|
Season: 2 Episode: 13 Production Code: AM213 First Air Date: February, 8 1999 In Memory Of: John G. Heath, Jr. Director: Mel Damski Writer: David E. Kelley # of Times Richard said Bygones: 1 Guest Stars:
Jesse L. Martin as Dr. Greg Butters
Synopsis: It could be very tempting to take a cynical stance against this episode, but then you'd be missing the beauty of Ally McBeal's finest work to date. When leukemia patient Eric Stall sees the dewy lawyer for the first time, be believe he's seen an angel, she'd be the perfect candidate to help him sue god. Julie Stall, the frail boy's mother, tells Ally of all her son's many misfortunes that led to Eric's disillusions with his faith, including the insurance company that doesn't pay for experimental surgery. Happening by the hospital room, Ling ensures the boy that it's possible to sue the Almighty, it turns out not only does she run steel factories and mud wrestling venues, she's also a brilliant lawyer. Fashion Alert: Nelle wears the latest in Louis Vuitton stylings, as she has brown make-up imprinted with the fashion titan's logo, painted across her eyes as sort of make-shift glasses. The other story arch this week has John and Richard taking on one of the firm's rare criminal cases. They are defending Harvey Kent who was apparently so infuriated upon discovering his wife Sheila in bed with Rodney Wilcox that he shot the man twice (he did survive). Renee is the prosecutor facing off against the bumbling yet somehow successful pair. When Eric and his mom come in to see Ally, Ling pretends she doesn't remember them at all, though she does listen in as Ally recounts this touching story from the time she was an even smaller sprite: She begged and begged her mom to give birth to another little girl, only to have her sister's life end at the tender age of five. Ally stopped believing in god at that point, until one day she saw a blimp for the first time and her mother explained to her that it was made to remind people that up there somewhere, god is watching over everyone. Ling is prompted to come out of early retirement; she makes the impressive argument to Attorney Arthur Gale that since Eric's family contributed greatly to the church, they are duty-bound to give back to the boy. A settlement is agreed upon and soon the boy will be able to start partaking in the experimental procedure. Back in court, John once again uses his own personal history as his closing argument, his allegory of choice involves the beautiful girl who consented to be his prom date, he was ecstatic, thinking that finally something was going his way, that is, until two days before when she recanted. As thin as this may stretch, he compares his own traumatic feelings to those of his client Harvey, arguing that if he was that upset, how must it feel to have your life partner abandon you so callously, it could drive a person insane. Naturally, Harvey gets off scot-free. Sadness overwhelms the final portion of this episode; Eric is slowly slipping away as he sees Ally and Ling enter his room. He shares one last moment with the lawyer, telling her that he dreamt that he was her angel too, and that now she will need to go look for another, as Ally sits by his side, trying not to breakdown. Following his passing, Ling pretends she is as hard-hearted as ever, though as she escapes down the hospital corridor the salty tears flow freely. This was Lucy Liu's big episode, the one that might win her the Emmy. It seemed almost reminiscent of that old MASH episode where the similarly guarded Margaret finally cries, saying she wishes just once that the nurses would treat her like one of them, that they'd ask her in for fudge. Just as that great episode brought Margaret into the territory of a fully fleshed out character, this does the same for Ling. The conclusion is elegantly subdued, as on separate streets, both distraught women bare witness to a blimp floating over head, with the all too apropos message 'Just looking,' written across it. This one deserves a standing ovation right in your livingroom. |