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Buy The Ally McBeal CD
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Regular Cast
Calista Flockhart .... Ally Marie McBeal
Courtney Thorne-Smith .... Georgia Thomas (1997-2000)
Greg Germann .... Richard Fish (1997-2001)
Lisa Nicole Carson .... Renée Radick
Jane Krakowski .... Elaine Vassal
Vonda Shepard .... Herself
Portia de Rossi .... Nelle Porter (1998-)
Lucy Liu .... Ling Woo (1998-2001)
James LeGros .... Mark Albert (2000-2001)
Peter MacNicol .... John "The Biscuit" Cage
Robert Downey Jr. .... Larry Paul (2000-2001)
Gil Bellows .... William 'Billy' Allan Thomas (1997-2000)
Dyan Cannon .... Judge Jennifer "Whipper" Cone (1997-2000)
Season One
Compromising
Positions
Ally
meets the firm's other founding partner-when she defends him on charges of
soliciting a prostitute-and feels like a prostitute herself when Fish asks her
to date a prospective client.
Ally finally meets the firm's other founding
partner-John Cage-when Fish assigns her and Billy to defend Cage on charges of
soliciting a prostitute. At the hearing, Ally and Billy represent Cage. Billy
asks for a sidebar, and it becomes immediately clear that he and the judge
know each other. To Ally's shock, the judge drops the charges against Cage.
That night, Ally dines with Fish, prospective client Ronald Cheanie and 50-ish
Whipper Cone, who turns out to be Fish's girlfriend. Ally realizes her own
role is Cheanie's date and cannot help feeling like a prostitute herself.
Later, on her way to the bathroom, Ally is shocked to see Cheanie kissing
Whipper.
In the morning, Elaine explains that Judge
Boyle attended Billy's bachelor party, at which both Billy and the judge
partook of a prostitute's services. Ally confronts Billy. He maintains the
incident is inconsequential, because men can separate love and physical sex.
Cheanie, who still has questions about the firm, asks Ally to have drinks with
him. That night, Ally is still uncomfortable with Cheanie. When he expresses
concerns about the firm's morals, Ally reveals she saw him kiss Whipper. She
expects another 'guys will be guys' line, but discovers that Cheanie is as
horrified by cheap sex as she is. Ally cannot help being attracted to him.
Cheanie gives Ally a small kiss, which she enjoys. In the morning, Ally still
cannot believe she is attracted to Cheanie. At the office, Fish pops champagne
and announces that Cheanie has signed. Ally, uncomfortable, tells Fish about
Cheanie kissing Whipper. Fish is devastated. Ally tells Billy about the
situation... and he wonders if he should tell Georgia about the bachelor party
prostitute. Ally speaks to Whipper-who turns out to be a judge. Whipper says
Cheanie's kiss was flattering, but nothing more. Later, Georgia asks Ally to
lunch. Cage makes an image-saving speech to the office, saying hiring a
prostitute was more noble than using another woman for meaningless sex.
Everyone applauds except Ally. Billy starts to make his confession to Georgia,
but Ally interrupts and keeps Billy from making a fool of himself. At lunch,
Ally and Georgia talk about the differences between men and women.
To demonstrate, Georgia turns and offers sex to
a strange man. He accepts. Then Ally tries it-and is embarrassed when the
'stranger' turns out to be her brother's old roommate. Whipper reveals that
Fish has disappeared. They find him hiding in the office bathroom. Whipper
apologizes to Fish. Finally, Ally convinces him to make up with Whipper. Billy
asks why Ally cares so much about the pair. Ally says she needs to believe
that love and couplehood really work. Fish and Whipper reconcile and make out
in a bathroom stall. That night, Ally winds down by dancing at her favorite
bar with the geeky but ever-present Dancing Twins.
The
Kiss
Ally has
a confusing first date with client Ronald Cheanie... and teams up with Georgia
to represent a television anchorwoman fired because of her age and sex.
Ally frets over what to wear on her first
official date with client Ronald Cheanie, whom she's already kissed once.
Georgia interrupts and surprises Ally by asking her to be co-counsel in
representing Barbara Cooker, a TV anchorwoman bringing a sex-discrimination
lawsuit against her former station. Ally can't resist...because the station's
attorney is Jack Billings, whom Ally recently sued for harassment. In court
the next day, Ally gets her first taste of victory when they convince the
judge to allow a critical piece of evidence that Billings tries to suppress.
That night, dancing with Cheanie also goes well. But when Ally eagerly
anticipates their goodnight kiss, Cheanie just pecks her on the cheek instead.
In the morning, Ally ignores Cheanie's phone
messages. In court, Cooker reads a station survey showing men in the audience
have no interest in sleeping with her. Billings twists her testimony into an
admission that age discrimination is acceptable in the television industry,
and that she was fired because of her age, not her sex. That night, Cheanie
comes to talk to Ally. But Renee interrupts to keep Ally from perpetuating her
usual relationship-killing maneuvers. The next day, Ally and Georgia put
Cooker back on the stand This time, Billings tries to make her suit look like
recrimination for a painful divorce. Later, Cheanie finally corners Ally in
her office...and breaks up with her. As Fish worries about Cheanie dumping the
firm as well, Billy comforts Ally with a hug and an assurance that men do
indeed like her.
The next day in court, Ally gets Cooker's
former boss to admit that Cooker's firing was both a compromise of his
integrity and a concession to stupid viewers. Georgia, sensing the jury likes
Ally, asks her to give the closing arguments. Feeling stronger now, Ally
visits Cheanie and asks him why he dumped her. To her surprise, he admits that
he was afraid of falling too hard for her and fears she's the kind of person
who will never be content in a relationship. Ally tells him to think again-she
might be just what he's looking for. Later, Ally talks with Georgia. They both
agree that Elaine might be right about why they're so committed to Cooker's
case: they're worried about getting older themselves.
That afternoon, Fish yells at Ally because
Cheanie has made comments about ending his relationship with the firm. Ally
tells him not to worry-she and Cheanie are going out again after all. In
court, Ally tells the jury that the "idiot" viewers the television
station spoke of are the jury members. She asks them to prove their
intelligence by siding with Cooker. Billings, in his closing, argues that
looks are a factor in television and that the jury should be realistic about
this. But while the jury deliberates, Billings shows his unease by offering a
settlement of $400,000. Cooker turns it down, which makes both Ally and Fish
very nervous. Then the verdict comes in: victory for Cooker, with $930,000 in
damages. That night, Georgia, Billy, Ally and Cheanie go dancing to celebrate.
Ally cannot believe she is not only double dating with Billy and Georgia, but
is with a date she likes as well. For once, she is actually happy.
The
Affair
The
widow of Ally's former law professor asks Ally to speak at his funeral... not
knowing she once had an affair with him.
As Elaine tries to interest her co-workers in
her new "face bra" invention, Fish tells Ally that their former law
professor, John Dawson, has died. What Fish doesn't know is that Ally once had
an affair with the married Dawson. Fish goes on to say that Dawson's wife
would like Ally to be a pallbearer. Not wanting to reveal the affair, Ally
reluctantly agrees. Amid flashbacks of her relationship and breakup with
Dawson, Ally confesses the affair, and her guilty feelings, to Billy. Then
Dawson's widow, Katherine, arrives and, to Ally's dismay, asks her, as one of
Dawson's favorite students, to speak at the funeral. Again, unable to reveal
the true nature of her relationship with Dawson, Ally can't say no.
Ally tries to talk to Billy again, but Elaine
interrupts with a message from Ronald Cheanie, whom Ally has been dating. Over
drinks that evening, Ally assures Cheanie that he doesn't have to go to
Dawson's wake with her. Cheanie makes it clear that Ally's leaning on Billy
(instead of him) makes him uncomfortable. At the wake, Ally manages to
maintain her composure long enough to look at Dawson in the open casket. When
she finally turns away, she is face to face with Dawson's now 8-year-old
daughter, who clearly remembers her. Katherine sees her daughter's reaction...
and suddenly, she too knows that Ally is the woman who almost broke up her
marriage. The next morning, Katherine visits Ally and confirms that she knows
of the affair. Ally doesn't deny it. But when Katherine asks about the depth
of Dawson's feelings for Ally, Ally cannot stand the heat and escapes to
another calming conference with Billy, who urges her to lie to Katherine. When
Ally returns to Katherine, she flashes back to Dawson's pleas of love, but
tells Katherine that his indiscretion was merely a mid-life fling. Katherine
is somewhat comforted, but does tell Ally that she probably shouldn't speak at
the funeral after all. That evening, Georgia confesses to Billy that Ally's
confiding in him bothers her, too. And as Ally dresses for the funeral, she is
once again flooded with guilt.
Ally stops at the office before going to the
funeral. There she finds Cheanie, waiting. He demands to know what is
transpiring between her and Billy. Finally, Ally tells him about the Dawson
affair. Now upset not only by her connection to Billy, but by the fact that
she had an affair with a married man, Cheanie breaks up with Ally. Later, at
the funeral, the minister calls on Ally to speak, not realizing that she
should have been crossed off the program. Greatly embarrassed, Ally goes to
the pulpit. At first she rambles, but then she talks about what a devoted
family man Dawson was...both publicly and privately. It is a healing speech
for Katherine. After the funeral, Ally goes back to the office. Billy comes to
check on her and, sensing she needs comforting, takes Ally in his arms for a
slow dance around her office.
One
Hundred Tears
Ally is
arrested for tripping a woman in a supermarket, then faces a bar association
hearing on her emotional competence to practice law.
At a supermarket, Ally is arrested for tripping a
woman after getting into an argument over potato chips. When Renee bails Ally
out, they learn shoplifting charges have been added to the assault claim,
because a store security camera recorded Ally placing a tube of contraceptive
jelly in her pocket. Renee asks Ally why she was buying the jelly, but Ally
won't talk. The next morning, Billy represents Ally in court. Renee is the D. A.
Judge Boyle grants a one-year continuance, with charges to be dropped if Ally
stays clean. Back at the office, Elaine announces she has sold her "face
bra" invention and asks Ally to do the patent work. Fish interrupts to
announce that Boyle has reported Ally to the Bar Association and her license to
practice law has been suspended.
At the Bar Association, Judge Pink calls for a
hearing to investigate Ally's emotional stability. Back at the office, Elaine
reports she has been subpoenaed to testify. Ally realizes Judge Pink knows her
old nemesis, Jack Billings...and really begins to worry. At home that evening,
Renee still wants to know about the contraceptive and who Ally was planning to
sleep with. Ally says she was buying it just in case someone like Omar Sharif,
in "Funny Girl," was about to knock on her door. At the hearing the
next day, the supermarket lady recounts her fight with Ally. Later, Fish asks
Billy if Ally is feeling all right, noting that Ronald Cheanie expressed some
doubts when he pulled his business from their firm. Renee suggests Ally leave
the law firm if working with Billy again is too hard. But Ally insists she is
fine.
The next day, at the hearing, Elaine admits she
once told someone that Ally seemed to be near a breakdown. Afterward, Elaine
tells Ally that Whipper Cone, Fish's girlfriend, was the person she told this
to. Ally confronts Whipper, who says that, as a judge, it is her job to report
inklings of an attorney's instability. Later, Ally takes the stand. She starts
to defend herself, but winds up lashing out angrily at the panel. Afterward,
Billy chastises Ally... and admits he too is curious about the contraceptive.
Ally explains it was a sort of "lottery ticket" in case her romantic
luck suddenly changed.
The next day, Whipper asks Judge Boyle what he
thinks of Ally. He says she may indeed be too emotional. At the hearing, Ally
apologizes for her outburst the day before. Whipper enters and apologizes for
reporting Ally, saying that when men are passionate, they are seen as strong and
impassioned... but when women get passionate about something, they are perceived
as being weak and emotional. Renee makes a heartfelt plea for Ally... and Billy
says Ally's emotions are one of her great strengths. Finally, in an effort to
avoid more inquiries, the board votes not to suspend Ally's license. Ally and
her friends celebrate at the bar. In a moment alone, Ally thanks Billy for his
help. It is not until later, walking home alone, that Ally finally allows
herself to cry over the events of the past few days.
The
Promise
Ally saves
an obese man's life-only to become the object of his affection.
Fish assigns Ally two cases: a trademark suit
involving two ice cream stores, and the defense of a high-priced prostitute
(with partner John Cage acting as co-counsel). During the staff meeting, Ally
and Elaine take offense when Fish and Billy ogle a beautiful young delivery
woman.
At the courthouse, Harry Pippin, the obese
opposing counsel in the ice cream suit, enters the courtroom already in
mid-argument, forcing Ally to jump in and catch up. The judge rules against one
of Ally's motions and Harry waddles out, still arguing the case. Ally follows
Harry out and introduces herself. Just then, Harry is stricken with a heart
attack. Ally revives him by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
At the prostitution hearing, the judge denies
Ally's request for a continuance, forcing her to start the trial immediately.
Unfortunately, the prostitute client, Sandra Winchell, recognizes John Cage as a
former client. Afterward, Ally visits Harry in the hospital. He introduces his
fiancee, Angela, but, privately, says he remembers Ally's mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation as a kiss.
The next day, Sandra's trial continues. Renee,
the District Attorney, gets a witness to testify that Sandra accepted money for
sex. Ally is surprised when Cage offers no cross-examination. Later, Harry
visits Ally. He confesses that he is not passionate about Angel- and asks if
Ally could ever be interested in him. Ally turns Harry down, but feels guilty
because she knows she is not attracted to him because of his excessive weight.
Back in court, Cage argues that many women trade sex for money in one way or
another, and says Sandra is just more honest about it. Later, Angela tells Ally
she knows about her "kiss" with Harry. She asks Ally not to come to
their wedding.
Harry visits Ally to offer a settlement in the
ice cream case, which she accepts. Then he asks for Ally's advice on whether or
not he should wait to marry for passion. She votes for passion. Later, Elaine
tells Billy that the ogling of the delivery woman is creating a hostile working
environment. She asks Billy to talk to Fish about the incident.
During closing arguments in Sandra's case, Renee
says Sandra broke the law, plain and simple. However, Cage reiterates his
argument that our society supports women who perform sex for money in many ways.
His reasoning grates on Ally. Later, Angela tells Ally that Harry has called off
the wedding. When Angela says that overweight people do not have any other
romantic options, Ally realizes she has to get them back together.
Ally visits Harry and tells him she has realized
marriage is more about compassion than passion-and admits she knows no one else
besides Angela who would ever date him. He begins to see her point. Back in
court, the jury acquits Sandra. Later, at the office, Billy tells Fish that if
the ogling doesn't end, the firm could face a lawsuit.
Elaine announces that Harry and Angela are back
together, and that Ally is invited to the wedding after all. Privately, Cage
tells Ally to stay a romantic and never give up. Ally attends Harry and Angela's
wedding...unsure if she did the right thing by bringing them back together
The
Attitude
Ally
clashes with a client's rabbi-and dates a handsome District Attorney-while
Georgia considers suing her law firm for sex discrimination.
Renee introduces Ally to handsome D.A. Jason
Roberts, who asks Ally to dinner. Fish assigns Ally to the case of Karen
Horowitz, who wants to sue her rabbi. Karen explains that she wants to remarry,
but her ex-husband is in a coma and the rabbi won't grant a "get" (a
Jewish divorce) without the ex's consent. Meanwhile, Georgia's boss, Jerry
Burrows, moves Georgia from litigation to the firm's corporate division because
his wife is jealous of him working with Georgia. Billy advises Georgia to talk
to John Cage, who tells Georgia to talk to Burrows once more before he goes in
on her behalf. Ally meets with Rabbi Stern. They clash immediately. She calls
Jewish laws "silly" and he calls her "bitchy." Ally stomps
out.
Georgia meets with Burrows again. He sympathizes,
but won't rescind the transfer. Jason visits Ally's office to confirm their
date. Ally, whose face is blotchy from Elaine's acne treatment, tries to hide.
Karen arrives and tells Ally her ex-husband has died, so she can now
remarry...but Rabbi Stern, thanks to Ally's interference, now not only refuses
to perform the service, but has thrown Karen out of the synagogue. Cage meets
with Burrows, saying only that he is deeply "troubled" and will
return. Georgia is perplexed, but Billy assures her that Cage is
"different." That night, Ally's date with Jason goes well...until he
gets a blob of salad dressing on his chin and Ally obsesses about it. The next
morning, Renee tells Ally she is crazy for being bothered by dressing... and
that Ally will be alone forever if she doesn't change. Cage tells Georgia that
her best option is to accept her transfer and start looking for another
job...but Georgia says she wants to sue. Ally meets with Rabbi Stern again, but
it degenerates immediately. She even insults his yarmulke. This time, though-to
Ally's surprise-he laughs and says he will welcome Karen back and perform her
marriage. Cage preps for his meeting with Burrows by playing bagpipes. At the
meeting, he and Burrows discuss who would win a lawsuit. Cage suggests the best
option would be settlement. When he leaves, he refuses to tell Georgia and Billy
how it went. Rabbi Stern comes to see Ally... and asks her for a date, saying
she is one of the few people he has met brave enough to stand up to a rabbi.
Caught off guard, Ally turns him down.
Renee tells Ally she has too many excuses for
dumping men. Jason arrives and asks Ally out again. Ally kisses him to erase the
memory of the salad dressing... then agrees. Cage, Georgia and Billy meet with
Burrows. Georgia and Billy grow angry and walk out... then reveal, outside, that
it was all part of Cage's strategy. Cage tells Burrows a jury would side with
Georgia. Ally goes to Rabbi Stern and says she will go out with him after
all-she is going to take more chances from now on with "Mr. Not
Likelys." Cage tells Georgia he has won her a $311,000 settlement, payable
immediately. But she will have to quit her job. Fish offers Georgia a temporary
position at their firm, which she accepts. Later, at the bar, everyone
celebrates. Ally enjoys her new status as a "man-eater" by dancing
with the Twins.
Drawing
the Lines
The firm
helps the wife of a rich man negate a prenuptial agreement; Elaine's sexual
harassment complaint comes to a head; and Ally and Billy negotiate personal
boundaries in their still-tenuous friendship.
Fish asks everyone to help land Marci Hatfield,
who is divorcing a rich husband and needs to negate a prenuptial agreement.
Ally, Fish, Cage, Billy and Georgia meet with Marci. During the meeting, Cage
blatantly picks his nose. Fish scolds Cage, hoping the embarrassing incident
doesn't alienate their client. But Marci does decide to work with Ally and
Georgia. She tells them she doesn't want a bitter war, but they convince her to
get all she can in the divorce. Marci's husband's attorney offers a cash
settlement, but Ally and Georgia refuse it, saying they are going to investigate
the husband. Marci gets cold feet, but Fish urges her to let them continue. Fish
obtains photos of Marci's husband with another woman. Georgia and Ally are
uncomfortable with the blackmail, but Fish tells them to use it. Georgia and
Ally show the pictures to Mr. Hatfield. Within minutes, serious financial
negotiations begin.
Fish and Billy ogle the delivery girl again.
Elaine presents a complaint about the "sexually charged" workplace,
which Ally thinks is a bit extreme. Elaine's attorney, Caroline Poop, shows the
men security camera tapes of their ogling, and says even if Elaine didn't win a
lawsuit, the publicity would be bad for the firm. Cage vows to find out what
Elaine really wants. He follows her into the bathroom, but she refuses to talk.
Elaine polls the firm's female employees to see who amongst them will stage a
walkout with her at noon the following day. All of them raise their hands. Ally
asks Elaine what she is really looking for...believing it is simply inclusion.
The conversation hits home. When it is time for Elaine's walkout, Fish calls her
bluff, saying he wants this to be a fun place to work. Caroline tells Elaine
they would never win a lawsuit, so the firm's women refuse to walk. Elaine gives
in gracefully, saying it was important just to be heard. Later, Ally reassures a
depressed Fish that the employees really do like the firm. When Georgia gulps
her morning cappuccino, Ally shows her how to savor the process, like sexual
foreplay. Billy and Fish watch their orgasmic ecstasy. Later, in the bathroom,
Ally sees Billy looking in a mirror, which she interprets as a sign that
something is wrong. That "something" used to be her; could it now be
Georgia? Georgia overhears the conversation and asks Billy if Ally was right.
Billy says the only problem is Elaine's complaint. Later, Ally sees Billy
looking in the mirror again. This time, he confesses that her coffee
"orgasm" reminded him of making love to her...and that he misses her.
Ally doesn't know what to say. At home, she douses her confusion with ice cream.
The next day, Billy apologizes to Ally. She says that if they are going to be
friends, they will have to have some boundaries. He agrees. Later, Billy brings
more cappuccino, but Ally tells Georgia she doesn't do the savoring ritual any
more. That night, Ally leaves her friends at the bar, goes back to the office
and tells Billy she has changed her mind: friends shouldn't have boundaries,
even if it's hard not to. Billy agrees. They shake on it and Ally goes home
alone.
The Dirty
Joke
Sandra
Bernhard Guest Stars
The delivery girl sues the firm for sexual
harassment; Ally tries to prove she's no Goodie Two-shoes by learning how to
appreciate, and tell, dirty jokes.
Afraid people are too careful of her "Julie
Andrews" demeanor, Ally asks Renee to tell her a dirty joke. She promises
she can take it but, of course, is horrified at Renee's tale of a headless,
armless woman thrown into the sea by a heartless man. The next day, Ally
discusses Renee's joke with her co-workers. They are interrupted by the delivery
girl, Jennifer Higgins, who hands Fish an envelope and says she is suing the
firm for sexual harassment (because a "hostile work environment" has
been created by women employees who don't like her "provocative"
dress).
Later, Ally has lunch with Renee, who still
insists her joke was funny. Ally asks her to prove it by telling it to the crowd
at the bar. Both agree that if people laugh at Renee's joke, Ally will have to
get up on stage the next night and tell the one dirty joke she knows. The next
day, the lawyers meet with Jennifer's attorney-the same Caroline Poop who
represented Elaine in the lawsuit about Fish's ogling of Jennifer. After the
meeting, Fish asks Georgia to represent the firm in the case. But Georgia
refuses, saying Caroline has been making sexual advances with provocative looks.
That afternoon, Caroline deposes Elaine, who denies any hostility toward
Jennifer, but can't help commenting on Jennifer's "slutty" dress and
accusing her of "flaunting" her ample bosom.
That night at the bar, Renee's joke is a huge
success. Everyone laughs. Even Ally can't help smiling. She concedes that Renee
has won the bet, and begs to be let off the hook for her promised performance.
But Renee insists Ally tell her joke the following night. The next day, before
Jennifer's deposition, Georgia sees Caroline looking at her again. Ally
questions Jennifer, who says that Elaine's lawsuit created the hostility. Ally
stops there. Fish chastises her for not being more thorough. But Ally says she
got all she needs. That night at the bar, Georgia tells Billy she gets
approached by gay women a lot...and also tells him that Fish recently touched
her neck. Ally takes the stage to do her joke. She's confident, but only Fish
and Elaine laugh. Then Ally sees Rabbi Stern, with whom she still has an
upcoming date. Her humiliation is complete.
The next day in court, Ally argues that if
Elaine's lawsuit was the cause of the "hostile environment," as
Jennifer testified, then there is no case...since lawsuits are immune from such
charges. The judge dismisses the case and Fish is thrilled with Ally's efficient
strategy. Back at the office, Rabbi Stern waits for Ally. To her relief, he not
only wasn't offended by her joke, he reveals he is a bit of a connoisseur. He
tells her that a good dirty joke must have a victim and take advantage of
someone's pain, as did Renee's joke. Caroline comes to tell them that Jennifer
will be returning to work. Georgia asks Caroline what her glances mean. Caroline
says she's just never seen a living "Barbie doll"- which, to Georgia,
is worse than being taken for gay...or a "Julie Andrews." Billy
confronts Fish about touching Georgia's neck. Fish promises it won't happen
again. Then Fish calls Jennifer aside...and apologizes for ogling her. He is so
sincere that Ally rewards him with a kiss on the cheek.
Later, at the bar, Ally tells Billy that the
great thing about dating the Rabbi is she knows going in that it won't work out.
She says she likes her new "hard" self. Then she and Renee walk home
together...joking with each other as old friends do.
Boy to
the World
Ally
defends and befriends a young transvestite prostitute; Fish sues for the right
to discuss his dead uncle¹s prejudices in a eulogy; and Cage ponders dating
Ally.
Growing dissatisfied with her latest boyfriend,
Jason Roberts, Ally asks Renee to double date with them. Renee asks Ally to
invite John Cage as her date. Fish announces his uncle, Kevin Hanson, has died.
Fish wants to mention Kevin¹s phobia of short people in his eulogy, but Kevin¹s
minister won¹t allow it. Fish brings Billy to talk to the minister, but the
minister steadfastly refuses to celebrate "bigotry" at a funeral. Back
at the office. Ally asks Cage if he'll go out with her, Jason and Renee. Cage
accepts. Later, at court, Whipper Cone appoints Ally defender for Stephanie, a
beautiful young transvestite (real name: Steven) charged with prostitution. Ally
tells Stephanie his two prior arrests make a defense difficult. Conviction and
jail time are almost certain. That evening, the group date goes very slowly.
Ally excuses herself early when she gets an idea for Stephanie's defense. At
Stephanie's apartment, Ally marvels at the clothing Stephanie designs and sews,
particularly a beautiful wedding dress. Ally tells Stephanie they might be able
to win their case if they plead insanity (a transvestitism fetish). Stephanie
doesn't want to be labeled insane, but promises to think it over. The next day,
Stephanie promises to make Ally a dress in lieu of her fee. He also offers to do
Ally's makeup. Billy and Fish tell a judge their case has nothing to do with
protecting the civil rights of short people...it's about censorship. Later, Fish
asks Whipper's advice about the case. She asks if he isn't using the lawsuit to
avoid grieving for his uncle.
Back at the office, Cage recommends Ally get a
doctor's certification of Stephanie's fetish...and then says he'd like to go out
with her again. Ally is shocked to realize Cage thought she was his date last
night.
That night, Ally brings Stephanie home to meet
with a psychiatrist. Dr. Harper says Stephanie does indeed have a fetish, and
some gender confusion, but knew what he was doing when he solicited a cop. After
the doctor leaves, Stephanie applies Ally's makeup. The next day, Billy and Fish
try to consult with Cage about the eulogy case, but Cage is too
"chagrined" over his blunder with Ally to talk. Ally pleads
Stephanie's case in court. The judge postpones a verdict for one year, on the
condition that Stephanie get a job and stay off the streets. Ally agrees to hire
Stephanie and the judge approves the deal. Billy and Fish plead their case to
Judge Walworth. The judge is short, but he hates political correctness and rules
in their favor.
Cage asks Ally if he would ever consider going
out with her. She says she might ...if he weren't her boss. Later, at the bar,
Ally breaks the news about hiring Stephanie to Fish. Ally goes back to her
office and finds Cage there, collecting his thoughts about her. She assures him
there are no hard feelings, but he remains there, thinking, when she leaves. The
next day, Fish delivers Kevin's eulogy...but makes no mention of short people.
Then a soloist begins to sing Randy Newman's, "Short People," and the
choir joins in. Back at the office, Elaine shows Stephanie around. Stephanie
gives Ally a beautiful black dress. Ally sees Cage and tells him she would like
to have dinner with him sometime. All seems well again until Ally and Renee are
summoned to a crime scene that night. Stephanie has been murdered by an angry
john. Ally cradles his body and cries. Later, Ally realizes there is one last
thing she can do for her young friend. She goes back to the morgue and fixes
Stephanie's wig and makeup, making him look pretty one last time...while Fish
goes to the cemetery and says good-bye to his uncle.
Silver
Bells
As Elaine recruits singers
for the firm's musical Christmas party, Fish asks Ally to take the case of
James, Mindy and Pattie Horton, who would like to be a legally-married
threesome. Ally is uncomfortable with the idea...and so is Whipper, who
nonetheless agrees to hear the Hortons' testimony.
Fish rehearses "I Love You More Today Than
Yesterday" for the Christmas party. Elaine tells him Whipper would rather
have a ring than a song. Back in court, James Horton testifies that his
marriage to Mindy was becoming dull until he met Pattie...then his new love
helped revive his relationship with Mindy as well. The next day, Mindy says
that taking Pattie into their home eliminated the secrecy of James' double
life...and that it's nice to have a second mother around for the kids. Later,
Georgia tells Billy that the Hortons have made her realize that Billy, too,
has been more open and intimate since Ally came back into the picture. Billy
denies this, but knows it's true. Cage tells Ally that James' bringing Pattie
home reminds him of when his parents brought home his new baby brother (at the
time, Cage was 13 months old). Cage felt it was an invasion at first, but grew
to love the new baby. Ally says no one can remember things from when they were
13 months old.
As Elaine rehearses her
"Ikette"-style backup singers, Billy tells Ally what Georgia said
about their relationship. Ally says she never wanted to break up Billy and
Georgia's marriage...but doesn't want to be the best thing that ever happened
to it, either. That night, Whipper tells Fish she is going home alone. Fish
tells her people should stop taking stock of their lives at Christmas; it only
leads to misery. He also asks whether marriage is really all that important.
She says it must be, to scare him so much.
The next day, in court, Pattie testifies that
she never expected to be in a polygamous relationship...but it makes having
both a career and kids much easier. Later, Fish asks Cage what to do about
Whipper, but Cage is still preoccupied with his growing attraction to Ally.
Finally, Georgia confronts Billy and Ally. She is angry that Ally makes Billy
a better person, angry that Billy's friendship with Ally makes Billy and
Georgia's marriage stronger...and angry that she likes Ally. Ally ducks out,
saying the issue is between Georgia and Billy. Back in court, the opposing
counsel argues that marriage, a once sacred institution, is becoming
trivialized today. Cage says it is not trivial to protect and honor a solid,
loving home like the Hortons'. That night, Whipper visits the Hortons' home
and sees more stability there than she had in either of her two marriages.
The next day, Georgia finally gets Billy to
understand that his intimacies with Ally represent less than total fidelity to
Georgia. Cage steels himself to ask Ally out and, although he goes into the
conversation with an open fly, extends his invitation. Ally turns him down,
saying she cannot date her boss. Then the Christmas party starts. As Elaine
sings with her "Ikettes," Fish is paged with the Horton verdict.
Whipper rules that although the Hortons do have a successful relationship, the
three-way marriage cannot be supported legally. Later, Fish picks Whipper up
for the party and admits to her he is afraid of marriage. He says he loves
her, but doesn't want to turn out like his own bickering parents. Back at the
party, Vonda and Renee sing a duet. Ally finds Cage alone in his office. He
asks how old she was at her first memory. She says 15 months...and that she
will go out with him after all. This time, though, he declines. Down in the
bar, Fish sings as the others dance. Up in the office, Ally and Cage share
memories of Santa over a bottle of wine. Then they share a slow dance...as the
party winds down downstairs.
Cro-Magnon
Ally and
Renee take a sculpture class, where one of the nude male models appears
prodigiously well endowed. When Georgia hears about the model, she decides to
take up sculpting as well, even though Billy disapproves.
Later, Fish introduces Ally to client Austin
Gill, whose 19-year-old son, Clint, has been charged with assault. Clint doesn't
want to plead guilty and gain a record, even though six people at a party saw
him punch his victim. Ally fights an immediate physical attraction to Clint, but
the only trial strategy she can think of is to emulate enigmatic John Cage, who
is also assigned to the case (and with whom she has accepted a dinner date later
in the week). That night, before, during and after sculpture class, Ally is
startled and quite rattled by strange hallucinations of a baby, dancing to the
old song, "Hooked on a Feeling." The next day, in court, Clint's
victim testifies he didn't provoke Clint, but does admit to calling Clint's date
(the victim's ex-girlfriend) a "slut." Ally tells the judge that if
her "chastity was impugned" on a date, she would want her boyfriend to
stand up for her. Then, explaining she is "troubled," she takes a
Cage-like "moment" of time-out. Later, as Ally recounts this to Renee
at a coffee shop, Glenn, the art-class model, enters, recognizes Ally and asks
her out. Back at the office, Billy overhears the women discussing Glenn and asks
them if "size" really matters. They all say no, but Billy knows
they're not being completely honest.
Later, Cage suggests that Ally use an
anthropologist as a witness in Clint's case. Cage also says he knows about
Ally's date with Glenn, but doesn't want too many details. That night, Ally asks
Renee about her dancing baby hallucinations. Renee says they must be a
manifestation of Ally's ticking biological clock.
The next day, the firm's men start a betting pool
on an upcoming boxing match. Georgia appeals to Billy to get her out of the
event, but Billy just asks her if she's satisfied in bed... and if she ever
wishes he were "bigger." Georgia says he has nothing to worry about.
At the assault trial, Cage calls an anthropologist to the stand, then dismisses
him with no questions. Austin Gill is furious, but Ally assures him Cage works
in mysterious ways. That night, Ally has drinks with Glenn, a professional
snowboarder whose casual approach to life is opposite of Ally's constant
obsessions. Still, Ally admits later to Renee that she would have gone to bed
with Glenn, had he asked. Meanwhile, Billy lies in his own bed, mortified,
because, for the first time ever, he was unable to perform when attempting to
make love to Georgia. She, however, thinks his obvious need to impress her is
wonderful.
The next day, in court, Cage appeals to the jury
by telling about a time in his own life when he didn't stand up to a bully and
it haunted him for years. He states that, when he finally did punch another
bully, years later, he felt like a man for the first time. Back at the office,
while waiting for the verdict, Georgia begs Ally to go to the boxing match with
her and the men. But Ally has another date with Glenn. On the way back to the
courtroom, Ally sees the dancing baby again. Fish senses her hallucination and
asks about it. He says he once got rid of a similar apparition by giving in to
it. Back in court, the jury acquits Clint. Ally gives him a big hug...and can't
resist squeezing his rear end as she does. That night, as Georgia and the men
watch the fight, Ally tells Glenn about the trial. They go back to her apartment
and perform "Heart and Soul" on the piano. Then they begin kissing. As
the boxing match peaks, Ally and Glenn make love on the floor. Later, after
Glenn leaves, Ally marvels at her ability, for the first time ever, to have an
uncomplicated one night stand. As she showers, she sees the baby again...and
dances freely with it.
The
Blame Game
As Ally,
Cage and Georgia try a case about liability in an airplane crash, Ally is
reunited with male model Glenn, her recent one-night-stand, who makes her feel
guilty about using him as a sexual object.
While enjoying cappuccinos, Ally and Georgia
see Glenn, the art model with whom Ally had a recent one-night stand (who was
supposed to have left the country). Ally and Glenn share a rather awkward
moment of reunion.
Back at the office, Ally, Cage and Georgia
discuss how to prove liability against an airline the Joshua Lamb family is
suing over a plane crash that killed Mr. Lamb. Later, Glenn comes to see Ally
and says he never called after their date because Ally made him feel like a
cheap one night stand. To prove that wasn't true, she agrees to go out with
him again.
In court, Georgia gets an expert witness to
testify that mechanical failure was the most likely cause of the plane crash.
But opposing counsel quickly discredits the witness by revealing him to be a
believer in alien abductions.
That night, Ally again has sex with Glenn.
Afterward, she meets her friends at the bar...and realizes they all know where
she's been and what she's been doing. The next day, the lawyers watch a news
story about the airline case. Fish is excited by the attention...but frets
about the pressure it creates to win. Later, in a settlement conference, Ally
assumes Cage's role and insists a jury will assume, whether or not the airline
was actually negligent, that planes don't just fall from the sky without some
sort of mistake. Glenn asks Ally to dinner again. Ally confesses to Renee that
she's really starting to like Glenn, even though they have nothing in common.
But that night, Glenn complains that Ally still sees him as a sexual
object...and breaks up with her. Ally realizes Glenn manipulated her into sex
the second time, having no more intention of continuing a relationship than
she did. So she and Renee plot an old revenge scam: the "penguin."
The next day, the airline offers the Lambs
$375,000. Georgia, Ally and Cage think it's a decent sum, but Fish says they
should hold out for more. Later, Ally and Georgia giggle over the
"penguin" plan. But Billy chides Ally about her about her
"promiscuity" with Glenn and the damage it could do to her
"professional" reputation. Ally says Billy no longer has any right
to comment on who she dates...and shouldn't hide his own jealousy behind
"professional" concerns. Back in court, Cage makes his closing
arguments, urging the jury to "spank" the airline into safety
consciousness with a large cash penalty.
That night, Renee goes to sculpture class,
flirts with Glenn and gets him to go out with her. Driving along a remote
street, Renee pretends to want immediate sex and gets Glenn to pull over. Ally
and Georgia watch through infrared binoculars as Renee tells Glenn to pull his
pants down to his ankles. Then Renee backs away, tantalizingly. Glenn follows,
waddling like a penguin. Then Ally and Georgia drive by, Renee jumps in the
car, and they leave Glenn waddling after them in a high state of frustrated
excitement. The next morning, Billy tries to apologize to Ally, but the moment
degenerates into another fight. In court, the defense gives its closing
arguments and the case goes to the jury. Fish frets over the pending verdict.
Ally goes back to her office and finds Glenn and Billy. She apologizes to both
of them, saying that when someone gets hurt the natural tendency is to issue
blame...and they both hurt her, so she lashed out.
Back at court, the airline offers one last
settlement of $685,000. The lawyers recommend the Lamb family accept...but the
family has bought into the firm's arguments and refuses. Now Fish worries more
than ever about the verdict. But then the jury returns...and grants $1 million
to the Lambs. Everyone celebrates at the bar. Billy tells Ally he understands
why she lashed out at him and Glenn. He also notes that she seems pretty happy
now...which she realizes too, watching all her friends dance.
Body
Language
Ally
comes up with a "creative" strategy to convince a prison
superintendant that an inmate should be allowed to marry; Whipper breaks up
with Fish; and Cage undergoes "smile therapy."
Ally beats out Renee in the bouquet toss at a
wedding but, later, as they burn their ugly dresses, she vows never to be a
bridesmaid again. The next day, Ally and Georgia try to convince a judge to
allow Michael Young, a prison inmate with a life sentence, to marry his
fiancee, Janie Bittner. The judge grants the prison superintendent the right
to make the decision. Georgia and Ally meet with superintendent Donald Yorkin,
who says that inmates should only be allowed to marry if they have
children...and that no conjugal visits are permitted that might create
children if they don't already exist.
Back at the office, Fish asks Cage, who has
been undergoing "smile therapy," to enroll the entire firm, hoping
it will make everyone happier. That night, at the bar, Fish flirts with U.S.
Attorney General Janet Reno. When Whipper sees Fish touching Reno's neck, she
breaks up with him. The next day, Fish is both unhappy and unsmiling, despite
Cage's best efforts. Ally goes to talk to Whipper on Fish's behalf, but
Whipper says the Reno incident wasn't minor: Fish has had a major crush on the
attorney general for a long time. Back at the office, Fish tells Cage he
doesn't think he can get back together with Whipper without resolving the
marriage issue, something he's not prepared to do. Cage shows Fish how to look
in a mirror, smile, visualize how he wants things to be, and then go after
them. Ally asks Janie why she wants to marry a man she cannot be with. Janie
insists that, even though it is not logical, it's what she wants. Ally decides
to try flirting with Judge Smart, hoping this twist on Cage's smile therapy
might help her get the decision she wants. But the judge catches on to Ally's
act immediately, so she bluntly lays out another plan: if Janie were to be
inseminated with Michael's sperm and conceive a child, they should be allowed
to marry.Meanwhile, Fish goes to see Whipper, and tries to make up by
complimenting her beauty. Her response is to knee him in the groin.
Back at the office, Ally presents her new plan
to Janie, who is a bit stunned, but agrees. Ally and Georgia go to the prison
and present the insemination plan to Michael. He, too, is stunned, but
accepts. Ally and Georgia give superintendent Yorkin a cup and a magazine to
give to Michael. A while later, Yorkin returns with the filled cup. Ally and
Georgia race back to Janie, who's waiting at a fertility clinic. But they get
pulled over by two cops, who demand to see what's in the cup. Finally, they
make it to the clinic, only to find Janie has changed her mind: she still
wants to marry Michael, but feels this is no way to conceive a child. Just
when it looks like all is lost, however, Yorkin enters and says he has decided
to allow Janie and Michael to marry anyway. Janie is thrilled and asks Ally
and Georgia to be her bridesmaids. Despite her recent vow, Ally cannot refuse.
Fish goes back to Whipper's chambers and,
finally, they fight it out. Whipper says that "no commitments" was
fine when they first started their relationship, but now that they've fallen
in love, it just doesn't work any more. Fish apologizes for flirting with
Reno, vows he loves Whipper, and offers a commitment...until Valentine's Day.
Whipper kisses him. As they hug, she discovers he's wearing a protective cup,
in case she tried to knee him again. They both dissolve into laughter.
At the prison, a minister marries Michael and
Janie. After the ceremony, Ally warns Yorkin that they'll be going back to
court now...to argue for conjugal visits. Michael takes Ally and Georgia aside
to thank them for their help-and to admit that he came up with his sperm
donation by thinking of them...together. Later, Ally dances on the street in
the falling snow, with all her friends watching. This time, everyone's smiles
are genuine.
Once in a
Lifetime
The day before her first date
with Cage, Ally realizes she doesn't want to go out with him and manages to
avoid him before the morning meeting. Fish assigns Ally to represent Seymore
Little, a famous elderly artist whose son/guardian won't let Seymore marry his
twenty-something fiancee. After the meeting, Cage tells Fish that he is worried
about whether or not to kiss Ally on their date. Fish tells him women like men
to be aggressive.
Ally meets with Seymore, who wants a lawyer in
pants, not skirts. Fish assigns Billy to work with Ally. They talk to Seymore
and his fiancee, Paula, who fail to convince the lawyers that they are really in
love. Ally talks to Seymore's son, Sam, who insists his father cannot be in love
with Paula because he still talks to his long-dead wife, the love of his life.
Seymore admits this, but says he loves Paula too. Ally and Billy do not believe
him.
Back at the office, Cage tells Fish he fears
dates because he is a poor kisser (too much saliva). Fish tells him to ask
Billy's advice on how Ally likes to be kissed.
In court, Sam's attorney says Seymore once bought
a very expensive boat at his dead wife's "request," which is proof of
Seymore's incompetence. In private, Ally asks Paula why she really wants to
marry Seymore. Paula, like Seymore, refuses to talk.
Cage asks Billy's advice about kissing Ally, but
Billy is very uncomfortable with the subject.
After the first hearing, Sam offers Paula all of
his father's money not to marry Seymore, but Paula refuses. It proves she is not
after money, but confounds everyone about her true motives. Ally and Billy spend
a late night puzzling over the case, but only get caught up in tensions about
their own "once-in-a-lifetime" love.
The next morning, Ally admits to Renee that she's
"backsliding" a bit in her feelings for Billy, but vows not to relapse
totally. Tensions remain between Ally and Billy, however, as he counsels her on
putting Seymore on the witness stand. In court, Ally's questioning goes well at
first. But when Seymore is asked about his wife, it is obvious he is still
grieving. Soon, he begins talking on the stand to the dead woman, proving Sam
was right all along.
After the hearing, Ally confronts Paula, who
finally admits she only wants to marry Seymore so she can become his guardian
and allow him to open a gallery to sell paintings of his dead wife, which Sam,
Seymore's current guardian, won't let him do.
Cage rehearses for his date with Ally by
listening to Barry White music. Elaine gives Cage kissing tips, showing him how
to suck back his extra saliva during the kiss.
Ally and Billy talk to Sam, who shows them
Seymore's paintings of his late wife. They are good, but not up to the standards
of his younger work. Sam fears they will ruin Seymore's artistic reputation if
sold to the public. Back at the office, Cage intercepts Ally and hustles her out
for their date. Ally begins her dumping strategy by launching into a non-stop,
boring monologue about clothes and make-up. She keeps it up during dinner,
dancing and the walk to her apartment. Finally, at her door, Cage lunges at Ally
with a kiss so deep it literally knocks her to the ground. She escapes into her
apartment as fast as she can.
In the morning, Cage frets that he was
"untoward." Ally visits Seymore, who admits that all he wants is to
open his gallery. Back at the office, Ally (literally) runs into Cage, and is
forced to admit she has no interest in dating him. He senses that it is because
she is still in love with someone else...who is probably still in love with her,
too.
Wrapping up her case in court, Ally argues that
everyone would be lucky to experience a love that would not die. The judge
decrees that Seymore be allowed to open his gallery. That night, Georgia and a
still-distracted Billy go dancing, Seymore gazes at the paintings of his late
wife, Cage adjusts to being dumped, and Ally walks home alone.
Forbidden
Fruits
The firm
represents a U.S. Senator accused of breaking up his wife's former marriage;
Ally's legal arguments about true love get her into trouble with Georgia and
Billy.
Ally, Fish, Georgia, Billy and Cage plot
strategy for a very high profile case in which U.S. Senator James Foote is
accused of breaking up his now-wife's former marriage. Everyone worries when
Fish decides he will take the lead in the courtroom. Ally and Georgia also
fret about their opposing counsel, Anna Flint, who has a reputation for
charming juries and baiting her opposition.
As the first hearing begins, Ally meets Flint.
Fish argues to Judge Steele that Senator Foote's case should be postponed
because it will interfere with the man's ability to do his job. Fish also says
that the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Clinton/Jones case (that a
politician in office can be sued) was a "screw-up." But the judge
says the trial will begin the next day. After the ruling, Flint tells Ally
that her skirt is too short. Ally responds with a matching insult. That night,
as Ally and Renee watch news coverage of the case, Ally wonders just what her
position really is on people who break up other people's marriages. The next
day, in court, Mrs. Foote's ex-husband testifies that their marriage was happy
until the Senator began pursuing his wife. Ally argues that two people who
fall in love cannot be blamed for that...and that just admitting their
feelings isn't necessarily an adulterous act. Georgia, noting the familiarity
of the argument, confronts Billy about his lingering feelings for Ally.
Georgia expresses her anger at both Billy and Ally, and walks off the case.
Ally finds her at the bar. Ally says she has never seen any sign that Billy
would ever want to leave Georgia. Georgia asks Ally what would happen if Ally
and Billy were stranded together on a desert island. Ally says
"nothing," but knows she is lying. Back in court, testimony centers
on whether or not the Senator actively pursued the then-Mrs. Bepp. Cage argues
that anyone can be overcome by a good piece of music and invite someone to
dance. He demonstrates by playing a boombox and dancing with Ally. That night,
Renee suggests Ally go into therapy to deal with her feelings for Billy. But
Ally refuses, saying she likes "being a mess."
The next morning, before going back to court,
Billy tells Ally that he has admitted to Georgia that he will always love
Ally, but also says it doesn't compromise his love for Georgia. Billy also
says he and Georgia are seeing a therapist-who wants to talk to Ally. Ally
refuses. Georgia gets mad and shocks everyone by suggesting that Ally and
Billy just get together for a night to get "it" out of their
systems. Later, that night, Billy tells Georgia that he was insulted by her
suggestion, saying the fact that he genuinely loved Ally only makes it easier
for him to recognize the stronger love he has for Georgia. But she doesn't buy
it. Ally, at home in her own bed, senses she is being talked about.
The next day, in court, Flint's account of
Senator Foote's courting techniques does make it sound like he actively
pursued Mrs. Bepp. At lunch, Ally tells Renee that she won't even consider
Georgia's offer...much as she would like to. Back at the office, Georgia
apologizes to Ally. Elaine tells Georgia that she should have an affair, to
make Billy realize how much he really wants her.
Back in court, Ally argues that if two people
really love each other, they will end up together... and that Senator Foote's
current marriage is the sacred one. Billy tells Georgia he feels the same way
about their marriage. The judge rules in favor of Foote. The Senator thanks
Ally...and so does Billy. Later, everyone celebrates. But as she goes to sleep
that night, Ally cannot help but cling to the idea that Billy would rather be
with her, after all.
Theme of
Life
Ally
defends a doctor accused of transplanting a pig's liver into a woman without her
permission; Ally and Georgia square off in a kickboxing match; and Whipper dumps
Fish for toying again with Janet Reno.
Along with Renee and Georgia, Ally takes up
kickboxing to deal with the stress of preparing for a trial in which she is
defending Dr. Greg Butters, an attractive young surgeon accused of transplanting
a pig's liver into a woman without her permission. Noticing Ally's limp after a
workout, Cage recommends she see his therapist (instead of kickboxing), but Ally
declines.
In court, Hanna Goldstein testifies that Dr.
Butters could have saved her life in several ways that didn't involve a
"big fat hog." Later, when Ally walks Dr. Butters to his car, he is
clearly attracted to her, but she is distracted by the trial and by another
appearance of the annoying dancing baby. Ally walks home alone. Then, along the
way, she sees Fish and Janet Reno giggling together as they dash into a nearby
apartment building.
The next morning, Ally tells Georgia and Billy
about Fish and Reno, and wonders whether she should tell Whipper. Before she can
decide, Cage whisks her back to court to prep Dr. Butters for his testimony.
Later, at a lunchtime kickboxing workout, the trainer assigns Ally and Georgia
to fight each other. They are both skeptical, but agree to a match the next day.
Meanwhile, Whipper confronts Fish about Reno and tells him to leave. Fish
commiserates with his colleagues, and Billy suggests that Fish may be fooling
around with Reno because he's running from his true feelings for Whipper.
Back in court, Dr. Butters testifies that the hog
liver was the best option for Hanna. Under cross-examination, however, the
opposing counsel gets him to admit he would have lost a major grant had he not
put a pig liver into someone by the end of the year. Ally is furious Dr. Butters
never told her about this little detail.
Later, after being dogged by the dancing baby
and, more recently, sensations that she is swimming through an underwater
version of her world, Ally finally goes to see Cage's therapist, Dr. Clark, who
tells Ally all she needs is a good theme song. Back in court, Ally tells Dr.
Butters they might be able to settle Hanna's complaint. But Dr. Butters isn't
interested. Whipper confronts Janet Reno, who is touring the courthouse. Reno
denies that Fish ever came on to her and calls Whipper a "bitch" for
interfering.
Ally goes back to Dr. Clark with a theme song
choice, but Dr. Clark says she needs something peppier, like her song (The
Cufflinks' "Tracy"). Ally then suggests, "Tell Him," which
Dr. Clark approves.
That night, everyone gathers at the kickboxing
gym. Ally and Georgia sqaure off tentatively at first, but gradually become more
aggressive, with each of them landing major blows to the other as their friends,
especially Billy, watch uncomfortably. The match ends in a mutual knockdown.
The next morning, Fish pleads with Whipper to
forgive him and take him back. Whipper lets him touch her one last time, but
then tells him good-bye for good.
On her way to court, Ally hums her theme song,
and finds herself dancing a bit to it too. It's so catchy, in fact, that the
whole crowd on a street corner begins to dance with her. At the trial, Cage
closes by telling the jury that Dr. Butters saved Hanna's life with the
transplant, which is all that counts. Later, waiting for the verdict to come in,
Elaine comforts Fish on his breakup and offers him physical comfort if he wants
it. Georgia and Ally congratulate each other on the good kickboxing fight. When
the jury returns, the verdict is for Dr. Butters. He thanks Ally and proposes
dinner. She accepts, still very attracted to him. Whipper watches wistfully as
Dr. Butters gives Ally a small kiss. Then Ally and Georgia, still stiff and
bruised, hobble off together to get a beer.
The
Playing Field
Ally
faces off against a child prodigy-attorney; a woman claims she is the victim
of harassment because, unlike her female co-workers, she refused to use sex as
a means of advancing her career.
Ally has another session with her therapist,
Dr. Tracy Clark. Labeling Ally "a weakling," Dr. Clark encourages
her to meet her fantasies head-on by kicking the baby in the bottom and
walking through the water whenever she is drowning.
Later, Greg gives Ally a ride to work. During
the journey, Greg runs a stop sign and collides with another car driven by
Joel Hornstock. Ally takes control of the situation. She suggests that both
drivers exchange insurance information and not admit liability. In the
conference room, Fish, Billy and Georgia meet with Eva Curry, who claims she
was the victim of sexual harassment because, unlike her co-workers, she
decided not to climb the corporate ladder by having sex with her boss, James
Tyler. As a result, Curry maintains, her career has suffered. In court, Curry
admits she has never met Tyler and has never been harassed by him in any way.
But the women who did have sex with Tyler all received promotions. Judge Spitt
rules in favor of an evidentiary hearing.
Renee tells Ally that she locates her
self-esteem in her breasts. She encourages Ally to find her esteem on her own
body. Ally settles for her lips, which she feels are the most attractive part
of her body outside of her eyes. Renee encourages her to "think
lips." When Ally walks into the office complex the next morning, she
thinks she sees Mr. Huggy. Acting upon Dr. Clark's words, she kicks the
"baby" into a desk. But the fantasy Mr. Huggy turns out to be a real
child. Ally is mortified when she realizes she attacked Hornstock's attorney,
Oren Koolie, who is both a little person and a nine-year-old child prodigy.
Once Koolie stops crying, he asks for $125,000 in damages. Later, Ally
experiences a fantasy in which her lips grow into a huge pucker. Greg grows
uncomfortable and excuses himself.
Ally returns to Clark's office for more
therapy. Clark tells Ally that Greg is afraid of her because he knows she is
the right woman for him. Ally disagrees with the assessment. But she does
admit that he makes her nervous. Clark suggests that Ally visualize her very
own Pips (referring to Gladys Knight and the Pips) the next time she plays her
theme song.
When Ally again meets with Oren, she offers no
settlement... with the exception of paying Hornstock's deductible. Oren cannot
hide his disappointment‹and dissolves into tears. Later, Karen Koolie
explains that her son hates to lose a case. She also reveals that since
neither children nor adults will play with Oren, the only way she can get
people to sit in a room with him is by deposition. Ally locates Oren and sits
him in her lap. She reminds the boy that he is still just a child... and is
perhaps too young to be exposed to attorneys. Oren snuggles close to Ally...
then begins negotiating for a settlement.
In court, Fish addresses the judge, arguing
that disgruntled lesbians were the driving force behind sexual harassment
laws, and that women should qualify under the Federal Disabilities Act, as
they cannot cope with office romances.
When Ally again speaks with Greg, and begins
feeling nervous, she takes Dr. Clark's advice and imagines herself as three
back-up Pips. Feeling bolstered and playful, Ally makes reference to having
Greg over her knee. When Greg is taken aback, the Pips disappear. Ally again
grows nervous... and even more frustrated. Later, at the bar, Dr. Clark
encourages Ally to use her sex appeal as power. In the conference room, Oren
disappears under the table when Ally refuses to agree to his settlement terms.
Ally confronts him. She tells Oren that, in the real world, lawyers do not
hand out settlement money that easily. And she refuses to give him
preferential treatment because of his size. Once again, Oren breaks into
tears. Judge Spitt rules that he failed to find a way to dismiss Curry's
"preposterous" claim, as he is not certain she was not victimized.
He authorizes the case to proceed to trial.
At the Unisex, Oren wonders aloud about who
made up the rule that it is a man's world. Ally offers to settle for $35,000,
Oren agrees to bring it to his client. Later, Ally tells Georgia that Oren was
right about the "man's world" rule. Georgia, fretting over how her
old boss feels about her victory over sexual harassment, also has nothing good
to say about the opposite sex. When Fish enters the room, the fired-up pair
chastise him for his antics in court. But the tongue-lashing only manages to
arouse Fish. Later, Ally informs Greg that she settled with Oren. During their
conversation, the Ally Pips make another appearance.
This time, Ally perseveres and doesn't let Greg
get away. She opens a dialogue about how they feel about one another. Ally
moves closer, and the pair are face-to-face. Greg insists he has never kissed
a girl he hasn't danced with first. Ally takes his hand and the pair dance.
Happy
Birthday, Baby
Ally is
mortified when her friends throw her a surprise birthday party. A man with a
foot fetish refuses to use insanity as a defense.
Greg Butters escorts Ally up the steps to her
apartment. Greg pulls Ally close and gives her a kiss. She invites him
upstairs, but he declines, asking for a rain check. When Ally enters the
apartment, she grabs hold of the inflatable doll and yanks it into her
bedroom. The following morning, Ally laments to Renee that she is about to
turn twenty-eight. The conversation is interrupted by a telephone call, which
Renee answers. Ally¹s ears perk up when Renee mentions the name Mark
Henderson. Later, when Ally enters the conference room, she informs her
colleagues that Renee was assigned to prosecute the case.
In court, Renee questions Cheryl Bonner, who
describes how Henderson entered her apartment in the wee hours of the morning
and began tickling her foot as she slept. When Bonner awoke, she began
screaming and dialed the police. On cross-examination, Ally notes that
Henderson and Bonner were dating at the time, and that Henderson found that
the door to her apartment was, in fact, unlocked. Later, Ally and Renee
discuss the case. Ally grabs one of Renee¹s feet, and removing her shoe,
gives her a massage (in an attempt to talk her into a plea bargain). Cage and
Fish listen from the doorway as Renee¹s moans of pleasure reach almost
orgasmic proportions. But an agreement is not reached, and the trial
continues. Henderson explains that his third date with Bonner went very well.
When she revealed her love for foot massages, which she described as erotic,
Henderson took it upon himself to surprise her. He describes in loving detail
how he entered the apartment and caressed Bonner¹s foot. Later, Ally is taken
aback when Henderson refuses to allow her to submit an insanity plea.
Elaine invites Greg to sing at Ally¹s upcoming
surprise birthday party. During a rehearsal at the bar, Greg sings a number
that attracts the attention of every woman within earshot. He is blessed with
a dreamy, erotic voice.
Ally invites Henderson and Bonner to the bar,
hoping they can work out their differences outside of court. Suddenly, a
spotlight hits Ally, and Vonda dedicates a song to her. Ally is mortified.
Elaine then picks up the lyrics, strutting like a sexy siren. The spotlight
then pans to Renee, who also joins in. A short time later, after the singing
subsides, Ally meets with Cheryl, Henderson and Cage. But the scheme does not
go well, and Cheryl labels Henderson as ³sick.² Ally pulls Cheryl aside for
a private talk. Cheryl explains that, for once in her life, she thought she
had met ³Mr. Right.² She was mortified when she awoke and discovered him
tickling her foot. Henderson overhears part of the conversation and apologizes
for his behavior. Shortly thereafter, the spotlight returns to Vonda, who
introduces Greg to the audience. Greg¹s sexy voice overwhelms every woman in
the audience. Suddenly inspired, Renee belts out a companion piece to Greg¹s
song. The pair make a steamy duo... causing Ally to grow enormously jealous.
Back at the apartment, Renee insists she has no
interest in dating Greg. Their discussion is interrupted when Greg drops by
for a visit. He takes Ally¹s hand and informs her that he has accepted a new
job at a Chicago hospital (which explains why he was reluctant to begin a
sexual relationship). He believes that, had things worked out differently, he
could very easily have fallen in love with her. Ally remains stoic, pretending
she is not hurt. But Renee, who eavesdropped on the conversation, is moved to
tears.
The next morning, Ally awakens in an upbeat
mood... only to discover she¹s lying to herself. She grabs hold of the
inflatable doll and sits on it, causing the doll to explode. Later, in court,
Ally presents her closing argument in the Henderson case. She maintains that
the issue isn¹t feet‹it¹s about entering a person¹s dwelling without
being invited inside. She blames Henderson¹s action not on insanity, but on
loneliness. Instead of being passive, and allowing his personal life to slip
by, Henderson, Ally believes, took control of his destiny. And though she
admits her client was too assertive, she also states that he is not a
criminal.
Greg approaches Ally in the court corridor. He
tells her that since he won¹t be leaving town for another two weeks, he sees
no reason why they cannot continue seeing each other. But Ally maintains she
is not a ³que sera² kind of girl. Greg gives her a kiss on the cheek before
he leaves. When Ally returns to the office, the staff surprises her with a
birthday party. The group breaks into song, causing Ally to snap at them. A
policeman-stripper then enters and begins to bump and grind his hips.
Everyone, including Ally, leaves the room. But Elaine remains behind and
enjoys the performance.
The jury finds Henderson not guilty. Afterward,
he and Cheryl decide to meet for coffee.
The
Inmates
The firm
joins forces with Bobby Donell and his staff when a client is accused of killing
her husband; Renee is arrested for assault; a waiter alleges he was fired
because he isn't gay.
Ally, Billy and Georgia receive word that a
wealthy client, Marie Hanson, has been arrested for murdering her husband with
an axe. The threesome drive to the scene, where Ally faints after viewing the
victim's body. Later, Billy and a horrified Ally meet with Mrs. Hanson. She
explains how she experiences periodic black-outs. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Peters,
had prescribed her medication. Hanson tells the pair it is obvious she is the
killer... but she does not remember performing the act (although she does
recollect swinging the hatchet).
Meanwhile, Fish and Georgia meet with Attorney
Joel Hurt. Hurt represents a waiter who claims he was fired from a French bistro
because he is heterosexual. When Fish makes the argument that it is perfectly
acceptable to fire someone based on their sexual orientation, insisting
"you need somebody fey to move the creme brulee," Hurt is dumbstruck.
So, too, is Georgia, who cannot believe the argument will be made before a
judge.
While standing in a court corridor with Georgia,
Renee senses that a good-looking stranger is about to make a pass at her. When
Renee deliberately drops her briefcase, the stranger, Attorney Michael Rivers,
looks in her direction. Renee beckons him forward... and inquires if he would
like to ask her out on a date. Though a bit thrown, Rivers admits he would like
to go out on a date. Renee responds by handing him her business card.
During a meeting with Billy and Cage, Fish
decides the Hanson murder case is too high profile for the firm to handle on its
own. He also worries that the firm's image might be tarnished by involving
itself in such unpleasantness. The decision is made to seek out the help of
Donnell and Associates. During a meeting between the two firms, Bobby stares at
Ally after she compares the way in which he talks to Jack Webb. Moments later,
Ally experiences a fantasy in which she turns into half-woman, half-panting
Saint Bernard. Ally and Bobby meet with Hanson's psychiatrist, Dr. Peters. He
believes Hanson may suffer from some form of neurological disorder, and may have
committed the murder during one of her black-out periods, which likens to
sleepwalking.
In court, Georgia argues that there exists no
special protection for heterosexuals. But Hurt counters his client was fired
because of his sexual identity. Fish interrupts the discussion. He argues his
client was terminated because he could not "perform a function of the
job." Fish explains further, noting that patrons of the French bistro
expect good gay waiters to make them feel sophisticated. Afterwards, in the
elevator, Georgia hits Fish and insists she will no longer be associated with
his bigotry. When Georgia returns to court, she does so alone. Judge Swan
encourages Hurt to work out a deal, noting that relying on a jury's decision is
problematic, as there are "a lot of people like Richard Fish out
there."
As Renee dances with Rivers at the bar, she
suddenly grabs his left buttocks. The pair retire to Renee and Ally's apartment,
where Rivers begins groping Renee in an aggressive manner. Renee cautions him to
"slow down," and when he fails to do so, she slaps him. Rivers slaps
Renee in return... prompting Renee to knock him unconscious. Ally chastises
Renee for arousing a stranger and then admitting him into the apartment. Later,
Renee is placed under arrest after Rivers decides to press assault charges.
Dr. Peters grows increasingly resistant to the
idea of testifying before the jury, fearing it could harm his practice.
Eventually, Peters reveals the reason for his reluctance: while under hypnosis,
Marie Hanson assumed the identity of Lizzie Borden.
Meanwhile, relations between the two law firms
begin to strain when Fish takes it upon himself to contaminate the jury pool by
making an appearance before reporters. Bobby and Eugene are outraged, and
conclude that most of the attorneys on Fish's staff are crazy. They approach
Hanson in private, and urge her to drop Cage and Fish from her defense team.
When word reaches the others, a heated argument erupts between the two firms.
After Renee is released on bail, Ally warns her
friend that although Rivers was "out of line" for making unwanted
sexual advances, some of the responsibility for what happened lies on her
shoulders.
In the conference room, Dr. Peters elaborates
further on what Hanson told him while under hypnosis. Peters telephoned the
Lizzie Borden Historical Society and confirmed that some of the obscure facts
described by Hanson were, in fact, true. Peters again worries about his
professional reputation if he should present the "past life" defense
before a jury. Later, Bobby apologizes for insulting Fish's team...and
complements their lawyering. Georgia tells him the firm is a "good
place" because its employees like working-and playing-together. Later,
Bobby enters the bar and watches as Ally and the others have fun on the dance
floor.
Being
There
Cage
defends Renee against assault charges; a home pregnancy test reveals that
Georgia is pregnant.
As Cage prepares to defend Renee against
assault charges, he accidentally bumps into Georgia, who drops a box. Ally
bends down to pick it up-and notices it is a home pregnancy test. Ally almost
instantly experiences a fantasy in which her face caves in.
In court, District Attorney Kevin Kepler
questions Michael Rivers on the stand. Rivers describes how Renee invited him
out on a date, "oozing sex." He then describes how he and Renee
retired to her apartment, where Renee proceeded to kick-box him into
unconsciousness, leaving him with a concussion, fractured jaw and cracked
vertebrae. On cross-examination, Cage points out that Renee asked Rivers to
slow down when he became overly aggressive. But Rivers counters that his hands
"weren't going anywhere hers weren't." Afterward, Ally, Cage and
Renee board an elevator in the courthouse. Renee berates Cage for his
performance in court, singling out his use of a clicker to raise objections,
and his shoes, which squeak when he walks. The elevator door opens... and
Glenn enters. He tells Ally he has been subpoenaed to testify against Renee in
court. Later, Renee panics over Cage's defense strategy. But Ally assures her
there is a purpose for his every action-no matter how bizarre.
In court, Glenn describes how Ally slept with
him only because she believed he was about to leave the country. He also
describes how Ally and Renee "penguined" him by pulling down his
pants and stranding him on the street under the pretense of a sexual advance.
Cage responds by kicking an incredulous Ally off the case. Later, Ally boards
an elevator in which Glenn is riding. As a tiny elderly couple listen, the
pair get into an argument over the "penguin" incident, as well as
the size of Glenn's sex organ.
Using the home pregnancy kit, Georgia discovers
she is pregnant. Not knowing quite how to react, she and Billy congratulate
one another by shaking hands. When Ally learns the news, she fantasizes a
missile shooting through her, leaving a big hole.
When Renee takes the witness stand to testify
on her own behalf, Cage suddenly announces a change in plans. He tells the
judge he will not examine her... and rests his case. Later, Cage explains that
the hostile Renee would not make for a good witness. He also believes that the
opposing council put forth a terrific case. If he had chosen to put on a
defense, it would have shown its weaknesses.
Cage tells Ally she should chose a silly theme
song to help her deal with the pain of Georgia and Billy having a child
together. He recommends his own song, "Lemon Tree."
When Cage delivers his closing statement, he
argues that Renee had every right to tell Rivers "no" when he
attempted to make a sexual advance. He also opines she had every right to
defend herself once Rivers, who is much larger in size, slapped her.
Ally chooses "Wedding Bell Blues" as
her new theme song. At the office, the song plays in her head, and her inner
world expands. Secretaries become singers, and Ally follows them inside the
unisex bathroom, where they kick their legs out of the stalls, a la the
Rockettes. Billy walks in on a mortified Ally as she does her own dance in the
stall. Ally tells Billy she is genuinely happy for him and his new life as a
father.
Cage begins having second thoughts about his
defense approach when the jury asks the judge if they need to find that Renee
intended to cause the injuries inflicted upon Rivers. Later, back at the
apartment, Ally tells Renee she wasn't protecting herself when she struck out
at Rivers, but acted out of anger. She believes that Renee has a serious
problem. The next morning, Renee admits she uses sex as a weapon. She explains
that, when she was eleven-years-old, she was the first girl in her class to
develop breasts. One day she discovered unflattering graffiti about herself in
the boy's bathroom. She ran home crying. Her mother told her boys tease when
they like someone. Ever since, she has used sex as power.
Billy is taken aback when Georgia informs him a
blood test came back negative (the home pregnancy test, which is not 100 per
cent accurate, gave a false positive). The pair attempt to deal with their
emotions. Later, Billy finds Georgia weeping inside the bathroom. Georgia
explains that even though she didn't want to be pregnant, when she found out
she wasn't, she experienced a sense of loss.
Renee embraces Cage and Ally when the jury
finds her not guilty.
Alone
Again
Cage
defends a long-time convict who used a trampoline to break out of prison a
month before his release; a woman intends to sue her ex-fiance for leaving her
at the alter.
Attorney Michael Huttle approaches Cage and
asks him to represent his client, 72- year-old Vincent Robbins, on the day of
his trial. Huttle explains that Robbins had been serving an eighteen-year
sentence for bank robbery. One month before his release, he attempted to
escape. As Huttle cannot think of a defense, he turns to Cage in desperation.
Meanwhile, Fish briefs Georgia on Marcia
Halliday, a client seeking to sue her ex-fiance for emotional distress after
he abandoned her at the altar.
Cage, Ally and Huttle meet with Robbins in
jail. Cage cannot help himself when he notices Robbins blinking a lot... and,
as a result, begins blinking in the same manner. Afterward, Cage tells Huttle
that arguing duress is their best hope of convincing a jury to free their
client. While walking down a court corridor, Cage bumps into D.A. Hayley
Chisolm, an old friend from law school. It quickly becomes apparent to Ally
that the pair shares many of the same habits and quirks. She concludes they
may have been more than friends. Later, Hayley tells John that their
relationship was the best relationship she had ever had with a man... even if
it was purely platonic. In private, Ally asks Cage if Hayley knows he was in
love with her. Cage denies he was in love... but Ally knows better.
Georgia meets with Mary Halliday. She attempts
to advise her against going forward with an emotional duress argument. But
Mary insists she was humiliated before three hundred guests. Fish interrupts
the conversation, takes Mary by the hand, and assures her that the ex-fiance
deserves to suffer for his actions. Later, Georgia confronts Fish for
encouraging a client when, in fact, she has no case. But Fish claims once the
proceedings begin, and things begin getting ugly, Mary will beg them to
settle, and once the case is dismissed, she will thank him for his efforts,
never knowing the firm was incapable of making good on its promises. Georgia
stares at Fish, incredulous. Later, Elaine approaches Mary with a
"husband CD," on which is recorded all the sounds of a spousal
relationship, including snoring, flatulence and a football game.
In court, a prison guard testifies that he
witnessed Robbins using a homemade trampoline to leap over the prison fence.
When Robbins fell, he ended up spraining his ankles, and was taken into
custody. Later, Robbins takes the witness stand. He explains that he assembled
the trampoline by collecting and saving rubber bands over the course of
eighteen years. When he finally had the project completed, he decided he had
to find out if it worked... even though he was one month shy of being released
from prison. He claims he wasn't interested in escaping-his only interesting
was in carrying out his dream.
Cage tells Ally he asked Hayley out on a date a
week before graduation from law school, but phrased it in such a way that it
could have been dismissed as a joke. Unfortunately, Hayley thought it was his
best joke ever. Hayley never knew he wasn't joking. Afterward, she met and
fell in love with the man of her dreams. Ally points out, however, that she is
now divorced.
In court, Whipper Cone presides over the Mary
Halliday case. She labels it one of the dumbest cases she has seen in her
twenty years on the bench, as it has no merits. Georgia suggests Cone recuse
herself due to her relationship with Fish. But Whipper insists the
relationship will not affect her impartiality. In chambers, Fish argues that
courts routinely delve into marriages all the time, from enforcing prenuptial
agreements to arranging alimony payments. The ex-fiance's lawyer agrees to pay
restitution on the wedding costs, but will not include moneys for emotional
distress. Whipper interrupts their conversation, having changed her mind about
recusing herself. She withdraws herself from the case. Eventually, Mary
decides to drop the suit. She states that she no longer feels sorry for
herself...but feels sorry for Fish, and his views on the institution of
marriage. Later, Fish appears in Whipper's chambers...and tells her how much
she is missed.
Hayley offers to reduce the sentence facing
Robbins to four years in prison. But Robbins declines the offer, believing he
cannot accept guilt for the only thing in his life that makes him feel proud.
During closing arguments, Cage makes an analogy between his feelings for
Hayley and the courage it took for Robbins to make the leap over the fence.
Hayley picks up on the analogy, and confirms Cage's fear: she was never in
love with him, but she did cherish their friendship. The jury sides with
Robbins, and he is acquitted.
These
are the Days
Bobby
Donnell asks for the firm's help when two men seek an operation to switch
hearts. Cage's cousin is arrested for assaulting "happy people" with
a paddle.
Bobby Donnell (from The Practice) enters the
unisex as Georgia and Elaine examine one of the hairs on Ally's head, which
seems to have turned green. Bobby tells Ally that he is representing two men
who wish to swap hearts (one of the men has a healthy heart, the other suffers
from congenital disease). The hospital the men approached refused the surgery,
prompting the lawsuit. Citing a potential conflict of interest, Bobby asks
Ally if she would be interested in acting as co-counsel. Ally accepts the
offer... though she and her female friends can hardly maintain their composure
around the handsome Donnell.
Ally meets with Bernie Gilson, a former
transient who now works for Brian Michaelson, a CEO. Ally is perplexed as to
why Gilson would want to give away his healthy heart to his ailing friend. She
explains that a judge will want to ensure that Gilson's decision is not
subject to undue influence. Gilson states he is acting out of friendship
towards Michaelson, and insists there in no quid pro quo.
Meanwhile, Cage announces that his second
cousin, Alan Farmer, was arrested after he began assaulting "happy
people" with a paddle. Farmer refuses to plead guilty, as he wishes to
remain out of jail. In court, couples testify that Farmer struck them with a
paddle when they exhibited signs they were enjoying themselves in public.
In court, Judge Raynsford reacts with disbelief
when Bobby asks for a court order that would force a hospital to perform the
heart swap. Attorney Michael Parkman, who represents the hospital, argues his
client could lose its reputation should the operation fail. Later, as Bobby
and Ally discuss the case, Ally convinces Donnell to dance with her.
In the unisex, Ally tells Georgia that she and
Bobby danced. Georgia insists she would have taken the situation one step
further and kissed Donnell. Billy, having overheard their conversation,
emerges from a stall... causing Georgia embarrassment over what she said. She
defends the conversation as "girl talk," even though Billy considers
it disrespectful to the marriage. Eventually, the pair concludes that their
marriage is in a rut.
On the witness stand, Gilson describes how he
first met Michaelson, who gave the then-transient a five dollar bill as he
stood on a Boston street. For the next five years, Michaelson continued giving
Gilson five dollars a week. One day, he bought Gilson some soup to eat. The
two struck up a friendship, and eventually Michaelson offered Gilson a job at
his company. Gilson tells the judge he wishes to give Michaelson his heart
because he (Michaelson) has a wife and two children.
Bobby offers to drive Ally home after she works
late one night. When Ally gratefully declines the offer, Bobby insists he will
hail her a cab. When they reach the office door at the same time, they hold a
look. Ally tells Bobby that although she has a great imaginary world, she
sometimes needs things to happen for real. With that, she gives him a kiss.
Bobby places Michaelson on the witness stand.
He insists he is not compensating Gilson for his heart, and explains that the
only reason he is accepting the offer is for the sake of his family. In
private, Gilson tells Ally the real reason for his generosity is the chance to
do something worthwhile for the first time in his life. Eventually, Judge
Raynsford makes a highly unusual decision: he appoints Ally as judge, asking
her to decide what is best for her client. Ally considers the facts-and denies
the plaintiff's motion. Later, she tells a disappointed Gilson that he need
not sacrifice his heart to be someone... as he already is someone. Michaelson
tells his friend he would never have accepted his heart to begin with, as he
never expected a judge to permit the operation. The two men then begin
bickering back and forth... as good friends will often do.
When Farmer takes the witness stand, he states
that he "accelerates love" by striking lovers with the paddle. He
believes that the incidents bring out the best in couples, and the
relationships grow stronger as a result. Cage beams with dismay when he loses
the case.
Bobby tells Ally he does not wish to pursue the
romance at the moment, as he is coping with a great deal of emotional baggage
from past relationships. He asks her for "a little time." Later, at
the bar, Cage and Ally dance. Cage reminisces about his mother, who always
said that if a person reflects back on a year, and doesn't experience tears of
either joy or sadness, then the year was wasted.
Georgia walks into Billy's office clad in
nothing but shoes. They retire to the conference room and begin making love.
Ally walks in on the pair... then casually turns off the lights and makes her
way back to her office. There she thinks back on the events of the previous
year...and experiences tears of both joy and sadness.
Season Two
The
Real World
Ally
finds herself attracted to an eighteen-year-old; Cage considers hiring an
attorney he finds attractive.
Ally experiences a dream in which she floats in
darkness, her arm extended towards a young man whose face is in shadow. As
their fingertips come to touch, Ally suddenly awakens with a start. She tells
Renee that the dream felt too vivid to be dismissed. That morning, Ally and
Cage meet with Laura Jewell, a thirty-seven-year-old woman accused of having
sex with Jason Tresham, who was a sixteen-year-old minor when the affair
transpired. Cage decides that the best defense is to plead insanity. Shortly
thereafter, Ally encounters Jason in a court corridor. She experiences a
strange, arresting sensation, but is unsure of its meaning.
Cage asks Fish if he has ever heard of an
attorney named Nelle Porter, who is sometimes referred to as "sub-zero
Nelle" due to her reported emotional coldness. Cage explains that Nelle
is looking to leave her firm, and that her client list is quite impressive.
In court, Ally questions Jason about how he
met-and fell in love with-Laura Jewell. During his testimony, Jason states
that some people find love, while others are meant to be alone. Ally is taken
aback by the observation… and ends her questioning. Later, Ally tells Dr.
Tracy that she felt as if Jason was talking about her. She also admits that
she experienced impure thoughts about the young man. Tracy believes that Jason
triggered old feelings in Ally, feelings dating back to her teenage years with
Billy, when she found the love of her life.
Back in court, Laura takes the witness stand.
She describes in detail her first sexual encounter with Jason. As Laura
recalls how beautiful the experience was, Ally fantasizes making love to the
boy. Suddenly, Ally lets out a squeak… and all eyes in the courtroom turn to
her.
Nelle approaches Georgia and Elaine in hopes of
"picking the brain" of one of the female employees before she
decides whether or not to join the firm. The women agree that Nelle should
speak with Ally, who they believe will give her the "straight dirt."
When Nelle leaves, both women agree that Nelle will hate Ally.
In court, Laura tells the jury that she made
love to Jason, at least in part, because he was a boy. She believes that
something within men dies emotionally as they grow older. Later, Billy tells
Ally that she is perhaps meant to have a relationship with Jason.
When Cage and Renee finish their closing
arguments, Ally asks Laura if her relationship with Jason is over. Laura
assures her that it is. Shortly thereafter, Ally encounters Jason in the
elevator. Jason tells Ally that she was in his dreams the previous evening. He
also tells her that their fingertips were touching. Ally relays the
information to Dr. Tracy, somewhat incredulous that both she and Jason shared
the same dream. Tracy encourages Ally to listen to her own thoughts… and to
pursue the relationship.
Ally tells Nelle that she enjoys working at the
firm. But she counters that she will never make partner, as the powers-that-be
believe that women who want families will end up taking maternity leave and
quitting. Their conversation ends when Elaine announces that the jury has
reached a verdict. Ally travels to the courtroom, where the jury rules that
Laura is not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Afterward, Ally again
encounters Jason in the elevator. This time, Jason asks her out on a date. To
her own surprise, Ally accepts the offer.
Fish announces to his staff that Nelle Porter
has joined the firm as its newest attorney. Afterward, Cage admits to Alley
that Nelle "makes his heart go boom," even though she may be the
kind of woman he can only dream about.
During their date, Jason tells Ally that his
uncle is a groundskeeper at Fenway park. The pair makes their way to the
field, where they play an imaginary game of baseball. Afterward, Jason invites
Alley to come up to his apartment. Ally, however, declines. They both realize
the romance could never be. Ally gives Jason a final kiss goodbye… aware
that she will never see him again.
They Eat
Horse, Don’t They
A client
sues a radio shock jock for contributing to sexual harassment at her workplace;
Cage defends a restaurateur who fed a customer horsemeat.
Nelle tells Cage that she is aware of his
attraction towards her compliments of Fish. Upset, Cage confronts Fish in his
office. Fish apologizes for leaking the information. Shortly thereafter, the
pair attends a staff meeting. It is announced that one of Nelle’s clients,
Ling Woo, is suing radio shock jock Harold Wick. Woo alleges that Wick’s
sexually charged program spills over into working environments, thereby
contributing to sexual harassment at the steel plant where she works.
In court, Attorney John Harkness examines Stephen
Daley, a man suing a French restaurant. Daley explains that he and his wife went
to the establishment to celebrate their wedding anniversary. He ordered the
chef’s menu, which features many exotic dishes. When he pressed the waiter to
reveal the name of a particularily tasty cut of meat, he was informed that is
was horse. Both Daley and his wife grew nauseous. When Cage cross-examines, he
attempts to chip away at Daley’s testimony, pointing out that he consumes cow,
pig and even Cornish game hen without suffering a guilty conscience. But Daley
maintains that a horse is a noble beast. Later, Cage shows Alley an old stuffed
horse, one he’s had since he was a child. He admits that he’s always had a
special affection for horses, and especially for the television show Mr. Ed.
During deposition, Harold Wick directs sexist,
racist comments towards those in attendance. Afterward, Ally wonders aloud if
the firm isn’t giving Wick exactly what he wants: publicity. Later, the issue
goes before Judge Andrew Peters. Attorney Walden argues that the lawsuit is
preposterous, as Wick’s speech is protected by the First Amendment. But Nelle
argues that, much like second-hand smoke, Wick’s words have poisoned
people’s minds and contributed to an atmosphere of gender bias, and thus,
should be held responsible. Surprisingly, the judge doesn’t throw the case
out. Afterward, a stupified and jealous Ally tells Elaine that Nelle’s
argument was brilliant.
When the owner of the French restaurant, Joseph
Handy, takes the witness stand, he insists that horsemeat is low in fat and high
in protein. He believes customers should have a choice as to whether or not they
consume the meat. But he feels it is unjust for him to be dragged into court for
serving it. Later, as Cage works on his closing argument, Nelle steps off the
elevator. When Cage inquires if she has ever consumed horsemeat, Nelle thinks
she is being asked out on a date. Surprisingly, she agrees to meet Cage for
dinner on Thursday night.
Judge Peters is swayed by Nelle’s argument. He
denies the motion to dismiss the case. Ally is completely dumbstruck. The ruling
sends shock waves through the media. Shortly thereafter, in a surprising move,
Nelle tells Fish and Ling that they should file a motion to dismiss. Nelle
believes they don’t stand a chance at winning any sort of settlement. She opts
instead to draft a statement. At a press conference, Ling reads the statement
aloud. It implies that Wick suffers from sexual dysfunction. But Ally is taken
aback by the move, as there is no proof that Wick is impotent. She tells the
others that what they did was dishonest in the extreme. Later, Wicks invites
Ally to appear on his program. Ally accepts the offer, much to the surprise of
her colleagues-and to herself.
Cage delivers a good closing argument, speaking
from his heart. But Georgia tells him that, in spirit, it may not have been in
their client’s best interests. She states that the summation may give Handy
grounds for a new trial. But the issue becomes moot when the jury sides with
Handy.
As the broadcast gets underway, Ally turns out to
be surprisingly adept at handling Wick’s barbed, sexist comments. She
maintains that the lawsuit was formulated to prevent more shock jocks like Wick
from launching their own programs. But she also states that the reason the case
was dismissed was to keep people like Wicks from disappearing. After the taping,
Ally tells Wicks that what the firm did to him during the press conference was
underhanded. Wick, who is humble when not on the air, tells Ally that she is
"a good lady." Later, Ally tells Nelle that she was disgusted by the
press statement.
Fool’s
Night Out
Ally plays
mediator when a minister breaks up with his church’s choir singer. A client
sues a plastic surgeon’s nurse for misrepresenting her natural breasts as
implants.
Ling tells Georgia and Fish that she intends to
sue a nurse who worked for a cosmetic surgeon. The conversation is interrupted
when Mark Newman, Fish’s minister, arrives at the firm. In private, Newman
tells Fish that he ended a relationship with the music supervisor of the church
choir, Lisa Knowels. Ever since, the songs Lisa has been singing during services
are about broken hearts and lost love. Newman believes his congregation is
oblivious to the fact that the songs are directed towards him. He also believes
he cannot fire Lisa, since the move could be perceived as retaliatory. Fish
promises Newman he will drop by the church to observe.
Ling’s case moves to the deposition phase. It
becomes apparent that Ling purchased implants as a Christmas gift for her
sister. She did so after a plastic surgeon showed off his nurse’s breasts,
under the pretense that they were implants. But Ling maintains that she and her
sister were duped, as the nurse’s breasts were, in fact, natural. As the
plastic surgeon who performed the procedure is now penniless, Ling is suing the
nurse, Jackie Silverman, for damages.
Fish drags Ally and Renee to his minister’s
church. The threesome listen as Lisa Knowels belts out Al Green’s "So
Tired of Bein’ Alone." Lisa’s performance is so powerful, it connects
with those in the audience who are also tired of being lonely. Afterward, Cage
asks Ally to be a mediator, believing that she can "tap into her
despair."
As the deposition continues, Jackie Silverman
admits that the plastic surgeon sometimes represented her as someone he had
performed work on . Afterwards, Georgia states that the firm may have solid
grounds for a case if they claim misrepresentation. Silverman’s attorney,
Michael Stone, tells Billy and Georgia that if they compare their clients’
breasts, side by side, they can give informed advice as how to proceed. Billy
wholeheartedly embraces the idea. His sudden enthusiasm is not lost on Georgia.
Ally approaches Lisa about her choice of music.
During their conversation, Ally realizes that her situation with Billy-working
side by side with a man who broke her heart-is very much like Lisa’s
relationship to the minister. Lisa maintains that expressing her feelings
through music is her only salvation and the church represents her only forum to
do so. Later, Ally confronts Newman about the manner in which he broke up with
Lisa (a sudden change of heart with no advance warning). Afterward, as Ally
walks down a Boston street, she suddenly stops in her tracks. She realizes that
her break-up with Billy had nothing to do with his leaving for Michigan.
Jackie Silverman and Ling’s sister, Leigh,
disrobe in Billy’s office. Stone and Billy inspect both women’s breasts as
Georgia attempts to contain her dismay at the absurdity of the situation. Billy,
Stone and Georgia all conclude that the implant surgery was done well. Georgia
announces that the lawsuit will not proceed.
Ally tells Georgia that Lisa’s situation
suddenly made her realize that Billy went to Michigan to get away from her. And
she also realizes that Billy met someone who was in Michigan at the time.
Putting two and two together, she concludes that Billy and Georgia met while
Ally was still dating Billy. Georgia admits this is true.
Nelle insults Ling when she suggests that she is
an unpopular person. As a result, Nelle believes Ling deliberately picks fights
so she can lay the blame on a battle. Hurt and vulnerable, Ling walks off. Fish
catches up with Ling. He tells her that she is not disliked by everyone. He
admits that he enjoys her company and asks her out to dinner.
Georgia tells Billy that Ally knows of their
affair in Michigan. She also tells him that she fears he may drop her just like
he dropped Ally years earlier.
Ally convinces Lisa that it would be better if
she sang her pop songs at the bar instead of at church. She also arranges for
Lisa to sit down with Mark to discuss their feelings. Eventually, Mark admits
that although he fell in love with Lisa, marrying her would have been a mistake,
because he would have held no passion for her in his heart.
Billy tells Ally he knew he would end up marrying
Georgia ten minutes after they met. But he insists that nothing happened between
them until after he and Ally broke up. Ally turns to Billy and accuses him of
destroying the idea that there was hope-and that, perhaps, the one love she
thought she had in her life never really existed.
At the bar, Lisa takes the stage and mesmerizes
the crowd with her take on "Fools Fall In Love."
It’s
My Party
A judge
holds Ally in contempt when she disregards his instructions not to wear short
skirts in court. An editor for a feminist magazine is fired for being of the
Baptist faith.
Inside the apartment, Ally practices dancing to
"Super Freak" as Renee observes from afar. Ally explains to her
roommate that she is practicing her dance steps for an upcoming dinner party.
At work, Ally literally collides with George
Madison, an editor who was fired due to his religious affiliation. Ally is
immediately infatuated with the intelligent, charismatic Madison. Later, as
Fish, Georgia, Billy and Cage observe, Elaine shows off her newest creation:
customized condoms. Each of the prophylactics features a different phrase
customized for its intended user. Ally is taken aback when she realizes hers
reads, "take a number." She denies she is promiscuous. Elaine hands
one to George that reads, "been there." The pair give one another
affectionate kisses, leading Ally and Georgia to speculate that the two are
lovers. Later, Ally shrieks when a bullfrog leaps from a toilet seat and into
her hair. Cage bursts into the unisex bathroom and saves his pet, Stefan, from
harm. Cage explains that he is an amateur herpetologist.
George tells Ally that an upcoming profile in
the Times magazine section identifies him as being of the Baptist faith. As a
result, he was promptly fired. George claims that his boss, Catherine
Hollings, believes that Baptist beliefs run contrary to the magazine’s
ideology. In court, Hollings’ attorney, Henry Nixon, maintains that it would
be improper for an editor of a feminist magazine to believe that a woman’s
place is in the home. Georgia objects, as George never stated that he
personally holds this to be true. Nixon insists that the Baptist Convention
declared that wives should submit to their husband’s dominance in the home.
Ally objects, stating that Nixon is confusing Southern Baptists for George’s
faith. She insists that George believes both men and women are equal. The
judge orders an evidentiary hearing…and instructs Ally to meet him in his
chambers. Shortly thereafter, Judge Walsh tells Ally that every courtroom has
a dress code. He insists that she stop wearing miniskirts in his court.
Ally informs her colleagues of the judge’s
demand. George insists that Ally continue wearing her skirts during his case.
When Ally returns to the courtroom, she is dressed in her normal outfit. The
judge eventually rules in George’s favor and orders the magazine to give him
back his job. Walsh then holds Ally in contempt of court, and instructs the
bailiff to take her into custody.
Ally refuses to apologize to the judge for
ignoring his instructions. As a result, she is forced to spend the night in
jail. The next day, Ally appears before Judge Walsh. She calls him "a
pig." Walsh orders that Ally be taken back into custody. But before the
bailiff has a chance to do so, Nelle addresses the court. She presents an
eloquent argument on the manner in which society treats women. She points out
that Ally is being penalized for wearing attire that is too risqué, yet
despite her hemline, she still won George’s case. The judge sets Ally free.
The night of the dinner party arrives. Fish
arrives with Ling; Cage brings Nelle; and Renee is joined by her date, Ben
Beal. As the meal gets underway, the conversation grows decidedly more and
more tense. Ben raises the issue of Ally’s short skirts, which segues into
Billy’s assertion that women believe men cannot think clearly when they are
aroused. Billy then suggests that he walk around in a pair of speedos to
gather some individuality of his own. Silence fills the room.
Eventually, the hostility between the guests
reaches the boiling point, and Elaine and Billy announce they are leaving. But
Ally refuses to let them go, as she is unwilling to allow the party to devolve
into a complete disaster. Ben addresses his fellow guests. He opines that when
a group of people get along get along so well together, little disagreements
seem all the larger. He declares that everyone at the firm is "a little
nutty," but since everyone is so close, being slightly crazy is not a bad
thing. This simple truth speaks volumes. The dance music begins, and partiers
begin swinging to the beat.
Fish escorts Ling into Ally’s bedroom. Fish
asks Ling why she tenses up whenever he attempts to kiss her goodnight. Ling
explains that she attaches a great deal of importance to a first kiss, for if
it isn’t perfect, the moment is ruined forever. Fish takes Ling by the hand
and asks for some guidance. Ling does so, planting a slow, escalating kiss on
Fish’s lips. When they break apart, Ling declares that Fish was wonderful.
Meanwhile, the chemistry between Ally and George continues to grow. But this
is both exciting and disturbing to Ally, as George is Elaine’s boyfriend.
Story of
Love
Ally
defends a woman who threw her best friend into a garbage canister after learning
she had stolen away her boyfriend. An accident befalls Cage’s beloved frog.
As Ally walks along a Boston street, she
encounters a distraught woman, Hannah, sitting on the sidewalk. Feeling sorry
for the stranger, Ally offers her assistance. Hannah’s rude attitude rubs Ally
the wrong way, and the two have a heated conversation. Ally finally gives up and
begins walking away. Hannah responds by throwing her handbag, which knocks Ally
off her feet. Ally retaliates with a spin kick. A police officer observes the
exchange and places them both under arrest.
Meanwhile, Cage continues training his beloved
pet frog, Stefan, for an upcoming competition. Nelle screams when she sees the
creature, and swats it with a file folder. She apologizes for her action,
explaining that she finds frogs repulsive.
Ally and Hannah end up sharing the same jail
cell. Hannah laments that she is in the process of being sued for assault. She
reveals that she threw her best friend into a garbage dumpster when she
discovered she was having an affair with her boyfriend. Shortly thereafter, the
pair is released from jail. Ally offers to represent Hannah in court, in
exchange for Hannah’s promise that she will not file a lawsuit against her.
Hannah accepts the offer. In court, Judge Snipp informs Ally that Hannah fired
three of her previous lawyers so she could win another continuance. Ally quickly
makes a motion to be dismissed from the case. But the judge insists she cannot
withdraw.
George tells Elaine that he has decided to start
up his own magazine. He requests that Ally be allowed to handle the paperwork.
But Elaine explains that Richard and Nelle are better suited to handle corporate
work. Despite Elaine’s advice, George approaches Ally and requests her
assistance with forming the corporation.
Ally and George meet to discuss drafting
paperwork for the corporation. George suddenly confesses that he invented a
reason to be in a room alone with Ally. The revelation makes Ally uncomfortable.
Though her attraction to George is obvious, she feels it would be improper for
her to encourage a relationship (because of Elaine).
Stefan the frog gets loose inside the unisex
bathroom. Billy, Fish and Georgia debate over who should corral the creature.
Fish makes an attempt, but the amphibian leaps into a toilet bowl. Suddenly, the
toilet flushes. Cage enters the bathroom, the remote in his hand. Billy, Fish
and Georgia make a hasty exit, dreading the thought of revealing the horrible
truth. Fish eventually gathers the courage to tell Cage what happened. Cage is
devastated by the news.
In court, Laura Payne describes how Hannah
assaulted her and then dropped her inside a garbage canister. Shortly
thereafter, Ally examines Hannah on the witness stand. Hannah states that she
was acting out her own hurt when she tossed Laura into the trash. She also
expresses her desire to forgive Laura for her actions. Suddenly, Oren Koolie,
the ten-year-old genius, steps from beneath the plaintiff’s table. As the jury
listens, Oren makes reference to a previous occasion when Ally kicked him.
Nelle apologizes to Cage for treating his frog so
harshly. She explains that when she was a little girl, she had a hamster named
Millie, whom she adored. But one day, her brother’s Argentine Horned Frog
entered the terrarium and consumed her beloved. She never forgave the frog for
its action.
Cage decides to hold a memorial service for
Stefan. In private, Fish worries that he and his colleagues will not be able to
keep a straight face during the eulogy. So he and Elaine compose a mock service,
hoping it will prepare everyone for the worst. But when the moment of truth
comes, they find Cage’s sad farewell hysterically funny, and must fight their
urge to laugh out loud. Later, Nelle buys Cage a new pet frog. Cage takes an
immediate liking to the little creature… and decides to name it Millie.
When Laura’s attorney, Yvette Rose, delivers
her closing statement, Ally cannot ignore the parallels between Hannah’s
situation and her relationship to George and Elaine. She nonetheless gives a
convincing closing argument of her own, one that chastises Oren Koolie for his
behavior in court. This causes Oren to cry. The jury rules in favor of the
plaintiff… and fines Hannah the sum of one dollar.
George approaches Ally and states that he is
unwilling to just walk away. Elaine overhears the conversation, and later asks
Ally not to take away the man she loves. Later, George again approaches Ally in
her office. He promises to leave if Ally states she does not feel a little of
what he feels towards her. Ally replies that she does not share his feelings.
With that, George rises and exits the room.
You Can
Never Tell
As
Thanksgiving approaches, Ling sues an employee for having sexual thoughts
about her. Ally goes to court with her fingers stuck in a bowling ball.
Ally begins tossing and kicking pillow cushions
around the apartment. Eventually, she strikes Renee in the head. She explains
that pillow-kicking is part of an annual Thanksgiving ritual. During the
holiday, everyone reflects on things they have to be thankful for, and Ally
honors this notion by kicking pillows. She then "gives thanks" for
not having someone to love, not having a full life, and for not having her
back tickled in ages, all the while tossing pillows onto the floor.
At the office, the attorneys argue amongst
themselves when Ling wishes to sue an employee for having sexual thoughts
about her.
Elaine enters the firm looking eight months
pregnant. She calls the attire a "pregnancy dress," which is
designed to elicit sympathy from strangers. She believes her invention
guarantees the wearer a great many perks afforded pregnant women, such as
avoiding speeding tickets.
Nelle asks Cage if he would enjoy going out on
a real date. Cage's nose whistles. Nelle asks him to whistle once for
"yes." Cage replies in the affirmative.
In court, Attorney Parker Wells addresses Judge
Raynsford Hopkins regarding the issue of Ling suing his client for having
sexually harassing thoughts. As Wells talks, Ally checks out the handsome
Wells from behind. Her looks do not go unnoticed. Smiling seductively, Ally
wonders where the line will be drawn. The judge grants Ally and Ling a summary
judgement.
Billy finds Cage sitting on the floor of his
office. Cage tells his friend that he cannot see himself having a long term
relationship with Nelle. But the notion of the short term benefits intrigues
him. He asks Billy if he could see Nelle and he having a long term
relationship. Billy replies that he does not see this as a possibility.
In court, Georgia and Ally question Ling before
the jury. Ling states that she was unable to fire the employee, Mr. Witton,
because of his union affiliation. Afterward, Wells pokes holes in Ling's case.
Ling claims she decided to pursue legal action against Witton to prevent him
from harming future victims.
Cage asks Nelle if they can spend their evening
together at the bar downstairs. Nelle reacts with disappointment, as she had
hoped to free Cage from his "cocoon." During the evening, another
man, Sean, hits on Nelle. Shortly thereafter, Cage states that he feels tired,
and the date ends.
Renee asks Ally to join her on a double-date
with Ben at a bowling alley. Ally is more than skeptical, as she has never met
the man Ben intends to set her up with. But Renee prevails. At the bowling
alley, Ben introduces Ally to Wallace Pike, a small, unattractive man who
turns out to be completely void of a sense of humor. When Ally has difficulty
finding a bowling ball that will fit her tiny fingers, a septuagenarian named
Seymore comes to her aid. He offers Ally his deceased wife's ball. Seymore
explains that it would bring his wife great joy to know that someone else
enjoyed using the ball, which has the name "Marie" inscribed on its
surface. Ally sticks her fingers into the ball, and finds that they fit.
Unfortunately, the fit is a bit too snug. When Ally tosses the ball down a
lane, her entire body follows, and she belly-flops onto the floor. To her
horror, she discovers her fingers are irremovable. Ally travels to the
emergency room, where a doctor suggests that the ball be cut open. But Seymore
protests, begging Ally not to approve the procedure and thereby destroy his
most treasured possession. Seeing desperation in Seymore's eyes, Ally leaves
it in place.
In court the following day, the judge instructs
the jury that the bowling ball has no legal relevance to Ling's case. When
Witton takes the witness stand, Wells attempts to show that his client never
acted upon his thoughts. Bowling ball in hand, Ally attempts to show that
Witton's salacious attitude affected Ling in a negative fashion, becoming, in
affect, harassment. She and Georgia present a closing argument. They insist
the case is not about punishing Witton for his thoughts. It's about Witton
communicating those ideas. The jury, however, is not swayed by the argument,
and Ling loses the case.
Cage tells Nelle that when he allowed his frog
to roam free, the creature ended up getting flushed down a toilet. Later,
Elaine tells Cage that all Nelle, and all women, really want is to be pulled
onto the dance floor.
When Ally returns to the office, she discovers
that Wallace Pike, "the most boring man on Earth," brought her
flowers. Ally summons Georgia into her office. Shortly thereafter, Elaine
escorts Wallace through the building and opens the door to Ally's office. When
the door opens, Ally and Georgia are "caught" in the act of making
out. Horrified, Wallace drops the flowers and runs off. Later, at the bar,
Ally explains to Renee that staging the kiss was the only way to get rid of
Wallace. Ally insists that it was all pretend, but adds that Renee is a pretty
good kisser. Later, Cage pulls Nelle onto the dance floor, just as Elaine had
instructed.
Worlds
Without Love
A nun sues
for damages after she is fired for breaking her vow of celibacy. Cage’s
once-thought-dead frog reappears.
Ally and Cage meet with Chrissa Long, an
attractive nun who wishes to sue for damages because she was fired after she
broke her vow of celibacy. Neither of the attorneys believes Chrissa has much of
a case, but they decide to proceed nonetheless.
Outside of a courtroom, Renee bumps into Matt
Griffin. There is an awkward but friendly exchange between the pair. Later,
Renee tells Ally that Matt is her "Billy."
In court, Chrissa describes how she met, and fell
in love with, a man named Peter. The pair met when Chrissa was performing
charity work (painting walls) at a homeless shelter run by Peter. As time went
by, neither Chrissa nor Peter could deny the obvious attraction between them.
But both knew they could not act upon their desires. One night, as they were
painting a room at the shelter, they found themselves staring at one another.
Peter leaned in and kissed Chrissa, and the two made love. The room grows
silent. Suddenly, the stillness is broken when Ally blows her nose. Judge
Whipper Cone calls Ally into chambers. There, she accuses Ally of resorting to
stunts. She also inquires about Richard… and asks if he is dating anyone.
Renee again encounters Matt in a court corridor.
Matt reveals that his marriage has been on the decline. He asks Renee if she
would like to get something to drink.
As Georgia sits on the toilet inside the unisex,
she hears a noise emanating from the water below. She stands, and then bends
over for a better look inside the bowl. Suddenly, Stephan the frog leaps from
the water and lands on her nose. Georgia hurls the creature, which lands in
Nelle’s hair. The pair fire the frog back and forth until it splats against a
stall door. The attorneys determine that the frog is still alive, and manage to
sneak it out of the firm without alerting Cage.
Renee and Matt meet and discuss old times. Renee
is not anxious to resume the relationship. She gives Matt a small kiss on the
cheek and begins to walk away. Matt takes Renee’s hand and asks if he can call
her. Renee responds with a firm "no."
In court, Sister Helen tells Attorney Henry Nixon
that Chrissa does not really regret having the affair. She reveals that the
relationship ended only when Peter "dumped" Chrissa. This comes as a
complete surprise to Ally.
A veterinarian stabilizes Stephan’s vital
signs, but the frog lapses into a coma and is placed on a respirator. The
attorneys debate amongst themselves if they should tell Cage about the frog’s
reappearance.
Ally approaches Whipper and informs her that
Fish’s relationship with Ling isn’t very serious. She encourages the judge
to act before it’s too late. Shortly thereafter, Fish eventually summons
enough courage to tell Cage about Stephan.
Ally approaches Sister Helen at church, but the
nun quickly ends any notion of a settlement. When the conversation ends, Ally
notices a nearby confessional. She enters the booth and tells the priest she is
only "about a quarter Catholic." She then proceeds to confess sleeping
with any man having "decent glutes." She also confesses to bedding
another lover because of the size of a portion of his anatomy.
Fish escorts Ling back to his townhouse. Ling
opens the bedroom door… only to view Whipper’s buttocks. Both women scream.
Mortified, Whipper grabs her clothes and quickly exits. Later, Ling informs
Nelle that she intends to sue Fish of infliction of emotional distress. Nelle
explains that Whipper was once Fish’s girlfriend, and was seeking
reconciliation. Ling remains adamant. Nelle informs her that she cannot sue a
member of her own firm.
Matt pays Renee an unexpected visit. Renee
reminds him that he is married and shouldn’t have come to the apartment. Matt
leans over and kisses Renee. She kisses him back, their passion escalating.
Ally enters Whipper’s chambers. A humiliated
Whipper insists she did nothing wrong, and was merely attempting to surprise
Fish. Ally tells Whipper to close her eyes and envision the perfect man. Whipper
plays along and closes her eyes. Ally then tells her to imagine spending every
day of the rest of her life with that same person. Whipper reacts, horrified.
Nixon interrupts their conversation. He explains that the church has decided to
offer Chrissa her job back. Sister Helen explains that Chrissa confessed the
affair to Father O’Riley, who, it turns out, has been videotaping
parishioner’s confessions using hidden video cameras. O’Riley, who has
aspirations of becoming a television producer, has been trying to sell the tape
to the Fox network as World’s Naughtiest Confessions. Ally turns a shade of
ivory white as she realizes her confession about her sex life may end up on
national television.
Cage notices a skin rash on Georgia’s face, and
inquires if Stephan jumped on her. Nelle and Georgia confess that the frog was
conscious and healthy when it first surfaced in the toilet. It was only after
the women batted the frog about that it lost consciousness.
Renee tells Ally about her affair with Matt. But
she is unsure if she wants to pursue the relationship.
Happy
Trails
The
attorneys react when Judge Boyle suddenly drops dead. A woman with
orange-colored skin sues her employer for wrongful termination. Elaine urges
Ally to give a persistent and unwanted suitor "the dump." More bad
luck besets Stephan the frog.
Cage makes his way inside a unisex stall where
Fish sits atop a toilet. He announces his decision to give Nelle a first kiss,
but admits he is riddled with self-doubt, as Ling placed so much importance on
the event. Fish proceeds to describe how one gives the perfect kiss.
Unbeknownst to him, Nelle and Elaine are eavesdropping.
A man named Ross Fitzsimmons enters the firm
holding a bouquet of flowers. Ally reacts with horror when she sees Ross and
ducks out of sight. She quickly explains to Elaine that she went out with Ross
the previous evening and suffered through the date. Elaine tells Ross that
Ally dropped dead. But Ross is not a complete idiot, and he quickly sees
through the lie. Not to be outdone, Elaine plants a kiss on Ally’s lips,
hoping it will convince Ross that Ally is really a lesbian. Despite this, Ally
reluctantly agrees to go out on yet another date with Ross.
Nelle stops by Cage’s office to check on
Stephan the frog’s condition. Cage accuses her of having assaulted the
luckless amphibian with a file folder. He picks up a file to demonstrate and
unfortunately sends Stephan tumbling out a window in the process. Luckily, the
animal lands on a ledge.
Meanwhile, Billy and Georgia meet with Joanne
Poole, a woman with orange-colored skin. Joanne explains that many different
things might be responsible for her condition, such as consuming too many
carrots, or a genetic disposition. Whatever the cause, Joanne wishes to sue
her employer, who dismissed her for being orange.
Ling devises a makeshift rescue device for
Stephan the frog by attaching some string to a small box. The frog regains
consciousness and hops inside.
Ross again drops by the law office, bringing
with him an itinerary for the date. Ally imagines herself running away, a la
the Road Runner. Unfortunately, Renee has been strong-armed into joining Ally
on the date.
In court, Billy argues that his client was
fired for being orange. He emphasizes that the law makes no distinction what
color a person’s skin is. Attorney Kevin Spicer argues that the case is not
covered by the scope of civil rights. Judge Happy Boyle instructs Joanne to
step forward so he can examine her teeth.
Nelle invites Cage and her colleagues out to
dinner to celebrate Stephan’s rescue. Cage asks if he can bring Stephan
along. Though frustrated, Nelle nonetheless approves.
Elaine encourages Ally to be more forceful when
dealing with Ross. She believes that only a "straight hard dump"
will get the message across.
While announcing his decision in the Joanne
Poole case, Judge Boyle suddenly falls forward and dies. The attorneys in
Ally’s office are all shocked by the news. Fish, Ling, Nelle and Cage
receive word as they enjoy a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Cage asks Ling to
ask the Chinese waiter to feed Stephan some lettuce and then return him to the
table. Ling speaks to the waiter in Chinese. Later, Cage asks Ling to ask the
waiter to return Stephan to the table. Ling turns to the waiter only to
realize that Stephan was served to them. Outraged, Cage addresses his fellow
patrons. He gives a brief synopsis of the many tragedies that have befallen
the amphibian and ends by saying that, on that night, he ate the frog. The
patrons are at first confused. Then they applaud politely.
Ally and Renee’s date with Ross turns out to
be even worse than they imagined. Luckily, word of the Happy Boyle tragedy
reaches them, and they quickly flee.
Ross again returns to the firm. But this time,
Elaine pulls him aside. She tells him to lift his knee, hop on one foot, and
blow a whistle all at the same time. Ross does as he is told. Elaine then asks
Ross if he thinks an attractive woman like Ally would settle for a
dumpy-looking man who hops around blowing a whistle. Feeling tricked, Ross
exits.
Nelle approaches Cage about the death of his
frog. She tells him that she didn’t find Stephan at all tasty. She describes
it as tasting "a little tough." Cage begins to laugh. Ally walks
into his office, and listens as Cage recounts Stephan’s life. She, too,
begins to laugh along with him. But Cage suddenly stops laughing, disgusted
with the world.
Ally tells Renee that, perhaps, it is the John
Cages and the Happy Boyles of the world (the ones who are extremely odd) who
are the people to be treasured in life.
Despite his earlier humiliation, Ross returns
to the offices looking for Ally. Finally growing fed up, Ally tells Ross she
never wants to see him again. But Ross bumps into Joanne in the corridors and
a chance at romance begins anew.
The attorneys gather at a church for Happy
Boyle’s funeral. Billy suddenly rises and walks to the podium. He tells the
crowd that it would make Happy happy if they showed him their teeth. Those in
the congregation smile, and some of the elderly remove their false teeth and
hold them overhead in tribute to the odd judge.
Cage walks Nelle to her townhouse. When they
arrive at the front stairs, Nelle holds a look. Cage grows nervous, and his
nose begins whistling. Nelle admits she is tired of waiting. She leans in and
gives him a kiss.
Just
Looking
Cage and
Fish go undercover at Ling’s mud wrestling club; Ally gets stuck in the
unisex toilet; Georgia finds herself attracted to a man she once dated.
An overwrought Ling enters the office complex
in search of Nelle. It turns out that Ling’s mud wrestling club has been
slapped with a nuisance claim. A group called MOPE, or Mothers Opposed to
Pornographic Entertainment, is seeking to close the establishment for good. As
the judge will most likely schedule a hearing, someone from the firm must go
undercover on a fact-finding mission. Cage and Fish eagerly volunteer for the
assignment.
Elaine shows Billy and Cage her newest
invention: a high-tech toilet. It features a seat warmer, an auto-flusher and
a seat that raises and lowers at the push of a button. And all of the
functions are controlled by the same remote.
As Georgia walks through a court corridor, she
bumps into Raymond Brown, an old boyfriend. Raymond, it turns out, is quite
the eligible bachelor… and is representing the women of MOPE in court. As
the case gets underway, Raymond handles himself in an impressive manner,
managing to attract the attention of both Ally and Georgia. Afterward, Ally
tells Georgia that Raymond is very cute. Georgia explains that she and Raymond
went out on one date, but found they had few similar interests. Georgia offers
to arrange a date between Ally and Raymond. Later, one of the MOPE members,
Marie Stokes, insists that mud wrestling is degrading to women. During
cross-examination, Nelle points out that R-rated movies often feature steamy
sex scenes. Stokes views movies as something entirely different, as actresses
who perform love scenes are paid a great deal of money for their work and are
therefore not degraded.
Ally enters the stall inside the unisex. As she
starts to sit down, the toilet seat suddenly rises. Ally plunges into the
bowl, and finds she cannot extricate herself. Meanwhile, Georgia and Billy
distract Raymond as firefighters come to Ally’s rescue. Cage is horrified
when the firemen conclude that the only way to free Ally is to crack open his
beloved toilet.
Meanwhile, Cage and Fish make their way inside
Ling’s mud wrestling club. Fish outbids the other men in the audience for a
chance to square off against one of the extremely attractive female wrestlers.
As the match gets underway, Fish delights at tickling his opponent’s wattle.
Billy, Georgia, Ally and Raymond make their way
to the bar. Raymond asks Ally to dance. She declines, as she has yet to
recover from the toilet incident. Georgia volunteers instead, and the pair
head out onto the dance floor. Ally begins to suspect that the twosome may
still be attracted to one another.
When Cage and Fish return to the office, they
announce that there is no nudity or sexual contact inside the mud wrestling
club-just men ogling buxom, wet women. On the witness stand, Ling defends her
operation. She insists the mud wrestlers make good money by teasing the
opposite sex… who are at the mercy of their "dumb stick." She also
insists that women are already exploited by everything from the high heel shoe
to painted eyelashes. But Nelle counters that mud wrestling clubs do not help
the problem. She refuses to deliver the summation, as she suspects that Ling
no longer believes that she can "sell" the case to the jury.
Georgia admits to Ally that she misses the
little "date highs" she would get back in the days before her
marriage. Ally warns her that what she is doing with Raymond is, in its own
way, a version of an affair. She warns her that what she is doing is wrong.
Nelle calls Jack Clooney, a male stripper, to
the witness stand. Jack is an attorney. However, he prefers the life of a
dancer because of the money-and because of the gratification he receives from
the way women respond to his looks. He insists his line of work is not
degrading.
Ray approaches Ally and asks her out on another
date. Ally declines the offer.
Nelle elects Fish to deliver the closing
argument. She believes his gender, and his experience in the mud wrestling
club, will give them an advantage, especially since the judge is a man. In
court, Fish argues that being in a room filled with other ogling men is a
liberating experience, as sexual desire is not deviant behavior-it’s normal.
The judge agrees with Fish, and Ling wins the case.
Inside the courthouse, Raymond and Georgia end
up boarding the same elevator. Raymond states that out of all the bad dates he
has gone through in his life, the one he had with Georgia was the most
intriguing. He then hits the elevator’s stop button… and asks Georgia for
one kiss… just so he will know what it would have been like if they had
pursued the relationship. Georgia talks him out of the idea. With that,
Raymond turns the power on. But moments later, Georgia hits the stop button.
But then she changes her mind once more, and turns it back on. Moments later,
Raymond hits the button, stopping the elevator. He leans in for a kiss. As
they inch closer, the elevator doors open. The two pull apart, never having
kissed. They go their separate ways.
Making
Spirits Bright
As
Christmas approaches, Fish's biggest client is fired from his job after he sees
a unicorn; Renee and Matt's relationship heats up.
As the Christmas holiday draws near, Cage notices
Nelle, her attention focused on a document, standing beneath some mistletoe in
the office complex. He slowly advances on her, stealth-like, resembling an
animal stalking its prey. But Nelle senses his presence, and turns in his
direction. Cage confirms that he did, indeed, intend to kiss her. Billy
interrupts their conversation. He announces that Sheldon Maxwell, who is Fish's
biggest client, was fired from his job as a bond trader. Later, the attorneys
meet with Maxwell, who explains that he lost his job after he told colleagues he
saw a unicorn inside his office. The news hits Ally hard. Maxwell insists he did
see the creature. He also insists that his job performance has been exemplary.
Matt finds Renee inside the courthouse. He tells
her that there are many, many reasons for him to walk away, and only one that
won't let him.
Ling, in an uncharacteristic good mood, enters
the office complex and distributes Christmas gifts. But her charm and warmth
disappear when the recipients express puzzlement regarding her pleasant holiday
cheer. Later, Elaine tells Ling that no one believes she is capable of goodwill.
When Ally returns to the apartment, she walks
into Renee's bedroom, and inadvertently interrupts Renee and Matt as they make
love. Ally apologizes and runs out.
Judge Whipper Cone presides over the Sheldon
Maxwell case. Fish is pleased with this turn of events, as he believes Whipper
may have seen a few unicorns of her own. In court, Billy argues that Sheldon's
unicorn sighting has not affected his performance on the job. But Attorney Henry
Nixon counters that investors will file a massive lawsuit against the brokerage
house should a delusional employee cost them their fortunes.
Matt again encounters Renee inside the
courthouse. He ushers her inside a witness room, where their passion once again
escalates.
Sheldon Maxwell takes the witness stand. He
describes his first encounter with the unicorn inside his office. He asked his
colleagues if they, too, could see the mythological creature. But none of them
could. During cross-examination, Henry Nixon wonders if someone who sees
unicorns is mentally capable of performing their job.
Billy remembers that when he and Ally were
seven-years-old, Ally told him she saw a unicorn. Ally dismisses the encounter
as a figment of her youthful imagination.
Inside the bar, Matt tells Renee that he is
leaving his wife. He also tells her that his wife is four months pregnant. Renee
immediately walks away. A short time later, Renee tells Ally about the new
development. Both women fear Renee could end up getting hurt if she continues
the relationship.
Sheldon' boss, Jackson Poile, takes the witness
stand. Billy asks him if seeing unicorns is a sign of dementia. Poile states
that this might be considered a symptom. Billy confirms that Poile is Catholic,
and then asks if he believes that, one day, there will be a second coming of
Jesus Christ. Billy wonders what would have happened if Sheldon had seen Christ
instead of the mythological horse. Poile insists there is a difference between
the two. Billy then tells Whipper that seeing an apparition - no matter what it
might be - is not grounds for termination. Later, Sheldon somehow senses that
Ally saw a unicorn. He tells her that people who have seen the creature share
some of its traits, such as loneliness and virtuous hearts. Ally recalls how she
petted the animal. Sheldon tells her that only those pure of spirit can approach
the unicorn.
Billy presents his closing statement. He tells
Whipper that his client probably hallucinated, which was perhaps triggered by
loneliness and depression, common emotions around the holidays. But since the
unicorn is a symbol of hope, Billy wonders who amongst them should judge where
Sheldon can look for that hope. Whipper agrees with the argument, and Sheldon
wins back his job.
When Ally returns to the apartment, she tells
Renee that "common sense is killing us." She also tells Renee that it
is difficult for others to penetrate the walls around her. If Matt has advanced
beyond those walls, then perhaps they should be together.
The attorneys gather inside the office complex
for the Christmas party. A short time later, Matt shows up at Ally's apartment
to pick up Renee. Matt suggests they stay inside the apartment instead of going
out together in public. Renee thinks about this a moment. She then tells Matt
she understands his not wanting to destroy his wife. But she is also determined
not to allow him to destroy her. She then escorts him to the door, and he leaves
alone.
When the Christmas party ends, Cage spies Nelle
standing beneath the mistletoe yet again. He advances, but she senses his
presence and turns towards him. This time, she pulls him close and gives Cage a
passionate kiss.
As Ally walks through the empty office complex,
towards the elevator, she sees a unicorn. She pets the creature and wishes it a
Merry Christmas.
In
Dreams
An
ailing woman who prefers living in her dreams seeks a court order that would
force a hospital to place her in a coma. Ling informs Fish that Nelle has
tired of Cage’s lack of sexual aggressiveness.
As a contented Ally sleeps in her bed, snuggled
next to her inflatable date, the telephone starts to ring. Ally awakens and
answers the call. She is informed that her old high school teacher, Bria
Tolson, has been admitted to the hospital. Ally leaves the inflatable date in
Renee’s care and makes her way to the hospital, where she greets Bria, a
frail but mentally alert seventy-year-old. Bria introduces Ally to Father
McNamara, who has been keeping an eye on her during her stay. As Bria drifts
off to sleep, McNamara informs Ally that Bria hasn’t long to live. As the
pair converse, Bria begins hallucinating. Ally realizes that Bria is
conversing with Henry Lane, an imaginary man who lives only in her dreams.
Meanwhile, back at the firm, Nelle approaches Cage in the unisex and tells him
how public places excite her. As Nelle begins undoing Cage’s neck tie, the
toilet seat rises and falls in a rapid manner. Cage excuses himself and enters
the stall.
Bria confides to Ally that, in her dreams, she
and Henry married. Bria closes her eyes, and suddenly, machines begin to beep.
A medical team charges into the room. Moments before she receives a jolt from
the shock paddles, Bria opens her eyes. The doctor is taken aback, for the
machine shows a flat line. McNamara realizes that a monitoring wire became
disconnected. Moments later, Ally realizes that the physician who rushed into
the room is none other than Greg Butters. Ally has a fantasy in which her
tongue pops out of her mouth, if only a small amount, and flitters.
Greg tells Ally that Bria’s body is shutting
down, and that she has anywhere from a week to three months left to live.
Shortly thereafter, Bria tells Greg that she would like to go to sleep-and
never wake up again-so that she can be with Henry and her children. Afterward,
Ally pursues the idea of medically inducing a coma. Greg assures her that the
hospital would never approve of such a procedure. Back at the firm, Ally
informs her colleagues that she will go before Whipper to present her case. In
court, she argues that when Bria goes to sleep, she enters a better place.
Back at the firm, Ling approaches Fish in
private. She tells him that she believes Cage is gay, as he does not respond
to Nelle’s sexual advances. Fish points out that no one thinks twice when a
woman rebuffs a man’s advances. Yet when a man refuses sex, he is labeled as
being homosexual.
Whipper agrees to speak with Bria in person. In
her hospital room, Bria recounts how she first invented Henry when she
wasn’t asked to the high school prom. As time went on, she began dreaming
about her imaginary lover, until she reached a point where she couldn’t wait
to fall asleep. She finds it ironic that anyone would think her crazy for
wanting to live in such a better world. Whipper rules that Bria is of sound
mind, but the hospital refuses to induce a coma. Ally decides to seek a court
order that would force the hospital to put Bria to sleep.
Attorney John Woodson questions hospital Chief
of Staff Mark Harrison on the witness stand. Harrison argues that it would be
ethically immoral for the hospital to intentionally place a patient in a coma.
He also points out that there is no guarantee a person would continue
experiencing dream patterns once the coma was induced. Afterward, Ally points
out that hospitals increase morphine drips to accelerate the deaths of
terminally ill patients. She wonders why a hospital would have an ethical
problem with helping a patient fall asleep.
Cage tells Nelle that he has avoided a sexual
relationship because he fears it would ultimately lead to the end of the
relationship. He states that, ultimately, he is more excited by the prospect
of not going down that road, so that it will always remain the road ahead. A
confused look passes over Nelle’s face. Later, Nelle closes her eyes and
gives the "inner world thing" a try. In her fantasy, she envisions
Cage getting thrown into a dumpster. She tells Cage that their relationship is
over.
Ling tells Nelle that she is emotionally inept,
and that she likes Cage because he will never find her "defrost
button." She also believes that Nelle likes sex because she mistakes it
for passion. But Nelle insists she is neither cold nor inaccessible.
Greg allows Bria to leave the hospital
temporarily so she can be present in the courtroom during final arguments. In
court, Woodson argues that if Bria wins the case, it would set a precedent
that might one day allow people to take a pill that induces happy dreams. But
in her closing statement, Ally argues that the court must not rule on the
"big picture," but instead focus on one single case. Shortly
thereafter, Bria tells Whipper that the risk of not waking up again does not
frighten her. Whipper grants Bria’s request for a period of one week.
Cage approaches Nelle in her office. He tells
her he is willing to risk their relationship by progressing beyond the
platonic stage. The idea pleases Nelle.
At the hospital, Greg places Bria on a sodium
pentathol drip. Moments later, Bria loses consciousness. Ally notices a little
smile on Bria’s face as she sleeps.
Love
Unlimited
Ally
represents a woman whose husband wishes to annul their marriage on the grounds
that he is a "sexaholic" and was incompetent when he agreed to go
through with the wedding.
Greg Butters escorts Ally to her front door.
Ally declines to invite Greg inside, fearing he might strike up a duet with
Renee. The pair hold a look… and Ally experiences a fantasy in which their
tongues extend and entwine. A short time later, Ally tells Renee that Greg
would like the relationship to evolve slowly. The concept appeals to Ally so
much that she experiences another fantasy… one in which she literally walks
on air. When Ally returns to the office, she learns that a group of
environmentalists is suing Ling over a housing project she is developing.
Since the activists claim that trees have rights, Ling has decided to sue the
environment.
Fish tells Ally about Kimberly Goodman, whose
husband wishes to annul their marriage. The husband claims he is a
"sexaholic" and was incompetent at the time of the ceremony.
After setting up another date with Greg, Ally
concludes she cannot deal with her happiness and must seek therapy. Cage
invites her to share his appointment with Tracy. Unfortunately, Tracy turns
out to be unavailable. Instead, the pair meet with Dr. Nickle. But the
chemistry just isn’t the same, and Ally decides to wait until Tracy returns.
In Fish’s office, Kimberly Goodman states how
very much she would like to prevent a judge from ruling that her husband
agreed to their marriage in an act of insanity.
Fish asks Ling if they are taking their
relationship seriously. He points out that, although they have been dating for
four months, they have yet to have sex. Ling explains that she enjoys
foreplay… and proceeds to run her tongue up Fish’s index finger. Fish
finds the sensation quite erotic. Later, Nelle observes that Ling never says
the word "sex." She refers to the act instead as "it."
Ling tells Nelle that whenever she says the word "sex," it drives
men, and even some women, completely crazy. Nelle convinces her to say the
word… and realizes that she is telling the truth.
In court, Kimberly Goodman’s husband,
Stanley, takes the witness stand. Fish points out that Stanley’s claim is an
obvious attempt to escape making alimony payments.
Ally and Cage decide to use one another for
therapy. During their "session," Ally describes a dream in which a
female executive announces that she has been elected as a role model. Ally
responds by biting off the executive’s nose. Ally tells Cage that she craves
dependency, and as a result, it makes her feel like a failure.
In court, Dr. Kyle Hubbell, a psychiatrist,
claims that sex addicts suffer from a compulsive disorder. He believes that
Stanley, who was abused as a child, experiences bouts of powerlessness…which
extends to his decision to marry Kimberly. Afterward, Ally tells her
colleagues that Stanley has a chance of winning the case.
When Kimberly takes the witness stand, she
testifies that she knew about her husband’s affairs for a year and a half.
But she took no legal action because of her two children. She and Stanley
sought counseling. Unfortunately, Stanley attempted to sleep with the
counselor. Eventually, Kimberly realized her husband was addicted to sex, and
she filed for divorce. Only then did Stanley attempt to nullify the marriage.
Cage tells Ally that he cancelled his date with
Nelle, as he now believes she has a spontaneity fetish. He plans on going to
Nelle after everyone has left the office. Unfortunately, Nelle overhears his
plan, creating a certain amount of pressure. Nonetheless, Cage sets his idea
in motion. That night, he enters Nelle’s office and gives her a seductive
gaze. Nelle steps out of her dress, and Cage advances. But when Nelle unstraps
her bra, Cage’s eyes bulge and he runs from the room.
Cage rushes to Ally and tells her what
transpired. Ally assures him that everyone experiences the same type of panic
from time to time. Cage tells her that the moment "felt wrong."
In court, Ally and Attorney Wilson deliver
their closing arguments. Ally gives an impassioned final statement, chastising
Stanley for subjecting his wife and children to public embarrassment. The
gallery erupts in applause. Judge Harris agrees with her argument, and denies
the annulment petition.
Cage approaches Nelle in her office. He
apologizes for his previous behavior. He tells her that she represents the
kind of girl who would never go out with him in high school. So when he does
go out with her, it’s as if he is living out a fantasy. However, he feels as
if that is all he is doing. Nelle concludes that Cage has met someone else and
leaves the room.
As Ally and Greg walk through the streets of
Boston, Greg states that he likes the concept of marriage-and plans on getting
married only once. This brings a slight smile to Ally’s face.
Angels
and Blimps
A young
leukemia sufferer wishes to sue God. Fish and Cage defend a client accused of
attempted murder.
As Greg and Ally walk through a hospital
corridor, they encounter Ling. She explains that she had sent the flowers to an
ailing friend. When she learned that the friend expired, she traveled to the
hospital to retrieve the flowers. Shortly thereafter, Greg checks on a patient,
eight-year-old Eric Stall, a leukemia sufferer. When Eric sees Ally for the
first time, he announces that he has seen "an angel."
Back at the office, the other attorneys react
when Nelle enters the conference room wearing brown makeup over her eyes,
producing the look of painted-on eyeglasses. Nelle explains that she has no
meetings that day, and "just felt like it." As the attorneys return to
the business at hand, Billy expresses concern over Fish and Cage's newest case:
defending a client against attempted murder charges. Billy reminds the pair that
they have almost no experience with criminal trials. However, Fish declares that
he and Cage are prepared for the trial… and are very much a team.
Eric introduces Ally to his mother, Julie Stall.
Shortly thereafter, the boy asks Ally if she could help him in his effort to sue
God. Julie recounts for Ally her son's many misfortunes in life. After Eric's
father died, the boy learned he had leukemia. Julie's insurance company refused
to pay for an experimental drug treatment, and her church could not help. As a
result, Eric became angry at God. Ally tells Julie that she doesn't think it is
possible to slap the Almighty with a lawsuit. Ling interrupts the conversation.
She assures Eric that he can sue Him. Afterward, Nelle informs her colleagues
that Ling is an attorney. The others are stunned.
In court, Rodney Wilcox takes the witness stand.
He admits to having an affair with Harvey Kent's wife, Sheila. One night, an
enraged Harvey caught the pair in bed. He raised a pistol and opened fire.
Rodney was struck twice, but he recovered from his injuries. Fish uses double
entendre in his attempt to discredit Rodney on the stand.
Eric and his mother show up at the firm
unexpectedly. Eric asks Ally if she will represent his case against God. Caught
off guard, Ally agrees to do so. Shortly thereafter, Julie tells Ally that the
idea has given her son's spirits a lift. Ling, however, barely remembers the
little boy… and states that she has better things to do with her time than sue
God. Later, Eric tells Ally that he hopes his lawsuit will give him a chance to
address the Almighty face to face. But he suddenly has doubts about His
existence. Ally tells the boy that there is a God. As Ling listens from the
doorway, Ally recounts how, as a little girl, she begged her mother for a
sister. Not long after, her mother gave birth to a girl. The child died at age
five, and Ally stopped believing in God. Her parents tried very hard to change
her mind. One day, Ally noticed something she had never seen before: a blimp
flying in the sky. Her mother told her that the blimp was God. Later, her mother
revised the story. She told Ally that "God had man make the blimp to remind
people that He's up there watching." Now, every time Ally sees a blimp, she
thinks of the Almighty.
In court, Renee questions Dr. Burns, who
testifies that Harvey's anger never rose to the level of insanity. Fish, in his
own unique way, cross-examines the doctor. He gets Burns to admit that he has
been wrong in the past.
Ally convinces Ling to "come out of
retirement" for Eric's lawsuit. They meet with Attorney Arthur Gale, the
lawyer for Eric's church. Gale cannot take seriously the idea of taking God-and
the church as God's agent-to court. But Ling makes a compelling argument when
she reminds Gale that Eric's parents contributed generously to the church, and
as a result, there may be a duty for the church to give back to the boy. She
also states that the cost of defending the church's position in the public arena
will be exorbitant. She believes it will be far cheaper in the long run to
simply settle out of court. Ally is stunned when the church agrees to settle.
Now that money is not an issue, an oncologist is contacted so that Eric can
begin receiving the experimental drug.
During final statements, Cage recounts how, in
high school, he gathered the courage to ask the most beautiful girl in his class
to the prom. To his surprise, the girl replied in the affirmative. Cage walked
on air for weeks afterward. But two days before the prom, the girl changed her
mind. Cage then wonders what it must have been life for Harvey to have committed
his life to someone… and then find them in bed with another man. He states
that, at the time, Harvey must have been temporarily insane. The jury agrees,
and Harvey is set free.
Eric's health takes a turn for the worse. Both
Ally and Ling pay the boy a visit in his hospital room. He has heard that when
it is time to die, a person will see their angel. In his dreams, Eric was Ally's
angel. He tells her that, perhaps, it is time for her to find a new one. Ally
tries not to dissolve into tears. Later, Greg informs the pair that Eric died.
Ling stays expressionless. But as she walks off down a corridor, away from the
others, tears stream down her face. As Ally walks home that night, a blimp
passes overhead. The message board prints out, "Just Looking." Ally
can only stare, wondering. Across the street, out of sight, Ling (who ordered
the blimp) watches Ally's reaction.
Pyramids
on the Nile
A company
fires two employees for breaking its "date and tell" office policy.
Billy grows jealous when he sees Greg and Ally kissing. Ling asks Fish to hire
her as counsel.
Greg enters the firm carrying flowers and a red
Valentine's Day balloon. The sight triggers one of Ally's fantasies: the dancing
baby, dressed as Cupid, sprays her with arrows. Shortly thereafter, Billy sees
the pair kiss.
Ling pressures Fish hire her services as counsel.
She entices him by licking his finger.
Attorney Jordan and six of his high-powered
colleagues meet with Cage and Nelle. They offer to settle a sexual harassment
case for $125,000 for each client. Nelle and Cage reject the offer… and hold
out for two million dollars. When a price cannot be agreed upon, the case goes
to trial.
In court, Ally and Billy represent Myra Jacobs,
who contests a will that cut her out of an estate when she remarried. Judge
Hopkins rules that restrictions against remarriage are often ruled as invalid
only when the intent is punitive. Ally experiences a fantasy in which her legs
are literally chopped out from under her. Afterward, Billy chastises Ally for
being unprepared in court. He implies it is because she was more concerned about
Valentine's Day dinner with Greg than with doing her homework. Angered, Ally
warns Billy to never again speak to her in such a fashion.
Nelle and Cage's client, Steve Cloves, takes the
witness stand. He testifies that he met, and fell in love with, Callie Horn at
his place of work. The pair had been together for three months when they were
approached by the company's vice president of personnel, Mr. Forsely. When Steve
and Callie admitted to the relationship, they were promptly discharged. The
company enforces a strict policy called "date and tell," in which
employees are required to disclose the truth should they fall into a
relationship (thus insulating the company against any sexual harassment claims).
Cloves admits that when he chose not to disclose the relationship, he knew he
was violating policy.
Fish announces that Ling has been hired to work
at the firm. Georgia, Billy and Ally are incredulous. The threesome confront
Cage, who refuses to interfere with Fish's decision. Fish explains that Ling
will be supervising the infrastructure handling her corporate ventures… which
will bring a great deal of money into the firm.
In court, Attorney Jordan questions Leon Abbott,
a lawyer who specializes in sexual harassment cases. He testifies that Cobb
Co.'s policy is not only excellent, it is similar to ones used by many major
companies. Later, Nelle approaches Callie and Steve… and asks them to consider
the settlement offer. Neither she nor Cage feels confident about winning the
case, as the opposition has effectively established themselves as the victims.
But Callie and Steve refuse to change their minds. Later, in an inspired move,
Cage asks Ling to testify in the case.
Billy fears that if Ling becomes the firm's
biggest client, she will eventually become the boss. He arranges to have drinks
with Ally so they can discuss the issue. At a restaurant, the topic shifts from
business to relationships. Billy confesses that he could barely keep his
composure when he saw Greg and Ally kissing. He states that he will never love
anyone in the same way that he loves Ally. When Ally leaves the restaurant, she
runs home as fast as she can.
Renee questions Ally about her feelings for Greg
and Billy. Ally states that she loves Greg. But from a place deep inside her
being, she also states that she loves Billy. When Ling takes the witness stand,
she testifies about her sexual harassment suit against the manufacturing plant
where she once worked (which involved the sexually harassing thoughts of
others). Afterward, Cage tells Callie and Steve that the other side withdrew its
settlement offer.
Ally discovers Billy sitting in her office. He
tells her that when Fish hired Ling, he considered leaving the firm. But he
suddenly realized how much he would miss Ally. Ally reminds Billy that he is
married to Georgia.
During his final statement, Cage tells the jury
that Steve and Callie were fired for attempting to keep their private life
between themselves. As a result, they lost everything. The jury finds in favor
of the plaintiffs, and Cobb Co. is ordered to pay Steve and Callie $942,000.
Ling arouses Fish with a "hair tickle,"
in which she softly brushes her hair against his skin.
Ally arranges to have dinner with Greg. When she
hangs up the phone, she sees Billy standing in her office doorway. Ally dons her
coat and walks towards Billy, coming face to face. Billy tells her that he never
imagined he could meet the person of his dreams at the age of eight. Ally
experiences a fantasy in which she and Billy kiss. But when she snaps back to
reality, she is riding in the elevator… alone
Sideshow
Special
guest: Tracey Ullman
Ally and Billy deal with the repercussions of
their kiss – in the office, in therapy and on their own.
Freaking out over kissing Billy, Ally runs home
to tell Renee and stands Greg up. When Greg shows up at the apartment, Ally
wants to tell him what happened, but Renee won’t let her. Ally hates to be
dishonest, to which Renee says, “every relationship starts with dishonesty, it
sets the stage for marriage.” When Billy shows up, Ally can’t handle the
pressure and kicks both him and Greg out.
In therapy, Dr. Tracy listens to Ally’s whole
story before calling her a baby and a slut. Her advice is for Ally to sleep with
Greg as soon as possible to find out if they’re compatible; if they’re not,
Ally’s worries are cut in half. Back in the office, Ally can’t help seeing
Georgia with a big knife stuck in her back. She briefly speaks with Billy and
they both dare each other to admit they want to pursue a relationship. Billy
suggests they meet at Ally’s during lunch. Ally races back to therapy where
Dr. Tracy tells her to call Billy’s bluff – and to consider if that’s what
she really wants. Meanwhile, Greg shows up in Ally’s office out of concern.
His compassion only confuses Ally more.
Billy and Ally’s lunch rendezvous reveals that
they are both having second thoughts about initiating a full-blown affair. They
share another tender kiss, which leaves Ally in tears. Ally heads back to
therapy and Dr. Tracy requests a joint session with Ally and Billy. Meanwhile,
in the office Georgia is growing suspicious – but not of Ally, of Nelle.
Billy arrives at Dr. Tracy’s under protest and
denies that the kiss had anything to do with his relationship with Georgia. He
questions Dr. Tracy’s ability to sympathize or relate to anybody in love. In
response, Dr. Tracy breaks into a pathetic version of the song “Tainted
Love.” Afterwards, she has Billy and Ally visualize what their life would be
like as a couple. What should be a blissful moment, turns ugly. Billy thinks
Ally is vain and that she’ll always have self-esteem issues. Ally accuses
Billy of having no respect for her. The final blow comes when Billy tells Ally
that love is wasted on her, because she’ll always be unhappy. In fact, he
confesses, that’s why he left her. Ally is crushed, but vows to find happiness
one day. Despite all their confusion and pain, they both admit they still love
each other – but still aren’t sure what to do about it.
Sex,
Lies and Politics
Billy
tells Georgia about the kiss; Cage takes on a U.S. Senator; Ally seeks
guidance from a variety of sources.
The guilt over kissing Billy is sending
Ally’s imagination into overdrive. First, she hears people on the street
trash-talking her, then she envisions Georgia’s head ballooning in time with
Ally’s pounding heartbeat. It only gets worse when the entire firm is asked
to help John’s latest case. His client is suing a U.S. Senator for defaming
her bookstore as pornographic because it sells photography books and works by
Balzac and Chaucer. The defense attorney pulled a settlement offer at the last
minute, knowing John wouldn’t have time for a continuance and therefore,
wouldn’t be prepared for trial. Everyone is asked to do emergency discovery,
meaning Ally and Georgia are working together.
Meanwhile, Greg and Ally go to lunch and she
tells him what happened with Billy. He’s upset and tells Ally, “I
understand you may be emotionally neurotic, I may even tolerate it, but
don’t celebrate it.” Billy, on the other hand, wants desperately to
confess to Georgia but everyone – from therapists to friends – is advising
against it. Ally, also wracked with guilt, drags Renee to church searching for
answers. The sermon happens to be about adultery and how it is the worst sin.
Ally interrupts the congregation to protest – certainly murder is worse?!
She speaks privately with the minister who advises her that telling Georgia is
the selfish thing to do, and it’s Billy’s responsibility, not hers. Still
unsure, Ally goes so far as to call Dr. Ruth’s radio program and ask for
advice. Dr. Ruth thinks Ally should tell her friend that she’s no friend at
all.
Back in court, John calls on Ling to second
chair and uses her as a devil’s advocate. She interrupts John’s
questioning with objections and seems to be on the Senator’s side. Later,
John finds out that the sequestered jury has seen The Music Man. He
brilliantly weaves comparisons between the Senator and The Music Man into his
questioning – even breaking into song and getting the jurors to sing the
chorus. The strategy, combined with Ling’s compelling closing arguments
(including a fake Chinese proverb), results in a $1.2 million verdict for
their client.
Billy, unable to take the guilt, goes to
Georgia’s office and blurts out the truth. He tries to explain that the kiss
was a result of boredom, not a sign that he wants to leave and he tells
Georgia he loves her. Ally interrupts them, and can tell by the looks on their
faces what they were discussing. Later, she follows Billy into the Unisex
yelling at him for not telling her he was going to talk to Georgia. She
follows him into a stall before she realizes where they are. When she exits
the stall, Georgia is standing there. After Ally leaves, Georgia tells Billy
that they need time apart.
Civil
Wars
Ally and
John go up against Richard and Georgia in court; Nelle and Ling help a very
sweaty client.
Office tensions are high, not only because
everyone knows about Billy and Ally’s kiss, but also because the firm is
representing both sides in a date rape trial. The plaintiff, Paula, is upset
because after she willingly slept with the defendant, Kevin, she found out he
had accessed her all-female chat room to learn about her interests and dreams.
The defendant, represented by Richard and Georgia, admits this and claims he
only did it to get an edge in meeting her.
Ally tries to convince Paula to settle. The
defendant is the son of a wealthy and powerful client and Paula could easily get
a chunk of money. Paula just feels conned and would rather see Kevin publicly
condemned. Meanwhile, Ally is obsessed with hearing from Greg and dives for the
phone every time it rings. Back in the office, Nelle meets her client, sweaty
George Chisolm. The IRS is auditing him, and Nelle agrees to meet with the
auditor on his behalf. She does, but he still insists on meeting Chisolm
face-to-face. Nelle’s worried her client’s sweating will make him look
guilty.
In court, Paula testifies that she and Kevin made
love under false pretenses and that constitutes rape. On cross examination,
Georgia points out that in the beginning of a relationship, we all pretend to be
whoever the other person wants us to be. When Ally objects, she and Georgia
morph into two hissing cats. The fight continues later, in the Unisex, when
Georgia calls Ally a conniving backstabber. Meanwhile, in Nelle’s office,
Nelle and Ling “paint” Mr. Chisolm with liniment to thwart his profuse
sweating. It works, up until the middle of the meeting when Mr. Chisolm’s
flood gates open. In a follow up meeting, Nelle lets her hair down and charms
the auditor into cutting her client some slack. Elsewhere, John tells Richard
that he is a much better lawyer and therefore, Richard should settle. Richard
takes offense to this and challenges John.
During closing arguments, John asks that the jury
put a monetary value on the client’s deceit. Richard, however, asks that they
consider that both sexes pretend to be people they aren’t as part of the
mating dance. When it comes to sex, he argues, women expect men to make the
first move. Plus, his client actually cared for the plaintiff, as is evident by
the fact he didn’t dump her after sleeping with her. His words strike a chord
with Paula.
Later, in the Unisex, Georgia bumps into Ally,
who pushes her back. Georgia shoves Ally harder and Ally lunges at Georgia.
Nelle, then Ling, try to separate them but all four end up rolling around on the
floor while Elaine videotapes. Ally winds up in the ER with a gash on her
forehead. Just as John and Richard drop by to tell her that Paula and Kevin
reconciled, in walks Ally’s doctor, Greg. She tries her best to reason with
him, but all she leaves with is a tetanus shot – not reconciliation.
Those
Lips, That Hand
Ally and
Cage defend a man accused of murder (Special guest Tony Shaloub); Fish tries to
break up with Ling; Billy and Georgia take a hair-raising case.
Ally worries about her upcoming twenty-ninth
birthday, but luckily Renee is there to cheer her up. She tells Ally to look at
the bright side, Ally’s twenties were a total disaster and now they’re
almost over! Later, in the staff meeting, Ally and John discuss their case:
defending Mr. Shepley, accused of murdering his wife. Things don’t look good
for Shepley since he admits to cutting off his wife’s hand, but swears it was
after she was already dead from cardiac arrest. He contends that he loved her so
much, that he couldn’t bear to not have a part of her with him – even after
her death. Ally whole-heartedly believes in the power of love to motivate
strange behavior, but Renee – who is prosecuting – thinks it’s a feeble
defense. Elaine mentions that she is planning a party at the bar for Ally and
John Cage, who turns thirty-five that same week. Under new business, Billy and
Georgia have a client suing his boss for ageism.
Billy and Georgia meet with their client, Ross
Fineman, and are horrified by his elaborate comb-over. His employer didn’t
fire him because of his age, they find out, but because the bad hair scared off
potential customers. They convince Ross to get a trim by bluntly telling him how
horrible he looks and that he’s not fooling anyone with his cinnamon bun hair
configuration. Meanwhile, Richard tries to be tough with Ling and breaks up with
her for their non-existent sex life. She confesses that the reason she hasn’t
slept with him is because she’s totally amazing in bed. So good, in fact, that
all other aspects of their relationship – like conversation and going out –
will dissolve and sex will become an obsession. He’s obsessed now, he says.
In court, Mr. Shepley testifies that although his
wife was in a vegetative state, he would never kill her. Renee questions why, if
he was so in love with his wife, did he not call 911 or attempt to save her
before cutting her up. She punctuates her point by firing up a chainsaw. Ally
and John are both affected by their client’s defense. John thinks that maybe
he’s pathetic for not taking such risks. As if proving something to himself,
he kisses Ally. Ally’s closing arguments come from her heart. She tells the
jury that she’s worried her life is an empty sack, and she hopes she’ll wind
up with someone who cares about her the way Mr. Shepley so obviously cared about
his wife. When the jury comes back with a non-guilty verdict, John impulsively
kisses Renee.
That night at the bar, the birthday celebration
is in full swing. Elaine performs an elaborate song and dance number. Across the
bar, Richard shows Ling that he has a few tricks of his own by debuting the knee
pit maneuver. Soon, a Barry White song begins to play. Nelle leans over to John
and says, “Happy Birthday,” just as Barry White himself waltzes in! John is
in awe and leads the entire firm to the dance floor, while his idol continues to
croon.
Let’s
Dance
Billy
and Georgia seek counseling with special guest Rosie O’Donnell; Elaine and
Ling enter a dance contest; Ally refuses to help on a big case.
After his Barry White encounter, John Cage
feels like a sexy new man. Unfortunately, he can’t quite convince Nelle.
She’s totally emersed in a new case, defending a law firm accused of
discriminating against mothers. The prosecution contends that their client was
on a clear track for partnership before she left on maternity leave. After she
returned to work, however, she was told to forget about it. Richard wants Ally
to co-chair, strictly for appearances, but Ally is appalled by the case and
Nelle’s willingness to take it. Meanwhile, Elaine is despondent because her
swing dance partner is injured and a competition is only a day away. After a
bit of scrambling, Ling volunteers to help Elaine out.
In therapy, Billy and Georgia deal with their
new therapist, the gum-smacking Dr. Hooper (Special guest Rosie O’Donnell).
Dr. Hooper has no sympathy for Billy and calls him an awful person. She says
that if he were her husband she’d “kick his ass.” Finally, Billy admits
that maybe kissing Ally had something to do with his fear of losing Georgia.
Dr. Hooper thinks it would help if she met Ally.
Richard, Nelle and John argue over the
likelihood of winning their case. Nelle is adamant that when women give birth
they automatically have less time and energy to devote to their careers and,
therefore, their client had every right to reconsider the partnership track.
John and Richard wonder aloud how Nelle will feel about the subject once she
becomes a mother. Offended, Nelle shocks them both by pointing out that not
all women want to have kids – especially not her. Later, John is bopping to
his re-energized “inner” Barry White when Renee notices that he’s a
little different. Inspired by the attention, John asks Renee out. When she
accepts, he sends her swooning with a little knee pit action.
As the dance contest grows closer, Ling and
Elaine get in sync; however, Ling wants out. She feels it’s too risky, too
sweaty and she’s getting a blister. In the Unisex, Ally pleads with Ling to
reconsider; afterall, there is so little in Elaine’s pathetic life. Elaine
emerges from a stall, having heard everything, and calls Ally an elitist snob.
Ling and Elaine rejoin forces and emerge victorious with a rousing number!
Later, Ally reluctantly meets with Dr. Hooper,
who immediately pegs Ally as a weakling and a homewrecker. After a few more
taunts, Ally stomps out...stomping on Dr. Hooper’s foot and breaking it!
Back at court, Nelle loses her case, and John
tries unsuccessfully to console her. He expresses his belief that her
parents’ divorce hurt her so much that she’s afraid to get serious, and
terrified of having children. This unsolicited analysis hits Nelle close to
home.
Only the
Lonely
Elaine’s
Face Bra infomercial debuts; the firm defends a boss who encouraged a monthly
“Beach Day”; John and Nelle go on their first date.
Elaine is jubilant at the viewing party for her
Face Bra infomercial. The next morning, after she celebrates the 800 orders
placed, Elaine is shocked to see her Aunt Gladys – and even more shocked when
she finds out Aunt Gladys is suing her over the Face Bra. In the meantime, Billy
and Ling co-chair a case involving a boss who encouraged his employees to wear
swimwear into the office once a month. He’s being sued for sexual harassment
by a slightly overweight female plaintiff.
Ally tries to ascertain why Elaine’s aunt would
claim that Elaine stole the Face Bra idea from her now deceased cousin. Elaine
admits she told her cousin about the idea, but that was it. In the office, John
puts his smooth moves on Nelle and tries to slip her the knee pit. She screams
in pain and he goes straight to Ally for advice/consolation. Ally turns John’s
confusion into a forum for her own love dilemma: she misses Greg and feels she
blew her only chance with him. John says that if he’s willing to try again
with Nelle, Ally should try again with Greg. They’ve got nothing to lose.
In court, Billy and Ling’s client, Mr. Volpe,
takes the stand. He defends “Beach Day” as a way to create fun in the office
and reenergize the workplace. During cross-examinations, a number of bikini- and
Speedo-clad people enter the courtroom and take seats. The prosecution tells the
judge that this shouldn’t at all be distracting, but in fact the stunt has
successfully distracted the entire jury. Meanwhile, Elaine’s day in court
isn’t going much better. During discussions with her aunt, Elaine’s family
baggage gets tossed around like a beach ball. Georgia and Ally aren’t
completely convinced of Elaine’s innocence, but Elaine refuses to back down.
Later, during a freak accident in the Unisex, John dismounts into Elaine and she
crashes into a toilet head first! Nelle enters shortly after and John boldly
asks her out. She accepts with one condition: they cannot go to the bar. They
agree to a double date with Richard and Ling, and the women take the guys to a
hip rap club.
The next day, after closing arguments, Ling is
convinced Mr. Volpe should settle the suit. He refuses to admit fault and
declines the settlement. Surprisingly, the jury finds in his favor. Elaine’s
case takes an interesting turn when she remembers a birthday tape of her and her
cousin discussing the Face Bra. It establishes that Elaine’s cousin knew
nothing about the invention until Elaine brought it up. Elaine’s aunt is
stunned, but apologetic. After surviving the double date, Nelle invites John
over to her place for dinner. He thinks this might be a sign she wants to sleep
with him...and he’s right. That same night, Ally screws up the courage to talk
to Greg in person, but is sadly disappointed to see him in the arms of another
woman.
The Green
Monster
Ally hires
an escort (Special guest Antonio Sabato, Jr.) to make Greg jealous; Georgia gets
a hot new look; Cage tries to defend a revengeful wife.
Fish and Cage meet with a woman, Bonnie Mannix,
being sued by her husband for malicious destruction. She underscores the fact
that her husband of eleven years cheated on her; therefore, she feels justified
in her actions. While he was out having an illicit tryst in front of their
mutual friends, Bonnie arranged for his prized grand piano to be hoisted over
his antique Porsche. When he returned home, she pushed a button and the piano,
the Porsche and effectively, the marriage were destroyed.
In the office, Ally’s song therapy draws the
attention of Ling. Ling feels that instead of trying to get over Greg, Ally
should try to make Greg jealous. Conveniently, Ling owns a male escort service
and recommends one of her best men. Ally discusses the idea with Renee, who
thinks it’s stupid. Regardless, they come up with a plan – a belated
birthday celebration for John Cage that Renee can invite Greg to attend.
Meanwhile, in the Unisex, Billy reacts to Georgia’s sexy new look. She tells
him that Ling designed her revealing new dresses, but Billy thinks it’s
inappropriate for work. Georgia argues that if John Cage can have a change in
attitude, why can’t she?
Renee has a hard time convincing John to have a
fake birthday party to help Ally. To demonstrate the power of jealousy, she
pulls John into her bosom, just as Nelle enters the room. The trick works and
John agrees, but can’t guarantee he’ll be there. In the meantime, Ally meets
her stud-for-hire, a gorgeous specimen named Kevin (Special guest Antonio
Sabato, Jr.). He promises to do whatever it takes to turn Greg into a green
monster of jealousy.
At the party, Greg shows up with a beautiful
woman, so Ally and Kevin decide to take drastic measures. They sing a sultry
duet of the same song Greg and Renee sang at Ally’s birthday (“All I Have To
Do Is Dream”). Greg, obviously bothered, counters with a sexy duet with his
equally talented date. Unfortunately, all this singing has inspired Georgia to
put her new attitude to the test with a booming solo. She stinks and the crowd
mercifully joins in to spare them all further humiliation.
The next day, John’s closing arguments seem to
have an effect. While the jury finds in favor of Bonnie’s philandering
husband, they only award him damages in the amount of thirty-two cents. Billy
confronts Georgia and agrees to be more supportive of her if she promises never
to sing in public again. Greg asks Ally out for coffee, but she still tries her
luck with Kevin. Kevin tells her it wouldn’t be professional for them to
really date, but that she’s welcome to hire him any time.
Love’s
Illusions
John and
Ally defend a wife accused of fraud; Fish finally gets Ling into bed; Billy
and Georgia remedy their “stalled” love life.
Ally keeps flashing back to various stages of
her childhood, and can’t put a finger on why she’s always on the verge of
tears. Renee tries to comfort her by saying, “You’re a lonely, pathetic,
big empty sack with bad hair, who stoops to using escort services. Why
wouldn’t you cry?” In the office, Ally and John meet with their new
client, Kelly Philbrick. Kelly’s husband is suing her because he discovered
her diary, which clearly states that she was never really in love with him.
What’s worse, he contends, is that the entries are written to a fictitious
man and date back eleven years – nine years longer than they’ve been
married. It’s as if Kelly loved her fantasy man more than her husband. In
court, Ally has trouble focusing and constantly see the judge as Al Green.
Ling demands some knee pit gratification from
Richard, but he refuses and says what they really need is good old-fashioned
sex, and lots of it. Ling reluctantly agrees, but warns Richard of her
prowess. That night, she makes Richard sign a waiver just before pouncing on
him. Unfortunately, all the anticipation has left Richard a little limp. In
other sex matters, Billy and Georgia discuss how single people seem to have
all the racy fun. They decide to be more spontaneous.
The following day, John and Ally burst into the
Unisex heatedly discussing their case. Ally objects to the idea that love is
an illusion, that “the one” doesn’t really exist. John tells her that on
some unconscious level she knows that the only world that won’t end up
disappointing her, is the one she makes up. She argues that what relationships
need, what marriages should have, is passion, passion, passion! At which
point, Billy and Georgia come tumbling out of a nearby stall half-naked.
Back in court, Ally has sociologist Margaret
Camaro testify. Camaro states her belief that the institution of marriage is a
big falsity. Kelly didn’t lie, Camaro argues, she made a pragmatic choice.
Instead of having an affair, she created a fantasy that made her real life
more tolerable. The testimony helps Kelly get a not guilty verdict, but sends
Ally spiraling further into despair. Later, she admits to Renee that when she
was three she walked in on her mom having sex with another man. From that day
on, Ally started romanticizing life. While she walks home alone, disenchanted
and confused, others are creating their own romance.
Billy and Georgia, hot off their Unisex
encounter, decide to try again – in Billy’s office. Meanwhile, Ling gives
Richard another chance, not knowing that he’s gone on Viagra. She’s
amazed, not to mention exhausted, when he performs like the Energizer bunny.
I Know
Him by Heart
Ally’s
Al Green hallucinations get out of control; lesbian sociologist Margaret Camaro
becomes a client.
Ally’s Al Green visions have taken over her
life and Renee is getting more and more concerned for Ally’s well being. When
Ally calls in sick and remains sequestered in her room, Renee visits the firm to
get Cage and Fish’s advice. Richard pays Ally a visit and explains that she
just feels bad for needing a man to fulfill her emotional needs. Richard thinks
Ally should realize that women are just created weak and get over it. As Ally
kicks him out, Renee shows up – and convinces Ally that instead of waiting for
Mr. Right, she should start looking for Mr. Right Now.
In the office, Ally asks Ling for hair and makeup
advice. Ling tries to find out if Ally’s a closet lesbian and asks if she can
lick Ally’s finger. Ally shrieks into the main office shouting “I am not a
lesbian!” and bumps into noted lesbian Margaret Camaro. It seems Richard is
helping Camaro sue her insurance company. Camaro wants to get pregnant, but they
are refusing to pay for fertilization costs. In the Unisex, Ally runs into John
and he tells Ally that it’s as if all the hope has been drained out her. She
blames his general pessimism for her lack of hope, but vows to becoming a dating
machine.
After Ally and Renee’s whirlwind dating spree,
Ally is convinced more than ever that no good men exist. Ling says it’s
because the good ones don’t hang out at bars. She even offers to pick up some
good men on her way to work the next day, as if they were bagels. Meanwhile,
Nelle confronts John over everyone’s involvement in Ally’s personal life.
Why, she wonders, does everyone tolerate the Ally universe infringing on all of
their lives? John thinks Nelle’s just threatened because he and Ally connect
on an “imaginary” level. Later, John goes on a dismount frenzy in the
Unisex, until Nelle snaps him back to reality. They come to realize that the
reason they are fighting is because they are falling in love with each other.
In court, the attorney for Camaro’s insurance
company suggests she try to get pregnant “the old-fashioned way” because
they refuse to pay. Camaro futilely defends her right to have a child and her
sexual identity, too. Afterwards, Ally and Camaro find common ground when Ally
accuses Camaro of wanting a child for the same reasons Ally wants a man – to
not be alone forever