"What?" " What?" " What?" "Oh... oh.I .." "I had a dream." "It was vivid." "It felt..." "... likeitwasmorethan make-believe." " Anything in diapers?" "Bald?" "Little?" " No." "No." "This seemed real." "It wasn't just a dream." "It was more." "Here we go again." "Oh, God." "I hope not." "VONDA SINGS:" "I've been down this road" "The Second Season Episode 1 The Real World" "Walking the line That's painted by pride" "And I have made mistakes in my life" "That I just can 't hide" "Oh, I believe I am ready" "For what love has to bring" "I got myself together" "Now I'm ready to sing" "I've been searching my soul tonight" "I know there's so much more to life" "Now I know I can shine a light" "To find my way back home" "Oh, baby, yeah" "Oh, yeah" "Subtitles OCR" " Is that her?" " Yeah." "I find women sexy who break the law for sex." "Because it makes her a sexual predator." "Women who are predatory... ." "I bet she totally directs." "Like to be directed in bed?" "Had a thing for Shari Lewis growing up." "That little puppeteer act." "I like puppets." "You wanted to see me?" "Both of you." "Wrongful termination." "New case." "Lawyer left her before summary judgment." " Richard." " I'd do it myself, if I knew the law." "I'm not saying it's right for women my age to be with... ." "Does it matter that I loved him?" "Not when he's 16." " You're saying I have no defense." " Well..." " Did you love him?" " I may have." " I don't know." " could you tell me..." "... exactlyhowyouhappenedto.." "[STUTTERS]" "Coney Island." "..love him?" "The crime is statutory." "If she did it, she did it." "An element of the crime is intent." "We'll say it was an accident?" "She went out for fresh air..." "... stretcheda little, and his penis fell in?" "Sorry." "A 39-year-old woman with a 16-year-old boy... ." "One could suggest, she'd have to be crazy." "Wouldn't she?" "Insanity?" " We did assert it." " Sexual battery." " Misdemeanor." " Not a chance." "Stop walking." "You know I have new shoes." "You think I'll plead guilty to avoid a blister." "Felony battery." "As good as it gets." "You wanted to talk to me?" "Let's go find a room." "The defendant's lawyer, Ally McBeal." " Jason Tresham." " Hello." " Ally." " Huh?" " Nice to meet you." " She knows I don't want to do this?" " Excuse me?" " Laura." "They subpoenaed me." "Oh, she knows." "come on!" "I'm on my way down." "We can't settle." "We go to trial." "Good luck." "Is everything okay with you?" "Me?" "Fine." "Why?" "You seem a little lugubrious." "Really?" "I... ." "What?" "I make a great living." "Good friends." "My own firm by the age of 30." "But life!" "I want more, John." "More?" "Money." "More money." "It's a weakness." "I try to think less about wealth..." "... andinsteadfocuson what I can buy with it." "Everybody wants more money." "Does everybody... ?" "Sometimes when I look at my stock portfolio, I get aroused." "Does everybody do that?" "The percentage would be less there." "Ever heard of Nelle Porter?" ""Subzero" Nelle?" "She's looking to leave Goodman-Dale." " She's got serious portables." " Will she meet?" "I'm told she's asked about us." "She'd let me use her sailboat." "Once she decided to go with me." "We got to know each other then." "I guess we became friends." "At some point, you became more than just friends." " You became lovers?" " Yes." "I know it's embarrassing, but before Ms. Jewell..." " ... wereyouavirgin?" " Yes." "How long did the affair with her last?" "About two weeks." " And how old were you?" " 16." "16." "When you first met Ms. Jewell..." "... yousaidyouwereawaiter where she frequently had lunch." " That's right." " Other than taking food orders..." "... ortalkingaboutthe weather, maybe even the Red Sox..." "... doyourememberthe first more personal conversation with her?" "Yes." "I asked her why she always seemed so sad." " How did she respond?" " She just smiled a little." "Said she was fine." "Did you know she'd split up with her husband?" "Not at the time." "And did you interpret this sadness as loneliness?" "Well... ." "No." "Actually, it seemed a little worse." "What's worse than being alone?" "I mean, how did it seem worse?" "I saw lots of lonely people." "Summer restaurant by the cape." "The place'd be full of them." "They always have a look." "What kind of look?" "A look that it could change any second." "Maybe with the next person who enters the room." "Lonely people..." "... havehope." "She didn't seem to." "She was just sad." " Like she knew too much." " Knew too much?" "What did she know?" "That some people find love permanent." "And some are just meant to be alone." "She knew what she was." "Ms. McBeal?" "Ms. McBeal?" "Oh, um, oh." "Nothing further." "Nothing further." "ALLY:" "It's like he was talking about me." "With you, everything's about you." "Narcissism is a wonderful thing." " It is?" " For me." "Nuts like you heat my pool." "But he could be 1 5 as well as 1 8." "And I looked at him up on the stand, and I had..." "... unpure..." " ... thoughts." " Unpure thoughts?" "Unpure sexual thoughts." "Oh, not philosophical impurities." "Thanks for clearing that up." "Do you think I'm a Menudo groupie because I like their music?" "It's not against nature to... ." "If it were against nature, they wouldn't have to pass the laws." "Half of men make love to their wives thinking about the babysitter." "The guy doing the sitter, thinking about his wife, has nature problems." "I'm not finding this helpful." "The most in-love time of your life was around the age of..." "... 1 8 ,with,what's-his-name?" " Billy." " Whatever." "This boy could be triggering old feelings, or how were his glutes?" "Did he have amazing glutes?" "That can do it." "I shouldn't be looking at an 1 8-year-old kid." "I don't want to tell you how to spend your money." "But to think about an 1 8-year-old boy doesn't require therapy." "Maybe it is Billy." "You found the love of your life as a teenager." "You've been waiting for another love like that to come along." "You're now thinking it might not." "You'll never know love again." "That's what's eating you." "Don't blame yourself for thinking that." "You could be 1 00%% right." "Thank you..." "... Tracy." "She sort of has a point." "I mean, 1 8 is legal." "He's a witness in your trial!" "Not him specifically, but in general." "Now, a woman my age, and... ." "Have you ever fantasized about--?" " A boy?" " Yeah." "Billy." "Maybe a long time ago before I met Billy, but since him... ." " Of course." " can't imagine being with anyone else." " In fact, between you and me?" " I promise." "I can't even enjoy going to the movies anymore." "The love scenes, the leading men... ." "They don't do a thing for me." "I can only think about Billy." "That's why it was so hard for me to get over him." "He's just so... ." "Big!" "Be honest." "Have you ever..." "... beeninbedwithaman  who could... ?" "Like, like Billy?" "Oh, my God, no." "He is the best." "The best!" "Uh-hm." "[TOILET FLUSHES]" "That kind of frank dialogue troubles me." "ALLY:" "Who is she?" "ELAINE:" "Nelle Porter." "They call her "Subzero" Nelle." " You know her?" " I know of her." "She was in Boston Magazine." ""Hot Women Lawyers. "" "Richard's looking for a rainmaker." "ALLY:" "She looks like she makes sleet." "When she shakes hands, she won't stick hers out very far." "She wants the other person to meet her more than halfway." "Excuse me?" "All set?" " Are we hiring a new lawyer?" " Here they come." "I'd like you to meet some people." "Ally McBeal, Nelle Porter." " Hi." " Hello." " Hello." " Hello." " John cage." " Heard about you." "The Bunion, right?" " Oh, well... ." "Biscuit." " Oh, Biscuit." "In my mind, Biscuit became Bun, and Bun, Bunion." "Sorry." " Quite all right." " I know you're off to trial." " Nelle wants to join the firm." " Oh." "We do fabulous cases." "Laura is a statutory rape client." "Slept with a 1 6-year-old." "It's rich, fresh, delicious." " Let me show you the unisex." " Great." "The first time, I surprised him at the boathouse." "We hadn't planned to go sailing." " You surprised him?" " I walked in." "He had a sweater of mine, holding it up to his face." "I asked him where he got it." "He told me he'd taken it off my clothesline one day." "I just looked at him." "He remarkably volunteered a truth that must have been very difficult to volunteer." "What did he say?" "That he'd sometimes take the sweater to bed with him." "Did he tell you why?" " He didn't have to." " What happened then?" "I walked over to him... ." "He seemed a little scared, and exhilarated." "And so was I. Maybe..." "... Iwasintoxicatedatthethought of being a young man's fantasy." "Maybe I was just lonely." "All I can say for sure..." "... Ineededto makelovetohim every bit as much..." "... ashewantedtomake love tome ." "I'm sorry." "What happened then?" "I...I,um ,Iunbuttonedmyshirt ...." "I reached behind his head, and... ." " Uh... howmuchdetailisnecessary?" " You had relations?" " Yes." " In the boathouse?" " Yes." " And you made love again after that?" " Yes." " It's one thing to say it happened." "But when it happens several times... ." "It'll sound silly if I try to describe how beautiful it was." "How tender." "But" "[SQUEALS]" "[CLEARS THROAT]" "I apologize." "If I make a lateral move, equity... ." "can't be partner." "Too much fallout." "But you'll get there sooner here." "Will your clients come with you?" "I can't legally ask them until after I leave." " Of course." "And?" " They've all said they'll come." "Excellent." "Told you of salary, of benefits, what else?" " What about the firm's ideology?" " Selfishism." "Everyone's looking to get ahead, they get ahead." "I set an example." "The other lawyers?" "How would they feel about me joining?" "Nelle?" "Do you care?" "Are they really hiring her?" "How could they?" "She's such the bitch." " Did you talk to her?" " No." "Why?" "It's easier to backstab if you've had at least one conversation." "She's smart and pretty." "What else do you need to know?" "Shh!" "She's coming." " Georgia?" " Yes?" "I'm Nelle Porter." "I'm thinking of working here." " That's great!" " I've talked to the men." "I was hoping to pick the brain of one of the women." " You should speak to Ally McBeal." " Really?" "No offense to you." "Because you are married to one of the men here." "Ally, she'll give you the straight dirt, know what I mean?" "Okay." "Thank you." "End of problem." "She'll hate Ally." "You make it sound so romantic." " It was." " Rational, even." " Yet you plead insanity?" " My lawyers plead insanity." "Saying the term has a legal distinction from medical insanity." " You had sex with a boy." " Nothing gratuitous" "You had sex with a boy." "Again, we're dealing with legal definitions." " 16." "He wasn't a boy to you?" " Yes, he was." "You had sex with him anyway." "To be honest, I probably made love to him in part because he was a boy." " Objection!" "Move to strike!" " Overruled." " Because he was a boy?" " Don't misunderstand." "Physically, sexually, he was a man." "If I close my eyes, I can still feel his strength." "But as he moved himself, I also felt... ." "Inside me, I felt his willingness to just surrender." "To me." "To love." "To the moment." "A young man's moment can last a while." "So you just prefer boys to men?" "In some ways, maybe I do." "Emotionally, I think things die in men as they get older." "They lose the essence of the very thing a woman most wants." " Such as?" " Simple intimacy." "He cried sometimes when we made love." "Tears of joy." "How many men are willing or able to do that?" "He made me feel..." "... asifIwereflyingandfalling all at once." "I was flying." "There are things in him I'm sure will go dead as he grows older." "Perhaps I was celebrating the boy inside him." "I was celebrating the boy inside me." "Must be serious." "I think I'm meant for a boy." "But when this kid said on the stand that... ." "He said that some people are meant to be alone, it just..." "... shottomy center." "And then she said..." "... thatboyshavethisaccessibleside,  that men... ." "Well, that before their shells get hard, they... ." "Tracy thinks it's about me not being over you." "But that isn't it." "See, the truth is... ." "If I close my eyes and think of you, I can't even remember... ." "I'm glad to hear that." "But whenever I think of you at 1 7, I... ." "I still... ." "Don't get me wrong." "You're a great guy." "Maybe the best guy I know." "But part of you... ." "Part of the you that I fell in love with is..." "... kindofatrophiedover." "Alittle." " Ally." " Hm?" "We were kids." "You think that kind of love lasts forever?" "Maybe I'm meant for a boy." "And that's why I'm, of course, meant to be alone." "There's another possibility." "Maybe you're meant for this boy." "What?" "Oh, Billy." "He's 18." "I mean, what, how, ew!" "come on." "Well, it's been known to happen." "If Jason Tresham had picked up a gun and shot a few classmates..." "... we'dhaveno troubleseeinghim as an adult." "But to fall in love." "To achieve an emotional intimacy with a 39-year-old woman... ." "He must be a child." "To be able to see into her loneliness..." "... andoffercompanionship..." "... thatcouldleaveher  more enlightened?" "Oh, he must be a child." "To be able to reach out on a lazy afternoon and sexually gratify her..." " ... overandoverand over" " All right, counsel." "When I was 1 5 years old, I went to see this movie." "It was called Summer of '42." "About a boy of 1 5 and a thirtyish woman played by Jennifer O'Neill." "And this boy loved her." "Well, as did we all." "Jennifer O'Neill." " I put a lock on my door that summer." " Mr. cage." "But for the whole movie, audiences all over silently groaned." ""Go." "Go to her. "" "We all willed her to go to him." "In the end, she did." "She took Hermie to her bed." "And it was... ." "It was beautiful." "And it was the ending we all wanted..." "... wasn'tit?" "And we don't need to be ashamed for wishing that result." "See, the law aside, nature actually favors it." "A man achieves his sexual prime as a teenager." "A woman in her 30s." "The district attorney will beat that drum, the law is the law is the law..." "... that'swhatdistrictattorneysdo." "But when it comes to love..." " ... therereallyis no law,isthere?" " No." "Members of the jury." "This is a closing argument." "I'll ask you not to talk back to the litigants." "Laura Jewell fell victim to her love." "Yes, she embraced it beyond the bounds of the law." "But as I went home from that movie that night... ." "As I still go home after watching love stories today..." "... Ipray,"Justonce, let me know that kind of passion." "Let me know a love that deeply. "" "What Laura Jewell did, caused her to commit an insane act." "But if her feelings were a fraction of how they were described..." "... afractionof whatIfelt ..." "... andstilldo feelfor Jennifer..." "... insanitywouldhavebeen had she not gone to him." "If this were an adult male and a girl of 1 6, you wouldn't hesitate." "With men, it's sex." "Women, love." "As a woman, I thank you, but who's kidding who?" "We have sex drives." "The young lifeguards look good." "We want it just like men want it, but 1 6 is 1 6." "When a man cheats, he's a bum." "A woman..." "... she'sjustbridging her little Madison county." "It's not only crap, it's a form of gender discrimination." "And 1 6 is 1 6." "So, now we wait?" " Shouldn't take too long." " How did it end with you and Jason?" "It's over, right?" " You and he?" " It's over." "Oh, I was just wondering." " Ally, hi." " Oh." "Hi, Nelle." " Paul." " It's John." "Right." "Listen, I'm really considering joining up." "But I'd like to talk to a woman's woman first." "Do you have any at your firm?" "I'm kidding." "I'd like to talk to you." "Sure." " Oh, um... sure.I 'dbehappyto." " Oh, great." "Maybe we can get a drink at the end of the day." "I'll call." "And maybe we couldn't!" "She didn't even wait for me to confirm it." "She just assumes I'd make myself available." "I'm drawn to her." "[ELEVATOR DINGS]" "Hi." "Jason, hi." " Glad that this is almost over?" " Yeah." "Um... ." "Why are you staring at me?" "Oh, I'm sorry." "I just had a strange dream last night." "You were in it." "Me?" "Uh-oh." "Well, what, what--?" "Never mind." "It wasn't inappropriate." "It was just strange." "We weren't talking." "We were just... ." "Our hands were like this." "And our fingertips were touching." "That was all." "What do you call that?" " He dreamed the same dream." " Take a breath." "I didn't rush all the way over here to breathe." "Do you realize the average person uses about 1 / 1 0 of their brain power?" "With you, it could be less." " What brain power?" " Telepathy." "Powers of suggestion..." " ... whichcanpenetrate" " It isn't telepathy!" "He dreamed the same dream!" "I charge by the hour." "Opinions don't come cheaper when they're yours." "All right." "Give me your opinion." "Fingertips only." "Need to touch but recognition that it's forbidden." "You are both reluctant to give in." "How could he and I possibly work out?" "He's young enough to... ." "If you want some advice, here it is." "It can't last forever, of course not." "But who made up the rule that the best loves do?" "She's good." "This woman reminds me of me." "Where is she now?" "Downstairs talking to Ally." "Should we hire her?" "Hard to be objective." "I'm drawn to her." "You'd have no chance." "Does that help?" "You know that song?" "Boom-boom-boom-da-boom?" "Sorry?" "When I look at her, I hear:" "Boom-boom-boom-da-boom." "I need love, love, to ease my mind" "My concern is that there's been sexual harassment claims." "I bet they argue you deserve it..." "... wearingthoseskimpy little skirts." "Pigs." " I've never sued them, Nelle." " You like it here." "I do." "But they'd never let a woman be partner." "Why not?" "They don't say it, but between us, they hire women who want families." "As in children?" "She's on maternity before she's up for partnership." "They figure once women have children, they prioritize them." "I want children, so this is a good firm for me." "Ally." "Pardon me." "Your verdict is in." " What?" "Now?" " John's outside waiting in a cab." " Excuse me." " Sure." " The verdict is in." " So I gather." " What does this mean?" " They have weekend plans." " You've reached a verdict?" " We have." "What say you?" ""On the matter of 32664, sex with a minor, we find the defendant..." "... notguiltyby reason of temporary insanity. "" "Thank you." " Never underestimate a jury." " Really." "Thank you for your service." "The defendant is free to go." "We're adjourned." "[ELEVATOR DINGS]" "On basic nullification, Biscuit's good." " Going home?" " No, I have paperwork." " See you there." " Okay." "[BOOM]" "Jason." " Hi." " Hi." " congratulations." " Thanks." " I'm so relieved." "I never wanted" " I know." "Well, everything turned out." "Look... ." "[SHRIEKS]" "[CLEARS THROAT]" "Tickle in my throat." "I know I'm gonna sound like... ." "This might seem ridiculous, but I feel you and I have a kind of strange..." "... connection." "You do?" "You probably think that I.." "Older women and I.." "I don't." "I just.." "I'm sorry." "I'd walk out of here right now, but I feel unsteady and I might fall down." "Why?" "I came in here to ask you out." "As I said, I feel this kind of... ." " I'm sorry." "If your answer is no" " It's yes." "It is?" "Evidently." " Great." "Maybe tomorrow night." " Sure." "Aren't you getting out?" "I'm a little unsure of my feet as well." "could I have your attention, please?" "Over here." "Attention." " What's going on?" " You don't wanna know." " Why is she there?" " I have splendid news." "I would like to introduce to you all Nelle Porter." "She'll be joining us as a new attorney." "He hired her?" "She's an outstanding addition." "I trust you'll all make her feel welcome." "Nelle Porter." "Just so we're clear:" "we hate her, right?" "Thank you." "It's a tough decision to change jobs, but I'm excited." "I'm grateful to Richard and to Paul for the offer." "And also Ally." "My brief chat with her... ." "I knew coming here, it would be fun." "What did you say?" "I know why Richard hired her." "But you!" "What--?" "Because you're drawn to her?" " In part." " And you expect to get a date?" "I have no such illusions." "Trust me." "A woman like her?" "Then why?" "She makes my heart go boom." "Well, won't that torture you if... ?" "John, the last thing you want is to be in love with someone you can't have." "That is something I know." "What Laura said about men, their insides going dead as they grow older?" "True." " It is?" " If we're not careful." "We can start to prioritize career, money, hair plugs." "Anyone who can make you flex your romantic muscle..." "... remindyouof whatit'slike  to feel, is good company." "Even if your muscle never gets to..." "Nelle may be a girl I can only dream about..." "... butthere'ssomethingtobe said for the dream itself." "And she's a fine attorney." "The journal caused all the problems." "My parents found it." " Too graphic?" " No." "I just wrote down feelings." "I wanted to read it 20 years later and... ." " I don't know." " Wonder if you'd..." "... havethosefeelingsagain?" "It's still early." "Want to go for a walk?" "The game is about to get out, and traffic" " What game?" " The Red Sox." " The Red Sox are away." " I saw the lights." "They're just working on the lights." "My uncle's a groundskeeper." " The groundskeeper of Fenway Park?" " Yeah." "Why?" "Have you been in Fenway Park?" "I mean, actually on the field?" "Yes." " Is it important?" " Are you kidding?" "My father and I listened to every game on the radio." "I'd close my eyes and pretend I was right out there in the field." "Wanna go?" " When?" " Now." "Now." "Now?" "To Fenway Park?" "It's two blocks away." "I'm sorry." " I forgot this bathroom is public." " Should I leave?" " What's this?" " Initiation." "Kidding." "I think I'll let you finish." "Listen, I know my nickname is Subzero..." "... andpeoplefindme..." "... well,cold." "Nelle." "This can be a tough group." "But we'll warm up." "Thanks." " Evening." " Hi." "SPORTS announcer:" "There it goes!" "A long drive into left." "[CROWD CHEERING ]" "Home run!" "We will have a 7th game in the 1 97 5 World Series." "Carlton Fisk is the first player in the series to hit one over the wall into the net." "Red Sox win it 7-6." "I'll never forget that night." "They lost the 7th game, but still." " Remember when Fisk hit that home run?" " I wasn't born yet." "Oh, right." "This is where I live." "Do you want to come in or... ?" "No, thanks." "I had a really great time." "A really great time." "I'd like to see you again." "Jason, I think I'm going to have to say no to that." "Even though parts of me want to....." " can you understand?" " Yeah." " I already knew." " You did?" "Yeah, you were kind of having too much fun." "Like it was some kind of reunion with fun you had before." "I might be too young for you." " Got you to first base, anyway." " Yeah, that you did."