Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT All Work and No Play is Unheard of by These People
By Gwen | Season 4 | Episode 2 | Aired on 10.29.2000
At the morning Fish & Cage meeting, Richard's giving Ally condolences on the whole firm's behalf over her breakup with Brian. Why? Oh, who cares? John and Nelle are going up against Renee and Georgia in a sexual harassment case. Is there any other kind? Oh, wait -- there is. There's Assault With Deadly Breasts, and there's Gratuitous Humiliation of People Who Aren't Pretty. Richard wonders aloud if John and Nelle's client will be coming to the office. Ling expresses annoyance with his interest in said client. Richard says that John's the one who's attracted to her. John hotly denies it under Nelle's watchful eye. Ally has an announcement to make. There are groans all around. In her purple sweater and matching scarf, she pushes Richard out of the way and calls to order "the first meeting of the Cage & Fish Women's Bar Association" in her office at nine o'clock. Richard says, "Wai-wai-wait, what's this about? The ERA? Title Nine? Douche?" Ally pouts and punches him in the chest. Elaine comes in and informs Ally that Brian's in her office. "Uh oh," says Richard. So how do people actually make money at this firm? Do the ex-boyfriends and potential future sex partners pay a fee to wait in the various lawyers' offices, or what?
Even though last week Brian was calling Ally immature and telling her to get the hell away from him, this week he's asking her to explain again why they broke up. Remember, Brian, Ally slept with you for six months and then told you that you were no good in bed? That was why. Now curse her out again. Brian asks if she isn't afraid of ending up alone. She claims she's more afraid of ending up with the wrong person. I think it's safe to say that she's absolutely horrified of ending up alone, though. Ally says something mock-pithy and the scene ends.
Some woman in a tight, sleeveless top is telling Richard and Ling that she'd prefer a female attorney only. Her name is Cindy McCauliff. She's played by Lisa Edelstein, who at first looked really familiar to me. (I looked her up on the IMDb and saw that she had a bit part on ER and the recurring role of Bobbi on Sports Night. ["She also played Rob Lowe's call-girl girlfriend on The West Wing." -- Wing Chun]) Ling pours tea in preparation for the spit take we already saw in the promos. She's making the annoying tinkling sound with the kettle, too. Richard and Ling pretend to be sensitive as the client, Cindy, explains that she was fired for not taking a physical for her employer's insurance company. She admits that she's "really a man." Ling and Richard spit all over her and then insult her several times. Ling asks how Cindy could be a "he-she" when she looks "so beautiful." Cindy says her breasts are real because she's been taking estrogen for years. Richard asks if he can touch them. Cindy indicates that her genitalia is the only thing that keeps her from being a complete woman. Ling says "dumbstick" again. "Is this the sensitivity you were talking about?" Cindy asks Richard. He somehow convinces her to stay and retain them as her attorneys.