Whitecaps (The Sopranos)

"Whitecaps"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 52
Directed by	John Patterson
Written by	David Chase and Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess
Production code	52
Original air date	December 8, 2002 (2002-12-08)
Guest stars
Tom Aldredge Bruce Altman Randy Barbee Denise Borino Carl Capotorto Max Casella Dan Castleman Curtiss Cook Cynthia Darlow Tony Darrow Dan Grimaldi Will Janowitz Alla Kliouka Oksana Lada Liz Larsen Tony Lip Robert LuPone Bruce MacVittie Jeffrey M. Marchetti Frank Pando Richard Portnow Joe Pucillo Matt Servitto Universal Karen Young
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"Whitecaps" is the fifty-second episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos. It is the thirteenth and final episode of the show's fourth season. It was written by series creator/executive producer David Chase, and executive producers Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, and was directed by longtime series director John Patterson. It originally aired in the United States on December 8, 2002, attracting 12.5 million viewers.

Episode recap

Christopher leaves rehab

Tony gets a call from Patsy Parisi, who is watching Adriana pick Chris up from rehab; Patsy reports to Tony that Christopher has graduated rehab and is looking strong. However, also observing are FBI Agents Harris and Grasso, to whom Patsy extends his middle finger.

Adriana meets with Agent Sanseverino and they discuss Chris' return. Ade reveals that Chris no longer wants children because he feels he is unfit to be a father, after having accidentally killed her dog. Adriana tells Sanseverino that she and Chris plan to get help for Ralph Cifaretto when he resurfaces. She also states that Vito Spatafore has been calling her while Chris was in rehab. Finally, she asks permission to visit her mother and gives thanks when it is granted.

Beach house

As Carmela is still feeling unwell, she and Tony visit Dr. Cusamano. Cusamano reassures Carmela that she does not have lupus, but most likely mono; he also checks after her mental health regarding any significant changes in her life that may have brought on this illness. Of course, she does not mention her depression over Furio Giunta's leaving. Tony takes Carmela to visit Whitecaps, the house he is thinking of buying for the family on the Jersey Shore. Carmela's father, Hugh, and a RE/MAX real estate agent, Virginia Lupo, meet them there. Carmela worries that they won't be able to afford the property, due to the Esplanade situation with the Lupertazzi family, but Tony explains that he wants something to draw the family together. Virginia explains the catch: the house has been sold to another couple but it seems likely the sale will fall through.

In bed, Carmela encourages Tony to buy Whitecaps as an investment. Tony says she should know better than to use property for an investment; she took real estate classes. Tony and Chris visit Whitecaps and Tony meets the owner, Alan Sapinsly, an attorney. When Tony offers cash, Sapinsly calls Dr. Kim, the current buyer, and negotiates his way out of their contract by promising full return of the deposit and threatening litigation if Dr. Kim moves in. Tony immediately tells his family the good news and they all arrive to survey the property. Tony tells his children they will inherit the property when he dies. Out on the beach in their last romantic moment before the collapse of their marriage, Tony and Carmela embrace, with Carmela saying lovingly, "Anthony Soprano, you are full of surprises."

However, when Tony and Carmela decide to separate (see below), Tony wants out of the deal. Sapinsly calls Tony to say he is going to let him out of the sale but will keep the $200,000 deposit. Tony says if that's the case, he will move in and make Sapinsly's life hell. Benny and Little Paulie take the speakers out of Tony's home cinema, install them on Tony's boat (The Stugots), and play a Dean Martin in Las Vegas concert at high volume, disrupting the Sapinslys' shark fin soup lunch party. The Sapinslys close the patio doors and return to their lunch, attempting to act as if the lunch is unaffected. This occurs again several days later, at night as they sit in lawn chairs facing the bay. Sapinly's wife urges him to settle the matter. Alan wants to call the police again but she points out that they only will turn down the music again when the police boat comes close. Then he wants to call the Coast Guard. Almost frantically, she tells him that Tony could keep paying those $200 fines forever. She tells Alan to just let it go. Completely upset by this time, she covers her ears and flees inside the house. Alan sits there a few more moments, seeming to come to terms that he must let it go. With a look of resignation, he gets up and goes inside, closing the doors and windows to block out some of the concert.

Esplanade

With the Esplanade construction project shut down, Johnny Sack is also worried over money and argues with his wife, Ginny. Chris drives Tony to meet Johnny and en route they discuss Chris' recovery from heroin addiction. The meeting takes place in an OfficeMax store and they again discuss making a move against Carmine Lupertazzi. Tony says he has to pass, but this proves to be a negotiating technique: when Johnny promises to relinquish claims to his HUD business and gives him an equitable split on future projects, Tony agrees to go ahead. On the return trip Tony discusses the job with Chris, their trust seemingly restored. Tony asks Chris to contract the job out and make it look like a random act, such as a carjacking. Chris says he knows some trustworthy black guys to carry it out. Chris delivers a pre-payment to Credenzo Curtiss and Stanley Johnson—a couple of heroin dealers he knows from his pre-rehab days—and delivers instructions for the planned hit on Carmine, including his clockwork-like movements, and tells the hitmen to make it look like a carjacking.

Tony receives a call from Johnny to tell him that Carmine has decided to settle. Tony and Chris attend a sitdown in a Queens, New York park, where Carmine offers sympathy about Tony's marital problems. They settle on 15% for Carmine and Johnny is visibly put out. Carmine asks Tony to remember his son, Little Carmine's, role in the settlement after he is gone, but reminds them of his good health, he "...isn't going anywhere". "Healthy as a rhino", Johnny Sack adds about Carmine. Tony pauses a moment with an expression on his face that seems to wonder if Carmine got wind about the hit on him. Tony and Carmine embrace.

Tony notifies Chris to call off the hit and, to ensure the hired guns don't talk to anyone, Chris meets Credenzo and Johnson with half of what would have been the rest of their payment and drives off. Benny Fazio and Petey shoot the two would-be hitmen repeatedly before they can drive away as Chris watches from a distance, and then grab the money. Tony drives out to meet Johnny and tells him that the Carmine hit is off. Tony feels that the hit will be too high-profile and it would more than likely draw attention from the FBI; also, that there is no reason to kill Carmine now that the dispute is resolved. Johnny is enraged and complains to Tony that he will have to go back to work for Carmine and his son, whom he hates. Johnny lets loose his true feelings about his boss, including treasonous insults; Tony says he shouldn't be hearing this. Johnny asks Tony why he should trust him when he has backed out of their deal, something that he can hang over Johnny's head —- Tony again states that he shouldn't be hearing this. They part ways after a respectful embrace.

Junior's trial

At Junior's trial, the jury are having difficulty reaching a verdict. The jurors look angrily at one man in particular: Danny Scalercio, the juror whom Eugene Pontecorvo intimidated. As the judge reads them the Allen charge instructing them to deliberate further despite their apparent deadlock, Junior gives the corrupted juror a long stare. Later Junior finally gets his mistrial when the jury still cannot reach a verdict. When Junior returns home, he is in no mood for a celebration and just lets Bobby Bacala order some pizza. He complains that Tony probably won't visit him because of his own troubles. Bobby and Janice's relationship appears to be developing and they dance smittenly together, but Junior breaks up the moment by ordering Bobby check for Murf's payment envelope, "downstairs under the flagstone".

The separation

Tony's ex-comàre, Irina, phones the Soprano residence, telling Carmela she used to have sex with her husband; Carmela hangs up, distraught with visible stomach pain. Irina calls back and tells Carmela that Tony loves her and she also reveals his encounter with Svetlana. Irina is obviously drunk and filled with self-loathing. Carmela tells Irina that if she calls again then she will find her and kill her. Later as Tony pulls into his driveway listening and whistling in accompaniment to Derek and the Dominos' "Layla", he accidentally runs over his golf clubs. He exits the vehicle and sees Carmela hurling more of his possessions from the window, and at him when he enters the house before she locks herself in the bedroom. Carmela tells Tony that he has embarrassed her for years with his infidelity and she is angry because it has bled into their home lives. She is even more infuriated because Irina initially spoke to A.J. They get into a physical altercation and Carmela tells him to leave the house, again becoming violent when he touches her after Tony tells her to calm down. Tony accuses Carmela of taking money from his stash in the bird feed, which she denies and counters by bringing up the fingernail she found; Tony tries to deny the connection but stumbles when he realizes it belonged to someone else, another mistress. Carmela again insists that Tony leave, when Tony asks about the kids she admits it is horrible for them but stands her ground.

Tony drives to Irina's duplex but only Svetlana is there. Svetlana reveals to Tony that Irina and Zellman broke up because of the emasculating beating that Tony gave him in front of Irina. She also tells Tony that Branca was the one who told Irina about their affair after an argument over Svetlana's withholding Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax and other taxes. Tony lets her know about the separation and this will "rip up" the kids. Svetlana tells Tony that he is a strong man. They part amicably. Tony goes to Whitecaps to stay and in the morning he is awakened by Sapinsly's banging on the window. Sapinsly appears sympathetic to Tony's problem but asks him not to stay at the house since he would be liable if something happened to Tony while he was there. He advises Tony to meet with all of the top local divorce lawyers so that none of them will be able to take Carmela on as a client. Once he is dressed, Tony visits the Sapinsly house and asks to withdraw from the sale. Alan's wife, Trish, seems caring but Alan insists that they stick to the contract he signed, especially since Alan dumped another buyer to accommodate Tony. After Tony leaves, Trish chastises Alan for getting into a dispute with a "mobster", and also for lying about having partners.

At the Soprano household, Meadow discusses the separation with her mother. She is distraught about it and brings up Furio Giunta. Carmela denies any infidelity to Tony and Meadow storms off after asking her mother how she could "eat shit" from Tony for so many years. Tony dines at Nuovo Vesuvio and Artie offers consolations, but Tony responds by criticizing the food.

Tony returns home and Carmela is shocked to see him. She tries to stop him from taking food from the refrigerator, twice, and demands that he leave. Tony becomes violent and refuses to leave. Carmela threatens to call a lawyer and get a restraining order. Tony dares her to and hands her his phone which she bats away with her hand. Carmela then tries to leave the kitchen but Tony forcibly prevents her, bending her backward over the counter. Carmela tells him that she doesn't want him sleeping in her bed anymore, that the very thought of it makes her sick, and that she no longer loves him—something that erases any emotion from Tony's face. He lets her go and opens the refrigerator. Carmela runs upstairs in tears. Later, A.J. helps Tony clear the home cinema (located in the pool house) so that he can stay there. Tony tells his son that he will be taking a bigger hand in his life now that he is right outside. Tony has a difficult night's sleep.

Tony lies in the pool and Carmela asks him to move the chairs he has put on the lawn. Tony thinks she is looking for an excuse to nag him and they get into another argument. Carmela tells Tony it might not have come to this if he had a more loving attitude while at home. Tony brings up Carmela's telling him he was going to hell when he was first being examined for an MRI for his collapses (in episode 1). She follows him inside and apologizes, telling him he was her man and was sweet to her. Tony asks her what she expected from their marriage, as she knew everything about him when they met, including the fact he and his family were gangsters, and that many gangsters keep comàres. He also accuses her of materialism. Carmela calls Tony hateful and reveals her love for Furio, telling Tony that her happiest moments for months have been her mornings with Furio: when Tony came downstairs, she felt like someone who had a terminal illness but had forgotten about it for a while. Tony again becomes violent and charges at Carmela and almost punches her but stops himself and punches holes in the wall beside her head instead, smashing it in. She turns away while Tony keeps punching. He says "Poor you" to her as his mother used to say to him. He tells her he looked for women with different qualities from her in his affairs, but she reminds him that he hardly knew most of the women he slept with and walks out, calling him a "fucking hypocrite". Later, almost in tears, Tony calls Dr. Melfi but hangs up when she answers. Probably suspecting but not knowing for sure who it was, she tries to call him back using *69 but the recording says that the number was blocked to that service.

A.J. goes to his father to ask if he can move in with him because A.J. is not getting along with his mother. Tony realizes his presence at the house is damaging for his children. Tony tells the family he has decided to move out completely. A.J. becomes upset and asks if it was because he asked to live with Tony. Meadow takes the news hard as well, and suggests Tony and Carmela try counseling again. When Meadow gets upstairs, a flash of a moment when she antagonized her parents runs through her mind, when she complained years prior that there wasn't anything in the house to eat after going to the refrigerator; Meadow begins to cry, realizing how much she took her parents for granted. Tony packs to leave and Carmela asks him to be careful. A.J. watches from the doorway with his mother as his father drives away.

Deceased

• Credenzo Curtis and Stanley Johnson: shot by Benny Fazio and Petey LaRosa in the Meadowlands to ensure their silence about the canceled Carmine hit.

Title reference

• Whitecaps is the name of the property Tony plans to buy for his family.
• Whitecaps on water indicate rough sailing or trouble ahead.

Production

• David Chase described Tony's use of Dean Martin to intimidate Sapinsly as "cultural warfare" because Martin is Italian.^{[citation needed]}
• Adriana describes Vito as Ralph's second-in-command.
• The longest episode of the series, running 75 minutes.
• This is the last episode the character Irina Peltsin appears in.
• This is the only season finale wherein no major character is killed off.

Reception

Critical response

Entertainment Weekly placed "Whitecaps" #3 on their list of the 10 greatest The Sopranos episodes; TIME placed it at #4.

Awards

• James Gandolfini won his third Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode.
• Edie Falco won her third Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in this episode. This episode was the culmination of what was considered the best season of The Sopranos for Edie Falco. For her role as Carmela, she also won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series, the SAG award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series and was the first female winner of the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama, a feat that would later be accomplished by Julianna Margulies as well.
• John Patterson won Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series from the Directors Guild of America for his work.
• David Chase, Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for their work on this episode.

Music

• "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos is playing in Tony's car when he drives up to the house as Carmela is throwing out his golf clubs and other possessions.
• The song played over the end credits is "I Love Paris (Vegas)" by Dean Martin. It is followed by the instrumental piece, "I Have Dreamed", from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The King and I, performed by Fantastic Strings.

References to past episodes

• Johnny Sack confides to Tony that he, too, has considered divorce, explaining, "Marriage is difficult if you're not both pulling the load." This statement references episode 43, "The Weight" (2002).
• Tony brings up Carmela's telling him he was going to hell when he was first being examined for an MRI for his collapses (this occurred in the show's pilot episode)

References to other media and cultural references

• When Johnny Sack and Tony meet at the office supplies store to discuss "whacking" Carmine Lupertazzi, Johnny quotes a line from The Beatles' song, "Hey Jude": "We'll take a sad song and make it better".
• When Tony first sees Christopher after Christopher's departure from rehab, he says "Hey, Jack Lemmon! How's Lee Remick?" This refers to the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses.
• When fighting with Tony in the pool house, Carmela says: "Who knew? All this time, you really wanted Tracy and Hepburn."
• When Johnny Sack and Tony meet to discuss Tony and Carmine's having reached an agreement, a disappointed Johnny Sack makes several cultural and literal references:
  • "Don't go into coaching Tony, it's not your strong suit." - referencing the individual coaching fad whose popularity exploded in the 1990's.
  • Sack says early on "things have a momentum of their own" (warning that the hit needs to continue, despite Tony and Carmine having reached an agreement), and later states: "Creeps in this petty pace..." - quoting Shakespeare's Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17-28)
• When Carmela asks Tony to move chairs from the lawn, he mocks her with the line 'Bad for the grass, bad for the grass', a pivotal plot line from the Roman Polanski detective movie Chinatown.
• When explaining his decision to call off the hit on Carmine, Tony warns Johnny Sack they need to avoid causing a "shootout at the OK Corral", referencing the 1881 gunfight made famous by Stuart N. Lake's (largely fictionalized) biography, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal (1931; ISBN 9780671885373), and other media based on Lake's books and the actual event.

External links

• HBO.com — The Sopranos official website
• The Sopranos at the Internet Movie Database
• "Whitecaps" at the Internet Movie Database
• Television Without Pity — The Sopranos recaps
• The Sopranos — Family Values