Rat Pack (The Sopranos)
| "Rat Pack" | |
|---|---|
| The Sopranos episode | |
| File:Sopranos ep502.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Alan Taylor |
| Written by | Matthew Weiner |
| Cinematography by | Alik Sakharov |
| Production code | 502 |
| Original air date | March 14, 2004 |
| Running time | 57 minutes |
| Guest appearance | |
| see below | |
"Rat Pack" is the fifty-fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and is the second of the show's fifth season. It was written by Matthew Weiner, directed by Alan Taylor and originally aired on March 14, 2004.
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.
- Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante
- Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri
- Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr.
- Jamie-Lynn DiScala as Meadow Soprano
- Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
- Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano Baccalieri
- Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby Baccalieri
- Vincent Curatola as Johnny Sack
- John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco
- and Steve Buscemi as Tony Blundetto
* = credit only
Guest starring
Also guest starring
Episode recap
During a meeting in a diner, contractor Jack Massarone presents Tony with a painting of Rat Pack and tries to get Tony to discuss his political connections. It is revealed that Massarone has become an FBI informant and is wearing a wire. Soprano capo Ray Curto, another informant, visits FBI Headquarters to help agents correct inaudible words from a transcribed meeting he recorded.
As Tony, Bobby, and Uncle Junior reminisce at Junior's home, word comes from New York that Carmine has died. Junior is once again distraught over so many of his friends dying. During Carmine's funeral, conflict arises when Little Carmine takes offense when Johnny Sack and his friend crack jokes at the wake, as well as the placement of Opus Dei rosary beads in his father's coffin. Later, Johnny expresses his astonishment that Little Carmine is now contesting his position as the new Lupertazzi boss, after having lived away from the family in Miami Beach for years.
Tony greets Tony B after he is released from prison. At his welcome-home party at Nuovo Vesuvio, Tony tells a large gathering how important his cousin was in his life growing up. Tony B is introduced to various family members, but is disappointed to learn his ex-wife and twin sons are not in attendance. At the Bada Bing, Tony acts awkwardly around his cousin and takes offense when he seemingly mocks his weight. Tony then notices Feech greeting Tony B with an envelope of cash, and observes that he seems much closer to his fellow inmate than to his own cousin.
Over breakfast, Tony extends an offer to let Tony B join a stolen car airbag operation. However, Tony B is not as eager to get back in the business and informs Tony that he earned an associate's degree in prison and seeks to go legitimate by becoming a state-licensed massage therapist. Tony is disappointed by Tony B's decision, calling him "useless" in front of Silvio and Christopher. He also reprimands Tony B for making jokes about him and distracting mobsters at Satriale's with a demonstration of his massage skills. Tony later seems to soften his tone and reconcile with his cousin.
Adriana watches Citizen Kane with Carmela, Janice, Rosalie Aprile, Gabriella Dante, and Donna Parisi for one of their regular movie nights. Afterward, the women's discussion of the movie evolves into an analysis of their respective relationships. Later, Adriana meets with her FBI handler, Agent Sanseverino, who reassures her that she is with the "good guys" now. Sanseverino explains that she joined the FBI after her sister's criminal boyfriend inadvertently left her a paraplegic. A shocked Adriana sheds a tear.
Tony is informed by Patsy Parisi that his meeting with Massarone had been under FBI surveillance. Suspicious, he arranges a meeting and hugs Massarone to find the wire, not realizing it's in Massarone's baseball cap. Later, Tony tells his crew he couldn't tell if Massarone was an informant. Tony remarks about how Massarone had mentioned that Tony had lost weight, which the rest of the crew seem skeptical about. During the council with his crew, Tony gets a call from Tony B's boss, who is considering firing him. Chris floats the idea of using Tony B to hit Massarone. Tony, frustrated, tells Chris that Tony B wants to "go straight."
Tony returns to his mother's house to ruminate about Massarone and deal with his anxiety problems. He calls Tony B in the early morning for small talk, and to complain about his separation. After facing a mirror and patting the full size of his gut, Tony takes a drive with Massarone's Rat Pack painting. On the Pulaski Skyway, Tony tosses the painting into the river beneath and drives away. The next morning, Massarone is found dead in the trunk of his car.
Meanwhile, Adriana is racked with guilt during another movie night at Carmela's, inflamed by Rosalie telling her how Big Pussy's widow, Angie, is not welcome in their group because of what they believe to her her husband's betrayal as an informant. A teary Adriana nearly admits to being an informant, but instead flees and injures herself in Carmela's driveway. Adriana refuses the group's offers of first aid and speeds away in her car. The next morning, she tells Sanseverino that her friend is embezzling money from her boss at a furniture store.
First appearances
- Lorraine Calluzzo: loan shark working for the Lupertazzi crime family, also known as "Lady Shylock."
- Jason Evanina: Lorraine Calluzzo's loan-sharking partner and lover.
- Tony Blundetto (first physical appearance): Tony's cousin and DiMeo/Soprano crime family member who was sent to federal prison in 1986 for hijacking a tractor trailer.
- Phil Leotardo (first physical appearance): Captain in the Lupertazzi crime family, recently released from prison after serving 20 years.
Deceased
- Joseph "Joey" Cogo: killed offscreen in a payment dispute. Agent Sanseverino shows photos of his corpse to Adriana, who confirms his identity and having seen him previously with certain mob members.
- Carmine Lupertazzi: died of stroke
- Jack Massarone: killed for being an FBI informant. Massarone is found dead in the trunk of a car by FBI agents.
Title reference
- Jack Massarone gives Tony a painting of Sinatra, Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr, who were all members of the "Rat Pack."
- The episode shows Adriana, Jack Massarone, and Raymond Curto all working with the FBI. Such informants are often called "rats."
- Junior refers to the recently released "Class of 2004" as "Old rats on a new ship."
References to other media
- The wiretap recording that Ray Curto is helping the FBI transcribe is from the capos meeting in "For All Debts Public and Private".
- Paulie quotes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, mispronouncing the author's name as "Sun-Ta-Zu", confusing Tony Blundetto until corrected by Silvio. He also mistakenly refers to Sun Tzu as "the Chinese Prince Matchabelli", (meaning Niccolò Machiavelli).
- In one scene, Tony is shown watching a tearful recollection by WWII veteran Edward Heffron in "Points", the final episode of HBO mini-series Band of Brothers.
- During Tony Blundetto's comeback party, Artie asks Tony Blundetto, "Where's Tubbs?" This was in reference to the 1980s TV series Miami Vice, in which Rico Tubbs' partner, Sonny Crockett, usually wore a light-colored suit and T-shirt similar to what Tony Blundetto wore that night. Sopranos actors Tony Sirico, Steve Buscemi and Joe Santos appeared as guest stars on Miami Vice.
- Tony Blundetto jokingly calls Paulie Grandpa Munster (from The Munsters) because of his hair.
- At Carmela's house, due to Tonys removing the media system, the women enjoy snacks and wine instead of watching Casablanca. The next movie on their list is The Godfather.
- Before watching Citizen Kane, Carmela reads the review of the film from Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide.
Reference to real events
- After Carmine Lupertazzi passes, Bobby mentions that he had heard Carmine invented point shaving. To this, Uncle Junior nostalgically recalls, "CCNY versus Kentucky, 1951. Nobody beat the spread, I bought a black Fleetwood." This refers to the actual CCNY Point Shaving Scandal of 1950-1951.
Music
- Roy Orbison's "Crying", and "It Hurts to Be in Love," by Gene Pitney both play in the diner during the first scene.
- In the coffee shop scene between Adriana and Agent Sanseverino, "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range can be heard playing in the background.
- "Walk With Me" by Felix Da Housecat is playing in the background in the first scene between Adriana, Christopher and Tina at the Crazy Horse. In a later scene, "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 is playing.
- "Canzona in D Minor" (BWV 588) by Johann Sebastian Bach is playing at Carmine Lupertazzi's wake.
- Tony Blundetto's cellphone ringtone is Queen's "We Are the Champions"
- Dean Martin singing "Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile Smile Smile)" is heard playing at Artie's restaurant when the Tonys arrive together.
- The song played over the end credits is "Undercover of the Night" by The Rolling Stones.
