Beyond Friends Episode Ten - "On top of the world."
Guest stars
Courteney Cox - Monica
David Schwimmer - Ross
"Higher and higher."
Rachel gathered up her robe and her bath stuff and went into the bathroom. As she scrubbed up for the day she planned what she was gonna do after work. It was Valentines day. She hopped in the shower and pulled the curtain around the tub so she would not get the floor wet. She heard some banging around outside so she assumed Chandler has also gotten up.
"Morning Chandler!" She called as loud as she could over the rush of hot water. She stuck her face in the current and let it wash over her.
"Morning!" Chandler said. He looked at the bathroom door and found it closed. "She must be in there." Chandler thought and stepped back, letting a thought slowly enter his mind. She was in there, like she was every morning, getting her shower. Letting the water flow over every curve in her body...for the first time in his life he was actually jealous of the water. Chandler shook his head, trying to get rid of the thoughts in his head. "This is ridiculous." He told himself as he got some orange juice and two glasses.. "I've known her forever. I can't be falling in love with her. She's always been Ross's girl or Jacks girl, or someone elses girl." He stopped when heard a thumping at the door.
"If thats a jehovahs witness at this hour, I'm pitching him out the window." Chandler said as he opened the door. He was startled by what he saw and jumped back several feet and led out a scream.
Rachel bumped her head on the shower head when she heard Chandler shout. She almost tripped getting out of the shower. She put on her robe, tied it tight around her waist and went to see what the fuss was about.
"What was that scream?" Rachel asked Chandler who was still looking at what was at the front door.
"That was not a scream, that was a manly yell." Chanlder protested.
"Sounded like a girly scream to me." Rachel said.
"No it wasnt!"
"I dunno." Rachel said.
"Never mind that, look at whats at the door." Chandler
said.
"What?" Rachel turned at looked at what was at the
front door. "Wow!" Rachel aid. It was a life sized stuffed panda bear. "This is so adorable!" She said looking at it with awe."Did you give it to me?"
"Nope." Chandler said. "Check it out, theres a note."
Rachel plucked the envelope from the pandas hand. She opened it and took the note out.
"It's a poem." Rachel said. "A poem with a riddle."
"Read it."
"You will soon see,
How much I love thee,
Meet me at the highest point
In this fair city."
"Its not signed." Rachel said handing Chandler the note.
"Huh, maybe the writing will be familiar." She said as
he examined the note.
Chandler bit his lip. He thought for a second. "Nah
it can't be." He said in his mind.
"Do you know who it might be?" Rachel said now ironing
a suit.
"I have no idea." Chandler said. "Its possibly a
word processor font, so they will stay anonymous."
"Huh. The highest point in the city." Rachel said
looking at Chandler. "Well there are tons of
tall buildings." She shook her head. "I can't think
about this now, I'm gonna be late to work." She ran into her room.
Chandler pulled the panda into the room. He looked at it with its goofy smile and arms open wide. This panda could almost be a chair. "What are you up to now you old rascal?" He said quietly.
Rachel ran into the back door of the kitchen. Monica
turned from tasting a crepe suszette and waved to her.
"I've been waiting for you." Monica said.
"Why?" Rachel asked tying her apron on. "I'm not even
close to being late today."
"It's not that." Monica said. "Someone left you something at table fifteen." She smiled. "Are you seeing anyone behind my back I should know of?"
"No." Rachel said. "Someone also sent me a giant panda bear at the apartment. Scared the crap outta Chandler though he'll never admit it. At least soberly anyway."
"Well?" Monica said pusing open the door. "Let's go look. The restaurant doesnt open for another fifteen minutes."
"Okay." They went out the swinging doors. Monica lead Rachel to "table fifteen" which was in actuality a booth near the front of the restaurant. There was an over-flowing pile of flowers on the table and in the chair. Rachel gasped as she picked up a bundler and smelled them. The combined exotic scent nearly swept her off her feet. She felt like the essence of the flowers was lifting her up and over the restaurant. Monicas voice snapped her back to attention.
"There is a note here." Monica said handing her the folded note.
"Another note." Rachel too it and unfolded it.
"I can see for miles and miles
and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah
The Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal
are mine to see on clear days"
"Another riddle?" Rachel said.
"It seems familiar, like a song." Monica said. "Sing it to me."
"I can see for..." Rachel started.
"Sing it like a normal person and not a prima donna."
Rachel sang it quickly and ran it through her mind.
"This is from the Who." Rachel said. "Who do I know that likes the Who?"
"Well just Ross, but hes out of town I thought." Monica said. "We'll have to figure it out later." Monica said as she helped to open the restaurant.
"Be right with you." Rachel said as she tucked the note away.
Later
Instead of going home that night Rachel took a long walk to think about who had been sending all these things to her, and on valentines day too. She walked up next to the river leading to the ocean and leaned on the rail. She had stayed there hours many times before and the night time scenary gave her a chance to think.
"Highest point in the city." She said to herself as she surveyed the New York skyline. Then it hit her.
"The empire state building?" Rachel stood back as she realized what her destination was. She check her watch. It was almost midnight, valentines day was almost over and she had to get to the empire state building. She took off in a brisk jog to the nearest street corner and called a taxi. Six frenzied minutes later she hopped out of the cab and rushed toward the building. She ran inside and went up to the elevator where they brought people to the top.
"We're closing in five minutes ma'am." the guard said to Rachel as she bangd on the door.
"Please, I must get to the top." Rachel begged.
"But miss."
"Please. If I dont go I might miss the love of my life and spend the rest of my life alone and wondering what would have happened if I had gotten here half an hour earlier. Unless you want me to ruin my life, you would let me up there. Please?" Rachel said appealing to the man. "Can you help me?"
The guard nods. "An affair to remember?"
"Well it could be if I can get up there..."
"No no, the Cary Grant movie."
"Oh." Rachel frowned. "Actually Sleepless in Seattle."
"Close enough." He opens the door. "Hop in."
"Thanks." Rachel said and got in the elevator.
Several tense seconds later.
The door opened at the top of the building. Rachel hesistantly got out, it was a little brisk and the wind blew slightly. She hugged her coat closer to herself and wandered out.
"Doesnt seem to be here miss." The guard says.
"Yeah. I guess so." She looks around. "Tell you what, I havent been up here in a long time, can I look at the city a couple of minutes?"
"Sure. Youre a nice enough girl." The guard stepped back in the elevator. "Let me know when your ready to go down."
"Thanks." Rachel said and started to walk around on the balcony area. "Whoever you are, why werent you here?" Rachel wondered aloud. "Why was I stupid enough not to realize this building was the answer to the question."
"Because you didn't see the obvious answer." She heard and turned on her heel. She saw a man in a big warm coat standing near a pair of quarter-powered binoculars.
"Ross?" She exclaimed. He walked over and smiled. "It was you who sent the stuff?"
"Yeah. I thought you would like it." Ross said giving Rachel a warmer coat to wear over her thin windbreaker.
"Thanks."
"Your welcome." Ross said his breath visible in the cold air. "I havent seen you in so long."
"I know. I missed you." Rachel said. "What happened to us? After a while we seemed to move away from each other."
"I know. I didn't like that but I didnt know what to do. For a long time I tried to think of a way to get you back and all I could think of was this." Ross took her in his arms and kissed her. The kiss seemed to warm up her entire body. He pulled away.
"I haven't been kissed like that in a long time." Rachel said.
"It can be that way again." Ross said. "We can talk about it at home. It's getting cold and I have a feeling that the guard over there doesnt get over time."
Rachel smiled. "I'm with you." They got on the car together. Way across town someone looked through a telescope at them. The figure backed away and began to pack away the cylinder. Chandler smiled. "Atta girl."
