Love's Illusions is the twenty-second episode of Season Two and the forty-fifth episode of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
Ally’s fantasies interfere with her lawyering, prompting fears that she may be losing her mind. A man who believes his wife never loved him sues for fraud. Fish experiences impotency as he and Ling are about to make love.
Plot[]
One morning, as Ally prepares for work, she experiences several fantasies, all of them involving her youth. In one of them, she and her teenaged girlfriends sing the Robert Palmer song, Addicted To Love. When the fantasies end, Ally lowers herself to the floor and puts her head in her hands.
In court, Ally and Cage represent their client, Kelly Philbrick. Kelly’s husband, Barry, testifies that he had always believed his marriage was wonderful - they have been married for two years. However one day, Barry came upon his wife’s diary. The entries, which consist of a series of love letters, go back some eleven years. Barry claims that Kelly married him for his money and never really loved him. As a result, he is suing for fraud. During Ally’s cross-examination, Barry explains that the letters were addressed to a Michael Redmond, a fictitious person. Suddenly, Ally then experiences a fantasy in which Judge Walsh rises and sings in the form of Al Green. She suddenly snaps out of the dream, wondering if she is losing her mind. She later tells Cage about the experience.
Ling approaches Fish and demands that he employ the erotic maneuver on her knee pit. Fish refuses to do so unless they have sexual intercourse. She agrees to the proposal, and sets up a rendezvous for that evening.
Cage tells Ally that what she is seeking in a man doesn’t exist. He believes her Al Green fantasy is part of her make believe world the only place that won’t end up disappointing her. Ally denies this is true, and insists she loves the world in which she lives. When Kelly takes the witness stand, she describes for the jury the disappointment she felt on her wedding day. She had romanticized the event her entire life, yet when the moment came, it was bitterly disappointing, for she had no passion for the man she was about to marry. As she could not share her feelings with Barry, she sought an alternate means of expression.
Inside the unisex bathroom, Georgia and Billy reminisce about what it was like to be single. The conversation quickly changes to having sex inside the stall. Georgia pushes Billy inside a stall, and they begin to undress.
During cross-examination, Kelly admits that, perhaps, she married Barry because she realized she would never meet anyone who measured up to her romanticized version of the ideal mate. When Kelly states that love is "probably all an illusion," it triggers objections from Allly and yet another fantasy with Al Green. Ally and Cage enter the unisex bathroom as Billy and Georgia are having sex inside the stall. Billy and Georgia quickly stop their act, but unfortunately, both their weight is pressed against the stall door. As Ally tells Cage that every marriage must have passion, the door gives way, and Billy and Georgia tumble onto the floor. Ally experiences a dream in which her parents argue bitterly. A young Ally attempts to block out the noise by placing her hands over her ears.
As Fish climbs into bed, ready for sex, Ling presents him with a waiver and confidentiality agreement. Ling explains that she has "trade secrets." She tosses the clip board aside and climbs atop Fish. Unfortunately, Fish is unable to perform.
Ally and Cage turn to counselor cum sociologist Margaret Camero whom Fish once called a "vicious lesbian" on the stand—for help with their case. At first, Camero understandably rejects their offer. However, Ally promises she will not be vilified on the stand. Fish tells Cage about his sexual dysfunction. Cage suggests he look to Bob Dole for help and Fish consults a doctor. He receives a prescription for a medication that will alleviate his impotence. In court, Camaro labels the notion of a soul mate as a myth. She also dismisses wedding vows as "archaic ceremony jargon." Afterwards, Ally however angrily confronts Camero about her views. Renee meanwhile grows concerned about Ally’s well being. Ally tells her roommate that her mother never loved her father. She recounts how, as a young girl, she caught her mother having sex with another man. It was from that day on that she started pretending.
Fish asks Ling for a second chance at lovemaking. But if she refuses but he promises there will be no more "knee pit action." Later, thanks to the medication, he and Ling have sex.
During her final statement, Ally argues that, in the real world, we must sometimes settle for a mate who comes close to our expectations. She tells the jury that what Kelly did was perfectly reasonable. The jury rules in Kelly’s favor. As Ally walks home that night, alone, she tries very hard not to cry.
Trivia[]
- When Ling and Richard are in bed after a failed attempt at coitus, Ling turns on the TV and sees that Chicago Hope is on. Chicago Hope is another television show created by David E. Kelley.
- The episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special.
- The title definitely came from the song 'Both Sides Now' written by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell made famous by Judy Collins. The title is from part of the lyrics of the song, featured in the episode.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here and here.
Songs[]
- Addicted to Love | Robert Palmer
- Ally gets ready for work.
- Let's Stay Together | Al Green
- Ally suddenly sees the judge and jury sing during the trial.
- Wicked Witch of the West theme song |
- Both Sides Now | Vonda Shepard (cover written by Joni Mitchell/made famous by Judy Collins)
- Ally hears the song in her head as she walks down the street.
- Born to Be Wild | Steppenwolf
- Richard is in the unisex getting ready for sex with Ling.
- Do Ya Think I'm Sexy | Rod Stewart
- Billy and Georgia in a booth in the unisex having sex.
- Keep On Pushing Love | Al Green
- The judge and jury sing during the trial again.
- Play That Funky Music | Wild Cherry
- Billy and Georgia in a stall in the unisex making out.
- Chicago Hope theme |
- On the TV set in Richard's apartment as Ling switches it on.
- You're the First, the Last, My Everything | Barry White
- Nelle flirts with John.
- Dulcinea | Vonda Shepard (cover written by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion from the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha)
- Ally sits in her apartment in introspection.
- Love Machine | The Miracles
- Richard and Ling managed to have sex.
- Both Sides Now | Vonda Shepard (cover written by Joni Mitchell/made famous by Judy Collins)
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
- Portia de Rossi as Nelle Porter
- Lucy Liu as Ling Woo
- with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
- Vonda Shepard as 'Herself (voice)
Special Appearance By
- Al Green as Himself
Reoccurring Cast
- Albert Hall as Judge Seymore Walsh
- Amy Castle as Young Ally
- Wendy Worthington as Margaret Camaro
Guest Starring
- Barbara Alyn Woods as Kelly Philbrick
- Anne-Marie Johnson as District Attorney Foster
- Paul Bartel as Doctor
- Robert Picardo as Barry Philbrick
- Judith Drake as Foreperson
- Darin Cooper as Pedestrian
- Jill Noel as Girlfriend #1
- Paige Tamada as Girlfriend #2
- Sarah Hagan as Girlfriend #3
- Jacy DeFilippo as Girlfriend #4
Uncredited
- Stephen Silberkraus as Courtroom Watcher
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[]