“The One Where Rachel's Sister Babysits”

Friends season 10, episode 5
Original air date: October 30, 2003

Rachel's sister, Amy, returns with good news: she's getting married to her ex-boyfriend's dad, Myron, because he's got a really sweet apartment! Apart from that, nothing's changed, and she's still the same old snobby, spoiled Amy — mistaking Ross for the falafel cart guy and complimenting him on his rapidly-improving English; referring to Emma as Ella; snapping her fingers at Joey to carry her bags into his apartment. Because, that's right, she decides to move in with Rachel, once Rachel convinces her that marrying Myron just for his apartment is a bad idea.

Joey's further miffed when Monica and Chandler ask Rachel to write a recommendation to go in their file with the adoption agency, but don't ask him. He attempts to write a really "smart" letter, with Ross and the Word thesaurus' help, but when he uses the thesaurus function on every word, Monica and Chandler end up with "massive aortic pumps" instead of "big hearts."

Terrified of what the agency will think if they read Joey's letter, Monica and Chandler encourage him to instead just write more naturally from his heart. He does, but doesn't show them the hand-written draft before he drops it off at the agency. Chandler tries to call to ask the agency to disregard the letter, but they've already read it; they praise Chandler and Monica for being so clever to have a child write their recommendation letter.

Meanwhile, Phoebe and Mike celebrate their one-year anniversary at a Knicks game, and Phoebe mocks the couple getting engaged on the Jumbotron. Mike, chagrined, excuses himself, and Phoebe realizes that he was going to propose to her on the Jumbotron. Mortified, she tries to rectify the situation by taking him to another Knicks game and proposing to him on the Jumbotron, but when all the fans around them taunt them with names like "Mr. No-balls" and comment that clearly Phoebe wears the pants in their relationship, she gives up. She and Mike go to a simple, romantic dinner, and she tells him that if and when he's ready to propose, he can do it however he likes. Even a really cheesy way, like hiding the ring in the cake ... which has just arrived and — surprise! — has a ring hidden inside it. Phoebe apologizes once again, but Mike, determined, asks her to marry him, and she accepts.

Since Rachel and Ross' nanny can't make it to work that day, Amy volunteers to babysit Emma. Ross objects strongly to it, particularly since Amy still can't get Emma's name right, but Rachel really wants Amy to babysit. Rachel argues that Amy isn't really any different than she herself was when she first came to New York, and by offering to look after Emma, she's just committed her first selfless act, which Rachel wants to reward. When Amy returns Emma with her ears pierced, both Ross and Rachel regret ever letting Amy near their baby. Amy explains that she's figured out what she wants to do with her life: become a baby stylist, to help babies figure out how to hide their chub and de-emphasize their funny noses and so forth.

Rachel, exasperated, demands that Amy move out, but Amy's able to win Rachel over by bad-mouthing their younger sister, Jill, who has apparently gotten fat. Amy reveals that all she really wanted was to hang out with Rachel like they used to when they were kids and have a normal sisterly relationship.