Joey wants Chandler to come to a basketball game with him, but Chandler would rather spend time with Monica, so he lies to Joey saying he won't arrive til the next day. A misunderstanding ensues where Joey thinks Monica is cheating on Chandler. Rachel and Phoebe have a girls' night out. Ross and Mike are left to try to bond, but they have no chemistry.
Tropes:
- All for Nothing: In the end, it turns out that the basketball game Joey got tickets for is the next night, leaving Chandler free to spend the current night with Monica.
- Ambiguously Jewish: One of the few hints that Rachel is Jewish occurs when she refers to her grandmother as "bubbe", a common Yiddish term for grandmothers.
- Batter Up!: Joey arms himself with a baseball bat to chase away Monica's supposed illicit lover. Ultimately he only uses it on some pillows.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: Rachel — in her first real night out post-baby — sports a dress so so low-cut that both Ross and Phoebe can't help but stare at her chest right away.Phoebe: 'Girls night out', indeed!
- Cringe Comedy: Ross and Mike's plot is them not being able to find anything in common, leading to constant awkward silence between them.
- The Friends Who Never Hang: Ross invited Mike to hang out, feeling he should get to know Phoebe's boyfriend better and avoid this trope. However, without that buffer, things get very awkward very quickly. Their one major common interest (knowing how to play a keyboard) is useless because they don't have one on hand. It comes as a relief to both when Mike finally leaves, only to become extremely frustrating when Mike gets talked into going back by Phoebe to ensure Ross doesn't learn about the guy at the bar calling Rachel.
- Girl's Night Out Episode: Phoebe takes Rachel for her first night out since having Emma.
- Ironic Echo: "I heard it."
- Missed Him by That Much: Rachel steps out of the apartment to thank Mike for his help which is the exact moment Bill calls the landline and Ross answers.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Chandler hides from Joey that he's visiting Monica instead of going to a ball game with him. So when Joey overhears a man's voice coming from Monica's apartment, he thinks she's seeing someone else.
- Noodle Incident: Chandler delays climbing out of the window because the "scary pigeon" is back on the terrace.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Chandler remarks it's better for Joey to think Monica is having an affair than for him to know he's cheating on him by spending time with her, while Monica later worries about Joey figuring out their ruse. Both times they, in the face of skeptical glances, acknowledge that they heard what was just said.
- Ready for Lovemaking: Monica greets Chandler wearing a skimpy nightgown with wine poured so they can get right to having sex.
- Ship Tease: Rachel feels she and Ross shared a moment before Phoebe and Mike arrived, although Phoebe is skeptical of "eye contact" actually counting.
- What the Hell, Hero?: When it's all out in the open, Joey expresses irritation with the games and lack of honesty, saying he would've understood how a husband wants to spend time with the wife.
