Friends S1E8
The one where Nana dies twice
[TV sitcom]
Getting Started

Chandler’s colleague wants to set him up with a blind date on Saturday night. Chandler thinks that’s great until he realizes she is trying to set him up with another man. This revelation surprises him, so he has a discussion with his friends about it. He discovers that apart from Ross and Joey, most people initially assume he is gay upon meeting him. He asks everyone why people assume this. The only answer they can give is that he seems to have “a gay quality.” This vague advice doesn't help Chandler at all.

Monica receives a phone call from her father, informing her that their grandmother, Althea, is in the final stages of her life. Both Monica and Ross rush to the hospital, where they join their parents and aunt in anticipation of the inevitable. A nurse comes out of Nana’s room to announce that she has passed away. The siblings bid their grandmother farewell with a kiss, but, when Ross leans in, their grandmother suddenly moves, startling them. Monica runs out of the room in search of a nurse, while Ross tries to explain to her parents that Nana is still alive. When the nurse gets to the room, Nana dies again.

Back at this workplace, Chandler asks his colleague why people think he is gay. His colleague answers that he seems to have “a quality.” She tells him she was going to set him up with Lowell. Chandler’s a bit offended, because he thinks he could do better than Lowell, such as Brian in payroll. His colleague tells him that Brian is “out of his league.”him

After the funeral service, Ross accidentally falls into an open grave, hurting his back. Monica faces criticism from her mother. Her mother tells her to improve her appearance by using night cream and leaving her hair down, saying that her ears are not her most attractive feature. At the reception Ross’s mother gives him some very strong pain medication. Meanwhile, Joey and his friends, including Ross’s Father, are secretly watching a football game on a mobile television. In the meantime, Ross has gotten high because he took too much of the strong pain medication. He becomes a bit over-friendly, telling everyone he loves them. Chandler is talking to a pretty woman when Ross comes up and tells Chandler he loves him. Ross encourages Chandler that if he wants to be gay he should embrace it. This comment scares the girl and her friend away. Ross also confesses to Rachel the he loves her most of all, but she doesn’t take him seriously. Then Ross passes out and falls across Rachel’s lap.

Monica’s mom was complaining about Nana being so critical of her all the time. Monica feels that her mother does the same to her. She asks her mom if she should have just asked Nana to stop criticizing her. Her mom surprisingly says no, so Monica holds her peace.

After the reception, the friends gather at Central Perk coffeehouse. They look through Nana’s old photographs, laughing at nude pictures of Ross.

Later, back a the office, Chandler is in the break room when Lowell walks in. He tells Lowell that he is not gay. Lowell already knows that, he can sense it, in fact, he mentions that Chandler would not have a chance with Brian from payroll, as he was "way out of his league." Chandler leaves the break room, asserting to himself that he could get a Brian if he wanted a Brian. At that moment, Brian walked in.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Who did Chandler's colleague want to set him up with?
  2. Why was that a problem for Chandler?
  3. Which of the friends never thought of Chandler as gay?
  4. What is the vague description his friends gave him as to why people think he's gay?
  5. Why do Monica and Ross rush to the hospital?
  6. What happened when Ross leaned down to give Nana a farewell kiss?
  7. How did Ross hurt his back?
  8. How was Ross acting at the reception; why?
  9. How did his actions affect Chandler?
  10. Explain Nana, Monica's mom, and Monica's relationship?
  11. What did Monica decided to do?
  12. What does Lowell think about Chandler?
Discussion
  1. Talk about any experiences that you have had at a hospital, whether you were the patient or you were visiting or even volunteering?
  2. Explain a funeral in your culture.
  3. How does it differ from what you saw on Friends.