The One With the Incense

by Godeerc VanDrey

 

Category: Friends

Genre: Humor, General

Rating: PG

Language: English

Summary: Ross and Monica go to a “Siblings’ Clinic” that helps to resolve sibling conflicts.  Joey and Chandler make fun of one of Ross’s National Geographic anthropologic videos, and enjoy the lifestyle a bit too much.  Rachel and Phoebe experiment with special emotion-bringing incense.

 

A/N: Okay, I’m sorry this took so long to get out, but I have been really busy.  School has started up again, and I have to work on these whenever I can.  This one has been planned for a while, I just haven’t had time to write it.   This takes place in Season 2, though it has very little to do with the Ross and Rachel thing.  It is another fic for my Alter Ego Phase fic.  Alter Ego Phase fics feature a new character (or characters) that is the center of the major plot line.  This one will feature Isaias and Isabel Rodriguez, a brother and sister like Ross and Monica.  Have fun!  I have a good feeling about this one.

 

 

Scene 1: Inside a building

(Ross and Monica walk in)

 

Ross: (to the receptionist) Excuse me, miss.

 

Monica: We’re looking for...

 

Ross: Excuse me, I was talking to her.

 

Monica: So, that all of a sudden means I can’t say something, too?

 

Ross: Well, you could at least have waited until I finished.  Or paused even.

 

Monica: What is the big deal?

 

Ross: The big deal is that you have no manners.

 

Monica: (offended) Excuse me?

 

Receptionist: Sibling Relations Clinic, first floor, Room 112.  It’ll be the third one on the left down this hallway.

 

Ross: Thanks.

 

Monica: Suck-up.

 

Ross: Double suck-up.

 

Monica: Triple suck-up.

 

Ross: Quadruple suck-up.

 

Monica: (pause) Five-tuple suck-up.

 

Ross: (laughs) Quintuple.

 

Monica: Shut up.

 

Ross: You shut up.

 

Monica: No, you!

 

(OPENING CREDITS)

 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

 

Scene 2: Joey and Chandler’s Apartment

(Joey and Chandler sitting in the recliners, looking through video tapes)

 

Chandler: Hey, Joe, which one’s this one? (shows it to Joey)

 

Joey: I don’t know.  Maybe it’s that one where the lifeguards run around a lot and save people.

 

Chandler: Wow, have we seen that one?

 

Joey: Actually, I think we’ve only seen the first part.

 

(Chandler puts the tape in and starts it)

 

Joey: Whoa.

 

Chandler: I know.


Joey: I didn’t know they could show that.


Chandler: Joey, it’s one of Ross’s Discovery Channel recordings.  Some anthropology thing.  I’ll get it.

 

Joey: Oh, no, no, no you don’t.  We can watch this.

 

Chandler: It’s not Baywatch.

 

Joey: We watch it for the hot girls.  And look what we got here.

 

Chandler: Neanderthals?

 

Joey: Neanderthals?  They’re nothing like me!

 

Chandler: (smiles) Well, unless you count IQ and maturity.

 

Joey: Hey!  Look at these girls and tell me they’re not hot.

 

Chandler: Nice figure, nice tan, nice…

 

Joey: Yeah.

 

Chandler: Face could use some work.  Oh, all right. (sits down in his recliner)

 

 

Scene 3: Phoebe’s Apartment

(Rachel and Phoebe sitting on her couch)

 

Phoebe: C’mon, Rach!  You’ll love it.


Rachel: I’m sorry; I’m just not an “incense” kind of person.

 

Phoebe: “Incense” is not a kind of person; it’s an aromatic experience that draws memories and emotions to your conscious psyche, illuminating your inner spirit.

 

Rachel: (unimpressed) So it does. (she gives Pheobe a look)

 

Phoebe: I’m sorry you’re not in the process of making out with your boyfriend, but Ross is trying to better relations with Mon, okay?

 

Rachel: I know, I know.  Okay, let’s get high.

 

Phoebe: We are not going to get “high.”  This is incense.

 

Rachel: Can I slap you if I do?

 

Phoebe: Yes, if you get high, feel free.  Okay, look.  This one is called “Cynicism.”

 

Rachel: Phoebe, that’s not even a smell!  It’s a type of government!


Phoebe: No, it’s not.  Watch. (she lights it and breathes it)

 

Rachel: (breathes it, too) I still think it’s no good.

 

Phoebe: Well, sorry, Miss Princess Non-Believer All-I-Care-About-Is-Me... Person, for trying.

 

Rachel: You’re wasting your time, just like all the other losers who have nothing to do but create smelly sticks with funny names and don’t do anything with their lives.

 

Phoebe: This stuff works.

 

Rachel: It does.

 

Phoebe: (takes another one) This one is called “Euphoria” (has a questioning look)

 

Rachel: I think it means like “happy” or “friendly.”

 

Phoebe: Okay. (she lights it)

 

 

Scene 4: The Clinic

(Ross and Monica sit next to another couple and a lady with a clipboard)

 

Ross: I’m Ross Geller, and this is my sister…

 

Monica: Monica Geller.

 

Ross: Hey!  I can introduce you just fine!

 

Lady: (with clipboard, Naomi; talks to them like a kindergarten teacher) Monica, we know your personality is impulsive, but you must learn to be patient.  Ross, you must learn not to overreact at every little thing.

 

Ross: I do not overreact to every little thing. (Monica punches his arm) HEY!

 

Naomi: Ross...?

 

Ross: I know, I know. (spoken out) Monica, I don’t appreciate it when you hit me.  Words are better than fists. (Monica struggle to muffle a laugh)

 

Naomi: Now, I’m going to the next group.  Please, talk to one another.  Learn about each other differences and brainstorm solutions.

 

Isaias: Hi, I’m Isaias Rodriguez.  This is my sister, Isabel.


Isabel: Hi.

 

Ross: Isaias? (pronounced Ee-sai-ee-ahs) What kind of name is that?

 

Monica: Ross!

 

Ross: I wasn’t being mean, unlike some people I know.

 

(the other two laugh)

 

Isaias: It’s Spanish for “Isaiah.”  Isabel is Spanish for “Elizabeth.”

 

Isabel: I can talk for myself thank you very much.

 

Isaias: Really?  I didn’t notice. (Monica laughs)

 

Monica: I understand.  Ross was always shy.

 

Ross: Well, at least I wasn’t giddy!

 

(Isaias laughs)

 

Isaias: Isabel was so giddy!

 

Isabel: At least I wasn’t sarcastic.


Ross: Yeah.  I know.  You didn’t have a sense of humor.

 

Monica: Look who’s talking.

 

 

Scene 5: J&C’s

(Chandler and Joey acting like monkeys)


Chandler: (deep tone) See pretty TV!  Must smash demon box!  Ug, ug!

 

Joey: (similar tone) Ooga, ooga!  Food! (takes a large handful of Chee-tos)

 

Chandler: Hey, that’s pretty good! (poised like a gorilla)

 

Joey: What’s pretty good?

 

Chandler: (deep voice again) Eat like Neanderthal!

 

Joey: (deep voice) Not eat like Neanderthal!  Eat like Joey!

 

Chandler: You right! (jumps up and down on recliner like a monkey) Act like Neanderthal fun.

 

Joey: Yes!

 

Chandler: Must be careful.  May affect us indefinitely.

 

Joey: Yes!  “Indefinitely” not caveman word, though, me thinks.

 

 

Scene 6: P’s Apartment

(Rachel and Phoebe swaying)

 

Rachel: (as if high) You know, this Eufoora is good!

 

Phoebe: (the same) Yeah!  Aw, we’re out. (points as her hand moves back and forth)

 

Rachel: I’m hungry.  Are you hungry?

 

Phoebe: Yeah.  Let’s go get a burger.

 

Rachel: I thought you were a veggaterrier.

 

Phoebe: What’s that?

 

Rachel: I don’t know.  It sounds like a dog.

 

Phoebe: Never mind.  Let’s go get us a Big Mac.

 

Rachel: Okay. (runs into the door) We can’t get out.

 

Phoebe: That’s okay.  We can burn some more incest.

 

Rachel: No, that’s where you... (giggles uncontrollably)

 

Phoebe: Well, let’s burn it anyway.  We’re out of Urophobia or whatever.

 

Rachel: I remember that.


Phoebe: Me, too.  I think I forgot.

 

Rachel: What’s this say? (holding a package up-side-down)

 

Phoebe: I don’t know.

 

(the label says “Hormonal Stimulation”)

 

 

Scene 6: The Clinic

(the two sets of sibling during “Discussion Period”, read “Arguing Time”)

 

(Ross is continuously doing the double-fist-knocks to Monica, who holds her hand up, looking away)

 

Isaias: What are you doing?

 

Ross: It’s what I did instead of “the finger” so my parents wouldn’t know I was giving Monica “the finger.”

 

Isaias: Ah.  Isabel. (twirls his hand to the side of his face)

 

Isabel: (giggles) Oh, I remember that. (Isaias continues to repeat the motion) Okay, you can stop now.

 

(time lapse)

 

Isabel: (sharply) You barely took notice to me!

 

Isaias: Who said I had to?  You’re my sister.  No one cares about his or her little sister.

 

Monica: (low voice) How true, how true.

 

Ross: What are you talking about?

 

Monica: You spent all your time either in dinosaurs or wondering, (high voice) “Will I get Rachel to go out with me?”

 

Ross: One, I never sounded like that. (Monica raises an eyebrow) Well, never that you would remember.  And two, they both paid off, didn’t they?  So now I have a good job and a girlfriend.

 

Monica: (sneers) So does your ex-wife.

 

Ross: Pull that card on me, will you?  Maybe I should pull the “Hated By My Mother” card, or the “Fat” card, or the “No Boyfriend” card.  The possibilities are limitless.

 

Isaias: Maybe I should bring up the “Dorky Glasses” card or the “Sleeps With Stuffed Animals” card.

 

Ross: “Sleeps With Stuffed Animals” card?  That’s a good one.

 

Monica: Yeah, you could pull that one on Rachel. (Ross looks defeated)

 

Ross: Pulling out “No Boyfriend” card.  At least I have a significant other. (Monica sneers)

 

Isaias: Maybe I could pull that one.


Isabel: I’m engaged.

 

Isaias: (thinks) Yeah, but that means he’s not your boyfriend anymore.

 

Isabel: Can I pull out the “Complete Idiot” card?  Or maybe just “Wet His Bed At 12” card, or the “Didn’t Date Until 17” card.

 

Ross: You didn’t date until you were seventeen?  Dude, sorry, but I think she has the liberty to pull that one.

 

Monica: Then I can pull the “Didn’t Date Until...” card.

 

Ross: Don’t even go there!

 

Isabel: Why do they only give us two hours for “Discussion Period”?

 

Monica: Beats me.  It’s not near enough time.

 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

 

Scene 7: J&C’s

(the living room is empty)

 

Chandler: (gorilla-walks in wearing a crudely-made loincloth) Me Chan-Man. (beats his chest, then cringes)

 

Joey: (also wearing a loincloth) Me Joey. (beats his chest) Ow!  Beating chest hurts!

 

(A/N: Do you hear girls screaming at the top of their lungs just then?  ‘Cause I did.)

 

Chandler: Yes, hurt much.  You ready for hunt?

 

Joey: Yes.  Me have craving for meat.

 

Chandler: Me hunt if you answer door.

 

Joey: Good deal.

 

Chandler: (gorilla-jumps over to the Barcalounger, and grabs the phone, and dials) Hello.  We want pizza.  Meat lovers’.  Medium.  Two.  To Joey’s.  Apartment 19.

 

 

Scene 8: Pizza Place

(guy on phone)

 

Guy: Joey’s?  Yeah, we know where that is. (hangs up and scribbles down an order)

 

Girl Worker: (looks at it) Joey’s?  We should start a place right next door.  Who lives there?

 

Guy: A couple of hot girls.  But they love their apartment.  We’re not getting it. (pause) And you know, they sounded really weird.  Talking like cavemen.

 

Girl: (looks at her watch) Really?  Joey only sounds like that at 3 AM after he’s watched late night TV.

 

Guy: It was the other guy.

 

Girl: The guy who…

 

Guy: Yeah.

 

Girl: Too bad, he’s kind of cute.

 

Guy: You’re kidding.

 

Girl: Of course I’m kidding.  The guy’s a dork.

 

 

Scene 9: Phoebe’s Apartment

(Rachel and Phoebe sitting on the couch, looking... satisfied)

 

Rachel: (out of breath) I tell you something.  That one’s dangerous.  I’m glad no one came by.

 

Phoebe: I think they would have been glad.

 

Rachel: We’re just gonna have to keep that one between us, okay?

 

Rachel: (laughs) So, what’s next?

 

Phoebe: “Imbecility.”  What’s that?

 

Rachel: Isn’t that being a traitor to your country?

 

Phoebe: That’s “exposition.” 

 

Rachel: Ah. (she light it)

 

(time lapse)

 

(Rachel and Phoebe stare into dead space, with their mouth hanging open, brain dead)

 

(Rachel fall face first onto the coffee table on a magazine, and the incense falls over)

 

(Phoebe fall headfirst onto a newspaper; she knocks over a glass of water, and the incense sizzles out)

 

 

Scene 10: The Clinic

(Ross and Monica, and Isaias and Isabel hugging)

 

Ross: I’m sorry I was so mean.

 

Monica: It’s okay.  We all have our faults.  I should be more understanding with you.

 

Ross: Right back at you.

 

Isaias: I’m sorry, Isabel, I never listened to you.  I didn’t understand your problems.

 

Isabel: It’s okay.  You shouldn’t have had to drag your little sister around all the time.  I had my own life, and so did you.  Even if was with your drum buddies.

 

Isaias: And your clarinet buddies.

 

Isabel: (tense) One clarinet buddy.  One!  The rest of them were the girls who couldn’t play flute and the boys who wanted to play saxophone.

 

Todd: (the couselor) Now, let’s calm down.  Remember, we all have our preferences.

 

Ross: I must tell you.  You are very good at this.

 

Todd: Thank you.  It’s a hobby, really.  I want to be a marriage counselor as soon as I get my degree.

 

(A/N: You would have to have read The One With the Marriage Counselor to get that one.)

 

Monica: We’ll remember you.

 

Ross: Yeah, but I don’t think I’ll have any problems with Rachel that’ll be severe enough for your line of work.

 

Monica: I don’t know.  Jealously might throw a curve.

 

Ross: “Jealously” is not going to get in between me and Rach.  And neither will loss of love... or unfaithfulness.  I’d like to see the day one of us cheats on the other.

 

(A/N: Don’t you just love verbal irony?  If you do, read The One With the Mystic’s Fifth Visit when it comes out.  It’ll be chock full of them.)

 

 

Scene 11: J&C’s

(Joey and Chandler snoring in their sleep on the Barcaloungers, still in loincloths)

 

(a pizza box is seen, and in tomato sauce, a finger-painted picture of two stick figures, one with Chandler’s hair ‘do and one with Joey’s ‘do, with their arms on each other shoulders, with the caption, “Best Buds Forever)

 

 

Scene 12: Phoebe’s Apartment

(Rachel and Phoebe lighting another incense stick)

 

Rachel: You know, after everything these things have done to us, why do we light another one?

 

(^_^ - Because it’s a good plot line?)

 

Phoebe: I don’t know.

 

Rachel: What’s it called?

 

Phoebe: “Amnesia.”

 

Rachel: What’s that?  I hear it a lot of Days of Our Lives.

 

Phoebe: I don’t remember.  That “Euphoria” one is still taking effect.

 

(the inhale)

 

Rachel: Wow, that smells... what’s the word I’m thinking of?

 

Phoebe: I don’t know.  What it’s like?

 

Rachel: I don’t remember.  By the way, who are you?

 

Phoebe: (her mind blank) Uh, Regina... Filangie.  I think.  Who are you?

 

Rachel: I don’t know.  The name Princess comes to mind.

 

Phoebe: Cool.  What was my name again?

 

Rachel: (thinks) Didn’t it start with an “F”?

 

Phoebe: Yeah, you’re probably right.  Queen, was it?

 

Rachel: Uh-huh. (but thinks)

 

(Phoebe hums “Another Bites the Dust”)

 

Rachel: What are you humming?

 

Phoebe: I don’t remember the title.  Let me hum again. (pauses, as she can’t remember) Uh. (hums the theme the tune to “Smelly Cat”)

 

Rachel: (sings under her breath) What are they feeding you? (pauses) Where did that come from?

 

(Phoebe shrugs her shoulders)

 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

 

(CLOSING CREDITS)

 

Scene 13: J&C’s

(Phoebe enters)

 

Phoebe: Hello? (Joey gorilla-walks in)

 

Joey: (grunts)

 

Phoebe: (is overcome by a giggly smile) Nice loincloth.

 

Joey: (in a grunting tone) Pheebs.

 

Phoebe: That’s it!  That’s my name.  I have to tell Princess.

 

Joey: (points) Head.

 

Phoebe: Oh, that.  I fell on a newspaper. (indeed, she has newsprint on her forehead, the stock exchange) Yeah, MEG is up four points, according to my head.  But you should see Rachel, her head says, “12 Ways to Improve...” something, it didn’t get imprinted.  Here. (pulls out some incense and lights it with a lighter)

 

Joey: (his eyes widen at the sight of the fire) Pheebs make fire.

 

Phoebe: Yeah.  Cave-Joey, it’s a lighter. (shows him the lighter, which he grabs) Should not have done that. (Joey clicks it a few times, amazed) Hey, Joey, smell this. (Joey does) What do you think? (grabs and kisses her) Wow, I’ll need maybe a box of this.  Where’d that pen go? (in her hair)

 

(Joey grabs Phoebe by the waist and throws her over his shoulder and starts to gorilla-walk toward his room)

 

Phoebe: Make that two boxes.

 

(END)

 

 

A/N: Hehe, that was fun.  I hope it turned out as well as I wanted it to.  I had a lot of fun with this one.  What did you think? 

 

Anyway, as always, what’s in the works:

 

The One With the High School Days Parts 2-5: It is planned and ready to be written.  I have a good feeling about all of them. 

 

(I am at another prime in my work.  For a while there, I was afraid I might have lost all inspiration, but this one proves I’m back in the game.)

 

The One With the Fake Addressees: An Altar Ego fic, this time, I have permission to write about them. (^_^ - Eek-gad!) Please see Owl Twrite for her work. (Owl, can I leave this here?  Or should I remove the last part about your pen name?)

 

V. The One With the Mystic’s Fifth Visit: Godeerc manipulates the gang’s childhood past.  Now he has a scepter, and his powers are increased.

 

VII. The One Where Godeerc Changes Vegas: The title says it all.  This one will be pretty long, because each Friend will get to do a change.

 

VII. Godeerc the Mystic 7: Unnamed as of now, but this is the one that will bring in Jessica.  I need some serious brainstorming, but I think this will be a bit deeper.

 

The One With the Auras: Reworked and ready to be extended.

 

The One With the Sweet Dreams: Needs a lot of work.

 

“Back-burner” works: These are the ones that I plan to do, but will not be worked on until major inspiration occurs.

 

The One With the Hollywood Stars: The big J&P fic following The Silver Friendship series. (Sorry, J&P fans, but I am putting in a lot of J&P tidbits in all of my work)

 

The One With the Deleted Scene: Needs a few more to be complete, but technically being brainstormed.

 

The One With the Funniest Moments: Will be worked on as soon as I’ve seen about every episode.


The One With Ross’s Shrine, Part 2: This one is so hard.  But I’m bouncing ideas around.

 

The One With the Back-ups: Already been done, but I will redo it completely someday, because it was not finished.

 

The Fantasy Phase: Major problems making humorous.  Don’t wait up.

 

^_^ - Well, finally!  Does the phrase biting off more that you can chew mean anything to you?

 

^_^ - (sniffs) Ah.  ~~~~========= “Sarcasm”?  I like it.

 

No wonder nothing’s changed.

 

^_^ - Bye-bye from the punctusmiley!

 

Wow, what are you sniffing now?  Corniness?

^_^ - Hey, I’m not the one who wrote The One With the Soul Mate’s Silver Friendship!

 

^_^ - See you later!

 

 

©2002.  Created Thursday, January 10, 2002

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