are you?
rachel
Rachel
Good. How are you?
ross
Ross
Good.
[Julie enters.]
Julie
Hi, honey.
ross
Ross
Hi, Julie. [nervous] Hi, Julie. Julie, um, how are you?
Julie
Good.
ross
Ross
[uncomfortable] Good, so everybody's here. Everybody's good. So, were you gonna play something, Phoebe?
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, well, actually.
ross
Ross
[impatient] Play it.
phoebe
Phoebe
Ok, all right.
joey
Joey
Hey, Julie, I didn't know you wore lenses.
Julie
What?
ross
Ross
[to Joey] Ssshh.
phoebe
Phoebe
Ok, um, hi, hello, hi, ok, so, um, this is a song about a love triangle between three people that I made up. Um, it's called, um, "Two of Them Kissed Last Night".
[Ross and Rachel look at each other and then at Phoebe, realizing the song is about their situation.]
phoebe
Phoebe
[singing] There was a girl, we'll call her Betty, and a guy let's call him Neil. Now I can't stress this point too strongly, this story isn't real. Now our Neil must decide, who will be the girl that he casts aside. Will Betty be the one who he loves truly? Or will it be the one who we'll call Ju...Loolie? He must decide, he must decide, even though I made him up, he must decide!
Scene 4

Mr. Ratstatter's office. Monica is there about a job.

24 lines
Ratstatter
This is a nice resume. Nice, nice, nice. Muy impressivo.
monica
Monica
So, Mr. Rastatter, what exactly does this job entail? The ad wasn't too clear.
Ratstatter
Mockolate.
monica
Monica
I'm sorry?
Ratstatter
Mockolate. It's a completely synthetic chocolate substitute.
monica
Monica
Ohh.
[He pulls out a piece of Mockolate.]
Ratstatter
Go ahead. Try a piece. Yeah, we think that Mockolate is even better than chocolate.
monica
Monica
All right. Mmm-mmm.
[She tastes it, and obviously hates it.]
Ratstatter
Yeah?
monica
Monica
[disgusted, trying not to show it] I love how it crumbles. Now see, your chocolate doesn't do that.
Ratstatter
No, ma'am. Well, anyhoo, we should be getting our F.D.A. approval any day now, hopefully, in time for Thanksgiving. See, the way we look at it, chocolate already dominates most of your major food-preparation holidays: Easter, Christmas, what have you.
monica
Monica
[still chewing] Mmm-mmm.
Ratstatter
But, we're thinking, given the right marketing, we can make Thanksgiving the Mockolate holiday.
monica
Monica
Wow.
Ratstatter
Aren't you going to swallow that?
monica
Monica
Just waiting for it to stop bubbling.
Ratstatter
Yeah, isn't that great?
monica
Monica
[with false enthusiasm] Mmm.
Ratstatter
Well, anyhoo, um, we are looking for a couple of chefs who can create some Thanksgiving-themed recipes. You think you might be interested?
monica
Monica
Abso...[swallows hard]...lutely. See, I love creating new recipes. I love Thanksgiving. And, well, now, I love Mockolate.
Ratstatter
Really?
monica
Monica
Especially the after taste, you know, I'll tell ya, that'll last ya till Christmas.
Scene 5

Monica and Rachel's apartment. Monica and Phoebe are there. Monica is suggesting Mockolate recipes to Phoebe.

13 lines
monica
Monica
How about Mockolate mousse?
phoebe
Phoebe
It's not, it's not very Thanksgiving-y.
monica
Monica
Ok, how about pilgrim Mockolate mousse?
phoebe
Phoebe
What makes it pilgrim?
monica
Monica
We'll put buckles on it.
[Rachel enters.]
rachel
Rachel
Hey.
phoebe
Phoebe
Hey.
monica
Monica
Hey.
rachel
Rachel
Did uh, Ross call?
monica
Monica
No, I'm sorry.
rachel
Rachel
Why didn't he call? He's gonna stay with Julie, isn't he? He's gonna stay with her and she's going to be all, "Hi, I'm Julie, Ross picked me, and we're gonna to get married, have a lot of kids and dig up stuff together."
phoebe
Phoebe
No offense, but that sounds nothing like her.
Scene 6

Chandler and Joey's apartment. Ross is up in arms about the Rachel/Julie situation.

18 lines
ross
Ross
I don't know what to do. What am I gonna do? I mean, this, this is like a complete nightmare.
chandler
Chandler
Oh, I know. This must be so hard. Oh, no. Two women love me. They're both gorgeous and sexy. My wallet's too small for my fifties, and my diamond shoes are too tight.
joey
Joey
Hey, here's a thought, Ross. [reaches for the computer]
chandler
Chandler
Don't touch the computer. Don't ever touch the computer.
joey
Joey
Ross, listen. I got two words for you. Threesome.
[Ross gives him an insulted look.]
chandler
Chandler
Ok, all right, look. Let's get logical about this, ok? We'll make a list. Rachel and Julie, pros and cons. Oh. We'll put their names in bold, with different fonts, and I can use different colors for each column.
ross
Ross
Can't we just use a pen?
chandler
Chandler
No, Amish boy.
joey
Joey
Ok, let's start with the cons, 'cause they're more fun. All right, Rachel first.
ross
Ross
I don't know. I mean, all right, I guess you can say she's a little spoiled sometimes.
joey
Joey
You could say that.
ross
Ross
And I guess, you know, sometimes, she's a little ditzy, you know. And I've seen her be a little too into her looks. Oh, and Julie and I, we have a lot in common 'cause we're both paleontologists, but Rachel's just a waitress.
chandler
Chandler
Waitress. Got it. You guys wanna play Doom? Or we could keep doing this. What else?
ross
Ross
I don't know.
joey
Joey
Oh, her ankles are a little chubby.
chandler
Chandler
Ok, let's do Julie. What's wrong with her?
ross
Ross
[long pause] She's not Rachel.
Scene 7

Monica and Rachel's apartment. Monica has made food for Phoebe and Rachel to taste.

7 lines
monica
Monica
Ok, this is pumpkin pie with mockolate cookie crumb crust. This is mockolate cranberry cake, and these are mockolate chip cookies. Just like the Indians served.
[Rachel takes a bite.]
rachel
Rachel
Oh my god.
monica
Monica
Oh my god good?
rachel
Rachel
Oh my god, I can't believe you let me put this in my mouth.
[Rachel runs to the sink to spit it out.]
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, oh sweet Lord! This is what evil must taste like!
Scene 8

Chandler and Joey's apartment. Chandler is on the phone with a computer hotline.

62 lines
chandler
Chandler
I'm telling you this thing won't print. Yes, I pressed that button like 100 times. You know, for a hot line you are not so hot. What? What is that in the background? Are you watching Star Trek?
[Ross enters with a melancholy look.]
joey
Joey
[to Ross] Hey, so how'd it go with Julie? Did you, did you break her heart?
ross
Ross
Yes, it was horrible. She cried. I cried. She threw things, they hit me. Anyway, I did the right thing.
chandler
Chandler
[in phone] So, Spock actually hugs his father?
[Rachel enters.]
rachel
Rachel
Hey, do you guys have...[sees Ross, pauses]...hi.
ross
Ross
Hi.
rachel
Rachel
[sees his coat on] Where you goin'?
ross
Ross
I uh, I just got back from uh, from Julie's.
rachel
Rachel
[dejected] Oh.
ross
Ross
No, no, uh, it's not what you think. It's um the other thing.
rachel
Rachel
Well, what's the other thing, what do I think?
[Joey is looking at Rachel, smiling, and gesturing his head towards Ross.]
ross
Ross
Well, uh.
joey
Joey
He broke up with Julie. Well, go hug her, for god's sakes.
rachel
Rachel
Really?
ross
Ross
Really. It's always been you, Rach.
[Ross and Rachel hug.]
rachel
Rachel
Oh, god.
chandler
Chandler
Ohhh.
rachel
Rachel
Oh, oh, this is good, this is really good.
ross
Ross
I know, I know, it's, it's almost...[turns around, sees Chandler and Joey] What do you say we go take a walk, just us, not them?
rachel
Rachel
Let me get my coat.
ross
Ross
Ok. No, hey, whoa, whoa, I'll get your coat.
[Ross leaves.]
rachel
Rachel
Ok, he's goin' to get my coat. He's goin' to get my coat. Oh my god, you guys. I can't believe this. This is unbelievable. [notices Chandler's computer screen] What's that?
chandler
Chandler
[nervous] What? Nothing.
[Chandler closes up the laptop computer screen.]
rachel
Rachel
What's that? What? I saw my name. What is it?
chandler
Chandler
No, no, see? See? [the printer starts to run] Hey, it's printing. [to Joey, rattled] Hey, it's printing!
[Chandler rips off the sheet of paper from the printer.]
rachel
Rachel
Well what is it? Let me see.
[Ross walks back in, Rachel's coat in hand.]
ross
Ross
Hey, someone order a coat?
rachel
Rachel
Ross, Chandler wrote something about me on his computer and he won't let me see.
ross
Ross
He won't? [remembers what it is] He won't! Because, isn't that, isn't that the, the short story you were writing?
chandler
Chandler
Yes, yes it is, short story, that I was writing.
rachel
Rachel
And I'm in it? Then let me read it.
ross
Ross
No!
rachel
Rachel
Come on.
joey
Joey
Hey, uh, why don't you read it to her?
[Ross and Chandler stare angrily at Joey, who thinks he has come up with a good idea.]
chandler
Chandler
[through gritted teeth] Alright. [clears his throat] "It was summer, and it was hot. Rachel was there. A lonely gray couch. 'Oh, look,' cried Ned, and then the kingdom was his forever. The end."
ross
Ross
That's it? That's all you wrote? You're the worst writer in the whole world.
rachel
Rachel
All right, you know what? This isn't funny anymore. There's something about me on that piece of paper and I want to see it.
ross
Ross
No, you don't.
rachel
Rachel
All right, you know what, that's fine. If you guys want to be children about this, that's fine. I do not need to see it. [Rachel grabs the paper and runs across the room, reading it to herself.]
rachel
Rachel
What is this? Ross, what is this?
chandler
Chandler
Good luck.
[Chandler and Joey leave quickly.]
ross
Ross
Ok, just, just remember how crazy I am about you, ok?
rachel
Rachel
Kind of ditzy? Too into her looks? Spoiled?
ross
Ross
Now that's a little spoiled. He was supposed to type "little", the idiot.
rachel
Rachel
Just a waitress?
ross
Ross
No, that, that was, I mean, as opposed to uh, the uh, ok. Is this over yet Rach?
rachel
Rachel
Oh! I do not have chubby ankles!
[Rachel leaves, and Ross follows her into the hall.]
ross
Ross
No, no, wait, ok, ok, look at the other side. Look at Julie's column.
rachel
Rachel
She is not Rachem. What the hell's a Rachem? Is that some stupid paleontology word that I wouldn't know because I'm just a waitress.
[She goes into her apartment and slams the door.]
ross
Ross
No, Rach, come on. Rach! Rach, no, no! She's not Rachel, she is, she is not, Ra--Rachel?
Scene 9

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

13 lines
chandler
Chandler
My diary! My diary, that's brilliant. I should have told her it was my diary, she never would have made me read her my diary.
monica
Monica
You know, that's true. You'd be a great person to have around the day after an emergency.
phoebe
Phoebe
I... I cannot believe Ross even made this list. What a dinkus.
joey
Joey
Hey, cut him some slack. It was Chandler's idea.
phoebe
Phoebe
What?
monica
Monica
What?
chandler
Chandler
Oh good, I was hoping that would come up.
monica
Monica
This was your idea?
phoebe
Phoebe
What were you thinking?
chandler
Chandler
[squirming] All right, let's get some perspective here, ok? These things, they happen for a reason.
monica
Monica
Yeah. You!
chandler
Chandler
All right, Pheebs, back me up here, ok? You believe in that karma crap, don't you?
phoebe
Phoebe
Yeah, by the way, good luck in your next life as a dung beetle.
Scene 10

Monica and Rachel's apartment. Rachel is sitting on the couch, eating candy. It is raining out. Ross climbs up the fire escape and is knocking on the window.

31 lines
ross
Ross
Rach! Whoops! Rach, hey, open up, please!
rachel
Rachel
[coldly] When somebody does not buzz you in, Ross, that means go away. That doesn't mean please climb up the fire escape.
ross
Ross
I just wanna read something. It's your pro list.
rachel
Rachel
Not interested.
[Rachel closes the drapes over the window, goes into her bedroom and closes the door.]
ross
Ross
[reading his list] Ok, ok, number one: The way you cry at game shows. Number two: how much you love your friends. Number three: the way you play with your hair when you're nervous. Number four: how brave you are for starting your life over. Number five: how great you are with Ben.
[Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe enter, confused.]
ross
Ross
Number six: the way you smell.
joey
Joey
[opens the drapes] Hey, Ross! What are you doin'?
ross
Ross
Hey, Joey. You wanna open the window?
joey
Joey
Oh, yeah, I do.
[He opens the window, Ross comes in, soaked.]
chandler
Chandler
What are you doing out there?
ross
Ross
I am, uh, I am...
monica
Monica
Oh, you must be freezing. You know what you need? How about a nice steaming cup of hot Mockolate?
[Ross runs to Rachel's bedroom, knocking on the door.]
ross
Ross
Rach, come on, open up. Rach, come on, come on, Rach. You got to give me another chance.
[Rachel opens the door.]
rachel
Rachel
No.
ross
Ross
No?
rachel
Rachel
That's what I said.
chandler
Chandler
Look, maybe we should go?
rachel
Rachel
No, you guys, you really don't have to go, we're done talking.
ross
Ross
Rach, come on, look, I know how you must feel.
rachel
Rachel
[near tears] No, you don't, Ross. Imagine the worst things you think about yourself. Now, how would you feel if the one person that you trusted the most in the world not only thinks them too, but actually uses them as reasons not to be with you.
ross
Ross
No, but, but I wanna be with you in spite of all those things.
rachel
Rachel
Oh, well, that's, that's mighty big of you, Ross. [to the others] I said don't go!
ross
Ross
You know what? You know what? If, things were the other way around, there's nothing you could put on a list that would ever make me not want to be with you.
rachel
Rachel
Well, then, I guess that's the difference between us. See, I'd never make a list.
[She closes the door in his face. Ross walks sullenly back to the couch and sits down. A moment of silence ensues.]
joey
Joey
[quietly] I never know how long you're supposed to wait in this type of a situation before you can talk again, you know? [Ross stares blankly at him] Maybe a little longer.
Scene 11

Mr. Ratstatter's office. Monica is there.

8 lines
monica
Monica
Now, in some of these recipes, the quantities may seem just a little unusual, uh, like these coconut mockolate holiday nut bars. I've indicated four cups of coconut, and four cups of crushed nut, and only, uh, one tablespoon of mockolate.
Ratstatter
Doesn't matter.
monica
Monica
What?
Ratstatter
Our FDA approval didn't come through. Something about laboratory rats.
monica
Monica
Oh, gosh, I'm sorry.
Ratstatter
Yeah, well, anyhoo, here is your check. [hands it to her] Thank you for all the trouble you went through. Um, listen, you didn't eat a lot of it while you were cooking, did you?
monica
Monica
Well, uh, I ate some.
Ratstatter
Oh, some, that's fine. Some is fine. Some is not a lot. So, it doesn't burn when you pee, does it?
Scene 12

Monica and Rachel's apartment. Monica and Rachel are there.

12 lines
(phone rings)
monica
Monica
Hello?
[Ross is at his apartment.]
ross
Ross
Hi.
rachel
Rachel
[to Monica] Is that him again? Tell him I'd come to the phone, but my ankles are weighin' me down.
monica
Monica
[to Ross] Listen, I... I don't think this is the best time.
ross
Ross
Look, can, can you do something for me?
monica
Monica
Sure, what? Ok, ok. [hangs up the phone] [to Rachel] Music?
[Monica turns on the radio.]
Radio
The next one's dedicated to Rachel from Ross. Rachel, he wants you to know he's deeply sorry for what he did and he hopes you can find it in your heart to forgive him. (With or Without You plays)
[Rachel seems touched. She pauses for a moment, then picks up the phone and starts to dial. Cut to Ross at his apartment.]
Radio
Uh, we've just gotten a call from Rachel, and she told us what Ross did. It's pretty appalling, and Ross, if you're listening, I don't wanna play your song anymore. Why don't we devote our time to a couple that stands a chance? Avery, Michelle's sorry she hit you with her car and she hopes you two will work it out.
Scene 13

Mr. Ratstatter's office. Monica is there.

6 lines
Ratstatter
Hi, thanks for coming in again.
monica
Monica
Oh, not at all. I have no morals and I need the cash.
Ratstatter
It's like I'm lookin' in a mirror. Anyway, they're called "fishtachios". They taste exactly like pistachios, but they're made primarily of reconstituted fish bits. Here, try one. You're not allergic to anything, are you?
monica
Monica
Cat hair.
Ratstatter
Oh, sorry.
END