Open Arms
Disclaimer: The characters of Ross and Rachel
do not belong to me but to the creators of FRIENDS. This is for entertainment
purposes only.
(Rachel and her daughters Jordanna 17 and Jessamyn 14 are driving down a
busy street.)
Jord: So Mom, Josh is picking me up at 8.
Rach: That’s fine as long as you are home by 11:30.
Jord: Cool! I like being at your house on the weekends. Dad is a major geek.
Rach: (smiling to herself) Jordanna your father just cares about you.
Jess: Nah, he’s just lonely. He keeps us hostage because he misses you, Mom.
Rach: Jessamyn, it has been over between your Dad and I for along time. I’m
sure he has dates that help him with his loneliness.
Jord: How blind are you, Mom? He hasn’t been on one date since you two
separated.
Rach: But our divorce has been final for over a year!
Jess: Duh! Mom! He still loves you! And you haven’t dated anyone either so
you obviously still love Dad.
Rach: Yes, I will always love your Dad. But we drive each other crazy when
we’re together. He’s possessive and jealous and I get all independent and
determined. It just doesn’t work and then we end up fighting. And I don’t want
to subject you two to anymore of that.
Jess: Uh- Mom you just passed school.
Rach: Damnit! (She does a U-turn and starts to head back towards school).
Jord: Ah, when one is in love it is hard to concentrate.
Rach: Jordanna Geller! Please girls this whole divorce thing was painful
enough without you two constantly picking on me about it.
Jord: (hopping out of the car) Bye Mom.
Jess: Bye Mom.
Rach: Bye girls have a good day.
(On the way to her office Rachel’s mind starts
to wander. She smiles to herself as she thinks about Ross. She loves him so
much even though they are divorced. She allows her mind to go back to the good
times):
(Rachel comes home from work and is surprised to find a path of red rose
petals leading into her and Ross’ bedroom. On their bed sits Ross dressed in a
tuxedo holding a dozen red long-stemmed roses. There is a bottle of champagne
chilling in the ice bucket. The bedcovers are turned down and on Rachel’s side
of the bed he has lain out a red negligee.)
Ross: Happy Valentines Day!
Rach: Ross, I love you! Happy Valentine’s Day! This is so sweet! Where is
Jordanna?
Ross: Let’s just say she had a hot date with her Auntie Phoebe tonight.
Now, why don’t you go get changed? (When Rachel comes out of the bathroom from
changing Ross has poured the champagne. He hands her a glass.)
Ross: A toast to my lovely wife.
Rach: Happy Valentine’s Day! (They each sip their champagne for a few
minutes. Finally, Ross puts down his glass and takes hers from her. He begins
to kiss her very slowly and tenderly; it doesn’t take her long to get into it.
As their kisses grow more passionate and intense she slides off his jacket and
he begins to unbutton his shirt. He kisses her shoulders and slowly lays her on
their bed.)
Ross: Have I told you today how beautiful you are?
(Rachel pulls him down for another kiss and
soon they are lost in the passion of the other.)
(Rachel is brought back to reality when she pulls into her office-parking
garage. She makes her way into her office and is quite surprised to see a vase
of flowers on her desk. She gets little tears in her eyes when she reads the
card, “Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you today. Ross” Rachel is
touched.)
Rach: He is always so sweet to me even when I
bail on him. (Rachel fingers the framed college degree sitting on her desktop
and thinks back to the day she suggested the divorce.)
(Ross and Rachel are in their bedroom fighting. They are trying to keep
their voices down so their daughters don’t hear but the discussion is getting
rather heated.)
Rach: Ross, I can’t keep having this same discussion with you over and
over. I am going to get my Master’s.
Ross: Listen, Rachel you are just so stressed now with your job, your
college work, and the girls. I just think it may be easier on you if you wait a
couple of more years.
Rach: Easy for you to say, Dr.! You’ve got your education. I have devoted
the last sixteen years of my life to part-time work so that I could be home more
with the girls. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable to ask for a little time
for myself now.
Ross: But Rach, what about me? You never have any time for me anymore.
It’s been months since we’ve had more than a two-sentence conversation and it’s
been even longer since we’ve made love.
Rach: Ohh! So that’s what this is about sex?
Ross: No Rachel it’s not about sex! It’s about us; it’s about our
relationship. I just want my wife back. I just don’t want you working yourself
into such a frazzle that you aren’t able to be a good Mom or a good wife.
Rach: Is that how you view me? You think I’m a bad wife and a bad Mom?
Ross: That’s not what I meant. I just mean that when you get really
stressed you tend to let things at home kind of slide sometimes.
Rach: Oh really! Well if that’s how you are going to view our
relationship than maybe we shouldn’t have one.
Ross: Now come on you know you don’t mean that.
Rach: Like hell I don’t! I can’t live like this anymore! I need your
support on this Ross and if I can’t have it then you need to move out.
Ross: (approaching her) Come on sweetie, let’s go to bed. We are both
tired and emotional. We’ll be able to discuss this rationally in the morning.
Rach: (obviously still upset) I will go to bed you can sleep here (points
to the couch.)
(The next morning’s discussion explodes into an even bigger argument and
then Rachel says the words that rip apart their marriage.)
Rach: Ross, I think part of me will always love you no matter what. God
knows I stayed up all night thinking about this and my mind just keeps coming
to one conclusion. Ross, we drive each other crazy! All we ever do is fight. I
think we need to give it a rest.
Ross: Fine, let’s go on a little vacation for a few days.
Rach: No Ross you are not understanding me. We can’t live together
anymore. I want a divorce.
Ross: (crying now) Oh my God, Rachel I can’t lose you again. I won’t lose
you again. I am not complete without you in my life. God, I love you so much.
Please let’s just work on this. (he tries to hug her)
Rach: (pushing him away) No, Ross us just doesn’t work. I wish it was
different but it’s not.
Ross: No Rach I won’t leave. I won’t give up on us. The last time I did
that I almost lost you forever. I can’t put myself through that again.
Rach: Ross, please let’s just make this as amicable as possible. I want
to stay friends. I wish there was a way to work past this but we both want
different things right now.
Ross: There are three things I want in life right now; my son, my
daughters, and YOU. Rach, what can I do to show you how much I love you? How
much I want us to be together? How committed I am to our marriage and to us? Oh
God, Rachel I love you so much.
Rach: I wish there was a way Ross. But this relationship is just too
hard. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. But I just keep thinking that if
we live apart we will go back to being the good friends we used to be without
having all of the pressure of a marriage.
Ross: I can’t believe you are giving up on
us, Rach.
(Rachel’s assistant beeps into her office interrupting her thoughts)
Asst: Ms. Geller, you have a call on your personal line.
Rach: Who is it, Tina, please?
Asst: It’s your ex-husband
Rach: Thank-you Tina, I will take it. (on the phone) Hey Ross, what’s up?
Ross: Hi Rach. I just wanted to see if you are free for dinner tonight?
Rach: Well Jess has soccer practice and Jordy has a date with Josh.
Ross: She has a date on a school night?
Rach: Ross relax you know I give them a curfew and it is Friday night so
there is no school tomorrow.
Ross: Did you get my flowers?
Rach: Yes they are so pretty. It was very thoughtful of you. What’s the
occasion?
Ross: That’s why I want to have dinner with you tonight.
Rach; Ross, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.
Ross: Come on Rachel please. It’s our anniversary.
Rach: (looks down at her calendar) Ross our wedding anniversary was in
August.
Ross: No, it is the anniversary of our first time together.
Rach: Oh (thinks for a moment) in light of that I think it would be even
more of a bad idea.
Ross: Please, I promise to behave myself. It will just be dinner as friends.
I miss you, you know..
Rach; I miss you too. All right, I will have dinner with you but only as
friends.
Ross: Great! I will pick you up at 7.
(Later that evening Rachel is at home getting ready for her date. Jordy is
sitting on Rachel’s bed grading every outfit. Rachel steps out of the bathroom
in black slacks and a navy blouse.)
Jord: That’s a C. Oh come on, Mom, wear your red dress.
Rach: No Jordanna this is two friends having dinner not a date. I can’t
dress like it’s a date.
Jord: Whatever! Mom this is two friends having dinner that think they are
just friends but are actually madly in love and have two beautiful daughters
together. Wear the red dress Dad will love it.
Rach: I don’t want your Dad to love it.
Jord: (grinning wickedly at her) Yes you do!
Rach; Jordanna Ruth Geller, don’t you have your own date to get ready for?
Jord: You just called it a date! (she runs out of the room laughing and goes
up to her room to get dressed for her date with Josh. When the doorbell rings
Jessamyn answers it. It is Ross.)
Jess: Hey Daddy! Mom’s almost ready come in.
Ross: Hey Jess! How are you getting to soccer? Don’t you have practice?
Jess: Kate’s Mom is coming to get me and Mom said I could spend the night
with her. (hears a honk) There she is. I got to go get my stuff. (she runs off
into her bedroom and Rachel comes out of hers wearing her red dress after all.
She is putting her earrings in as she walks)
Rach: Hi Ross, I didn’t hear you come in.
Ross: Hello Rachel. You look beautiful.
Rach: Thanks Jordy picked out my outfit.
(Jessamyn runs out of her room carrying her bag) Night Mom! Bye Dad! Have
fun at your dinner as friends!
Ross: Are you ready?
Rach: Yeah just let me tell Jordanna that we’re leaving.
Ross: And remind her of her curfew.
Rach: Right! (she goes into Jordy’s room for a few minutes and then comes
back out grabs her jacket and they leave.)
(Ross and Rachel are sitting at a quiet little restaurant. They have already
eaten and are now just talking and drinking wine.)
Ross: That was so NOT funny! You know how protective of my girls I am- all
three of them.
Rach: (blushes) Ross….
Ross: Let me say something please.
Rach: Ross, you promised.
Ross: (grabs her hand across the table) I need to say this, please just hear
me out.
Rach: (smiles weakly at him) Okay.
Ross: You are so beautiful when you smile. You are just beautiful. I never
stop thinking about you. I have never stopped loving you not even for a moment.
The year and a half since our separation has been absolute hell. I go to bed
alone every night aching for you. My entire being cries out to be with you. I
want to talk to you, parent with you, laugh with you, fight with you, and make
love to you.
Rach: (crying) I knew this was a bad idea.
Ross: Rachel, you are still the love of my life. God, I miss you so much. I
love you so much.
Rach: I love you too, Ross but-
Ross: no, no buts Rachel. There are no buts in love. Come here (he leans
towards her and she leans in too they share a soft, quick kiss). I love you,
Rach.
Rach: (embarrassed) Do you want to get out of here. Go to my place so we can
talk? I think there are some things that need to be said.
Ross: Yeah that would be good. (Ross leaves money on the table and they
leave.)
(They are back at Rachel’s house. Ross and Rachel are sitting on the couch
talking. Ross has her arm around her shoulders and is using all his
self-reserve not to kiss her. Rachel is finishing a long statement about their
failed relationship)
Rach: That’s why I’m not sure us is going to work. You understand?
Ross: (lifting her chin and gazing into her eyes) I understand that I am
nothing without you. I understand that I waited for what seems like an eternity
to do this (he kisses her, at first Rachel tries to resist but then sinks into
it and soon the kiss grows very intense and passionate, they finally break but
their eyes stay locked) you were worth the wait, Rachel, always. (he leans in
and again they kiss, things start to get very intense and Ross begins to move
his kisses down her neck and shoulders)
Rach: Ross, I love you. I never stopped. (they hug tightly for several
minutes until Ross finally breaks it)
Ross: I’m so glad to hear you say that. I was so worried that you don’t love
me anymore or that you will have found someone else.
Rach: No, Ross there’s no one else. Never has been. (she kisses him and
unbuttons the top buttons of his shirt)
Ross: Rach, are you sure?
Rach: Make love to me, Ross. (He picks her up in his arms and carries her
into the bedroom. He lays her down on the bed and as their kisses begin to heat
up they are swept away by their newfound love for each other.)
(Later that night Jordanna comes home from her date and sees that her Mom’s
door is closed so she goes to her own room to go to bed. In Rachel’s room Ross
and Rachel are laying under the covers Rachel is sleeping contently. Ross is
watching her sleep caressing her arms lightly lost in his thoughts. “Open Arms”
by Journey begins to play.
Montage: scenes from Ross and Rachel’s relationship. A scene of their
wedding kiss, an argument, and then them holding hands walking in the park.
Scenes of Ross and Rachel holding Jordanna as a baby and then Jessamyn,
Ross holding a rose out to Rachel, Rachel running into the house to tell Ross
something, them kissing passionately.
Scenes of Ross leaving the house with all of his stuff after the divorce,
Rachel laying in bed alone at night crying, both of them eating dinner at their
separate houses alone.
Replay of Ross and Rachel dinner’s earlier, them kissing on the couch,
lying in bed together after making love cuddling and talking.
(The next morning Jordanna gets up and see her Mom’s door still shut. She
happens to glance out the kitchen window while she’s getting a drink of water.
She sees her Dad’s car parked in the driveway and a huge smile spreads across
her face. She hurriedly picks up the phone and dials)
Girl (otp): Hello?
Jord: Hey Kate. It’s Jordanna. Is Jess there? I gotta talk to her real
quick.
Jess: Hi Jordy. What’s up?
Jord: Oh my God, Jess guess who spent the night last night?
Jess: Josh!
Jord: Yeah cause I want to die slowly with one of Dad’s lectures. NOT! Guess
again.
Jess: Uh, Grandma Green?
Jord: You really are dense Jessamyn Geller! Mom’s date spent the night last
night.
Jess: But Mom’s date was- Oh my God!
Jord: I know! This is huge! I am so excited and so happy for them! Anyway, I
just called to tell you the good news and that there is no need to rush home. I
think I’m going to go over to Kristy’s and leave them alone a bit longer. They
have a lot of catching up to do.
Jess: (giggling) yeah they do! Thanks for calling Jordy. I’ll wait till
around lunchtime to come home. Mom didn’t give me a time anyway.
(Back to Rachel’s room. She awakens slowly and smiles when she sees Ross
come out of her bathroom wrapped in a towel.)
Rach: Hey you.
Ross: Hey you. (He lies down next to her) Last night was incredible.
Rach: (smiles at him) yes it was.
Ross: I was going to get dressed and go out to get some breakfast. Do you
want anything?
Rach: Yeah, yeah I do. But (she takes the towel off of him) but you won’t be
needing clothes.
Ross: Isn’t Jordanna home?
Rach: I’m sure she is. But I think she probably figured out you’re here. I
don’t think we need to worry about her. (She kisses him) and I know it’s too
early for Jess to come home.
Ross: Speaking of home, Rachel, do I get to come home?
Rach: (winks at him) What do you think?
Ross: I love you, Rachel.
Rach: I love you too. (They kiss deeply and Ross pulls the covers up over
them as they chorus plays and the scene fades out).
THE END