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The popularity of Friends takes an unexpected twist as two scripts from the beloved show get a second lease on life, selling for a staggering £22,000 ($28,000) at auction after being rescued from a bin.
The scripts in question belonged to the two-part season four finale ‘The One With Ross’s Wedding’ filmed in London in 1998 at Fountain Studios in Wembley, which reached iconic status as Ross (David Schwimmer) inadvertently utters Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) name at the altar during his ill-fated wedding to Emily (Helen Baxendale).
According to Friends‘ writer Greg Malins, Ross’s infamous line, “I take thee, Rachel”, instead of “Emily” at his wedding, was an unintended mistake, arising from Schwimmer genuinely getting the names wrong during a previous shot. The writing team also didn’t have a plan for what would happen with Ross and Emily. In the series finale, Ross confesses his love for Rachel, and they decide to get back together.
The scripts were recovered by a former member of staff at Fountain Studios, initially slated for destruction to prevent plot leaks. “I found them in a bin a couple of weeks after filming had finished,” the unnamed former staff member told Hansons. “It was part of my job to ensure everything was tidy and no rubbish was left around. I wasn’t sure what to do with them, so I just put them in my office drawer.”
Originally estimated to fetch £600-800, the scripts surpassed expectations, gaining £22,000 ($28,000) as bidders went crazy for these historic pieces. A total of 219 presale global bids poured in, culminating in an undisclosed online international bidder securing the prized scripts.
Friends, which ran for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004, continues to captivate audiences and has regained its spot on the Netflix top ten list since the unfortunate passing of Matthew Perry in October 2023. This unexpected auction success underscores the enduring love for the iconic sitcom and its nostalgic appeal, with untold stories emerging even from the seemingly mundane, like scripts rescued from a bin after a quarter-century slumber, adding another chapter to the ongoing saga of the beloved sitcom.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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