The One Where Rachel is Late

Thursday, 9 May 2002

Rachel is eight days overdue and works through the doctor's home remedies until Ross relents and her water breaks, while Joey takes Chandler to his film premiere and Monica keeps betting Phoebe on the birth.

What happens

• Joey shows off the poster for the war film he acted in and invites the whole group to its premiere the following week.
• Rachel announces that her due date is today, and by the next visit to the coffee house she is still pregnant and thoroughly fed up.
• Joey's agent tells him she sold most of his premiere tickets, so he is left with a single seat to give away.
• Joey chooses Chandler and explains that it is repayment for years of paid-for head shots, classes and encouragement, and Chandler tells Joey he is proud of him.
• Monica bets Phoebe fifty dollars that Rachel will have the baby within a day.
• Dr. Long tells Rachel she is eighty percent effaced and lists remedies to bring on labour, naming sex as the one that works best.
• Chandler sleeps through the entire film and gives himself away by praising a scene that does not exist, and Joey walks out on him.
• Ross refuses the doctor's suggestion, Monica admits she has been betting on the birth, and Rachel and Ross both take the bet against her.
• Joey tries to settle his debt to Chandler with a cheque, adds up years of expenses, then gives up on the idea.
• The spicy food and the other remedies fail, Ross finally kisses Rachel, and moments later her water breaks.