Remember When (The Sopranos)
| "Remember When (The Sopranos)" |
|---|
"Remember When" is the eightieth episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos. It is the third episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, the fifteenth episode of the season overall. It was written by Terence Winter and was directed by Phil Abraham. It originally aired on April 22, 2007.
Episode recap
On a tip from the once again in custody capo Larry Boy Barese, the F.B.I. begins investigating an old murder: that of bookie Willie Overall, which was Tony's first hit (assisted by Paulie). The assigned hit was given to Tony by his father in order for Tony to "make his bones". After Paulie goes to Tony's house and informs him of the situation, he and Paulie pack up and head towards Miami to lay low until the heat blows over.
Back at the Wyckoff Center, Uncle Junior gets a visit from the former soldiers from his old crew Pat Blundetto and Beppy Scerbo. Junior begs them to aid his escape from the center. Pat suggests he make an appointment with an outside dentist, and then he and Beppy can sneak Junior off in their car. They give Junior their weekly kick-up and say goodbye in Italian. At lunch, Junior informs one of the guards — whom he bribes for special treatment — that he wants to organize a poker game that night. Junior and fellow patient and friend Carter Chong set up the card game amongst the other patients. Jameel, the orderly who assists Junior for money, charges him $60 for smuggling in soda and candy, which some of the patients aren't even allowed to have. Junior reluctantly pays, and Jameel says he'll steer people away from the door as they play their game. Junior is flying high, telling off-color jokes and bringing back old portions of his life; however, the game is soon ended when another patient who is resentful towards Junior snitches them out to another orderly who is true to his job.
On the trip down to Miami, Tony grows weary of Paulie's mannerisms and tendency to sometimes carelessly blab with strangers. Suspecting his loyalty, Tony questions Paulie several times about the circumstance by which Johnny Sack became aware of Ralph Cifaretto's joke made at the expense of his wife, Ginny Sacrimoni. In fact, Paulie was responsible. At a time when tensions were running high between the DiMeo and Lupertazzi families, Paulie had disclosed it to Johnny Sack in an attempt to ingratiate himself. While visiting "Beansie" Gaeta, Tony expressed his concerns about Paulie: his loose tongue, his vulnerability to the Feds due to his lack of legitimate income, and even his mental competency. Beansie sticks up for Paulie, but Tony still wonders whether Paulie's ever been truly "put to the test". Willie Overall's murder is eventually blamed on the deceased Jackie Aprile, Sr., so Tony invites Paulie on a fishing trip to celebrate. Paulie has serious misgivings about going to sea with Tony, remembering how a boat trip was used to lure informant Big Pussy to his death, but sees no alternative. While on the boat, Tony seems about to stab Paulie, but doesn't. Later that night Paulie has a dream in which he goes to his kitchen and finds Pussy cooking over the stove. Paulie asks Pussy "When my time comes, tell me — will I stand up?" Paulie then wakes up. Out of apparent gratitude for Tony sparing him, Paulie sends Carmela a $2,000 espresso machine.
In the meantime, while Uncle Junior and Carter are playing a game of checkers, Professor Lynch, the patient who is resentful of Junior, walks up and begins to make comments that begin to anger him. Junior finally goes off and attacks the professor, kneeing his groin and kicking him repeatedly while the professor lies yelling in pain on the floor. Carter further encourages the fight by yelling, "Get 'em!" Junior is taken away by the orderlies. One day, after Junior urinates on himself, his doctor and the staff become aware that he isn't taking his prescribed medication, which is meant to curtail his aggression and prevent incontinence. The psychiatric doctor in charge informs Soprano that he can either take his medications as ordered or be transferred to a less pleasant mental facility. Junior agrees to be docile and take his meds. The doctor also informs Soprano they have fired Jameel for aiding Junior in his activities that do not adhere to hospital rules and regulations. Since Junior has begun taking his medication, he has lost his feisty personality and kick, which highly disappoints Carter who looked up to Junior as a father figure (Carter's mental problems relate back to a poor relationship with his father as mentioned in an earlier scene). At the end of Junior's last visit with Carter, he refers to him as Anthony. Later that day during a music session, Carter throws a few pieces of paper at the woman playing the piano in hopes to get a laugh out of Junior. When Junior looks back at him and shakes his head in implication he isn't interested in misbehaving anymore, Carter becomes angry and attacks Junior. The episode ends with Junior sitting in his wheelchair in a catatonic-like state idly petting a Siamese cat.
After leaving a massage parlor in New York, Faustino "Doc" Santoro and his bodyguard are shot and killed by multiple gunshots from hit men sent by Phil Leotardo. Faustino had sealed his fate in an earlier scene by insulting Phil by taking food off his plate during a sit down, even after Phil recognized Faustino as the boss of New York. With Faustino gone, Phil initially develops his spot as the boss of New York.
Guest starring
|
|
Deceased
- Faustino "Doc" Santoro: killed by multiple gunshot wounds after leaving a massage parlor in New York.
- Bodyguard: killed alongside "Doc" Santoro.
- Willie Overall: Tony's first murder (a flashback from 1982).
Title reference
- Tony angrily describes "Remember when..." reminiscing as the lowest form of conversation.
- This episode reminds the viewer of many past events that have occurred during the show's run; alongside the appearance of older characters, mention is made of deceased and otherwise departed characters including Big Pussy Bonpensiero, Ralph Cifaretto, Jackie Aprile, Sr., Georgie, Karen Baccalieri and Feech La Manna.
- Junior Soprano and Carter Chong reminisce in the nursing home
Connections to prior episodes
- Tony repeatedly asks Paulie if he told Johnny Sack about the off-color joke that Ralph told about a mole on Ginny Sack's ass (as seen in "No Show"). Paulie repeatedly denies this (Paulie actually did tell Johnny Sack, as shown in the episode "Christopher").
References to other series
- During the times Junior was in his room, he watches television. Shows that he watched in this episode included a Weather Channel documentary hosted by Jim Cantore, and The $25,000 Pyramid.
Foreshadowing
- At the restaurant where Phil Leotardo and Faustino "Doc" Santoro are having their sitdown, after Doc boldly takes food off Phil's plate (despite asking first), Phil's facial expression is an indicative that Doc has just stepped over the line with such disrespect and will indeed pay the price later.
Music
- The instrumental piece played over the end credits is "Sing, Sing, Sing (with a swing)" by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
- The song playing on the radio as Tony and Paulie travel through the Fredericksburg, Virginia area (according to the station identification for WWUZ heard in this scene) was "Rock On", by David Essex.
- The song that Junior is singing with the other patients is "Take Me Home, Country Roads", a song made famous in 1971 by John Denver.
