The One Where Rachel's Father Dies

SCENE: Rachel and Monica’s apartment. Monica is cooking and Chandler is reading the newspaper on the couch. Joey is eating a sandwich. Phoebe is chopping up some tomatoes to help Mon.

JOEY: Ever wonder how they make peanut butter?
ALL LOOK AT HIM.
ENTER RACHEL LOOKING EXCITED.
RACH: Hey guys!
ALL: Hey Rach.
RACH: I just had the best day ever! (THROWS PURSE AND SHOPPING BAGS ON COUNTER) You will never guess what happened!
MONI: You got that job in Junior Miss?
PHOE: That hot guy from the coffee house asked you out?
JOEY: You found out how peanut butter’s made?
CHAN: You accomplished peeing in front of six other men in a public washroom?... Oh, no, no, wait, that’s my good news.
RACH: No! Nothing like that! There was a sale at Bloomies and I got shoes, pants, and a top for like, half price! (LOOKS THRILLED) Is that cool or what?! (SHE EYES SHOPPING BAGS) I gotta go try them on again! (GRABS THEM AND RUNS FOR ROOM
THE PHONE RINGS. MONICA GETS IT.
MONI: Hello?... Uh, no, Rachel can’t come to the phone right now... Yes, I can give her a message... (GRABS PAD AND PEN) He’s what?... Oh, God, I really am... Yes, I’ll tell her... Take care. ‘Bye.
SHE HANGS UP. IS STUNNED.
PHOE: What’s wrong?!
MONI: Rachel’s dad had a heart attack...
CHAN: Is he okay? (JUMPS UP AND GOES OVER TO MONICA) MONICA SHAKES HER HEAD AND CHANDLER HUGS HER.
PHOE: Oh my God... Well who’s gonna tell her?
RACH: Tell me what?
ALL GASP AND TURN AND SEE RACHEL IN HER DOORWAY. SHE IS WEARING BLACK PANTS AND A BLACK SWEATER. HER FEET ARE BARE AND HER HAIR IS LOOSE AND MESSY.
MONI (STARTING TOWARDS RACHEL’S ROOM): Rach, honey... (STOPS) Your dad had a heart attack this morning.
RACH (LOOKS CHOKED BUT STRONG. CLEARS THROAT A BIT): ... Is he okay...?
MONI (SHAKES HEAD QUICKLY AND SADLY): Look Rach, I---
RACHEL TURNS AND SLAMS DOOR. YOU CAN HEAR HER LOCK IT.
MONI: Oh my God!
PHOEBE HUGS HER.
JOEY: Here, lemme try...
HE GOES TO RACHEL’S DOOR.
JOEY: Rachie? It’s me, Joey. Do you want to talk about this?
SILENCE. JOEY SHRUGS.
CHAN: Ross!
MONI: What?
CHAN: Ross! We gotta get Ross here!
PHOE: But Chandler, they’re not going out anymore! That’ll make her worse!
CHAN: No, no it won’t. (GRABS CORDLESS PHONE AND DIALS) They have a history! He can help her, I know he can!... Hello, Trudy? Yes, Ross please... Ross! Man, you gotta come home right now!... Rachel’s dad died this morning, and she locked herself in her room. She’s not talkin’ to anybody, and I think she really needs... Okay, bye. (HE HANGS UP) He’s on his way.
SCENE: Ross’s office. He hangs up the phone and races out of office.
ROSS: Trudy, I have to go, it’s an emergency!
TRUD: What’s wrong, Dr. Geller?
ROSS (PUNCHES ELEVATOR BUTTON AND HOPS IMPATIENTLY) It’s Rachel. Her dad had a massive heart attack, and I gotta see her.
TRUD: Ohh, tell Rachel I’m sor---
ROSS: Damn it! (HE TURNS AND RUNS DOWN STAIRS)
SCENE: Monica and Rachel’s apartment. Gang is sitting anxiously around table.
ROSS BURSTS IN OUT OF BREATH.
ROSS: Rach!...
MONI: Ross, I’m so glad you’re here!
ROSS IGNORES HER AND KEEPS RUNNING, LIMPING AND PANTING. HE IS SWEATY AND MUSSED. HE REACHES RACHEL’S DOOR AND POUNDS ON IT.
ROSS: Rachel! Sweetie, it’s me. Can I come---
RACHEL’S DOOR OPENS. SHE STANDS IN DOORWAY IN HER BLACK OUTFIT WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN HER FACE. SHE MAKES HER MOUTH A LITTLE CROOKED AT ROSS AND GAZES DESPERATELY INTO HIS EYES.
ROSS: Oh, Rach...
ROSS OPENS HIS ARMS AND RACHEL RUNS INTO THEM AND HE HOLDS HER TIGHTLY. HE STROKES HER HAIR AND WHISPERS TO HER AND SHE CLOSES HER EYES AND SOBS INTO HIS CHEST. HE ROCKS THEM SIDE TO SIDE.
ROSS: Ohh, God, Rach... I am so sorry, I really am. I mean I just can’t imagine what you must be... Oh... (KISSES HER HAIR LOOSELY AND HOLDS HER TIGHTER, ROCKING HER FROM SIDE TO SIDE SLOWLY. RACHEL JUST BURIES HER FACE IN HIS CHEST AND SOBS. HER ARMS ARE AROUND ROSS’S NECK)
RACH: (WHAT SHE’S WHISPERING) I’m so glad you’re here! Promise me you’ll stay, I, I need you Ross! Don’t go, I---
ROSS: Shh, shh, don’t worry, I’m gonna stay with you for as long as you want, I promise... It’s okay, everything’s okay...
MONI: Um, we’ll just get out of your way, so---
ROSS: No, it’s okay, it’s fine, we’ll just go into Rachel’s room. You guys stay, really.
MONI: Well do you want something to eat, or drink, or...?
ROSS SHAKES HIS HEAD SERIOUSLY AND LEADS RACHEL INTO HER ROOM, KEEPING HER CLOSE TO HIM. THEY ENTER RACHEL’S ROOM AND ROSS SHUTS THE DOOR TIGHTLY. RACHEL RUBS HER EYES AND WHEN ROSS TURNS AROUND SHE STOPS AND THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER SOLEMNLY.
RACH: Ross... Thanks a lot for coming so fast, I... I really appreciate it... Who called you?
ROSS: Chandler.
THEY ARE STANDING VERY CLOSE SMUSHED TOGETHER BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE WALL.
RACH (NODS QUICKLY): Yeah, I... I guess he knew that you were the only person I wanted to see right now... Rather, the only person I needed to see.
ROSS SLIDES HIS FINGERS THROUGH RACHEL’S HAIR AND TILTS HER FACE UP TOWARDS HIS. SHE LOOKS READY TO START CRYING AGAIN.
ROSS (SOFTLY): C’mere.
HE PULLS HER TIGHTLY AND ROSS LEADS HER OVER TO HER BED. THEY SIT DOWN ON THE EDGE, ROSS WITH RACHEL ON HIS LAP, ARMS AROUND HER. RACHEL’S HANDS ARE ON ROSS’S SHOULDER AND ARM.
RACH: God, I miss sitting like this...
ROSS EXHALES QUICKLY, LIKE HE WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.
THEY ARE SILENT FOR A MOMENT, REMEMBERING, AND FEELING EACH OTHER. RACHEL RUNS HER HANDS UP AND DOWN ROSS’S CHEST AND ARMS, AS IF SECURING HERSELF. ROSS RUNS HIS HAND DOWN HER ARM, AND WITH THE HAND AROUND HER HIPS HE RUBS THEM, ENJOYING THE FEELING OF HER AGAIN.
ROSS: Rachel, I know that right now is, really hard for you. So what can I do for you? I mean, do you want to rest? Or talk? How can I help you feel a little bit better?
RACH (LOOKS UPSET): ... Could we pretend... just for a little while... that you and I were... together?
ROSS: I... I don’t understand.
RACH: It’s just! It’s just when we were together, a couple, ya know. Like, all the time, you would... We’d wear just, underwear and T-shirts and stuff, and crawl into bed, and you would... (IS TEARING UP)
ROSS (CONCERNED): What?
RACH: You... I don’t know, you’d kiss me like, on my nose or my shoulder or my neck, and you’d whisper to me. And you’d just hold me really close, for like, hours, all snuggled up... And you’d... I mean, it just made me feel so much better that you... (IS GETTING UPSET)
ROSS: Shh, shh... (PULLS HER HEAD DOWN TO HIS SHOULDER AND STROKES HER HAIR) Rach, believe me, I used to love times that too... (HE SLOWLY ROCKS THEM BACK AND FORTH) Um, here’s a thought... Why don’t we do that?
RACH: Really?
ROSS: Yeah, really.
RACH: Okay...
ROSS TAKES OFF HIS SHOES AND SOCKS. THEN HIS PANTS AND SHIRT. IS ONLY WEARING WHITE BOXERS AND A WHITE T-SHIRT. WHILE HE IS DOING THAT RACHEL TAKES OFF EVERYTHING EXCEPT A WHITE TIGHT T-SHIRT AND HER WHITE COTTON UNDERWEAR. ROSS CAN’T HELP BUT LOOK AT HER AND SWALLOW. SHE TURNS AROUND AND HER HAIR IS FALLING IN HER FACE AND SHE LOOKS TRULY UPSET. ROSS GETS UP AND SWITCHES ON A LOW LAMP, THEN FLICKS OFF THE MAIN LIGHT. HE SITS ON THE EDGE OF THE BED WHILE RACHEL CRAWLS OVER TO HER SIDE AND SITS HALF-CROSS-LEGGED. ROSS RUSTLES AROUND IN HER DRAWER AND PRODUCES A FAT CANDLE IN A DISH AND LIGHTS IT, PUTTING IT ON THE BEDSIDE TABLE. HE TURNS OFF THE LAMP AND TURNS TO RACHEL.
ROSS: I thought that was in there... God, this is so familiar.
RACH (UNSTEADILY): It’s nice.
ROSS: ... Yeah, it is nice... C’mere.
HE LEANS AGAINST SOME PILLOWS AND HOLDS RACHEL IN HIS ARMS, LYING ON HIM, FACING FORWARD. CLOSES HIS EYES AND KISSES THE TOP OF HER HEAD.
RACH: Mm... I just... I don’t know how I’m gonna deal with this... ROSS: I know Sweetie, I know, (KISSES THE SIDE OF HER HEAD SEVERAL TIMES) it’s gonna be okay though...
RACHEL STARTS TO CRY.
RACH: Oh Ross!
SHE ROLLS OVER AND BURIES HER FACE IN HIS CHEST. ROSS COMFORTS HER.
SCENE: Rachel’s bedroom. Much later that night. Rachel is lying calmly in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Ross is snuggled up next to her with one arm draped over her and his face buried in her neck.
RACH: Ross?
ROSS: Mmhmm?
RACH (SHE GETS UP AND LEANS ON HER ELBOW. ROSS SNUGGLES CLOSER TO HER BETWEEN HER CHEST. RACHEL HOLDS HIS HEAD THERE TIGHTLY. KISSES THE TOP OF IT): Thank you.
ROSS (MUFFLED): Mm... For what?
RACH: For doing this... I mean, for... just, thank you.
ROSS (FROM RACHEL’S CHEST): You’re welcome.
RACHEL LAUGHS AND LIES BACK DOWN. ROSS SNUGGLES HIS HEAD ON RACHEL’S SHOULDER AND CLOSES HIS EYES.
ROSS (SLEEPILY): You still smell so good... Like... Like I don’t know, just... good stuff... you smell yummy.
RACHEL SMILES.
RACH: So do you.
ROSS: Cologne.
RACH: I know. I bought it for you. I can’t believe you still have it!
ROSS: I buy a new bottle all the time... I have like six.
RACH: It’s forty dollars!
ROSS: Forty-eight fifty with tax, actually... I buy more every time I start to miss you so bad I can’t stand it... It reminds me of us, ya know. How much you loved it, and how you used to put it on for me...
RACH: That’s really sweet.
ROSS: The ironic thing is, Emily kept saying how much she liked it, but (FAKES BRITTISH ACCENT) why did I have ever so many bottles?
RACHEL LAUGHS
RACH: What’yda tell her?
ROSS: That Chandler’s their model.
THEY LAUGH
ROSS HALF-SITS UP THIS TIME AND SMILES AT HER. RACHEL SMILES BACK.
ROSS: How are ya feelin’? Still pretty crummy? (HE PLAYS WITH HER HAIR)
RACHEL NODS SADLY.
RACH: Terrible.
ROSS: Can I... try and make you feel better?...
RACHEL SMILES AND NODS.
ROSS: It’s been so long, but being here with you right now... makes it feel like we never broke up...
RACH: Maybe we never should have...
ROSS SNUGGLES BACK DOWN TO RACHEL AND WRAPS ONE ARM AROUND HER UPPER WAIST, SLIDING HIS HAND UNDERNEATH HER BACK AND HIS BODY SLIDING OVER HERS. KISSES HER NECK.
RACH: Mmm...
ROSS KISSES HER NECK AND THEN HER SHOULDER, THEN DOWN HER ARM ALL THE WAY TO HER FINGERTIPS. RACHEL’S EYES CLOSE.
RACH: Ohhh, Ross...
ROSS KISSES HER CHEST WHILE WRAPPING HIS LEGS AROUND RACHEL’S LEGS, GETTING MORE AND MORE INTO IT.
RACH (EYES OPEN SLEEPILY. LOOKS CONFUSED): Ross?
ROSS’S EYES OPEN AND HE STOPS. LOOKS SHOCKED. SITS UP AND MOVES OVER TO HIS SIDE SO HE ISN’T TOUCHING RACHEL. RACHEL SITS UP TOO.
ROSS: Oh, God, Rach, I’m so sorry!
RACH: It’s okay, Ross, really. C’mon, I mean, I practically made you!
ROSS: No, no, no, you didn’t! I... Oh, God this is embarrassing... (RUNS HIS FINGERS THROUGH HIS HAIR) It’s just... when I’m with you, especially since I haven’t been in so long, I just... can’t stop. I mean, one look at you (HIS HEAD FALLS TO HER CHEST AND HIS LIP GRAZES IT THEN HE SNAPS IT BACK UP) and I... I lose control, ya know?
RACH: Ross! Ross! (SHE GRABS HIM BY EACH ARM) Listen to me, okay? (SERIOUSLY) I never said I didn’t want it...
ROSS LOOKS UP AT HER.
ROSS: You mean you?... You?
RACHEL BITES HER LIP AND NODS, STILL HANGING ONTO HIS ARMS.
ROSS: You want me, I me us, to...
RACH (LETS GO. STARTS TO GET UPSET AND TEARY): I just lost one of the most important people in my life. I don’t wanna lose you too, Ross. I want... I want to feel close to someone again! I want to feel that someone loves me! (IS GETTING HYSTERICAL) And that’s what I feel when we’re together! Ross, I just, I want---
ROSS: Shh, shh, c’mere... (ROSS PULLS HER CLOSE AND STROKES HER HAIR. THEN PUSHES HER AWAY, STILL HANGING ONTO HER BY THE UPPER ARMS) So what are you waiting for?
RACH: Are you sure? I mean you don’t think it’s weird?
ROSS: Uh, like I care! ... No, seriously, I understand. I know this is a bad example, but when Carol and I got divorced, It was just like, I felt like I needed to be close with another woman more than anything... I totally get what you mean.
RACH: Good.
ROSS: I mean lately I’ve been kinda... depressed myself. I mean, nothing’s goin’ right, I’m not working, I... I think we could both benefit from this... So... Do I need to buy you dinner first, or do we just go for it?
RACHEL LAUGHS AND RUNS HER FINGERS DOWN ROSS’S ARMS.
RACH (LOOKS AT HIM SERIOUSLY): Just do whatever it is you used to do that made me fall so head-over-heels, crazy in love with you...
ROSS: That... I can do.
THEY KISS AND FALL BACKWARDS ONTO THE BED
END

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