Continued from part 4, its been three days since Ross accused Chandler of having alterior motives. Hence, Chandler, nor Rachel have spoken to Ross. Monica has gone on all 5 interviews, and has been offered jobs from each place. Monica is happier than she has been in a long time. Ross has been trying to work things out with Rachel, but she's been avoiding him by spending her time with Monica. Ross has been spending time with Phoebe and Joey, as only Chandler, Ross, and Rachel know what happened. Chandler doesn't know that Rachel heard the fight between he and Ross. Please disregard any spelling errors and read and review.

SCENE CHANDLER'S WORK, CHANDLER IS PLAYING QUAKE WHEN HIS SECERTARY BUZZES HIM

Secertary: Mr Bing?

Chandler: Yes Helen?

Helen: Theres a Mr Ross Geller here to see you.

Chan: (thinks for a moment) Send him in. (Ross nervously enters, Chandler gives a cold look) Whadya want?

Ross: I was gonna make some more wild accusations against you. (off his blank stare) Look man, i'm really sorry what i said the other day its just that i had a stupid fight with Rachel, and i was just out of it.

Chan: so you insult my integrity cuz you and Rachel had a spat?

Ro: no! (stops and thinks for a minute) look.....you ever say anything out loud and instantly regretted it?

Chan: (thinks then sighs) every single day!

Ro: (perking up) yea, well join the club. I know you would never take advantage of anyone, let alone Monica....I didn't mean what i said.

Chan: (joking) so your not apologizing?

Ro: no, no not that!

Chan: You really do think I'd make a move on Monica! (fake yell) Get outta my office! (Ross starts to leave) cyke!

Ro: (smiles) yea that was real funny. (hugs him)

Chan: hey you fell for it.

Ro: I'm really sorry.

Chan: its ok. (they are silent for a moment) You ok? This coulda waited till after work.

Ro: well, Rachel heard our conversation.

Chan: ouch, so what you want me to talk to her?

Ro: oh no no no, lately we've been going through this rough patch and now......

Chan: now?

Ro: I have to go to Ethopia for a dig

Chan: that's great! isn't it?

Ro: well normally yea, but its 4-6 weeks in africa, and i have to leave in a few days, and Rachel and I....

Chan: no idea what to do eh?

Ro: nope. Its hard enough leaving her for a month, but with all the fighting we've been having...there couldn't be a worse time for me to go away.

Chan: do you have to go on this dig?

Ro: yea. I don't know what i'm gonna do

Chan: wow. (thinks for a minute) well you gotta talk to her! I mean, if you're going away I'm sure she'd like to know no matter how pissed she is.

Ro: Yea i figured that. (sighs) I gotta go to the doctors and get some shots for the trip over.

Chan: And I should get back to work. (sounds of Quake pierce the silence) yea, so i'll seeya at central perk I guess.

Ro: Yea, seeya, and thanks

Chan: bye. (Ross exits, to the celing) when the hell did i become the resident psychologist? (gets back to playing)

SCENE CHANDLER AND JOEY'S, MONICA HAS TAPED UP 5 INDEX CARDS OF EACH RESTUARANT THAT WANTS TO HIRE HER ON A DART BOARD. SHE CLOSES HER EYES AND FLINGS A DART AT THE BOARD, COMPLETELY MISSING THE BOARD HITTING THE DOOR UNDER THE MAGNADOODLE.

Mon: dammit! (Ross enters) hey ross.

Ro: (closes door) Hey.

Mon: can you get me that dart?

Ro: (grabs dart hands it to her) what are you doing?

Mon: trying to decide where i'm gonna work. (closes eye, and throws a dart) YES!

Ro: wow, what place are you gonna work at?

Mon: Oh, i missed the cards, but i got a bullseye!

Ro: (peering at the board) impressive. (pause) hey Mon, has Rachel said anything to you the past few days?

Mon: all i know is that she's upset with you. She wouldn;t tell me why. What happened?

Ro: (not wanting to tell Monica) another stupid fight....we've been having a lot of those lately.

Mon: oh Ross, things will be fine.

Ro: (down) how would you know?

Mon: because you love each other! (off his look) and hey, i know a bad relationship when i see one, and you are not in a bad relationship. you're just going through a rough patch.

Ro: how do you know? (off her look) right...But now..i have to go to Africa for a month.

Mon: you do? what for?

Ro: theres this dig in Ethopia, i have to go, but i don't wanna leave with me and Rachel fighting.

Mon: wow. i don't know what to say.

Ro: and i don't know what to do.

Mon: (realizes) oh wow, i've been spending a lot of time with Rachel this week, i didnt know that it was so serious, sorry if i've been taking-

Ro: (cuts her off) you have nothing to be sorry about. (pause) things going ok with you?

Mon: yea, this has been the best week i've had in a long time!

Ro: so you don't miss Richard?

Mon: not at all! I mean i feel I should, but i don't.

Ro: really? (she nods) well i better go pack.

Mon: i'll talk to Rachel later on.

Ro: you don't have to...

Mon: i know.

Ro: (smiles) thanks (exits, bumps into Joey) hey man.

Joey: hey. Hey Monica, what are you doing here?

Mon: trying to decide where to work.

Jo: so you got job offers at all 5 places?

Mon: yea.

Jo: thats great!

Mon: I know. (Chandler enters, warmly) Chandler! How was your day?

Chan: same old crap. you? (monica is about to answer) great! (walks into the bedroom)

Jo: hey man

Chan: (through door) Hey Jo.

Mon: hey Chandler you have any plans tonight?

Jo: we're going to the Rangers game. (goes to the bathroom)

Mon: oh.

Chan: (exits bedroom wearing comfortable clothes) why, what did you have in mind?

Mon: I wanted to know if you wanted to catch dinner.

Chan: oh, well not tonight. (sees the dart board) whats that?

Mon: I'm trying to pick out where i'm gonna work.

Chan: nice method. Is it working?

Mon: nope. I can't seem to make a choice. (pause) what do you think?

Chan: ok, um Which job pays the most?

Mon: Iggy's and The Bleecker cafe

Chan: Which job requires the most work?

Mon: Iggys.

Chan: Which job has the least amount of work?

Mon: golden palace.

Chan: hmm. (thinks) What about the Rainbow Room?

Mon: Its only as an assistant chef, but its very prestigious.

Chan: Hilton?

Mon: nah.

Chan: Where there's one. (takes off the Hilton Card.) hmmm. you have any prefernce?

Mon: I mean I want to be the head chef-

Chan: Then it looks like the Bleecker Cafe

Mon: (smiles) It looks like it.

Chan: Hey you have any other decisions you need to be made? What to eat? drink, when to go to the bathroom?

Mon: (laughs) ha ha. (Joey re-emerges from the bathroom)

Jo: Hey guys guess what?

Chan: (mocking) youra lesbian? (Monica laughs)

Jo: I wish! no, my role got expanded! I get 4 lines a week now!

Mon and Chan: (assorted congradulations)

Chan: so you getting paid more?

Jo: oh yea! i can finally pay my half of the rent!

Chan: alright! (they hi-five)

Jo: So Mon figure out where you're gonna work?

Mon: Looks like the Bleecker Cafe.

Jo: Thats great!

Mon: Thanks

Chan: Hey we should get going.

Jo: Yea

Mon: Its only 5:30!

Jo: game starts at 7. (off her confused face) we like to see the warm-ups.

Chan: Seeya Mon!

Mon: bye! (they exit. Monica picks up their phone and dials.) Hello? Ms Morgan? This is Monica Geller, hi, yes I've made a decision, i'd would love to work for you. Great! (Rachel walks in, Monica nods at her) Next Monday would be fine! I'll see you then! Thank you! (hangs up) Guess who's the new head chef at the Bleecker Cafe?

Rach: Congradulations! (hugs her) When do you start working?

Mon: Next monday.

Rach: That's great! Hey lets go out and celebrate!

Mon: (pulls away from the hug) Actually, not tonight.

Rach: oh, so you wanna do anything tonight?

Mon: with you? no

Rach: (shocked) why?

Mon: you need to spend some time with Ross.

Rach: (angry) what?

Mon: I don't know whats going on between the two of you, but he's going on a dig in a few days

Rach: he is? where?

Mon: Africa.

Rach: omg! why didn't he tell me?

Mon: he found out this morning. (rachel is silent) You gotta talk to him! (Rachel snorts) What did he do?

Rach: (realizes) you don't wanna know.

Mon: yes i do!

Rach: no you really don't wanna know. (pauses) I'll talk to him tonight.

Mon: thank you.

Rach: so what are you gonna do tonight?

Mon: I guess i'll hang out with Phoebe. I could use a massage.

Rach: Yea. I'm gonna get changed. (leaves)

SCENE MONICA, ROSS'S AND RACHEL'S A FEW HOURS LATER, RACHEL IS READING A BOOK WAITING FOR ROSS TO RETURN. ROSS ENTERS AT 9PM CARRYING A LARGE DUFFEL BAG.

Ro: Oh, hey.

Rach: (slams her book shut) We need to talk.

Ro: Ok. (sets down bag)

SCENE CHANDLER AND JOEY'S, PHOEBE IS LEAVING WITH HER MASSAGE TABLE.

Phoebe: Thanks for dinner Monica! And congradualtions on your job.

Mon: Thanks, and thanks for the massage. Seeya tommorow!

Phoe: bye! (leaves. Monica starts to wash the dishes but is interrupted by someone knocking on the door)

Mon: What did you forget Phoebe? (opens the door, shocked to see Richard at the other end) Oh. Hello.

Richard: Hi, I was in the neighborhood.......can I come in?

Mon: (relucant) Well, i......sure.

Richard: (enters) So, how are things going?

Mon: Much, much better....I got a job as a head chef.

Rich: that's great.....I'm sorry what happen-

Mon: It had to happen.

Rich: well i didn't have to destroy the french door.

Mon: (nervously) yea.

Rich: oh, do you want me to come back later? is this too soon?

Mon: no no, stay. We need to talk.

CUT BACK TO ROSS AND RACHEL

Ro: I already apologized to Chandler, i didn't mean what i said.

Rach: then why did you say it?

Ro: I was mad about what you said, and when i saw Chandler I just took out my anger on him.

Rach: yea well I'm sorry about what i said, i was just hurt that Monica didn't confide in me.

Ro: i know.

Rach: where in africa are you going?

Ro: Ethopia. I'll be gone for a month.

Rach: Do you have to go?

Ro: yea.

Rach: i'm gonna miss you.

Ro: ditto. (they kiss) I love you.

Rach: I love you. (they kiss again. Ross sweeps her into his arms and he walks into their bedroom)

CUT TO MONICA AND RICHARD

Mon: (after 10 of the most uncomfortable minutes ever known to man) So....what are we gonna do?

Rich: Do you wanna try again?

Mon: I don't know.

Rich: Do you want a divorce?

Mon: (pauses) I don't know.

Rich: (mad) do you know anything at all? (off her scared look) God i'm sorry, its just been really bad at work....

Mon: Really? whats happening?

Rich: My partner is getting sued for malpractice, and if convicted, we're both on the hook.

Mon: thats awful.

Rich: Still....(puts his head in his hands) I'm sorry Monica.

Mon: Its alright.

Rich: i was talking about our situation, i'm sorry i couldn't give you what you wanted.

Mon: all i wanted was a marriage.

Rich: (weak smile) I know that now.

Mon: (after some uncomfortable silences) Look Richard, right now, living back here with my friends...I'm happy. Happier than i have been in a while.

Rich: you look it.

Mon: right now I don't know what i want from you. All i know is i-we need some time to work things out.

Rich: like a separation?

Mon: Yes! exactly! A separation.

Rich: what does that actually mean?

Mon: lets say, in like six months from tonight, we'll have dinner and decide the fate of our marriage from there.

Rich: six months? Thats a long time.

Mon: If we are truly meant for each other, then we'll get back togther.

Rich: Ok. That actually sounds pretty good. Oh I brought some of your stuff from the house. Its out in the hallway.

Mon: Ok. (Chandler enters)

Chan: (confused, sees Monica and Richard talking) whoops, looks like i stepped into a parallel universe again! (quickly exits)

Rich: so, I'll see you in six months.

Mon: (smiles) Yep.

Rich: Ok, bye. (starts to leave) I love you.

Mon: Bye. (Richard exits. Monica stares into the hallway, Chandler bursts out of Ross and Rachel's)

Chan: (to Ross) well sor-ry! How was I supposed to know the two of you were "making up"! (pauses) You know Ross, youre not a kid, you're allowed to use your middle finger! (dodges a pillow) Touchy bitch! (shuts the door) (like Joey) hey, how you doin?

Mon: (laughs) that doesn't suit you. (picks up bags Richard brought)

Chan: nothing does! (enters)

Mon: where's joey?

Chan: hooked up with a cheerleader. So, what was the old ball n chain doing here?

Mon: We talked.

Chan: Really I thought you guys were just having a foosball tournament! (off her look) well you aren't crying so it musta went well.

Mon: we are now offically separated.

Chan: congradulations?

Mon: its a good thing. In six months we'll see if we want to get back togther.

Chan: I told you you'd figure things out, although you really are just postponing things.

Mon: Oh? (he nods) Well i was gonna offer you some cake, but now...

Chan: cake? I'm sawwy! (puppy dog eyes)

Mon: (chuckles) sitdown already.

Chan: so you're feeling ok?

Mon: yea. (serves him)

Chan: thanks. Oh man this is spectacular! (wolfs it down) please sir, may i have another?

Mon: help yourself. (he does) So, who won?

Chan: 2-2 tie. (eats) Looks like Ross and Rachel are enjoying each other.

Mon: good. (realizes what just happened) Oh.

Chan: huh?

Mon: I just realized what happened.....(tearing up)

Chan: (quickly hugs her) ah ah ah! You were happy when i came in! (she starts crying) Hey hey hey, i know what will make you feel better.

Mon: (crys) What

Chan: a night with the Chan-Chan man! (off her laugh) Does every female have to laugh at that? (she laughs harder) You need anything

Mon: please.......just hold me.

Chan: (hugs her tighter) You did the right thing.

Mon: you think?

Chan: only on Mondays. (she's silent) Sorry.

Mon: (gets it and chuckles) I get it.

Chan: Things are only gonna get better from here. I promise.

Monica weakly smiles and hugs him harder.

TO BE CONTINUED

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