6.3
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

[ bottom ]
 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.]
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