Pyramids on the Nile is the fourteenth episode of Season Two and thirty-seventh episode of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
A company fires two employees for breaking its 'date and tell' office policy. Billy grows jealous when he sees Greg and Ally kissing. Ling asks Fish to hire her as a counsel for Fish & Cage.
Plot[]
Greg enters Fish & Cage carrying flowers and a red Valentine's Day balloon. The sight triggers one on Ally's fantasies: the dancing baby, dressed as Cupid, sprays her with arrows. Shortly thereafter, Billy sees the pair kiss. Ling pressures Fish hire her services as counsel and she entices him by licking his finger.
Attorney Jordan and six of his high-powered colleagues meet with Cage and Nelle. They offer to settle a sexual harassment case for $125,000 for each client. Nelle and Cage reject the offer and hold out for two million dollars. When a price really cannot be agreed upon, the case goes to trial. Meanwhile, in court, Ally and Billy represent Myra Jacobs, who contests a will that cut Myra out of an estate when she remarried. Judge Hopkins rules that restrictions against remarriage are often ruled as invalid, only when the intent is punitive. Ally then experiences a fantasy in which her legs are literally chopped out from under her. Afterwards, Billy chastises Ally for being unprepared in court. He further implies it is because she is more concerned about the incoming Valentine's Day dinner with Greg. Angered, Ally in response, warns Billy to never again speak to her in such a fashion.
Next, Nelle and Cage's client, Steve Cloves, takes the witness stand. He testifies that he met and fell in love with, Callie Horn at his place of work. The pair had been together for three months when they were approached by the company's vice president of personnel, Mr. Forsely. When both admitted to the relationship, they were promptly discharged. The company enforces a strict policy called 'date and tell', in which employees are required to disclose the truth should they fall into a relationship, thus insulating the company against any sexual harassment claims. Cloves admits that when he chose not to disclose the relationship, he knew he was violating policy.
Later, Fish announces that Ling has been hired to work at the firm. Georgia, Billy and Ally are incredulous. The three confront Cage, who still refuses to interfere with Fish's decision. Fish explains that Ling will be supervising the infrastructure handling her corporate ventures which will bring a great deal of money into the firm. In court, Attorney Jordan questions Leon Abbott, a lawyer who specializes in sexual harassment cases. He testifies that Cobb Co.'s policy is not only excellent, but also is similar to ones used by many other major companies. Nelle therefore approaches Callie and Steve and asks them to consider the settlement offer, as Neither she nor Cage feels confident about winning the case, as the opposition has effectively established themselves as the victims. However, Callie and Steve refuse to change their minds. Later, in an inspired move, Cage asks Ling to testify in the case.
Billy fears that if Ling becomes the firm's biggest client, she will eventually become the boss. He arranges to have drinks with Ally so they can discuss the issue. At a restaurant, the topic shifts from business to personal relationships. Billy confesses that he could barely keep his composure when he saw Greg and Ally kissing. He confesses that he will never love anyone in the same way that he loves Ally. When Ally leaves the restaurant, she runs home as fast as she can. Renee questions Ally about her feelings for Greg and Billy. Ally states that she loves Greg. But from a place deep inside her being, she also states that she loves Billy. When Ling takes the witness stand, she testifies about her sexual harassment suit against the manufacturing plant where she once worked which involved the sexually harassing thoughts of others. Afterwards, Cage informs Callie and Steve that the other side withdrew its settlement offer.
Ally discovers Billy sitting in her office. He tells her that when Fish hired Ling, he considered leaving the firm. But, he suddenly realized how much he would miss her. Ally in response reminds Billy that he is married to Georgia. During his final statement, Cage tells the jury that Steve and Callie were fired for attempting to keep their private life between themselves. As a result, they lost everything. The jury finds in favor of the plaintiffs, and Cobb Co. is ordered to pay Steve and Callie $942,000. Next, Ling arouses Fish with a "hair tickle," in which she softly brushes her hair against his skin.
Ally arranges to have dinner with Greg. When she hangs up the phone, she sees Billy standing in her office doorway. Ally dons her coat and walks towards Billy, coming face to face. Billy tells her that he never imagined he could meet the person of his dreams at the age of eight. They look at each other for a moment and then they come closer and kiss. As the kiss ends, Ally pulls back just a bit, as if she is conflicted. Billy places his hand on her hair, close to her ear, then places his other hand on the other side of her head and they kiss again. Both of their coats fall to the floor, and they continue to kiss, then slow dance together. When they finally get to the elevator, they hold hands and kiss again. In the end, Ally slowly walks home alone.
Trivia[]
The title is taken from the opening lyrics of 'You Belong to Me', a famous ballad covered in the episode.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here and here.
Songs[]
- Going the Distance | performed by Bill Conti.
- Billy confesses his love for Ally.
- 100 Tears Away | performed by Vonda Shepard.
- Ally talks to Renee.
- Tell Him | cover by Vonda Shepard, originally performed by The Exciters.
- Ally in the street.
- You're the First, the Last, My Everything | performed by Barry White.
- John in the courtroom, brief play.
- Georgia | performed by Boz Scaggs.
- Ally listening to the song in her office.
- Mustang Sally | cover by Vonda Shepard, originally performed by Wilson Pickett.
- Richard and Ling make love.
- You Belong to Me | cover by Vonda Shepard, written by Chilton Price, Pee Wee King, and Redd Stewart
- Ally and John in her office and they kiss.
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 (songs only)
- Portia de Rossi as Nelle Porter
- Lucy Liu as Ling Woo
- with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
Recurring Cast
Guest Starring
- Conor O'Farrell as Attorney Jordan
- Peter Birkenhead as Steve
- Kenneth Kimmins as Mr. Forsley
- Larry Brandenburg as Judge Raynsford Hopkins
- Bruce Nozick as Attorney
- Paul Perri as Attorney Serrano
- Lauren Bowles as Callie Horne
- J. Karen Thomas as Karen Martin-Gray
- Anna Nicole Smith as Myra Jacobs
- Jack Patterson as Foreman
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