Beyond Friends Episode 23 "Love in an elevator"

Special Guest
David Schwimmer as Ross

"These dreams"

Rachel finished doing up her hair in front of the hallway mirror. She was at Ross's apartment complex for thier usual date night. Only Ross didnt know it was "official Ross" night. Last night Chandler took Rachel to the ice capades version of Hercules. As a joke they threw goldfish crackers out onto the ice much like people would throw three pound trouts onto a rink after a hockey. However the security at Madison Square Garden didnt have a highly evolved sense of humor like them and threw them out at the second act. They had spent the rest of the night in Central Park watching the stars and eventually each other.

She laughed a bit when she thought of all the skaters falling over zesty cheesy crackers while trying to skate. What a hoot! Ross would never do something likt that. Or if he did he would feel guilty afterward for months and that was no fun at all!

Rachel walked up to the elevator and pressed the up button. Ross lived on the 17th floor in this very classy highrise in the middle of town. After dinner they would go onto the balcony and watch the sun go down.

The door opened and Rachel got on and faced the door. She pressed the antique white button marked "17" in old english lettering. As soon as the button glowed red and the door closed the elevator started to move. Around the 12 floor it suddenly jerked down causing Rachel to fall and knock her head on the bench next to the wall. She amazingly felt no pain but suddenly everything was spinning and then it sort of funneled into nothing. Things turned black and she closed her eyes. She was out like a light.

Minutes later

She was sitting in on a chair facing an audience of people yelling someones name. The person with the name turned toward camera in the corner.
"Welcome to the Jerry Springer show. Today we have guests who have big enormous secrets. Something tells me we are gonna have an interesting day. Our first guest is Rachel. She is dating two men, best friends in fact. And she is here to let this secret off her chest."
Rachel looked at the monitor. There was a split screen of Ross and Chandler in the hallway where assumedly they didnt know why they were here. They were all buddy buddy and stuff. Like always. But Rachel knew that wouldnt last long. Jerry Springers show was notorious for fights even one involving two women old enough to be someones grandmother. Rachel felt a sick feeling in her chest, and it wasnt from the bad perfume from the black girl sitting to her far left.
"Truthfully Jerry, Chandler KNOWS I'm with Ross." Rachel corrected. She cringed when she heard some "boos" from the audience."How can you judge? Youre not even there. When your done you'll go home to your own screwed up lives." The audience abruptly stopped.
"Rachel tell us your story." Jerry asked.
"Gladly." Rachel said. "Chandler and I saw each other for the first time in years on the corner one afternoon months ago. We got to being good friends again when I was a victim of downsizing at my job. I lost my apartment the same day and I moved in with Chandler who managed to get me a job with another old friend. Anyway time passes and I reunite with Ross. Before I know it I find out that Chandler has feelings for me via a radio therapist chick Chandler called. I was listening at a friends house."
"What happened after you got home?" Jerry asked. "We came up with the idea of a trial week relationship. If it didn't work out we could go on as friends."
"But it worked out better than you had hoped." Jerry said coming closer.
"Right. Like I said Chandler knows I see Ross. In fact, years ago he dated a girl who was seeing five guys along with him. I have to tell Ross."
"Are you ready for them to come out?"
"Not really." Rachel admitted. "I love them both, I can only have one of them but I know someone is gonna be deeply hurt."
"Well we'll bring out Chandler first." Jerry said out loud. "We better have you guys ready in case something happens." Jerry said softly to a stage manager. "Here is one of the men in Rachels life. Chandler come on out!" Chandler came out carefully. Then he saw Rachel wave him to a seat and he relaxed.
"Hey." Chandler said touching her hand.
"Hey." Rachel said. "I don't remember calling the show."
"Me neither." Chandler said. "It's your dream."
"If thats true, why are you being booed?"
"They think I stole you from Ross." Chandler said to her. "I'm the bad guy believe it or not." Chandler looked around. "Why are guys lining up along the front of the stage?"
"They think Ross might fight you." Rachel said. "Also I saw some KKK people back stage."
"Ah." Chandler said as Jerry turned their attention to him.
"Hi Chandler." Jerry said.
"Hey." Chandler said. "I watch your show all the time,my fave episode was with the mud wrestlers match against the gstring strippers." Chandler said lightning the mood.
"Uh thanks." Jerry said. "Chandler, Rachel is gonna tell Ross that she is seeing you correct?"
"Right." Chandler said. "I thought I was gonna play plinko, I'm on the wrong set."
"Rachel may have to choose between you and Ross." Jerry said ignoring Chandlers remark. "Are you prepared if she picks Ross and not you?"
"Rachel and I have always expected to be found out. Thats the differance between this affair and the one with the 500 pound woman last week. We know it will end, its a matter of how and when it would have happened. I'm ready for anything."
"Thats good." Jerry said. "We're gonna bring out Ross now." Rachel felt her gut clench and Chandler gulped.
"Hey do you think anyone is watching?" Chandler said. "I'm usually naked in this dream."
Ross came out and looked at Rachel and Chandler. He sat down on Rachels side.
"Ross, Rachel has something to tell you." Jerry said. "You can tell him now or wait for the break."
"I'll tell him now." Rachel answered knowing in dream land there are no commerical breaks."Ross, I'm seeing another man."
"Oh?" Ross said remarkably subdued.
"I've been sleeping with Chandler." Rachel said.
"Oh my god." Ross said thinking. Then came the most unexpected thing. "Well then there is only one thing I have to say."
Rachel, the audience, the whole world waited on baited breath. "Now we're even." Ross said.
Rachel remembered that organic life needed oxygen to live and exhaled. "What?" "For me sleeping with Chloe. We're even." Ross said.
"But now you gotta choose." Chandler said looking at her. Rachel looked at each side of her. The audience got up and chanted "Choose! Choose!"
"I can't do it!" Rachel said running out of the room. Chandler and Ross vanished from their chairs. The camera turned to Jerry.
"Well that went well. Up next we have a girl who wants to tell her KKK parents shes dating a black panther. Stay Tuned."
Rachel felt herself being shaken.
"Rachel!" Ross looked down at her."Rachel!!" "Ross?" Rachel tried to sit up.
"Easy. Youve had quite a knock on the head." Ross said moving away. Rachel looked around and saw that she was lying on Ross's couch.
"But how?"
"When the security camera showed you came in and you didnt come up as quickly as you always do I knew something was wrong."
"Thanks for rescuing me." "I'll get you a drink." Ross said. "I'll be right back my little pumpkin head. Youre tougher than I think."
Rachel smiled. She frowned as she remembered her dream. "That was a omen, my dream." Rachel thought. "Ross may find out about me and Chandler but it won't be on Jerry Springer thank god. But I'm gonna have to make a choice. I hate hurting either ones feelings but this is the way it has to be."