Friends S01E01 — The Runaway Bride Arrives

1

Before You Watch

The story

This is the first episode of Friends. The group is sitting in Central Perk, a coffee shop in New York. Ross is upset because his wife has just moved out. Then Rachel suddenly arrives in a wedding dress after running away from her wedding.

How to watch

The comedy comes from fast reactions and dry sarcasm.

After you watch, we will explain the jokes — no spoilers here.

Words to notice — know these before you watch:

wedding metaphor independence cancel

Expressions you will hear:

runaway bride move out

Predict: Look at the keywords. What problem do you think Rachel has?

Background reading (1 minute)

Friends is a sitcom about six young adults in New York. Sitcom language is fast, casual and full of short reactions. In this clip, two people have major life changes: Ross is separating from Carol, and Rachel is choosing independence for the first time.

2

Watch 1 — with subtitles

— catch the main idea

Watched 0% of the clip — aim for 70% before Watch 2 unlocks.

Subtitles ON. Watch the whole clip once, then answer:

Watch once with subtitles OFF. What is the main situation?

Why was it funny?

Chandler often answers serious moments with a sharp joke. Rachel uses a strange metaphor about being a shoe, a purse or a hat to explain that she wants to choose her own life. The joke is that her father takes it too literally.

3

Transcript

— tap a line to replay that sentence

yellow = vocabulary to learn · blue = idioms / phrasal verbs · purple = grammar

0:47 'There's nothing to tell.'

0:48 It's just some guy I work with.

0:50 Come on, you're going out with the guy.

0:52 There's gotta be something wrong with him.

0:55 So does he have hump? A hump and a hairpiece?

1:00 Wait, does he eat chalk?

1:02 Just 'cause I don't want her to go through what I went through with Carl.

1:06 Okay, everybody relax. This is not even a date.

1:08 It's just two people going out to dinner and not having sex.

1:12 Sounds like a date to me.

1:16 Alright so, I'm back in high school.

1:17 I'm standing in the middle of the cafeteria and I realize I'm totally naked.

1:23 - Oh, we all had that dream. - Oh, yeah.

1:24 And I look down and I realize there is a phone...there.

1:32 - Instead of-- - That's right!

1:34 Never had that one.

1:35 All of a sudden, the phone starts to ring.

1:40 And it turns out it's my mother.

1:43 Which is very, very weird because...she never calls me.

1:53 Hi.

1:56 This guy says, "Hello," I want to kill myself.

1:59 You okay, sweetie?

2:00 I just feel like someone reached down my throat grabbed my small intestine, pulled it out of my mouth and tied it around my neck.

2:07 Cookie?

2:11 Carol moved her stuff out today.

2:13 - Let me get you some coffee. - Thanks.

2:18 Oh, ugh.

2:20 Uh-oh, no. No, don't. Stop cleansing my aura.

2:25 Don't. Just leave my aura alone, okay?

2:28 I'll be fine, alright? Really, everyone I hope she'll be very happy.

2:32 - No, you don't - No, I don't.

2:33 To hell with her, she left me!

2:36 And you never knew she was a lesbian.

2:43 No, okay?

2:44 Why does everyone keep fixating on that?

2:49 She didn't know, how should I know?

2:54 Sometimes, I wish I was a lesbian.

2:58 Did I say that out loud?

3:02 Alright, Ross, look, you're feeling a lot of pain right now.

3:06 You're angry. You're hurting.

3:09 Can I tell you what the answer is?

3:11 Strip joints!

3:15 Come on, you're single. Have some hormones..

3:17 But I don't want to be single, okay?

3:19 I just, I just, I just want to be married again.

3:27 And I just won a million dollars.

3:31 Rachel?

3:32 Oh, God, Monica, hi. Thank god.

3:35 I just went to your building and you weren't there.

3:37 And then this guy with a big hammer said you might be here and you are. You are.

3:41 Can I get you some coffee?

3:43 Decaf.

3:45 Okay, everybody this is Rachel, another Lincoln High survivor.

3:49 This-this is everybody.

3:50 This is Chandler, and Phoebe and Joey.

3:53 And you remember my brother, Ross?

3:55 - Sure! Hi. - Hey.

4:06 So you want to tell us now, or are we waiting for four wet bridesmaids?

4:12 Oh, God! Well..

4:14 ...it started about a half-hour before the wedding.

4:17 I was in this room where we were keeping all the presents And I was looking at this gravy boat.

4:21 This really gorgeous Limoges gravy boat.

4:25 When all of sudden.. Sweet N' Low?

4:27 I realized I realized I was more turned on by this gravy boat than by Barry.

4:33 And then I got really freaked out.

4:35 And that's when it hit me how much Barry looks Mr. Potato Head.

4:39 You know, I mean, I always knew he looked familiar, but..

4:45 Anyway, I just had to get out of there and I started wondering "Why am I doing this?"

4:50 and "Who am I doing this for?"

4:53 So, anyway, I just didn't know where to go and I know that you and I have kind of drifted apart but you're the only person I knew who lived here in the city.

5:00 Who wasn't invited to the wedding.

5:02 Oh, I was kind of hoping that wouldn't be an issue.

5:19 I'm, uh, guessing he bought her the big pipe organ And she's really not happy about it.

5:26 Daddy, I just...I can't marry him.

5:29 I'm sorry, I just don't love him.

5:34 Well, it matters to me.

5:39 'Ooh, she should not be wearing those pants.'

5:43 I say, push her down the stairs.

5:47 Push her down the stairs.

5:52 Come on, Daddy, listen to me.

5:54 It's like all my life, everyone's always told me "You're a shoe!

5:59 'You're a shoe! You're a shoe! You're a shoe!"'

6:01 And then today, I just stopped and said What if I don't wanna be a shoe?

6:05 What if I want to be a, a purse?

6:07 You know, or-or-or a hat?

6:11 No, I don't want you to buy me a hat.

6:13 I'm saying that I am a ha-- It's a metaphor, Daddy!

6:18 You can see where he'd have trouble.

6:23 Look, Daddy, it's my life.

6:26 Well, maybe I'll just stay here with Monica.

6:32 Well, I guess we've established she's staying here with Monica.

6:36 Well, maybe that's my decision.

6:39 Well, maybe I don't need your money.

6:42 Wait! Wait! I said maybe!

6:51 - Okay, just breathe. That's it. - Okay.

6:53 Just try to think of nice, calm things.

7:09 I'm all better now.

7:13 I helped.

7:16 Okay, look, this is probably for the best, you know?

7:18 Independence. Taking control of your life.

7:21 And hey, you need anything, you can always come to Joey.

7:26 Me and Chandler live across the hall.

7:28 And he's away a lot.

7:31 Joey, stop hitting on her! It's her wedding day.

7:34 What? Like there's a rule or something?

7:38 Please don't do that again. It's a horrible sound.

7:42 Ah, it's, it's Paul.

7:44 - Let him in. - Who's Paul?

7:46 - Paul, the wine guy, Paul? - Maybe.

7:49 Wait a minute, your "not a real date," tonight is with Paul, the wine guy?

7:52 - He finally asked you out? - Yes!

7:54 Oh, this is a "Dear Diary" moment.

7:58 Rach, wait I-I can cancel.

7:59 Please, no, go. I'll be fine.

8:01 I-Ross, are you okay?

8:03 Do you want me to stay?

8:06 - That would be good. - Really?

8:09 No! Go on, it's Paul the wine guy.

8:16 Hi, come in.

8:17 Paul, this is...everybody.

8:21 Everybody, this is Paul.

8:22 Paul the wine guy.

8:24 I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. Paul, was it?

8:28 Sit down, two seconds.

4

Vocabulary

— tap a card to see the meaning, then check yourself

Warm checks: 0/10

intestine/ɪnˈtestɪn/

Tap to see the meaning

a long tube inside your body that helps digest food

“I just feel like someone reached down my throat, grabbed my small intestine...”

aura/ˈɔːrə/

Tap to see the meaning

a feeling or energy that seems to surround a person

“Stop cleansing my aura.”

bridesmaid/ˈbraɪdzmeɪd/

Tap to see the meaning

a woman who helps the bride at a wedding

“Are we waiting for four wet bridesmaids?”

gorgeous/ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/

Tap to see the meaning

very beautiful or attractive

“This really gorgeous Limoges gravy boat.”

familiar/fəˈmɪliər/

Tap to see the meaning

easy to recognize because you have seen it before

“I always knew he looked familiar.”

issue/ˈɪʃuː/

Tap to see the meaning

a problem or topic people are worried about

“I was kind of hoping that wouldn't be an issue.”

metaphor/ˈmetəfɔːr/

Tap to see the meaning

a way of describing something by comparing it to something else

“It's a metaphor, Daddy!”

establish/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

Tap to see the meaning

to make something clear or certain

“I guess we've established she's staying here with Monica.”

independence/ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/

Tap to see the meaning

the ability to live or decide without depending on others

“Independence. Taking control of your life.”

cancel/ˈkænsl/

Tap to see the meaning

to decide that something planned will not happen

“Rach, wait, I can cancel.”

5

Idioms & Phrasal Verbs

go through phrasal verb to experience something difficult “I don't want her to go through what I went through with Carl.”

move out phrasal verb to leave the place where you live “Carol moved her stuff out today.”

fixate on phrasal verb to keep thinking or talking about one thing too much “Why does everyone keep fixating on that?”

freak out phrasal verb to become very scared, shocked or upset “And then I got really freaked out.”

drift apart phrasal verb to slowly become less close to someone “You and I have kind of drifted apart.”

hit on phrasal verb to show romantic or sexual interest in someone “Joey, stop hitting on her!”

for the best idiom better in the end, even if it feels bad now “This is probably for the best.”

Bonus phrases — extra, only if you are curious

go out with phrasal verb to have a date or romantic relationship with someone “You're going out with the guy.”

take control of phrase to start making your own decisions “Taking control of your life.”

let someone in phrasal verb to allow someone to enter “Let him in.”

6

Grammar Spotlight

Find the pattern: Two lines from the clip: “I WAS LOOKING at this gravy boat.” and “I WAS STANDING in the middle of the cafeteria.” What are these forms doing?

Past continuous for storytelling: was/were + verb-ing

Use the past continuous to set the scene in a story. It tells us what was happening around a key moment. The key moment often uses the past simple.

• I was looking at this gravy boat. (This sets the scene before Rachel's big realization.)

• I realized I was more turned on by this gravy boat than by Barry. (realized = the key moment)

• I was kind of supposed to be headed for Aruba on my honeymoon. (A planned situation that changed.)

Learn more: English Grammar in Use — Past continuous and past simple

7

Watch 2 — with subtitles

— hear the details

Subtitles ON again. Answer the detail questions. Use “Replay this bit” if you need it:

1. Why is Ross upset?

2. Why did Rachel get scared before the wedding?

3. Who does Rachel call after she arrives?

4. What does Monica say Rachel is doing?

8

Practice

— tap an answer, get instant feedback

Exercises: 0/0 answered · 0 correct

Understand the story

1. What has just happened to Ross?

2. What does Rachel realize before the wedding?

3. Why does Rachel come to Monica?

14. Play this bit. What does Monica say Rachel is doing?

True or False

4. Rachel's father immediately understands her shoe/purse/hat metaphor.

5. Monica is happy to cancel her date if Rachel needs her.

6. Joey lives across the hall from Monica.

Fill the gap

7. You and I have kind of drifted ______.

8. Joey, stop hitting ______ her!

Word meanings

9. If something is 'for the best', it is:

10. In this clip, 'independence' is closest to:

12. Which word means: “a word or picture that stands for a deeper idea”?

Match the phrases

11. Match each phrase with its meaning — tap a phrase on the left, then tap its meaning on the right:

Grammar in use

13. Which line uses past continuous (was/were + -ing) to set the story scene?

9

Final listen — no subtitles

— prove what you remember

Subtitles locked OFF

Subtitles are OFF. Prove what you remember from today's Friends clip.

1. Catch the line

Tap ▶ to hear each line. The box ticks only after it finishes playing.

There's nothing to tell.▶
You're going out with the guy.▶
Carol moved her stuff out today.▶
Why does everyone keep fixating on that?▶
I got really freaked out.▶
You and I have kind of drifted apart.▶
It's a metaphor, Daddy!▶
Taking control of your life.▶

2. What did they say?

1. What bad news does Ross give?

2. What does Rachel tell her father her shoe talk is?

3. What does Monica tell Joey to stop doing?

3. Put the lines in order

Listen once, then tap the lines in the order you hear them.

Final listen score will appear here when you finish.

Was today's lesson FUN?

How DIFFICULT was it?