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Once in a Lifetime is the fifteenth episode of Season One of Ally McBeal.

Synopsis[]

Ally and Billy represent an artist who can't forget his dead wife who conjures up ghosts of once-in-a-lifetime love for the ex- lovers. Cage worries about kissing Ally as their first date looms.

Plot[]

The day before her first date with Cage, Ally realizes she doesn't want to go out with him and manages to avoid him before the morning meeting. Fish assigns Ally to represent Seymore Little, a famous elderly artist whose son and guardian won't let Seymore marry his twenty-something fiancée. After the meeting, Cage tells Fish that he is worried about whether or not to kiss Ally on their date. Fish in return tells him women like men to be aggressive.

Ally meets with Seymore, who wants a lawyer in pants, not skirts. Fish thus assigns Billy to work with Ally. They talk to Seymore and his fiancée, Paula, who fail to convince the lawyers that they are really in love. Ally also talks to Seymore's son, Sam, who insists his father cannot be in love with Paula because he still talks to his long-dead wife, the love of his life. Seymore admits this, but says he loves Paula too. Ally and Billy do not believe him. Back at the office, Cage tells Fish he fears dates because he is a poor kisser with too much saliva. Fish tells him to ask Billy's advice on how Ally likes to be kissed.

In court, Sam's attorney says Seymore once bought a very expensive boat at his dead wife's 'request,' which is proof of Seymore's incompetence. In private, Ally asks Paula why she really wants to marry Seymore. Paula, like Seymore, refuses to talk. Cage asks Billy's advice about kissing Ally but Billy is very uncomfortable with the subject. After the first hearing, Sam offers Paula all of his father's money not to marry Seymore, but Paula refuses. It proves she is not after money, but confounds everyone about her true motives. Ally and Billy spend a late night puzzling over the case but only get caught up in tensions about their own 'once-in-a-lifetime' love.

The next morning, Ally admits to Renee that she's 'backsliding' a bit in her feelings for Billy but vows not to relapse totally. Tensions remain between Ally and Billy, however, he counsels her on putting Seymore on the witness stand. In court, Ally's questioning goes well initially. But when Seymore is asked about his wife, it is obvious he is still grieving. Soon, he begins talking on the stand to the dead woman, proving Sam was right all along. After the hearing, Ally confronts Paula, who finally admits she only wants to marry Seymore so she can become his guardian and allow him to open a gallery to sell paintings of his dead wife. Sam, Seymore's current guardian, won't let him do. Cage rehearses for his date with Ally by listening to Barry White's music. Elaine gives Cage kissing tips, showing him how to suck back his extra saliva during the kiss.

Ally and Billy talk to Sam, who shows them Seymore's paintings of his late wife. They are extremely good but not up to the standards of his younger work. Sam fears if the painting are sold to the public it will ruin Seymore's artistic reputation. Back at the office, Cage intercepts Ally and hustles her out for their date. Ally begins her dumping strategy by launching into a non-stop, boring monologue about clothes and make-up. She keeps it up during dinner, dancing and the walk to her apartment. Finally, at her door, Cage lunges at Ally with a kiss so deep it literally knocks her to the ground. She manages to escape into her apartment as fast as she can.

In the morning, Cage frets that he was 'untoward.' Ally visits Seymore, who admits that all he wants is to open his gallery. Back at the office, Ally literally runs into Cage and is forced to admit she has no interest in dating him. He senses that it is because she is still in love with someone else who is probably still in love with her, too. Wrapping up her case in court, Ally argues that everyone would be lucky to experience a love that would not die. The judge decrees that Seymore be allowed to open his gallery. That night, Georgia and a still-distracted Billy go dancing, Seymore gazes at the paintings of his late wife, Cage adjusts to being dumped and Ally walks home alone.

Script[]

Full transcript can be found here.

Songs[]

You Belong to Me | Vonda Shepard (cover, written by Chilton Price, Pee Wee King, and Redd Stewart)
Ally and Billy discuss their case.
Since I Fell for You | Vonda Shepard (cover, written by Buddy Johnson)
At the Bar.
Going the Distance | Bill Conti
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Baby | Vonda Shepard (cover, by Barry White)
At the end.
It's the End of the World or It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) | Vonda Shepard (cover, by R.E. M.)
At the end.

List of songs in the episode can be found here.

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
with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas

Guest starring

Steven Flynn as Sam Little
Brigid Brannagh as 'Paula
Phil Leeds as Judge Dennis 'Happy' Boyle
Bruce Nozick as Attorney
Vonda Shepard as Herself
Richard Kiley as Seymore Little
Renée Elise Goldsberry as Ikette #1 (credited as Backup Singer #1)
Vatrena King as Ikette #2 (credited as Backup Singer #2)
Sy Smith as Ikette #3 (credited as Backup Singer #3)

Producers[]

David E. Kelley - Executive Producer
Jeffrey Kramer - Co-Executive Producer
Mike Listo - Producer
Robert Breech - Co-Producer
Steve Robin - Co-Producer
Pamela J. Wisne - Co-Producer
Jonathan Pontell - Supervising Producer

Music[]

Danny Lux

Gallery[]

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