D-Girl (The Sopranos)

"D-Girl (The Sopranos)"

"D-Girl" is the twentieth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and was the seventh of the show's second season. It was written by Todd A. Kessler, directed by Allen Coulter and originally aired on Sunday, February 27, 2000.

Starring

• James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
• Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
• Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
• Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
• Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr.
• Vincent Pastore as Pussy Bonpensiero
• Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante
• Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri
• Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr.
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano
• Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
• David Proval as Richie Aprile
• Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano
• and Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano

Guest Starring

• Jon Favreau as Himself
• Sandra Bernhard as Herself
• Janeane Garofalo as Herself
• Alicia Witt as Amy Safir
• Louis Lombardi, Jr. as Skip Lipari
• Toni Kalem as Angie Bonpensiero
• Arthur Barnes as Security Guard
• Stephen Bienskie as Hotel Clerk
• John Devlin as Assistant Director

• Dominic Fumusa as Gregory Moltisanti
• Andersen Gabrych as UTA Receptionist
• Bryan Matzkow as Hotel Manager
• Andrea Maulella as Michele Forman
• Jason Minter as Bellman
• Frank Pando as Agent Grasso
• Steve Porcelli as Matt Bonpensiero
• Elizabeth Reaser as Stace
• Asa Somers as Blaine Richardson

Episode recap

A.J. continues to be a source of anguish to Tony. One afternoon as he is driving in Carmela's Mercedes-Benz E320, which he took without permission, A.J. makes a sharp turn and hits a parked truck leaving a few scratches and a broken door mirror, because he is an inexperienced and untrained driver and does not even have a license. As Carmela attempts to drive out of the garage, the crudely repaired mirror falls off. Carmela and Tony then sit A.J. down and lecture him on how he could have killed the people in the car. A.J. thinks that the scenario would be "interesting", since "death just shows the absolute absurdity of life". Appalled, Tony and Carmela ask where he developed such ideas. A.J. reveals that he has encountered the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre, and even asks not to be confirmed because he says there is no God. Tony feels confused about A.J.'s sudden somber mood and discusses it with Dr. Melfi. While Tony believes it is not normal to question the faith, Melfi thinks that existentialist concerns are a natural phase of adolescence that was repressed by Tony's parents. Melfi then asks Tony how his disconnected relationship with Livia is taking a toll on the children, seeing as how he has publicly insisted that his mother is effectively dead to him. Tony does not answer, but dejectedly admits that A.J.'s concerns could be legitimate.

Tony turns to Pussy for guidance on A.J., since Pussy is both his godfather and confirmation sponsor, and by the looks of things, has a more active relationship with the Soprano son. Pussy then takes A.J. and his own college-age son, Matt, to the batting cages where the more informed Matt explains that philosophers such as Nietzsche were often mentally disturbed or lacking integrity, and advises that he study earlier, non-nihilistic philosophic work. A.J. explains that he does not think that God does not exist, but that he believes God is dead.

Christopher Moltisanti rediscovers his interest in the world of film making. While having dinner with his cousin Greg, Greg's fiancée, Amy Safir (an associate of Jon Favreau's), invites Christopher and Adriana to come on the set to see their new film being shot. Adriana tells Christopher that she believes in him, and has saved a copy of the script he had previously discarded. Christopher goes to the set alone and sits in on a film shoot starring Janeane Garofalo and Sandra Bernhard. When Janeane objects to the word "bitch" in the script, the director has difficulty in finding a substitute word. Christopher suggests the word "pucchiaca", Italian for "cunt", which is readily accepted by the impressed cast and crew. Christopher soon becomes very close with Amy and they begin a sexual relationship. The wild sexual revelry and Amy's attractiveness is suddenly contrasted by Livia's ugliness and a sterile hospital environment when A.J. is directed to Livia for some wisdom and guidance. When A.J. tells her how he got in trouble, Livia dismissively concurs that life is meaningless and lonely, telling her grandson that everyone is destined to "die in their own arms". This only serves to exacerbate the teenage angst of Anthony Junior.

The next day over lunch, Christopher discusses his screenplay with Jon and Amy, and tells a story about a mobster's violent encounter with a transsexual. Jon and Amy ask questions about the mob and appear impressed and respectful of Christopher. This is unbeknownst to Adriana, who is still waiting for Christopher to propose. When having dinner with Carmela and Tony, Christopher pours his wine in Adriana's soup and storms out of a restaurant when she and Carmela continue to pressure him about marriage. When an upset Adriana says she supported Christopher on his screenplay, she unknowingly reveals to Tony that Christopher is not giving his full attention to crime family matters. Christopher then visits Amy, saying that he was "in the neighborhood", where they enjoy another night of extramarital sex. It does not dawn upon Amy until the next morning that she has betrayed her fiancée and that they should come clean. Christopher warns her not to, but is soon distracted when he happens upon Favreau's screenplay. While reading the draft, Christopher learns that Jon has used the story he had told him in confidence. Irate, Christopher searches for Favreau, but finds that he has already returned to California. When Christopher approaches Amy, she adopts a strictly businesslike attitude, saying that Hollywood has lost interest in mob films. Furious, Christopher denounces her as a "fucking D-girl", causing an offended Amy to proclaim that she is a vice president, before storming off.

Pussy is forced by the FBI to wear a wire while at the confirmation ceremony and party afterwards. Hours before the ceremony, Pussy shaves his chest as an impatient Angie asks if she can come in the bathroom. Pussy tries to stop her and as she opens the door she throws a mirror at him which leads Pussy to lunge at her furiously. As he is about to strike her, Matt storms in and breaks up the fight. As Pussy gets up, Matt spots blood on his father's chest.

After the ceremony, A.J. is caught smoking pot with two cousins in the garage, further dismaying his parents. An embarrassed A.J. then retreats to his room where he is told by Pussy that his father is a good man. An increasingly emotional Pussy then tells him the story of his deceased sister and how Tony always stayed with her in the hospital until her death. After Pussy hugs A.J., the FBI reception of signals from his wire becomes troublesome.

At the confirmation party, Tony delivers Christopher an ultimatum: Tony will give him ten minutes to confer with himself as to the path he wants to take in life. Afterwards, Tony will know Christopher has made up his mind if he sees Christopher mingling at the party or not. Christopher is either to make a commitment to the mob life, seeking no other distractions, or to continue with his own life, in which case Tony never wants to see him again. Christopher thinks about this on the front steps of Tony's house and re-enters the premises, indicating his pledge of loyalty to Tony and the family. Christopher has made his choice and he is glad with it. A.J., along with his family and their pastor, gathers for a picture. When Tony asks where the godfather is, a distraught Pussy is revealed to be sobbing alone in the bathroom over his disloyalty and isolated position. He has made his choice and he is not glad with it.

Title reference

• The episode's title is a shortened title for "development girl", used mostly in the film and television industry.

Connections to other media

• The plot device involving Jon Favreau's interest in writing a screenplay for a mafia movie is echoed in his actual 2001 film Made, which focuses on the exploits of two would-be wiseguys assigned to a job in New York City. Three cast members of The Sopranos appearing in this episode (Vincent Pastore, Federico Castelluccio, and Drea de Matteo) play supporting roles in Favreau's film.
• Amy reminds Christopher that Mickey Blue Eyes failed to live up to its advance billing, which starred Tony Siroco.

Music

The song played over the end credits is Vedi, Maria, by Emma Shapplin.

When Chris is telling the story of the transsexual in the cafe, Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac is playing in the background.

External Links

• "The Sopranos" D-Girl at IMDb