I hope there's no offence to Vonda Shepard.
Fish & Porter, former Fish & Associates, formerly Fish & McBeal, formerly Cage, Fish & McBeal, formerly Cage & Fish
"Ok," Richard continued "Vonda the bar singer can't be present but she sent a music video of a song we all should know." He pressed some buttons and the familiar music and lyrics came:
I've been down this road walkin' the line
That's painted by pride
And I have made mistakes in my life
That I just can't hide
Oh I believe I am ready for what love has to bring
Got myself together, now I'm ready to sing
"Come on everybody, sing the chorus," Richard urged and they sang it. Vonda performed the whole song and only Elaine and Renee followed suit. As the song ended, Richard announced the next song would be 'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)' made famous by Betty Everett. As Elaine began singing, Ally suddenly remembered waning to be kissed by that guy Cheanie back in late September 1997. She now sat down on a nearby chair as Elaine as Elaine finished the song. Before Ally could continue to recall her time with that guy, Elaine started singing Dusty Springfield's 'I Only Want To Be With You'. As Elaine nearly finished the chorus, Ally yelled, "Stop, stop, this reminds me too much about that lawyer Harry!" Ally simultaneously remembered giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to that fat lawyer in late October 1997.
"Ally, I'm singing as to remember Cage & Fish and is successors – the 'you' is the firm," Elaine broken off her singing to explain. Ally continued to protest but the other shushed her and let the secretary complete the song. "Ally, you should know the next song," Renée called and she began singing 'Goodnight My Someone' from The Music Man. Ally recalled she and Renée singing this song after buying a new piano, so she joined in:
Goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight, my love,
Sleep tight, my someone,
Sleep tight, my love,
Our star is shining it's brightest light
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear
Ally let her former roommate finish the song and she also finished recalling how they sang the song together. Renée finished the song then cheekily started singing:
Ooga-chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-chaka Ooga-Ooga
"Stop, stop," Ally shouted. "I know what you're doing but I don't see or hear the dancing baby anymore!"
"He's probably grown up and pursuing a law degree," Nelle joked.
Suddenly, there was a buzz and Elaine taped on one of the many keyboards. A familiar face appeared on another screen. "Hiya Ally, hi John and hello all," the voice and face of Dr. Tracey Clark appeared. "I heard rumours of the firm closing and you lot are singing your hearts out. Why don't I join in and sing my theme song."
Before Ally say anything further, her old therapist belted out the lyrics:
Ba be, ba be ba be
Ba be ba be
Ba be ba be, ba be ba
Tracy, when I'm with you
Something you do
Bounces me off the ceiling
Tracey continued to sing the next verse but all Ally did was to remember how Tracey treated her, making her stand on one leg and Tracey herself laughed at her initial love life but introduced her to finding a theme song. Ally started singing 'Tell Him' in her head. As she recalled the next line, she barely noticed that Tracey had finished singing and the screen showing her had closed. Ally was still singing her theme song in her head, a new tune appeared on the speakers.
"Ally, you should remember this song," Elaine called and with microphones clipped on, she and Renée belted out Peggy Lee's 'I'm a Woman.' The gathered lawyers clapped along the beat of the song while Ally again lapsed into memory lane. Richard called this song her potential theme song but it wasn't but she remembered Greg, one of her first steady ex-boyfriends singing Elvis' 'Love Me' as a birthday gift. As she snapped back to reality, the duo had nearly finished the verse that Vonda would usually sing. Ally then remembered Renée joining Greg turning the song into a duet and spoiling her birthday celebration. She and Greg had a rocky then tight relationship until she kissed her old flame, Billy. Billy her first and still great love, but wait, I'm married to John.
The duo finished singing that song that Ling and Nelle also remembered they tried to impress the bar by secretly lip-syncing but failed. "Elaine check on the removal company," Richard ordered. The rely came fast – there was a traffic jam and hold up due to COVID-19 checks. Lucky there was water and some light alcoholic drinks. "Lunch will be in the next hour or so," Nelle announced.
With the gathered gang sipping on their drinks, Elaine again grabbed the mike again. "We can do one more song," Elaine called. There were groaned but when she announced the name, the Biscuit clapped. "Poor Barry," he remarked "I wish we could hear him live.'
"We at least I did get him live for us twice," Nelle reminded him.
"I hope you all remember the dance steps," Elaine added. "Mark, Coretta, Raymond this may be new for your lot but just follow the steps. Jackson, you should recall it," she reminded that lawyer how he danced in the unisex.
The familiar first verse filled the office:
We got it together didn't we?
We've definitely got our thing together, don't we baby?
Isn't that nice?
I mean, really, when you really sit and think about it
Isn't it really, really nice?
I can easily feel myself slipping more and more ways
That super world of my own
Nobody but you and me
We've got it together baby
Elaine sang the next verse, just like se did for Richard and Liza's wedding party then Renée joined in exactly. The two vocalists that were missing were Barry White and Vonda Shephard but the seasoned Elaine and Renée handled the song perfectly. Simultaneously, the other lawyers lined up just as they did in April 1999 and performed the classic dance to 'You're the First, the Last, My Everything.' Even the lawyers who weren't around then managed to follow the steps, with Jackson leading. The whole song and dance drew memories for many not just Ally who didn't fall but slumped back down on a chair as the last line was completed.
To be Continued.