The one that kicked off a classic. Monica's old friend Rachel decides to move in with her after leaving her fiance. Meanwhile, Ross takes an apartment in Monica's building to be closer to his friends, Chandler and Joey.
Ross finds out his ex-wife, Carol, is pregnant and he has to attend the sonogram along with Carol's life-partner, Susan. Carol and Susan also want to give the baby after both their last names, but not Ross's. Ross and Monica's parents come for dinner which puts Monika into a cleaning spree to impress them.
Monica brings home a new boyfriend everyone loves, and Phoebe gets more than she deserves.
Chandler and Joey try to keep Ross' mind off the anniversary of his first night with Carol, while the girls spy on White House advisor George Stephanopoulos.
Ross shows Rachel how to handle the Laundromat, Monica and Joey pretend to be dating so they can break up a couple, and Chandler breaks up with Janice for the very first time.
Joey is hired as Al Pacino's butt double, while Chandler grows weary of his totally sexual relationship with an exotic woman.
Power goes out in the city, and the gang has to entertain themselves without electricity. Ross tries to hint to Rachel how he feels about her, and Chandler is trapped with Jill Goodacre in an ATM vestibule. Rachel meets a handsome Italian man named Paolo.
Chandler discovers he has a 'quality' that makes everyone wonder if he is gay. Ross and Monica's Nana dies - and then she dies again.
Joey becomes the 'poster boy' for VD - which makes it difficult to hit on the ladies. Monica cooks a big Thanksgiving dinner for the gang, but it burns when they lock themselves out of the apartment after watching the Macy's parade. Ross sings to Carol's pregnant belly when he learns that Susan does it.
The whole gang is 'single' at New Year's, so they decide to have a party and not bring dates - except all of them DO actually bring dates. Phoebe meets and falls for David, a scientist that is being sent to Russia for work. Ross gets a monkey named Marcel, who shows his displeasure by leaving faeces in inappropriate places.
Monica and Phoebe see a hot guy on the street, but when they try to get his attention, he gets hit by a vehicle and falls into a coma. They both visit him in the hospital and fantasize about what kind of boyfriend he'd be, and compete for him, even though he's still in the coma. Chandler's mom, a famous romance novelist, comes to visit after a guest spot on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Mrs. Bing kisses Ross, and Joey sees it.
Paolo gets a massage from Phoebe - then hits on her, and now Phoebe has to tell Rachel the bad news that her boyfriend's a cheater. Monica makes a dozen lasagnas for her aunt, who wanted vegetarian lasagna, who and rejects them. Joey and Chandler take a big step in their roommate relationship, and buy a Foosball table together.
Chandler accidentally walks in on Rachel in the shower, and sees her boobies - so she spends the rest of the episode trying to see his penis to get even. Joey's father is having an affair, and Joey tries to get his dad to be an honest husband. The gang finds Phoebe's new boyfriend to be extremely irritating.
It's Valentine's Day - and since the girls are all boyfriend-less, they have a cleansing bonfire. Ross goes out with a cute neighbor girl, but he sees Susan & Carol at the same Japanese restaurant, and he ignores his own date. Joey's hot new girlfriend sets Chandler up with her friend - who turns out to be Janice.
Chandler gets a promotion at work, but he quits, because he feels accepting the promotion would mean he'd be stuck in that line of work forever. Monica has to cook a meal for a restaurant owner as a job interview, but he shows up high and with a serious case of the munchies. Ross has a date with a girl who wants him to talk dirty to her (something he's not comfortable with) so he goes to Joey for advice.
One of Chandler's duties at work is to fire a sexy co-worker, but he finds it very difficult to do. Joey meets Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula, and begins to date her, even though it hurts Phoebe's feelings. Ross, wanting to be a good daddy, goes to child-birthing classes with Carol and Susan.
Rachel injures her ankle, but since she has no health insurance, she & Monica commit an act of insurance fraud. They also manage to meet a couple of hunky doctors while at the hospital. Even though Joey blows off her birthday party, Phoebe still comforts him when his relationship with Ursula fall apart. Marcel the monkey gives Ross a scare when he ingests a few Scrabble tiles.
Rachel quits her job at Central Perk and interviews for a new job at a department store. It is clear to Chandler that Ross still has feelings for Rachel. The gals get tired of being left out of poker games, so they take a few lessons to compete with the boys - and the poker game gets very aggressive, especially between Rachel and Ross.
Ross leaves Rachel in charge of 'monkey-sitting' Marcel, but he escapes when Rachel isn't looking. Animal Control gets called in, but since Marcel is an illegal pet, things get ugly between Rachel and the Animal Control officer - a woman named Louisa who Rachel was mean to in high school.
Rachel sees herself in face with her past. Ross faces the gealous. And Chandler still waiting for a call. Between all this someone is watching their houses.
Monica has her credit card stolen. And realize that the person who stol it knows how to enjoy the money. Ross has to say goodbye to Marcel.
Ross has problems with his pager, while his is expecting notices from his unborn child. Rachel has intrigants dreams that involves Chandler and Joey, this will make Ross jealous, because he doesn't appear in any dream. Monica has problem with her relationship, with a younger guy. Phoebe works with Chandler for a week, and he discover that the people of his work doesn't like him.
The baby is born, bringing smiles and adoration from everyone.
Rachel finds out about Ross's secret love for her. But yet another surprise awaits her.