Happy Trails is the seventh episode of Season Two and the thirtieth episode of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
The attorneys learn that Judge Boyle suddenly drops dead in a courtroom. 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 Stefan the frog.
Plot[]
Cage makes his way inside a unisex stall where Fish sits on a toilet. He announces his decision to give Nelle a first kiss, but admits he is riddled with self-doubt, as Ling has 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 nearby.
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, however, Ross 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 all this, Ally reluctantly agrees to go out on yet another date with Ross.
Nelle stops by Cage’s office to check on Stefan the frog’s condition. Cage accuses her of having assaulted the 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 the box. Ross again drops by the firm, bringing with him an itinerary for the date. Ally imagines herself running away like the Road Runner. Unfortunately, Renee has been strong-armed into joining Ally on the date.
In court, Billy argues that his client and 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, his usual fetish. 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 aggressive 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 collapses, dropping his head and dies. The attorneys in Ally’s office are all naturally shocked by the news. Fish, Ling, Nelle and Cage receive word as they enjoy a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Cage asks Ling to inform the Chinese waiter to feed Stephan some lettuce and then return him to the table. Ling thus speaks to the waiter in Chinese. Later on, Cage asks Ling to get the waiter to return Stephan to the table. Ling turns to the waiter only to hear that Stephan was served to them as a dish. 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 and they then 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. However this time, Elaine pulls him aside and she tells him to lift his knee, hop on one foot and blow a whistle all at the same time. Ross curiously performs 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 finally leaves.
Nelle approaches Cage about the death of his frog and she tells him that she didn’t find Stephan at all tasty. She describes it as tasting "a little tough" and Cage laughs in response. Ally then walks into his office, and listens as Cage recounts Stephan’s life. She, as well, begins to laugh along with him. Cage however suddenly stops laughing, disgusted. 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 still returns to the offices looking for Ally. Finally growing fed up, Ally tells Ross she never wants to see him again. However 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 informs the audience that it would make the Judge happy if they showed him their teeth. 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 and she leans in and gives him a kiss.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here.
Songs[]
- Going the Distance | Bill Conti
- Puppy Love | Rob Schnieder (cover, originally by Paul Anka)
- Ally's boyfriend appearing at the bar.
- Wicked Witch of the West | From the Wizard of Oz
- It's Not Unusual | Tom Jones
- Ally sees her potential boyfriend at the office.
- Gimmie Dat Ding | The Pipkins
- Finale | Jennifer Holliday
- You're the First, the Last, My Everything | Barry White and Vonda Shepard
List of songs in the episode can be found here.
Starring[]
- Calista Flockhart as Ally McBeal
- Courtney Thorne-Smith as Georgia Thomas
- Greg Germann as Richard Fish
- Lisa Nicole Carson as Renée Raddick
- Jane Krakowski as Elaine Vassal
- Vonda Shepard as Herself
- with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
Special Appearances By
- Rob Schneide as Ross Fitzsimmons
- Dyan Cannon as Whipper Cone
Recurring cast
Guest starring
- Jennifer Holliday as Lisa Knowles
- Phil Leeds as Judge Dennis 'Happy' Boyle
- Melanie Chartoff as Joanne Poole
- John Fleck as Attorney Spicer
- Louis Giambalvo as Harold Jordan
- Renée Elise Goldsberry as Backup Singer #1 (Previously Ikette #1)
- Vatrena King as Backup Singer #2 (Previously Ikette #2)
- Sy Smith as Backup Singer #3 (Previously Ikette #3)
- Alex Shen as Waiter
- Robert Blanche as Officer
Uncredited
- Charles W. Pehrson as Dancing Nerd #3 (Renee's partner)
Producers[]
- David E. Kelley - Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Kramer - Co-Executive Producer
- Jonathan Pontell - Co-Executive Producer
- Roseann M. Bonora-Keris- Associate Producer
- Kim Hamberg - Associate Producer
- Mike Listo - Producer
- Steve Robin - Producer
- Pamela J. Wisne - Producer
- Peter Burrell - Coordinating Producer