Toodle Fucking-Oo

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"Toodle Fucking-Oo"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 2
Episode 16
Written by Frank Renzulli
Directed by Lee Tamahori
Production no. 202 (2-3)
Original airdate January 30, 2000 (HBO)
Guest stars

see below
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"Toodle Fucking-Oo" is the sixteenth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the third of the show's second season. It was written by Frank Renzulli, directed by Lee Tamahori and originally aired on Sunday January 30, 2000.

Contents

[edit] Starring

[edit] Guest Starring

[edit] Episode recap

Richie Aprile, the late Jackie's brother, is paroled from prison after being incarcerated for 10 years. In his first few days out of jail, Richie manages to reunite and cause problems with old acquaintances and to put his message out to the other associates that he has returned. The first man Richie pays a visit to is respected pizzeria owner Beansie Gaeta, who was once partnered with Richie for drug dealings and crime. Richie states to Beansie that he wants respect and what is owed to him. Beansie feels threatened and tells him to back off, which angers Richie: he smashes a coffee pot over Beansie's head, throws a chair at him and hits him several times, eventually breaking his left cheek bone.

Meanwhile Tony Soprano is informed by the West Orange police that his daughter, Meadow, threw a party at Livia's house. In addition to the house being trashed, there were several different designer drugs and alcohol found at the scene, explaining the overdoses of several partiers. Since the officer owed Tony a favor, he agreed not to expose what really happened at the party. Meadow and Hunter are then driven home and interrogated by Tony. Meadow quickly defends herself with a flimsy excuse. At home, Carmela expects an explanation, but Meadow just runs up the stairs when questioned. When discussing a punishment, Carmela tells Tony that there must be consequences and asks what kind of parents they would be if they don't punish her. Tony then says that there will be, and he also adds that "with the laws today, you can't restrain your kid physically. 'Cause then she would sue you for child abuse". Carmela insists on consequences, but then he replies to her, "Let's just not overplay our hand, because if she finds out that we're powerless, we're fucked!" Meadow later comes clean, but she selects her own punishment by allowing her parents to take away her Discover Card for three weeks. Meadow later reveals to her best friend that losing her credit card is no big deal, and she chose this punishment believing she really pulled one over on her Mom and Dad. This revelation occurs in two ways. First, she is shown with a wry smile leaving that conversation. Second, while Meadow and her friend are making dinner for themselves in the Soprano kitchen, touting how they are so grown up now, all the while blithely creating an enormous mess in the kitchen.

Janice is initially in support of the punishment decision, a sign that Meadow is growing independent. Carmela asks Janice nicely to not invade in her parenting of her daughter. However, when Janice discovers the mess at Livia's house, stained walls and vomit on the hardwood floors, she thinks that Meadow is getting away too easily. This annoys Tony, who curtly tells Janice to stop intruding on how they raise their kids. Tony then leaves when Carmela yells, "Mind your fucking business, keep your mouth shut when it comes to my kids!" A hurt Janice then leaves the house. Meadow overhears the argument. Janice and Carmela reconcile at the end of the episode.

While eating dinner at an elegant Italian restaurant, Jennifer Melfi shares a bottle of wine with some friends. As they are leaving the restaurant, Melfi sees Tony at a table with his "co-workers". She is taken aback, and nervously asks how he has been. Tony says that he is fine and exchanges the question with her. Melfi recommends a dish on the menu and Tony annoyingly asks if they are now making small talk. Melfi continues to be nervous and unsure of herself, and in this state, all she can think of to say while leaving is "Toodle-oo." At a session with her therapist, Dr. Elliot Kupferberg, she is annoyed at her behavior and because she feels that she acts differently when she is around Tony. Dr. Kupferberg asks her if she has feelings that are of a sexual nature for Tony, who is referred to simply as "the patient". The following night, Melfi has a dream that Tony suffers a car accident after running out of Prozac. As Tony crashes the car, music from The Wizard of Oz ("Optimistic Voices") plays in the background. An alarmed Melfi wakes up from her dream and writes it down in her notebook.

Tony throws Richie a "welcome home" party after his long prison term. At the party, Richie's supporters all pay him homage with envelopes of money, except for Beansie Gaeta. When Richie asks if Beansie is present, Tony tells him to lay off Beansie. Hours after the party, Richie tracks down Beansie and attempts to shoot him for his disrespect. Beansie escapes and when he feels it is safe, he returns to his car, only to find Richie waiting. Richie runs over Beansie, severely injuring him. Tony later visits Beansie in the hospital where his wife becomes very confrontational over his injury. Beansie's doctor has minimal hope that he will walk again.

Tony later tells Richie that Beansie will never walk again and asks if he has any remorse. Richie reminds Tony that no one ever went to see him in jail—especially Beansie—and that he deserved what happened. Tony angrily reminds Richie by telling him "I'm the motherfuckin' fuckin' one who calls the shots" and demands Richie to respect his decisions, and the same way he gave his brother, otherwise there will be severe consequences. Richie says "Ok, Tony" and walks away. In an earlier discussion at the mall, Tony reminded Richie to slow down and wait for his business to come back to him and that things run a little differently now. Richie then changes the subject by asking how Tony's sister Janice is doing. Earlier, Richie had seen Janice at yoga class, where they reminisced and talked about their recent past and current status. Richie then tries to win Janice over by bringing a bouquet of flowers to Livia's bedside. Over sodas, Janice told Richie that they are both in very different places but Richie insisted that they give their relationship another chance.

When Tony goes to change the locks at Livia's, he discovers Meadow scrubbing the floors and tidying up the house. She is obviously in a great deal of distress, on her hands and knees. The stench of old vomit makes her choke. Tony turns away from the house and puts his arms on his hips, clearly perplexed by his daughter's display of remorse.

[edit] First appearances

[edit] Title reference

  • "Toodle-oo" is a common form of "good-bye". An annoyed Melfi adds her own twist on the saying while mulling over her run-in with Tony.

[edit] Production

  • Although this was the third episode of season two, it was the second to be produced.
  • David Proval (Richie Aprile) is now billed in the opening credits.
  • Proval originally auditioned to play the role of Tony Soprano. He was turned down because creator David Chase felt he looked "too right," for the part. He is credited within the main cast for season two.

[edit] Connections with future episodes

  • When meeting with Tony at the mall, Richie reminds Tony that he helped him and his brother, Jackie, get a "pass" after robbing the card game of a mob capo from the 1970s named "Feech" La Manna. This is the first reference to the story, which is retold with more details in later seasons. Feech La Manna is released from prison and becomes a pivotal character in season five.

[edit] Music

[edit] External links

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