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For All Debts Public and Private (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"For All Debts Public and Private" is the fortieth episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos
. It is the first episode of the show's fourth season. Written by David Chase
and directed by Allen Coulter
, it originally aired on September 15, 2002.
has started in a new school and Carmela
is trying to help him with his social studies assignment by reading him excerpts from The New York Times
, provided by his school for his social studies class, which lay unopened in his room. The scene cuts to Tony collecting the Star-Ledger
at the end of his drive, a scene which opened most of the seasons. When he returns to the house, Tony
asks about A.J.'s grades and clips his ear when A.J. tells him he has "revealed his own ignorance" by asking about grades only a few days into the term.
Carmela's mood visibly brightens when Tony's driver arrives but her smile fades when she sees it is Christopher Moltisanti
, rather than Furio Giunta
. Christopher is none too pleased to be driving Tony, but claims not to question his decision. While driving they both check rearview mirrors for car makes known to be favored by the FBI.
Tony and Uncle Junior
meet in the office of Dr. Douglas Schreck (Junior's physician). Christopher, Bobby Bacala
and Murf Lupo remain in the waiting room. Before entering the room Junior flirts with a pretty nurse by inviting her to Atlantic City, but she respectfully declines and informs him that this is her last day of work at the office.
Tony and Junior discuss the latter's need for more money to cover his mounting legal costs, being short on cash ever since his house arrest, and requests changing of their terms. Tony tells him of "a shortage" and angrily refuses to change the percentages. Tony suggests that Junior gets his "shy (illegal money-lending business) running right." Junior later decides to demote a noticeably confused Murf to soldier, and replace him with Bobby Bacala. Tony approves, and proposes they tell Bobby of the news right in the doctors office. Later, at Junior's home, his lawyer phones in, speaks to Murf, and relays information that the FBI apparently has had a mole in Dr. Schreck's office (information presumably learned via legal means). Murf appears to be lost for words when sharing this with Junior.
Carmela notices widow Angie Bonpensiero handing out free samples at a Pathmark
supermarket, but does not approach her. This prompts Carmela to worry about her own financial security, as Tony is careful to always separate her from his professional contacts. When she asks Tony to provide money so she can make an investment, he tells her there is no longer money kept in the house. He then removes cash from under his car seat and takes it into the pool house to store it under a floor tile.
Tony has Chris take him to the Bada Bing
where he vents his frustration by beating up hapless barman Georgie for wasting ice. Silvio
tried to defuse the situation, but can't stop Georgie from making the ill-advised remarks that always drive Tony deeper into his fit of rage. Chris, Silvio and Tony depart the Bing on foot to attend a meeting with the family's capos—Carlo Gervasi, Ally Boy Barese, Ray Curto
, and Ralph Cifaretto in a neighboring garage (Ralph is still persona non grata
at the Bing, see "University"). Tony uses the meeting to harangue them about the lack of growth in the family's business as of late, telling them that the family's boss, Junior, desperately needs their support. Christopher is left outside with fellow soldier Vito Spatafore
while the senior family members have their discussion.
Chris believes his return to driver status may be punishment for questioning Tony's judgment about the Jackie Aprile, Jr.
situation. At home, Adriana has invited Danielle, who unbeknownst to her is an FBI agent (Deborah Ciccerone living with her husband, fellow FBI Agent Mike Waldrup, and their baby). Christopher arrives with loads of quality luggage, which Danielle asks about since "it looks like Gucci" and has transport tags still in place. Christopher is rude to Danielle, who then leaves, but not until noting her host's preparations for a heroin shot-up between toes. He offers Adriana to join him, but she declines.
Later, Tony buys bags of duck feed. When he gets the bags home, he uses them to store cash amongst the feed. Carmela notices that it is an odd time to buy duck feed. While out buying the feed, Tony meets with Assemblyman Zellman to discuss the Esplanade project and talk property. Zellman tips him that prices near the new development are likely to see a big jump. Tony recalls that Junior owns a large warehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark.
Carmela invites Rosalie Aprile and Ralph Cifaretto over for dinner, despite Tony's instructions not to. Rosalie is withdrawn and quiet over dinner, presumably on mood-altering drugs; in contrast, Ralphie tells stories to A.J. and a friend about a motorcycle he owned in his youth. Hugh and Mary De Angelis also attend. Ralphie excuses himself to use the bathroom and Janice
soon follows him, finding him snorting cocaine. She joins him and after some initial hesitancy on Ralph's part, they have sex in the upstairs bathroom. While they are away, Tony notices their long absence by looking at both their empty chairs and his wristwatch. During the dinner Adriana -— accompanied by Danielle -— visits to borrow a samovar from Carmela for Adriana's cousin's bridal shower. Tony looks lasciviously at Danielle, and Rosalie then shows her around the Soprano house. Meadow
is still having a hard time dealing with the death of Jackie Aprile, Jr and does not attend the dinner. She is also using it as a reason for not signing up for new classes as her second year at Columbia University
approaches. Carmela is concerned about the way her daughter has spent the summer, loafing around and collecting sympathy.
Tony throws a party in a hotel suite preceded by a quick meeting with New York boss Carmine Lupertazzi
. Christopher, Ralph and Silvio also attend. Carmine discusses the success of the Esplanade, asks about Junior and chastises Tony for wearing shorts ("a don doesn't wear shorts") after hearing this from Johnny Sack
, also present. Carmine and Johnny Sack leave while Furio Giunta
arrives with a bevy of Icelandic Air stewardesses. Chris has sex, then smokes a joint the bathroom with one of the girls; Ralph sleeps nude on a couch wearing a stewardesses pillbox hat. Christopher is worried when Tony knocks on the door and has him leave the party, but Tony actually has big plans for him (of which "attending a meeting with two bosses" was one). Tony has Chris drive out to a Hooters
-style bar and grill where Bobby Bacala pulls up behind them. Tony has been talking about "Dickie" Moltisanti, Chris' late father, all day. At the bar he tells Christopher that he knows who killed his father — Det. Lt. Barry Haydu — and that he is in the restaurant having his retirement party. He tells him that Haydu received the contract because Dickie had an argument with Jilly Ruffalo, a man Dickie once served time with. Chris recalls that he had been told it was a police officer that killed his father but he believed that the man was already dead. When asked why this hasn't been dealt with already, Tony answers that "Haydu was useful," but that this ended with his retirement from the force, today. Tony gives Chris the policeman's address ("a house bought with cash") and wishes him luck. Tony gets into Bobby's car, leaving Chris to pursue his new prey in Tony's SUV.
Chris reaches Haydu's home before he leaves the party and breaks in. When Haydu arrives home, Chris knocks him unconscious. Chris takes his gun and badge and handcuffs him to the railing of the staircase. When Haydu comes to, Chris questions him about his involvement with his father's death, but Haydu denies all knowledge and tells him he's being manipulated by whoever told him that. Chris replies that it doesn't matter what he says, because "he wants you dead." Chris turns up the volume on the television to cover the noise of the gunshots, Haydu breaks the railing and scrambles across the floor, but Chris shoots him with his own weapon. Before leaving, he takes a twenty dollar bill from Haydu's wallet (expecting more cash), wipes off the gun and places it in Haydu's hand, to make it look like a suicide. Chris later goes to visit his mother, Joanne, and looks through his father's old belongings, including an old picture of him in the Navy. Chris seems at peace for the first time in the episode. He attaches the twenty dollar bill he took from Haydu to his mother's fridge with a magnet.
Meanwhile Bobby and Tony eat dinner at a local diner, discuss Bobby's promotion, and how he has coped with his own father's death. Afterwards they go to Junior's house where Murf meets them in the basement and tells of the FBI's mole. Apparently, the mole is no longer there. In the meantime Bobby's wife, Karen Baccalieri, has come over with their children to prepare a meal for Junior. Existence of the mole has deeply upset Junior. He believes it must have been the pretty nurse with whom he flirted shamelessly -— and now regrets that he "will have to face her across the courtroom." They discuss what the FBI may have learned from the ploy. Tony offers Junior a hundred thousand for his warehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue, telling him it is to help with his financial difficulties. Junior accepts the reduced offer but is despondent about his life, telling Tony he is an "old man who is going to trial".
Meanwhile Paulie Walnuts has been arrested in Youngstown, Ohio
on a gun charge (hence his absence from the earlier meeting with Tony, Silvio and the other family capos), while en route to Steubenville
to see Dean Martin
's birthplace. He calls Johnny Sack from a prison phone, who tells him that nobody has mentioned to him why Paulie was imprisoned. Paulie is annoyed by this and relates the story: he was visiting a friend, Lenny Scortese, and they got caught with a gun from an unsolved homicide in their car. John seems keen to cultivate his friendship with Paulie that began in earnest after Paulie started to feel neglected by Tony in favor of Ralph and the Esplanade project. Johnny reached out to Paulie through his nephew to request the phone call.
In therapy Tony discusses Carmela pressuring him over the family's future and Uncle Junior's life. When Tony discusses his future in terms of two endings, death or prison, Dr. Melfi
asks him in earnest why doesn't he quit. Tony tells her that he has a plan to avoid both outcomes -— by relying solely "on blood relations," tying Christopher ever harder to him (using methods he can not disclose to Melfi), so as to use his nephew as a buffer between himself and others to avoid future repercussions. Dr. Melfi is baffled by Tony's unexpected frankness to which he replies that he now trusts her... "a little".
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...
. It is the first episode of the show's fourth season. Written by David Chase
David Chase
David Chase is an American writer, director, and producer of television series. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown,...
and directed by Allen Coulter
Allen Coulter
Allen Coulter is an American television and film director, credited with a number of successful television programs. He has directed two feature films, Hollywoodland, a film regarding the questionable death of George Reeves starring Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, and Ben Affleck, and 2010's Remember...
, it originally aired on September 15, 2002.
Guest Starring
- Tom AldredgeTom AldredgeThomas Ernest "Tom" Aldredge was an American television, film and stage actor.-Life and career:Aldredge was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Lucienne Juliet and W. J. Aldredge, a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps...
as Hugh De Angelis - Sharon AngelaSharon AngelaSharon Angela is an American film, television actress, screenwriter and director. Angela is probably most well known for her portrayal of Rosalie Aprile on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Rosalie Aprile - Will ArnettWill ArnettWilliam Emerson "Will" Arnett is a Canadian actor and comedian best known for his role as George Oscar "G.O.B." Bluth II on the Fox comedy Arrested Development. He is also known for his role as Devon Banks on the NBC comedy 30 Rock. Since his success on Arrested Development, Arnett has landed major...
as Agent Mike Waldrup - Val BisoglioVal BisoglioVal Bisoglio is an Italian-American character actor primarily known for his work on television. Bisoglio performed in numerous TV series in the 1970s including M*A*S*H, Roll Out, Kojak and The Rockford Files...
as Murf Lupo - Joseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series, The Sopranos.-Early life:Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn....
as Vito SpataforeVito SpataforeVito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual... - Lola GlaudiniLola GlaudiniLola Glaudini is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Elle Greenaway on the hit CBS series Criminal Minds, and for her role as Agent Deborah Ciccerone on the award winning HBO series The Sopranos....
as Agent Deborah Ciccerone - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
as Patsy Parisi - Toni KalemToni KalemToni Kalem is an American actress, screenwriter and director. Kalem is best known for her portrayal of Angie Bonpensiero on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Angie Bonpensiero - Marianne LeoneMarianne Leone CooperMarianne Leone is an American film and television actress, screenwriter, and essayist. She is likely best-known for her recurring role as Christopher Moltisanti's mother on The Sopranos....
as Joanne Moltisanti - Tony LipTony LipTony Lip is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series The Sopranos. He portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone in Donnie Brasco.Lip is from Paramus, New Jersey...
as Carmine LupertazziCarmine LupertazziCarmine Lupertazzi, Sr., played by Tony Lip, was the fictional Boss of the Brooklyn-based Lupertazzi crime family on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Biography:... - George Loros as Raymond CurtoRay CurtoRaymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto, played by George Loros, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. An older Capo in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series....
- Richard Maldone as Albert Barese
- Tom Mason as Detective Lieutenant Barry Haydu
- Angelo MassagliAngelo MassagliAngelo Massagli is an American actor and amateur MC. Angelo played Frankie in The School of Rock where he is known to be called the tough guy at the start of the film he also starred alongside Jack Black during the making of this film . He also appeared on The Sopranos as Bobby Baccalieri,...
as Bobby Baccalieri III - Arthur J. NascarellaArthur J. NascarellaArthur J. Nascarella is an American actor who has appeared in dozens of films, most often playing a mobster or police officer. Among his notable film credits include a corrupt cop in Cop Land , a hypocritical ambulance captain in Bringing Out The Dead and a fed-up casino boss in The Cooler; he has...
as Carlo Gervasi - Christine PediChristine PediChristine Pedi is a television and theatre actress. She is also a cabaret performer and radio personality and younger cousin of the late Tom Pedi.-Theatre:BroadwayShe has appeared in three Broadway-theatre productions in New York City, New York....
as Karen Baccalieri - Peter RiegertPeter RiegertPeter Riegert is an American actor, screenwriter, and film director, best known for his role as Boon from Animal House and crooked New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald Zellman on the HBO original series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Assemblyman Ronald Zellman - Frank Santorelli as Georgie
- Suzanne ShepherdSuzanne ShepherdSuzanne Shepherd is an American actress and theater director. She is best known for her portrayal of Karen's overbearing mother in the film Goodfellas, and Carmela's overbearing mother in the television program The Sopranos. Shepherd studied acting with Sanford Meisner, and later went on to teach...
as Mary De Angelis - Lexie Sperduto as Sophia Baccalieri
- Matthew SussmanMatthew SussmanMatthew Sussman is an American actor, photographer and documentary filmmaker.Sussman has appeared in numerous films, including Kate & Leopold and Pollock, in which he played the artist Reuben Kadish. Sussman also appeared in three episodes of The Sopranos in 2000 and 2002 as Dr. Douglas Schreck...
as Dr. Douglas Schreck - Gay Thomas-Wilson as Nurse
Plot summary
A.J. SopranoAnthony 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...
has started in a new school and 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:...
is trying to help him with his social studies assignment by reading him excerpts from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, provided by his school for his social studies class, which lay unopened in his room. The scene cuts to Tony collecting the Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
at the end of his drive, a scene which opened most of the seasons. When he returns to the house, Tony
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...
asks about A.J.'s grades and clips his ear when A.J. tells him he has "revealed his own ignorance" by asking about grades only a few days into the term.
Carmela's mood visibly brightens when Tony's driver arrives but her smile fades when she sees it is 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:...
, rather than Furio Giunta
Furio 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:...
. Christopher is none too pleased to be driving Tony, but claims not to question his decision. While driving they both check rearview mirrors for car makes known to be favored by the FBI.
Tony and 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...
meet in the office of Dr. Douglas Schreck (Junior's physician). Christopher, Bobby Bacala
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...
and Murf Lupo remain in the waiting room. Before entering the room Junior flirts with a pretty nurse by inviting her to Atlantic City, but she respectfully declines and informs him that this is her last day of work at the office.
Tony and Junior discuss the latter's need for more money to cover his mounting legal costs, being short on cash ever since his house arrest, and requests changing of their terms. Tony tells him of "a shortage" and angrily refuses to change the percentages. Tony suggests that Junior gets his "shy (illegal money-lending business) running right." Junior later decides to demote a noticeably confused Murf to soldier, and replace him with Bobby Bacala. Tony approves, and proposes they tell Bobby of the news right in the doctors office. Later, at Junior's home, his lawyer phones in, speaks to Murf, and relays information that the FBI apparently has had a mole in Dr. Schreck's office (information presumably learned via legal means). Murf appears to be lost for words when sharing this with Junior.
Carmela notices widow Angie Bonpensiero handing out free samples at a Pathmark
Pathmark
Pathmark is a supermarket chain headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. It was founded in 1968 when its then parent, Supermarkets General Corporation, pulled out of the ShopRite retailers' cooperative...
supermarket, but does not approach her. This prompts Carmela to worry about her own financial security, as Tony is careful to always separate her from his professional contacts. When she asks Tony to provide money so she can make an investment, he tells her there is no longer money kept in the house. He then removes cash from under his car seat and takes it into the pool house to store it under a floor tile.
Tony has Chris take him to the Bada Bing
Bada Bing
The Bada Bing! is a fictional strip club from the HBO drama television series The Sopranos. It was a key location for events in the series, named for catchphrase "bada bing", a phrase popularized by James Caan in The Godfather. The popularization of the fictional club benefited the real-life go-go...
where he vents his frustration by beating up hapless barman Georgie for wasting ice. Silvio
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...
tried to defuse the situation, but can't stop Georgie from making the ill-advised remarks that always drive Tony deeper into his fit of rage. Chris, Silvio and Tony depart the Bing on foot to attend a meeting with the family's capos—Carlo Gervasi, Ally Boy Barese, Ray Curto
Ray Curto
Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto, played by George Loros, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. An older Capo in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series....
, and Ralph Cifaretto in a neighboring garage (Ralph is still persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
at the Bing, see "University"). Tony uses the meeting to harangue them about the lack of growth in the family's business as of late, telling them that the family's boss, Junior, desperately needs their support. Christopher is left outside with fellow soldier Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual...
while the senior family members have their discussion.
Chris believes his return to driver status may be punishment for questioning Tony's judgment about the Jackie Aprile, Jr.
Jackie Aprile, Jr.
Giacomo Michael Aprile, Jr. , played by Jason Cerbone, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. In the episode "...To Save Us All From Satan's Power", Cerbone's younger brother Matt played a younger Jackie Jr. in a flashback sequence.-Plot details:Jackie Aprile, Jr. was born into...
situation. At home, Adriana has invited Danielle, who unbeknownst to her is an FBI agent (Deborah Ciccerone living with her husband, fellow FBI Agent Mike Waldrup, and their baby). Christopher arrives with loads of quality luggage, which Danielle asks about since "it looks like Gucci" and has transport tags still in place. Christopher is rude to Danielle, who then leaves, but not until noting her host's preparations for a heroin shot-up between toes. He offers Adriana to join him, but she declines.
Later, Tony buys bags of duck feed. When he gets the bags home, he uses them to store cash amongst the feed. Carmela notices that it is an odd time to buy duck feed. While out buying the feed, Tony meets with Assemblyman Zellman to discuss the Esplanade project and talk property. Zellman tips him that prices near the new development are likely to see a big jump. Tony recalls that Junior owns a large warehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark.
Carmela invites Rosalie Aprile and Ralph Cifaretto over for dinner, despite Tony's instructions not to. Rosalie is withdrawn and quiet over dinner, presumably on mood-altering drugs; in contrast, Ralphie tells stories to A.J. and a friend about a motorcycle he owned in his youth. Hugh and Mary De Angelis also attend. Ralphie excuses himself to use the bathroom and 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:...
soon follows him, finding him snorting cocaine. She joins him and after some initial hesitancy on Ralph's part, they have sex in the upstairs bathroom. While they are away, Tony notices their long absence by looking at both their empty chairs and his wristwatch. During the dinner Adriana -— accompanied by Danielle -— visits to borrow a samovar from Carmela for Adriana's cousin's bridal shower. Tony looks lasciviously at Danielle, and Rosalie then shows her around the Soprano house. Meadow
Meadow Soprano
Meadow 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...
is still having a hard time dealing with the death of Jackie Aprile, Jr and does not attend the dinner. She is also using it as a reason for not signing up for new classes as her second year at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
approaches. Carmela is concerned about the way her daughter has spent the summer, loafing around and collecting sympathy.
Tony throws a party in a hotel suite preceded by a quick meeting with New York boss Carmine Lupertazzi
Carmine Lupertazzi
Carmine Lupertazzi, Sr., played by Tony Lip, was the fictional Boss of the Brooklyn-based Lupertazzi crime family on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Biography:...
. Christopher, Ralph and Silvio also attend. Carmine discusses the success of the Esplanade, asks about Junior and chastises Tony for wearing shorts ("a don doesn't wear shorts") after hearing this from 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...
, also present. Carmine and Johnny Sack leave while Furio Giunta
Furio 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:...
arrives with a bevy of Icelandic Air stewardesses. Chris has sex, then smokes a joint the bathroom with one of the girls; Ralph sleeps nude on a couch wearing a stewardesses pillbox hat. Christopher is worried when Tony knocks on the door and has him leave the party, but Tony actually has big plans for him (of which "attending a meeting with two bosses" was one). Tony has Chris drive out to a Hooters
Hooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
-style bar and grill where Bobby Bacala pulls up behind them. Tony has been talking about "Dickie" Moltisanti, Chris' late father, all day. At the bar he tells Christopher that he knows who killed his father — Det. Lt. Barry Haydu — and that he is in the restaurant having his retirement party. He tells him that Haydu received the contract because Dickie had an argument with Jilly Ruffalo, a man Dickie once served time with. Chris recalls that he had been told it was a police officer that killed his father but he believed that the man was already dead. When asked why this hasn't been dealt with already, Tony answers that "Haydu was useful," but that this ended with his retirement from the force, today. Tony gives Chris the policeman's address ("a house bought with cash") and wishes him luck. Tony gets into Bobby's car, leaving Chris to pursue his new prey in Tony's SUV.
Chris reaches Haydu's home before he leaves the party and breaks in. When Haydu arrives home, Chris knocks him unconscious. Chris takes his gun and badge and handcuffs him to the railing of the staircase. When Haydu comes to, Chris questions him about his involvement with his father's death, but Haydu denies all knowledge and tells him he's being manipulated by whoever told him that. Chris replies that it doesn't matter what he says, because "he wants you dead." Chris turns up the volume on the television to cover the noise of the gunshots, Haydu breaks the railing and scrambles across the floor, but Chris shoots him with his own weapon. Before leaving, he takes a twenty dollar bill from Haydu's wallet (expecting more cash), wipes off the gun and places it in Haydu's hand, to make it look like a suicide. Chris later goes to visit his mother, Joanne, and looks through his father's old belongings, including an old picture of him in the Navy. Chris seems at peace for the first time in the episode. He attaches the twenty dollar bill he took from Haydu to his mother's fridge with a magnet.
Meanwhile Bobby and Tony eat dinner at a local diner, discuss Bobby's promotion, and how he has coped with his own father's death. Afterwards they go to Junior's house where Murf meets them in the basement and tells of the FBI's mole. Apparently, the mole is no longer there. In the meantime Bobby's wife, Karen Baccalieri, has come over with their children to prepare a meal for Junior. Existence of the mole has deeply upset Junior. He believes it must have been the pretty nurse with whom he flirted shamelessly -— and now regrets that he "will have to face her across the courtroom." They discuss what the FBI may have learned from the ploy. Tony offers Junior a hundred thousand for his warehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue, telling him it is to help with his financial difficulties. Junior accepts the reduced offer but is despondent about his life, telling Tony he is an "old man who is going to trial".
Meanwhile Paulie Walnuts has been arrested in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
on a gun charge (hence his absence from the earlier meeting with Tony, Silvio and the other family capos), while en route to Steubenville
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to see Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
's birthplace. He calls Johnny Sack from a prison phone, who tells him that nobody has mentioned to him why Paulie was imprisoned. Paulie is annoyed by this and relates the story: he was visiting a friend, Lenny Scortese, and they got caught with a gun from an unsolved homicide in their car. John seems keen to cultivate his friendship with Paulie that began in earnest after Paulie started to feel neglected by Tony in favor of Ralph and the Esplanade project. Johnny reached out to Paulie through his nephew to request the phone call.
In therapy Tony discusses Carmela pressuring him over the family's future and Uncle Junior's life. When Tony discusses his future in terms of two endings, death or prison, 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:...
asks him in earnest why doesn't he quit. Tony tells her that he has a plan to avoid both outcomes -— by relying solely "on blood relations," tying Christopher ever harder to him (using methods he can not disclose to Melfi), so as to use his nephew as a buffer between himself and others to avoid future repercussions. Dr. Melfi is baffled by Tony's unexpected frankness to which he replies that he now trusts her... "a little".
First appearances
- Bobby Baccalieri, III: Bobby's son
- Karen Baccalieri: Bobby's wife
- Sophia Baccalieri: Bobby's daughter
- Carlo Gervasi: Soprano/DiMeo crime family capo
- Murf Lupo: Aging Soprano/DiMeo crime family capo and friend of Junior Soprano
Deceased
- Det. Lt. Barry Haydu: shot in his home by 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:...
Title reference
- The episode's title is taken from a phrase found on American paper currencyFederal Reserve NoteA Federal Reserve Note is a type of banknote used in the United States of America. Federal Reserve Notes are printed by the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing on paper made by Crane & Co. of Dalton, Massachusetts. They are the only type of U.S...
: "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private". The episode ends with a close up of a twenty dollar bill that Chris takes from Lt. Barry Haydu after he kills him. - Money is a worry for Tony, Carmela and Junior in the episode.
- Christopher is now indebted to Tony for the information Tony provided about Christopher's father, and for Tony's giving Christopher an opportunity to retaliate against Haydu for purportedly killing Dickie Moltisanti — a debt that continues to resurface.
Production
- Vince CuratolaVince CuratolaVincent Curatola is an American actor and writer. Curatola's best-known role is that of the cold, calculating, chain smoking Johnny Sack from the HBO drama, The Sopranos...
(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...
) is now billed in the opening credits but only for the episodes which he appears in. - Robert FunaroRobert FunaroRobert Funaro is an American film and television actor. Funaro is best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo in the Emmy Award-winning television series The Sopranos...
(Eugene Pontecorvo) is no longer billed in the opening credits although he continues to appear on the show. - Paulie's prison stay was written into the series to allow more time off for actor 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...
, who was recovering from major back surgery. - The wrestler Johnny Valiant appears in this episode as Carmine Lupertazzi's bodyguard.
Music
- The song played at the episode's beginning and over the end credits is "World Destruction" by Time ZoneTime Zone (band)Time Zone was a electro band headed by Afrika Bambaataa. Bambaataa worked with different musicians for each Time Zone project.-History:The first Time Zone single was the 1983 electro song "The Wildstyle" which featured music from a German project called Wunderwerke. Bambaataa was introduced to...
(with John LydonJohn LydonJohn Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
). - The song played while Christopher shoots up is "My Rifle, My Pony, and Me", sung by Dean MartinDean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
in Rio Bravo (1959). - The song that plays in the closing scene is For All Debts Public and Private sung by Shooter JenningsShooter JenningsWaylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American singer-songwriter active in the country music and Southern rock genres as well as making his first foray into psychedelic rock in 2009...
Husband of actress 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...
who plays 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:...
.