The Green Monster is the twenty-first episode of Season Two and the forty-fourth episode of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
Ally hires a male escort in hopes of making Greg jealous. Fish and Cage represent a woman who destroyed her husband’s most cherished possessions after she discovered he was having an affair while Billy objects to Georgia’s revealing attire.
Plot[]
Fish and Cage are representing Bonnie Mannix, who is suing her estranged husband for emotional distress. The suit is a counterclaim; Bonnie’s husband, Michael, is suing her for malicious destruction of property. Bonnie, destroyed some of her husband’s most cherished possessions after she discovered him cheating. Judge Walsh dismisses the counterclaim but allows Michael’s suit to proceed. Meanwhile, Billy notices some male employees looking up toward the balcony area. He follows their gaze and sees Georgia standing by the library, clad in a revealing dress. He confronts his wife about the attire. Georgia explains that it is Ling’s creation. When Billy demands that she remove it, Georgia begins pealing it off where they stand. Later, Georgia tells Billy that if Cage can go through a change, then so can she.
Ling cannot help but notice Ally’s preoccupation with singing. She correctly concludes it has something to do with Greg Butters. Ling then reveals that she owns an escort service… and suggests to Ally that she hire a male escort so she can make Greg jealous. Later, Ally tells Renee that Ling’s plan makes sense.
In court, Michael Mannix describes how his wife hoisted his grand piano into the air using a construction crane. As he watched, Bonnie dropped the piano onto his beloved Porsche, thereby destroying the two things in life he held close to his heart. During cross-examination, Michael admits that his wife committed the act shortly after he returned home from a liaison with another woman.
Ling later introduces Ally to Kevin Wyatt, a handsome male escort. Kevin suggests it might be best if Greg sees them both kissing. This triggers a fantasy in which Ally engulfs Kevin’s head completely. She tells Kevin she might be able to fake it. Renee and Ally decide to throw Cage a birthday party. Even though his 35th birthday has past, it was never celebrated. At first, Cage vehemently objects to the idea. Renee explains that he will not be the center of attention, as the entire scheme is a pretext to bring Ally and Greg together in a public setting. Eventually, Cage quickly approves the idea.
Georgia further raises Billy’s ire when she tries on another of Ling’s dresses. Cage pushes Bonnie to settle out of court, but she rejects the idea outright. Renee meanwhile convinces Greg to attend Cage’s birthday party, even though he hardly knows the man. Ally, Kevin, Billy, Georgia and Ling gather at the bar for the scheme. Unfortunately, Cage is still at the office working late on Bonnie’s case. Cage convinces Bonnie that it is in her best interest to meet with Michael to discuss a settlement.
Greg arrives at the bar with his beautiful date, Kimba. Even Kevin voices his approval, regarding Kimba’s good looks. As the evening wears on, it becomes more and more apparent that Greg and Kimba are enjoying themselves. Thinking quickly, Kevin convinces Ally to join him onstage. The pair sing a beautiful version of All I Have To Do Is Dream. The ploy works as Ling notices a distinct change in Greg look. Greg retaliates by singing a duet with Kimba, the song Your Precious Love. Ally forces smile onto her face and Greg accuses Ally of luring him to the bar. He also notes Cage’s absence. A short time later, Georgia takes the stage, however, her vocals are so poor that the entire audience joins in for the sole purpose of drowning out her voice. Later, Greg asks Ally out for a cup of coffee. Ally concludes that, perhaps, jealously does have its rewards after all. Despite Cage’s best efforts, Bonnie and Michael are unable to reach an out of court settlement. Kevin drops by Ally’s office to check on how things worked out with Greg. Ally admits to Kevin that she is attracted to him. Kevin counters that it is against policy to date clients. But he does suggest the possibility of another date-for-hire. Ally kisses Kevin to 'test the merchandise.'
The jury is swayed by Cage’s closing argument. Though it rules in favor of Michael Mannix, it only orders damages in the amount of thirty-five cents. Georgia tells Billy that her change in attire may be an attempt to keep herself from becoming boring. Billy assures her she is far from boring… and promises to do a better job. Ally and Renée sing Bye Bye Love in their apartment and dance to it.
Trivia[]
- In a 2017 Hollywood Reporter article, Courtney Thorne-Smith recounted that when she had to sing badly here, "something that came very naturally for me. I went in to record with Vonda Shepard who sang on the show and composed the music. She said, "Wow, it can't get any worse than that. You're done. You must really know how to sing in order to sing that badly."
- One of the three men staring up at Georgia was creator, executive producer and writer David E. Kelley.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here and here.
Songs[]
- It's Ovver | Boz Scaggs
- Ally sings with a tape at her desk as she shuffles paper.
- So Very Hard to Go | Tower of Power
- Ally plays the song in her office.
- Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye) | Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)
- Ally sings with a tape in her office.
- "You Turned My Whole World Around | Barry White
- John and Renee discuss his up coming birthday.
- This Is Crazy Now | Vonda Shepard
- The attorneys gather at the bar for Ally John and Greg.
- All I Have to Do Is Dream | Calista Flockhart and Antonio Sabato Jr. (cover, originally sung by The Everly Brothers.)
- Kevin's idea to make Greg jealous. He gets Ally to sing this song.
- Your Precious Love | Jesse L. Martin and Enya Flack (cover, originally sung by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.)
- Greg counters by singing a duet with Kimba.
- You Don't Have to Say You Love Me | Courtney Thorne-Smith (cover, originally sung by Dusty Springfield.)
- Georgia decides to sing but turns out terrible.
- Son of a Preacher Man | Courtney Thorne-Smith (cover, originally sung by Dusty Springfield.)
- Georgia's second song which also turns out terrible.
- "Bye Bye Love | Calista Flockhart, Lisa Nicole Carson and Vonda Shepard (cover, originally sung by The Everly Brothers.)
- Ally and Renée sing in their apartment, Vonda continues as they dance.
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
- Portia de Rossi as Nelle Porter
- Lucy Liu as Ling Woo
- with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
Special Appearance By
- Jesse L. Martin as Dr. Greg Butters
Recurring Cast==
Guest Starring
- Antonio Sabato Jr. as Kevin Wyatt
- Christine Estabrook as Bonnie Mannix
- Sar Botsford as Attorney Post
- Denis Arndt as Michael Mannix
- Enya Flack as Kimba
- James Kiriyama-Lem as Foreman
Uncredited
- David E. Kelley as Fish and Cage staff member
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