All language subtitles for Ally.McBeal.S03E08.1999.Disney+.WEB-DL.1080p.H264.AAC-HDCTV_track6_[eng]

Previously on Ally McBeal...

What's the problem?

My daughter invented the face
bra four years ago.

Elaine stole the idea.

Not every girl likes to just
climb into bed, Richard.

You do.

[Moans]

I'm his fluffer.

Georgia.
I thought you quit.

I quit my job--
and now I quit you.

[Vonda]
♪ Long years ago ♪

♪ On a deep winter night ♪

♪ High in the heavens ♪

♪ A star shone bright ♪

♪ While in a manger ♪

-Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
-♪ A wee baby lay ♪

♪ Sweetly asleep ♪

♪ On a bed of hay ♪♪

I am not about to sing
at the Christmas party.

Oh, come on. You sang at the bar last
year, and you were great.

-Really?
-Hello. Totally awesome.

When you get up on stage,
you're in the spotlight. You become it.

People don't see you
for what you really are--

-at the Christmas party alone, dateless.
-Well, there is that benefit.

-I mean, maybe we could--
-What?

[Bell Tolling In Distance]

I thought the baby Jesus--
I saw it move.

Did he dance?

-Did you see that?
-No.

It moved.
That baby moved.

[Quiet Whimper]

-[Whimpering]
-Oh, my God.

[Gasps]

[Whimpering]

Ooga-chucka.

Ooga-chucka.

It's real.

♪ I've been down this road ♪

♪ Walkin' 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
Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ 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 ♪♪

It's not that I oppose
your singing.

It's just the point of the Christmas
party is for people to enjoy themselves.

I can sing, Richard.
I have a voice.

Agreed. Your having a voice
isn't my concern.

It's just
the rest of us have ears.

I... can... sing.

[Sighs, Mouths Word]

Why not?
All the world's your stage.

[Yelps]

-Elaine!
-Shh. He's such a good little eater.

Why do you
still have him?

-I couldn't turn him in. He--
-Elaine, you have to.

-It-It's criminal. That's a--
-I want to keep him.

-[Contented Whimpering]
-What?

There's a reason
that I found him, Ally.

No, you can't just keep him.
Somebody abandoned that baby.

I took him to a doctor.
He's completely fine.

You have to notify the police.
You could go to jail.

If tell the police, they
put him in a foster home.

They'll look for his mother.

Worse--put him back with
someone who abandoned him.

Elaine. There is no choice.
You have to tell the police.

-Okay. And if I do that--
-[Whimpering]

is there a way that I
could still keep him?

-I doubt it, but--
-But what?

By turning him in, he'll go right into
Social Services, and that'll be it.

-For you to have any chance--
-She can't kidnap him.

I'm not saying kidnap,

but possession gives her standing
to at least get into court.

What we need do--

-You really--
-Yes.

What we need do is notify the police
and Social Services...

as we petition for custody.

-Any chance you could lactate?
-I beg your pardon?

The standard will be
"best interests of the child."

On occasion, adoptive mothers have been
known to produce milk.

If we can demonstrate
that the child has bonded--

Here, take it.

-[Stammering]
-All right.

-Come on.
-Elaine.

[Stammering
Continues]

[Stammering] Uh, tittie, teat.
Teat. Tit.

♪♪ [Disco]

-[Village People]
♪ Body, wanna feel my body ♪

♪ Wanna feel my body, baby ♪

-♪ Such a thrill, my body ♪
-♪ Such a thrill, my body ♪

♪ Hey, hey ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

-♪ Macho, macho man ♪
-♪ Macho man ♪

♪ I've got to be
a macho man ♪

-♪ Mach--♪♪ [Needle Scratches]
-Oh.

-I can come back if--
-No. It's okay.

[Laughs] Richard moved the Christmas
party to the bar due to the overflow.

So if there's anybody you've invited
you need me to call?

I didn't invite anyone. I don't think I'm
even going myself.

That would be a mistake.

Billy, you're feeling lonely enough as it
is. At least be around your friends.

-And what if she goes?
-Would that be so bad?

My father and my mother split up,
and she wouldn't take him back.

Know what he did?
He just asked her out on a date.

He started over in a way.

I don't think she'd
agree to date me.

Yeah, maybe not, but--

She might agree to a dance even if just to
avoid having things be awkward.

And in a dance--a touch.
Maybe things could start over.

I don't know.

Well, it's important,
it's important.

It isn't, it isn't.

Your Honor, I can appreciate
her wanting to keep him.

In fact, we have a long waiting
list of parents looking to adopt.

She has no right to leapfrog
to the top of the line.

Best interests of the child--

She doesn't even know how to mix the
formula.

-The baby has already begun to bond.
-That's ridiculous.

As a matter of public policy--

One should be allowed to finish his
sentences.

Your Honor, clearly
there are other, better options.

Pipe down, Mr. McCabe.

Mr. Cage, you're suggesting
what--finders, keepers?

I am suggesting there is a reason
she found it in that manger.

She was meant to find it,
destined to be the parent.

Oh, please.

Pipe down. He makes me
repeat myself, Your Honor.

Mr. Cage. All these studies have been
coming out about early bonding.

It takes place
in the early weeks.

It affects lifelong
abilities to trust.

Now, I've seen that baby
in Elaine Vassal's arms,

and it is where that baby
was meant to be.

We don't even know if she's
fit to be a parent.

-That's an issue?
-Of course it's an issue.

For that to be an issue, my client
must have some standing to be the parent.

[McCabe, Chuckling]
You just tricked me.

This is what he does,
Your Honor. He tricks.

Mr. McCabe, there's
no controlling law here.

Certainly, if Ms. Vassal had the baby
a year, we'd consider her.

-But it's only been one night.
-Agreed, but the standard is the same--

"best interests of the child."

It'll be much tougher
for her to prove it,

but I guess we have
to give her a chance.

We'll have a hearing.
How's 2:00?

-Fine, Your Honor.
-I'd like a little time.

I'm allowing her to maintain custody
pending the hearing.

-And the longer she's the guardian--
-Uh, 2:00 is fine.

Elliot.

Elliot and Elaine Vassal.

How does that sound?

Mmm. You like
the name "Elliot"?

-[Baby Whimpers]
-Oh, you sweet, sweet baby.

-Hi.
-[Coos]

Ally. I am sorry.
I didn't see you.

-You seem mesmerized.
-Yeah.

When I was a little girl and I used
to dream about being a grown-up,

in the dream,
there was always a child.

But not a husband.

And I used to think,
"But that doesn't make sense."

-And now it does?
-Yeah.

Now it does.

He's really real,
isn't he?

Elaine, he's really real.

But he's not really yours.

At least not yet.

[Snorts]

Me? How can I
talk her out of it?

I don't know. You've known her
the longest.

Billy, she plans
to sing something sexy.

-Yeah, right.
-I'm not kidding.

Elaine has her convinced.
Can you imagine?

Next, we'll have
Mary Tyler Moore doing porn.

[Toilet Flushes]

[Gasping]
Hi.

You don't think I can
be sexy, Richard?

I--No, no.
No, it's not that. It's just, uh--

You know, after seeing you, how could I
ever, uh--uh, fantasize over anyone else?

I can be very sexy,
Richard.

[Uneasy Chuckle]

You are so cute,
aren't you?

[Nelle] Put some more
powder on him.

-I put enough on, Nelle.
-[Fussing]

-[Mouthing Words]
-You don't want him to get diaper rash.

He's got enough on. You don't want
any more powder, do you?

No--
[Sputters]

-[Laughing]
-He peed me. Oh, funny.

Well, he wanted
more powder.

It's acidic.
It's burning my skin.

We tried to tell her
more powder, didn't we?

-[Shrieks]
-Oh. How do you like it?

How much urine can
one little baby have?

-Did he get my hair?
-[Elevator Bell Dings]

What we need you to say is how the baby is
better off with Elaine.

But I don't necessarily
think that's true.

We don't need you to think it. We need
you to say it.

I don't know.

Wait, wait. Margaret,
it is a long shot...

for Elaine to be able
to keep this child.

Every time I testify, I end up being
called a vicious lesbian.

We need at least
one medical opinion.

You've done some work in this area,
and you've recently adopted.

How is that relevant?

You know what it's like to bond
with your baby. You know--

It's from the baby's side that counts,
Ally, not the parent's.

Fine. How long do you think it took
for your baby to bond with you?

About a day.

So just say that.

I'd be saying that more as a mother
than as a sociologist.

Well, we'll take that.

Hey.

Hey.

Listen, uh,

they're having the firm
Christmas party tonight.

Would you like to come...
as my date?

As your date?

Yeah. There's nothing
wrong with having a date, is there?

Excuse me.
My name is Janine Waller.

I'm from Social Services,
Child Welfare.

I'm looking
for Renee Radish?

Raddick. That's me.

Oh. Would you mind
answering a few questions?

They concern Elaine Vassal.

What do you want to know?

Well, she's petitioning
for custody of a child.

We need to be satisfied
that she's fit to parent.

Uh, but is anybody?

I beg your pardon?

It's not like you need a license to raise
children.

Though it's not a bad idea. Anybody can be
a parent as long as you can procreate.

Plus, you know,
it takes a village.

How long have you known
Ms. Vassal?

Oh, long time, but before we get into
that, while I have you.

Seems to me, some of the most
irresponsible people...

are the girls who let
themselves get pregnant.

Talkin' about the teenagers,
some using drugs.

Why does the law presume their automatic
fitness to parent?

Is it simply because the baby passes
through their cervix on the way out?

What kind of a litmus is that?
Tell me, while I have you.

There are no absolutes
when it comes to bonding.

It can take weeks.
It can happen instantly.

With both mother and child.

The likelihood is the baby hasn't
bonded with Ms. Vassal.

That's the likelihood, but we can't
rule out the possibility.

Do you have an opinion as to whether this
baby should stay with Ms. Vassal...

versus being placed with
another adoptive family?

That's easy. He should stay with Ms.
Vassal.

Why?

Because she seems to be
a good mother,

and, from the baby's standpoint,
the less disruption, the better.

Babies don't like
their world to change.

Disruption is not healthy.

And to take him from Ms. Vassal--
that would be a disruption.

-This baby that we're talking about--
-His name is Elliot.

Elliot.

If he were to leave Ms. Vassal and be
placed with another primary caretaker,

-he'd still be able to bond, wouldn't he?
-I would think so, yes.

The disruption you're talking about--

is this something that would
really harm the baby?

-It's hard to tell.
-Let me ask it this way.

Which is more important--
leaving him with whoever's got him now,

or providing him
with the best caretaker?

-Providing him with the best caretaker.
-Thank you.

[Footsteps Receding]

[Sighs]

And by asking her on a date,
I wasn't saying "Forgive me,"

but "Hey, let's take
baby steps and start over."

-And she said no.
-She did.

I think we need
to hear you say,

"I was disrespectful
to my wife."

I was disrespectful
to my wife.

I think we all need to acknowledge that
when we kiss another woman,

it is a betrayal
of enormous depths,

leaving us in a black hole that we can't
simply climb out...

by asking a spouse
out on a date.

In fact, the asking
of a date itself...

could have compounded the offense
by trivializing it.

That's not--
That's not what I meant to do.

Billy, why did you
kiss that woman?

Because. Because
I'm not good enough.

Not good enough for Georgia.

Whatever I do,
she complains.

Even when we made love, I could hear
Peggy Lee singing in my head--

"Is that all there is?"

She's a "glass half empty" person who
makes me feel like I drained the glass.

What does she expect?
What can I do?

-What can you do?
-I don't know.

She wants me to change.
Change, change.

And when I did,
she goes off...

and sucks face with the father
of one of my old girlfriends.

And when I get upset and fall off the
fidelity wagon for a split second,

she walks on the marriage
like I'm the bad guy.

And when I go back groveling
for a lousy date, she says no.

Not enough grovel for her.
She wants more.

Well, you know what?
I am not gonna give her more.

I am not gonna give her the continued
satisfaction...

of being able to reduce me
to the size of a bug...

so she can crush me
with the heel of her shoe!

-[Men Murmuring]
-I am sick of not being good enough.

I am sick of being the poster boy for
failure, which she does on purpose.

She tries to belittle me.
I know what she is.

I know what she is!

Say it, Billy.
Say the word.

-She's a bitch!
-[Man] Yeah.

[Men Chanting]
Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!

Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!
Bitch! Bitch!

-[Pig Squealing]
-Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!

-[Squealing Continues]
-[Chanting Continues]

I'm no expert on these men's groups,
but they don't sound productive.

Actually, they are. Stuff comes out of you
you didn't know was there.

What came out of you?

I don't want to get back
with her, Sandy.

I feel guilty about being unfaithful, and
I want to make the guilt go away.

But I really don't want
to get back with Georgia.

Well, then you're where you want to be.
Congratulations.

Sandy?

Would you like to go to the Christmas
party with me?

[Laughs]

Billy, I work for you.

Plus, I think you should take a little
time before you start dating again.

You're right.

[Vonda]
♪ Mother isn't here now ♪

♪ Who knows what she'll say ♪

♪ Nothing's quite
so clear now ♪

♪ You feel
you've lost your way ♪

♪ You are not alone ♪

♪ Believe me ♪

♪ No one is alone ♪

♪ Believe me, truly ♪

♪ No one is alone ♪♪

-[Ikettes] ♪ Bum-bum, bum-bum ♪
-Ally, the key is attitude.

Even more than movement,
it's attitude.

Watch.
[Clears Throat]

♪♪ [Ikettes Continue]

♪ Oh, Santa, baby ♪

♪ Just slip a sable
under the tree ♪

♪ For me ♪

And then you gotta look 'em
right in the eye.

♪ So hurry down
the chimney tonight ♪♪

I--I don't know,
Elaine.

It's the right song
for you, Ally.

It's soft,
it's cute and sexy.

[Continuing]
♪ Bum-bum, bum-bum ♪

-♪ Santa Claus--♪♪
-"Baby." It's "Santa, baby."

Elaine. Ally.
It's time.

I never thought I'd want to be a mother,
but things are different now.

-Such as?
-They can laser out stretch marks.

-The sacrifices aren't as big.
-[Bell Dings]

Richard,
can I have him?

Sure. Oh.
He is good.

-Here.
-[No Audible Dialogue]

[Gasps]

[Gasping]

-Oh!
-I'd say he got you.

-What is wrong with you?
-That is so funny!

-Now look what you did.
-[Doll Squeaks]

-Oh, let me hold him.
-I gotta dress him. He just had a bath.

Oh, let me do it. Look at your naked
little body--

[Yelps]

[Ally] What were you thinking when you
lifted him out of the manger?

Well, first,
that he was beautiful.

Second, that he was mine.

Yours?

I've held babies before.
I have nieces and nephews.

I've held the infants
of friends, but this one--

I don't know why,
but it just hit me.

This wasn't
somebody else's child.

He was meant to be with me.

Elaine, you're a single
working woman.

Are you gonna be able
to raise this child?

Well, I'll have
to cut back on work.

But I have a good savings.

I made a lot of money on my
revolutionary face bra.

I'm sorry?

-It's a support--
-Okay, okay.

Um, so you are, uh,
financially solvent?

Oh, yes.

I am quite comfortable.

I can afford
to work part-time.

Have you had any, uh,
experience with children?

Oh, well, I've spent
a lot of time around kids.

Uh, I've babysat many times
over weekends.

But if you're asking me, has anything in
my life prepared me for this,

I'd have to say not really.

Certainly, nothing prepared me for how
I'd feel the first time that I held him...

and how I still feel.

I'm ready to raise this baby.

[Voice Breaking]
I've never been more--

I'm sorry.

[Sniffles]

I'm ready.

You didn't just invent a face bra,
did you, Ms. Vassal?

Well, I have several things
in the works.

Including customized fluorescent
condoms with little sayings.

Yes. They're not as popular
as the face bra.

How many men have you slept with
in the last year?

-[Both] Objection!
-Certainly her lifestyle is relevant.

We all have lives as single people.
That doesn't mean we can delve in--

There's a difference between a past
and a past.

The objection is sustained,
Mr. McCabe. Don't go there.

I'm told, about a month ago, Mr. Cage got
some cappuccino foam on his nose,

and rather than
wipe it off with a tissue,

you removed it by performing
a sexual act on his nose.

Well, that was just,
you know, in fun.

In fun.

-What's a fluffer, Ms. Vassal?
-Objection!

I'd like some latitude here. As we all
agree, the welfare of a child is at stake.

-Speed it up.
-What's a fluffer?

[Sighs]

It's, um, well--

It's basically when one woman gets a man
sexually revved up...

so he's able to perform
with another woman.

-Is that right?
-Something like that.

Something like that. Have you ever been
Mr. Cage's fluffer?

-Objection!
-There was only one time--

when he was having
a little trouble with Nelle.

Objection!

I didn't know that he had
planned to spank her.

[John Stammering]

Your Honor, this is way off base.

Isn't it true, Ms. Vassal, that you enjoy
passing yourself off as the office slut?

-I do that in fun.
-You do it in fun.

What a fun mom you'll make.

Oh, by the way,
the face bra you invented--

You got sued by family members
who said you stole the idea, didn't you?

That lawsuit was bogus,
and it was dismissed.

Just the same, your own family members
believed you to be dishonest, didn't they?

-It's not over.
-How did they get all that stuff?

It had to be somebody in the firm.
There's no way--

Let's just focus on our closing
statement.

I'll take it.

-[Bell Dings]
-[No Audible Dialogue]

-What the hell did you say?
-I beg your pardon?

I know D.S.S. was here interviewing you,
Richard. What did you tell them?

-Or was it you?
-I didn't talk to anybody.

And I didn't say anything negative.
I promise.

I don't believe you. You two would just
trash me for the sport.

I'm sorry you feel that way, Elaine.

The stuff they got--
Somebody in here was definitely talking.

The fluffer thing,
even I didn't know about.

Elliot. How's he doing?

He's doing great. I think
he prefers me as his mother.

-It was Renee.
-What?

When I went to see Georgia, D.S.S. showed
up at the office looking to talk to Renee.

I said she'd be a good mother.
That's all.

-Well, come on, Renee. Did you tell her--
-I didn't say anything.

-Don't be accusing me.
-Well, the guy had facts, okay?

The face bra, the custom condoms--
he had the facts.

-How the hell did he get 'em?
-Well, don't be lookin' at me.

-I told her.
-You?

I didn't slam her, but she asked for both
the positives and the negatives.

-I told her what I knew.
-Why?

Ally, it's about a child.

I'm not qualified to say who would be
the best parent, and neither are you.

The people at Social Services are trained
to make this kind of call.

They have to have all the facts
in order to do it.

Do you have any idea
the damage you've done?

It's not
an advocacy thing here.

It's-It's find the best
place for the baby.

No one should be
pulling punches.

I don't disagree with that.

The problem is is that people do treat
this like an adversary system.

They do take sides. And-And if a friend
says anything at all negative,

D.S.S., they're--they're gonna
just multiply it by 10.

♪♪ [Funk]

[Man]
♪ There's a new man in town ♪

♪ And he's not foolin' round ♪♪

He's likes it.
Look at that smile. He likes it.

-It's gas.
-No, it isn't.

The little guy likes
the music. Look at him.

-Maybe you're right.
-May I try?

[Barry White]
♪ We got it together didn't we ♪

♪ We've definitely got our thing together
Don't we, baby ♪

♪♪ [Continues]

♪♪ [Vocalizing]

♪ My first, my last ♪

♪ My everything ♪

♪ And the answer to ♪

♪ All my dreams ♪

-♪ You're my sun ♪
-[Female Chorus] ♪ Sun ♪

-♪ My moon ♪
-♪ Moon ♪

♪ My guiding star ♪

-♪ My kind of wonderful ♪
-[Door Opens]

♪ That's what you are ♪♪

Hey!

-What in God's name?
-The little guy likes to dance.

He just ate.
You'll make him sick.

[Loud Burp]

John, the clerk's office called.
You're back in for closing statements.

-Now?
-She wants to rule by the end of the day.

[Sighs]

[McCabe] We're not out
to "get" Elaine Vassal.

Our intent here is to ensure
the welfare of this baby.

And we have concerns here.

The decision to raise a child--
it's enormous.

It's not something that happens when you
find one like a lost kitten.

We look at Ms. Vassal and compare her
to other couples...

who have prepared a long time
for this responsibility.

That she's a single woman--
yes, it's a factor.

Her lifestyle-- yes, it's a factor.

We're looking at
a promiscuous person,

an individual whose integrity has been
called into question

by her own family members,

a woman who, when she found the child,
failed to notify the authorities at first,

as she was required to do
by both law and morality.

Is Elaine Vassal a good person, a capable
mother? I'm sure she might be.

But the undeniable truth for us
is we can do better by this child.

And we should.

The undeniable truth...

is that Mr. McCabe doesn't know
the woman sitting over there.

I do.
And I can tell you...

that if I had a child
I for some reason...

had to place
in somebody else's care,

not only would I go to Elaine,

I would probably go to her first.

Because she is loving, giving,

unselfish, highly moral and--

And more than anything else,
she's a caretaker.

She lives to take care of others
even when they don't want it.

And as for family members doubting her
integrity, well--

Well, that happened when a cousin made up
a lie to try to steal her face bra.

It's in the court records.

If D.S.S.
had done any research,

integrity would have prevented them
from even raising it as a point.

And as for her alleged promiscuity,
well, most of it's talk.

And the rest, well, it happened
before she became a mother.

She's a mother now, Judge.

And if you don't believe me, well,

just look at little Elliot.

Look into his eyes.

See how safe he feels.

He knows who his mother is.

Now I realize that you have
to weigh all of this...

and make a very
difficult decision.

I--I just hope that,
as you struggle with it,

that you keep in mind that Mr. McCabe
doesn't know Elaine Vassal.

If he did,

there'd be no argument
before this court.

[Vonda]
♪ Hush-a-bye ♪

♪ Don't you cry ♪

♪ Go to sleep ♪

♪ My little baby ♪

♪ When you awake ♪

♪ You shall have ♪

♪ All the pretty
little ponies ♪♪

Babysitting?

Uh, yeah.

Elaine
went to the bathroom.

-Want me to hold him?
-No, I'm okay.

-I don't mind.
-No. Really, I'm fine.

What is it about babies?

Is it just 'cause
they're so innocent?

Maybe.

Maybe we project all their hopes,
their dreams.

You know,
seven years ago, I--

I would've thought
this would be us, Billy.

-But a lot's happened.
-Yeah.

You've bleached your head.

And you're goin' on stage suddenly
aspiring to be Eartha Kitt.

-I can be sexy.
-Ally, you really shouldn't.

Never mind.

[Coos]

Mmm.

What did happen to us?

I don't know.

[Ikettes]
♪ Bum, bum-bum ♪

♪ Bum-bum, bum-bum
Bum-bum-bum-bum ♪

♪ Bum-bum, bum-bum
Bum-bum-bum-bum ♪

♪ Bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum
Bum-bum-bum-bum ♪

-I can't believe she's singing.
-It's the new Ally.

-I'm bored.
-♪♪ [Ikettes Continue]

-♪ Santa, baby ♪
-[Woman] Oh!

♪ Just slip a sable
under the tree ♪

♪ For me ♪

♪ Been an awful good girl
Santa, baby ♪

♪ So hurry down
the chimney tonight ♪

-[Crowd Cheering]
-She-She's good.

-[Loud Cheer]
-♪ Santa, baby ♪

-[Mouthing Words]
-♪ A '54 convertible too ♪

♪ Light blue ♪

♪ I'll wait up for you
Dear Santa, baby ♪

♪ So hurry down
the chimney tonight ♪

[Cheering, Applause]

♪ Think of all
the fun I've missed ♪

♪ Think of all the fellas
that I ♪

♪ Haven't kissed ♪

♪ Next year
I could be as good ♪

♪ If you check off
my Christmas list ♪

♪ Santa, baby ♪

♪ One little thing
I really do need ♪

♪ The deed ♪

♪ To a platinum mine,
Santa, honey ♪

♪ So hurry down
the chimney tonight ♪♪

[Crowd Cheering]

Why did she ask me to bring Elliot?

-This can't be good.
-We'll know in a second.

As I said at the onset,

there are no legal absolutes when it comes
to these kinds of decisions.

The welfare of the child is the
controlling consideration.

And while I no doubt believe that
Ms. Vassal is capable of raising a child,

the customized condoms,
the face bras,

the embracing of "slut"
as part of your self-image--

it makes me gulp.

In cases where it comes down
to character...

and judges can't really lay claim to
knowing the person involved,

we end up having to guess.

And for me,
when I make my guess,

I look to the people
who do know the person.

The court has no reason to doubt the word
or the integrity of Ms. McBeal.

And if the petitioner
lives up even slightly...

to the endorsement
offered by her lawyer...

and, yes, admittedly her friend,

I have very little reason to doubt
that Ms. Vassal

will make an exceptional mother.

Petition for
temporary guardianship granted.

[Gavel Raps]

Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.

-I second that.
-I third it.

-What happens now?
-We go home.

Oh, my God.

♪ I used to smoke ♪

♪ I used to drink ♪

-♪ I used to smoke, drink ♪
-♪ Smoke, drink ♪

♪ Dance the hoochie-coo ♪

♪ I used to smoke and drink Smoke and
drink and dance the hoochie-coo ♪

♪ Yes, I did ♪

♪ But now I'm standin' on this corner
prayin' for me and you ♪

You did it, Ally.
It was your closing.

I-I-I still can't believe it.
Elaine is the mother.

-Where is she?
-She's upstairs.

It was--It was too loud
for the baby.

What's with that?

♪ Yes, I am ♪

♪ I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb ♪

♪ I'm in that
soul-savin' army ♪

♪ Beating on that
big bass drum ♪

♪♪ [Ikettes Vocalizing]

♪ I used to cuss
I used to fuss ♪

♪ I used to cuss, fuss
and boogie all night long ♪

[Fading Out]
♪ I used to rock and roll ♪♪

Okay.

Out with the old.

And then in with the new.

Yes. There you go.

Doesn't that feel better?

I'm onto your tricks now.
It's my latest invention.

-I'll split the profits with ya--70-30.
-[Elevator Bell Dings]

Yeah. This little guy--

Ms. Vassal?
My name is Lynn Hart.

That's my son.

[Gasping Breaths]

Breathe deep.
Just-Just take deep breaths.

Do you still feel like you're gonna
faint?

-A little.
-[Door Opens]

She's a single mother.
Goes to Emerson.

Evidently she suffered some form of
postpartum when she put him in the manger.

She actually watched you find him.
She's been watching you since.

She's parked outside your apartment.
She was even in court.

What happens?

Oh, no.

If she moves back in with her parents and
they assume guardianship with her.

That's it, just like that? She has to
give him back?

No, she doesn't.
I was anticipating this.

There was a case just decided in June in
Massachusetts--Youmans versus Ramos.

Basically, it says when a parent
voluntarily terminates guardianship--

and abandonment equals
voluntary termination--

the de facto parent, which Elaine is,
can't have her rights taken away.

What?

That case involved an older
child with more emotional ties.

But the law's the same. You're Elliot's
de facto parent right now.

She voluntarily
terminated her rights.

-We can fight.
-I want to fight.

-I'm not saying we'll win.
-I want to fight.

-I'll put the whole firm on it.
-You don't have to just give him back.

What's the name of the case? I'll get on
Westlaw.

Youmans versus Ramos.

May I have a moment alone
with Elaine, please?

And Ally.

This new case--
it does give us a chance.

But I suspect they'll
use the postpartum...

to say she didn't
act voluntarily.

And even if--

You're looking
at a long fight.

If we lose, the disruption
in Elliot's life, the--

He'll be older. It'll be a lot
more detrimental.

If we win, you'll still be faced with,
one day, having to tell him...

that you went to court to take him away
from his biological mother.

Biological doesn't make her
a better parent.

Clearly not, but see--
best interests of the child.

I-I don't know if it's in Elliot's
best interest to fight this fight.

If that woman were unfit,
that'd be one thing.

But you see, if it's more
about your wants...

then it's selfish.

If she were a fit parent, she wouldn't
have dropped him in a manger.

That's the argument.

But my sense is we're not dealing
with bad people here.

Elaine, whatever you want to do,

this firm stands ready
to support you.

[Contented Whimpering]

What's his name?

Alan. Alan Matthew Hart.

How do I know that you won't
abandon him again?

Well, I didn't really abandon
him this time, not totally.

I was all set to go right back
and take him when--

I saw him in your arms, and I--

Something hit me...

that he was better off,
but, um--

I can't go on living
without my son, Ms. Vassal.

And, uh, I'm getting help
for my depression problems.

I'm just--

I'm so sorry
for causing you this hurt.

[Fussing]

[Fussing Continues]

[Whispering]
I love you.

[Elevator Bell Dings,
Doors Open]

[Cries]

[Sighs]

[Woman]
You stinker!