Ally McBeal

6.1 - All the Good Stuff

[Song, "New York, New York" plays as we see asst. shots of the Golden Apple—day; We finally come into a high hotel room and come to the clock—10:37 a.m.  Obviously here there are no workday pressures; it's carefree.  There in the bed we see Ally McBeal sleeping peacefully, for once in her life.]

[We come upon her and she slowly opens her eyes with a faint smile.  As she stands up and stretches she starts to slowly catch the beat of the music.  Eventually she is dancing away.]

[After a good while, the music stops.  Ally, now somewhat uneasy, goes out onto her balcony.  She looks down into the city.  Her mouth falls open in a horrified shock and she runs back into her room, slamming the balcony door.   She is now panting and looks around in disbelief as she leans against the balcony door.]

Ally:         [bewildered]  It...it wasn't a dream.  [panicky]  Oh my gosh.  It wasn't a dream.                                             [rapid and suspiciously]  No no no Ally.  Don't do this to yourself.  [she closes her eyes]  Come on Ally snap out of it, snap out of it—

Maddie: Ally!

[Maddie has now cheerily come out of the bathroom in a robe, her head wrapped in a towel.]

Ally:         [looking up]  Uh uh.  Not this time.  I am not gonna be suckered in…

[she goes over to Maddie]  Do you wanna dance?  Is that what this is about?  [resolutely]  Because if that'll get rid of you…

Maddie: [with skepticism] Ally.  We're going to look for a house at eleven, aren't we?

[It now seems as if some truth dawns upon Ally.]

Ally:         [scared, on the verge of screaming] Oh…my…

OPENING CREDITS

[Back to New York, the pair has now gone to a small cafe where they are sitting at a table, getting ready to eat breakfast.]

[Ally stares on, forlornly, holding a coffee cup, as Maddie sits opposite her—suffering through Ally's diatribes.]

Ally:         [semi-depressed] And there was this big woman.  She always dressed in pink and and liked…frankfurters.  She looked like a float.  [shudders].  [coming back to Earth]  I was just hoping it was all too crazy to be real.

[Maddie is about to add a comment when a waiter in his mid-thirties comes up to the small table.]

Waiter:   What would you ladies like? 

[Ally scoffs at this, but Maddie politely gives her order as we see Ally's face—something nagging her.]

Waiter:   And you, miss?...[waiting]…[now to Maddie, somewhat laughingly]  Did she just wake up from a dream?

Ally:        [to waiter] What?  Wha wha what [determined] did you just say?

Waiter:   I told her you looked a little—

Ally:        You asked her if I'd just come back from a dream.  What did you meant by that?  Clearly you were implying that I was spaced out.  You know, you come over here with your superior "I'm a waiter" attitude, condescending to the weak and underprivileged who don't have direct contact with the Almighty cook.  Well, why don't you take your cocky little attitude of yours somewhere else or shove it up that cocky little hole you have because us "silly little girls" are leaving.

[She stands up, face to face with the waiter, staring him down.]

Ally:         Excuse me. 

[She begins to walk out, but turns as the waiter once again speaks.]

Waiter:         Aren't you going to pay for your coffee?

Ally:         [frazzled] Maybe you can find some change that slipped out of my pocket.

[As Ally leaves we see Maddie mouth apologetically, "It must be that time of the month," to try and make up for her mother's oddness.  Ally begins walking down the street briskly, armed with a snarl.  We see Maddie come after her, now mad at Ally because of her cynical antics.]

Maddie: [with an attitude] You're not the only one who's alive you know.  Do you think everyone revolves around you?!  He was only joking.  You were being weird anyway. 

Ally:        Oh please Maddie, I don't see why it involves you.

Maddie:         [enraged] You're a snob Ally, you know that?  A little elitist.  You first got rid of  probably the only person who will ever love you again, because he's not on your level.  Did you ever consider that the man you were looking for might not be some nutcase lawyer like you…

[As we see Ally walking towards us, Maddie, who is in hot pursuit suddenly transforms into Ally's mother.]

Maddie: [continued]…and then you're paranoia urges you to think that an innocent, unsuspecting waiter was trying to harass you?  You were probably hoping he was making a sexual advance so you could spray whipped cream on him!  And…and now this—

[As a momentary close-up shows only the figure behind Ally, we see that Maddie is back to her normal self again.  As soon as Maddie finishes this time, Ally halts with flaring anger to face her.]

Maddie:  you wake up to find that everything that's happened to you is real, and you're mad about it?!  What were you thinking?  I was a dream too? 

Ally:        No.  You were more like a nightmare.

[The shock Maddie feels is probably overshadowed by her hurt.  Ally immediately realizes her mistake.  Maddie slightly shakes her heard, as if she is in disbelief.]

Ally:        Oh.  I um…I didn't mean that.

[The pain on Maddie's face grows more and more by the minute.]

Maddie:         [regretfully] Stupid me.  I thought I was actually loved for once.  Weren't you the one who told me I was the only one who could fill the hole in your heart?

[She begins to walk away; Ally follows in desperation.]

Ally:         Maddie!  I meant it. 

Maddie: [with resentment] I'm sure you were disappointed to find out that I'm actually real.

[Ally sadly shrugs with regret.]

[Back in the hotel room, Ally is nervously pacing as Maddie sits in a chair, pouting.]

Ally:        I don't think you need to do this Maddie.  I mean…this is what you originally ran away from.  You'll just be going full circle…

Maddie:         [vehemently] I'm sure, mom.

Ally:         [rising, now taking charge] No Maddie, I don't think you are.  Remember how you told me she never has time for you anymore?  Why do you think that's gonna change now? 

Maddie: Well at least she cares.

Ally:        I dropped my life to come back here for you!  What else can I do?!

Maddie:         [almost pleading] Ally, I don't fit in with your little dream world.

Ally:         [desperate] You don't have to.  We can make it work Maddie.  I'm…[the verge of tears]…I'm willing to do whatever it takes.  Even if…we don't see eye to eye on everything we at least owe ourselves something; we have a connection.  [slowly] I'm—your—mother.

[Ally waits—holding out for any inkling of hope.]

Maddie:         When I was searching for you…I told myself I better have a backup plan in case you were some awful lady…you weren't.  But we're just not the same Ally.  And then when you dumped Victor…

Ally:        [riled up] So that's what this is about?  Victor? 

Maddie:           Well at least he got more love from me than he did from you.  You know, Ally, you really are—

Ally:            [screaming] You don't understand the situation!  And don't think you do just because he talked to you. 

[Ally turns away before she says anything else.  After a long pause she goes back to Maddie, sensitive]  Look Maddie…I know you liked—probably even loved him—but not everything works out.

Maddie:         [continuing] See Ally?  That's like us.  After that happened [pause] I just knew.  There was no way it could work.

 Ally:     [with a mad resolution, nodding as if she understands] So I guess I was just another player in one of your schemes.

[There's a knock at the door.  Ally gets up and opens it to find Bonnie.  She lets here in.  As she passes we see how downtrodden Ally is.]

[Bonnie, apparently oblivious to what has been going on, rushes to Maddie and gives her a hug.]

Bonnie:          Maddie!  I came as soon as I got the call.

[Her happy expression fades as she sees Maddie isn't returning her smile.]

Bonnie:          What?  What's wrong?

[She turns around to try and get a reaction from solemn-faced Ally.  Bonnie wears a bewildered look as she waits for an explanation.]

Ally:          Maddie thinks that she's [pause] ready to come back.

Bonnie: [still puzzled] What?  I thought she had decided to stay with you.

Ally:          [defeated] So did I.  [pause] Apparently she was just testing it out. 

Bonnie: [now, somewhat angered] Why are we going through this again Maddie? [incredulous] How many times is enough for you?

Maddie: Don't be mad.  It's just…

[She looks over at Ally, who is of course still hurt.]

Maddie: I guess I had to leave to see what I was missing.  Everything important in my life is here. 

Bonnie:          [confused] Ally, I don't feel right about just doing this.  Have you two talked it over?  Are you okay with this?

Ally:          [surrendering, yet with contempt only Maddie can see] Whatever she wants.

Bonnie: [to Maddie, seriously] Is this want you really want?  This is for sure this time, no changes. 

Maddie: I know.

Bonnie: [first looking at Maddie for a long moment, as if searching for the truth, then acknowledging something unspoken, as if she's found it] Will you send her stuff?

Ally:          [shaking her head, her eyes are lifeless] Yeah.   

[Maddie and Bonnie get up and move toward the door.]

Ally:      [to Bonnie] Could I umm just have a moment?

Bonnie: Sure. 

[Bonnie steps out as the door closes.  The two are there in silence as Ally ponders something.]

Ally:          Maddie…whatever I did…I'm sorry. 

[Maddie finally sees the emotion in everything and becomes loving again; she is emotional.]

Maddie: [quietly] Me too.

Ally:      If you…if you ever need to talk.  [pause].  [now almost smiling through her clouded eyes]  I don't know if I could help with guys but…

[Maddie suddenly locks herself in a tight embrace with Ally.  Ally closes her eyes, cherishing one last moment.]

[Ally reluctantly lets Maddie go and Maddie goes out the door.  As Maddie begins to walk off, Bonnie stays for a moment by the door where Ally stands.]

Bonnie: Are you gonna be okay?

Ally:            [falsely "fine," with a fake smile] Yeah…I guess kids will be kids.

[After the door has shut, Ally leans against the door—her back to it.  She leans back her head and closes her eyes as Vonda begins to sing "New York Minute."]

[As this image fades, another one of a plane taking off comes into view.  As it is in the air, we see Ally looking forlornly out the window.  In all silence, except for the music, we see a stewardess bring Ally out of her daydream.  She smiles fakely as she declines whatever the woman has offered her.  Eventually the plane lands.

[Once Ally gets into the airport she takes a deep breath.  The music ends/fades right before the next scene begins.

[We hear Ally's voice before we see her.  What we do see is the camera slowly moving through a room, one that is familiar to us.  It reaches Ally as she concludes her thoughts.]

Ally:          I…I'm a failure.  I mean she actually told me that we're too different for it to work.  Just like the ever-passing men who wander through my life.  [sighs] I'm her own mother and she was just testing me out.  Like a new toilet paper brand.  [ruefully]  I guess I rubbed her the wrong way.

Renee:  Ally you're being too hard on yourself.  Maybe she was right.  Sometimes love just can't conquer…  I'm sure you two had a few conflicts.

Ally:          [irately] Renee—she was smoking at school!  That's not exactly open for interpretation.  What was I supposed to do?  Tell her we live in a free country?  An-an-and the whole Victor thing.  They were more attached to each other than they were to me.  [sadly]  It's just…I've lost the only man I've ever loved, I'm old, and I can now add to my resume that I couldn't even keep my daughter in my possession for three months.  [bitterly]  What else is there to life?

Renee:  [wise and smiling] You have your friends.  Admit it girl, you wouldn't have been happy in New York.  And you're not that old!  [thoughtfully] Old…but not that old.  [smiling]  Come on, let's go out and celebrate.  Like the good ole times.

Ally:          No…I called Richard.  I'm gonna meet him up at the office so I can, ya know, put all my stuff back in my old room. 

[Renee gets up to get something to eat but she it talking to Ally as she is walking away.]

Renee:  Well that's fine.  But you better snap out of this attitude of yours soon.

[The elevator door dings open to show the offices of Fish and Cage.  Ally steps out with a box, still distraught.  She begins to look around the office.]

Ally:          [yelling] Richard?  [even louder]  Richard!!

[She sees the lights of the main room on.]

Ally:          Well…somebody's here. 

[She goes to her offices door to find that it's locked.  She sighs, annoyed.  She looks up to see the doorplate reading N. Porter.]

Ally:          [crossly] That's what she thinks.

[She puts down her box as she walks off.  We see her enter the unisex in her typical hand-on-forehead, facing downward manner.

[She's walking like this until she raises her head.  On her face is a paranoid expression as she strains her ear, trying to hear something.]

[One by one, she practically sneaks up to the stall doors and then rips them open.  Finally she comes to the one where the sound she hears is being emitted from.  She walks into the stall and now we faintly begin to hear it too:  beating against the back wall, accompanied by a woman's satisfied shriek.]

[As Ally is listening, she sees a small object by the toilet.  As she picks it up we see it's some sort of remote.  She begins to press buttons and then events suddenly begin to happen:  the wall of John's Hole opens up to see Richard and Liza down to their bare underwear; they were leaning on the wall—Liza with her back to it—apparently involved in some steamy activities, ABBA playing in the background.]

[As the wall opens, Liza falls backwards, towards the outside, and since there is nothing to stop her, she goes plummeting into the toilet headfirst.  Since Richard is on top of her, he scrambles to get off yet in the process accidentally flushes the toilet.  He finally pulls her out, hair dripping, yet in somewhat of a spiral.]

[Ally stands aghast, horrified at what she's just done.  Richard and Liza also wear the same expression, except with anger instead of shock.]

Ally:      I uh…I was wondering if you could let me into my office, Richard.

[Now—Ally's office.]

Richard: [screaming] How could you?!

Ally:          [defensive] Oh please Richard.  How was I supposed to know what was happening?

Richard: Could you not hear us?  We were practically on the verge of making love.

Ally:          [repulsed] How many people make love behind a toilet?  Were you just expecting me to wait until you were done?  Maybe I should have taken a tinkle.  My flushing probably wouldn't have disturbed you anyway.

Richard: Well you're in office.  I hope you're happy.

Ally:          [screaming too] I am!

[Richard is walking out but stops in the doorway and turns around.]

Richard: Look Ally.  I'm sorry.  You know we're glad to have you back.  It's just that…  [trying to reconnect]  So what happened in New York?

[Ally's unpacking some of her things as she talks, defeated.]

Ally:      Well, my daughter decided she was tired of me.

Richard: Ehh, bugger.

Ally:          [slightly annoyed] Yeah Richard.  It was.  But other than losing one of the only people I know, for sure, has an absolute, genetic connection with me, I'm fine.

Richard: [oblivious to her problems] Well I'm glad to hear you're doing great.  Better run.

[Richard leaves.  She looks up at her office reflectively for a moment.  "The Wildest Times of the World" begins to play.  We also hear Ally's thoughts as she unpacks, yet in the process removes Nelle's belongings in the place of her own.]

Ally:          {VOICE-OVER}[sarcastic and slightly bitter] Yeah.  I haven't heard that before.  [contemplative]  My motivation for others to flee would've made me a great track coach.  And I look so good in those little outfits too…[snapping back]  Oh, who cares.  They're right.  I should be happy to be home again.  To be with some of the only people who have ever been a family…A dysfunctional one to be sure, but, hey, you get what you can.

[Ally is now walking down the street, looking up, enjoying her city.]

Ally:      {V/O CONTINUES}But somehow I still feel like there's a hole.  [thoughtfully, for a moment]  And I know just the person who can fill it.  But for right now I guess I should try to be content.  After all, as somebody once said, I had to leave to see what I was missing.  That's true.  All the good stuff is here.

[The song continues as Ally makes her way down a street.  She slowly gets smaller and smaller as we zoom out.  The song wraps up as the screen fades away.]