The One with the 'Cuffs

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"The One With the 'Cuffs" is the third episode of season four of the television situation comedy Friends.

First aired: October 9, 1997

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Plot

Since all of Joey and Chandler's furniture was stolen, their super, Mr. Treeger, is letting them have whatever furniture they can find in the basement for free. All they're able to scrounge up, however, is an old patio table and two rusty chairs - prompting Chandler to remark, "Could we BE anymore white trash?"

Rachel goes to the guys' apartment to borrow some juice - and finds out Chandler has slept with her boss, Joanna. She's perplexed because they went out a couple of times, but Chandler thought she was a "big, dull dud." For the sake of her job, Rachel begs Chandler to call it quits with Joanna.

Monica, in need of extra cash, agrees to cater a party for her mother. She brings Phoebe along for moral support. When she asks her mother why she was hired, Monica learns that people have been raving about her food - and is pleased to learn that she wasn't hired just so her mother could have someone to pick on. She later discovers that she's lost a fake fingernail in one of the quiches - and is upset to learn that Judy had frozen lasagnas ready when (not if) she "pulled a Monica."

While trying to break up with her, Chandler ends up making out with Joanna. She gets called away, and to ensure Chandler will be waiting for her when she gets back, handcuffs him to her chair. However, she seems to be having an affair with her own boss when Chandler calls for her an hour later. When she leaves, Rachel remarks that it's weird that Joanna locked her door. When Mark left, he gave Rachel a key to Joanna's office - so she and coworker Sophie break in, hoping to find a list of Christmas bonuses. Instead they find a half-naked Chandler handcuffed. Chandler convinces Rachel to free him - but when Rachel realizes that Joanna is going to ask how he got free, she re-cuffs him to a filing cabinet.

Joey is visited by an encyclopedia salesman, trying to sell a set of encyclopedias. Since Joey can't afford the entire set, he buys (with Chandler's money) just one volume - the 'V'. He's pleased that he can finally keep up with most of what the gang's talking about, even starting discussions on topics starting with 'V', until they start talking about the Korean war.

Monica hides in her room, embarrassed that she'd "pulled a Monica". Phoebe convinces her to change what that means, by going down and doing the job she was hired to do. Monica realizes she's right, and quickly makes a casserole to serve. Phoebe reports that nobody touched the lasagna, but everyone raved about the casserole. Judy, realizing she treated Monica horribly, apologizes and admits that she was wrong.

Chandler agrees to remain hand-cuffed after Rachel offers that she'll put in a good word for his "prowess". Chandler says he's broken up with Joanna for good, which is confirmed when Joanna calls Rachel into her office - and Rachel finds her half-naked and handcuffed to the chair.