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Stage 5 (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Stage 5" is the seventy-ninth episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos
. It is the second episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, the fourteenth episode of the season overall. It was written by Terence Winter
, directed by Alan Taylor
and originally aired on Sunday April 15, 2007.
's Mafia-oriented slasher film
Cleaver
is completed, with Daniel Baldwin
starring as the mob boss. At the Soprano dinner table, Carmela
states that the film's premiere and subsequent after-party will take place in the fashionable Meatpacking District of Manhattan
. Meadow
mentions her breakup with her fiancé Finn, but no details are mentioned. Meanwhile there is tension between A.J.
and his new girlfriend Blanca but no further details are given about that either.
Tony is alarmed when Agents Harris
and Goddard surprise him while he is getting the morning paper in his driveway, but they simply indicate that Tony's work may expose him to information relating to terrorists and ask that he relate this information to them, as they now work on the Terrorism Task Force for the FBI. Tony tersely refuses and retreats back indoors.
In the film Cleaver, the mob boss meets his crew in his basement wearing a white robe and a vulgar attitude, much like Tony. At the after party, Tony congratulates Christopher on his film while playfully noting the similarities to himself. The tension between A.J. and Blanca continues and Larry Boy Barese
is arrested by federal marshals for violating his house arrest
.
Carmela sees other similarities between Baldwin's character and Tony. Carmela is upset because the mob boss makes romantic advances on his subordinate's fiancée, which Carmela equates to Adriana La Cerva
(as suspected in the episode "Irregular Around the Margins"). The film ends with the boss dying at the hands of his subordinate, leading Carmela to believe it is Christopher's "revenge fantasy". Christopher speaks to his latest Alcoholics Anonymous
sponsor, Eddie Dunne, and says that he no longer feels comfortable at the Bada Bing
because Tony and his friends are too dismissive of his substance abuse problems.
Carmela confronts Christopher about the film and states her disappointment in him. Christopher is worried so he asks Cleavers writer J.T. Dolan to claim that was his idea, despite the fact that Dolan was not listed in the credits to the movie. When J.T. refuses, Christopher hits him over the head with a Humanitas Prize
trophy. J.T. then visits the Bada Bing and claims to Tony that he stole the boss character, and the love triangle, from the film Born Yesterday. Tony notices the bruise on J.T.'s head, which J.T. claimed resulted from a bump into a cabinet. Tony then watches the film but remains unconvinced of Dolan's claims. Tony confesses to Dr. Melfi
that he wonders if Christopher wants him to die. He tearfully recalls being a father figure to Christopher just as Christopher's late father, Dickie was to Tony. Tony emotionally admits that he loves Christopher as if he were his own son.
Johnny Sack has been transferred to the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri
, where he is dying of lung cancer
, and befriends a doctor, Warren Feldman (played by Sydney Pollack
), who is a convicted murderer and is serving as a prison orderly. John eventually dies with his family at his bedside. It appears that none of the New York associates desire to be his successor; Phil Leotardo is now wary of remaining boss after his heart attack. Gerry Torciano, Phil's protégé, was willing to take over as boss until he is killed while having dinner with Silvio
. Tony believes the killing was ordered by Faustino "Doc" Santoro, New York's aspiring boss. On the day that would have been his late brother Billy's 47th birthday, Phil expresses bitterness over having never taking vengeance for past injuries —- although it is not yet clear whether he seeks payback for the deaths of Billy, Gerry, or both. Phil is seen to have hung up framed pictures of the late Billy Leotardo, Johnny Sack, and Carmine Lupertazzi
in the New York family's bar hangout.
The tension between Tony and Christopher remains unspoken even as they embrace after Tony becomes godfather
to Chris' child, Caitlin, at her baptism
.
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 second episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, the fourteenth episode of the season overall. 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 Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor (director)
Alan Taylor is an American television and film director, television producer, and screenwriter. Taylor has directed for numerous programs on both network television and premium cable, most notably on HBO...
and originally aired on Sunday April 15, 2007.
Episode recap
ChristopherChristopher 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:...
's Mafia-oriented slasher film
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
Cleaver
Cleaver (The Sopranos)
Cleaver is a metafictional film within a tv-series that serves as an important plot element toward the end of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos. Although very little film material is actually shown in the series, its planning and development are discussed at large throughout multiple...
is completed, with Daniel Baldwin
Daniel Baldwin
Daniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...
starring as the mob boss. At the Soprano dinner table, 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:...
states that the film's premiere and subsequent after-party will take place in the fashionable Meatpacking District of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. 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...
mentions her breakup with her fiancé Finn, but no details are mentioned. Meanwhile there is tension between 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...
and his new girlfriend Blanca but no further details are given about that either.
Tony is alarmed when Agents Harris
Dwight Harris
Special Agent Dwight Harris, played by Matt Servitto, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is an FBI agent assigned to Tony Soprano's case...
and Goddard surprise him while he is getting the morning paper in his driveway, but they simply indicate that Tony's work may expose him to information relating to terrorists and ask that he relate this information to them, as they now work on the Terrorism Task Force for the FBI. Tony tersely refuses and retreats back indoors.
In the film Cleaver, the mob boss meets his crew in his basement wearing a white robe and a vulgar attitude, much like Tony. At the after party, Tony congratulates Christopher on his film while playfully noting the similarities to himself. The tension between A.J. and Blanca continues and Larry Boy Barese
Larry Barese
Lorenzo "Larry Boy" Barese, played by Tony Darrow, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. He is the only one of the five original captains of the DiMeo crime family that remains in that position of the crime family throughout the show...
is arrested by federal marshals for violating his house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
.
Carmela sees other similarities between Baldwin's character and Tony. Carmela is upset because the mob boss makes romantic advances on his subordinate's fiancée, which Carmela equates to 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:...
(as suspected in the episode "Irregular Around the Margins"). The film ends with the boss dying at the hands of his subordinate, leading Carmela to believe it is Christopher's "revenge fantasy". Christopher speaks to his latest Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
sponsor, Eddie Dunne, and says that he no longer feels comfortable at 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...
because Tony and his friends are too dismissive of his substance abuse problems.
Carmela confronts Christopher about the film and states her disappointment in him. Christopher is worried so he asks Cleavers writer J.T. Dolan to claim that was his idea, despite the fact that Dolan was not listed in the credits to the movie. When J.T. refuses, Christopher hits him over the head with a Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious...
trophy. J.T. then visits the Bada Bing and claims to Tony that he stole the boss character, and the love triangle, from the film Born Yesterday. Tony notices the bruise on J.T.'s head, which J.T. claimed resulted from a bump into a cabinet. Tony then watches the film but remains unconvinced of Dolan's claims. Tony confesses to 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:...
that he wonders if Christopher wants him to die. He tearfully recalls being a father figure to Christopher just as Christopher's late father, Dickie was to Tony. Tony emotionally admits that he loves Christopher as if he were his own son.
Johnny Sack has been transferred to the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, where he is dying of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, and befriends a doctor, Warren Feldman (played by Sydney Pollack
Sydney Pollack
Sydney Irwin Pollack was an American film director, producer and actor. Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he later taught acting...
), who is a convicted murderer and is serving as a prison orderly. John eventually dies with his family at his bedside. It appears that none of the New York associates desire to be his successor; Phil Leotardo is now wary of remaining boss after his heart attack. Gerry Torciano, Phil's protégé, was willing to take over as boss until he is killed while having dinner with 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...
. Tony believes the killing was ordered by Faustino "Doc" Santoro, New York's aspiring boss. On the day that would have been his late brother Billy's 47th birthday, Phil expresses bitterness over having never taking vengeance for past injuries —- although it is not yet clear whether he seeks payback for the deaths of Billy, Gerry, or both. Phil is seen to have hung up framed pictures of the late Billy Leotardo, Johnny Sack, and 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:...
in the New York family's bar hangout.
The tension between Tony and Christopher remains unspoken even as they embrace after Tony becomes godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to Chris' child, Caitlin, at her baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
.
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 - Daniel BaldwinDaniel BaldwinDaniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...
as Himself/Sally Boy - John Bianco as Gerry Torciano
- Denise Borino as Ginny Sacramoni
- Cara BuonoCara BuonoCara Buono is an American actress, screenwriter and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Faye Miller in the fourth season of the AMC drama series Mad Men.-Early life:...
as Kelli Moltisanti - John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia as Albie Cianflone
- Dan Conte as Faustino "Doc" Santoro
- Miryam Coppersmith as Sophia Baccalieri
- Tim Daly as J.T. Dolan
- Tony DarrowTony DarrowTony Darrow is an American actor.Darrow was born Anthony Borgese and grew up in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Darrow had plenty of opportunity to observe would be mobsters and their attitudes while growing up in his neighborhood in Brooklyn. As a child, Tony was gifted with a great...
as Lawrence "Larry Boy" BareseLarry BareseLorenzo "Larry Boy" Barese, played by Tony Darrow, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. He is the only one of the five original captains of the DiMeo crime family that remains in that position of the crime family throughout the show... - Ariana DiLorenzo as Alexandra Lupertazzi
- Allison Dunbar as Nicole Lupertazzi
- Kobi and Kadin George as Hector Selgado
- Maria Iadonisi as Larry Barese's Wife
- Michael Kelly as Agent Ron Goddard
- Jonathan LaPagliaJonathan LaPagliaDr. Jonathan LaPaglia, M.B.B.S. is an Australian actor known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Det...
as Cleaver - 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 - Geraldine LiBrandi as Patty Leotardo
- Lenny Ligotti as Nicky
- Anna Mancini as Donna Parisi
- Lou Martini, Jr. as Anthony Infante
- 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, Jr. - Christopher McDonald as Eddie Dunne
- Christina Milion as Catherine Sacramoni
- 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 - George Pogatsia as Frankie
- Sydney PollackSydney PollackSydney Irwin Pollack was an American film director, producer and actor. Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he later taught acting...
as Warren Feldman - Susan Porro as J.T. Dolan's Girlfriend
- Dania RamirezDania RamirezDania Ramirez is a Dominican-American TV and film actress.She is most recently known for playing Alex in Entourage, Maya Herrera in Heroes and Blanca during the last season of The Sopranos. She also played antagonist Callisto in X-Men: The Last Stand.-Early life:Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo,...
as Blanca Selgado - Anthony J. RibustelloAnthony RibustelloAnthony Ribustello is an actor and Republican activist. He is perhaps best known for his role as Dante Greco, Tony Soprano's driver on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Dante Greco - Geraldo RiveraGeraldo RiveraGeraldo Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, author, reporter, and former talk show host...
as Himself - Sam Semenza as Carmine Lupertazzi III
- Matt ServittoMatt ServittoMatt Servitto is an American actor, probably best known for his role on The Sopranos as FBI agent Dwight Harris. He also appeared on all 3 seasons of the Peabody Award-winning series Brotherhood as Rep. Donatello and had a guest appearance on Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw's editor...
as Agent Dwight HarrisDwight HarrisSpecial Agent Dwight Harris, played by Matt Servitto, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is an FBI agent assigned to Tony Soprano's case... - Caitlin Van ZandtCaitlin Van ZandtCaitlin Van Zandt is an American actress. She is best known for her role on Guiding Light as Ashlee Wolfe and as Allegra Marie Sacrimoni on the HBO series, The Sopranos.- Career :...
as Allegra Marie Sacramoni - Maureen Van ZandtMaureen Van ZandtMaureen Van Zandt is an Italian-American television actress best known for her small role Gabriella Dante, a close friend to Carmela Soprano on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Gabriella Dante - Matthew WeinerMatthew WeinerMatthew Weiner is an American writer, director and producer of television drama. He is the creator, executive producer, head writer, and show runner of the AMC television series Mad Men. He is also noted for his work on the HBO series The Sopranos, on which he served as a writer and producer...
as Manny Safier - John Wu as Morgan Yam
Deceased
- John "Johnny Sack" SacramoniJohnny 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...
: dies of cancer in prison. - Gerardo "Gerry" Torciano: shot dead in a restaurant on the orders of Faustino "Doc" Santoro.
Title reference
- After being told that his cancer has advanced to stage IVCancer stagingThe stage of a cancer is a description of the extent the cancer has spread. The stage often takes into account the size of a tumor, how deeply it has penetrated, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, how many lymph nodes it has metastasized to , and whether it has spread to distant organs...
, Johnny Sack guesses there is no stage V. - In a double meaning, Stage 5 on the Kübler-Ross modelKübler-Ross modelThe Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as The Five Stages of Grief, was first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying....
is "acceptance". - Stage 5 may also refer to the production of CleaverCleaver (The Sopranos)Cleaver is a metafictional film within a tv-series that serves as an important plot element toward the end of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos. Although very little film material is actually shown in the series, its planning and development are discussed at large throughout multiple...
, which was completed in this episode.
Production
- HBO released a mockumentaryMockumentaryA mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
"Behind the Scenes" look at CleaverCleaver (The Sopranos)Cleaver is a metafictional film within a tv-series that serves as an important plot element toward the end of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos. Although very little film material is actually shown in the series, its planning and development are discussed at large throughout multiple...
the week before the episode was released. It featured in-character interviews with Christopher, Little Carmine, and director Morgan Yam.
- Series writer Matthew WeinerMatthew WeinerMatthew Weiner is an American writer, director and producer of television drama. He is the creator, executive producer, head writer, and show runner of the AMC television series Mad Men. He is also noted for his work on the HBO series The Sopranos, on which he served as a writer and producer...
appears for the second time in the series as mafia expert/author Manny Safier, this time on Geraldo RiveraGeraldo RiveraGeraldo Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, author, reporter, and former talk show host...
's show.
Music
- The song/poem played at the end of the episode and over the credits is "Evidently Chickentown" by John Cooper ClarkeJohn Cooper ClarkeJohn Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
, from the album Snap, Crackle & BopSnap, Crackle & BopSnap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album was backed by The Invisible Girls and produced by Martin Hannett....
.