• The One where Old Yeller dies

Costarring:
Jessica Hecht as Susan Bunch
Tom Selleck as Dr Richard Burke
Jane Sibbett as Carol Willick

While watching Old Yeller, Phoebe finds she was shielded by her suicidal mother from anything with an unhappy ending. Joey and Chandler have an extra ticket for a Knicks (basketball) game and Monica wants them to take Richard. They think he's too old to hang out with. Monica gives Phoebe some happy movies to see to cheer her up. Ross is excited when Ben pulls himself up, but this is old news to Carol and Susan, and Ross is upset to be missing important events in Ben's life. After reluctantly going with Richard to the game, Chandler and Joey are impressed with his Jaguar and his style of tipping. In fact they go too far in trying to be like him, Joey with a cigar and Chandler with a ridiculous moustache. Ross tries to get Ben to say Dada. He also starts planning his future with Rachel, thinking they'll have two kids and move out of New York. This doesn't impress Rachel, who's more concerned with things like where they'll stay next week. Phoebe has seen Monica's videos and thinks they're all horrible, even It's a Wonderful Life. Monica's plan to get Chandler and Joey to bond with Richard has been too successful, as he now wants to hang out with "the guys" a lot instead of being with her all the time. Ross and Rachel have a bit of an argument, as he has even chosen a name for their daughter and she doesn't want to have her life planned for her. Later while Rachel is changing Ben's nappy, he says "hi", his first word. Carol, Susan and Ross are all excited but he won't do it again until Carol and Susan take him away and he says "bye bye" in reply to Ross.
end credits: Phoebe and Ben watch some scary children's videos.