Beyond Friends Episode Sixty three "Escapade"
Friends Star:
David Schwimmer as Ross
Special Guest:
Bruce Willis as Wesley
"Alone"
Chandler waited by the water cooler for his friend Wesley David. He apparently had some news for his long time friend.
"Hey." Wesley said coming up behind him.
"Hey, I havent seen you in a while. Whats up? Whats this news?"
"I'm getting transfered to another company." Wesley said flatly.
"What? Why? Is there something wrong?" Chandler asked.
"No, no. Nothing like that. I actually asked for this transfer." Wesley admitted. "Before you look at me like I'm crazy let me explain. I've been here way too long. I always see the same people. Like that guy." Wesley pointed out a geeky intern, "It's all I can do these days to not say, what are you born stupid or is this something you have to work on? It's driving me nuts. Which drives Alison more nuts."
"Well I'm sorry to see you go." Chandler nodded.
"I'm only going across the street. The high VP position this deals getting sort of softens the trip a little." Chandler made an "Ah" noise. "Don't worry. We'll still see each other for lunch every other day. Except...." He pointed a finger at Chandler. "...I outrank you now bubba." He said with a sly smile.
"Whens your last day?" Chandler asked.
"Sometime next week." Wesley said. "But enough about me. Whats going on with you and the Rachel chick? Isnt she back from the islands YET?"
"Oh no." Chandler said. "We talk on the phone once in a while. I get the impression shes not telling me something. Forget it. Its my imagination. I'll get all the dirt when she gets back."
"Oh well, shes gonna have one hell of a tan. Down there? Bikini lines are non existant. Believe me I know." Wesley clicked his tongue. "See you around. Oh by the way. Keep March 14 open."
"Why?" Chandler asked. Wesley was around the corner before he could he his answer.
Sao Paolo
Rachel hopped out the door of the cabana she and Ross now shared. He had given up his other one so he can be closer to her. After all she was here first, so why not move into her cabana and not the other way around?
Rachel shuffled her feet in the loose white grains of sand in front of the wooden walkway in front of the door.
"Are you coming?" Rachel finally yelled after an impatient minute.
"Yep." Ross came out with his good pair of bermuda shorts on. "We havent been out in days." He remarked.
"I know." Rachel said taking his hand. "This is what a honey moon is supposed to be like. It's a miracle we remember what the island looks like."
"This is so nice." Ross said hugging her side. "And its so quiet too. Like we are the only ones left on the island."
"Maybe not for long." Rachel said. "The ferry just left and it was packed with people. I wonder why?"
"Well, maybe theres a sale at the mainland Bloomingdales. They want to get there before the store opens."
"Ohhh, I know whats that like. The mad scrambling, grabbing anything at all, no matter whether it fit you or not. Oh well."
"Yeah, at least you can always give the ones that don't fit to United Way." Ross said. "Lets go get something to eat."
"Sure, lets hurry before we get stuck at the back of the line." Rachel said as she and Ross passed a bright yellow sign reading "Evacuation".
A Linha Do Bufete
(The Buffet Line)
Ross and Rachel arrived at the A Linha Do Bufete, a popular buffet eating spot next to the cabanas. As expected there was no line. But there was also still steaming food left on the tables.
"Wow. I suddenly feel like I'm a dream, breakfast for all! And its free!" Rachel said."Fajitas, enchiladas. The works."
"Yeah. It looks all so good. We havent eaten in days." Ross pulled out a chair for her. "For you."
"Well thank you, busboy. What is your daily special?" She said in a bad accent.
"Let's see, theres buffet, buffet, and for dessert a variation on the dessert buffet table?"
"Sounds fabulous." Rachel said.
"I'll be right back." Ross said.
"You better hurry, more people might want to have a busboy at their table." Rachel cracked. She sat for a minute while Ross went in search of the plates and dinnerware.
Rachel got up and wandered through the dining area. The dining area was dressed with fresh palm fronds. This was done every morning. She knew of this because she had eaten here before. This restaurant was definately a 5 on the Zantac chart. Rachel spotted a cork bulletin board across the way. She skipped merrily across the floor dodging tables and errant chairs.
"Maybe theres a dance." She whistled to sherself as she read the cards for help wanted and babysitters. Babysitters?
It was the big yellow sign that finally caught her attention.
Rachel felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped. It was Ross.
"I found the plates. Whats this?" He asked.
"I don't know." Rachel said. "I can't read it. Its in a different language."
"Portugese." Ross said.
"You'd think they would have the english translation." Rachel smirked.
"Evacuação! Nós estamos no trajeto de um furacão três catergory. Começos da evacuação em uma manhã de sete sábados! Aqueles que não estão nas docas por este tempo serão deixados atrás." Ross read the sign with a even worse accent than Rachels.
"Great. Old wise one, what does it mean?" Rachel turned to look at him.
"It says:Evacuation! We are in the path of a catergory three hurricane. Evacuation starts at seven Saturday Morning! Those who are not at the docks by this time will be left behind."
"Whats today?" Rachel asked.
"Sunday." Ross said.
"Oh my god!!!" Rachel said. She started to cry. "Oh my god!"
"Wait." Ross said taking her by her shoulders. "Maybe that was just a first trip. Maybe they are coming back to check. We should go out to the docks..."
"Docks?" Rachel said shivering. Words suddenly made no sense to her anymore. A hurricane? Were they going to die?
"We have to go see if we can get off of this island." Ross said.
"What if we can't?" Rachel asked.
"I can't think about that now. "Let's find out what we can first." Ross said. "And we better do it quickly. It's starting to rain a little."
"Some hurricane." She chattered.
"Come on." Ross said taking her hand. "Don't worry. You are safe with me."
"Uhhhh." She moaned.
"You can trust me. I'm your husband." Ross said. "Do you trust me?"
Rachel took a long moment. A light wind started to blow her hair. "I trust you."
Ross took her hand firmly and led her out of the restaurant.
Docas Do Polo Do Sao
The docks
Ross sat Rachel down on a bench as the wind started to pick up.
"Theres no boats left!" Rachel screamed over the wind.
"I know." Ross said. "What would Gilligan do?" He mused.
"A million stupid things." Rachel said loudly. "Why?"
"We have to get to a strong shelter." He looked up over the shore line. "I read there was a old bomb shelter by here. It's used as a tourist trap now but it has food and water in it. A leftover realic of the Cuban Missle Crisis."
"A bomb shelter? This is a hurricane, not world war three!" Rachel said as she got up, struggling to keep the wind from blowing her down.
"I know weather, Rachel, and with the wind and the rain. It might as well be world war three, with the damage this is gonna cause." Ross took her hand. "Don't worry. If I didnt know what I was doing I would not take you with me."
"Thats a great reassurance." Rachel said as she was being led away.
A couple of wet minutes later they found the shelter. The door stuck. Ross used his entire body weight on the lock. Rachel pushed up against the door until the door gave in and opened with a loud creaking.
Ross and Rachel scrambled into the shelter and closed the door. He flicked a light on.
"There we go. It's even got power." Ross mused.
"Look at all the food. Its like the buffet but cold." She picked up a can. "Whats Pés e cérebros dos porcos?"
"You don't want to know." Ross tossed the can aside. "Look, a radio." Ross picked up a dusty radio. He blew the dust off. "We can find out whats goihg on."
"We know whats going on, we don't need that." Rachel blew it off.
"Shh," Ross said. "I might be able to tell when it will blow over us."
"Whatever...." Rachel said.
"shh." Ross said. "I got a station."
"This is Wbla with your lastest storm update. Tropical storm emily has now become Hurricane Emily and is now wrecking havoc on the small island of Sao Paolo off the coast of....static...we expect this storm to last awhile. No reports have come in as to when it might be over."
"Great." Rachel said. "We're doomed."
"Hurricane Emily." Ross mused. "What an appropriate name."
"What, Emily was reincarnated in a swarm of water and wind? Doubtful. The name is a coink-dink." Rachel said. There was a thunderbolt just then, that made her jump. "Of course there is this karma thing." Rachel said quickly.
"We'll be allright. This thing was built to shield about a million bombs. A storm wont put a dent in it."
There was a sudden banging at the door. The noise got louder and there seemed to be a sucking noise at the door as well as the banging noise. Rachel ran to Ross's arms and he embraced her.
"Or maybe not...."
to be continued
