One Hundred Tears Away is the fifth episode of Season One and fifth episode in Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
In a fight over who should get the last package of potato chips in a supermarket, Ally is provoked into an act which gets her arrested for assault and shoplifting. Later, Ally is called to a disciplinary hearing that could threaten her legal career.
Plot[]
At a supermarket, Ally is arrested for tripping a woman after getting into an argument over the last pack of potato chips. When Renee bails Ally out, they learn shoplifting charges have been added to the assault claim, because a store security camera recorded Ally placing a tube of contraceptive jelly in her pocket. Renee asks Ally why she was buying the jelly, but Ally won't talk about it. The next morning, Billy represents Ally in court and Renee is the D. A. Judge Boyle grants a one-year continuance, with charges to be dropped if Ally stays clean. Back at the office, Elaine announces she has sold her 'face bra' invention and asks Ally to do the patent work. Fish interrupts to announce that Boyle has reported Ally to the Bar Association and her license to practice law has been suspended.
At the Bar Association, Judge Pink calls for a hearing to investigate Ally's emotional stability. Back at the office, Elaine reports she has been subpoenaed to testify. Ally realizes Judge Pink knows her old nemesis, Jack Billings and really begins to worry. At home that evening, Renee still wants to know about the contraceptive and who Ally was planning to sleep with. Ally says she was buying it just in case someone like Omar Sharif, in "Funny Girl," was about to knock on her door. At the hearing the next day, the supermarket lady recounts her fight with Ally. Later, Fish asks Billy if Ally is feeling all right, noting that Ronald Cheanie expressed some doubts when he pulled his business from their firm. Renee suggests Ally leave the law firm if working with Billy again is too difficult but Ally insists she is fine.
The next day, at the hearing, Elaine admits she once told someone that Ally seemed to be near a nervous breakdown. Afterward, Elaine tells Ally that Whipper Cone, Fish's girlfriend and a judge, was the person she discloses this to. Ally confronts Whipper, who says that, as a judge, it is her job to report inklings of an attorney's instability to the board. Later, Ally takes the stand. She starts to defend herself, but winds up lashing out angrily at the panel. Afterward, Billy chastises Ally and admits he too is curious about the contraceptive. Ally explains it was a sort of 'lottery ticket' in case her romantic luck suddenly changed.
The next day, Whipper asks Judge Boyle what he thinks of Ally and he says she may indeed be too emotional. At the hearing, Ally apologizes for her outburst the day before. Whipper suddenly enters and apologizes for reporting Ally, saying that when men are passionate, they are seen as strong and impassioned but when women get passionate about something, they are perceived as being weak and emotional. Renee makes a heartfelt plea for Ally and Billy states that Ally's emotions are one of her greatest strengths. Finally, in an effort to avoid more inquiries, the board votes not to suspend Ally's license. Ally and her friends celebrate at the bar. In a moment alone, Ally thanks Billy for his help. It is not until later, walking home alone, that Ally finally allows herself to cry over the events of the past few days.
Goofs[]
When Ally and the woman get in the altercation at the supermarket, everyone says it is over the last can of original style Pringles (in the red container). There is another can of Original Pringles only one shelf below where they take it from.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here.
Quotes[]
- Ally: How did I get to be such a mess so soon in my life?
- Billy: You've always been ahead of your time.
- Ally: Do you think I'm nuts?
- Whipper: No. But I'm not sure you have two feet on the ground either.
- Ally: Do you mean some people do?
Songs[]
- Walk Away Renee | Vonda Shepard (cover)
- Renée and Ally talk at the bar.
- Mischief & Control | Vonda Shepard
- Ally walking and daydreaming in the streets.
- Every Now & Then | Vonda Shepard
- At Ally's office. Billy and Ally talk to each other.
- I Wanna Love Him So Bad | Vonda Shepard (cover)
- The firm celebrates at the bar.
- Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma | Vonda Shepard (cover, performed by Ray Charles)
- At a bar, Vonda Shepard performs. Georgia, Billy and Richard are talking about Ally maybe getting suspended as a laywer while Ally is sitting next to them.
- 100 Tears Away |Vonda Shepard
- Ally walks home.
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
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
Special Appearances By
- Željko Ivanek as Judge Marshal Pink
- Dyan Cannon as Whipper Cone
Guest starring
- Phil Leeds as Judge Dennis 'Happy' Boyle
- Keene Curtis as Judge Johnson Hawk
- Vonda Shepard as Herself
- Carol Locatell as Judge Henrietta Fullem
- Audrie Neenan as [Mrs. Clarkson]
- Betty A. Bridges as Clerk
- Daniel Hutchison as Officer Kenter
- Gerald Emerick as Johnson
Uncredited
- Eric Cohen as Dancing Twin #1
- Steve Cohen as Dancing Twin #2
Producers[]
- David E. Kelley - Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Kramer - Co-Executive Producer
- Mike Listo - Producer
- Jonathan Pontell - Supervising Producer
- Robert Breech - Co-Producer
- Steve Robin - Co-Producer
- Pamela J. Wisne - Co-Producer