S05E08

The One With The Thanksgiving Flashbacks

The group shares their worst Thanksgiving memories.

15 Scenes286 Lines
Scene 1

Monica and Rachel's, everyone has just finished Thanksgiving dinner and are groaning over their fullness.

15 lines
rachel
Rachel
Oh Monica that was the best Thanksgiving dinner ever! I think you killed us.
ross
Ross
I couldn't possibly eat another bite.
joey
Joey
I need something sweet.
phoebe
Phoebe
Does anyone wanna watch TV?
Everyone
Yeah, sure.
(She starts pushing the power button on the remote, but it's not facing the TV so it doesn't work.)
phoebe
Phoebe
Monica your remote doesn't work.
monica
Monica
Phoebe, you have to lift it and point.
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh. Aw, forget it.
rachel
Rachel
Yeah, you know what we should all do? We should play that game where everyone says one thing that they're thankful for.
joey
Joey
Ooh-ooh, I! I am thankful for this beautiful fall we've been having.
monica
Monica
That's very nice.
chandler
Chandler
That's sweet, Joey.
joey
Joey
Yeah, the other day I was at the bus-stop and this lovely fall breeze came in out of nowhere and blew this chick's skirt right up. Oh! Which reminds me, I'm also thankful for thongs. (Note: Actually, I think every guy is thankful for thongs. That and spandex. J )
OPENING CREDITS
Scene 2

Monica and Rachel's, continued from earlier. Joey is talking about the wonder that is the thong.

13 lines
joey
Joey
I mean, it's not so much an underpant as it is a feat of engineering. I mean, it's amazing how much they can do with so little material! And the way they play with your mind! Is it there? Is it not there?
chandler
Chandler
Are you aware that you're still talking?
monica
Monica
Is anyone thankful for anything else besides a thong?
ross
Ross
Huh, I don't know what to pick. Am I more thankful for my divorce or my eviction? Hmm.
phoebe
Phoebe
Wow! See, and I didn't think you'd be able to come up with anything.
ross
Ross
I'm sorry. It's just that this is the worse Thanksgiving ever.
chandler
Chandler
No-no-no! I am the king of bad Thanksgivings. You can't just swoop in here with your bad marriage and take that away from me.
rachel
Rachel
Oh, you're not gonna tell the whole story about how your parents got divorced again are you?
ross
Ross
Oh God, no.
joey
Joey
Oh, come on! I wanna hear it! It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Chandler bumming us out!
chandler
Chandler
It's a tradition, like the parade. If the parade decided it was gay, moved out, and abandoned its entire family.
(And with that, we start a series of flashbacks to Thanksgiving's of years gone by.)
Thanksgiving 1978
Scene 3

The Bing household, Mr. and Mrs. Bing and Young Chandler are eating Thanksgiving dinner as a housekeeper serves them.

3 lines
Mrs. Bing
Now Chandler dear, just because your father and I are getting a divorce it doesn't mean we don't love you. It just means he would rather sleep with the house-boy than me.
The Housekeeper
More turkey Mr. Chandler? (And he makes eyes at him.)
Present Day
Scene 4

Monica and Rachel's, continued from earlier.

5 lines
ross
Ross
You're right. Yours is worse. You are the king of bad Thanksgivings.
phoebe
Phoebe
I don't know about that. I've got one that's worse.
chandler
Chandler
Really? Worse than, "More turkey Mr. Chandler?"
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, did the little rich boy have a problem with the butler? Yes, mine's worse!
Thanksgiving 1862
Scene 5

A Union battlefield hospital, Phoebe, in a past life, is tending to a wounded Union soldier. (By the way, for historical perspective, 1862 was the second year of the American Civil War.)

2 lines
phoebe
Phoebe
More bandages! More bandages! Please, can I get some more bandages in here! This man is dying-(She is cut off by an exploding shell just outside the tent. When the smoke clears, she's missing an arm and the blood is pumping out like you'd see in a horror movie. And upon seeing her condition, she says...) Oh no.
Present Day
Scene 6

Monica and Rachel's, continued from earlier.

12 lines
ross
Ross
In this life, Phoebe.
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, this life! Oh okay no, Chandler's is worse.
joey
Joey
Man, it must be so cool remembering stuff like that! I don't have any past life memories.
phoebe
Phoebe
Of course you don't sweetie. You're brand new.
rachel
Rachel
I know Monica's worst Thanksgiving.
monica
Monica
Oh, let's not tell this story.
Everyone
Oh, come on!
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh no, I know! I know! It's the one where Joey got Monica's turkey stuck on his head!
rachel
Rachel
What?! Joey got a turkey stuck on his head?!
joey
Joey
Hey, it's not like it sounds.
chandler
Chandler
It's exactly like it sounds.
Thanksgiving 1992
Scene 7

Monica and Phoebe's, Phoebe is entering.

34 lines
joey
Joey
(muffled) Hello?
phoebe
Phoebe
(surprised) Hello?
joey
Joey
Phoebe?
phoebe
Phoebe
Joey? What's going on?
joey
Joey
Look. (He walks out of the bathroom with his head stuck in a huge turkey.)
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh my God!
joey
Joey
I know! It's stuck!!!
phoebe
Phoebe
(walks him to the kitchen) Easy. Step. How did it get on?
joey
Joey
I put it on to scare Chandler!
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh my God! Monica's gonna totally freak out!
joey
Joey
Well then help me get it off! Plus, it smells really bad in here.
phoebe
Phoebe
Well, of course it smells really bad. You have your head up a dead animal.
(They hear Monica trying to unlock the door. So Phoebe quickly pushes his head down onto the table to make it look like the turkey is just sitting on a platter and not stuck on Joey's head.)
monica
Monica
(entering) Hey!
phoebe
Phoebe
Hey!
monica
Monica
Hey, did you get the turkey basted-Oh my God! Oh my God! (She sees someone is stuck in the turkey.) Who is that?
joey
Joey
It's Joey.
monica
Monica
What-what are you doing? Is this supposed to be funny?
phoebe
Phoebe
No, it's not supposed to be funny, it's supposed to be scary.
monica
Monica
Well, get it off now!
joey
Joey
I can't! It-it's stuck!
monica
Monica
Well, I don't care! That-that turkey has to feed 20 people at my parent's house and they're not gonna eat it off your head!
phoebe
Phoebe
All right, hold on! Okay, let's just all think.
(They all start thinking. Joey starts rubbing his chin, of course his chin is currently inside the turkey so he ends up rubbing the turkey. And I didn't do that joke one bit of justice. It's one of those you have to see it to get it jokes.)
monica
Monica
Okay, I got it. Phoebe? All right, you pull. I'm gonna spread the legs as wide as I can. (Joey starts giggling.) Joey? Now is not the time!
joey
Joey
Sorry! Sorry.
(They get into position to pull the turkey off.)
monica
Monica
Okay, count to three. 1. 2. 3!
(They both pull but Joey slips out and starts to fall backwards just as Chandler enters, scaring him.)
chandler
Chandler
Arghhhhhh!! (Joey turns around to taunt him, but Chandler is in the doorway and Joey is facing the kitchen.)
joey
Joey
(pointing) It worked! I scared ya, I knew it! Ha-ha!
chandler
Chandler
I'm over here big guy.
joey
Joey
(turning all the way around, and still not facing Chandler) Yeah, you are! (Starts dancing.) I scared you!
Present Day
Scene 8

Monica and Rachel's, continued from earlier.

10 lines
chandler
Chandler
(laughing) You did look like an idiot.
joey
Joey
Hey, I wasn't the only one who looked like an idiot. All right? Remember when Ross tried to say, "Butternut squash?" And it came out, "Squatternut buash?"
ross
Ross
Yeah that's the same.
monica
Monica
That's it. That's my worse Thanksgiving.
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh wait! That can't be the one Rachel's talking about. She didn't even know that happened. So which one was it?
Everyone
Which one?
monica
Monica
Umm, I-I really don't want to tell this story.
chandler
Chandler
Oh, come on Monica, reliving past pain and getting depressed is what Thanksgiving is all about. Y'know, for me anyway. And of course, the Indians.
monica
Monica
Look umm, of all people, you do not want me to tell this story!
Thanksgiving 1987
Scene 9

The Geller household, Mr. and Mrs. Geller are getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner. The doorbell rings.

65 lines
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
Monica! I think Rachel's here!
monica
Monica
I'll get it! (She runs in, and she's her old fat self like The One With The Prom Video. Not only that, she's out of breath after running a short distance. She goes over and opens the door to reveal Rachel with her old nose.) Happy Thanksgiving!
rachel
Rachel
Not for me. Chip and I broke up!
monica
Monica
Oh, why? Why? What happened?
rachel
Rachel
Well, you know that my parents are out of town and Chip was going to come over...
monica
Monica
Yeah, yeah, and you were going him y'know, your flower.
rachel
Rachel
Okay, Monica, can you just call it sex?! It really creeps me out when you call it that! Okay, and by the way, while we're at it, a guy's thing is not called his tenderness. Believe me! (Walks into the living room and greets Monica's parents.) Hi!
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Hi Rachel!
rachel
Rachel
Happy Thanksgiving!
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
You too sweethart!
ross
Ross
(entering) Hey!
(He brought home Chandler for Thanksgiving. Chandler is sporting the very popular Flock of Seagulls haircut. Yeah, it's another you have to see it to believe it kinda thing.)
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Oh my!
ross
Ross
Uh, everyone, this is Chandler! My roommate and lead singer of our band!
monica
Monica
Ross! (Wanting to be introduced.)
ross
Ross
Oh, this is Monica.
monica
Monica
Hi, I'm Ross's little sister.
chandler
Chandler
(seeing her) Okay.
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
I'm so glad you could come Chandler, we've got plenty of food so I hope you're hungry.
ross
Ross
Oh, mom. Mom. Chandler hates Thanksgiving and doesn't eat any Thanksgiving food.
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
Oh, well, I'm so glad you brought him here then.
monica
Monica
Umm, Chandler, if you want I can make you some macaroni and cheese for dinner.
chandler
Chandler
Well, as long as the pilgrims didn't eat it, I'm in.
(As she is drinking, Monica laughs and Chandler's joke and Diet Coke comes out of her nose.)
monica
Monica
dammit! (Runs off.)
(Ross points out Rachel to Chandler and goes over to talk to her. Rachel is checking out her nose in her compact mirror.)
ross
Ross
So uh, Rach? Does it, does it feel weird around here now? Y'know since I've been away at college.
rachel
Rachel
Oh! No, not really.
ross
Ross
Well, that's cool. So did... (She walks away from him and he shuts up.)
(Rachel wanders into the kitchen where Monica is making Chandler's dinner.)
rachel
Rachel
Ugh! I cannot believe Chip dumped me for that slut Nancy Branson. I am never going out with him again. I don't care how much he begs!
monica
Monica
I think his begging days are over now that he's going out with Nancy Branson.
rachel
Rachel
Y'know what? I've just had it with high school boys! They are just silly. (Ross is overhearing this.) Silly, stupid boys! I'm going to start dating men!
ross
Ross
Umm, I'm sorry Judy, I couldn't find that bowl that you and Jack were looking for.
monica
Monica
Call them mom and dad you loser!
ross
Ross
(in a high pitched voice) Monica!
[Time lapse, dinner has finished and Chandler is sitting on the couch eating some pie. Monica sits down beside him, and he gets pushed up a little by the wave she makes in the couch.]
monica
Monica
Hey Chandler! Did you like the macaroni and cheese?
chandler
Chandler
Oh yeah, it was great. You should be a chef.
monica
Monica
Okay!
(He gets up and walks away as Rachel come running over all excited.)
rachel
Rachel
Guess what?! All that stuff about Nancy Branson being a slut was all a rumor so Chip dumped her and he wants to come over to my house tonight!
monica
Monica
Oh that's so great!
rachel
Rachel
I know!
monica
Monica
Oh gosh, listen if you and Chip do it tonight, promise me you'll tell me everything.
rachel
Rachel
Oh totally, totally. Y'know it's not that big of deal, we already kinda did it once y'know.
monica
Monica
I know, but y'know, this time you're gonna definitely know whether or not you did it!
rachel
Rachel
I know, I know. And oh, and this time Chip promised that-that this time it will last at least for an entire song!
[Cut to the kitchen, Ross and Chandler are doing the dishes.]
ross
Ross
So I'm thinking about asking Rachel out tonight. Y'know maybe play her that song we wrote last week.
chandler
Chandler
Emotional Knapsack?
ross
Ross
Yeah.
chandler
Chandler
Right on! Oh! Uh, but, don't take to long okay? 'Cause uh, we're gonna test out our fake ID's tonight, right Clifford Alverez.
ross
Ross
Listen, Roland Chang, if things go well, I'm gonna be out with her all night.
chandler
Chandler
Dude, don't do that too me!
(Monica enters behind them.)
ross
Ross
All right, it's cool you can stay here. My parents won't mind.
(Monica suddenly gets very happy.)
chandler
Chandler
No, it's not that, I just don't want to be stuck here all night with your fat sister.
ross
Ross
Hey!
(Upon hearing this, Monica starts to break down and storms out. Only to be stopped by her parents.)
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
(holding two pies) Monica, why don't you finish off these pies? I don't have any more room left in the fridge.
monica
Monica
No. No, thank you!
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Well Judy, you did it! She's finally full!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Scene 10

Monica and Rachel's, back to the present day.

14 lines
chandler
Chandler
I called you fat?! I don't even remember that!
monica
Monica
Well, I do.
chandler
Chandler
I am so sorry. I really am. I was an idiot back then. I rushed the stage at a Wham concert for crying out loud!
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, I can't believe you called her fat.
ross
Ross
I can't believe you let George Michael slap you.
chandler
Chandler
I am really sorry. That is so terrible. I am so, so sorry.
rachel
Rachel
Actually, y'know that's not the Thanksgiving I was talking about.
monica
Monica
Yes, it was!
rachel
Rachel
No, it wasn't. It was actually the...
monica
Monica
(interrupting her) Okay, now Thanksgiving's over, let's get ready for Christmas. Who wants to go get a Christmas tree?!
phoebe
Phoebe
Oh, no, I have the cutest Christmas story!
chandler
Chandler
We wanna hear Monica's Thanksgiving story!
phoebe
Phoebe
Fine, all right, mine had a dwarf that got broke in half, but y'know whatever.
Thanksgiving 1988
Scene 11

The Geller household kitchen, Mrs. Geller is cooking and Rachel, post nose job, is helping her.

55 lines
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
So Rachel, your mom tells me you changed your major again.
rachel
Rachel
Oh, yeah, I had too. There was never any parking by the Psychology building.
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
(entering) Hi Rachel.
rachel
Rachel
Oh hi!
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Wow, love your new nose!
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
Jack.
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
What? Dr. Wilson's an artist! He removed my mole cluster. Wanna see? (He starts to show her as the doorbell rings.)
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
I'll get it.
rachel
Rachel
No, God! Please, let me! (Runs out.)
(She opens the door to reveal Chandler and Ross. Unfortunately, they seem to have their holidays mixed up. They think it's Halloween and they're going as Crockett and Tubbs from that legendary TV show of the late 80's, Miami Vice. God, we looked silly back then!)
rachel
Rachel
Hey!
ross
Ross
Hey. (To his parents) Happy Thanksgiving!
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
(To Chandler) God, your hair sure is different!
chandler
Chandler
Yeah, we were just talking about that. I can't believe how stupid we used to look. (They both quickly push their sleeves over their elbows.)
ross
Ross
So uh, where's Monica?
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
She's upstairs. Monica! Come down! Everyone's here! Ross, Rachel, and the boy who hates Thanksgiving.
(Monica enters, but she forgot something. Oh, about 150 pounds. In other words, she lost weight, big time!)
monica
Monica
Hi, Chandler.
chandler
Chandler
Oh my God!
monica
Monica
What-what's the matter? Is there, is there something on my dress? (She turns around making sure he gets a good look.)
chandler
Chandler
You just, you look so different! Terrific! That dress! That body!
ross
Ross
Dude!
chandler
Chandler
Sorry!
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
Yes, yes Monica is thin. It's wonderful. But what we really want to hear about is Ross's new girlfriend.
ross
Ross
Oh mom! Okay, umm, her name is Carol. And she's really pretty. And smart. And uh, she's-she's on the lacrosse team and the golf team. Can you believe it? She plays for both teams!
monica
Monica
So Chandler, I guess I'll see you at dinner.
(She heads for the kitchen and Chandler watches her leave and admires the view.)
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Dude!
chandler
Chandler
Sorry.
(In the kitchen.)
rachel
Rachel
(entering) Oh-ho, my God! That was so awesome! You totally got him back for calling you fat! He was just drooling all over you. That must've felt so great!
monica
Monica
Well it didn't!
rachel
Rachel
What?!
monica
Monica
Yeah, I mean yeah, I look great. Yeah, I feel great and yeah, my heart is not in trouble anymore! Blah, blah, blah! Y'know I still don't feel like I got him back, y'know? I just want to humiliate him. I wanna, I want him to be like naked and then I'm going to point at him and laugh!
rachel
Rachel
Okay, that we may be able to do.
monica
Monica
How?
rachel
Rachel
Well guys tend to get naked before they're gonna have sex.
monica
Monica
What?! I mean, I didn't work this hard and-and-and lose all this weight so that I can give my flower to someone like him!
rachel
Rachel
Okay, first of all, if you keep calling it that, no one's gonna ever take it. Then, second of all you're not actually gonna have sex with him! You're just gonna make him think that you are.
monica
Monica
Yeah.
rachel
Rachel
Yeah.
monica
Monica
And when he's naked I can throw him out in the front yard and lock the door and all the neighbors will just humiliate him!
rachel
Rachel
Then, you will definitely get him back!
monica
Monica
Okay, so how do I make him think I wanna have sex with him?
rachel
Rachel
Okay, oh, here's what you do. Just act like everything around you turns you on.
monica
Monica
What do you mean?
rachel
Rachel
Well, like anything can be sexy. Like umm, oh-oh, like this dishtowel! (She grabs it and starts rubbing it on her cheek.) Ooh, ooh, this feels sooo good against my cheek! And-and if I feel a little hot, I can just dab myself with it. Or I can bring it down to my side and bring it through my fingers while I talk to him.
monica
Monica
(excited) I can do that!
rachel
Rachel
Yeah? Okay! Good, good, because he's coming. He's coming. (To Chandler) Hey, what's up? (She leaves and closes the door behind her.)
chandler
Chandler
Monica, I was wondering if you can make me some of that righteous mac and cheese like last year.
monica
Monica
Umm, I'd love too! (She goes over and picks up the box and decides to follow Rachel's advice and holds the box up to her cheek.) Ooh, I love macaroni and cheese. I love-I love the way this box feels against my cheek.
chandler
Chandler
Okay.
monica
Monica
Boy, I love carrots! Oh! (She picks up a bunch of them and holds them between her fingers.) Sometimes I like to put them between my fingers like this and-and hold them down here while I talk to you. (She is rubbing her hip with the carrots.) Umm, and-and-and y'know if I get really hot umm, I-I like to pick up this knife (She picks up a knife without putting the box down. She's holding the box between her cheek and shoulder) and-and umm, I-I put the cold steal against umm, (Pause) my body. (She doesn't have any exposed skin within reach of the knife, so while holding the carrots in one hand and the box between her face and shoulder, she rubs the knife on her stomach.)
chandler
Chandler
Are you all right?
monica
Monica
Oh yeah, of course. I'm fine it's just that-(She drops the box and in a reflex action tries to catch it with her arm, the knife slips out and slowly flips through the air and comes point first down into Chandler's shoe.)
Scene 12

The hospital, Chandler has been rushed to the emergency room.

21 lines
The Doctor
What do we got here?
The Paramedic
Twenty year old has got a severed toe on his right foot.
(They go through the doors into the trauma room, opening them by ramming the gurney through them, only Chandler's foot is hanging off the end and he screams in pain.)
ross
Ross
Can you please not do that feet first? You know where his injury is! Severed toe, you just said it!
The Doctor
It says here that the knife went right through your shoe.
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Of course it did. They're made of wicker.
The Doctor
Did you bring the toe?
monica
Monica
Oh yes! I have it right here, on ice! (She takes a bag of ice out of her purse and hands it to the doctor.)
The Doctor
(opening it) Don't worry son, we'll just attach it and-(Stops suddenly.)
monica
Monica
What?! What is it?
The Doctor
You brought a carrot.
chandler
Chandler
What?
The Doctor
This isn't your toe, this is a small, very cold piece of carrot.
rachel
Rachel
You brought a carrot?!
mrs. geller
Mrs. Geller
Oh my God! There's a toe in my kitchen.
monica
Monica
God, I'm sorry! I'll go back and get it!
The Doctor
It's too late, all we can do now is sow up the wound.
chandler
Chandler
Without my toe?! I need my toe!
monica
Monica
Wait, no-no-no, I can go really fast! Dad, give me the keys to your Porsche!
mr. geller
Mr. Geller
Oh, I'm not falling for that one!
Present Day
Scene 13

Monica and Rachel's, Chandler is reacting to the story.

14 lines
chandler
Chandler
That's why I lost my toe?! Because I called you fat?!
monica
Monica
I didn't mean to cut it off. It was an accident.
chandler
Chandler
That's why for an entire year people called me Sir Limps-A-Lot?!
monica
Monica
I'm sorry! It wasn't your whole toe!
chandler
Chandler
Yeah, well, I miss the tip! It's the best part. It has the nail. (He storms out.)
monica
Monica
Chandler! (Follows him out.)
ross
Ross
(To Joey) Sir Limps-A-Lot, I came up with that.
joey
Joey
You're a dork.
[Cut to the hallway, Chandler is standing in front of his door.]
chandler
Chandler
I can't believe this.
monica
Monica
Chandler, I said I was sorry.
chandler
Chandler
Yeah, well, sorry doesn't bring back the little piggy that cried all the way home! I hate this stupid day! And everything about it! I'll see you later.
monica
Monica
Oh wait, Chandler, come here is there anything I can do? Anything?
chandler
Chandler
Yeah, just leave me alone for a while. (He goes into his apartment.)
Scene 14

Chandler, Joey, and Ross's, Chandler is sitting on one of the chairs and the duck is running around him and quacking.

21 lines
chandler
Chandler
Oh-oh, I'm a duck! I go, "Quack, quack!" I'm happy all the time!
(There's a knock on the door and Chandler gets up to answer it. He opens the door to reveal Monica with a turkey over her head.)
chandler
Chandler
Nice try.
monica
Monica
Wait, wait, wait! (She puts a Shriner's hat on the turkey.)
chandler
Chandler
Look, Monica...
monica
Monica
Look! (She puts a big, yellow pair of sunglasses on the bird.)
chandler
Chandler
This is not going to work.
monica
Monica
I bet this will work! (She starts dancing and Chandler cracks up.)
chandler
Chandler
You are so great! I love you!
(Monica stops suddenly and turns around slowly.)
monica
Monica
What?
chandler
Chandler
Nothing! I said, I said "You're so great" and then I just, I just stopped talking!
monica
Monica
You said you loved me! I can't believe this!
chandler
Chandler
No I didn't!
monica
Monica
Yes, you did!
chandler
Chandler
No I didn't!
monica
Monica
You love me!
chandler
Chandler
No I don't! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
(Joey walks in and sees Monica. He freaks out and runs back into the hallway, screaming.)
CLOSING CREDITS
Thanksgiving 1915
Scene 15

The Western front during World War I, Phoebe, in yet another past life, is once again a nurse tending to yet another dying soldier. But this time she's doing it with a French accent.

2 lines
phoebe
Phoebe
Gauze! Gauze! I need to get some gauze in here! Can I please get some gauze in here! (A shell explodes outside next to the tent and when the smoke clears, Phoebe still has her arm.) Whew! (Her arm falls off and starts pumping out blood.) This is getting ridiculous uh!
END