Scene 1: the New Girlfriend

Today’s Lesson
Skills Focus / Study / Details
Vocabulary, Expressions & Colloquial Language / Howdy, switched me over, get out of the game, housewares, damn right I’m right, what you’re made of, stand your ground, baddest, fix you up, did my back hurt your knife, you don’t get it, doesn’t have anything to do with me, hate someone’s guts, give someone a chance
Carpaccio, prawns, leeks, but hey look, take care, Cajun catfish, big night, a piece, prom night flashback, promoted, get into this, I hear you, an issue, hoopla
Linking Patterns / T + Y; listening for consonant links
Reduced Forms / Common Reductions
Stress, Rhythm and Intonation
Thought Groups
Performance Variables

Friends:

Scene 1: The New Girlfriend

Rachel & Monica discuss Ross’s new girlfriend

Chandler: Howdy.

Joey: ______box a juice. Well, they switched me over to Hombre.

Chandler: Well, maybe it's because of the way you're dressed.

Joey: Or maybe it's because this guy's doing so good they wanna put more people on it. You should see this guy, Chandler, he goes through two bottles a day.

Chandler: ______care? You're an actor. This is your day job. ______mean anything to you.

Joey: I know, but, I was the best, you know? I liked being the best. ______. Maybe I should just get ______the game. They need guys up in house wares to serve cheese.

Chandler: All right, say you do that. You know sooner or later somebody's ______come along that slices a better cheddar. And then ______run?

Joey: Yeah I guess you're right.

Chandler: You're damn right I'm right. I say you show this guy what you're made of. I say you stand your ground. I say you show him that you are the baddest hombre west of the lingerie.

Joey: ______

Chandler: All right. Now go see Miss Kitty and she'll fix you up with a nice hooker.

[Scene: Outside Central Perk, Rachel is cleaning up and Monica is pleading with her.]

Monica: ______.

Rachel: Well that works out good, because I'm not listening.

Monica: I feel terrible, I really do.

Rachel: Oh, I'm sorry, did my back hurt your knife?

Monica: Rachel, say that I'm friends with her, we spend some time together. Is that so terrible?

Rachel: Yes.

Monica: It's that terrible?

Rachel: Yes. Monica, you don't ______. It's bad enough that she's stolen the guy who might actually be the person that I am supposed to be with, but now, she's actually, but now she's actually stealing you.

Monica: Me? ______talking about? Nobody could steal me from you. I mean, just because I'm friends with her doesn't make me any less friends with you. I mean, you're my...We're, we're...Oh, I love you.

Rachel: I love you too.

Phoebe: You guys, um I know that this really doesn't have anything to do with me, but um I love you guys too. Oh, I really needed that.

Monica: Look, I know that you're in a place right now where you really need to hate Julie's guts, but she didn't do anything wrong. I mean, she was just a girl who met a guy, and now they go out. I really think that if you gave her a chance, you'd like her. Would you just give that a chance, for me?

Rachel: I'd do anything for you, you know that.

Monica: I'd do anything for you.

Phoebe: Wait, wait, wait, wait

Scene 1 - Vocabulary

Howdy – an informal way of saying hello. Often associated with people from the Midwest or rural areas

Switched me over – changed me

Day job – when people talk about their “day job” they are talking about a job that they do only to support themselves financially, usually while they are pursuing their passion, which often doesn’t pay well

Get out of the game – means to quit, to try something new. Many expressions in the English language have sporting connotations and these are quite common in colloquial and idiomatic speech. Often once you have figured out the allusion, you will find that they are very easy to decipher.

Housewares – a department in a store that specializes in everything you could need or want for your house

Damn right, I’m right – an emphatic way of saying that you are really right, and that is absolutely certain.

What you’re made of – a useful expression that means the strength of your character; what you’re capable of. Usually used in response to someone who underestimates your abilities.

Stand your ground – another sports analogy, means to defend your territory, don’t give up, don’t change your mind, be certain and resolute in your beliefs

Baddest – often used to mean the best. Sometimes using bad really means good.

Fix you up – (separable) to arrange something with or for someone

Did my back hurt your knife? – This is in reference to the common expression of “stabbing someone in the back,” which means to betray someone without in a cowardly way. In this expression, Rachel is expressing false sympathy for Monica by saying that it is perhaps her fault that Monica is upset with Rachel.

You don’t get it – you don’t understand

Doesn’t have anything to do with me – this is usually used as a way of saying that I know it is nothing I should be involved in and that is not important for me to know about it

Hate someone’s guts – a common expression used to say that you hate someone in a very profound way

Give someone a chance – allow someone the opportunity to impress you or to be open to someone you are expecting not to like

Friends:

Scene 2: The Restaurant

The gang encounters economic complications

Waiter: Do I dare ask?

Monica: Yes, I will start with the carpaccio, and then I'll have the grilled prawns.

Ross: That sounds great. Same for me.

Waiter: And for the gentleman?

Joey: Yeah, I'll have the Thai chicken pizza. But, hey, look, if I get it without the nuts and leeks and stuff, is ______?

Waiter: You'd think, wouldn't you? Miss?

Rachel: Ok, I will have the uh, side salad.

Waiter: And what will that be on the side of?

Rachel: Uh, I don't know. Why ______put it right here next to my water?

Waiter: And for you?

Phoebe: Um, I'm ______have a cup of the cucumber soup, and, um, take care.

Chandler: I will have the uh, Cajun catfish.

Waiter: Anything else?

Chandler: Yes, how 'bout a verse of Killing Me Softly. You're ______sneeze on my fish, ______?

Ross: Plus tip, divided by six. Ok, everyone owes 28 bucks.

Chandler: Okay.

Rachel: Um, everyone?

Ross: Oh, ______, I'm sorry.

Joey: Thank you.

Ross: Monica's big night, she shouldn't pay.

Monica: Oh, thank you!

Ross: So five of us is, $33.50 apiece.

Phoebe: No, huh uh, no way, I'm sorry, not ______happen.

Chandler: Whoa, whoa, prom night flashback.

Phoebe: I'm sorry, Monica, I'm really happy you got promoted, but cold cucumber mush for thirty-something bucks? No! Rachel just had that-that-that salad, and, and Joey with his like teeny pizza! It's just...

Ross: Ok, Pheebs! How 'bout ______pay for ______. It's no big deal.

Phoebe: Not for you.

Monica: All right, what's ______?

Rachel: Ok, look you guys, I really don't want to get into this right now. I think ______just make everyone uncomfortable.

Phoebe: Fine. All right, fine.

Joey: Yeah.

Chandler: You can tell us.

Ross: Hello, it's us, all right? ______fine.

Monica: Yeah!

Joey: Ok, um, uh, we three feel like, that uh, sometimes you guys don't get that uh... We don't have as much money as you.

Monica: Ok.

Ross: ______.

Chandler: We can talk about that.

Phoebe: Well, then...Let's.

Ross: Well umm I, I just never think of money as an issue.

Rachel: That's 'cause you have it.

Ross: That's a good point.

Chandler: So um, how come you guys ______about this before?

Joey: 'Cause ______, you know, like with Monica's new job, or the whole Ross's birthday hoopla.

Scene 2 – Vocabulary

Carpaccio – thinly sliced raw meat served in a sauce; a delicacy

Prawns – a type of seafood that resembles a very large shrimp

Leeks – an onion like plant; also considered somewhat of a delicacy

But hey, look – a great way of saying, I agree with you, but I want you to consider another point of view. Usually is followed by an “if” clause.

Take care – is a way of saying take care of yourself. It is most frequently used as a way to end a conversation and to tell someone that you will be leaving or that they should leave.

Cajun catfish – Cajun is a spicy cooking style that usually refers to New Orleans, and the Caribbean culture in general. A catfish is a bottom feeder that was traditionally eaten in the poor, rural South, but has now become, especially when served with Cajun seasonings, somewhat of a delicacy.

Monica’s big night – if it is someone’s big night, it means that something has been done in another person’s honor

A piece – each

Prom night flashback – the prom is a dance held in American high schools, usually before graduation. There is a lot of emphasis put on this night and it makes it somewhat uncomfortable. A flashback is when you remember and feel something that you have already done. Often flashbacks are considered unpleasant memories.

Promoted – received a higher position in a job

Get into this right now – start discussing something. Usually when someone says this, they are referring to a really large discussion about an issue that has been bothering them for a long time, and is something that will necessitate a lengthy and often disagreeable conversation.

I hear you – a way of saying I understand or I’m listening

An issue – something that is important to people in their relationships and often needs to be discussed because people have different and opposing viewpoints

Hoopla – a big deal. Something that requires a lot of ceremony, time, and energy.

Today’s Lesson

Skills Focus / Study / Details
Vocabulary, Expressions & Colloquial Language / You had no right, never a good time, hang out, do you have a point, this ship has sailed, closure
Logical, list of pros & cons, Amish boy, spoiled, ditzy, a little too into, paleontologists, just a ___, chubby ankles, mockolate, hot line, not so hot
Linking Patterns
Reduced Forms
Stress, Rhythm and Intonation / Mark stressed words and intonation patterns (3)
Thought Groups / Marking for thought groups (4)
Performance Variables / Interpreting repetition

Friends:

Scene 3: The Confrontation

Ross confronts Rachel about her confession

Rachel: Hi.

Ross: I didn't get a cat.

Rachel: Oh, that's um, interesting.

Ross: No, no it's not interesting. Okay, it's very, very not interesting. In fact it's actually 100 percent completely opposite of interesting.

Rachel: All right, I got it Ross.

Ross: You had no right to tell me you ever had feelings for me.

Rachel: What?

Ross: I was doing great with Julie before I found out about you.

Rachel: Hey, I was doin' great before I found out about you. You think it's easy for me to see you with Julie?

Ross: Then you should have said something before I met her.

Rachel: I didn't know then. And how come you never said anything to me?

Ross: There was never a good time.

Rachel: Right, you, you only had a year. We only hung out every night.

Ross: Not, not, not every night. You know, and... and it's not like I didn't try, Rachel, but things got in the way, y'know? Like, like Italian guys or ex-fiancés or, or, or Italian guys.

Rachel: Hey, there was one Italian guy, Okay, and do you even have a point?

Ross: The point is I... I don't need this right now, Okay. It, it's too late, I'm with somebody else, I'm happy. This ship has sailed.

Rachel: Yeah, what're you saying, you just sort of put away feelings or whatever the hell it was you felt for me?

Ross: Hey, I've been doin' it since the ninth grade, I've gotten pretty damn good at it.

Rachel: All right, fine, you go ahead and you do that, all right Ross.

Ross: Fine.

Rachel: 'Cause I don't need your stupid ship.

Ross: Good.

Rachel: Good.

Rachel: And ya know what, now I've got closure.

Ross: Try the bottom one.

Scene 3 - Vocabulary

You had no right – it was not something that you should have done. It was literally not something you were morally entitled to do.

Never a good time – means that there was never an appropriate time to do or say something.

Hang out – to spend time together, not necessarily doing anything special, just merely enjoying someone else’s company. Usually done with close friends.

Do you have a point? – a way of asking if someone has a reason for saying what they are saying

This ship has sailed – or you’ve missed the boat. It is a way of saying that an opportunity has passed someone by and that there is nothing you can do about it.

Closure – in regards to relationships, the knowledge that something is completely finished and that you can move on with your life knowing that there is not hope or chance for anything more.

Friends:

Scene 4: Pros & Cons

Ross analyzes the differences between Rachel and Julie

Chandler: Ok, all right, look. Let's get logical about this, ok? We'll make a list. Rachel and Julie, pros and cons. Oh. We'll put their names in bold, with different fonts, and I can use different colors for each column.

Ross: Can't we just use a pen?

Chandler: No, Amish boy.

Joey: Ok, let's start with the cons, 'cause they're more fun. All right, Rachel first.

Ross: I don't know. I mean, all right, I guess you can say she's a little spoiled sometimes.

Joey: You could say that.

Ross: And I guess, you know, sometimes, she's a little ditzy, you know. And I've seen her be a little too into her looks. Oh, and Julie and I, we have a lot in common 'cause we're both paleontologists, but Rachel's just a waitress.

Chandler: Waitress. Got it. You guys wanna play Doom? Or we could keep doing this. What else?

Ross: I don't know.

Joey: Oh, her ankles are a little chubby.

Chandler: Ok, let's do Julie. What's wrong with her?

Ross: She's not Rachel.

Monica: Ok, this is pumpkin pie with mockolate cookie crumb crust. This is mockolate cranberry cake, and these are mockolate chip cookies. Just like the Indians served.

Rachel: Oh my god.

Monica: Oh my god good?

Rachel: Oh my god, I can't believe you let me put this in my mouth.

Phoebe: Oh, oh sweet Lord! This is what evil must taste like!

Chandler: I'm telling you this thing won't print. Yes, I pressed that button like 100 times. You know, for a hot line you are not so hot. What? What is that in the background? Are you watching Star Trek?

Scene 4 - Vocabulary

Logical – each step of the argument or the reasoning must be true and build upon each other

List of pros and cons – a list of the positive aspects and the drawbacks of a situation. It’s a very Western thing to sit down and write up a list of pros and cons before making any major decision.

Amish boy – refers to someone who could be called a technophobe, or someone who is afraid of technological advances. The Amish are a religious group who lives simply and does not use modern technological advances, including electricity or cars.

Spoiled – refers to a person who has been given everything they want or ask for; a negative personality characteristic

Ditzy – someone who is silly and not very organized. Usually used in reference to women

A little too into her looks – Is to say that someone pays too much attention to their physical appearance and often neglects other aspects of character, personality, or intellectual development. A negative characteristic.

Paleontologists – a scientist who deals with past geological periods by working with fossil remains

Just a waitress – to say someone is “just” something is to imply that what they are doing is unimportant and somewhat beneath your own level

Ankles are a little chubby – chubby means a little fat. Usually people think that if a person has fat ankles, then they will gain weight easily and become much heavier as they get older

Mockolate – an imaginary product Monica is trying to use; a chocolate substitute

Hot line – a number people call to request specific help for a specific problem.

Not so hot – means not so good

Today’s Lesson
Skills Focus / Study / Details
Vocabulary, Expressions & Colloquial Language / Tropical Christmas party, turning into jerky, get in line buddy, I will not cave, seize the day, Super, tip, radiator, playing hardball, so personal, mistletoe, basil
There goes my belief system, coma, make out, choppered me in, evil twin, run away with someone, left the toilet seat up, bastard, deserve better
Linking Patterns / Listening for word discrimination
Reduced Forms / Close listening for one sided dictation
Stress, Rhythm and Intonation
Thought Groups
Performance Variables

Friends:

Scene 5: Tropical Christmas

The gang has one steamy Christmas