Ross gets a monkey named Marcel. Everyone makes a pact not to bring dates to their New Years Eve Party. While performing at Central Perk, Phoebe confronts some noisy boys and ends up dating one of them: David, Scientist Guy. Their relationship develops well until he gets offered a grant to go to Minsk, and doesn't know what to do. Everyone breaks the no-date pact except Ross; Phoebe brings David, Joey brings Sandy, someone he met while working as an elf in a department store; Rachel plans to bring Paolo, who's flying in earlier than expected; Chandler snaps and asks Janice; Monica invites Fun Bobby; Ross just brings Marcel. However, no one ends up with their date (or monkey) at midnight.

Original air date: 15 december 1994

Written by: Adam Chase & Ira Ungerleider
Director: peter Bonerz

Guest stars:
Wayne Pere as Max
Sarah MacDonnell as Sandy
Hank Azaria as David
Vincent Ventresca as Fun Bobby
Maggie Wheeler as Janice

[ NOTES: This episode runs 24:57 on DVD (a typical sitcom runs about 22:00). ]