INT. HOSPITAL – LOBBY – EARLY EVENING]
Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, and Chandler are talking in a chaotic huddle near the nurses’ station. Monica is frantically whisper-yelling at Rachel about insurance fraud. Ronnie stands off to the side, a hoodie pulled over her head.
ROSS is in the next room, gently talking to Carol’s pregnant belly.
"Hey, little one. It’s me, your... dad. Yeah, weird, huh? I’m terrified. But I can’t wait to meet you." Ross said
RONNIE listens, slowly backing away. Her face shifts — eyes slightly glassy. She turns and walks toward the exit, unnoticed.
---
[EXT. HOSPITAL – MOMENTS LATER]
Ronnie sits on a bench outside, knees pulled up to her chest. The sky is darkening. She wipes her cheek quickly. Then —
"Hey. Heard your brother made a nurse cry. Classic Chandler." Jake said as he sat beside her
She looks up. Jake approached, holding two vending machine sodas and a slightly melted candy bar.
"You followed me?" She asked him
''Nah. Just had a psychic vision you'd be brooding by a bench like an indie movie protagonist."he told her
She doesn’t laugh. He sits next to her, hands her the candy bar.
"Talk to me." Gently he said to her
(shaky voice)
"You ever just feel... off? Like everyone else is figuring things out, and you’re still stuck being some awkward kid that nobody chose?" She asked him
"All the time." He answered her
"Ross was talking to his baby. Like, real words. I barely talk to my mom. And when I do, she forgets what grade I’m in." She says
"That’s not on you." He reassured her
"I know. But... I’m scared, Jake. What if I never grow up right? What if I mess up being a person?"
(sincerely)
"Ronnie. You’re already more of a person than most of the people I know." He said to her
She looks at him. He shrugs, fidgeting with the candy wrapper.
"You feel everything. You speak up even when it sucks. You’re brave. And sometimes mean. And you make me laugh when I don’t want to. That’s being a person".he continues
"You make it sound easy." She said to him
"It’s not. But maybe we don’t have to do it alone."
A long pause. Their shoulders touch. No jokes. No big gestures. Just quiet.
---
[INT. HOSPITAL – LATER THAT NIGHT]
Everyone’s sitting around waiting. Chandler notices Ronnie and Jake re-enter. She walks over and gives him a quick hug without a word.
(startled)
"Whoa. That was almost... sincere. What happened?" Chandler asked the boy
"Character development." Jake said
---
[TAG SCENE – MONICA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT]
Ronnie sits on the couch sketching. Jake leans over, watching.
"What’s that?" He asked her
She holds up a cartoon: two kids sitting on a bench. Above them: “Growing Up Is Weird. But Maybe That’s Okay.”
"You’re seriously gonna be famous." He told her amazed by her
"Only if you promise to be my annoying interview buddy." She told him
"Deal."
---
INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL – LOCKER HALLWAY – AFTERNOON]
The bell rings. Kids swarm through the hallway. Ronnie is at her locker, quietly sketching something in her notebook, ignoring the chaos. Her headphones dangle from her neck.
Enter Jake, holding a crumpled hall pass and a suspiciously lopsided sandwich.
"Guess who used a fake bathroom emergency to get out of Spanish?" Jake said to her
"Let me guess... your stomach “felt political”?" She said as she looked at him
(gasping)
"You remembered! I feel so seen." He said happily
He leans against the locker next to her. She closes her sketchbook slowly.
"So... you good? Like, really good? After the hospital and all?" He asked her concerned
(pauses)
"I think so. I mean... I’m still me. Still weird. Still complicated. But maybe that’s... normal." She said as she thought about it
"I like your version of normal better than most people anyway."
He shifts a little closer, nervous energy building. Ronnie notices.
"Why are you acting like you’re about to defuse a bomb?" She asked him
(blurting)
"Because I keep thinking about that night — at the hospital — and how you leaned on me. And I didn’t say this then, but... it meant everything."he told her
Beat. She stares at him, unsure.
'You don’t have to say something big every time something real happens." She said to him
"I know. But I want to."
They’re inches apart now. Locker noise fades. Just the two of them.
"You're not stuck, Ronnie. You’re just... in progress. And I think that’s kind of amazing."he said
RONNIE doesn't say anything at first. Then, slowly—
"You’re dangerously close to getting yourself hugged in public." She said to him
(straightens)
"What? No. That’s social suicide." He said
(grinning)
"Exactly."
She suddenly pulls him into a quick, one-armed side hug. A kid walks by and makes a sound.
"Oooooohhhhhhhhh!"
(shouting)
"We were sharing a textbook! For a test!" He yells at them
Ronnie laughs and walks off down the hall, calling back over her shoulder.
"Yeah, a feelings test!" She said
YOU ARE READING
After The Silence
Fanfiction(season 1-10) --- Ronnie Bing was never supposed to be noticed. But after a breakdown, an overdose, and a silent goodbye, she's learning what it means to stay alive. This is her story - the quiet kind of survival. Mature contact s6-7-8-9-10
