Just another grey day in the big city. The Friends gang is sitting in the girls' spacious apartment. Ross lounges on a couch, Phoebe sits demurely opposite him. Rachael has flopped down next to Phoebe. Monica is rushing around doing nothing in a very busy way, as usual, and Chandler hovers behind Ross' couch, waiting for an opportunity to wisecrack. No sign of Joey, but don't worry, he'll get here.
Sure enough Joey bursts through the door with a grin on his face wide enough to show past those huge coffee cups down at Central Perk. "Great news!" he ejaculates.
"I've inherited million dollars from my uncle, but I have to spend a million in a week to get it?" It's not one of Chandler's best. No-one laughs, but no-one ever laughs.
"No," continues Joey, "I've just been to see my agent, I've been offered a spin-off from 'Days of Our Lives,' I'm gonna be playing Dr. Drake Ramorez again!"
"Well done Joey," says Rachel.
"What's it called?" Phoebe pipes up.
"'Family Practice,' it's where Dr. Drake Ramorez leaves the hospital to work with his family," Joey explains.
"Didn't they kill him off?" enquires Monica, whilst cleaning a dish.
"Ah, there's a clever twist..." Joey's stuck.
"What's the clever twist, Joey?" Chandler twists it in.
"Er, I'll have to get back to you on that one," Joey concedes, "But they start filming the pilot tomorrow."
Next day in his office building, Chandler is in the canteen when he notices that several people are reading his mother's latest steamy novel- Familiar. He tries to keep his head down, this could be embarrassing. "Hey Chandler!"
"What?"
"How does your mom come up with this stuff?"
"I don't know! I spent my childhood with my head under a pillow."
"Whose pillows?"
"No, really my pillow, singular, and on my own." And that's perfectly true, but when you're alone your thoughts can wander...
It's some time later, and it's a filming studio. People are carrying big items of scenery around. Joey is dressed as a doctor, white coat and everything. He is standing next to a bed in which a woman is lying, looking up at him. "Drake!" she says, "I want to thank you for saving my life!"
Joey smiles a benevolent smile and replies, "that's alright, anything for my sister. Now make sure you take your medicine."
"Aaand cut!" shouts the director. "Great! That was great, Joey. Good work, that's the last of your scenes, see ya at the end of production party."
Chandler is on the subway. For him this is hell. All over the place there are huge pictures of his mom in a cleavage revealing blouse, with the legend, "Get hot, get sexy, get Familiar." That's not the kind of picture a son should have to put up with folks staring at. Chandler's only happy that no-one knows that he's her son.
Central Perk, coffee shop and extra lounge. Rachael isn't working yet, but bald-headed Gunther is. He's cleaning coffee cups and dreaming of his favourite waitress, Rachael. And it certainly isn't her serving skills that he likes abouut her.
Ross and Chandler are in their customary positions, Chandler on the big sofa and Ross in a soft chair to his right. Those coffee cups are huge.
"Alright," says Ross, between sips of coffee, "any better ideas on how I can get back with Rachael." Even as he says her name a dreamy look comes over his face. Chandler looks thoughtful, "we've tried wooing, the radio, amusing lists of qualities. Let's be more direct." Ross leans over, "go on."
At the same time Monica and Rachael are having a little argument in their flat. "My room is just too small," moans Rachael. "Well?" responds Monica, "what of it?" "How come you have the bigger room?" Rachael is demanding. Monica looks affronted, "This was my flat first, that's why." "I've got more stuff than you. And I pay the same rent on this place." "You would have more stuff. But how much of it did you pay for yourself?" "Hah! Please let me have your room!" "I like the room I have." "Let's swap for one night, and see, yeah?" "OK."
