Worlds Without Love is the sixth episode of Season Two and the twenty-ninth episode of Ally McBeal.
Synopsis[]
A nun sues for damages after she is fired for breaking her vow of celibacy. Renée reconnects with someone from her past. Cage’s once-thought-dead frog reappears.
Plot[]
Ally and Cage meet with Chrissa Long, an attractive nun who wishes to sue for damages because she was fired after she broke her vow of celibacy. Neither of the attorneys believes Chrissa has much of a case, however, they decide to proceed nonetheless.
Outside of a courtroom, Renee bumps into Matt Griffin. There is an awkward but friendly exchange between the pair. Later, Renee tells Ally that Matt is her "Billy." In court, Chrissa describes how she met and fell in love with, a man named Peter. The pair met when Chrissa was performing charity work such as painting walls at a homeless shelter run by Peter. As time went by, neither Chrissa nor Peter could deny the obvious attraction between both of them. Yet, both knew they could not act upon their desires. One night, as they were painting a room at the shelter, they found themselves staring at one another and Peter leaned over and kissed and the pair eventually made love. The courtroom grows silent then suddenly, the stillness is broken when Ally blows her nose. Judge Whipper Cone calls Ally into chambers where she accuses Ally of resorting to stunts. She also inquires about Richard and asks if he is dating anyone. Next, Renee again encounters Matt in a court corridor. Matt reveals that his marriage has been on the decline. He asks Renee if she would like to get something to drink.
As Georgia sits on the toilet inside the unisex, she hears a noise emanating from the toilet bowl below. She stands and then bends over for a better look inside the bowl. Suddenly, Stefan the frog leaps from the water and lands on her nose. Georgia hurls the creature, which lands in Nelle’s hair. The pair continue to throw the frog back and forth until it lands on a stall door. The attorneys quickly determine that the frog is still alive and manage to sneak it out of the firm without alerting Cage.
Renee and Matt meet to discuss old times. She however is not anxious to resume their former relationship. Renee gives Matt a small kiss on the cheek and begins to walk away. Matt however takes Renee’s hand and asks if he can call her. Renee responds with a firm 'no.'
In court, Sister Helen informs Attorney Henry Nixon that Chrissa does not really regret having the affair. She reveals that the relationship ended only when Peter dumped Chrissa. This comes as a complete surprise to Ally.
A veterinarian stabilizes Stephan’s vital signs but the frog lapses into a coma and is placed on a respirator. The attorneys debate amongst themselves if they should tell Cage about the frog’s reappearance.
Ally approaches Whipper and informs her that Fish’s relationship with Ling isn’t very serious. She encourages the judge to act before it’s too late. Shortly thereafter, Fish eventually summons enough courage to tell Cage about Stephan.
Ally approaches Sister Helen at the monastery but the nun quickly ends any notion of a settlement. When the conversation ends, Ally notices a nearby confession booth. She enters and tells the priest she is only 'about a quarter Catholic.' She then proceeds to confess sleeping with any man and also confesses to bedding another lover because of the size of a portion of his anatomy.
Fish escorts Ling back to his townhouse. Ling opens the bedroom door only to view Whipper’s naked buttocks and both women scream. Mortified, Whipper grabs her clothes and quickly exits. Later, Ling informs Nelle that she intends to sue Fish of infliction of emotional distress. Nelle explains that Whipper was once Fish’s girlfriend and was seeking reconciliation. Despite that Ling remains adamant. Nelle further informs her that she cannot sue a member of her own firm.
Matt then pays Renee an unexpected visit. Renee reminds him that he is married and shouldn’t have come to her apartment. Matt nevertheless leans over and kisses Renee. She returns the kiss and their passion escalates.
Ally enters Whipper’s chambers. A humiliated Whipper insists she did nothing wrong and was merely attempting to surprise Fish. Ally tells Whipper to close her eyes and envision the perfect man. Whipper plays along. Ally then tells her to imagine spending every day of the rest of her life with that same person. Nixon interrupts their conversation. He explains that the church has decided to offer Chrissa her job back. Sister Helen explains that Chrissa confessed the affair to Father O’Riley, who has been videotaping parishioner’s confessions using hidden video cameras. O’Riley, who has aspirations of becoming a television producer, has been trying to sell the tape to the Fox network as the 'World’s Naughtiest Confessions.' Ally turns a shade of ivory white as she realizes her confession about her sex life may end up on national television. Cage notices a skin rash on Georgia’s face, and inquires if Stephan jumped on her. Nelle and Georgia quickly confess that the frog was conscious and healthy when it first surfaced in the toilet. It was only after the women batted the frog about that it lost consciousness.
Renee informs Ally about her affair with Matt. But she is unsure if she wants to pursue the relationship.
Trivia[]
The title is from the song by Peter and Gordon written by Paul McCartney.
Goof[]
There would be no need to put a frog on a respirator even though adult frogs do have lungs. When not moving about a frog gets most of its oxygen exchange through the mucosal lining of its skin and mouth.
Script[]
Full transcript can be found here.
Songs[]
- Crying | Vonda Shepard (cover, originally performed by Roy Orbison.
- Looking for Something | Vonda Shephard
- Renée walks home alone.
- Operator | Vonda Shephard (cover, made famous by the Manhattan Transfer).
- At the bar.
- A Love So Beautiful | Vonda Shephard (by Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison).
- The Boston Scenery.
- Reprise of "Cryin'
- A World Without Love | Vonda Shephard (cover, by the Peter and Gordon).
- At the end.
List of songs in the episode can be found here and here.
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
- with Peter MacNicol as John Cage
- and Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas
Special Appearances By
Recurring cast
Guest starring
- Lee Wilkof as District Attorney Nixon
- Kellie Waymire as Chrissa
- Jessica Harper as Sister Helen
- Vatrena King as Backup Singer #2 (previously Ikette #2)
- Sy Smith as Backup Singer #3 (previously Ikette #3)
- Cynthia Calhoun as Backup Singer #3
Uncredited
- Shea Farrell as Priest
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