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Let's Dance is the 19th episode of Season Two of Ally McBeal.

Synopsis[]

Cage, Fish and Nelle defend a law firm that allegedly withheld a female employee’s partnership offer after she became pregnant; Ling substitutes for Elaine’s partner in a dance contest; Billy and Georgia attend therapy.

Plot[]

Cage asks Nelle how she arranged to have Barry White sing at his birthday party. Nelle gives Ling all the credit. Cage claims that the event was the highlight of his entire life, and as a result, he now believes that he could fall in love with Nelle. He then asks her out on a date. Nelle declines the offer, as she is in the middle of an important case.

The attorneys gather in the conference room. They discuss the defense of another law firm that is being sued by an employee who claims she was the victim of gender bias. Ally vetoes Fish’s wish to have her on the case, claiming she would only amount to "window dressing." Cage makes the argument that he would make the best substitute, as his skills at arguing bizarre defenses are without peer.

Elaine laments that her dancing partner tore his Achilles tendon. As a result, she may be forced to miss the qualifying round of a dance contest on the following day.

Marianne Harper takes the witness stand. She tells the court that she had been working at her law firm for five years when she became pregnant. She returned to work four months after she gave birth. She believed she would be reinstated to a partnership track, but six months later was informed that such would not be the case. Harper believes this is a direct result of getting pregnant. She points out that six other female attorneys at the firm were treated in the same manner.

Billy and Georgia attend a therapy session. After listening to a heated discussion, Dr. Hooper tells Billy that, if she were married to him, she would "kick his ass."

Ling overhears Ally and Elaine as they search for a substitute partner. She announces that she is a good swing dancer. Ally convinces Elaine it would be in her best interest to coach Ling the routine. But as the pair rehearse, Ling finds she is expending too much effort. She changes her mind and walks away. Elaine is crushed.

Cage voices his concern about a possible guilty verdict in the discrimination case. Nelle, however, believes that all of the women were disqualified from partnership because they could no longer perform their jobs adequately. She tells Cage and Fish that not all women want to have children, including herself.

Georgia and Billy describe their sexual relationship as "indifferent." Billy tells Georgia that her passion for him has evaporated. Drawing upon this, he wonders if kissing Ally had something to do with his fear of losing his wife. This latest development prompts Hooper to ask if they can arrange to bring Ally to their next session.

In court, Cage and Nelle’s client, Johnson Biblico, claims that once a woman has children, her priorities change. In his opinion, women begin working shorter hours and become less reliable. Under cross examination, he states that, all things being equal, he would hire a man over a woman. Later, Cage suggests offering the plaintiff money, as it is clear they will lose the case. But Biblico and Nelle disagree with his assessment.

Ally approaches Ling in the bathroom. She urges her to reconsider her decision, labeling Elaine "a little pathetic." Moments later, Elaine steps from a stall, having overheard their conversation. Ally’s face turns ashen. Later, Ally assures Elaine that she was simply trying to convince Ling not to abandon her. Elaine responds by telling Ally how much she enjoys her job as a secretary, as it allows her the time to focus on other things, such as the face bra, and even swing dancing. Ally urges her to dance with Ling.

Attorney Rose calls Margaret Camaro to the witness stand. Cage fears Camaro, labeling her a "vicious feminist." When Fish cross-examines, he asks Camaro if she is a lesbian. This line of questioning draws angry objections from Rose. Cage substitutes for his colleague. Camaro admits she has never observed Harper’s productivity as a lawyer, but insists she should not be "disqualified for becoming a mother."

During a date with Renee, Cage slides his hand down to Renee’s knee and employs Fish’s erotic knee pit move. Renee is driven to ecstasy and pulls Cage to her bosom.

Ling arrives in the office complex dressed as a man. At first, Elaine doesn’t even recognize her… until she utters her trademark growl.

During her closing statement, Nelle argues that Harper is seeking special consideration—not equal treatment. Afterward, even Cage admits that he was swayed by her reasoning. The jury, however, disagrees, and finds in favor of the plaintiff.

Dr. Hooper refers to Ally as "sucky face." Ally tires of the therapist’s derogatory remarks and stomps on her foot. Hooper’s eyes bulge, and she limps from the room.

A nervous Elaine tells Ally that the entire idea of using Ling as her partner won’t work. Moments later, the pair move out onto the ballroom floor, where they dance with abandon. Later, they enter the firm and announce that they qualified for the competition.

Billy tires of Dr. Hooper. He asks Georgia to join him for lunch, where they can talk through their difficulties. Billy asks for her hand, and she responds by holding it out to him. Hand in hand, they leave Dr. Hooper’s office.

Ally and Elaine join the Dancing Twins on the dance floor of the bar.

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
Portia de Rossi as Nelle Porter
Lucy Liu as Ling Woo
with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas

Special Appearances By

Rosie O'Donnell as Dr. Hooper
Dyan Cannon as Whipper Cone
SPECIAL MUSICAL GUESTS
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Guest starring

David Dukes as Johnson Biblico
LaTanya Richardson as Attorney Yvette Rose
Kate McNeil as Marianne Harper
Wendy Worthington as Margaret Camaro
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