The Promise

The following transcript for this episode is an only slightly modified version of the one produced by Ally McBeal Community @ Korea.com. The original is available as an MS-Word document.

Ally: Isn't it beautiful?
Renee: Yeah. It's kind of old-looking.
Ally: Well, I think it's perfect. I can't wait to start taking lessons again.
Renee: Can you play anything now?
Ally: Well, "Heart and Soul" and "Chopsticks." Oh! Wait, wait, wait. Let's see... "Good night, my someone Good night..."
Renee: I know that. That's from The Music Man. My mother sang that to us all the time.
Ally: "Sleep tight, my someone Sleep tight My love... Love... Love... Love..." Oh, I can never get that note right.
Renee: Tell me about it.
Ally & Renee: "True love can be whispered. From heart to heart. When lovers are parted. They say. But I must depend on a wish and a star. As long as my heart doesn't know who you are."
Renee: This is a sad song. It's about a lady who's got nobody, so she's got to sing to an imaginary someone every night. It's about a lady who's...
Ally: Just like us.
Renee: I hate pianos.
Ally: Maybe I can sell it.

Chapter 2

ALLY: I'm supposed to get an injunction so they can't sell ice cream?
ELAINE: And you'll do your best.
ALLY: How can I possibly attach the real estate? The claim itself?
ELAINE: They don't expect you to win the motion, Ally. The client's just insisting that we be aggressive.
RICHARD: And aggressive we shall be. Harry Pippin's the opposing counsel, so be early and ready to pop when he comes through the door.
ALLY: Who's Harry Pippin?
RICHARD: Fat man, no wind, moves like continental drift. As soon as he enters the room, they move his case to the top and off you go.
ALLY: Well, what do you mean, "as soon as he enters the room"?
BILLY: Well, the judges give him a little grace 'cause of his condition. They don't punish him for being late. And Richard's right. He comes through the door arguing his case. So, as soon as he enters, you just got to jump in and get in there. Thank you, Elaine.
ELAINE: Pleasure.
JOHN: Da, da, da, da, da, da
RICHARD: Moving on, new client, Sandra Winchell, F.O.W. I promised we'd help. I don't know how.
ALLY: What's F.O.W.?
RICHARD: Friend of Whipper. Sandra Winchell, arrested for prostitution, third time, a conviction means jail. John, since you've recently visited the subject matter, I wouldn't ask. But the Whip has cracked. Conjugals could be at stake.
JOHN: Okay, I'll meet with the woman.
RICHARD: Excellent. Ally, I'd like you to second chair, if possible. That puritanical prudism you seem to waft could work to our benefit. Teamwork.
ALLY: Richard!
RICHARD: Here's the glitch. She fired her old lawyer last night. Trial starts today, eleven o'clock.
ALLY: What?!
RICHARD: It won't. New counsel. You'll get a continuance. Try to buy at least a month
ALLY: Well, why, why can't John file for the continuance?
JOHN: I don't do criminal motion practice.
ALLY: Why not?
RICHARD: You'll be down there anyway on the ice cream case. Why... Whoa, whoa, whoa.
FEDEX GIRL: Hi!
MALE OFFICE WORKER: What have you got for me today?
FEDEX GIRL: Hi.
ELAINE: Oh, please.
RICHARD: She was about to ask me a question once and I said, I said, "Don't spoil it." I don't want to attach anything audio to her.
ALLY: What year is this?
RICHARD: Uh, uh, no, no, no, no. This is not a time for words.
ALLY: This is not a time for words?! Are... Oh, see, you can give them law degrees. You can dress them up. But in the end...
ALLY & ELAINE: Neanderthals.
BILLY: Oh, come on, Ally. You can't blame us for looking at that!
ALLY: I can't blame you for look... for acting like... Are you... Are you guys, are, are they playing a prank on me?
RICHARD: Well, let, let me tell you something, Ally. That is nature at its best out there. They should get Richard Kiley to narrate her.
ELAINE: I'm sure she's quite stupid and in time gravity will get her.
RICHARD: Come on. Boys' club. Hey. Free that hooker.

Chapter 3
ALLY: You're the D.A. on it?
RENEE: I get a lot of the vice cases. I've convicted your client before, by the way. Have you met her?
ALLY: No, no. But she's supposedly a friend of Whipper's. So, are you going to agree to the, uh, continuance?
RENEE: Yes. Yeah.
ALLY: Oh! I have to wait here till my ice cream case so I, I don't know
RENEE: I will cover you.
MR PIPPIN: No likelihood of success on the merits Court has affidavits, bank accounts, financial statements. My client can easily satisfy any judgment...
ALLY: Oh, my God! That must be Harry Pippin, my ice cream case. Uh, Ally McBeal for the plaintiff.
MR PIPPIN: In 15 years of practice I have never been so shocked.
JUDGE: I'm denying the plaintiff's motion, Mr. Pippin.
MR PIPPIN: Thank you, Your Honor. Move for costs, attorney's fees and sanctions, abuse of process, frivolous prosecution, Rule 11. It's shocking
JUDGE: You lose on that score.
MR PIPPIN: Sorry to hear that, Your Honor.
ALLY: But I, uh
JUDGE: The defendant is far from judgment-proof, Counsel. I can't attach property no matter what the merits. We're done!

ALLY: Mr. Pippin! Mr. Pippin! I'm Ally McBeal, counsel for the plaintiff.
MR PIPPIN: Nice to meet you. Hi.
ALLY: Uh, well, I, I was really hoping that we could sort of settle this out, I mean, it's kinda silly, two ice cream chains fighting. All we're looking for is for your guy to change
the name of his store and not call it Mike's.
MR PIPPIN: That's his name. Mike.
ALLY: Well, I understand, but since he sold the franchise as "Mikey's" and now he's calling his new chain "Mike's," you know, you can see how people could confuse it. And what my client really feels that he has paid for is the trademark name of Mike's. And, and you see, that, that asset is devalued if, if... Oh, oh, are you all right? Mr., Mr. Pippin? Oh, my God! Mr. Pippin!

ALLY: Ah! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Somebody call 911.
MAN: I've got a cell phone.
ALLY: Oh, God!
MAN: Did he hit his head?
ALLY: Oh, God! Okay, here we go! Oh, God! Oh, come on! Mr. Pippin! Come on! Breathe, just breathe. Okay, okay.
MAN: I think you're supposed to raise his arms.
WOMAN: He's breathing!
MAN: Check his pulse.

CHAPTER 4

RENEE: You saved his life.
ALLY: Not before he ate a Spanish omelet. Oh, God! The onions! Is, is my skin breaking out?
RENEE: Not yet. Are you okay?
ALLY: Yeah.
RENEE: Well, we'd better go. Our little prostitution case is up in two minutes.
ALLY: Oh.
RENEE: Are you really okay?
ALLY: Fine.
RENEE: Okay.

ASSISTANT: 23222. Commonwealth versus Sandra Winchell.
ALLY: Your Honor, inasmuch as I've just been retained, I, I would be requesting additional time to prepare my defense.
JUDGE: Ah!
ALLY: Excuse me?
JUDGE: You think I don't know a stall when I see one?
RENEE: Your Honor, the Commonwealth doesn't oppose the continuance.
JUDGE: I didn't ask. The fact that the District Attorney's office is for it is another reason for me to be against it.
ALLY: I just got this case and I, l..
JUDGE: If she wants to fire her lawyer, fine. She should do it before voir dire. We've already got a jury. She's had three prior continuances. This case is marked no further continuances.
ALLY: Your Honor...
JUDGE: Shush.
ALLY: "Shush"?
JUDGE: You either say ready for trial or I schedule it for a year from now and revoke bail.
ALLY: You can't, you can't do that!
JUDGE: "Ready for trial" or no bail.
RENEE: Your Honor, in the interest of justice...
JUDGE: I didn't ask. Ready or not?
ALLY: Ready.

JOHN: Today?
ALLY: Evidently, she's had it continued up the wazoo and the judge just finally had enough.
JOHN: This troubles me.
ALLY: He said otherwise he'd revoke bail and have it continued for a year and we were kinda stuck. You have any ideas? Have I bored you?
JOHN: Let's proceed.
ALLY: With the trial?
JOHN: Yes.
ALLY: Today?
JOHN: Yes.
ALLY: ('Cause you're insane?)
JOHN: Yes. I'll go gather myself.

ANGELA: Ms. McBeal?
ALLY: Yeah?
ANGELA: I'm Angela Tharp. Harry Pippin's fiancee.
ALLY: Oh! Oh, hey! Hey! Is is he okay?
ANGELA: Oh, he's fine. It, it wasn't a heart attack after all. It was just angina. And we're getting married on Friday, and, well, the doctor thinks it was nerves.
ALLY: Oh. That's fantastic. He, he's okay?
ANGELA: Yes, thanks to you. Uh, he did lose oxygen, so if you hadn't have been there... I just came to tell you how grateful I am.
ALLY: Oh, well, I'm just glad that I could help.
ANGELA: Oh, you've helped. He's, uh... He's the best thing that ever happened to me and, well, I think I'm here because you kinda saved my life, too.
ALLY: That's sweet.
ANGELA: Can I give you a hug?
ALLY: Sure. Oh!
ANGELA: Oh, my God! I've broken you.
ALLY: No, no. I'm fine.
ANGELA: I feel terrible!
ALLY: No, no, no, I, I, I pop out of alignment so easily. It's me. It, it's me.
ANGELA: Actually, I can fix that. I, I'm not a licensed chiropractor, but, I, I work for one.
ALLY: I, I think I'm really okay.
ANGELA: Oh, no, no, no.
ALLY: No, no, no, l
ANGELA: It's just right down here by the L-Five.
ALLY: I'm really okay.
ANGELA: Better?
ALLY: Yeah. Yeah. Much. Thanks. I'm just going to, um, sit here for a second.
ANGELA: On the floor?
ALLY: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I, I love the floor.
ANGELA: Will you come to the wedding?
ALLY: Sure.
ANGELA: Great. It's Friday, six o'clock.
ALLY: Great.
ANGELA: See you then.
ALLY: See you then.
ANGELA: Bye.
ALLY: (Somebody's bound to come in here and help me up.)

Chapter 5

RICHARD: Shouldn't you be down at the courthouse?
ALLY: It's only one-thirty, I'll be there. But it would help, Richard, if I had some clue as to how we're gonna defend this case.
RICHARD: Well, you defend it vigorously.
ALLY: Oh, thank you. I'm clear now. Uh, Richard, I can't even find John Cage!
RICHARD: It's really a question of burden of ... proof.

WOMAN: Thanks.
FEDEX GIRL: Do you have anything?
WOMAN: Just this.

ALLY: She can, uh, really increase the blood flow, can't she, Richard?
RICHARD: No, no, no
ALLY: Don't you... Buh!
RICHARD: What?

DR CARPENTER: The date itself cost a thousand dollars. Anything on top of the escort would be more.
RENEE: What do you mean "On top of the escort"?
DR CARPENTER: Uh, sex. Sex was more.
RENEE: And did you pay more, Dr. Carpenter?
DR CARPENTER: Uh, yes. We, we agreed upon $700 for missionary intercourse.
RENEE: And did the two of you...
DR CARPENTER: We began to. Then, um, Special Agent Mackleroy entered the premises and, um, intervened.
RENEE: You were arrested?
DR CARPENTER: I was.
RENEE: Dr. Carpenter, your relations with the defendant, it was sex for a fee?
DR CARPENTER: That's correct.
RENEE: You're clear on that?
DR CARPENTER: Well, actually I have the receipt. I, uh, I deduct it for stress therapy.
RENEE: I see. Thank you, sir.

JUDGE: Mr. Cage?

JOHN: Dr. Carpenter, my name is John Cage. How do you do, sir?
DR CARPENTER: Hi!
JOHN: I have no questions, Your Honor.

VONDA: I fell into your open arms and I didn't stand a chance. Now listen, honey, I just want to be beside...

GEORGIA: No cross at all?
ALLY: Nothing! He, he introduces himself to the client and he just sits down!
GEORGIA: Is he a kook?
ALLY: I don't know. He pours water. He unbuttons... Never mind.
RENEE: What "never mind"?
ALLY: It's about the case, and "you" are the enemy.
RENEE: You're talking about Cage, I bet. He's a kook!

MR PIPPIN: Ally!
ALLY: Harry! What, what are you doing out of the hospital?
MR PIPPIN: They released me. Uh, I went to your office. They said I could find you here.
ALLY: Uh, what's the matter?
MR PIPPIN: Um, could we talk in private? Maybe upstairs?

Chapter 6

ALLY: Something is the matter, isn't it?
MR PIPPIN: One of my strengths as a trial lawyer is, uh, I can size people up fast. I got a feeling about you.
ALLY: What are you saying?
MR PIPPIN: I'm saying that, in addition to being beautiful, I can tell you are a compassionate person. And, uh, however remote the odds, you know, you can't win a raffle if you don't at least buy a ticket.
ALLY: What are you saying?
MR PIPPIN: Do you think a person such as yourself, could ever become interested in a person such as myself?
ALLY: Um, well, absolutely a person like me could like somebody like you. Absolutely.
MR PIPPIN: Do you think you could ever become interested in me?
ALLY: Uh, well, uh, well, well, Harry, um, Angela's a friend of mine. And what I mean is l, I've met her. Well, what I mean is you're marrying her Friday.
MR PIPPIN: Yeah. I've come to reconsider that.
ALLY: Because of me?
MR PIPPIN: I never had a kiss like that before, Ally.
ALLY: Oh, Harry, l...
MR PIPPIN: Don't get me wrong. I love Angela. It's, it's just, um... It's not a romantic love. We're good friends with limited options.
ALLY: She's not in love with you?
MR PIPPIN: Actually, she is. That's one of the reasons, I, uh... It's nice to be with someone who loves you. It's comfort. But, uh...
ALLY: No. But, but what? Comfort is good.
MR PIPPIN: I'm not asking you to declare yourself or anything. But, if you think you might have the slightest inclination just to, you know, to go out on a date just to see if there's a scintilla of a chance.
ALLY: I don't see the possibility, Harry.
MR PIPPIN: Okay. Okay. Like I said, you can't win the raffle if you don't at least buy a ticket. Well, I'll be leaving now. And I'll be out of the room momentarily.
ALLY: Okay.

VONDA: A star is shining its brightest light. For good night, my love, good night.

Chapter 7

Renee: What else could you say? You had to be honest.
Ally: Really?
Renee: What are you going to do? Have him call off his wedding? Take him to Burger King just to be nice?
Ally: Oh, you should have seen him sag.
Renee: Can I ask you something? Why did you automatically dismiss the idea of dating him?
Ally: Well, he's, he's... I just didn't think he was my type.
Renee: You ruled him out in an instant on looks.
Ally: Oh, that is not true.
Renee: Huh, how could it not be? You don't know him!
Ally: I knew enough. I, I knew he was in questionable health. I, I get nervous being around people with heart conditions.
Renee: Why do you lie to me? Let's just admit the truth. You eliminated with an eye blink on looks alone, Ally!
Ally: That is not... That is... It just isn't that simple. It, it, it... The, the thought of the two of us on a date. A person gets a vision of how he thinks the date might go. And then you say yes or no. And I, I just couldn't picture the two of us
Renee: The sad thing is, in a movie, we'd both be rooting for the gal to date the guy.

Chapter 8
MS WINCHELL: Actually, I used to be a lawyer. I worked in a downtown firm for six years.
JOHN: Which firm would that be, ma'am?
MS WINCHELL: Cuppings and Gil.
JOHN: And, and you left the Bar to join the escort business?
MS WINCHELL: Yes.
JOHN: Well, could you tell the court the reason for your career change?
MS WINCHELL: Well, I couldn't meet any interesting men. At least not single men. The best ones, the most interesting ones, they were all married. And they were asking me out.
JOHN: The married men?
MS WINCHELL: Or I should say, they were asking me in.
JOHN: And this, this impelled a change in your, in your vocation?
MS WINCHELL: In an odd way, yes.
JOHN: Well, could you elaborate on the oddity?
MS WINCHELL: Well. Married men, good men, were always hitting on me. And every friendship I've had with a man, whether the pretext be a common love for Charles Dickens, the symphony, shared political views, similar upbringings, whatever the basis for the friendship beginning, they have almost always resulted in the men wanting to have sex with me.
JOHN: All right. I see. And this, uh, this drove you to the escort service?
MS WINCHELL: It drove me to the conclusion that man as a species is not suitable for long-term partnership.
ALLY: Objection! ... Withdrawn.
JUDGE: No. The objection is sustained.
JOHN: Your Honor, l...
JUDGE: I'm trying to make sense of this. You hate men and so you became a call girl?
MS WINCHELL: I became disillusioned with the idea of long-term relationships. Men seem to stay interested and passionate for finite periods of time, so I chose to engage in finite relationships, and since I need to make a living, I allowed myself to get paid for it.
JUDGE: And what kind of message does this send to young women?
MS WINCHELL: Well, I'm not trying to send any message. In fact, I've tried to keep it discreet. You wouldn't even know about it if I hadn't been arrested.
JOHN: Well, now, let's be fair here, Ms. Winchell. I mean, you hardly lead a, a noble life.
MS WINCHELL: No. And I've never disappointed anyone pretending to be noble. See the star witness over there? Doctor, community-minded, sits on the school committee, coaches boys' soccer. He's noble. He also comes to me with his VISA card twice a month to earn frequent flyer miles.
JOHN: Well, one might say you, you entrapped him with your feminine wiles.
MS WINCHELL: One might. But I didn't slither up to him wearing perfume. He found me in the yellow pages.
Renee: Haha. Sorry. The Commonwealth sees the humor.
ALLY: (I don't.)

Chapter 9

RENEE: First time I've ever, ever seen a lawyer object to her own witness.
ALLY: Shut up. The things that she was saying about men and about relationships, You, you think a jury could buy into that?
RENEE: Ally, you objected because "we" almost buy into it.
ALLY: We do not!
RENEE: Well, do we ever meet interesting single men?
ALLY: Well, that's because we're lawyers. And, and all we meet are single male attorneys. And that is a pathetic breed. And I, I have yet to meet... John! Uh, here is the exception.
JOHN: Why are you lunching with the District Attorney?
ALLY: Renee and I live together.
RENEE: It's come to that. No men.
JOHN: We're in the middle of trial. I find it inappropriate for you to be lunching with the District Attorney.
ELAINE: Ally! Harry Pippin is making his approach.

Chapter 10
ALLY: So, what brings you here?
MR PIPPIN: Uh Just thought I'd, uh, pop in, say hi. Oh. Oh, uh, I talked to my client. They are willing to change the name of the new ice cream franchise, if your client is willing to waive the anti-compete clause in Cambridge.
ALLY: Oh! Well, that, that sounds like we could make it work. Yeah.
MR PIPPIN: Great.
ALLY: Great.
ELAINE: Door snappish.
ALLY: So, um... Anything else, Harry?
MR PIPPIN: I came to apologize for the time that I came before.
ALLY: Oh, that's okay.
MR PIPPIN: And I know Angela was here. Hm. I feel like I put you on and in a spot, and It wasn't fair for me to do that.
ALLY: Oh, it's okay. I, I was flattered.
MR PIPPIN: Yeah. Um, look, Ally, don't take this the wrong way. I'm not going to try to court you, but...
ALLY: But what?
MR PIPPIN: You know what I said before about getting a feeling about people? I get the sense that you're kind of the romantic type.
ALLY: Well, l...
MR PIPPIN: I, I'm not going your way with this. You don't have to be concerned. I just came here for some advice. Your advice.
ALLY: Okay.
MR PIPPIN: You know what I said earlier about, about Angela? I do love her very much. She'll be a great mother, and I want kids. But it's like love out of appreciation and maybe convenience. She's never made my heart bounce. And sexually, I mean, I don't even think of her during... I guess what I'm trying to ask you is... Do you think it's wrong for a person to marry another person, not because she's the one, but because she's the only?
ALLY: Harry, I can't tell you whether you should marry Angela. You know that. You know, I just got this piano. And, um, sometimes I sing this song called, "Good Night, My Someone." And it's about... Well, well, basically it's a love song to somebody that you've never met, but you know is out there. And I don't know, I mean, we make so few promises to ourselves as we grow up. And one of them is, that on our wedding day we walk down the aisle with somebody we love. Somebody who does make your heart bounce, I guess. And there are some promises, Harry, that I think we just have to keep.

Chapter 11

BILLY: Elaine!
ELAINE: I come to you because you're the designated sensitive male.
BILLY: I beg your pardon?
ELAINE: The girl, who works in the mail room, you know, the one who saunters about demonstrably with her ample bosom?
BILLY: What about her?
ELAINE: Well, the women in the office don't appreciate the gawk fest, and we feel that her continued presence together with the reactions are contributing to a hostile working environment. Now, we certainly don't want to file but it's probably best that she doesn't make deliveries here anymore.
BILLY: Whoa! Whoa!
ELAINE: As the designated sensitive male, maybe you should speak to Richard.

RENEE: This isn't a case about the mating habits of the male species. It's about, "did she break the law or not"? The law says, "Sex for money is a crime." Sitting over there is a prostitute. Proud and rich, I grant you. But still, a person who gives sex for a fee. That's a crime. You all know it.
JUDGE: Mr. Cage.
JOHN: Hypocrisy troubles me greatly. Today's biggest and brightest film actresses make upwards of $10 million per picture. They only rise to that level, however, if they're willing to simulate sex acts on camera. I say "simulate," that's merely for the intercourse. The kissing. The nibbling on nipples, the sticking of tongues in ears and mouths, the groping of breasts and thighs, hands on penises and groins... That, that's real. That's actually going on. These actresses may tell us they're doing it for some redeeming social value. Well... That and a million bucks. Happens at lesser levels. Women employees have sometimes been known to gratify their male superiors in hopes that a promotion may ensue. It's not a noble thing. But it happens sometimes. We don't jail them. I've known many women who wouldn't consider a man marriage material unless his income was in a certain bracket. I don't respect that but it happens. Women marry for money. We don't jail them. The truth is, sex has always been a currency for women. Always though often at a quid pro blurry quo. My client was honest. She told the truth. To that man and to you. I apologize. Hypocrisy always gives me such pause. Let's all take a moment.

Chapter 12

ALLY: John, it's not that you didn't give a gifted closing.
JOHN: I prefer to hold all thoughts till after the verdict. I find it lends greater perspective.
ALLY: Perspective bogs me down. Do you personally subscribe to everything you said in your closing?
JOHN: You mean about "hypocrisy giving me pause"?
ALLY: No, no. About how acceptable it is for women to use sex as currency.
JOHN: Did I say "acceptable"?
ALLY: Yes. Yes. Yes. You, you basically argued that a little prostitution, "What's the big deal"? And at some level, all women sell sex to get ahead.
JOHN: Ally, if you probe both yourself and the situation, there's a reason I made that argument.
ALLY: Which is?
JOHN: I was paid to.
ALLY: Oh. That was a Fishism.

ANGELA: Excuse me.
ALLY: Angela! Hey!
ANGELA: He called off the wedding.
ALLY: He did?
ANGELA: What you said... It made an impression. He decided he should hold out for the woman of his dreams.
ALLY: Oh... Angela... Angela, I am the last person who should be giving advice of the heart to anybody. I mean, look at me. I am a strong working career girl, who, who feels empty without a man. The National Organization For Women... They have a contract out on my head. But, but, see, I, I am defending a prostitute with arguments like "Sex is, is more currency than love these days." And I, I see some of my friends getting married 'cause, "Gee, they're good companions and they happen to have the same ideas "about public versus private school issues," and I, I just can't buy it! Harry should marry somebody who he loves more than life. And, and you deserve to be with somebody who loves you like that.
ANGELA: People like me and Harry, We don't get the partners of our dreams.
ALLY: Harry asked me if he should marry somebody not because she's the one but because she's the only and...
ANGELA: Do you really think there's somebody out there wanting to take care of Harry? Sometimes when you hold out for everything, you walk away with nothing. Remember that the next time a fat man walks in asking you for advice.

ALLY: (Why can't I give advice to whoever? I mean, I obviously have love all figured out.)

VONDA: Good night, my someone, good night, my love. Sleep tight, my someone, sleep tight, my love. A star is shining its brightest light. For good night, my love, good night.

CHAPTER 13
VONDA: When you feel that you can make It all alone...

GEORGIA: I don't know what you could have done differently.
ALLY: Do you think? I don't know, maybe I have encouraged him to hold out for the illusion of marriage, and the reality is, is that now he could end up alone.
GEORGIA: Ally, if he doesn't love her...
ALLY: He loves her. She just doesn't make his heart bounce. And it should, shouldn't it? I mean, not all the time. But at, at least on your wedding day, his, his heart should do a little hop at the ceremony, shouldn't it?
GEORGIA: Yeah.

VONDA: Just ask the lonely. Lonely.

RENEE: Pretty quick verdict, actually. Hey, Johnny! Great closing yesterday. Passing out any questionnaires?
JOHN: That was uncalled for.
RENEE: Hm. See you in there.
JOHN: Ally, I know you've had some trouble with the defense we've put on.
ALLY: Uh, you, you're doing what you have to. Could you excuse me a second?

ALLY: Harry, what's going on? You wouldn't by any chance be quoting him off season rates, would you?
MS WINCHELL: Huh, I beg your pardon?
ALLY: Could you excuse us, please?

ALLY: What were you discussing with her? You call off your wedding and now you, you... I think you should marry Angela.
MR PIPPIN: Really?
ALLY: Companionship and trust. Those are real things, Harry.
MR PIPPIN: What about my heart?
ALLY: Yeah. I was thinking and... Sometimes the worst thing for somebody's heart could be loneliness. And listen, last night I was thinking about all of my friends who I thought might be right for you. And I'm ashamed to say this, but none of my friends would go out with you.
MR PIPPIN: Because of my heft?
ALLY: Yeah. Probably.
MR PIPPIN: So, you think I should settle for Angela?
ALLY: I don't think you should think of it as settling. Not if you want a family and, and partnership. Sometimes, Harry, we got to look at our choices and we just have to make the best one.
MR PIPPIN: And Angela, she's a good girl.
ALLY: Yeah. She is.
MR PIPPIN: And promises that we make ourselves when we're kids... Stupid anyway.

CHAPTER 14
JOHN: Da, da, da, da, da, da. Da, da, da, da, da, da... I apologize.
JUDGE: Has the jury reached its verdict?
JURY: We have, Your Honor.
JUDGE: What say you?
JURY: We find the defendant not guilty.
JUDGE: Members of the jury, thank you for your time and service. We're done. Adjourned.
MS WINCHELL: Thank you, so much. And thank you for sitting here in apparent support. I'm sure it helped.
ALLY: Hm. It was apparent, Sandra. Um, my, my outlook's just a little different from yours.
MS WINCHELL: I know. And I envy you. I really do.

BILLY: You lost?
JOHN: We won.

ALLY: What are you doing?
JOHN: After each case I, I like to gather thoughts.
ELAINE:  I have great news. Harry and Angela are back on. Friday night service.
ALLY: Great.
ELAINE: Angela called. She said since you pulled a cupid she would like you there after all, as long as you don't wear white.
ALLY: Thank you, Elaine.
ELAINE: I resent this side of the door.

ALLY: Do you really want to know my thoughts, John? I think the world is in big, big trouble. We laugh at people for aspiring to romance. We, we celebrate hookers under the guise of feminine autonomy. Do, do you want me to put this in writing?
JOHN: Da, da, da, da, da...
ALLY: Why do you do that "da, da, da, da, da, da" thing?
JOHN: I stutter. I did as a child, anyway. I learned to control it with music. I'd sing the song, John Jacob Jingle Hymer Smith. "His name is my name, too." You know the song.
ALLY: Yeah.
JOHN: I sing to myself to control my stutter if I feel myself nervous. And sometimes a refrain just kinda pops out. Anyway, I didn't come to collect your thoughts. I came to give you mine. Criminal law requires that criminal lawyers play a certain game.
ALLY: I know. You don't have to apologize for the system or for your little performance. I get it.
JOHN: I did not come in here to apologize. I came... Da, da, da, da, da... The world is no longer a romantic place. Some of its people still are, however. And therein lies the promise. Don't let the world win, Ally McBeal. That's what I came in to say.

ELAINE: He's a strange Little Biscuit, isn't he?

CHAPTER 15
VONDA: I don't know what it is that makes me love you so. I only know I never want to let you go. 'Cause you started something, can't you see? That ever since we met you've had a hold on me. It happens to be true. I only want to be with you. It doesn't matter where you go or what you do. I want to spend each moment of the day with you. Look what has happened with just one kiss. I never knew that I could be in love like this. It's crazy, but It's true. I only want to be with you.