S09E12 · EP 206
season 9 · 2003-01-16
The One With Phoebe's Rats
written by Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones (teleplay) · Dana Klein Borkow (story) · directed by Ben Weiss · 23.66M viewers · image Friends Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

18 scenes · 3 threads
awkward 15%absurd 11%tense 8%obsession 7%escalation 6%coincidence 5%social rule violation 5%cheerful 5%petty grievance 5%seduction 4%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Joey and the nanny
B · Phoebe and the rats
C · Rachel and Gavin
01

Every scene

18 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Central Perk · cold_openCentral Perk nanny intro

The gang meets Molly, the new hot nanny, and Joey becomes instantly infatuated.

00:02–02:24seduction · obsession
2 · Phoebe's apartment · act1Phoebe's rat discovery

Mike finds a rat in Phoebe's apartment and insists she get rid of it.

02:24–03:39escalation · petty_grievance
3 ▸ 03:39
3 · Ralph Lauren office · act1Office bickering with Gavin

Rachel tries to apologize to Gavin but they end up arguing about his behavior.

03:39–06:02double_standard · petty_grievance
4 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act1Joey forbidden from nanny

Ross and Chandler ask Joey not to pursue Molly, which only makes him want her more.

06:02–08:12obsession · seduction
5 · Phoebe's apartment · act1Rat trap kills Bob

Mike sets traps and accidentally kills Bob, who turns out to be a mother rat.

08:12–09:18escalation · coincidence
6 ▸ 09:18
6 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act1Chandler tasked to watch Joey

Ross asks Chandler to keep Joey away from Molly, but Chandler is skeptical.

09:18–10:27scheme · obsession
7 · Hallway between apartments · act1Joey's forbidden fruit speech

Joey tries to see Molly but Chandler blocks him, making Joey more determined.

10:27–11:35obsession · pursuit
8 · Ralph Lauren office · act1Gavin pranks Rachel

Gavin pretends Rachel is his secretary on a call, escalating their office war.

11:35–13:06humiliation · petty_grievance
9 · Ralph Lauren office · act1Rachel invites Gavin to party

Monica meets Gavin and Rachel reluctantly invites him to her birthday party.

13:06–13:31social_rule_violation · scheme
10 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act1Party prep and Gavin talk

Monica suggests Gavin likes Rachel, but Rachel dismisses the idea.

13:31–14:15misunderstanding · petty_grievance
11 ▸ 14:15
11 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act2Rat babies at birthday party

Phoebe brings Bob's orphaned rat babies to Rachel's birthday party.

14:15–15:37social_rule_violation · escalation
12 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act2Joey and Molly alone

Ross and Chandler find Joey alone with Molly and confront him.

15:37–17:01pursuit · obsession
13 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act2Molly's girlfriend arrives

Molly's girlfriend Tabitha arrives, ending Joey's romantic hopes.

17:01–17:43coincidence · comeuppance
14 · Phoebe's apartment · act2Phoebe and Mike discuss rats

Phoebe and Mike argue about the rat babies and their future.

17:43–19:54escalation
15 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · act2Party ends, Gavin arrives late

Rachel's party ends early, and Gavin shows up late with a gift.

19:54–22:29social_rule_violation · pursuit
16 · Monica and Rachel's apartment balcony · act2Gavin kisses Rachel

Gavin gives Rachel a scarf and kisses her, which she returns.

22:29–22:37confession · seduction
17 · Ross's apartment · act2Ross sees the kiss

Ross watches from his apartment as Rachel kisses Gavin, breaking his heart.

22:37–23:10betrayal · eavesdropping
18 · Monica and Rachel's apartment · tagRat baby search

Mike returns to Monica's apartment looking for a lost rat baby.

23:10–23:14coincidence · escalation
03

Same DNA

nearest episodes by gene profile

Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
2003-01-16
Overall
#206
Writers
Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones (teleplay) · Dana Klein Borkow (story)
Director
Ben Weiss
Viewers
23.66M (US)
Pace
122 words/min · 107 questions

Where to watch

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In this episode

RG
Rachel Greene232 episodes · drives 552 scenes
RG
Ross Geller232 episodes · drives 707 scenes
CB
Chandler Bing232 episodes · drives 527 scenes
JT
Joey Tribbiani232 episodes · drives 536 scenes
M
Molly4 episodes
PB
Phoebe Buffay232 episodes · drives 425 scenes
MH
Mike Hannigan29 episodes · drives 15 scenes
GM
Gavin MitchellDermot Mulroney3 episodes · drives 1 scenes