49

-October 3rd 1997-

   At Monica and Rachel's the next morning we are all there eating breakfast.

Ross:So you guys having any luck getting rid of the entertainment center?.

Joey:Well there were a couple of calls last night but ah,I don’t think any of them are gonna work out.

Chandler:Yes Joey has a very careful screening process.Apparently not everyone is qualified to own wood and nails.

Phoebe"Struggling with the cat".Stop it!, Stop it!.She keeps squirming trying to get away!.Just like when she was alive.

Ross:So Pheebs how long is your mom gonna be with us?.

Phoebe:Well I’m not sure.I mean I guess until she you know gets used to the fact that there’s you know a new mom.You know I think she’s worried that you know she’s gonna,she’s gonna be replaced."To the cat in a funny voice".Well that’s not gonna happen is it?.No."Gets up".Okay I have to return a call in the other room.

Monica:Why can’t you use the phone in here?.

Phoebe:Well I’m returning a call from a certain mom at the B-E-A-C-H...I just spelled the wrong word.

Phoebe goes into Monica’s room.

Ross:So guys am I crazy or does Phoebe’s mom remind anyone of a cat?.

Monica:Ross don’t start.

Ross:Come on y-you can’t tell me you actually believe th-that there’s a woman inside that cat!.

Rachel:I believe it.

Ross:No you don’t.

Rachel:Yes I do.

Ross:No you do you know what you’re not gonna suck me into this.

Rachel:Oh sure I am because you always have to be right.

Ross:I do not always have to be okay,okay.

Ross starts to leave.

Rachel:Jurassic Park could happen.

Ross just smiles and leaves.

*****************************************

-October 4th 1997-

   At Central Perk Me,Joey Chandler,Monica and Ross are here.

Rachel:"Entering".You guys you’re never gonna believe what I just found tacked up on a telephone pole!."Holding a flyer".Look kinda familiar?.

Ross:"Taking the flyer".Apparently Phoebe’s mother also goes by the name Julio.

Rachel:You guys there’s a little girl in Soho looking for this cat.I mean you know what that means?!.

Joey:"Looking at the flyer".Yeah 200 dollar reward split five ways!.

Rachel:Do we have to tell her?.

Tabitha:Yes we have to tell her.

Monica:Oh but it’s made her so happy.

Ross:"Holds up a hand".Little girl misses her cat."Hold up the other hand".Crazy lady thinks her mother is in a cat."Gets up".Okay you know what I have to go have dinner with my son can I trust that when you see Phoebe you will tell her.

Everyone:"Sadly".Yeah.

Ross:Thank you."Leaves".

Rachel:I hate when Ross is right!.

Monica:He is right isn’t he?.

Chandler:You know what I think this might be one of the times he’s wrong.

Everyone:You think?.

Chandler:Oh no he’s right.

   Soon i am sitting on Joey's lap on the central perk couch while Monica,Rachel and Chandler are sitting next to us on the couch as Phoebe enters with the cat.

Phoebe:Hi."Sits down in the chair".

Monica:Hi!.

Everyone::Hey!.

Joey:Uh Pheebs about your mom...

Phoebe:Yeah?.

Joey:How’s that going?.

Phoebe:So great.Oh we took a nap today and my Mom fell asleep on my tummy and purred.

Joey:That’s so sweet...Um."To Tabitha".Hun I’m gonna get some coffee.

   I nod and I get up off him and he  gets up and leaves.

Tabitha:I am gonna join him its a husband-wife thing.

   I leave following my husband of 4 months.We stand at the counter and listen to the others conversation.

Monica:Huh?.What’d ya say Joe?.I’ll be right there.

   I watch as Monica gets up and joins Me and Joey and Rachel and Chandler slide into position.

Rachel:Pheebs...

Phoebe:I just feel so uh.....

Rachel:All right!.

Chandler:I’m coming already!.

Rachel:Jeez!.

They both get up and leave Phoebe alone.

*****************************************

   At Chandler and Cassius's apartment Me, Rachel,Phoebe and Julio are consoling Joey,Cassius and Chandler.

Rachel:Wow!.They really got you guys.Your TV...The chairs.

Phoebe:Oh yeah your microwave.The stereo.

Cassius:"Looking through a deck of cards". Aw man he took the five of spades!.Oh no-no-no here it is!.

Monica:"Entering".Oh my God!.What happened?.

Chandler:Oh um Joey and Cassius were born and then 28 years later I was robbed!.

Tabitha:"To Monica".So how was your date?.

Monica:Well you know how I always wanted to go out with Chip Matthews in high school?.

Rachel,Tabitha:Umhm.

Monica:Well tonight I actually went out with Chip Matthews in high school.

Rachel:Oh honey I’m sorry.

Monica:No it’s okay not only did I get to go out with Chip Matthews I got to dump Chip Matthews.

Rachel:Oh!.That’s so great!.

Monica:I know!.

Ross:"Entering".Hey!.So ah what did the insurance company say?.

Chandler:Oh they said uh...You don’t have insurance here so stop calling us.

Ross sees Phoebe is still with the cat.

Ross:You didn’t tell her?!...Okay fine!. Pheebs?.

Phoebe:Yeah?."Sees Ross".Hi!.

Ross:Hi!.Listen uh this cat belongs to a little girl.There are flyers all over the place.

Rachel:I’m sorry sweetie."Shows her the flyer".

Monica:Hey we can take her back with you if you want.

Phoebe:Oh.Umhm.But you know she choose to find me.I mean I have to respect her decision.Right?.

Chandler,Monica,Joey,Rachel:That’s a good call.Right.

Ross:No!.No!.Look.Hey enough is enough!. Look I am sorry that you feel guilty or whatever about spending time with your new mom but this is not your old mom. This is a cat!.Okay Julio the cat!.Not mom!. Cat!.

   Phoebe turns around and puts the cat on the entertainment center.

Phoebe:Ross how many parents have you lost?.

Ross:None.

Phoebe:Okay then you don’t know what it feels like when one of them comes back.Do you?.I believe this is my Mother.Even if I’m wrong who cares?.Just be a friend.Okay?.Be supportive.

Ross:I’m sorry.

Phoebe:Okay.

Ross:I don’t know what to say.

Rachel:You could....say you’re sorry to her mom.

Phoebe:I think she would like that.

Ross:"Goes over to Julio".Come here,here, come here,come here...Mrs.Buffay.Sorry about what I said um it was,it was insensitive of me to say that you were just a cat.When clearly you are also the reincarnated spirit of my friend’s mother.

Phoebe:Thank you.We both forgive you.

Tabitha:So Pheebs what are you gonna do about the little girl?.

Phoebe:Yeah okay listen um Mom I hope you know you still mean a lot to me.And you’re welcome to come back anytime.

Chandler:Pheebs if she could come back as a couch we’d really appreciate it.

Cassius nods in agreement.

Phoebe:Come on Mom I’ll take you home.

Rachel:I’ll go with you.

Monica:Me too.

The three of them all leave.

Ross:Oh!.You know I’ve got an extra futon.

Cassius:Dude you don’t have to brag!.We got nothing here!.

   Me and Joey shake our heads at Cassius and leave to our apartment.