Scene Five: Joey's Turkey Head and the Wrap-Up
When Joey burst in, screaming, with that bizarre turkey head stuck on, the entire set froze in shock.
Leon's reaction was perfectly natural for a guy caught off guard—he half-stood from his chair, instinctively leaning toward Rachel, blurting out:
"Uh… do I need to call an ambulance? Or… maybe the fire department?"
(The audience roars with laughter.)
After the chaos, the scene was a mess.
Leon stood, turning to Monica with genuine sympathy and sincerity:
"Monica, thanks for the invite. This dinner… definitely unforgettable."
"You're stronger than anyone I know."
To Chandler and Monica, he added, "Seriously, you two are great."
He grabbed his coat, ready to leave, and paused in front of Rachel.
Leon (voice soft, with a hint of reluctance):
"Rachel, thanks for making me feel like less of an outsider tonight."
Rachel (eyes bright, hopeful):
"Oh, really?…"
Leon (pulling a pre-prepared note from his pocket, smiling as he handed it to her):
"Look, I'm in town until tomorrow night…"
"I know it's forward, but would you want to grab a coffee with me? I know a place with a killer pumpkin latte."
Rachel (taking the note, her face lighting up with surprise and delight, her fingers brushing his palm):
"I'd love to, but…"
Leon cut her off: "Call me. Anytime."
He flashed Rachel a warm, lingering smile as he left.
The moment the door closed, the apartment erupted.
Ross (exploding first):
"Coffee?! He asked you out?! Was he just waiting for this moment all night? I knew he was up to something!"
Chandler (arm around Monica):
"Wow, from 'turkey' to 'coffee'—quite the upgrade."
Phoebe (making mystical gestures):
"Oh, his energy is so pure, Rachel! I saw the glow of his third eye! You two are gonna have a soul-level connection!"
Monica (clutching her head):
"My perfect Thanksgiving dinner! Ruined in front of a totally normal, handsome stranger!"
Rachel (ignoring Ross's meltdown, beaming at the note in her hand, to Monica):
"Oh, come on, Monica. Leon said my earrings were unique. He's so sweet!"
She clutched the note gently, like it was a piece of candy.
(The camera freezes on Rachel's sweet smile and Ross's fuming face as the audience laughs and claps.)
---
After filming wrapped, the set buzzed with a mix of joy and exhaustion.
Jennifer Aniston, still carrying a bit of Rachel's excitement, walked over to Leon, her eyes sparkling with a mix of on- and off-screen energy.
"Seriously, your reaction to Joey's turkey head was so natural," she said, laughing. "I almost thought we really needed to call the fire department."
"It was Joey's entrance," Leon replied, chuckling, his voice still carrying that magnetic charm. "I mean, who's prepared for that turkey head?"
They strolled to the break area together, chatting about funny moments from the shoot and sharing insights as actors about certain scenes.
The chemistry they'd built in front of the camera didn't fade when the lights went off—it grew subtler, more direct, now that the pressure of performing was gone.
"So… Chicago furniture designer," Jennifer said, leaning against a table with a water cup in hand, glancing at him. "You really did your homework on the character. Is that pumpkin latte place part of his backstory too?"
Leon took a sip of water from a bottle handed to him by an assistant, his eyes never leaving hers.
"If I said that place is real and happens to be near my hotel, would you think it's too convenient… or an invitation?"
Jennifer raised an eyebrow, her smile deepening with a Rachel Green-like playfulness and Aniston's knowing charm.
"That depends on the quality and sincerity of the invitation, Mr. Donaldson."
Leon's mind flashed to Brad Pitt, then quickly dismissed him. Screw Brad Pitt.
"Well," he said, setting down his water, his voice lowering as the noisy set faded into the background, "to prove my sincerity, maybe I shouldn't stick to just talk."
"There's a great bar nearby. Their cocktail menu doesn't have pumpkin, which might be an even better choice."
"How about it… to celebrate surviving the Geller Thanksgiving?"
Jennifer pretended to think, tapping her cup lightly.
"Hmm… sounds tempting. And honestly, I could use something to recover from that turkey head scare."
They shared a laugh, a quiet understanding sparking between them.
---
An hour later, they were tucked into a cozy booth at an elegant, dimly lit bar.
The characters were gone—they were just Leon Donaldson and Jennifer Aniston, two adults who'd just wrapped a shoot, their mutual attraction undeniable.
Their conversation drifted from Friends set anecdotes to their lives, work, and thoughts about the future.
The alcohol and flirty vibe fueled the moment.
"…So, are you heading to the UK?" Jennifer asked, swirling her martini, her eyes glowing with admiration.
"Not yet," Leon said, his gaze locked on her striking blue eyes. "I'm tied up with The Princess Diaries for now, but I might make a trip later. Right now, I've got more important things to focus on."
"Like what?" she teased, leaning in.
"Like… this moment," Leon replied, his tone direct and suggestive.
What followed felt natural.
The drinks emptied, words grew scarce, and their glances intensified.
They left the bar for Leon's hotel suite.
The door closed behind them, shutting out the world.
No cameras, no lines—just raw attraction and the pent-up tension from the day exploding.
Their kisses were urgent, passionate, a release of the hours spent in restrained performance.
Clothes littered the path to the bedroom, breaths mingled, the air thick with desire.
He admired her world-famous figure, while she was drawn to his chiseled, elegant muscles and that blend of calm and wild energy.
That night, there were no Genovian princesses, no literary awards, no awkward Thanksgiving disasters—just two people lost in the pleasure of pure, post-work connection.
When it was over, the room was quiet except for their heavy breathing and the faint glow of Los Angeles' ever-burning city lights outside.
Jennifer rested her head on Leon's chest, her fingers lazily tracing circles on his skin.
"You know," she murmured, her voice soft and husky, "I almost thought I was gonna die back there. Leon, you're too good."
He chuckled, his chest rumbling, his arm wrapping around her. "Glad my 'invitation' lived up to expectations."
They drifted off together, no talk of tomorrow or the future.