– Summary of Episodes

Appendix I – Summary of Episodes

This appendix provides information about the 24 episodes of the first series of Friends. For each episode I have provided the original English title in bold. I have added the number of spoken words and the date and tile it was first broadcast in the U.S.A. in brackets. In addition, I have included the Italian title and its back translation into English, along with the date every episode was first broadcast in Italy. A brief summary of the plot of each episode follows these details. Each episode is usually divided into three main sections. There is an introduction, also called ‘teaser’, i.e. a humorous part usually not connected with the rest of the action in the episode (Attardo 1998: 241). This is followed by the episode itself, which is also the longer part. Each episode concludes with a brief sketch I have named ‘coda’, which comes before the closing credits. The length of each section in minutes and seconds is given in squared brackets after the summary of every episode.

The six actors starring as main characters are:

Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green Courteney Cox as Monica Geller Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani Mathew Perry as Chandler Bing David Schwimmer as Ross Geller

Friends 1.01 “The One Where Monica Gets a New Roommate”

(words spoken: 1895; NBC, Thursday 22 September 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “Matrimonio m ancato”, gloss: “Missed wedding”; words spoken: 2446; RAITRE, Monday 23 June

1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Rachel runs away from her wedding with Barry. She finds Monica, and old high school friend, in the coffee house called Central Perk where Monica regularly meets her friends Phoebe, Joey and Chandler, and her bother Ross. Eventually, Rachel decides to go and live with Monica. In the meantime, Ross is depressed about his divorce, especially because his wife told him she is a lesbian. Monica goes out for dinner with Paul and learns that he is impotent since his wife left him. Monica sleeps with him but the day after she finds out that Paul lied in order to have sex with her. At the end of the episode, Rachel accepts a job as waitress at Central Perk. Teaser [1:00]; Episode [19:28]; Coda [0:27].

Friends 1.02“The One With the Sonogram at the End”

(words spoken: 2346; NBC, Thursday 29 September, 8.30 p.m.; “Una moglie differente”, gloss: “A different wife”; words spoken: 2496 ; Wednesday 25 June 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Ross’s ex wife Carol tells him that they are going to become parents. Ross is invited by Carol to go to the sonogram with her and her new partner, Susan. Monica is very anxious because she invited her parents to dine at her place. She particularly dislikes the

sees that he changed his looks for the better, and eventually discovers that Barry is going out with Rachel’s friend and maid of honour Mindy. When Ross goes to the hospital for the sonogram, he has a discussion with Susan about the baby’s name and surname. Ross suggests he should give up fathering his child but as soon as he sees the sonogram, he changes his mind. In the final part Phoebe tells everybody she has a twin sister. Ross tells his male friends he has feelings for Rachel. Teaser [1:11]; Episode [18:30]; Coda [1:23].

Friends 1.03 “The One With the Thumb”

(words spoken: 2357; NBC, Thursday, 6 October 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “Per 500 dollari in più”; gloss: “For 500 dollars more”; words spoken: 2268; Tuesday 24 June 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Monica starts dating a man named Alan. After introducing him to her friends,

everybo dy starts to enjoy Alan’s company much more than she does. Chandler was a smoker in the past, and he starts smoking again after helping Joey to perform a scene with

a cigarette. Everybody is upset with Chandler and tries to convince him to stop but he is not willing to do so. However, after talking with Anan about it, Chandler stops smoking. In the meantime, Phoebe receives 500 dollars from her back by mistake. After pointing this out, they give her 500 dollars more as a reward for her honesty. She feels she does not deserve this money because she did not earn it. Therefore, she gives all the money to

a homeless woman she knows. Monica decides to break up with Alan, despite the fact that this makes her friends depressed. Alan is not happy either but he confesses to Monica that he is relived because he does not like her friends. Finally, on her way back home Phoebe finds a thumb in her soda and the soda company gives her 7,000 dollars to avoid a lawsuit. Teaser [1:19]; Episode [18:38]; Coda [0:51].

Friends 1. 04 “The One with George Stephanopoulos”

(words spoken: 2379; NBC, Thursday 13 October 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “La prima volta di Ross”; gloss: “Ross’s first time”; words spoken: 2234; RAITRE, Tuesday 1 July 1997,

8.25 p.m.) Plot: Ross is very upset because it is his and Carol’s anniversary. Ross had his first sexual intercourse with Carol on this date. During the entire episode Ross keeps remembering their anniversary, so Chandler and Joey decide to take him to a hockey game to cheer him up. Rachel receives her first paycheque, and for her disappointment, it is much less than what she imagined it would be. She feels even more frustrated after seeing her rich friends, who have interesting news about their lives and jobs. Monica and Phoebe try to cheer Rachel up suggesting they all meet in Monica and Rachel’s flat and have dinner together. They get George Stephanopoulos’s pizza by mistake. He is a handsome man who lives across the street. The girls decide to spy on him from the balcony while talking about their personal lives. During the hockey match Ross gets hurt because of a hockey disc. The three guys go to the hospital and while waiting to be visited, Ross confesses to his friends that he lost his virginity with Carol. Chandler and Joey are in shock because they realize that Ross only had sex with one woman in his life. Teaser [0:51]; Episode [18:51]; Coda [1:17].

Friends 1.05 “The One With the East German Laundry Detergent”

(words spoken: 2451; NBC, Thursday 20 October 1994, 8.3 0 p.m.; “Incontro in lavanderia”; gloss: “Meeting in the launderette”; words spoken: 2332; RAITRE, Thursday 26 June 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Chandler wants to break up with his annoying girlfriend Janice, who also has a bizarre laugh. However, Chandler doesn't know how to tell her. Therefore, Phoebe proposes him to end their current relationships at the same time. Joey wants his ex

girlfriend Angela back, so he invites Monica to go with him on a double date with Angela and her current boyfriend Bob. In order to convince Monica to go, he tells her that Bob and Angela are siblings. However, at the restaurant, Bob and Angela behave like boyfriend and girlfriend and Monica feels uncomfortable. Finally, Joey confesses to her that he lied and proposes to make Bob and Angel brake up so Monica can go out with Bob. Ross and Rachel go together to a laundry room, where Rachel admits that she has never done laundry before. As a result of this, Rachel’s clothes become all pink after washing. However, Ross encourages Rachel to be more confident and she kisses him as a sign of gratitude. Chandler and Phoebe meet their partners at Central Perk. Phoebe ends her relationship very well while Chandler struggles and makes Janice very upset. Phoebe comes in Chandler’s rescue and Chandler and Janice part in peaceful terms. Teaser [0:57]; Episode [18:16]; Coda [0:40].

Friends 1.06 “The One With the Butt”

(words spoken: 2445; NBC, Thurs day, 27 October 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “Il sedere di… Al Pacino”; gloss: “Al Pacino’s… butt”; words spoken: 2349; RAITRE, Monday 30 June,

8.25 p.m.) Plot: Ross, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe and Rachel are at a theatre to watch Joey performing in a play. After the show ends, everyone applauds but they think it was very boring. Joey is given a card by a talent agent and he hopes he will be signed up for a movie. Chandler meets a woman named Aurora at the theatre. The day after, Chandler tell his friends that Aurora is married and has another lover but she still wants to date Chandler. Monica complains about Rachel moving some furniture while tiding up their flat. Everybody makes fun of Monica’s obsessive behaviour, so she tries to demonstrate them she can be more flexible. Joey enters the flat and excitedly tells his friends his agent got him a role in the latest Al Pacino’s movie. When everybody asks him what his part will be, Joey confesses he will be Al Pacino’s bottom double in a shower scene. After a few dates with Aurora, Chandler decides to stop seeing her because he finds out she has a new lover. In the meantime, Joey tells everybody he was fired as Al Pacino’s double because he acted too much. Monica goes to bed leaving her shoes in the living room but while in bed she fights her impulse to go and put the shoes away. Teaser [0:48]; Episode [18:45]; Coda [0:37].

Friends 1.07 “The One With the Blackout”

(words spoken: 2044; NBC, Thursday, 3 November 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “A lume di candela”; gloss: “By candlelight”; words spoken: 2055; RAITRE, Friday 27 June 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: New York City suddenly has a blackout. As a consequence of this, Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with a Victo ria’s Secrets’ beautiful model named Jill Goodacre. He would like to talk to her but he has difficulties in starting a conversation

Friends 1.08 “The One Where Nana Dies Twice”

(words spoken: 1997; NBC, Thursday, 10 November 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “La cara estinta”; gloss: “The loved/deceased one”; words spoken: 2058; RAITRE, Wednesday 2 July 1997,

8.25 p.m.) Plot: Chandler finds out that many colleagues at work think he is gay. After telling his friends, Rachel and Phoebe confess they thought the same the first time they met him. Paolo is back to Rome but he stays in contact with Rachel, giving her presents and calling from Italy. Ross and Monica are told that their grandmother is dying and go to the hospital, where they meet their parents. Once there, their grandmother is declared dead, but when they are going to see her, she resurrects for some seconds, scaring everybody. She dies again and all six friends go to the funeral. While at the cemetery, Ross falls down in an open grave. Family and friends meet after the funeral in Ross and Monica’s grandmother’s house. Ross’s mother gives him some painkiller but he takes more than he should and starts behaving in a strange way telling everybody he loves them. Monica’s mother tells she hated the way her mother treated her and for the first time she is nice to Monica. Teaser [0:49]; Episode [19:36]; Coda [1:16].

Friends 1.09 “The One Where Underdog Gets Away”

(words spoken: 2388; NBC, Thursday 17 November 1994, 8.30 p.m.; “La cena di Ringraziamento ”; gloss: “Thanksgiving dinner”; words spoken: 2283; RAITRE, Thursday 3 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: With their parents away Monica and Ross propose their friends to have Thanks giving dinner together at Monica’s. At first, Rachel refuses because she would like to join her family in Vail. She tries to earn more money in order to afford the flight ticket to go. Joey says that he will have Thanksgiving dinner with his family. However, after he appeared in an advertising campaign against sexually transmitted diseases, his family think that he has Venereal Disease (V.D.). So he finally acc epts Monica and Ross’s invitation. Chandler recalls his story of how he does not eat Thanksgiving food because his parents told him they would separate over this festivity. Phoebe is staying with her grandmother but she accepts the invitation because they celebrate Thanksgiving in December. While the Macy’s parade passes by the Underdog balloon gets loose. The friends rush onto the terrace for a better view and get locked out, so the dinner burns. After a major discussion about who left the keys home, all six friends have grilled cheese sandwiches for Thanksgiving dinner. Teaser [1:03]; Episode [19:24]; Coda [0:31].

Friends 1.10 “The One With the Monkey”

(words spoken: 2563; NBC, Thursday, 15 December 1994 8.30 p.m.; “Qualcuno mi baci… È mezzanotte”; gloss: “Somebody must kiss me… It’s midnight”; words spoken: 2635; RAITRE, Monday 7 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Ross is tired of living alone but does not want a flat mate at his age either. He adopts a monkey called Marcel. Everybody loves Marcel, except Monica because she thinks animals are cute but dirty. Chandler proposes to his friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone at Monica’s. However, Rachel learns that Paolo is coming for New Year’s Eve and Monica asks her ex-boyfriend Fun Bobby to join their party. Out of desperation, Chandler invites his ex-girlfriend Janice. Joey meets a single mother called Sandy and invites her to the party. Ross fears to be the only single left after Phoebe meets

a scientist David at Central Perk. They spend their days together and start to date but David and his friend Max are invited to stay 3 years in Minsk for research. David does not want to leave Phoebe but she tells him that going to Minsk is very important for him. They spend New Year’ Eve together and the day after David leaves. Just before midnight, Rachel comes back from the airport alone because Paolo missed his flight. Everybody is upset and Chandler is desperately looking for someone to kiss him. Joey kisses him Chandler. Teaser [0:56]; Episode [19:58]; Coda [0:32].

Friends 1.11 “The One With Mrs. Bing”

(words spoken: 2589; NBC, Thursday, 3 January 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Non baciare mia madre ”; gloss: “Don’t kiss my mother”; words spoken: 2490; RAITRE, Friday 4 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.)

Plot: Chandler’s popular, best-selling mother, Nora Tyler Bing announces on Jay Lennon’s show that her book-tour’s next stop is New York. Rachel loves Mrs. Bing’s romance novel and is very excited about meeting her. Meanwhile, Phoebe instigated

Monica to whistle to a handsome man they saw walking on the street, which causes him to be hit by an ambulance and get into a coma. They take him to the hospital and fantasize about him being the perfect boyfriend. Phoebe and Monica rival to take care of him, hoping he will wake up. While in New York, Mrs. Bing takes all six friends (and Paolo) to a restaurant. She also encourages Rachel to try and write ‘romantic-formula’ novels. She also observes Ross’s frustration about Rachel and assures him Paolo is not the man Rachel is really looking for. While this conversation takes place, Mrs. Bing and Ross kiss. Joey accidentally sees them and tells Ross he has to confess to Chandler what happened. Once Chandler learns this, he is irate but mostly blames his mother for her behaviour. He decides to tell her what he thinks. This helps them have a better mother-son relationship. Teaser [0:50]; Episode [19:36]; Coda [0:43].

Friends 1.12 “The One With the Dozen Lasagnas”

(words spoken: 2246; NBC, Thursday 12 January 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Massaggi e lasagne”; gloss: “Massages and Lasagne” ; words spoken: 2346; RAITRE, Tuesday 8 July 1997,

8.25 p.m.) Plot: Paolo and Rachel prepare for a weekend away together. Ross feels increasingly frustrated by their relationship. Monica makes a large amount of lasagne that ended up being of no use, since her aunt (who ordered them) is vegetarian. She tries to get rid of

Fri ends 1.13 “The One With the Boobies”

(words spoken: 2468; NBC, Thursday 19 January 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Non fissarmi così”; gloss: “Don’t stare at me like that”; words spoken: 2535; RAITRE, Thursday 10 July,

8.25 p.m.) Plot: Chandler enters Monica’s flat without knocking and inadvertently sees Rachel’s breasts. She gets very angry at Chandler and this will become one of the main topics of this episode. Phoebe is dating a psychologist called Roger. Very soon, everybody starts to dislike him because he takes every chance to analyse all Phoe be’s friends’ behaviour. Meanwhile, Joey is very disappointed because he has discovered that his father is having an affair with a woman called Ronni, who works as a pet mortician. Joey tries to convince his father to break up with her, since he thinks he is not respecting his mother. Rachel tries to see Chandler naked to compensate the fact that he saw her breast. She makes a mistake and sees Joey naked. This starts a chain of one friend trying to peek at another one. Joey’s mother visits Joey to tell him that she knows about her husband’s affair. However, she also tells Joey that since he started having an affair, Mrs Tribbiani has become a very caring husband. Therefore, she asks Joey not to force his father to break up with her lover. Eventually, Phoebe realises she dislikes Paul as well and breaks up with him. Teaser [0:40]; Episode [19:33]; Coda [0:47].

Friends 1.14 “The One With Candy Hearts”

(words spoken: 2090; NBC, Thursday, 9 February 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Un rito per San Valentino ”; gloss: “The St. Valentine’s ritual”; words spoken: 2280; RAITRE, Tuesday

15 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: it is Valentine’s Day. Ross goes on a date with a beautiful neighbour to a Sushi restaurant. Joey wants to go out for dinner on a date with a very attractive woman called Lorraine. Joey convinces Chandler to go out with them because Lorraine wants to take one of her friends as well . They go to on a double date, but Lorraine’s friend turns out to

be Janice, Chandler’s annoying ex-girlfriend. Phoebe, Monica and Rachel decide to do a ritual and to burn all the objects that are connected to the men they dated in the past. While Ross is at the restaurant with his neighbour, he sees Carol with Susan and he gives Carol more attention than to his neighbour. Joey and Lorraine decide to go home thus leaving Chandler and Janice alone. They are not very happy about the arrangement and decide to buy expensive champagne on Joey’s credit card. Janice and Chandler get drunk and end up sleeping together. During their ritual Phoebe, Monica and Rachel almost burn the flat down. Fortunately, the firemen arrive on time and put the fire out. Teaser [1:10]; Episode [18.55]; Coda [0:53].

Friends 1.15 “The One With the Stoned Guy”

(words spoken: 2354; NBC, Thursday 16 February 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Uno strano ospite”; gloss : “A strange guest”; words spoken: 2452; RAITRE, Monday 14 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Chandler is offered a permanent position at work. However, he decides to resign because he is discouraged about what he is doing and sad that he does not have any big dream. Phoebe tells Monica that his friend Steve is looking for a chef for his new restaurant. Monica suggests she can have an audition with Steve. She can cook for him and he can decide if offering her the job. Meanwhile, Ross goes out with Celia, the insect curator who works at the museum. On their first date, Celia asks Ross to use some dirty words that can arouse her but Ross doesn’t know how to do so and they end up cuddling. Chandler’s boss calls him and offers him a good promotion and pay raise. Phoebe brings Steve to Monica’s flat hoping he will be impressed by Monica’s culinary skills. Unfortunately, Steve has smoked some marijuana on his way to Monica’s place. He is very hungry and impatience and he ends up ruining the dinner. After asking Joey to advice him, Ross meets Celia again. His dirty talking becomes so long and complex that they give up having sex. Teaser [0:27]; Episode [19:55]; Coda [0:35].

Friends 1.16 “The One With Two Parts (pt.1)”

(words spoken: 2532; NBC, Thursday 23 February 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Vivere intensamente (pt.1) ”; gloss: “Living intensely (pt.1)”; words spoken: 2563; RAITRE, Wednesday 16 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.)

Plot: Chandler and Joey are in a restaurant and meet Phoebe’s twin sister, Ursula. Ursula is the exact opposite of considerate and peace-loving Phoebe. Joey starts to date Ursula, which annoys Phoebe because she does not get along with her sister. Meanwhile, Ross attends Lamaze class with Susan and Carol. As Carol voices her anxiety about going through with the pregnancy, Ross also begins to come to terms with his role as a father. During one of the Lamaze classes, Ross has to play the mother role in the class exercises. In the meantime, Chandler’s boss orders him to fire a beautiful junior colleague named Nina. Since he cannot bring himself to do that, Chandler starts dating Nina and tells the other office workers that she is insane and too imbalanced to let go. When Nina asks why her colleagues are avoiding her, Chandler says that perhaps they are jealous of their relationship. However, she finally finds out the truth and breaks up with him. Rachel hurts herself and goes to the hospital with Monica. Teaser [0:39]; Episode [19:37]; Coda [0:42].

Friends 1.17 “The One With Two Parts (pt.2)”

(words spoken: 2480; NBC, Thursday, 23 February 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Vivere intensamente (pt.2) ”; gloss: “Living intensely”; words spoken: 2543; RAITRE, Thursday

17 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Rachel and Monica are at the hospital. Since Rachel does not have any insurance, she and Monica decide to exchange their identities. They invite two doctors to dine at their place. In the meantime, Joey and Phoebe are not getting along because Joey is still dating Phoebe’s twin sister, Ursula. He prefers to go out with Ursula for her birthday rather than attending Phoebe’s birthday party. Phoebe is very upset, especially because

a father until Marcel the Monkey swallows some Scrabble tiles and Ross rushes him to the hospital. His ability to take care of Marcel convinces him that he can handle fatherhood. During their dinner with the doctors, Monica and Rachel begin to fight and list each other’s worst attributes. By doing so, they scare the doctors away. As Phoebe predicted, Ursula breaks up with Joey without an explanation. Therefore, Phoebe pretends to be Ursula and meets Joey to help him coping with the break-up. Joeys realizes it is Phoebe and thanks her for being so kind. Teaser [0:50]; Episode [20:13]; Coda [0:42].

Friends 1.18 “The One With All the Poker”

(words spoken: 2357; NBC, Thursday, 2 March 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Lezioni di poker”; gloss: “Poker lessons”; words spoken: 2459; RAITRE, Wednesday 9 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Monica, Phoebe and Rachel are jealous about the fact that the guys regularly meet to play poker and they ask to participate. The guys accept but they first have to teach the girls how to play. Their poker games soon become very competitive. The girls usually lose and Rachel complains about Ross’s nasty attitude towards the girls. Monica asks her aunt Iris to teach them how to play poker. In the meantime, Rachel is trying to find a new job and sends out her Curriculum Vitae to several companies. She is invited to interview for job as assistant buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue. After improving their playing skills, the girls decide to have a poker rematch but they still lose. It is revealed that Monica, now outwardly wanting to win, may have gotten violent once in a game of Pictionary. During their final poker game, Rachel receives some bad news about the job at Saks Fifth Avenue and takes her anger out in the poker game. She bluffs Ross into a hand with a large amount of money on the table. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, Ross lets her win. Teaser [0:54]; Episode [19:10]; Coda [0:54].

Friends 1.19 “The One Where the Monkey Gets Away”

(words spoken: 2547; NBC, Thursday 9 March 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Pensaci prima di parlare ”; gloss: “Think before speaking”; words spoken: 2678; RAITRE, Monday 21 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Rachel finds out that her friend and maid of honour Mindy is going to marry her ex fiancé Barry. Rachel is very upset about it so Ross asks her to take care of Marcel for a night. Rachel is happy about it but she ends up losing Marcel while watching a soap- opera on the TV. In an act of despair, Rachel calls Animal Control to help her find Marcel. However, Rachel does not know that Marcel is an exotic and illegal animal and the person who owns it may be arrested by the police. Each one of the friends starts searching for Marcel, and Ross is very angry with Rachel. In the meantime, Rachel and Monica discover that the lady of the Animal Control, Luisa, studied with them at school but she hates Rachel for being very popular with boys at that time. Phoebe is shot with a tranquilizing dart by Luisa while helping to save Marcel for being taken away. Finally, Ross and Rachel find Marcel at one of their neighbour’s flat and rescue him. Teaser [0:21]; Episode [19:47]; Coda [0:47].

Friends 1.20 “The One With The one with the evil orthodontist”

(words spoken: 2600; NBC, Thursday 6 April 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Amore tra i denti”; gloss : “Love among teeth”; words spoken: 2680; RAITRE, Tuesday 22 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.)

Plot: Mindy asks Rachel to be maid of honour at her wedding with Rachel’s ex fiancé Barry. Chandler goes out with Danielle and they exchange telephone numbers. He is very enthusiastic about Danielle but he does not know if he should be the first to call. He does not want to appear desperate for a date. A person with a telescope watches the group of friends in Monica’s flat, thus making them feel awkward. Joey decides to call the person and ask to stop spying on them. He finds out that the person is a woman and stops being angry with her when she pays compliments to all six friends. Rachel and Mindy meet at Central Perk and have a heart to heart talk. They find out that Barry is having a relationship with both and decide to go and see him. Once there Rachel tells Barry she hates him and does not want to see him ever again but Mindy decides to marry him anyway. Teaser [0:53]; Episode [18:26]; Coda [1:17].

Friends 1.21 “The one with the fake Monica”

(words spoken: 2275; NBC, Thursday 27 April 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Addio scimmietta”; gloss: “Goodbye little monkey”; words spoken: 2180; RAITRE, Wednesday 23 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.)

Plot: Someone has stolen Monica’s credit card and her identity with it. She feels that the thief is living the life she ought to have. She tracks her down to a tap-dance class and ends up liking her and spending lots of time with her. Joey needs a new stage name and accepts Chandler ’s suggestion of using Joseph Stalin. Meanwhile, the veterinary tells Ross that Marcel is reaching sexual maturity so he has to look for a zoo that will take the monkey. Monica’s alter-ego is caught by the police and Monica is desperate because she cannot go out with her anymore. Eventually, Joey finds out that Joseph Stalin already existed and that he was a dictator. Ross is told that Marcel has been accepted by a very good zoo in San Diego and takes him to the airport. Everybody is very upset to see Marcel leaving but Ross realizes that this is the only solution because he is becoming increasingly wild. Teaser [1:10]; Episode [20:01]; Coda [0:31].

Friends 1.22 “The One With the Ick Factor”

(words spoken: 2326; NBC, Thursday, 4 May 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Sto per avere un bambino ”; gloss: “I’m about to have a baby”; words spoken: 2093; RAITRE, Thursday

24 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Monica starts dating a man named Ethan. Meanwhile, Ross is both appalled and let down when he hears about Rachel’s sexual fantasies. She tells her friends she dreamt of having sex with Chandler. Phoebe fills in for Chandler’s secretary and tells Chandler that nobody likes him at work. Chandler is very upset about it and tries to be nice and friendly with his junior colleagues. However, he finds out that they still make fun of him so he decides to give up trying to be their friend. Rachel discovers that Ethan is only a high school senior but she has already had sex with him and fears the consequences of it. She immediately breaks up with him but Ethan ties to persuade her to go back together. When

he realises that this is not possible, Ethan leave s. Rachel and Ross are in Monica’s flat 332 he realises that this is not possible, Ethan leave s. Rachel and Ross are in Monica’s flat 332

Friends 1.23 “The One With the Birth”

(words spoken: 2553; NBC, Thursday 11 May 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Non gridare, siamo in clinica ”; gloss: “Don’t scream, we are in a clinic”; words spoken: 2351; RAITRE, Monday 28 July 1997, 8.25 p.m.) Plot: Ross and his friends rush to the hospital to meet Carol who is in labour. They arrive before her and Ross becomes increasingly anxious. Finally, Carol arrives and assures Ross she is fine and everything will be alright. In the meantime, Rachel finds out that the handsome obstetrician who assists Carol in not married. Chandler and Monica worry about the fact that time is passing by for them and they do not seem to find partners and become parents. After having a sports argument with a single pregnant woman, Joey becomes her birth coach. He helps the single mother deliver her child but eventually the real father arrives and Joey leaves. Ross and Susan (Carol’s lesbian life-partner) are fighting over who should help Carol during her labour. Carol is very upset by their behaviour and tells them to leave the room. Phoebe takes Ross and Susan into a janitorial closet to calm them down but they soon find they are locked inside. After some discomforting moments, they manage to set themselves free and reach the delivery room just in time to see baby Ben being born. Teaser [2:04]; Episode [17:41]; Coda [1:55].

Friends 1.24 “The One Where Rachel Finds Out”

(words spoken: 2572; NBC, Thursday 18 May 1995, 8.30 p.m.; “Una sorpresa dalla Cina”; gloss: “A surprise from China”; words spoken: 2237; RAITRE, Tuesday 29 July 1997,

8.25 p.m.) Plot: Joey cannot have sex his new girlfriend Melanie for a week because he is taking part in a fertility study. The group of friends are having a barbecue for Rachel’s birthday but Ross cannot be there because he has to go to China for the museum. Rachel opens the gift Ross left for her and realises that it is an antique brooch exactly like the one her grandmother used to have. Chandler lets it slip that Ross is in love with Rachel. Rachel goes to the airport to speak to Ross but he’s already gone. Monica is delighted that her brother and Rachel may become an item but Rachel has not made up her mind about Ross yet. Joey manages to keep his relationship with Melanie going despite the fact that he cannot have an orgasm. Finally, Rachel decides to give her and Ross a chance and goes to the airport to pick him up. Unfortunately, Ross has met an Asian woman named Julie and they are now dating. The series ends with the opening theme. Teaser [2:22]; Episode [19:41]; Coda [0:41].