Episode Report Card Gwen: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT As we learned in Clueless and Cocoon...
By Gwen | Season 4 | Episode 9 | Aired on 01.07.2001
GACK! We see Larry and Ally in bed. Larry's shirtless and Ally's lying all over his bare chest in her black t-shirt. Larry fondles her cheek and then her arm and elbow. The bones showing around Ally's wrist scare the shit out of me. They mumble about not putting their work before their relationship, if their relationship lasts long enough for that to become an issue. I wonder again how Robert Downey Jr.'s last episode will end.
It's the next day. Ally's questioning Melanie on the stand. She asks her to describe the running-over of the boyfriend. Melanie explains that it was an accident, then yells, "Pancake!" The prosecutor remarks that she's never denied that it was murder before, and Melanie yells the word "bald" at him. It's funny when people with Tourette's Syndrome are able to be insulting and endanger their court cases at the same time, isn't it?
Larry tricks Brandy into going to the courthouse so that he can get her to watch Nicolas in a trial. He points out that she's angry because Nicolas won't share a life with her. Then he asks if she ever truly tried to share in his. That's right, Brandy...don't be so selfish. Don't expect your husband to do anything for you. Your job is to be his support -- his helpmate -- his cheerleader! Now put on some lipstick, go into that courtroom, and smile like your feelings don't matter! They don't!
Some doctor testifies that it's possible, even likely, that Melanie had a leg tic and involuntarily hit the accelerator with her foot. Brandy watches Nicolas ascertain this. I guess she's supposed to be impressed with these crafty, Matlock-esque courtroom stylings. Poor Brandy. RUN NOW!
John and Melanie confer. Melanie grabs John's hand and hits on him while Ally eavesdrops. John goes to where Ally is waiting and she immediately starts with the matchmaking. John demurs. Then paramedics are running through with a stretcher. Everything goes blurry and special-effect-y as we see that Brandy's the one on the stretcher. I guess she showed them.
In the hospital, a doctor tells Nicolas and the others that Brandy had a massive coronary, but will be okay. "This is God telling me," says Nicolas. "I wouldn't listen to her. Perhaps I should listen to him." Whatever.
Richard and Mark dance to "Respect" while Nelle watches over a stall door. She tells them that she thinks they're ready. Go wash your hands, Nelle.
Next thing you know, we're seeing all the Fish-n-Cagers in The Bar, where some special cameo-appearancing woman I don't recognize is singing "Respect." Mark, Elaine, Richard, and Ling dance. Nelle sings along at the table she shares with Ally, who is talking on her cell phone. Ally's also wearing ruffled sleeve cuffs, like the ones that went out in the early '90s. Ally pokes her martini olive and asks Nelle if she ever feels like she's wasting her short life. Nelle says that she's happy for Ally and Larry but that she likes her life just fine. Ally makes a goofy face. Then that "Nights in White Satin" song by the Moody Blues starts playing, and Nelle stands up. A blue spotlight bathes her as she sheds her suit, revealing a shimmery unitard. All eyes in The Bar are on her as she performs a heart-achingly beautiful interpretive dance. Ally sings, "'Cause I love you...oh, I love you...Oh, oh, I love you!" with tears streaming down her face.