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Big Girls Don't Cry (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Big Girls Don't Cry" is the eighteenth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and was the fifth of the show's second season. It was written by Terence Winter
, directed by Tim Van Patten
and originally aired on Sunday February 13, 2000.
now working as a soldier with the Soprano family, Tony Soprano
elevates Paulie Walnuts and Silvio Dante
to capo and consigliere
respectively. Paulie is at first befuddled by Tony's offer but then becomes very grateful. While dining at Nuovo Vesuvio, Tony asks Artie Bucco for a favor: to hire his "cousin" Furio from Italy as a mozzarella
-maker. Artie tells Tony that the kitchen is already fully occupied and that his wife, Charmaine, would not be fond of the idea. Artie agrees to give Furio a trial run until he can retain full citizenship
after Tony says that he will pay Furio's wages.
Tony then throws a party for Furio, where Pussy begins to become very jealous of Tony's sudden interest in his new soldier. Uncle Junior
and Bobby Baccalieri
show up, only to have Carmela
slam the door in their faces, suspecting Junior's involvement in the attempt on Tony's life. Tony then gives Furio his first assignment: to collect from husband-wife brothel owners who owe Tony money. Furio viciously completes the job by beating both and shooting the husband in the kneecap.
Meanwhile, Dr. Melfi
calls Tony on his cell phone. She continues to contemplate taking Tony back as a client over the objections of her therapist, Elliot Kupferberg. Melfi vividly describes her dream of Tony to her therapist — he was in a car crash as he desperately searches for his Prozac. Melfi believes that the symbolism in the dream is that Tony's car accident is caused by her abandoning of him as a client. As Tony is waiting for Furio to finish his "first assignment," she tells him that she has an open appointment for him the next day. Tony first declines the offer, since things have been going well without it, but he does attend the appointment later on.
Christopher Moltisanti
is enrolled in an acting class as a gift from his girlfriend, Adriana La Cerva
, because of his dream to be an actor/screenwriter. However, Christopher soon finds that the class is very demanding and rigorous and the schedule overlaps with his mob duties. While acting out a scene from the film Rebel Without a Cause
, Christopher becomes very emotional and cries. Embarrassed and troubled, he leaves the room, despite the applause and approval of his classmates. During the next class, Christopher and another student practice an acting exercise which leads to Christopher violently attacking his partner. Adriana suggests that the exercise reminded him of his father's murder and how upset he felt not having a father growing up. That evening, Christopher rids himself of any traces of his unfinished screenplay, called "You Bark, I Bite", by disposing of the papers and floppy disks in a dumpster behind his apartment.
Tony's anger and resentment come to a head after Janice
decides to take out a loan on Livia
's house in order to renovate it. Furious, he rips a telephone out of the wall and throws it on the floor. A.J.
witnesses his father's angry tirade and is yelled at by his father. He is then told by Carmela to go upstairs. Tony later goes up to apologize to A.J. for his irresponsible actions and jokingly blames it on being "a new product tester for Radio Shack
".
At Livia's house, Tony discovers that Richie Aprile
has spent the night with Janice. He is shocked and angered, but relents and tells Richie that Janice is now his problem.
Later on Tony's yacht, The Stugots (the name derives from the Southern Italian phrase stu cazzo which, in this case, means "these balls" but literally means "this cock"). Tony and Irina Peltsin quarrel because she is feeding cheese puffs
to ducks swimming near the boat. He is angry because he believes this to be unhealthy for the ducks. This causes an intrusion by another boat owner, who happens to be Russian and suggests to Irina that if she does not like to fight she should find herself a Russian man. Tony hears them talking and walks to the man's boat and tells him to mind his own business. To make matters worse, Tony then grabs the man by his testicles, and squeezes them causing the man great pain. Tony and Irina then make a hasty escape before the Russian's wife calls the police.
While visiting Hesh Rabkin, Tony regales him with the story and confesses to having episodes where he has passed out. Tony tries unsuccessfully to replicate his relationship with Dr. Melfi by talking to Hesh, but Hesh seems uninterested and rambles on about other subjects. Hesh tells Tony that his father, Johnny, sometimes suffered panic attack
s as Tony does now. Tony is surprised, since no one has ever mentioned his father's mental health. Hesh reassures him that his "condition" only affected Tony's father about twice a year.
Pussy continues to meet his FBI contact, Agent Skip Lipari, and complains about Tony, who has continued to keep Pussy in the dark about his current criminal plans and who has promoted Silvio and Paulie, but shafted him, despite knowing each other nearly their entire lives. Later, Paulie and Johnny Sack
ask Pussy to leave the table when they are about to discuss business, because of his soldier status.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and was the fifth of the show's second season. It was written by Terence Winter
Terence Winter
Terence Winter is an American writer and producer of television and film. He is the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire...
, directed by Tim Van Patten
Tim Van Patten
Tim Van Patten is an American television director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. As a director, Van Patten has directed episodes of The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Rome, The Pacific, Game of Thrones, Ed, and Sex and the City. Van Patten is perhaps best known for portraying...
and originally aired on Sunday February 13, 2000.
Starring
- James GandolfiniJames GandolfiniJames J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
as Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely... - Lorraine BraccoLorraine BraccoLorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...
as Dr. Jennifer Melfi - Edie FalcoEdie FalcoEdith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
as Carmela SopranoCarmela SopranoCarmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:... - Michael ImperioliMichael ImperioliJames Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an American actor and television writer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. He also...
as Christopher MoltisantiChristopher MoltisantiChristopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:... - Dominic ChianeseDominic ChianeseDominic Chianese is an American film, television and theatre actor, perhaps best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Corrado Soprano, Jr.Junior SopranoCorrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco... - Vincent PastoreVincent PastoreVincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Pussy Bonpensiero - Steven Van ZandtSteven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
as Silvio DanteSilvio DanteSilvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure... - Tony SiricoTony SiricoGenaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico, Jr. is an American character actor who is most famous for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in the television series The Sopranos.- Background and career :Sirico was born in Midwood, Brooklyn...
as Paulie GualtieriPaulie GualtieriPeter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is a caporegime and later underboss in the Soprano crime family.-Plot details:... - Robert IlerRobert IlerRobert Michael Iler is an American actor, known for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos which aired on HBO from 1999-2007....
as Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents... - Jamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn Sigler is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO television series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Meadow SopranoMeadow SopranoMeadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano...
* - Drea de MatteoDrea de MatteoDrea de Matteo is an American television actress, perhaps best known for her roles Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey, as Angie Bolen on ABC's Desperate Housewives, and as Adriana La Cerva on the acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos, a role for which she won the Primetime Emmy...
as Adriana La CervaAdriana La CervaAdriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:... - David ProvalDavid ProvalDavid Aaron Proval is an American actor, known for his roles as Tony DeVienazo in the Martin Scorsese film Mean Streets opposite Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel and as Richie Aprile on the HBO television series The Sopranos .-Biography:Proval was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Jewish heritage,...
as Richie AprileRichie AprileRichard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr... - Aida TurturroAida TurturroAida Turturro is an American actress probably best known for playing Janice Soprano, sister of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, on the HBO TV series The Sopranos .-Personal life:...
as Janice SopranoJanice SopranoJanice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:... - and Nancy MarchandNancy MarchandNancy Marchand was an American actress, whose career encompassed both stage and screen. She appeared in various theatre productions throughout the early 1950s, before being offered roles on film and television....
as Livia SopranoLivia SopranoLivia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
* - * = credited only
Guest starring
- Jerry AdlerJerry AdlerJerry Adler is an American theatre director, production supervisor and a television and film actor.Adler was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Pauline and Philip Adler, who was a general manager of the Group Theatre...
as Hesh Rabkin - Katherine Narducci as Charmaine Bucco
- John VentimigliaJohn VentimigliaJohn Ventimiglia is an American actor, known for his role as Artie Bucco on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He has had parts in feature films such as Cop Land, Jesus' Son, and Mickey Blue Eyes and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order and NYPD Blue...
as Artie Bucco
Also guest starring
- Peter BogdanovichPeter BogdanovichPeter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg - Linda EmondLinda EmondLinda Emond is an American stage, film and television actress.-Training and career:Emond graduated with an MFA from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle...
as Dahlia - Louis LombardiLouis LombardiLouis Lombardi is an American actor.Lombardi was born in The Bronx, New York City, the son of Louis Lombardi, Sr. On television, Lombardi had a recurring role on The Sopranos as Agent Skip Lipari, and guest starred on such shows as Entourage, Heroes and CSI. He was a cast member of a 1990s...
as Skip Lipari - Oksana LadaOksana LadaOksana Lada is a Ukraine born actress, probably best known for the role of Irina Peltsin, the mistress of Tony Soprano on the hit HBO TV show The Sopranos. She also had a role as a wedding dress saleswoman in 30 Rock, Season 2, Episode 1, "Seinfeldvision."...
as Irina Peltsin - Federico CastelluccioFederico CastelluccioFederico Castelluccio is an Italian-American actor and professional visual artist, who is best known for his role as Furio Giunta on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as FurioFurio GiuntaFurio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:... - Vincent Curatola as Johnny SackJohnny SackJohn "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, played by Vince Curatola, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was the longtime underboss and later the boss of the powerful Brooklyn-based New York City Lupertazzi crime family...
- Steve R. Schirripa as Bobby BaccalieriBobby BaccalieriRobert "Bobby Bacala" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve R. Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a Capo and later the acting underboss of the DiMeo Crime Family, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law...
- John FioreJohn Fiore (actor)John Fiore is an American actor from Somerville, Massachusetts.Fiore is probably best known for his recurring role as Detective Tony Profaci on the long-running NBC crime drama Law & Order...
as Gigi Cestone - Stephen PayneStephen PayneStephen Payne is the name of:*Stephen Payne , British ship designer*Stephen Payne , American lobbyist...
as Dominic
- Lydia Gaston as Rosie
- Sasha Nesterov as Russian Man
- Elena Antonenko as Russian Woman
- Oni Faida Lampley as Cynthia
- Scott Lucy as Acting Student
- Ajay NaiduAjay NaiduAjay Kalahastri Naidu is an American actor.Naidu was born in Evanston, Illinois He attended Evanston Township High School. As an actor, he trained with the American Repertory Theater's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.His first professional acting job was the film ...
as Omar - Robert PrescottRobert Prescott (actor)Robert Prescott is an American actor who has starred in various roles in film and on television. He is best known for his role as Kent in the 1985 hit comedy film Real Genius...
as Mitch - Phyllis SomervillePhyllis SomervillePhyllis Somerville, born 1944, is an American stage, screen, and television actress. Her most prominent role to date was in 2006 as the mother of the sexual predator played by Jackie Earle Haley in Todd Field's Little Children....
as Brenda
Episode recap
With Furio GiuntaFurio Giunta
Furio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:...
now working as a soldier with the Soprano family, Tony Soprano
Tony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
elevates Paulie Walnuts and Silvio Dante
Silvio Dante
Silvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure...
to capo and consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
respectively. Paulie is at first befuddled by Tony's offer but then becomes very grateful. While dining at Nuovo Vesuvio, Tony asks Artie Bucco for a favor: to hire his "cousin" Furio from Italy as a mozzarella
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is an Italian Traditional Speciality Guaranteed food product. The term is used for several kinds of Italian cheeses that are made using spinning and then cutting :...
-maker. Artie tells Tony that the kitchen is already fully occupied and that his wife, Charmaine, would not be fond of the idea. Artie agrees to give Furio a trial run until he can retain full citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
after Tony says that he will pay Furio's wages.
Tony then throws a party for Furio, where Pussy begins to become very jealous of Tony's sudden interest in his new soldier. Uncle Junior
Junior Soprano
Corrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco...
and Bobby Baccalieri
Bobby Baccalieri
Robert "Bobby Bacala" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve R. Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a Capo and later the acting underboss of the DiMeo Crime Family, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law...
show up, only to have Carmela
Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
slam the door in their faces, suspecting Junior's involvement in the attempt on Tony's life. Tony then gives Furio his first assignment: to collect from husband-wife brothel owners who owe Tony money. Furio viciously completes the job by beating both and shooting the husband in the kneecap.
Meanwhile, Dr. Melfi
Jennifer Melfi
Jennifer Melfi, M.D., is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the psychiatrist of Mafia boss Tony Soprano. She is portrayed by Lorraine Bracco.-Character description:...
calls Tony on his cell phone. She continues to contemplate taking Tony back as a client over the objections of her therapist, Elliot Kupferberg. Melfi vividly describes her dream of Tony to her therapist — he was in a car crash as he desperately searches for his Prozac. Melfi believes that the symbolism in the dream is that Tony's car accident is caused by her abandoning of him as a client. As Tony is waiting for Furio to finish his "first assignment," she tells him that she has an open appointment for him the next day. Tony first declines the offer, since things have been going well without it, but he does attend the appointment later on.
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:...
is enrolled in an acting class as a gift from his girlfriend, Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:...
, because of his dream to be an actor/screenwriter. However, Christopher soon finds that the class is very demanding and rigorous and the schedule overlaps with his mob duties. While acting out a scene from the film Rebel Without a Cause
Rebel Without a Cause
Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Directed by Nicholas Ray, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments...
, Christopher becomes very emotional and cries. Embarrassed and troubled, he leaves the room, despite the applause and approval of his classmates. During the next class, Christopher and another student practice an acting exercise which leads to Christopher violently attacking his partner. Adriana suggests that the exercise reminded him of his father's murder and how upset he felt not having a father growing up. That evening, Christopher rids himself of any traces of his unfinished screenplay, called "You Bark, I Bite", by disposing of the papers and floppy disks in a dumpster behind his apartment.
Tony's anger and resentment come to a head after Janice
Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:...
decides to take out a loan on Livia
Livia Soprano
Livia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
's house in order to renovate it. Furious, he rips a telephone out of the wall and throws it on the floor. A.J.
Anthony Soprano, Jr.
Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents...
witnesses his father's angry tirade and is yelled at by his father. He is then told by Carmela to go upstairs. Tony later goes up to apologize to A.J. for his irresponsible actions and jokingly blames it on being "a new product tester for Radio Shack
Radio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
".
At Livia's house, Tony discovers that Richie Aprile
Richie Aprile
Richard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr...
has spent the night with Janice. He is shocked and angered, but relents and tells Richie that Janice is now his problem.
Later on Tony's yacht, The Stugots (the name derives from the Southern Italian phrase stu cazzo which, in this case, means "these balls" but literally means "this cock"). Tony and Irina Peltsin quarrel because she is feeding cheese puffs
Cheese puffs
Cheese puffs, cheese curls, cheese balls, or corn curls are a puffed corn snack, coated with a mixture of cheese or cheese-flavored powders...
to ducks swimming near the boat. He is angry because he believes this to be unhealthy for the ducks. This causes an intrusion by another boat owner, who happens to be Russian and suggests to Irina that if she does not like to fight she should find herself a Russian man. Tony hears them talking and walks to the man's boat and tells him to mind his own business. To make matters worse, Tony then grabs the man by his testicles, and squeezes them causing the man great pain. Tony and Irina then make a hasty escape before the Russian's wife calls the police.
While visiting Hesh Rabkin, Tony regales him with the story and confesses to having episodes where he has passed out. Tony tries unsuccessfully to replicate his relationship with Dr. Melfi by talking to Hesh, but Hesh seems uninterested and rambles on about other subjects. Hesh tells Tony that his father, Johnny, sometimes suffered panic attack
Panic attack
Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or apprehension that are of sudden onset and of relatively brief duration. Panic attacks usually begin abruptly, reach a peak within 10 minutes, and subside over the next several hours...
s as Tony does now. Tony is surprised, since no one has ever mentioned his father's mental health. Hesh reassures him that his "condition" only affected Tony's father about twice a year.
Pussy continues to meet his FBI contact, Agent Skip Lipari, and complains about Tony, who has continued to keep Pussy in the dark about his current criminal plans and who has promoted Silvio and Paulie, but shafted him, despite knowing each other nearly their entire lives. Later, Paulie and Johnny Sack
Johnny Sack
John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, played by Vince Curatola, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was the longtime underboss and later the boss of the powerful Brooklyn-based New York City Lupertazzi crime family...
ask Pussy to leave the table when they are about to discuss business, because of his soldier status.
Title reference
- The episode's title is taken from the name of a song by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, which can be heard in the background during the restaurant scene during the episode. Valli would later have a role on the series as Rusty Millio.
- It is also a reference to Dr. Melfi, who breaks down crying during her therapy with Elliot.
- Further, Christopher's crying during this episode is a significant part of his story.
Production
- Although the episode was the fifth of season two, it was the fourth to be produced.
- In the very first scene (after the opening credits), when Christopher opens his car door, the reflections of the camera, crew, and onlookers can be seen.
Music
- The song played in the background of Artie's restaurant is the title of the episode, "Big Girls Don't CryBig Girls Don't CryBig Girls Don't Cry is a 2002 film. It is written and directed by Maria von Heland.The movie is about two best friends, Kati and Steffi....
" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. - The song playing when Christopher enters the massage parlor is "Touch It" by MonifahMonifahMonifah is an American female R&B singer-songwriter.-Career:In 1996, her debut album, Moods...Moments was released. In 1997, she contributed the Heavy D. produced "I Still Love You" to the soundtrack of the film, Sprung. Monifah's second album was Mo'hogany. Released in the last quarter of 1998,...
. - The song from Dr. Melfi's dream about Tony Soprano is "Optimistic VoicesOptimistic Voices"Optimistic Voices" is the name of both a song and the choir singing it, from the 1939 film classic The Wizard of Oz. The music is by Herbert Stothart & Harold Arlen and the lyrics are by E.Y. Harburg....
", a selection from the 1939 film classic, The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1939 film)The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. - The song played during Furio's party is "Rock the BoatRock the Boat (Hues Corporation song)"Rock the Boat" is a disco song by the group Hues Corporation in 1974. "Rock the Boat" was written by Waldo Holmes, who also wrote the Blacula songs....
" by the Hues CorporationHues CorporationThe Hues Corporation was a pop and soul trio formed in Santa Monica, California in 1969. They are best known for their 1974 hit, "Rock the Boat" which sold over two million copies.-Career:...
. - The song played over the end credits is "White Mustang II" by Daniel LanoisDaniel LanoisDaniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
.