Ross leaves for China on a business trip.
The other friends have a birthday party for Rachel, and Chandler lets slip that Ross loves her. She spends the rest of the time while Ross is away trying to decide if she wants to do anything about it. She decides to meet him at the airport, but when he gets off the plane, he is accompanied by a woman whom he kisses.
Joey has a new girlfriend, but he can't sleep with her because he is participating in a fertility test.
Tropes
- Artistic License – Geography: Rachel leaves for the airport after being told that Ross' flight doesn't leave for 45 minutes. Unless the flight was significantly delayed due to mechanical problems, there is no way she would be able to get to either Newark or JFK* in that time, much less get through the airport to see Ross boarding the plane.
- Birthday Episode: Part of the episode takes place during Rachel's birthday party.
- Brick Joke:
- Heading out, Ross gives the others a photo of himself and asks them to occasionally show it to Ben so that he doesn't forget his face. Phoebe takes it and happily plays with it. Later, about to go to the airport, Rachel admits she doesn't know what she's going to say to Ross until she sees him, so Phoebe takes out the photo again.
- When Rachel tries to have the airport staff member deliver a message to Ross the message is instead given to an older gentleman boarding with his wife, making her believe he cheated with someone called Rachel. When Ross is returning the same couple is also returning with the husband still protesting his innocence.
- Call-Back: Rachel recalls how, in the first episode, Ross had floated the idea of asking her out on a date once they were both in better states, but since nothing ever came of it, she didn't dwell on it.
- Chekhov's Gun: When telling Monica that he's leaving for China, Ross gives her his itinerary. After Rachel learns the big secret and considers talking to Ross at the airport, Monica cites the itinerary for what time his flight is.
- Cliffhanger: We don't see Rachel's reaction to Ross' new girlfriend yet.
- Contrived Coincidence: The old couple that Rachel's message for Ross accidentally gets delivered to just so happens to be on Ross' flight back.
- Imagine Spot: Rachel imagines Ross persuading her to give him a chance during her date with Carl.
- Internal Reveal: Rachel finally — finally — finds out about Ross' feelings for her.
- Just Plane Wrong: Even with pre-9/11 security, Rachel would not have been able to get as far as the departure gate to deliver her message to Ross.
- Love Informant: Chandler is the one to (accidentally) tell Rachel that Ross loves her.
- Love Revelation Epiphany: Learning about Ross' feelings for her from Chandler leads Rachel to realize that she loves him too.
- My New Gift Is Lame: Chandler gets Rachel a Travel Scrabble game for her birthday. She hands it back to him before she can even finish saying "thank you".
- Oh, Crap!: Chandler, after accidentally revealing to Rachel that Ross loves her.Chandler: [rubbing his temples] Oh, no no no no no...
Joey: That's good, just keep rubbing your head. That'll turn back time. - Once Done, Never Forgotten: Subverted. A week after accidentally getting Rachel's message, the old man is STILL trying to convince his wife, "There's no Rachel!"
- Race for Your Love: After learning about Ross' feelings for her Rachel rushes to the airport to try and talk to him before he leaves for China. She gets there just as he's about to board but he's listening to a tape on how to speak Mandarin and can't hear her shouting.
- Saying Too Much: Chandler probably would've gotten away with bringing up how Ross bought Carol an expensive crystal duck, had he not mentioned that Ross bought it after he fell in love with her.
- Shipper on Deck: Monica is really thrilled about her best friend and her brother potentially getting together.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Joey's expression when Chandler accidentally reveals the big secret. Chandler has his own example when Rachel asks him what he just said.
- Wham Line:Chandler: Come on, Ross? Remember back in college, when he fell in love with Carol and bought her that ridiculously expensive crystal duck?
(Everyone looks at him. He realizes he just spilled the beans about Ross's crush on Rachel)
Rachel: What did you just say? - Wham Shot: Ross is shown getting off the plane with another woman, while Rachel waits for him with flowers.
- You Keep Telling Yourself That: Chandler's desperate attempt to save face by insisting that the Wham Line is no big deal.
