[Scene: Rachel and Joey's apartment. Joey is watching TV as Rachel comes out of the bathroom, with a book in her hands.]

Rachel: Joey, what is my book doing in the bathroom, and why has it been torn into pieces?

Joey: Oh, yeah, we ran out of toilet papers. (Pause) And besides, when are you gonna leave and move back in with Ross? (Rachel stares at him) So that I could help you with the stuff?

(Ross enters)

Ross: Hey!

Rachel: Hey, honey!

Ross: Hey, sweetie!

(Ross and Rachel kiss)

Ross: Hey, Joe.

Joey: Hey, honey.

Rachel: How was your day?

Ross: It was good. All good. I was just thinking about tomorrow night. Did you tell everyone yet?

Rachel: Ooh, damn, I forgot!

Ross: Oh, it's okay. But...you, you, like, told no one? No one at all? Not even one person?

Rachel: I'm sorry, Ross, I just got back from work, and I was so tired...

Ross: It's okay. It's okay. We can go tell them now.

Joey: Tell who, what?

Ross: Oh, (chuckles) you didn't even tell Joey! (Pause) How sweet of you to let me be there when you tell everybody!

Rachel: Ross, you're sweating.

Ross: I know.

Joey: Oh, my god. (Gets up and stares at Rachel's stomach)

Rachel: Joey, why are you staring at my belly like that?

Joey: (gasps) And you called it belly!

Rachel: Well...it is my belly.

Joey: You're pregnant?!

Rachel: No!!

Ross: No!!

Rachel: Oh, my god, Joey!! It's not that. It's just that, well, this year --and for the first time-- Ross and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night at Ross's place and we're inviting everyone.

Joey: Ohh. (Pause) Now if you were pregnant, wouldn't that be a much better news?

(Rachel and Ross just glare at him.)

Opening Credits

[Scene: Central Perk. Phoebe and Mike are there.]

Phoebe: So, do you have work tomorrow night?

Mike: Nope. I'll give up everything to do something with my lovely wife.

Phoebe: Aw, that's so sweet. (They kiss) I was thinking, Thanksgiving dinner?

Mike: Not what I had in mind, but sure!

Phoebe: I mean, this may actually be our first Thanksgiving dinner as a married and engaged couple, yay!

Mike: Yeah, yay!

Phoebe: Okay, I'll invite Monica and Chandler and their babies, Ross and Rachel and their baby, and Joey. You invite the rest.

(Pause)

Mike: (thinks) Why, is there anyone else?

Phoebe: Oh, umm, no, you're right! (Pause) You wanna go see 'em now, you know, before someone else decides to host the dinner before us and blame us for not having the ability to find out who wanted to host it first?

(Long Silence)

Mike: Let's just go!

Phoebe: Yeah!

(They get up to go.)

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's house. Chandler is watching TV in the living room and Monica is cleaning the carpets.]

Chandler: Sweetie, can you stop the cleaning for a second? I want to concentrate on the game!

Monica: (Stops the cleaning) Hey, umm, Chandler? I was wondering, you know, since we kinda, like, do that every year, if we host Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night?

Chandler: Oh, sure. That would be great!

Monica: But don't you think, like, since Phoebe and Mike are married now, they have their own plans? Or now that Ross and Rachel are, well, let's just say a month from getting married, they have their own plans too?

Chandler: I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, they know we host Thanksgiving dinner every year, and they know you love to cook food, and they know how clumsy you get if someone else steals your Thanksgiving! (Monica glares at him) In a good way.

Monica: Yeah, you're right. They know I host it every year, so they'll probably won't do anything. Okay, you wanna go invite 'em?

Chandler: You wanna go, like, now?

Monica: Yeah, why not?

Chandler: You know, it's just that...well, you know? I mean...(Points his head to the TV)

Monica: Chandler, you know when it comes to food and Thanksgiving, I get clumsy!

Chandler: (Gets up) Let's go!

[Scene: Central Perk. Ross, Rachel and Joey are there.]

Rachel: I'm so sorry, Ross. I mean, how coincidental is it that Monica and Chandler aren't home, as well as Phoebe and Mike?

Joey: I'd say, none at all.

Ross: Rach, if you can't host Thanksgiving dinner, or you're afraid or something, it's okay.

Rachel: No! Ross, no! I am not afraid!

Joey: (Chuckles) Sound afraid to me.

(Phoebe and Mike enter.)

Phoebe: Hey, guys!

All: Hey...hi! (etc.)

Rachel: We finally found you, Pheebs.

Phoebe: (Smiling) Yeah, that's right. I'm hard to find. (Pause) Anyway, Mike and I are here to tell you something.

Joey: (gasps) You too?!

Mike: What?

Joey: Pheebs, you're pregnant?!

Phoebe: No!

Mike: Aw, thank god, no! (Phoebe shoots Mike a meanful look.) I mean, just no.

Phoebe: Mike and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night!

Rachel: Oh, me too!

Joey: (Smiles) This is fun.

Rachel: What, Phoebe, what?

Phoebe: Well, you know, now that Mike and I are married, we thought if we had our first Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night and invited everyone, the floopy Pheebs will become the mommy Pheebs. (Smiles)

Joey: (Smiling) Oh, I would love to see the mommy Pheebs! (Pause) Aw, man, forgot you got married!

(Chandler and Monica --plus the twins-- enter)

All: Hi! Hey! (etc.)

Rachel: I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year!

Phoebe: Me too!

Monica: Oh, me too!

Joey: (Smiles) This really is fun.

Rachel: Monica, Phoebe! This is really important to me. I mean, this is my first Thanksgiving with a conventional family --a child and a husband. I-I mean, boyfriend.

Chandler: It's Ross, okay, Rach? In a few month, he will be your husband.

Monica: No way! I've been doing it for ten whole years and I shouldn't break tradition now. Plus, you know, I love hosting.

Phoebe: Hey, what about ME? It's my first Thanksgiving with a husband and I want to make a tofurkey!

All: A what?~

Phoebe: A tofurkey! It's a vegetarian thing. For once, we should not be eating turkey.

Monica: Look, I can't NOT cook on Thanksgiving. It'd be, like, Joey not peeing in a library!

Mike: Monica, just step down.

Monica: What?

Mike: I can't believe I had the balls to tell her this.

Chandler: (to Mike) Did you just tell my wife to "step down"?

Mike: Yes.

(Pause)

Chandler: Glad we worked things out. (Walks away)

Mike: Monica, I know I've only known you for a short period of time, but I have to tell you this if nobody else will. You can't always be the one who hosts everything, or organizes the ideas for everyone.

Monica: (gasps) Chandler, hit him!

Chandler: I would, but I hit like a peach!

Ross: Look, Mon, Rachel has a point there. I mean, if SHE can't cook, I have the Geller Blood, so I can!

Rachel: Hey, I can cook, mister! (Pause) Plus, Mon, I mean, I think it's time for my "hand over torch" sort of thing. I have a family now, I should know how to host Thanksgiving!

Monica: If I don't cook on Thanksgiving this year, it's like breaking tradition. The Thanksgiving spirit will be lost!

Rachel: Not if you let someone else a chance to host it!

(The girls start to scream and fight, making it impossible to understand what one is saying.)

Joey: Stop it! (Looks at Phoebe) I want a regular turkey, (to Rachel) I don't care who cooks, (to Monica) and I don't care about a stupid tradition (yelling) I JUST WANNA EAT!!

(Pause)

Chandler: Ain't that fun now, is it?

[Scene: Central Perk; continued from earlier. A pause of silence is occurring as the gang is all sitting down in quiet.]

Joey: So, you know, uhm...(coughs) I was thinking. Anyone up to a pizza?

Phoebe: Every year at Thanksgiving, we end up having a turkery while I end up eating all the salad. (Pause) I mean, it's time to think about vegetarians. And, plus, a tofurkey is really, really good!

Rachel: Look, all I was asking for is a regular Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, honestly, I am worried and concerned about how to cook all the food and stuff. But I should learn. Soon, Emma's gonna be old enough to drive a car!

Ross: Sweetie, she's two. Last month, she said her first word!

Monica: And, well, my story is just that, although Chandler and i have the twins now and we live at Escrow's, I just wanted to show you guys that it's like nothing has changed. Us, having Thanksgiving dinner is traditional, and I don't want the babies or anything else to slip away my most special Holiday with my best-friends.

(Pause)

Chandler: And that, once again, goes to all but you, Mike. (Mike gives him the thumb up) Don't ever do that to my again, Mike.

Rachel: Oh, my god, Mon. I feel so stupid! I mean, I'm so sorry. I had no idea that this is why you wanted to host Thanksgiving dinner this year so badly! I mean, I just--I just thought that you were being such a pain in the ass.

Phoebe: Awe, the sweet talk.

Joey: Are we having dinner or not? (Pause) 'Cause I'm starvin'!

Rachel: We're having dinner, Joey. At Monica's and Chandler's. (Hugs Monica)

Phoebe: That's so sweet of you, Rachel. Y'know, to back off and let Monica be this Thanksgiving's host-leader. (Smiles) Yeah! But I ain't gonna fall for that one!

Monica: What?

Chandler: Phoebe, we all agreed on having dinner at our place.

Joey: Yeah, we're finally gonna eat food!

Phoebe: I just--I just feel like I need to be alone with Mike tonight.

The Gang: What?!

Phoebe: I'm sorry, you guys, but this is really important to me. I'll see you guys in the morning. Come on, Mike.

Mike: But Phoebe...

Phoebe: Come on, boy!

Mike: (to all) She's so sweet to me, I know. (Pause) (to Joey) I don't know how to repay you for introducing me to her on that blind date!

(Phoebe and Mike leave)

Ross: I can't believe she just did that!

Moncia: I know! That is unbelievable!

Chandler: Yeah, but I mean, you girls were kinda mean to her, y'know?

Monica: (glaring at Chandler) What?

Chandler: Nothing. Why? Did you hear something?

Rachel: No, yeah, really, Mon. You were kind of rude to Pheebs.

Monica: What? Hey! You were the one with all the 'we wanna eat a regular turkey' and stuff!

Joey: (Smiling) No, that was me.

Ross: (to Joey) What are you smilling about?!

Joey: (Still smiling) She said regular! (Points at Monica and burps out laughing, as the others just stare at him)

[Scene: Rachel and Joey's apartment. Joey is watching TV and Rachel is cleaning the cushions of the yellow couch.]

Monica: (enters) Hey, guys!

(Joey burps out laughing)

Monica: Still with the 'regular' thing, huh, Joe?

Joey: (laughing) Yeah!

Rachel: Hey, Mon, what's up? What are you doing here?

Monica: Well, not much. Chandler I just stopped by to get a few things for our Thanksgiving special dinner tonight. And we were wondering: what time do you guys wanna come over?!

Rachel: What? It started already! But you said to be there are seven...(looks at her watch)...forty-five!

Monica: I can't believe you both forgot!

Joey: Yeah, I usually remember these kind of ocassions!

Monica: Well, come on. Get dressed. Hurry up!

Rachel: All right.

Joey: Okay!

Monica: Come on. Everybody's, like, waiting over there. They haven't eaten yet, but they're starving.

Joey: Food's served already? (Pause) Ugghh, somebody's gonna wet his pants tonight! (Goes into his room)

Monica: So I'll see ya when I see ya. (Starts to leave)

Rachel: Yeah. Ohh--and Mon?

Monica: Yeah?

Rachel: Did you guys call Phoebe?

Monica: We already did, Rach, again and again. She says she's already had a quiet thankful dinner with Mike at their place. I'm not gonna get them to come here involuntarily.

Rachel: Yeah, you're probably right. And besides, I'm sure they're having fun together.

[Cut to Phoebe and Mike's place. Phoebe and Mike are sitting on the couch, eating Nachos.]

Mike: So, that was your whole idea for our big night, huh?

Phoebe: I'm bored. Do you wanna go to bed?

Mike: Phoebe! It's barely eight!

Phoebe: Maybe Monica was right. Maybe we wouldn't have fun if we weren't around all of them. I mean, gosh, I miss Joey!

Mike: Really? Joey?

Phoebe: Do you want to go and have Thanksgiving at their place?

Mike: Do I have a choice?

Phoebe: No, you're right, you don't. (Pause - They start to leave) Besides, we don't have any food in the fridge.

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's Kitchen at Escrow's; the girls are there.]

Phoebe: Once again, you guys, I'm really sorry I couldn't bring y'all anything. I feel so embarassed.

Monica: Oh, it's no problem, Pheebs. (looking at Rachel) You're not the only one who didn't bring anything.

Rachel: Hey, you dragged us from over there! We forgot about the whole dinner--we had an excuse!

Monica: It's okay, really. Both of you.

Phoebe: Hey, Mon?

Monica: Yeah?

Phoebe: What is this list of food, which--by the way-- does not include a thirty-pound of tofurkey for dessert.

Monica: Oh, it's the menu for Thanksgiving dinner that I'm gonna serve all of you tonight.

(Phoebe and Rachel pause)

Rachel: Well...you're not gonna make us pay, are you?

Monica: (laughs) No! (Pause) So, hey, Rach? How's it been going...between you and Ross?

Rachel: I don't know. Lately, it's been really weird. Sometimes I feel like he's gonna ask me if he could go out on a date or something.

Phoebe: Well, I mean, are you ready to date?

Rachel: I--come on, I don't know! I mean, I haven't been on a date since over three years! With Emma, and work, and then comes Ross. It's just---it's been so complicated lately.

Phoebe: Maybe moving back in with him is not such a pretty good idea.

Rachel: No, the whole moving-in-with-Ross is just not such an issue anymore. It's not, really. It's just that...sometimes I'm just afraid Ross is gonna start to take our relationship really quickly.

Monica: And you're not ready for that?

Rachel: Of course I'm not ready, Monica! Especially for a third wedding! I mean, sometimes I have doubts about whether being with Ross again is such a good idea. I mean, I was just thinking about going down that road again with Ross. I mean, we have a baby, we're single, we almost live together, and are dating. We've been divorced to each other...God, it's so complicated.

Phoebe: If you think about it, it's kinda funny. (Laughs, and Rachel stares at her) In a...in a weird way.

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's Dining Room. Ross and Chandler are talking.]

Chandler: So, man, how's it going with Rachel again? Married, yet?

Ross: It's going good. It's going just fine. But I was thinking: It's kind of going really slow. I think I want to take our relationship another level.

[Cut to the Kitchen.]

Rachel: I just don't think I'm ready to take my relationship with Ross to another level!

[Cut back to the Dining Room.]

Ross: Which is why...(Takes out an engagement ring from his jacket) I'm gonna propose to her tonight.

(Chandler gasps)

[Cut to the Kitchen.]

Monica: (to Rachel) So, Rach, if Ross proposes to you, let's say tonight, what would you say?

(Silence)

[Cut back to the Dining Room.]

Ross: I'm sure she'll say yes, and we'll get married. (Smiles)

[Cut to the kitchen.]

Rachel: I think I'll say no.

(Silence)

[Cut back to the Dining Room.]

Chandler: (checking the ring) Did you get it at a flea market or something? (Ross glares at him) One Dollar Store?

---------------------------------------------------------------

To Be Continued...