6.3 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
Previously on Ally McBeal: ALLY [distracted] Elaine. Hi. Um, where is everyone at the...moment. ELAINE [still looking out] Haven't you heard? All of the whippersnappers left for another law firm. -------------------------------------------------------------- NELLE [smiling yet condescending] Excuse me. You're in my office. ALLY Not anymore. -------------------------------------------------------------- [Ally, down to her last resort, suddenly picks up one of the pineapples by its stem and wacks Nelle viciously in the back of the head.] -------------------------------------------------------------- LIZA [mock hurt, still childlike] Elaine, I wouldn't laugh. By the way, are you sure you have time for this? You better get back to your little desk. [As Liza goes into a stall, Elaine raises an eyebrow, acknowledging a challenge.] ------------------------------------------------------------- Ally McBeal 6.3 - Throwing on the Towel [We see, for a moment, the doors of the office elevator at Cage & Fish before they ding open. Inside, Ally McBeal has a wide smile on her face. Because she is, for the moment, so lighthearted, she smiles, almost to the point of chuckling, and steps through the doors into the office. The happy expression on her face morphs as soon as she (and we) hear a large power drill coming from another room.] [The odd look on her face indeed expresses whatever this strange scene may be, and she stands, for a moment, and then begins to slowly, look around, walking from office to office.] [Suddenly, Elaine comes up behind her and Ally jumps with surprise. As she turns around reluctantly, we see the precocious receptionist, standing in a red shirt, but other unusual equipment as well: large safety goggles, a toolbelt around her waist, and, most importantly, the power drill.] [Ally opens her mouth to inquire, but is unable to express the convergence of her thoughts.] ELAINE [with a smile] They're waiting in staff. [As Ally walks into the room, one can faintly hear Vonda singing "Yellow Submarine". She sits down and, with a smile intended to deflect attention, Ally speaks.] ALLY Great. Let's go. RICHARD [standing at the table's head] Ally. A looney doesn't just say that without some inner...maniacal thinking. So, from the firm to you, my condolences on whatever tragedy you yourself are trying to overcome. [Ally, obviously, is disgusted.] JOHN I have many a case Richard. I need to be going. ALLY I'm here! NELLE Congratulations. This time we're actually waiting on Li-- [A woman's scream of rage is uttered from somewhere in the depths of the office building. Elaine struts in moments later.] ELAINE Richard. I think Liza would like you. She's apparently angry. Somehow, her desk collapsed, though I haven't the slightest. [The camera switches between everyone's face, all thoughtful: Richard, John, Ally and Nelle. Finally it goes back to Elaine, beaming in guilty indulgence.] OPENING CREDITS [Back in the office Ally is just putting up a law book when she sees Nelle goes by. She hurriedly puts away the book and makes quick pursuit. They speak with eachother as Ally tails the preoccupied Nelle.] ALLY Nelle, wait. NELLE I don't have time...[annoyed] what? ALLY [somewhat fed up] Well, Nelle, as most lawyers do from time to time, I have a client. And though I know this is probably far past your level of willfull comprehension I will need a facility. [obviously] Ya know, Nelle, I do work here, and though I can assure you it's unfortunate, I might need an office to work in. [They've now stopped walking to face eachother.] NELLE And what's the problem? ALLY You're in mine! NELLE Former office, Ally. Just think of it like an ex-boyfriend. You're certainly experienced in that field. ALLY [pleading somewhat] Nelle, even if it was mine...once, it still was [pause; happily] mine! It it has the spirit of me. Me and that office are just...tight. [Three sudden flashes: Ally kissing Billy, Ally kissing Greg, Ally falling onto the floor with the "Carwash Boy".] ALLY (CONT'D) It's like an article of old clothing: once a pair of underwear has been with you through everything, how can you just... NELLE Wash out the fluid stains? ALLY [pause, then finally: testy] Look, that's one of the only things I have a deep emotional connection to. I don't ask for much. [Richard's office.] JOHN [defensive] I'm simply saying that the workload is getting too heavy. Even with Liza, Nelle and Ally. Or maybe I should say because of Liza, Nelle and Ally. RICHARD John-- JOHN I apoligize; I know that they're all sufficient lawyers, but-- RICHARD I have an ad in the paper running everyday. But John, we still have, as always, oodles of money...We're doing fine, buddy...It's not like we're dying for more employees. JOHN Though it's true we might be financially stable, a man still needs his rest! I took a hiatus for a reason, then it was swept away by your, your mistake. And, frankly, I don't think it's fair for you to be getting wattle from your wily wife while me and the other women (mainly me) are doing all of the wearisome work. RICHARD [pause] Wow. JOHN Well do something. RICHARD Don't worry John. JOHN [with humorous disgust, right in Richard's face] I'm due in court. [Back in John's office, we see his "stress" equipment in use: the sand, the soft stones and the rake, all encompassed in a small wooden box. As the camera pans up, Ally McBeal is shown to be the operator and appears to be more absorbed in this than she is her current client. She looks up to speak.] ALLY Now, if this umm facility is located fairly far out, why did you decide to come into the city to have the case litigated? MATTHEW Well, I knew I would probably have a better chance in the courts here. It's obvious that there is a much larger occurence of eclectic court cases in Boston, rather than in one of its small outskirts. I hear this firm, in particular, handles the eccentric cases. ALLY [ruefully] Oh, well, ya know. [pause] So, Mr. Riggins. You were one of the co-supervisors at the rest stop, and so you therefore wanted to put...plants in the restrooms. MATTHEW [slightly hesitatingly] Not just potted ones. I wanted to have real, growing vines and flowers. ALLY And, umm, I know this is probably very obvious to everyone else such as yourself, but...why? [Matthew, now in court, sits in the witness's chair.] MATTHEW [with an enthusiast's excitement] Well, you see, the area all around the rest stop is so beautiful and organic. It seems as if the brown building was almost an interruption to the beauty that nature had presented. ALLY Now, Mr. Riggins, you had already implented these live plants all along the outside of the building. Why not stop there. After all, a bathroom is a fairly...private place. MATTHEW That's just the thing. Not to most of these people. Many of the people who stop there are true mountaineers and love nature anyway. I would say there's hardly any contesting from them on that. And why not? What's so wrong with keeping the bathrooms fresh and oxygenated? [Ally smiles knowingly at the Honorable S. Walsh as if to say, "how can you argue with that?"] [During lunch break later, in a room full of yoga-practicing women, Ally and Renee seem to be the only ones who aren't in deep concentration. They lay on their yoga mats looking up at the ceiling, talking.] ALLY Ya know, when I get cases like these, I can't help but wondering... RENEE Cases like what? ALLY A man is trying to implement plants in rest stop restrooms! How ridiculous! Out of our whole perverted, morally ambiguous, insider-trading, polluting society the biggest problem he can find is that the restrooms aren't mountain valley fresh? I'm not kidding Renee, lawyering can sometimes...suck. RENEE [thoughtfully] Not always. At least you know that deep down in your naive little heart you started out with good intentions. ALLY Renee! That's the thing! I didn't. There was no love for the law involved, just lust for a man. RENEE [understanding] Come on now, Ally. That's sweet. And besides, you know it wasn't lust. It was true, storybook, aspartame love. ALLY Aspartame isn't even real sugar. It's cancerous. [exasperated] And and look where it got me! RENEE Well if you're tired of it we can fix that easily. There's still time in your life for other hobbies. Let's see now- when you were a little kid [simply] what did you wanna do? [Ally has now shaped her body into a tangled up mass, her head sticking through it all.] ALLY I wanted to be an anchorwoman. How good of a job would that have been? You get to have good outfits, good hours, it's well-paying, interesting, smart, sexy...[drifting off] RENEE [skeptically] Sexy? ALLY [coming back] Oh, I know you remember Barbara in those early days. She was hot stuff Renee. Now there was the image of the contemporary working woman...And when she would narrow her eyes, trying to get to the meat of the question. She was the image for everyone aspiring woman out there. But lawyers? Even if I would have actually wanted to be one, what powerful woman would I have had to aspire to? RENEE Janet Reno? ALLY I said woman. [Just then, the male yoga instructor comes over to the two girls.] INSTRUCTOR Would you ladies like any help? [Renee eyes him with a smile, yet Ally scowls:] ALLY I think we've got it. [He walks away with a shrug and Renee shoots an expression of contempt at Ally, now on her back, who continues with her lament.] ALLY (CONT'D) [genuinely sad] I know I've never treated the job seriously, Renee, how could you working at Cage & Fish. But this...I've never felt so [pause] disillusioned. My my my life is getting to the ridiculous point with all of these trivial tasks that I do, but, oh, wait, it's in the name of liberty and justice. [Renee is now intently listening, and, as Ally continues to stretch, a sharp pop can be heard and Ally loses her position. She rests, beaten, on her mat, rapidly panting for breath.] RENEE It's sounds like you need a break. ALLY [falsely optimistic] You know Renee, that idea's not half bad. I could go spend some time with--I forgot: there's nobody to spend time with. RENEE Hey, it would be fun. A little time for just us girls. ALLY [jokingly] And would that be because we needed some time away from all of the men in our lives? [Back at the office, we see the golden "N. Porter" plate on the door move as the door is opened. A client walks out and there, standing against the wall, is Ally, who is waiting on Nelle. Nelle finishes writing at her desk and calls haphazardly:] NELLE [dejectedly and slowly] Come in Ally. [Ally slowly walks in and the door is once again shut.] [Inside the office, Nelle's chair is turned away from Ally, facing the window. Ally stands and firmly pleads to the chair back.] NELLE (CONT'D) I can't wait to see what I'm going to hear about now. ALLY Nelle...[pause]there's really nothing else I can say...except...you know I've got to have this office back. I...I...know there's other ones out there, but this is the one for me. You can't deny yourself The One. [laughs slightly] NELLE You know what's always bothered my about you Ally? ALLY What, Nelle? NELLE You have always thought that, since the galaxy rotates around you and your short little skirts, it's going to be Priority One if you have a problem. ALLY I've...I've never thought that about me. [suddenly] Like when?! NELLE Like when I was with John. You weren't able to have any respect for the relationship and establishment between ourselves; you'd just barge right in between us to cry on his shoulder--and he would of course listen every time! ALLY So is this about my relationship with John? Because if that's what you're trying to get at Nelle...at least I could go share my feelings. He didn't have to guess at what was happening beneath a frozen heart. Is that what threatened you? [This has obviously struck a nerve with her and she snaps around to face Ally.] NELLE Please! I could always express my feelings! ALLY You broke up with the man on a cell phone as his legs were dangling out of an elevator shaft! Yeah, Nelle. I can feel the love. NELLE Well, now that it's out, no, this wasn't about that Ally. [pause; quickly] You're a spoiled, whiny little baby. If one person won't give you what you want then you'll move from one person to the next until you get it. ALLY There's a foreign term I think you might be confusing that with Nelle--"friend"? But then again, you wouldn't know it, it seems. [Nelle is oblivious; she is looking around at her desk and then the whole room.] NELLE [reviled] I'll save you the trouble this time Ally. Just take the office. [Nelle drudgingly gets up from her chair and Ally continues to stand, dumbfounded.] [Ally is about to speak to the oncoming Nelle as Nelle goes past her and out of the office. Ally continues to stand, bewildered.] [Nelle is now outside John's office. She knocks forcefully and then enters, slamming the door. For emphasis, she opens the door again to slam it once more. On this second slam, she lets out a short bellow, telltale of her anger.] [She walks up to John's desk where he is working and leans on the desk, with her arms spread out on its top.] NELLE (CONT'D) I can't do it anymore, John. I'm finished. JOHN [finally looking up] Excuse me? NELLE I've had enough. No more [searching for words, and then exploding] of this stupid office! What is the point? [slowly] I almost always have meaningless cases...my career has been at a dead standstill John. Give me one occupational benefit or promotion this firm has provided me with. All Ally does is sit around all day and dance, and she was promoted to partner before me? [John, bombarded, is speechless at the sudden turn of events. He cannot even gather his thoughts.] NELLE (CONT'D) I put up with so much, and there's nothing in return! I'm one of the only good lawyers here and I can't even have the office I want?! I have no one I can emphathize with, nor do I want to, at this...stupid firm. We're the laughing stock, you know that? [looking at him for a moment, then, sadly] I'm done. [John is still staring at Nelle dumbfounded. She looks back at him, without any words and regretfully walks out.] [Later, John's office. John is laying on his couch, and right below him, on the floor, Richard lays, with his head at the end where John's feet are right above.] JOHN [genuine, not quirky] I am befuddled Richard. I am truly stumped...What could be the cause? RICHARD You did say she did mentioned her office, didn't you? JOHN Oh balls, I don't know. She mentioned a lot. [gesticulating] No career advancement, our firm as a whole is a laughing stock, no one here she can identify with, and as sad as it might be Richard, she is right. [he shakes his head] But how could anyone here reach the Ice Queen? [pause; now very grave] I am stumped. No joke, Richard: with the massive layoffs this firm has been taking...If something does not happen, this firm will be forced to shut down until-- RICHARD [thinking] Wait little buddy. [mumbling somewhat] I saw her at a restaraunt the other day...she said...[internally thinking as John waits impatiently] John, how would you like to have two lawyers for the effort of one? JOHN Richard? May I be informed of what is happening? RICHARD [still to himself] Bygones. [rising] Gotta go John, I'll see what I can do. [John sits up, still on the couch. He moves his hands apart in ignorant disgust.] [Various shots of Boston are shown as cheery music begins to play. Its last echoes are heard as an extreme close up of Ally's face comes into view. She is both repulsed and distracted. Her plaintiff, Mr. Riggins, is being questioned by the opposing counsel. Since we are so concentrated on Ally, just as she is on her own self, we can only occasionally make out the subject of this quesitioning, such as, "But why go so far as to get a court injunction Mr. Riggins?" Various angles of Ally's face begin to flash. They become more and more rapid and sudden and when they are finally too intense we hear:] JUDGE WALSH Ms. McBeal?! [Ally looks up irately, instead of with the usual shocked expression.] ALLY What?!! JUDGE WALSH If we are wasting your time here, I can simply hold you in contempt and get another lawyer. Now for the last time, would you like to rebuttal? [Ally pauses. Suddenly, the drums of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" begin to play as Ally stares at the judge. The regular world fades out until Ally is lost. Vonda begins softly and crescendoes: "Na na na na, na na na na..."] [Ally, of course, can't resist the music and begins moving her body to the rythm, though she still has her eyes open and can see the room. Somewhere in the background we hear, synchronized with the music, Judge Walsh.] MUSIC Na na na na Na na na na Hey hey hey hey Goodbye JUDGE WALSH ....Completely crossed...line Enough...finally relieved... .....The happy day....come.. Goodbye! [Later, back at the office, the receptionist, Ms. Vassel, answers the phone of the firm accordingly and her eyes suddenly light up in intense glee.] ELAINE [with a wonderful smile] And who should I say is calling? Oh, I see. Yes I will deliver the message immediately. No, thank you. [Inside Richard's office, the man sits at his desk, staring scrumpciously at his laptop when a knock comes at the door. He quickly shuts the computer's top and yells for the one outside to come in. Elaine slides open the door and only sticks half her body in.] ELAINE (CONT'D) [still smiling] Richard. I have some news that's just awful. RICHARD [perplexed] And why is there a...smile on your face Elaine? ELAINE Well, you see, I don't know if this has ever happened...[with a pause of mock hesitation] Seymoure Walsh kicked Ally out of his courtroom. RICHARD [only half interested] What? Well that's...I'm not a lawyer really, but I would assume it's bad. [pause] For how long? ELAINE [savoring] Indefinitely, it appears. [Richard pauses, with uncaring thought.] [Later, back in the main room of Cage & Fish, Elaine is doling out orders over the speaker phone.] ELAINE (CONT'D) [enojying every moment] And remember everyone there's no need to blame her, we're all human. [She suddenly hears something and hangs up the phone on her desk. She picks up the camcorder and snaps around, aiming it at the elevator.] [All is quiet. Though time has not slowed, the office itself is silent in anticipation. Finally, the elevator rings and the doors slowly slide apart.] [Ally McBeal waits inside the elevator, Starbucks cup in hand. She nonchalantly takes a step out of the elevator and stops to address Elaine.] ALLY What? ELAINE That's all? ALLY Is it...supposed to be? ELAINE At least Hester knew she was wearing a giant scarlet letter on her chest. ALLY [looking around] Where is everybody? [Moments later, the door to John's office opens and Ally sticks her head in. Only Richard is there.] ALLY (CONT'D) [slowly] Elaine said that John wanted to speak with me? RICHARD He's in the unisex. ALLY [confused] Okay. Do you know what about? RICHARD Well, Ally, if I had to take a wild guess...I'd say it would probably be about your court banishment. ALLY [disgusted at his antics] Banishment? RICHARD Yeah, that's uh...a real bugger. [Ally growls.] [She walks through the door of the unisex and, before she can reach the mirrors, she stops and looks up, horrified.] [We see that John is in a continual loop of his "dismount".] [Terrified, Ally turns to walk out when an "in-motion" scream is uttered.] JOHN Don't go anywhere, you punk! [We hear the sharp thud of John's landing as Ally reluctantly pivots. She slowly walks up to John. His unparalleled anger builds as the conversation progresses.] JOHN (CONT'D) [quietly] You know, Allyson McBeal, that I think Walsh is a curmudgeon. A curmudgeoned toad. I wouldn't touch him with a 39 1/2 foot pole, and if he were anyone else but my superior in the Court of Law I would have no respect for the man. I don't care how fake it is, or even if you have to keep a handle on your rudeness, as I often find myself having to do. But the man is indeed a judge and we must keep ourselves under control while we are under his jurisdiction. ALLY [with dissmissive poutiness] John, it's not what you think. All I was doing was-- JOHN Oh balls! Don't feed that to me! You were kicked out the man's courtroom dammit! You realize how much exposure this is going to recieve? ALLY John I'm going to be able to go back eventually. He's just tired of the fact that I'm a little...[with singular contempt] distracted. JOHN [solemnly] Now you listen here, we have been losing employees faster than the bubonic plague. ALLY Well it's not like I can't practice! JOHN [screaming] No, but I surely wish you couldn't. ALLY So this is really about the number of employees of the firm? JOHN That's a bad thing? ALLY It is if you're really caring about yourself. JOHN In case you haven't forgotten, Ally, we all work at the same place. ALLY If you would let me explain what happened! [she pauses, seeing that he doesn't interrupt] I became distracted when he asked me a question. That's the only thing that happened, John. Okay? Is that such a bad thing? [John walks in the opposite direction for a moment but has now turned around and now faces her again.] JOHN I don't care if you were Roberta Parks and he was was Strom Thurmond, he deserves respect, even if it's completely bogus, Ally. I would have hoped you could have realized something like that. [Ally has an indignant expression on her face as John turns around again to walk a few feet. He finally turns and walks back towards her again.] JOHN (CONT'D) [slowly] What this is about, Ally, is integrity. Of you. Of me. And, yes of this firm where we both work. ALLY Integrity?! How can you talk about respect when you're the one who has been fined thousands of dollars from the same judge?! You've used blow torches, clickers, and and and--oh, how's this for respect?--"Your Curmudgeon", "Your Grinch"? I don't see how you have the integrity to talk to me about integrity! JOHN You obviously did something Ally. And I'm sure he wasn't all to blame. [pause; now quietly scalding] But we are constantly losing integrity as a firm Ally. You know that's something I've always desired, especially with the derogatory childhood that I had. You can bet that every last ounce of this firm's respect will be SUCKED DRY after hearing of this. [long pause] When they were writing the Declaration of Independence one of the men said "We can hang together or we can hang separately." That's the only decision we have left. Yes, I know this was certainly not the worst thing that has happened to our firm nor will it debilitate us from continuing to practice, but it was the last straw Ally. ALLY With all due respect John, it could just as easily have happened to you. JOHN And with all due respect, Ally, I'll keep that in mind as I read about it next week in Boston Law. [Ally turns around and shoves Elaine (and her camcorder) out of the way as she leaves the unisex.] [The first piano notes of Vonda's "This is Crazy Now" begin as Ally walks down a Boston sidewalk. It is noticeably day. It is apparent that she is fraught, and as she walks at a slow-motion rate, the rest of the people all around her move by in a very fast, sped-up way. We see, for a moment, the sun moving much more rapidly than usual and, as an effect, we also see its swiftly-changing shadows.] [In Ally's room, she sits on the floor, still in her "suit", at the foot of her bed.] [Ally of course is staring blankly, completely absorbed in her thought, and Renee is suddenly standing at a distance, behind her.] RENEE You know, Ally, worse things could happen. You haven't lost anything--your job, your security, your appearance. [laughingly] It's no big deal; Walsh is a shriveled prune. Speaking of shriveled, one of my friends at the DA's office says his assests are quite deflated. ALLY [on the verge of tears] Why does it seem like it's always me, Renee? RENEE [looking at her for a moment] Oh Ally, it's not. Remember when I kick-boxed that boy unconcious? ALLY I believe that was more of a private matter. RENEE Ally...[pause] This attitude of yours has got to stop. It can't just start up every time the wind changes. Look, girl: if you're disappointed because you wish you could take something back, or even if you're mad because Judge Seymoure acted like a jack...I don't mind that Ally. I'll eat ice cream with you or whatever until you're nice and neurotic again. [another pause as she waits] But Ally...if you're pouting because this is happening to you instead of someone else; and you think that you're fate's scapegoat...I think that ideology sucks and that you need to grow up. [waiting] So which is it? ALLY [slightly crying] It isn't just that Renee. RENEE Oh? Then what would it be? ALLY [pause] I...I don't know. I'm empty. There used to be a support for me, and whenever I was messing up in one area of my life...the other parts could keep it...bouyant. All the supports are down this time. I think I might have the Y2k bug. Maybe I need to think about Prozac...for real. RENEE [disgusted] Please Ally. Some little drug isn't gonna help with the symptoms of work day pressures. ALLY I think it might be a little more than that this time. RENEE Ally? The solution is so simple. ALLY And what would that be? RENEE Larry. ALLY [looking down] I told you not to mention that name ever again Renee. RENEE Excuse me? ALLY You heard what I said. RENEE [confused] What did you think I said? ALLY [softly] L...a...r...r...y...? RENEE Ally, The only thing I said was "love." [smiling] I guess that's how your little ears interpretted it. [We see a close-up of Ally, with an expression of irate confusion. As the camera pans out we see Ally standing at Elaine's desk, the next day.] ELAINE That's all of the messages. You need anything? ALLY [distracted] Hmm? Oh. No, I'm great. [Ally walks to her office and shuts the door.] [Over in Richard's office, Liza is hanging all over the senior partner as he tries to make his way to the door.] LIZA I don't want this woman here Richard. From what I've heard she's sneaky. RICHARD [pushing her away, annoyed] Stop sweetcakes. We need her to help get some new employees. Not only is is she the best, but you have nothing to worry about. If there's anyone who understands the importance of fidelity it would be me. Hands down. LIZA [stopping in front of the door; seriously] Richard. Elaine told me you had a history with her. Now I hope it's nothing to worry about. The knee is exclusive to me, right? RICHARD Absolutely, cheesecake. [He scoots her and she falls all the way onto the floor.] LIZA [in mock whininess] Richard! RICHARD Sorry. Be back shortly. [In the main room of the building, John is looking at papers when Elaine suddenly disturbs him.] ELAINE [with apprehension] John. John. JOHN [slightly stuttering] Wha-What? ELAINE Do you feel that? [John looks at her in contempt and confusion.] ELAINE (CONT'D) There's been a change in the air. I can feel it. [Just as John is about to comment on the ridiculous, elusive statement Richard comes whizzing by the two.] RICHARD She's here! JOHN [mad] Who? [The two are in tow of Richard when the elevator dings. The three suddenly stop, anxiously awaiting.] [Harsh, clashing music sounds as the doors open to reveal none other than Ling Woo. She wears a black jumpsuit of some kind and her hair is in a tight bun on top of her heard, held up by two knife-like objects. The music suddenly stops as she steps out, meeting Richard.] LING This place makes me feel dirty, like I'm at the Salvation Army. No wonder I've been called to help out the needy. [Richard simply smiles in his weakness. As he and Ling begin to move, John comes up directly into Richard's face, extremely concerned.] JOHN I'm distraught. I'll be in my hole. [Ally sits in the chair at her desk, thinking silently, when suddenly Richard and Ling storm in. She looks up in mortification.] LING You look out of place, girl. [to Richard] If you want Nelle back, give her this office. RICHARD [confused] Wha--That's why she quit? LING Not really. But it would help. ALLY [scared] Hey! Wha wha what are you doing here? I thought you were a judge? LING I was. It bored me. You never appreciate your own intelligence fully until you deal with knitwits all day. Then again, I guess you couldn't understand. [cheerily] Speaking of judges--I heard you had some problems with one yourself. [Ally snarls, and Ling raises an eyebrow, looking at her condescendingly. Richard and Ling turn to leave.] LING (CONT'D) [as they walk out] I'm bored. [A twirling high-heel strikes Ling in the back of the head.] LING (CONT'D) [whiny] Owww. [A pissed off Ally is now in the unisex, bent over searching for John's feet and calling his name. She is now at the very back stalls bent over and she suddenly snaps up as she hears an electronic sliding. Shortly afterwards, a front toilet flushes and John steps out.] JOHN You were searching for me? ALLY Could I umm talk to you...just for a moment. JOHN I'd be happy to oblige. [As can be seen through the window of John's office, it is now night. Directly below the window, Ally and John both sit on the couch, facing eachother.] JOHN (CONT'D) I apologize for my-- ALLY No...it's okay John. But...I'm afraid I might have some bad news. JOHN The Witch has returned from the West? ALLY Speaking of, why is she back? JOHN Richard think's she somehow knows the way to...get more employees. [Ally stares perplexedly for a moment.] ALLY I've gotta take a break. JOHN From? ALLY This firm. JOHN [somewhat disgusted] She won't be here forever. ALLY No no, it doesn't even have anything to do with that. Or or the suspension. [pause] I've just gotta get away John. Something's too much for me. [short pause] And I guess I'm gonna try to find out what. JOHN [contemplatively] You know the shortage of employees we have right now. There are still plenty of cases without Walsh sitting. [pause] I just don't think what you're asking for is plausible. ALLY Well John, what about when you left for a hiatus? You wouldn't even be back now if it weren't for...the circumstances. JOHN Yes Ally, the circumstances--circumstances in which it is absolutely imperitive that you stay for. ALLY John, I know it's inconvenient. But in the long run, it's gonna be much easier if I take a break by choice now...than to have to take one later. And I have a feeling the recovery time would be much longer if that were the case. JOHN [thinking, and finally] Is a week enough? ALLY I think...I hope. [pause] Thank you John. [Ally opens the door as she walks out of the office. On the way to her own, she sadly walks by Richard's office. There is of course the sound of Liza screaming.] [Ally goes back into her office and puts on her coat, she takes a long, slow look out her window and the camera pans out of it and down onto the bottom of the building where Ally is waiting as rain falls. Ms. Shepard's "Lose My Way" begins playing as Ally takes a step out into the rain.] [Now all that can be heard is the music. Not long after Ally steps out from under the canopy of the building a man comes up with an umbrella and offers her its sanctuary. She smiles and turns him down, continuing to walk down the sidewalk as we zoom away from her and then gradually fade out.]
