Yesterday was a much better day than anticipated after receiving an early phone call to say there could be a problem in the delivery of the new refrigerator but it arrived as originally stated between two and four pm, around 3.15 and via the back lane although because this was queried I emptied and moved bookcases in the passage way from the front of the house which remain to be cleaned, recorded and returned when the weather changes from the balmy summer of the past and next few days.
It is another warm and glorious sunny day as September moves onto October and therefore after lunch of a Thai fishcakes, some scampi and baked beans I will go out, undertake a little walk down to the sea front and back taking the second book in the Tinker Tailor Trilogy, The Honourable Schoolboy. I may write up as planned the 31st to 35th episodes of The Sopranos, but in case I decide against as there is so much to do, I have copied what Wikipedia records with a commentary.
I am pleased that despite the critical success of the Sopranos when the programme was first aired the creators continued to press home that the central characters were men of violence who caused continued misery, physical harm and death. They were and remain terrorists and it is an indictment of civilization that such forces are able to perpetuate themselves from generation to generation. However I continue to find the series as compelling as the first time it was viewed.
In the first of the four Another Toothpick Tony (now heads the Crime family) and Camilla attend a joint therapy session with Dr Melfi (who in my view has become vicariously voyeuristically addicted to her session with the gangster ignoring the views of her former husband and recently reviled lover who appears in the background once more). Tony remains quiet throughout, while Carmela asks Melfi questions. Melfi then asks if Tony has been telling Carmela about any of the origins of his "root causes". Carmela tends to forget, which forces Tony to remind her of the capicola from Satriale's (do not remember this reference). Carmela asks Dr. Melfi why the therapy has not helped Tony much, since he is still passing out on a regular basis. Guilt, among other things, is brought up as a possible reason. Carmela then yells at Tony, "Maybe it's because you stick your dick into anything that has a pulse, can that be considered a root cause?" When Melfi says she notices anger, Tony sarcastically remarks, "You must have been at the top of your fucking class." ( Carmela is also gripped by guilt but is based on her Catholicism and periodic romantic interests the parish priest, the D.I.Y helper as she appear oblivious that her husband is a killer and that their wealth in based on drug trafficking, vice and theft, the corruption of officials and the financial tributes paid by members of the family)
Afterwards, Tony drives a tearful Carmela home. Tony speeds in frustration and is pulled over by a police officer by the name of Leon Wilmore, who orders Tony for his license and registration, and to turn off the engine. After attempts at winning him over and casually offering a bribe backfire, along with asking the officer tauntingly what would happen if he ignores orders, Tony finally turns the engine off after Officer Wilmore radios in for backup threateningly. The dispatch is cancelled when Tony reluctantly gives in. As Wilmore walks back to his car, Tony makes a comment to Carmela saying, "I can't believe this fucking smoke is writing me up. Affirmative action cocksucker." Officer Wilmore writes Tony a ticket and sends him on his way.
Tony then gets in touch with his government contact, the corrupt Assemblyman Ronald Zellman, about the ticket. Zellman says he will look into the situation and take care of it. Days later, when Tony goes to purchase a water pipe at Fountains of Wayne, a lawn ornament store, he sees his Officer Wilmore selling pottery. Tony sarcastically antagonizes Wilmore, who then tells Tony that he was sacked from his street patrol and lost his overtime thanks to him and "your friend the Assemblyman", and is relegated to working in the gun cage and has taken the job at the pottery store to make ends meet. Tony denies having anything to do with his situation. Feeling guilty, Tony later calls Zellman, who informs Tony that Officer Wilmore was reassigned because he was a rabble rouser and disliked by a number of other cops, presumably because he performed his duty with integrity. This relieves Tony, but he asks if Wilmore can have his job back. Later, when meeting with Zellman, because in the meantime Tony has discovered that a black youth stole his daughter's bicycle, Tony tells Zellman to forget it since he thinks Wilmore got what he deserved.
In their phone discussion, Zellman relates that Wilmore was thought to be battling depression or another mental illness, and Tony seems to briefly give the issue some thought and seemingly has some sympathy for the officer, since he struggles with the same issues. During his interactions with Tony, Wilmore firmly disregards Tony's charm and intimidation, twice refuses bribes/handouts, and refuses to "go off" when provoked by Tony's insults and condescension, leaving Tony victorious but feeling like the smaller man. Later, Meadow openly condemns Tony for being hypocritical in his attitude toward blacks, while Tony smirks about Meadow's bicycle being stolen by a black person.
At the garden store, Tony offers Wilmore a bribe to ensure that his expensive order arrives in one piece, likely motivated by the fact he sees Wilmore is probably struggling financially. Wilmore looks at him in disgust and walks away proudly, refusing to take the money for a job he is expected to do in the first place, leaving Tony to realize that there are a few incorruptible men in the world.
Meanwhile, after attending a funeral for Carmela's uncle, Febby, Tony meets up with Bobby Baccalieri and his father, Bobby, Sr. Tony learns that Bobby, Sr. has lung cancer as a result of a lifelong tobacco habit. When Vito Spatafore's brother Bryan is sent to the hospital after being clubbed by a jealous Mustang Sally, Bobby Sr. agrees to do the hit since he is Sally's godfather and can make a safe approach. Bobby is afraid of this because his father's health (he is croupy and coughing up blood at the slightest exertion) and asks Junior to convince Tony to get someone else, even volunteering for the task himself. However, Bobby, Sr. is fatalistic about his cancer and wants to do the hit, which devastates his son. Bobby, Sr. proceeds to visit the house in Staten Island where Mustang Sally—fearing Tony's mortal retaliation—has holed up with his friend Carlos. After disarming Sally's pent anxiety by assuring him "don't worry, I got you a pass", then sending him into to the kitchen for a glass of water, Bobby Sr. sneaks up from behind and shoots him in the ear, being distracted by Carlos. Though injured, Sally puts up an intense struggle and a blood-soaked gun-in-hand grapple ensues. Hardly able to breathe, Bobby Sr. exerts himself beyond his limits to again shoot Sally, this time in the face. He then shoots Carlos dead. He takes Sally's cigarettes and smokes them blissfully while leaving the scene in his Chevrolet Lumina. In a coughing fit while driving, he fumbles for his blood-covered inhaler, seems to lose consciousness, loses control of the car, and crashes into a sign pole, killing him. An eerie scene follows, with the radio in the demolished car still playing as Bobby's lifeless body slumps over the steering wheel.
Bobby Bacala is extremely upset, which causes Junior to first ask how exactly he was killed, cancer or the car accident, prompting Bobby to reply, "All due respect Junior, what do you care about the details?" Corrado calmly relented, but then abruptly unleashes his fury by breaking a lamp and picture frames. Junior tells Tony at Dr. Schreck's office that he has cancer. He asks Tony not to tell anyone and is visibly scared. Tony, however, tells Janice and they both meet at Livia's for a drink and discuss Janice's newfound religion once again as there is reference if past to previous religions conversions. (There is a common sense of immortality and untouchabilty among gangsters)
It is also revealed that Uncle Junior holds the superstitious belief that "these things come in threes," pertaining to two recent cancer-related deaths (Jackie Aprile and Febby). Supposedly, he believes that if Bobby Sr.'s death was from cancer, it would prevent him from becoming the third in line to die of the disease. This is why he becomes upset not knowing whether Bobby Sr. died from the car accident or his cancer.
During an argument in the Soprano household between Tony and Meadow about Tony's racial bias, Meadow picks up the FBI-bugged lamp and takes it for her dorm at Columbia University, to do a biology lab that involves studying pathogens under a microscope. The light helps her see better in order for her to complete the lab assignment. With the relocation of the lamp far away from where it is needed, the undercover techs declare the bug "neutralized".
It begins to become apparent at a dinner, along with Johnny Sack, Paulie Gualtieri, and Tony that Ralphie has some major resentment towards Gigi's getting promoted to Capo of The Aprile Crew over him, seeing how Ralph was a top earner in the crew, and Gigi wasn't exactly thought to be Capo material. Due to Ralph's insubordination, Gigi received the promotion despite being technically less qualified. Ralph comments on Gigi's idea to send in Bobby, Sr. for retaliation towards Mustang Sally for brutally beating up Vito's brother Brian, saying "You're sendin' in an old man; what's he gonna do gum the guy to death?" He then comments that Tony should allow him to do it because "he'll take that guy apart at the joints...with him conscious." However, Ralph then sarcastically comments "My man jugootz he really knows what he's doing, huh?" as he smiles and looks at Gigi. Gigi responds angrily with, "Gee, I'm glad I have your fuckin' approval." Ralph responds again with, "Whatever you say, Cappy." It is clear that Ralph has no respect for Gigi's authority as Gigi looks back at him in disgust.
Artie Bucco, the restaurant owner beholden to Tony in various ways is upset when he learns that Adriana La Cerva is leaving her post as hostess at Nuovo Vesuvio, now that Christopher Moltisanti is a made man and earning more money. After hours in the restaurant, a drunken Artie insults Christopher in front of Tony which almost leads to violence before it's broken up by Tony. After Chris leaves, Artie tells Tony that he is in love with Adriana, but Tony tells him to sober up and to never utter those words again. The next day, Tony suggests that he and Artie go into business together, selling Italian food products, under the Satriale's brand name. Charmaine nixes the idea, being against doing business with a mobster, believing Tony only wants another business to use as a front. During an argument in the restaurant, Charmaine threatens Artie, and Artie scoffs, calling her bluff by asking her if she's going to divorce him. Angered by the exchange, Charmaine tells him the marriage is over, and that he should not expect custody of the children. Artie, sporting an earring, later has an awkward dinner with Adriana. Even though she attends the dinner without telling Christopher —- ostensibly because it was a "going away" dinner -— she soon realizes that Artie is romantically interested after he repeatedly attempts to hold her hand and suggests that she is not ready for marriage.
Things then go from bad to worse in the next episode University in which the atmosphere at the Bada Bing strip club is created
One afternoon at the Bada Bing, Tony receives a "thank you" gift from one of the strippers, 20-year-old Tracee. She thanks Tony for advising her to take her sick son to the doctor. When she presents Tony with some homemade bread, he is gratified by the gesture but explains that he cannot accept gifts from employees, since strippers are not supposed to make friends with their bosses, and because of Ralphie-.(The boss who uses her in particular)
Meanwhile at Columbia University, Meadow is becoming closer to her boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum. As they draw close to becoming intimate, Meadow's roommate, Caitlin, walks in and interrupts. Meadow asks if she needs to use the room, but Caitlin says she was feeling lonely and scared after seeing the horror film, Freaks, with friends, exhibiting something similar to the Mean World Syndrome. Meadow and Noah try to calm her down and remind her that she has been warned in the past not to see things that frighten her. Caitlin proceeds to pull her hair out as a sign of nervousness. Noah makes up an excuse to leave, and after a few moments of discomfort between Caitlin and Meadow, Meadow decides to go up to Noah's room, making sure she takes her X-Acto knife in case Caitlin grows more depressed. Noah empathizes with Caitlin and suggests they be patient with her. Meadow thus comes to adore Noah even more and loses her virginity to him. Later, Noah and Meadow plan to cheer Caitlin up by taking her out for her birthday. After an evening out with Caitlin, they spot a homeless woman babbling, which induces Caitlin to give her money. As she approaches the woman, Caitlin discovers a newspaper in her rear instead of underwear. Caitlin is more shocked and upset than ever and sobs in the dorm room. Meadow becomes tired of Caitlin's growing homesickness and seeks solace at the Soprano home. She tells her mother that she is in love with Noah and subtly hints that she has been intimate with him. Meanwhile, Caitlin visits Noah and pesters him for company. He is irked by this, as he is writing a term paper, for which he eventually receives a C-. Noah attributes his poor grade to repeated interruptions by Caitlin. Meadow tries to console him about it, but his father has already filed a restraining order against Caitlin because of it. Meadow meets Noah's father, Len, for dinner one evening and they discuss his profession and that of her father. The following day, Noah breaks off his relationship with Meadow, telling her that she is too negative and cynical. Meadow becomes extremely upset and takes it out on her parents.
Tracee continues to get closer to Tony as she shows off her new braces. As she dances, Tony and Silvio remark that she is a good looking "thoroughbred" and has a great, natural body, but her "horse" teeth are a "train wreck" and that Silvio's "juicing" her on the loan. One afternoon as Tony leaves the club, she follows him to his car where she tells him that she is pregnant with Ralphie's baby. She seeks advice on whether to have an abortion or to keep the baby. Tony warns her that because her son has experienced domestic abuse (at her hands) and that, as the child is Ralphie's, "You'd be doing this kid and the next three generations a favour" by aborting the baby.
Unfortunately for Tracee, Ralphie does not seem to help the problem. As he becomes obsessed with the 2000 film Gladiator, he begins to shout out quotes from the film and plays around roughly with Georgie at the VIP lounge (door controller who the girls pay before coming in to earn with the proviso of a blow job if he fancies them). After constantly making wise remarks and loud outbursts, things become tense when Ralphie finds a chain and proceeds to swing it at Georgie, injuring his eye. Tony sends Ralphie to take Georgie to the emergency room. A few days later, Silvio is shocked to find that Tracee has not shown up for work. Silvio then finds her at Ralphie's home. He forces her to get dressed and slaps her as she is entering his car. Ralphie watches and laughs from the window as she is dragged into the car.
The following night, Ralphie sees Tracee at the VIP lounge, where she insults him in front of the other associates and capos. Ralphie then follows her out to the deserted Bada Bing parking lot, where he teases her into thinking he will marry and support her, then gleefully calls her a "cocksucking slob". When she punches him and insults his masculinity, Ralph becomes extremely violent and brutally beats her to death. Soon after, Soprano associates find Tracee's body and Tony blames Ralphie for what happened. As Ralphie is placed against the wall, Tony violates a well-established Mafia code and assaults him, a made man (made men are never to strike one another), but he justifies this by stating that Ralphie disrespected the Bing. Ralphie tries to defend himself yelling, "I'm a made guy!" Tony takes Tracee's death badly and becomes emotional during a therapy session with Carmela and Dr. Melfi. He lies and says that a young male associate from Barone Sanitation died. Days later, the Bada Bing strippers wonder where Tracee went. One of the Bing girls mentions that she actually heard something along the lines of what actually took place (that Tracee left with Ralphie and never came back), but one of her co-workers strongly advises her to keep her mouth shut. As the episode ends, Georgie is training a new stripper to work at the Bada Bing in place of Tracee.
In the third episode of the quartet Second Opinion I enjoyed the opening sequence with Uncle Junior put under anaesthesia for his surgery to remove the cancerous tumours in his stomach. As he is given the aesthetic, he hallucinates about FBI agents offering him a cure to his cancer if he cooperates with them. A Star-Ledger newspaper is then seen, featuring the following headline: "Soprano wins freedom, indicts nephew — star witness weds Angie Dickinson". (Junior's desire to "fuck Angie Dickinson" had been revealed in a prior episode.) In reality, Dr. John Kennedy delivers news to Tony Soprano and the other mob associates that Uncle Junior will be fine and that they have removed the entire tumour that they could find. However, on a later doctor's visit,
Dr. Kennedy informs Junior and Bobby Baccalieri that they have found more malignant cells and would once again like to perform surgery. Uncle Junior agrees, since he puts his full confidence in Dr. Kennedy. However, Tony disagrees: he believes that Uncle Junior is more fascinated that his doctor happens to have the same name as President John F. Kennedy. Tony and Uncle Junior visit another doctor in New York City, who recommends that Junior receive chemotherapy treatments. Eventually, a tumour board review is called and they reach the same conclusion, though more because Kennedy does not wish to have the other doctor breathing down his neck than for any medical reason. Junior undergoes chemotherapy and suffers unpleasant side effects. Unsatisfied with the chemotherapy, Junior waits to hear from Dr. Kennedy, who is not returning any of his calls. To appease his uncle, Tony and Furio Giunta visit Kennedy on his golf course and intimidate him into being more receptive to Junior. At the hospital during Junior's chemotherapy treatment, Kennedy gives Junior all of his contact information.
Carmela Soprano attends a therapy session with Dr. Melfi, scheduled with her husband, but alone. She begins to break down as she realizes her ignorance about Tony's job and the fact that she has become very depressed. Melfi recommends Dr. Krakower, a colleague in Livingston, if she would like to see a therapist on a regular basis. Carmela reluctantly calls Dr. Krakower and agrees to see him for one appointment. As she describes her situation, she discusses her husband's profession and her marital woes. The doctor recommends that she leave the marriage (something Carmela has contemplated before) since Tony's life is indeed dangerous and that his steady income is derived from blood money. He refuses to accept any money for the session but advises her to leave while she still can.
Krakower also suggests Tony could possibly renounce his prior life of crime, and spend time in prison reading Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment while reflecting on his past wrongs. He advises Carmela to use only the legitimate funds she can muster to survive on and raise the two children she and Tony have alone — a hefty task.
The couple have been invited to meeting with the of Dean of Columbia University regarding a donation; Tony considers it a shakedown and makes other plans. She meets with Meadow in her dorm room beforehand, but Meadow is still sour over her breakup with Noah Tannenbaum and is still angry with her father who she believes was the cause of the break up
Carmela defends Tony and challenges Meadow to explain herself, but she does not respond. Later, Carmela has lunch with the Dean and they bond quickly, learning they attended nearby schools in college. As Tony predicted the meal invitation is a shake down for a contribution to funds and he seen as the information of previous donations to the High School ( $5000 year). The dean entices Carmela with a picture of the planned university student centre, saying that donors who give $50,000 will have their name engraved on a wall nearby. Carmela is receptive to the idea, but when she tells Tony, he becomes angry and says he will only go as high as $5,000.
Later, depressed and lying on the couch (in the aftermath of the aforementioned session with Krakower, which hit Carmela hard), Carmela tells Tony that she has already told the dean she will give $50,000, and that Tony must do something nice for her. Tony, feeling badly, agrees, and suggests they go out to dinner. She reluctantly goes to get dressed.
Christopher Moltisanti is aggravated when his superior in the command chain, Paulie Walnuts, asks him if he is wearing a wire during a pool game at the Bada Bing. Christopher quickly denies the accusation but when Paulie asks him to disrobe in order to prove it, he becomes very offended. Paulie humiliates a nude Chris, making fun of his penis size. Later, at 2:00 a.m. Paulie and Patsy Parisi arrive unexpectedly at Christopher's apartment and comb through Chris and Adriana's belongings, looking to see if Chris has acquired swag that he hasn't given Paulie a share of. Christopher grows extremely upset when Paulie takes Adriana's new (stolen) designer shoes for his comáre and sniffs the panties in Adriana's lingerie drawer.
Christopher had planned to return the shoe for the right size but Pauli takes them for his wife only to also find out they are also the wrong size for her.
Christopher informs Tony about this the following day, but is advised that Paulie "can be a little quirky." Furthermore, Christopher is later reprimanded by Paulie himself, who tells him to never go to the "boss" again about an argument between the two of them. They agree to settle things after Christopher leaves a motel room with another woman and Paulie strategically positions his vehicle behind Christopher's, suggesting he had just found an answer to Christopher's grievance that was possibly legitimate, and they bond over a Big Mouth Billy Bass ( The fish on a plaque that opens its mouth and sings and which I inherited with the house when I arrived here with the tune I’m Happy and Gone Fishing) that Paulie plans to give Tony (not knowing that Tony smashed one already, its animated fish features having resurrected guilt over killing Pussy who went to live with the fishes).
Meanwhile, Carmela spots Angie Bonpensiero (Pussy’s widow) at a Pathmark supermarket and invites her to dinner. Angie politely rejects the offer, saying that her dog is very sick and that she is worried to leave her alone. Also, Angie cannot afford veterinarian bills and needs some extra money ($1200) now that Pussy has disappeared. Carmela tells Tony about their encounter which leads him to visit the Bonpensiero residence. Tony spots Angie's new Cadillac in the driveway and, because she had mentioned grievances that are Tony's (not Carmela's) business, he angrily breaks the window. He then honks the horn through the broken window with the bat. When Angie comes out, he notices the dog appears to be in good health and assumes that Angie has been lying, in addition to the issue he already has with her. Still embittered by Pussy's betrayal, he takes it out on Angie's car by damaging the rear lights, as well, telling Angie that if she needs money to not ask Carmela, but to come directly to him, but to think twice before even doing that.
Tony Soprano enters Dr. Melfi's office for his regular appointment, he learns that she accidentally double-booked in He has Risen . The other patient is an attractive, Italian-American woman named Gloria Trillo who works as a saleswoman for Globe Motors, a Mercedes-Benz dealer. Tony is instantly intrigued by her personality and beauty and asks Dr. Melfi why she needs therapy, but Melfi reminds him that she cannot discuss other patients' problems with him. Thanksgiving draws near, which is likely to bring animosity between several members of the family. Tony is still angered at Ralph Cifaretto over the incident involving Tracee, stating that he "disrespected the Bing" as well as himself and the organization. To add insult to injury, while gambling at the Bloomfield Avenue casino, Ralphie refuses to greet Tony, which is customary and is exercised all around them by the rest of Tony's crew. When Ralphie finally acknowledges Tony's presence, he does not accept Tony's offer to have a drink with him. Tony becomes extremely irritated over this show of disrespect, which caused an "early retirement" for someone in his organization (Tracee, the stripper Ralph killed) and he fears he may need to put Ralph, "out to pasture", but doesn't want to as he is a "valuable piece of man power". Later, while getting the turkey for Thanksgiving, Tony remembers that Ralphie and Ro are set to join them for Thanksgiving dinner, forces Carmela to lie to Ro, saying there will not be a Thanksgiving this year due to Carmela's father's poor health.
Ro believes the lie, but both mothers also notice the budding relationship between Meadow and Jackie Jr. Ro, recently widowed by the death of Jackie's father, formerly one of Tony's closest friends, thinks it is a wonderful idea for the two of them to date. However, Carmela is quite unsure, despite a significant history of friendship and mutual respect between the two families, and the fact that nearly everybody in their social network believe that Meadow and Jackie Jr. would be an ideal couple. Carmela subtly tries to avoid the relationship going any further. After Thanksgiving dinner, Jackie arrives at the Soprano house to invite Meadow to a movie. They end up in a parked car near Hunter Scangarelo's house where they make out, but Meadow warns Jackie that their relationship is unlikely to go anywhere at the moment. Days later, a very drunk Meadow steals Jackie's car keys while he is playing pool and runs to the parking lot. Jackie runs after her to prevent her from driving, but Meadow is already in the car. She then almost causes an accident and drives off of a ramp. Meadow is unharmed but Jackie's Chevrolet Cavalier is totalled. Jackie Jr. expresses what seems—at the very least to Meadow—to be a genuine realization of how traumatic it would be if Meadow were hurt or killed, and how he did not know what he would have done if that had happened. They are both shaken by how close they were to tragedy. Meadow then expresses that she wants to go with Jackie instead of being driven home.
Ralphie understands that Carmela's excuse for disinviting the Apriles to Thanksgiving dinner was an affront and expresses his dissatisfaction with Tony to fellow made men Eugene Pontecorvo and Vito Spatafore and even explains the situation to a curious Jackie, Jr. Livid and considering setting up a hit on Tony, he seeks the counsel of Johnny Sack, who advises Ralphie to give Tony a believable and genuine apology since he was indeed disrespectful. Ralphie reluctantly agrees and proceeds to make his move. Sack informs Tony ahead of time but also to give something to Ralph in return. Johnny suggests elevating Ralph to the rank of capo but Tony refuses. Johnny calmly lies to the two stubborn infighters in an effort to achieve peace, which is strategically successful for a while. At Vesuvio, Ralphie approaches Tony while he's eating, but is not invited to sit while asked by Tony what he wishes to see him for. Ralphie does a complete mea culpa, humbly apologizing for all his past indiscretions including disrespecting Tony's request for a drink and killing Tracee. Ralphie ends up leaving just after Tony looks up at him from his plate of pasta and Tony asking him "Anything else?" just after apologizing without being offered anything from Tony. This infuriates him and he again approaches Johnny to tell him that he's ready to take out Tony. Johnny says the way Tony acted at Vesuvio was "posturing" and "part of the game."
Gigi Cestone, capo of the Aprile crew, meets with Tony and explains to him how Ralphie's driving ambition to unseat him combined with the stresses of closing a contract and putting two kids through school is bothering him, but that he will not let affect his production. Silvio Dante comments to Tony that the weight of Gigi's responsibilities are driving him to an early grave and Junior Soprano tells him that, while Gigi is strong and capable, there is something about him that keeps him from being a great leader and he will constantly get undermined by his crew. Gigi enjoys turkey sandwiches at his business hangout with his crew sans Ralphie, despite having problems with his bowels. Enjoying Ralphie's absence, he relaxes and chats with the rest of his crew. Later that day, when Gigi is found dead on the toilet of a stress-induced heart attack, Tony is consequently pressed into the decision who to elevate to captain of the crew.
At Gigi's funeral, Tony scopes out his potential candidates who are all sitting next to each other on a couch. Vito, who is wiping the sweat off his forehead, Eugene, who is sleeping, Donny K., who is straightening out the wrinkles in his tie, and Ralphie, who sits on his own in a chair in the corner, tapping his cheek impatiently waiting for Tony's answer. Tony is now free of making the decision of demoting Gigi, which Uncle Junior suggested and faced with the new one Silvio advised of giving Ralphie "a bump up" to captain, what he had always wanted. At another dinner in Nuovo Vesuvio, Tony tells Ralph that he has been bumped up to captain. Ralphie is ecstatic but also wondering if Tony did this because "someone was constipated and blew a gasket", meaning Gigi, or if he actually earned it by merit. Tony tells him to be happy with the decision and makes no further attempt to nurture Ralph's ego. Ralph then asks if he is going to join him for a drink, but Tony gulps down the remainder of the drink he already has and exits, leaving an astonished Ralph sitting alone at the table.
Tony later visits Globe Motors and asks Gloria if she will accompany him on a test drive. They end up on Tony's boat, where it is implied that they have sex. Gloria is then forced to cancel her therapy and call Dr. Melfi to inform her, as she is beginning to run late. Dr. Melfi then hears a man's voice in the background.
It is another warm and glorious sunny day as September moves onto October and therefore after lunch of a Thai fishcakes, some scampi and baked beans I will go out, undertake a little walk down to the sea front and back taking the second book in the Tinker Tailor Trilogy, The Honourable Schoolboy. I may write up as planned the 31st to 35th episodes of The Sopranos, but in case I decide against as there is so much to do, I have copied what Wikipedia records with a commentary.
I am pleased that despite the critical success of the Sopranos when the programme was first aired the creators continued to press home that the central characters were men of violence who caused continued misery, physical harm and death. They were and remain terrorists and it is an indictment of civilization that such forces are able to perpetuate themselves from generation to generation. However I continue to find the series as compelling as the first time it was viewed.
In the first of the four Another Toothpick Tony (now heads the Crime family) and Camilla attend a joint therapy session with Dr Melfi (who in my view has become vicariously voyeuristically addicted to her session with the gangster ignoring the views of her former husband and recently reviled lover who appears in the background once more). Tony remains quiet throughout, while Carmela asks Melfi questions. Melfi then asks if Tony has been telling Carmela about any of the origins of his "root causes". Carmela tends to forget, which forces Tony to remind her of the capicola from Satriale's (do not remember this reference). Carmela asks Dr. Melfi why the therapy has not helped Tony much, since he is still passing out on a regular basis. Guilt, among other things, is brought up as a possible reason. Carmela then yells at Tony, "Maybe it's because you stick your dick into anything that has a pulse, can that be considered a root cause?" When Melfi says she notices anger, Tony sarcastically remarks, "You must have been at the top of your fucking class." ( Carmela is also gripped by guilt but is based on her Catholicism and periodic romantic interests the parish priest, the D.I.Y helper as she appear oblivious that her husband is a killer and that their wealth in based on drug trafficking, vice and theft, the corruption of officials and the financial tributes paid by members of the family)
Afterwards, Tony drives a tearful Carmela home. Tony speeds in frustration and is pulled over by a police officer by the name of Leon Wilmore, who orders Tony for his license and registration, and to turn off the engine. After attempts at winning him over and casually offering a bribe backfire, along with asking the officer tauntingly what would happen if he ignores orders, Tony finally turns the engine off after Officer Wilmore radios in for backup threateningly. The dispatch is cancelled when Tony reluctantly gives in. As Wilmore walks back to his car, Tony makes a comment to Carmela saying, "I can't believe this fucking smoke is writing me up. Affirmative action cocksucker." Officer Wilmore writes Tony a ticket and sends him on his way.
Tony then gets in touch with his government contact, the corrupt Assemblyman Ronald Zellman, about the ticket. Zellman says he will look into the situation and take care of it. Days later, when Tony goes to purchase a water pipe at Fountains of Wayne, a lawn ornament store, he sees his Officer Wilmore selling pottery. Tony sarcastically antagonizes Wilmore, who then tells Tony that he was sacked from his street patrol and lost his overtime thanks to him and "your friend the Assemblyman", and is relegated to working in the gun cage and has taken the job at the pottery store to make ends meet. Tony denies having anything to do with his situation. Feeling guilty, Tony later calls Zellman, who informs Tony that Officer Wilmore was reassigned because he was a rabble rouser and disliked by a number of other cops, presumably because he performed his duty with integrity. This relieves Tony, but he asks if Wilmore can have his job back. Later, when meeting with Zellman, because in the meantime Tony has discovered that a black youth stole his daughter's bicycle, Tony tells Zellman to forget it since he thinks Wilmore got what he deserved.
In their phone discussion, Zellman relates that Wilmore was thought to be battling depression or another mental illness, and Tony seems to briefly give the issue some thought and seemingly has some sympathy for the officer, since he struggles with the same issues. During his interactions with Tony, Wilmore firmly disregards Tony's charm and intimidation, twice refuses bribes/handouts, and refuses to "go off" when provoked by Tony's insults and condescension, leaving Tony victorious but feeling like the smaller man. Later, Meadow openly condemns Tony for being hypocritical in his attitude toward blacks, while Tony smirks about Meadow's bicycle being stolen by a black person.
At the garden store, Tony offers Wilmore a bribe to ensure that his expensive order arrives in one piece, likely motivated by the fact he sees Wilmore is probably struggling financially. Wilmore looks at him in disgust and walks away proudly, refusing to take the money for a job he is expected to do in the first place, leaving Tony to realize that there are a few incorruptible men in the world.
Meanwhile, after attending a funeral for Carmela's uncle, Febby, Tony meets up with Bobby Baccalieri and his father, Bobby, Sr. Tony learns that Bobby, Sr. has lung cancer as a result of a lifelong tobacco habit. When Vito Spatafore's brother Bryan is sent to the hospital after being clubbed by a jealous Mustang Sally, Bobby Sr. agrees to do the hit since he is Sally's godfather and can make a safe approach. Bobby is afraid of this because his father's health (he is croupy and coughing up blood at the slightest exertion) and asks Junior to convince Tony to get someone else, even volunteering for the task himself. However, Bobby, Sr. is fatalistic about his cancer and wants to do the hit, which devastates his son. Bobby, Sr. proceeds to visit the house in Staten Island where Mustang Sally—fearing Tony's mortal retaliation—has holed up with his friend Carlos. After disarming Sally's pent anxiety by assuring him "don't worry, I got you a pass", then sending him into to the kitchen for a glass of water, Bobby Sr. sneaks up from behind and shoots him in the ear, being distracted by Carlos. Though injured, Sally puts up an intense struggle and a blood-soaked gun-in-hand grapple ensues. Hardly able to breathe, Bobby Sr. exerts himself beyond his limits to again shoot Sally, this time in the face. He then shoots Carlos dead. He takes Sally's cigarettes and smokes them blissfully while leaving the scene in his Chevrolet Lumina. In a coughing fit while driving, he fumbles for his blood-covered inhaler, seems to lose consciousness, loses control of the car, and crashes into a sign pole, killing him. An eerie scene follows, with the radio in the demolished car still playing as Bobby's lifeless body slumps over the steering wheel.
Bobby Bacala is extremely upset, which causes Junior to first ask how exactly he was killed, cancer or the car accident, prompting Bobby to reply, "All due respect Junior, what do you care about the details?" Corrado calmly relented, but then abruptly unleashes his fury by breaking a lamp and picture frames. Junior tells Tony at Dr. Schreck's office that he has cancer. He asks Tony not to tell anyone and is visibly scared. Tony, however, tells Janice and they both meet at Livia's for a drink and discuss Janice's newfound religion once again as there is reference if past to previous religions conversions. (There is a common sense of immortality and untouchabilty among gangsters)
It is also revealed that Uncle Junior holds the superstitious belief that "these things come in threes," pertaining to two recent cancer-related deaths (Jackie Aprile and Febby). Supposedly, he believes that if Bobby Sr.'s death was from cancer, it would prevent him from becoming the third in line to die of the disease. This is why he becomes upset not knowing whether Bobby Sr. died from the car accident or his cancer.
During an argument in the Soprano household between Tony and Meadow about Tony's racial bias, Meadow picks up the FBI-bugged lamp and takes it for her dorm at Columbia University, to do a biology lab that involves studying pathogens under a microscope. The light helps her see better in order for her to complete the lab assignment. With the relocation of the lamp far away from where it is needed, the undercover techs declare the bug "neutralized".
It begins to become apparent at a dinner, along with Johnny Sack, Paulie Gualtieri, and Tony that Ralphie has some major resentment towards Gigi's getting promoted to Capo of The Aprile Crew over him, seeing how Ralph was a top earner in the crew, and Gigi wasn't exactly thought to be Capo material. Due to Ralph's insubordination, Gigi received the promotion despite being technically less qualified. Ralph comments on Gigi's idea to send in Bobby, Sr. for retaliation towards Mustang Sally for brutally beating up Vito's brother Brian, saying "You're sendin' in an old man; what's he gonna do gum the guy to death?" He then comments that Tony should allow him to do it because "he'll take that guy apart at the joints...with him conscious." However, Ralph then sarcastically comments "My man jugootz he really knows what he's doing, huh?" as he smiles and looks at Gigi. Gigi responds angrily with, "Gee, I'm glad I have your fuckin' approval." Ralph responds again with, "Whatever you say, Cappy." It is clear that Ralph has no respect for Gigi's authority as Gigi looks back at him in disgust.
Artie Bucco, the restaurant owner beholden to Tony in various ways is upset when he learns that Adriana La Cerva is leaving her post as hostess at Nuovo Vesuvio, now that Christopher Moltisanti is a made man and earning more money. After hours in the restaurant, a drunken Artie insults Christopher in front of Tony which almost leads to violence before it's broken up by Tony. After Chris leaves, Artie tells Tony that he is in love with Adriana, but Tony tells him to sober up and to never utter those words again. The next day, Tony suggests that he and Artie go into business together, selling Italian food products, under the Satriale's brand name. Charmaine nixes the idea, being against doing business with a mobster, believing Tony only wants another business to use as a front. During an argument in the restaurant, Charmaine threatens Artie, and Artie scoffs, calling her bluff by asking her if she's going to divorce him. Angered by the exchange, Charmaine tells him the marriage is over, and that he should not expect custody of the children. Artie, sporting an earring, later has an awkward dinner with Adriana. Even though she attends the dinner without telling Christopher —- ostensibly because it was a "going away" dinner -— she soon realizes that Artie is romantically interested after he repeatedly attempts to hold her hand and suggests that she is not ready for marriage.
Things then go from bad to worse in the next episode University in which the atmosphere at the Bada Bing strip club is created
One afternoon at the Bada Bing, Tony receives a "thank you" gift from one of the strippers, 20-year-old Tracee. She thanks Tony for advising her to take her sick son to the doctor. When she presents Tony with some homemade bread, he is gratified by the gesture but explains that he cannot accept gifts from employees, since strippers are not supposed to make friends with their bosses, and because of Ralphie-.(The boss who uses her in particular)
Meanwhile at Columbia University, Meadow is becoming closer to her boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum. As they draw close to becoming intimate, Meadow's roommate, Caitlin, walks in and interrupts. Meadow asks if she needs to use the room, but Caitlin says she was feeling lonely and scared after seeing the horror film, Freaks, with friends, exhibiting something similar to the Mean World Syndrome. Meadow and Noah try to calm her down and remind her that she has been warned in the past not to see things that frighten her. Caitlin proceeds to pull her hair out as a sign of nervousness. Noah makes up an excuse to leave, and after a few moments of discomfort between Caitlin and Meadow, Meadow decides to go up to Noah's room, making sure she takes her X-Acto knife in case Caitlin grows more depressed. Noah empathizes with Caitlin and suggests they be patient with her. Meadow thus comes to adore Noah even more and loses her virginity to him. Later, Noah and Meadow plan to cheer Caitlin up by taking her out for her birthday. After an evening out with Caitlin, they spot a homeless woman babbling, which induces Caitlin to give her money. As she approaches the woman, Caitlin discovers a newspaper in her rear instead of underwear. Caitlin is more shocked and upset than ever and sobs in the dorm room. Meadow becomes tired of Caitlin's growing homesickness and seeks solace at the Soprano home. She tells her mother that she is in love with Noah and subtly hints that she has been intimate with him. Meanwhile, Caitlin visits Noah and pesters him for company. He is irked by this, as he is writing a term paper, for which he eventually receives a C-. Noah attributes his poor grade to repeated interruptions by Caitlin. Meadow tries to console him about it, but his father has already filed a restraining order against Caitlin because of it. Meadow meets Noah's father, Len, for dinner one evening and they discuss his profession and that of her father. The following day, Noah breaks off his relationship with Meadow, telling her that she is too negative and cynical. Meadow becomes extremely upset and takes it out on her parents.
Tracee continues to get closer to Tony as she shows off her new braces. As she dances, Tony and Silvio remark that she is a good looking "thoroughbred" and has a great, natural body, but her "horse" teeth are a "train wreck" and that Silvio's "juicing" her on the loan. One afternoon as Tony leaves the club, she follows him to his car where she tells him that she is pregnant with Ralphie's baby. She seeks advice on whether to have an abortion or to keep the baby. Tony warns her that because her son has experienced domestic abuse (at her hands) and that, as the child is Ralphie's, "You'd be doing this kid and the next three generations a favour" by aborting the baby.
Unfortunately for Tracee, Ralphie does not seem to help the problem. As he becomes obsessed with the 2000 film Gladiator, he begins to shout out quotes from the film and plays around roughly with Georgie at the VIP lounge (door controller who the girls pay before coming in to earn with the proviso of a blow job if he fancies them). After constantly making wise remarks and loud outbursts, things become tense when Ralphie finds a chain and proceeds to swing it at Georgie, injuring his eye. Tony sends Ralphie to take Georgie to the emergency room. A few days later, Silvio is shocked to find that Tracee has not shown up for work. Silvio then finds her at Ralphie's home. He forces her to get dressed and slaps her as she is entering his car. Ralphie watches and laughs from the window as she is dragged into the car.
The following night, Ralphie sees Tracee at the VIP lounge, where she insults him in front of the other associates and capos. Ralphie then follows her out to the deserted Bada Bing parking lot, where he teases her into thinking he will marry and support her, then gleefully calls her a "cocksucking slob". When she punches him and insults his masculinity, Ralph becomes extremely violent and brutally beats her to death. Soon after, Soprano associates find Tracee's body and Tony blames Ralphie for what happened. As Ralphie is placed against the wall, Tony violates a well-established Mafia code and assaults him, a made man (made men are never to strike one another), but he justifies this by stating that Ralphie disrespected the Bing. Ralphie tries to defend himself yelling, "I'm a made guy!" Tony takes Tracee's death badly and becomes emotional during a therapy session with Carmela and Dr. Melfi. He lies and says that a young male associate from Barone Sanitation died. Days later, the Bada Bing strippers wonder where Tracee went. One of the Bing girls mentions that she actually heard something along the lines of what actually took place (that Tracee left with Ralphie and never came back), but one of her co-workers strongly advises her to keep her mouth shut. As the episode ends, Georgie is training a new stripper to work at the Bada Bing in place of Tracee.
In the third episode of the quartet Second Opinion I enjoyed the opening sequence with Uncle Junior put under anaesthesia for his surgery to remove the cancerous tumours in his stomach. As he is given the aesthetic, he hallucinates about FBI agents offering him a cure to his cancer if he cooperates with them. A Star-Ledger newspaper is then seen, featuring the following headline: "Soprano wins freedom, indicts nephew — star witness weds Angie Dickinson". (Junior's desire to "fuck Angie Dickinson" had been revealed in a prior episode.) In reality, Dr. John Kennedy delivers news to Tony Soprano and the other mob associates that Uncle Junior will be fine and that they have removed the entire tumour that they could find. However, on a later doctor's visit,
Dr. Kennedy informs Junior and Bobby Baccalieri that they have found more malignant cells and would once again like to perform surgery. Uncle Junior agrees, since he puts his full confidence in Dr. Kennedy. However, Tony disagrees: he believes that Uncle Junior is more fascinated that his doctor happens to have the same name as President John F. Kennedy. Tony and Uncle Junior visit another doctor in New York City, who recommends that Junior receive chemotherapy treatments. Eventually, a tumour board review is called and they reach the same conclusion, though more because Kennedy does not wish to have the other doctor breathing down his neck than for any medical reason. Junior undergoes chemotherapy and suffers unpleasant side effects. Unsatisfied with the chemotherapy, Junior waits to hear from Dr. Kennedy, who is not returning any of his calls. To appease his uncle, Tony and Furio Giunta visit Kennedy on his golf course and intimidate him into being more receptive to Junior. At the hospital during Junior's chemotherapy treatment, Kennedy gives Junior all of his contact information.
Carmela Soprano attends a therapy session with Dr. Melfi, scheduled with her husband, but alone. She begins to break down as she realizes her ignorance about Tony's job and the fact that she has become very depressed. Melfi recommends Dr. Krakower, a colleague in Livingston, if she would like to see a therapist on a regular basis. Carmela reluctantly calls Dr. Krakower and agrees to see him for one appointment. As she describes her situation, she discusses her husband's profession and her marital woes. The doctor recommends that she leave the marriage (something Carmela has contemplated before) since Tony's life is indeed dangerous and that his steady income is derived from blood money. He refuses to accept any money for the session but advises her to leave while she still can.
Krakower also suggests Tony could possibly renounce his prior life of crime, and spend time in prison reading Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment while reflecting on his past wrongs. He advises Carmela to use only the legitimate funds she can muster to survive on and raise the two children she and Tony have alone — a hefty task.
The couple have been invited to meeting with the of Dean of Columbia University regarding a donation; Tony considers it a shakedown and makes other plans. She meets with Meadow in her dorm room beforehand, but Meadow is still sour over her breakup with Noah Tannenbaum and is still angry with her father who she believes was the cause of the break up
Carmela defends Tony and challenges Meadow to explain herself, but she does not respond. Later, Carmela has lunch with the Dean and they bond quickly, learning they attended nearby schools in college. As Tony predicted the meal invitation is a shake down for a contribution to funds and he seen as the information of previous donations to the High School ( $5000 year). The dean entices Carmela with a picture of the planned university student centre, saying that donors who give $50,000 will have their name engraved on a wall nearby. Carmela is receptive to the idea, but when she tells Tony, he becomes angry and says he will only go as high as $5,000.
Later, depressed and lying on the couch (in the aftermath of the aforementioned session with Krakower, which hit Carmela hard), Carmela tells Tony that she has already told the dean she will give $50,000, and that Tony must do something nice for her. Tony, feeling badly, agrees, and suggests they go out to dinner. She reluctantly goes to get dressed.
Christopher Moltisanti is aggravated when his superior in the command chain, Paulie Walnuts, asks him if he is wearing a wire during a pool game at the Bada Bing. Christopher quickly denies the accusation but when Paulie asks him to disrobe in order to prove it, he becomes very offended. Paulie humiliates a nude Chris, making fun of his penis size. Later, at 2:00 a.m. Paulie and Patsy Parisi arrive unexpectedly at Christopher's apartment and comb through Chris and Adriana's belongings, looking to see if Chris has acquired swag that he hasn't given Paulie a share of. Christopher grows extremely upset when Paulie takes Adriana's new (stolen) designer shoes for his comáre and sniffs the panties in Adriana's lingerie drawer.
Christopher had planned to return the shoe for the right size but Pauli takes them for his wife only to also find out they are also the wrong size for her.
Christopher informs Tony about this the following day, but is advised that Paulie "can be a little quirky." Furthermore, Christopher is later reprimanded by Paulie himself, who tells him to never go to the "boss" again about an argument between the two of them. They agree to settle things after Christopher leaves a motel room with another woman and Paulie strategically positions his vehicle behind Christopher's, suggesting he had just found an answer to Christopher's grievance that was possibly legitimate, and they bond over a Big Mouth Billy Bass ( The fish on a plaque that opens its mouth and sings and which I inherited with the house when I arrived here with the tune I’m Happy and Gone Fishing) that Paulie plans to give Tony (not knowing that Tony smashed one already, its animated fish features having resurrected guilt over killing Pussy who went to live with the fishes).
Meanwhile, Carmela spots Angie Bonpensiero (Pussy’s widow) at a Pathmark supermarket and invites her to dinner. Angie politely rejects the offer, saying that her dog is very sick and that she is worried to leave her alone. Also, Angie cannot afford veterinarian bills and needs some extra money ($1200) now that Pussy has disappeared. Carmela tells Tony about their encounter which leads him to visit the Bonpensiero residence. Tony spots Angie's new Cadillac in the driveway and, because she had mentioned grievances that are Tony's (not Carmela's) business, he angrily breaks the window. He then honks the horn through the broken window with the bat. When Angie comes out, he notices the dog appears to be in good health and assumes that Angie has been lying, in addition to the issue he already has with her. Still embittered by Pussy's betrayal, he takes it out on Angie's car by damaging the rear lights, as well, telling Angie that if she needs money to not ask Carmela, but to come directly to him, but to think twice before even doing that.
Tony Soprano enters Dr. Melfi's office for his regular appointment, he learns that she accidentally double-booked in He has Risen . The other patient is an attractive, Italian-American woman named Gloria Trillo who works as a saleswoman for Globe Motors, a Mercedes-Benz dealer. Tony is instantly intrigued by her personality and beauty and asks Dr. Melfi why she needs therapy, but Melfi reminds him that she cannot discuss other patients' problems with him. Thanksgiving draws near, which is likely to bring animosity between several members of the family. Tony is still angered at Ralph Cifaretto over the incident involving Tracee, stating that he "disrespected the Bing" as well as himself and the organization. To add insult to injury, while gambling at the Bloomfield Avenue casino, Ralphie refuses to greet Tony, which is customary and is exercised all around them by the rest of Tony's crew. When Ralphie finally acknowledges Tony's presence, he does not accept Tony's offer to have a drink with him. Tony becomes extremely irritated over this show of disrespect, which caused an "early retirement" for someone in his organization (Tracee, the stripper Ralph killed) and he fears he may need to put Ralph, "out to pasture", but doesn't want to as he is a "valuable piece of man power". Later, while getting the turkey for Thanksgiving, Tony remembers that Ralphie and Ro are set to join them for Thanksgiving dinner, forces Carmela to lie to Ro, saying there will not be a Thanksgiving this year due to Carmela's father's poor health.
Ro believes the lie, but both mothers also notice the budding relationship between Meadow and Jackie Jr. Ro, recently widowed by the death of Jackie's father, formerly one of Tony's closest friends, thinks it is a wonderful idea for the two of them to date. However, Carmela is quite unsure, despite a significant history of friendship and mutual respect between the two families, and the fact that nearly everybody in their social network believe that Meadow and Jackie Jr. would be an ideal couple. Carmela subtly tries to avoid the relationship going any further. After Thanksgiving dinner, Jackie arrives at the Soprano house to invite Meadow to a movie. They end up in a parked car near Hunter Scangarelo's house where they make out, but Meadow warns Jackie that their relationship is unlikely to go anywhere at the moment. Days later, a very drunk Meadow steals Jackie's car keys while he is playing pool and runs to the parking lot. Jackie runs after her to prevent her from driving, but Meadow is already in the car. She then almost causes an accident and drives off of a ramp. Meadow is unharmed but Jackie's Chevrolet Cavalier is totalled. Jackie Jr. expresses what seems—at the very least to Meadow—to be a genuine realization of how traumatic it would be if Meadow were hurt or killed, and how he did not know what he would have done if that had happened. They are both shaken by how close they were to tragedy. Meadow then expresses that she wants to go with Jackie instead of being driven home.
Ralphie understands that Carmela's excuse for disinviting the Apriles to Thanksgiving dinner was an affront and expresses his dissatisfaction with Tony to fellow made men Eugene Pontecorvo and Vito Spatafore and even explains the situation to a curious Jackie, Jr. Livid and considering setting up a hit on Tony, he seeks the counsel of Johnny Sack, who advises Ralphie to give Tony a believable and genuine apology since he was indeed disrespectful. Ralphie reluctantly agrees and proceeds to make his move. Sack informs Tony ahead of time but also to give something to Ralph in return. Johnny suggests elevating Ralph to the rank of capo but Tony refuses. Johnny calmly lies to the two stubborn infighters in an effort to achieve peace, which is strategically successful for a while. At Vesuvio, Ralphie approaches Tony while he's eating, but is not invited to sit while asked by Tony what he wishes to see him for. Ralphie does a complete mea culpa, humbly apologizing for all his past indiscretions including disrespecting Tony's request for a drink and killing Tracee. Ralphie ends up leaving just after Tony looks up at him from his plate of pasta and Tony asking him "Anything else?" just after apologizing without being offered anything from Tony. This infuriates him and he again approaches Johnny to tell him that he's ready to take out Tony. Johnny says the way Tony acted at Vesuvio was "posturing" and "part of the game."
Gigi Cestone, capo of the Aprile crew, meets with Tony and explains to him how Ralphie's driving ambition to unseat him combined with the stresses of closing a contract and putting two kids through school is bothering him, but that he will not let affect his production. Silvio Dante comments to Tony that the weight of Gigi's responsibilities are driving him to an early grave and Junior Soprano tells him that, while Gigi is strong and capable, there is something about him that keeps him from being a great leader and he will constantly get undermined by his crew. Gigi enjoys turkey sandwiches at his business hangout with his crew sans Ralphie, despite having problems with his bowels. Enjoying Ralphie's absence, he relaxes and chats with the rest of his crew. Later that day, when Gigi is found dead on the toilet of a stress-induced heart attack, Tony is consequently pressed into the decision who to elevate to captain of the crew.
At Gigi's funeral, Tony scopes out his potential candidates who are all sitting next to each other on a couch. Vito, who is wiping the sweat off his forehead, Eugene, who is sleeping, Donny K., who is straightening out the wrinkles in his tie, and Ralphie, who sits on his own in a chair in the corner, tapping his cheek impatiently waiting for Tony's answer. Tony is now free of making the decision of demoting Gigi, which Uncle Junior suggested and faced with the new one Silvio advised of giving Ralphie "a bump up" to captain, what he had always wanted. At another dinner in Nuovo Vesuvio, Tony tells Ralph that he has been bumped up to captain. Ralphie is ecstatic but also wondering if Tony did this because "someone was constipated and blew a gasket", meaning Gigi, or if he actually earned it by merit. Tony tells him to be happy with the decision and makes no further attempt to nurture Ralph's ego. Ralph then asks if he is going to join him for a drink, but Tony gulps down the remainder of the drink he already has and exits, leaving an astonished Ralph sitting alone at the table.
Tony later visits Globe Motors and asks Gloria if she will accompany him on a test drive. They end up on Tony's boat, where it is implied that they have sex. Gloria is then forced to cancel her therapy and call Dr. Melfi to inform her, as she is beginning to run late. Dr. Melfi then hears a man's voice in the background.
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