Let's Dance is the nineteenth episode of Season Two and the forty-second episode 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 and Billy and Georgia attend therapy.
Plot[]
Cage asks Nelle how she arranged to have Barry White sing at his birthday party. In response, 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 however declines the offer, as she is in the middle of an important case. The attorneys gather in the conference room. They discuss another law firm where 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 matched by no other attorney. Elaine meanwhile 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 would not be the case. Harper believes this is a direct result of her getting pregnant. She points out that six other female attorneys at the firm were treated similarly. Meanwhile, 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 and 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 out from a stall, having overheard their conversation with Ally’s face turns ashen in result. 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 then 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.
Next, 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. Afterwards, 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. However, 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. He also asks for her hand and she responds by holding it out to him. Hand in hand, they leave Dr. Hooper’s office.
Finally, Ally and Elaine join the Dancing Twins on the dance floor of the bar.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here and here.
Songs[]
- You Turned My Whole World Around | Barry White
- In John's mind in the unisex as he approaches Nelle.
- You're the First, the Last, My Everything | Barry White
- In John's mind as he makes sees Nelle in her office.
- What Am I Gonna Do With You? | Barry White
- John getting ready for trial in elevator.
- Wicked Witch of the West theme |
- Ling's theme song.
- Slow Hand | The Pointer Sisters
- Renee and John on their first date in the bar. John knee pits her.
- Go Daddy-O | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- You're the First, the Last, My Everything | Barry White
- Reprise.
- You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby) | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- Elaine and Ling get to the dance contest.
- The Boogie Bumper | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- Elaine and Ling dance in contest .
- Baby Don't You Break My Heart Slow | Vonda Shepard
- Billy and Georgia dance close and slow. Renee and Ally dance with the Dancing Twins. Nelle holds and remembers childhood with teddy bears. .
Cast[]
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
Recurring Cast
- Renée Elise Goldsberry as Renée Elise Goldsberry (previously Ikette #1)
- Vatrena King as Vatrena King (previously Ikette #2)
- Sy Smith as Sy Smith (previously Ikette #3)
- Eric Cohen as Eric Cohen (previously Dancing Twin #1)
- Steve Cohen as Steve Cohen (previously Dancing Twin #1)
Guest Starring
- David Dukes as Johnson Biblico
- LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Attorney Yvette Rose
- Kate McNeil as Marianne Harper
- Wendy Worthington as Margaret Camaro
- Fred Ponzlov as Fred Ponzlov
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
Music[]
Gallery[]
