Pilot is the first episode of Season One and the premiere of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
Young lawyer Ally McBeal experiences emotional turmoil when she takes a job at a firm where her childhood sweetheart, first love and ex-boyfriend also works.
Plot[]
In flashbacks, young lawyer and Ally McBeal recalls how she initially went to law school to follow her childhood sweetheart, Billy Thomas, to Harvard law school. This is despite Ally not wishing to read law. They break up as Billy changes his mind and heads to Michigan law. Ally continues on and becomes a lawyer with a prominent firm. She leaves quickly when a partner, Jack Billings, repeatedly fondles her backside. Ally meets her old classmate, money-loving Richard Fish who invites her to join his newly-formed firm. Fish gives Ally a can't-lose censorship case to break in, then introduces her to her hyper-efficient secretary, Elaine, and another young associate who turns out to be Billy Thomas. Fish then recommends that Billy handle Ally's sexual-harassment case against Billings.
The next morning, Ally acts as if nothing has changed, but her rational roommate, Renée, knows what Ally won't admit: that working with Billy will be very difficult. At the office, Fish tells Ally about an upcoming meeting with prospective firm named Air National. Later, Billy informs Ally that he is in fact now married. Ally hides her disappointment, but on her way to her censorship hearing, she inappropriately snaps at a stranger who bumps her on the street. To Ally's disbelief, the judge rules in favor of the censorship, although he does invite her to appeal his decision.
When Ally confesses her loss to Fish, Billy defends her but she snaps back at him. Later on, Billy asks for an explanation. Ally explains it is difficult being around him again. Billy's beautiful wife, Georgia, arrives and Ally greets her warmly, but seethes inside. That night, Georgia suddenly visits Ally at her apartment, saying Billy told her he and Ally once "had a few dates." Georgia and Ally then confess their mutual hatred and both feel better. The next morning, Billy and Ally hold a deposition with Billings, who claims his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) forces him to grab women's buttocks. Ally however lashes out at him. Billy chastises her and she chastises him for telling Georgia they had "a couple of dates." Billy finally admits he still was very much in love with Ally. Later, Ally tells Fish she doesn't want to meet with the National people because conference rooms make her feel small and juvenile but Fish won't take no for an answer.
The next morning, Fish meets with Billings, saying anyone creative enough to come up with the OCD defense deserves a job offer, Ally in reply threatens to quit. Billings admits he made up the OCD claim and promises never to touch Ally again. Fish reveals the offer was fake and that he recorded the whole conversation as evidence for Ally's case. Georgia waits in Ally's office, angry that Ally told Billy about Georgia's earlier visit to Ally's home. Fish simply tells them to work out their differences. Later, during the National meeting, Ally is distracted by memories and feelings of inadequacy. However, she comes up with a strategy for National that convinces them to hire the firm for law cases. Fish, Billy and Ally drink a toast to the success. Afterward, Ally admits to Billy that she herself still loves him. He admits he loves her as well but also loves Georgia. Later, Ally tells Fish the week has been extremely trying for her but then reminds herself that she wouldn't want to be too happy.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here and here.
Quotes[]
- Ally: I'm not sure how it all started. Oh, it was because I smelled his bottom. It wasn't that stupid. Dogs did it. That's how they knew for sure.
Songs[]
- Maryland | Vonda Shepard
- Searchin' My Soul | Vonda Shepard
- Neighborhood | Vonda Shepard
- Wildest times of the World | Vonda Shepard
- Tell Him | The Exciters
- Drown In My Own Tears (Cover)| Ray Charles
- Baby don't you break my heart slow| Vonda Shepard
- Like A Hemisphere| Vonda Shepard
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
Guest starring
- Larry Brandenburg as Judge Raynsford Hopkins
- Richard Riehle as Jack Billings
- Pat McNamara as Ralph Lyne
- David Dunard as Judge Hupp
- Paul Collins as Judge Williams
- Michael Mantell as Joseph Shapiro
- Michael Laskin as Henry Thorton
- Susan Knight as Joanne Wilder
- Kim Delgado as Court Clark
- Jeffrey Kramer as Ally's Father
- Ashley Marie as Ally McBeal (Ages 12-14)
- Michael Galeota as Billy Thomas (Ages 12-14)
- Mika Boorem as Ally McBeal (Age 7)
- Nicholas Pappone as Billy Thomas (Age 7)
Uncredited
- Eric Cohen as Dancing Twin #1
- Steve Cohen as Dancing Twin #2
- Stuart Gold as Vengeful Client
- Vonda Shepard as herself
Producers[]
- David E. Kelley - Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Kramer - Co-Executive Producer
- Mike Listo - Producer
- Jonathan Pontell - Producer
- Robert Breech - Co-Producer
- Steve Robin- Co-Producer
- Gary M. Strangis – Coordinating Producer
Music[]
Gallery[]
