Using javascript variable in EJS

I am learning node and javascript and need your help in using javascript variable in my EJS file.

On page load, I am making an ajax call to get me some values. I want to display that on the page once the call is successful.

Please find my EJS code below.

<div id="tab2" class="tab">
    Page 2 am in friends page
    <script type="text/javascript">
        if (currentFriend) { // currentFriend is the javascript variable
            document.write('inside if ');
            for (var i = 0; i < currentFriend.length; i++) {
                document.write(' Friend Name : "' + currentFriend[i] + '" <br />' + );
            }
        } else {
            document.write('inside else ');
        } %
        >
    </script>
</div>

I can see any output from the script tag ie. either 'inside if' nor 'inside else' is getting printed

I have even tried

<div id="tab2" class="tab">
     Page 2 am in friends page
     <%  if(currentFriend){ // currentFriend is the javascript variable

            for(var i=0;i<currentFriend.length;i++){ %>
             Friend Name : <%=currentFriend[i]%>           }
      <%} else { %>
              inside else
      <%}%>

</div>

But this is giving me an error which says currentFriend is not defined.

Please assist.