Two Tonys

"Two Tonys"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 53
Directed by	Tim Van Patten
Written by	David Chase and Terence Winter
Production code	501
Original air date	March 7, 2004 (HBO)
Guest stars
see below
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"Two Tonys" is the fifty-third episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and was the first of the show's fifth season. It was written by David Chase and Terence Winter, directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on Sunday March 7, 2004.

Guest starring

• Robert Loggia as Feech La Manna
• Peter Bogdanovich as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg
• Ray Abruzzo as Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr.
• Joe Santos as Angelo Garepe
• Leslie Bega as Valentina La Paz
• Carl Capotorto as Little Paulie Germani
• Robert John Burke as Officer Zmuda
• Frank Vincent as Phil Leotardo
• Joseph R. Gannascoli as Vito Spatafore
• Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi
• Max Casella as Benny Fazio
• George Loros as Raymond Curto
• Arthur Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi
• Tony Lip as Carmine Lupertazzi
• Omar Rodriguez as Raul

• John Elsen as Officer Yorn
• Sukanya Krishnan as Reporter
• Matthew Weiner as Manny Safier
• Miryam Coppersmith as Sophia Baccalieri
• Denise Borino as Ginny Sacrimoni
• Allison Dunbar as Nicole Lupertazzi
• Jeffrey R. Marchetti as Petey
• Maria Baan as Fran
• Lisa Regina as Kim
• Barbara Christabella as Patti
• Anna Maniscalco as Bernice
• Bill Quigley as Waiter
• Laurie Rosenwald as Woman
• Ginger Kearns as Pierced Girl
• Jason Ongoco as Delivery Guy

Episode recap

It has been almost two years since Tony and Carmela's separation^{[citation needed]} and Tony has moved into his mother's former home. As the family is about to sit down for dinner at the now-married Janice and Bobby Bacala's home, a news report airs regarding the release of many mob associates who were convicted during the 1980s. The parolées include:

• Michele "Feech" La Manna, a well-respected and feared capo of the now defunct La Manna crew
• Tony Blundetto, Tony's cousin, who was an associate in the Soprano crew
• Angelo Garepe, Carmine Lupertazzi's consigliere
• Phil Leotardo, a captain in the Lupertazzi crime family

Tony is very excited about his cousin's release and is planning a lavish welcome home party.

During a meal with Tony, Uncle Junior, and Bobby Baccala, the highly respected - and newly released - Feech chats up and entertains the others. He also voices his interest in returning to work, something Tony and Junior appear to take into consideration with the caveat that Feech "not step on anyone's toes".

One evening, while A.J. is in his parents' backyard retrieving a vacuum cleaner, he discovers a large American Black Bear and, petrified with fear, calls his mother for help. The bear does not make any threatening moves and even seems to ignore A.J. as a piece of patio furniture breaks under its weight. Carmela manages to shoo the bear away by banging two pots together. She calls the police who, in turn, call New Jersey Fish and Game. They tell Carmela that it was probably the scent of the duck feed that attracted it in the moist fall air and she should tell Tony to lock it in the house. The next day, the bear comes back but leaves shortly after. Tony arrives at the house and overhears Carmela talking on the phone to the New Jersey Game and Fishing authority about the bear's reappearance. Tony expresses his concern for the welfare of Carmela and A.J. Tony and Carmela are talking civilly to each other at first, but the conversation becomes acrimonious when Carmela suggests that Tony buys A.J. too many gifts since he feels guilty about the separation, including a $5,000 drum set. A.J. now loudly practices on. As Carmela and Tony further argue, Carmela reveals that Tony has been calling Italy and threatening Furio's life to all who would listen. Tony tasks Benny Fazio and Little Paulie Germani to guard the backyard in case the bear returns, although Carmela is reluctant about the idea.

Meanwhile, Christopher Moltisanti and Paulie Walnuts have a feud when the former embarrasses the latter in front of the capos with the "Pine Barrens" story, which had started out friendly with them revealing that nobody knows what happened to the Russian that escaped. Christopher then states, in a half joking way, that Paulie was the cause of the botched situation. Paulie takes exception to the accusation and insults Christopher, calling him "Tony's little favorite." Christopher takes offense at this and a fight almost ensues. Later, at comàre night, after Adriana had pointed out earlier that he is always being saddled with the checks, Christopher forces Paulie to pay for the dinner, having refused to do so himself. At Satriale's the following morning, Paulie demands that Christopher pay him the cost of the dinner or begin to pay points. Tony orders Christopher to keep paying the tabs for the dinners; it's respectful and it is a tradition and one day he'll have his dinners paid for too. In Atlantic City, Paulie tells everyone to choose whatever they want in order to inflate the bill for Christopher. Paulie also sends over a bottle of Cristal to a table of unattractive women. The bill—which amounts to $1,184—is given to Christopher, who leaves the waiter $1,200: only a $16.00 tip. Paulie and Christopher continue to bicker in the parking lot. Just when they are about to come to blows the waiter comes out to confront them about his minuscule gratuity. He proceeds to call them "fucking assholes," as he turns and walks away. This causes Christopher to throw a brick at his head after the waiter turns to go back inside. The waiter is struck and collapses, convulsing on the ground. A fearful Paulie shoots him. Paulie grabs the money as they hurriedly leave in separate vehicles. The next day, Paulie and Christopher both agree to split the tab and "bury the hatchet."

While Tony lunches with Johnny Sack, Carmine and newly released Angelo Garepe, Carmine suffers a stroke and is rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital. Johnny soon notifies Little Carmine, who plans to leave on the next available flight from Miami, Florida. At the hospital, Johnny reminds Tony that he still has not forgotten about their sabotaged arrangement from last year, which could have averted the current situation. Johnny feigns concern for Carmine.

After watching The Prince of Tides with Valentina, Tony wants to reunite with his now estranged therapist, Dr. Melfi. He sends her flowers (along with a gallon of Tide detergent, in reference to The Prince of Tides) to her office with a calling card. When he calls her to set up a date, she tells him that she cannot go out with him due to their previous clinical relationship, feeling it is unprofessional. Tony says he is "not undeterred" (a malapropism) by her refusal. Tony then makes an appointment, but only to confess his love to her in person. He grabs her and kisses her passionately. She is visibly unresponsive and tells him to stop. He then leaves. Later on, with her own psychiatrist, she describes the encounter. Elliot suggests calling the police because she is dealing with a sociopath who is not used to not getting what he wants. She confesses that she at first found him sexy but after learning more about his life what feeling she did have went away. Later after a group encounter session she is overseeing, Tony comes in and makes a third attempt by giving her cruise tickets; once again, she refuses. Growing irritated by defeat, Tony asks Dr. Melfi what the real reason is. She begins to explain what she deplores about him; his being gangster as a subtext, including not being respectful of women in particular and people in general, and that he uses force and the threat of force to get what he wants. As a therapist, she cannot judge her patients; however, if things were to get personal, she wouldn't be able to witness such acts. He then gives up and calls her a "fucking cunt" and walks out, leaving Dr. Melfi stunned but proving her point. Tony then returns to the Soprano residence where he relieves Benny for the night as lookout in case the bear returns, puffing on a cigar and holding an assault rifle.

First appearances

• Michele "Feech" La Manna: former capo of the now defunct La Manna crew who was incarcerated during the 1980s
• Angelo Garepe: former Lupertazzi family Consigliere
• Phil Leotardo: (image only) Capo of the Lupertazzi family who was sent to prison in the early 1980s
• Tony Blundetto: (image only) Tony's cousin and Soprano crime family associate who was sent to jail in 1986 for hijacking a truck

Deceased

• Raoul: an Atlantic City waiter who complained to Paulie and Christopher about a poor tip.

Title reference

• Tony attempts to demonstrate to Dr. Melfi that there are two Tony Sopranos, one of whom she has never seen before and he wants to show her.
• Also, Tony's cousin Tony Blundetto is released from prison and the "two Tonys" are featured throughout the season.
• The name may also be based on the real life "Two Tonys," mobsters Anthony Brancato and Anthony Trombino.

Production

• Series writer Matthew Weiner plays the guest on the opening news broadcast.
• This episode is the first season opener wherein Tony is not featured picking up The Star-Ledger at the foot of his driveway. Instead, Meadow runs over the newspaper with her car.
• Steve Buscemi (Tony Blundetto) is now billed in the opening credits although he doesn't appear in the episode, other than in the form of photographs during the "Class of '04" news report. Jamie-Lynn Sigler is billed as "Jamie-Lynn DiScala" during this season, due to marriage.

Cultural references

• The opening sequence of various shots of the Soprano home with autumn leaves blowing in the wind is an homage to the opening shots of The Godfather, Part III, which portrayed the rundown Corleone compound in Lake Tahoe.
• When Tony greets Feech LaManna at Junior's, he observes that the house is like the Bowery Boys, with secret codes.
• Carmela tells Benny, whom Tony has sent to "protect" her and AJ, the he shouldn't sit outside like A Fistful of Dollars.
• The restaurant where Chris and Paulie kill the waiter is called Neptune's, which is in keeping with the water references interlaced throughout the series.

Connections to prior episodes

• At the Bada Bing, Christopher reiterates to Vito Spatafore, Benny Fazio, and Patsy Parisi the story of his and Paulie's mishaps in the "Pine Barrens" with the Russian mobster; this causes a feud between him and Paulie that continues throughout half the episode.
• The Russian Bear is used by Westerners as a national personification for Russia. Consequently, upon learning about the bear in the backyard, Tony asks if it's an Eastern Bear, referencing past episodes depicting dangerous encounters with Russian mobsters:
  • Janice's experience having the Russians break in her kitchen door and intimidate Janice into returning Svetlana's leg (in episode 30, "Employee of the Month")
  • Tony's fear that Slava will learn about Paulie and Christopher's attempts to kill and bury Valery (who disappeared in episode 37, "Pine Barrens") and then retaliate.

Music

• The song played at the beginning and over the end credits is "Heaven Only Knows" by Emmylou Harris.
• At the start of the scene where Tony's crew were having dinner at the Atlantic City restaurant, "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne is heard, as is "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye.