Sex, Lies and Politics is the sixteenth episode of Season Two and the thirty-ninth episode of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
Cage and Ling represent a bookstore owner who was driven out of business by a politician who claimed that the store sold pornography. Ally and Billy deal with the aftermath of their kiss.
Plot[]
As Ally and Renee walk down a Boston street, Ally imagines that passersby are making remarks about what happened with Billy. Renee suggests she seek psychiatric counseling, but Ally counters that Tracy makes her feel guilty for experiencing guilt. Inside the conference room, Fish reviews the status of various cases. Cage tells the others that Senator Harold Watkins has agreed to settle his case for a payment of $500,000, evidently because he wishes to avoid publicity. Watkins had libeled bookstore owner Shirley Patterson by claiming that her store sold pornographic material. As the conversation continues, Ally hears the beating of a 'tell tale heart', which grows louder and louder. She looks at Georgia, whose head beats like a human heart.
When Cage meets with Senator Watkins’ high-powered attorney, Peter Benson, it becomes clear that the $500,000 settlement offer was a trick as Benson announces that the case will go to trial. As the judge in the case ordered no further continuances, the trial will begin that day. Cage, who is completely unprepared for trial, instructs the others to interview people who worked on the senator’s television ads, hoping they might possess information that would bolster their case. In court, Benson successfully argues for a sequestered jury. Cage is displeased with Fish’s performance. Instead, he appoints the inexperienced Ling as second chair. Ally tells Greg that for two days, she experienced feelings for someone else, someone she kissed and Greg walks away. Billy catches enough of the conversation to ask Ally what was stated. It turns out that both Ally and Billy were advised by their counselors not to tell Georgia about what transpired. But they both wonder why it feels so wrong. Ally again hears the heartbeat, but this time, she dances to the rhythm.
In court, Cage’s client, Shirley Peterson, takes the witness stand. She describes how her bookstore business did well financially until Senator Watkins took to the airwaves and accused her store of selling pornographic material. Ling interrupts her testimony, describing Peterson as tedious. Cage looks stunned. But afterwards, in the elevator, Cage tells Ling she performed exactly as he had instructed. Ally apologizes to Greg for kissing another man. Later, she convinces Renee to accompany her to church so she can be with others in a house of forgiveness. During cross-examination, Peterson states that she sold books written by John Irving and Balzac and rap CDs featuring profane lyrics. She insists that just about every record store in the county carries similar music.
In church, Minister Mark Neuman asks someone in his congregation to shout out one of the Ten Commandments. An elderly woman mentions thou shalt not covet' and Ally is incredulous. As the service continues, Neuman states that 'thou shalt not commit adultery' is the worst of the commandments. Ally rises to her feet and insists that 'thou shalt not kill' must certainly top the list. The church grows silent with all eyes upon her. Moments later, Lisa Knowles and the choir break into song and Ally is convinced they are singing about her. Later, Neuman informs Ally that his sermon was not about her. He points out that she did not commit adultery. He also believes that Georgia is not really her friend, for if she was, Ally would never have kissed her husband. Later, using a pseudonym, Ally phones a radio talk show for advice and Dr. Ruth concurs with Neuman’s opinion.
In court, Cage announces that he was told that the jurors watched The Music Man during their sequestration. Accompanied by a violinist, cello player and bass player, Cage lapses into verse. He makes an analogy between Professor Harold Hill, the pool table, Senator Watkins and the bookstore. Meanwhile, Billy approaches Georgia and suddenly blurts out that he kissed Ally. Ally interrupts their conversation and upon seeing their faces, realizes what happened. Later, Georgia tells Billy they should separate for a while.
Ling presents the final argument in the bookstore case. She tells the jury that, at first, she felt the case was unworthy, labeling the idea of suing a politician for his opinions as stupid. But as the case went on, she came to realize that Watkins exploited the bookstore because of its proximity to the State Capitol. She tells the jury it was wrong for the senator to drive Peterson out of business. The jury agrees nd award Peterson over a million dollars in damages. Ally approaches Georgia in her office. She tells her she has always loved Billy and always will. But when she discovered that Billy met Georgia while he was going out with her, it made her question the notion of love. She now believes that when she kissed Billy, it was because she wanted to prove that his love for her was still there. For if it was still there, then it must have existed to begin with. She concludes that although she and Billy love one another, they were never meant to be together. Now, Ally can only hope to repair the damage between herself and Georgia. Georgia just asks her to leave.
Trivia[]
- Guest Star Zach Grenier also played a lawyer in the TV show The Good Wife.
- John Cage mentions a song from Music Man, Ya Got Trouble. This song was parodied in Schmigadoon! which Jane Krakowski also stars in.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here and here.
Songs[]
- Friendship Train | cover by Vonda Shepard, originally performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips.
- Shake a Tail Feather | cover by Jennifer Holliday, originally performed by he Five Du-Tones.
- Lisa and the church choir sing this at the church.
- And I Love You So | cover by Vonda Shepard, originally performed by Don McLean.
- Ya Got Trouble | cover by Peter MacNicol, originally written by Meredith Willson from the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man,
- John Cage and the jury sing..
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
- Vonda Shepard as self (vocals)
- with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
Recurring Cast
- Albert Hall as Judge Seymore Walsh
- Jesse L. Martin as Dr. Greg Butters
- Harrison Page as Reverend Mark Newman
- Jennifer Holliday as Lisa Knowles
Guest Starring
- Zach Grenier as Attorney Benson
- Peter White as Senator Harold Watkins
- Linda Gehringer as Shirley Peterson
- Ruth Westheimer as self (voice)
- Mike McCurry as self
- Denine Perry as Congregant
- Sharon Marlowe as Congregant
- Shirley Scott as Congregant
- George Anthony Bell as Congregant
- Orlando Ashley as Congregant
- Norma Michaels as Elderly Lady
- Ed Brigadier as Foreman
- Eugene Greytak as Pope
- Bobbie Holtzman as Older Woman
- Amentha Dymally as Woman
- Bill Handy as Man
- Bobby Johnson as 3-card Monte Guy
Uncredited
- Alexander Thomas as Juror
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