Posted By: ChrisY2J
Re: Season 5, Episode 8: "Marco Polo" - 04/28/04 06:24 PM
This episode begins in the West Hempstead home of the younger Carmine Lupertazzi. Little Carmine has permanently moved from Miami to the New York area, and he obviously intends to become boss of the Family once headed by his deceased father, the elder Carmine. He is competing with underboss John "Johnny Sack" Sacrimoni for the title of boss. Each man was capos that are loyal to him, and a the power struggle will inevitably get bloody.
Little Carmine is showing two other gangsters around his new home. They are Angelo Garepe, recently released from prison and Carmine Sr's consigliere for 30 years, and Jerry Basile, another New York captain loyal to the Lupertazzi faction. Basile is in Johnny's bad books. He kicked up his points from a recent score to Little Carmine, and Johnny is highly displeased. Little Carmine makes gifts of some stolen washing machines to Angelo and Jerry. He tells them, "We're gonna do great things together."
In the middle of this discussion, Little Carmine's son (Carmine III) runs in, telling his dad that their boat, just brought up from Miami, is sinking. Little Carmine is furious as he watches "My Funny Valentine" sink. Is this an omen, a sign of things to come for Little Carmine in New York? Perhaps.
In the Soprano house in North Caldwell, AJ is busily playing the drums, practicing the one drum beat he seems to know. As he does this, his grandfather, Hugh DeAngelis (Carmela's dad) is doing some roofing. He slips and falls off the roof, crashing into some shrubs.
Later, in the hospital, Carmela and her mother, Mary DeAngelis, are in the waiting room, anxiously awaiting word on Hugh's condition. As they talk, the mother and daughter speak of Hugh's imminent 75th birthday and the surprise party they have planned for him at the Soprano house. Mary asks Carmela if Tony is going to be there. Carmela is unsure of what to do. She wants to stay separated, but says a party at the house wouldn't be the same without Tony. Mary encourages Carm to disinvite Tony. They receive word on Hugh from Dr Singh: the bushes broke his fall, and he should be fine in a few days.
Tony is visiting Johnny Sack at the Sacrimoni residence. Johnny is showing off his new wheels, a beautiful silver Maserati. Tony notes that Johnny is spending as if he's already the boss. Johnny brings up the subject of Phil Leotardo and his smashed car. Phil is a New York capo loyal to Johnny. In a money dispute, Johnny ruled over Phil in Tony's favor. While attempting to "collect" the debt from Phil, Tony had a car chase with Phil that resulted in Phil crashing his vehicle. Johnny asks that Tony pay for the repairs. He says, "the captains loyal to me need to know that I stand behind them right now." Tony promises to repair Phil's car, but to "control expenses", he is using the body shop that used to belong to Tony's former friend, the late Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero. The shop is now run by Pussy's widow, Angie Bonpensiero, and Pussy's brother, Edward "Duke" Bonpensiero.
Johnny and Tony speed off in the new Maserati as the landscaper Sal Vitro, cutting the Sacrimonis' lawn, watches.
Tony goes to the body shop to speak with Angie about the repair job for Phil's car. He tells her to keep the costs as low as possible. Angie asks Tony to tell Carmela she says hello. Angie, of course, has been cut out of the "inner circle of Mob Wives", due to the party line among the Soprano Family that her husband Big Pussy turned rat and went into the witness protection program. It's true that Pussy did turn rat, but the reality is that he was murdered three years previous by Tony, Silvio, and Paulie. But only a few people know this.
Carmela visits Tony at his new home, Livia's old house. Carmela, uncomfortable, disinvites Tony from Hugh's 75th birthday party. Tony proves to be surprisingly acquiescing. He wants to donate some money to the party anways. Carmela politely refuses, and says she'd rather see him spend money on therapy again. Tony gets angry at this, and tells her that SHE is the one who needs therapy.
Bobby Bacala arrives at Junior's house with some coffee. Junior complains about his medication's side effects. Bobby tells him he wouldn't have any problems if he took it consistently, like he was supposed to. Bobby tells Junior about the surprise party for Hugh, and asks if he was invited. Junior says no, then decides to call Hugh to wish him a happy birthday and offer his regrets that he can't attend his surprise party. Basically, Junior is mad about not being invited, and decides to spill the beans to Hugh about the surprise party. He calls Hugh, and Bobby walks out of the room in disgust.
In the upper office of the Bada Bing, Tony B visits Tony. Tony B has been placed in charge of an operation involving stolen air bags, and he's here to give his report to the boss. Tony wants to earn more money, and he wants to get made as well. Tony B was well on his way to being a made man back in the 1980s (the media called Tony Blundetto a "rising star in the Mafia") and could have eventually been a captain or boss, but then he went to prison for 15 years. Tony tells his cousin to "eat what's on your plate", basically refusing his request for greater responsibility and more earning power. Conversation shifts from Family to family, and Tony B asks Tony about Hugh's surprise party. Tony tells him that he decided not to go to it.
Phil Leotardo (clad in neckbrace from the car crash) and Joey Peeps, one of Johnny Sack's top guys, arrive at the Bonpensiero body shop to inspect their work on Phil's car. Phil asks Duke about what happened with his brother Pussy. Duke says they don't like to talk about it. Phil and Joey check out the repaired car. Phil is unhappy with their work, citing problems that don't really exist. Phil leaves with Joey, telling the Bonpensieros to he'll be back "when it's done right."
At the Soprano house during dinner, Carmela and Mary try to set up Hugh for the surprise party, which, thanks to the pouting Junior's phone call, he is perfectly aware of. Smiling and telling them he is okay with knowing, Hugh tells his wife and daughter that he knows, and that Junior told him. "That miserable fucking man," Carmela grates. Hugh asks who is going to be there. Mary names several party guests, including their old friends, the Fegolis. Mary holds Dr Russ Fegoli and Lena Fegoli in the highest esteem, saying that they are cultured and successful people. Big fucking deal, says Carm, who thinks they are snobbish. Mary thinks Carm is jealous because they finished college. Dr Fegoli is an old Navy buddy of Hugh's. Despite his "cultured" reputation, Hugh tells AJ that Russ once had "such a bad case of the crabs, we called him the Governor of Maryland", which earns him a scolding from Mary.
When Hugh finds out that Tony (who Hugh likes a lot) is not invited to the party, he becomes furious. "That's bullshit!"
Hugh blames his daughter, walks out of dinner and says he refuses to go to the party unless Tony is there.
Later that evening, Angie calls Tony to complain about Phil Leotardo. Angie says Phil is trying to milk as much free repairs as he can, and that it is costing her too much. Tony tells her to handle it on her own and hangs up. Tony calls Tony B, who is in the middle of coitus with his girlfriend. The Bonpensieros pay protection money to the Sopranos, and it is Tony B's regular stop. Tony says that "they're fixing the Shah of Iran's car", and he wants Tony B to make sure costs don't spiral out of control. (Calling Phil the "Shah of Iran" is hilarious!)
The next day, Tony B has dinner with Angelo Garepe. He and Angelo did their time in prison together and are friends. The third dinner guest is Rusty Millio, the New York capo who is apparently loyal to Little Carmine. (I say "apparently", because I think Rusty is the REAL man with the power to threaten Johnny Sack, not Little Carmine. I think Rusty is pulling Little Carmine's strings)
Millio is all business. Through Angelo, Rusty has heard all about Tony B, and is impressed by what he hears. He and Angelo want Tony B to do a job for them. As Angelo says, "Somebody needs to go". Rusty tells Tony B that this is an opportunity for a nice payday, and "a chance to hone that reputation you left behind" when he went to prison. Obliquely, Angelo and Rusty indicate who they want killed. They say it is revenge for the hit on Lorraine Calluzzo (she and her bodyguard were killed by Billy Leotardo and Joey Peeps). Tony B is mightily tempted, but declines. He says his cousin Tony wants the New Jersey mob to stay out of the New York affair.
Carmela calls Tony and asks him to join the party and do the grilling, not for her, but for her father. Tony is noncommittal, but says he will try.
The day of the party, Carmela is busy as hell in the kitchen, preparing the food. Tony B arrives with his twin boys, Jason and Justin. He offers his help. The twins go outside to the pool and immediately beging ruining shit. Meadow arrives with her boyfriend, Finn. Meadow also offers to help the stressed-out Carmela. Tony B stares at Meadow in a strange way. They talk for a little bit. Meadow asks about Tony B's freak daughter Kelly, who has run away from home and is missing. Hugh and Mary arrive.
Tony B steps out of the Soprano house for a while, leaving the rest of the family to watch the twins. He goes to the Bonpensieros' body shop as Phil and Joey show up to re-inspect Phil's car. Phil is still trying to milk it, and Angie is frustrated. Tony B tries to cool things down. Tony B meets Joey for the first time, and they talk briefly. Phil once again leaves in a huff.
At the Soprano house, the party is progressing and guests are arriving. Meadow is in a bikini and is sunning herself by the pool. Finn sneaks up and puts an ice cube on her tits. (Good work, Finn!)
The esteemed Fegolis are there, and it is learned that Dr Russ is allergic to tomatoes. Mary has a freakout when she runs in the kitchen to tell this to Carmela. Carm tells her to calm down and has Artie prepare a non-tomato dish. Mary brings it to Dr Fegoli. The Fegolis are speaking with Father Phil, who smiles and expresses his condolences that Dr Fegoli, an Italian, is allergic to tomatoes. Mary praises the recipes that Lena sent to her, then talks about how all of the Soprano family (Livia, Johnny Boy, Tony, and so on) dislike Northern Italian cooking, trying to make the Sopranos look uncouth. Father Phil objects, saying that many Italians and Sicilians feel that way about Northern recipes.
Tony arrives with the charcoal and sausages. He wears the string of sausages around his neck. He goes outside and has a happy reunion with Hugh, hugging him and rubbing a couple sausages in his face, laughing and joking. Mary is aghast at this "horrible behavior" in front of the Fegolis. Tony meets the Fegolis and tries to make a joke, which falls flat with the snobbish Dr Russ. Tony gets to work on the grill.
Later on during the party, Carmela offers a toast for her father. Hugh hugs her, then hugs Tony. He has an emotional hug and kiss with his wife Mary, and everyone applauds warmly. Carmela and Tony watch them with bittersweet smiles.
Hugh begins unwrapping gifts. Tony's gift to Hugh is a beautiful Barretta hunting rifle, which Hugh is very happy with. From a table in the back, Tony B sits with his cousin (Christopher's mom) and his mother, Quintana. He watches the Sopranos with their expensive gifts, drinks, and grouses, "It must be nice to have money." Carmela calls to him, asks him to man the camcorder. Tony B uses the camcorder to film closeups of Tony's gut and Carmela's ass.
Later in the evening, Tony and Hugh discuss the hunting rifle in front of several friends, including Artie, Father Phil, and Dr Fegoli, who speaks of visiting the Barretta factory in Italy. He makes a disparaging remark about the rifle, insulting Tony and his gift, and thoroughly embarrassing Hugh, who hangs his head in shame over the insult to Tony. Hugh proceeds to start drinking heavily.
Tony B and Meadow sit at a table and discuss civil rights and the penal system. Tony sits at their table and joins the conversation. Tony B watches father and daughter, who clearly love each other, interact. He watches with envy, because he has no relationship like that with his disturbed missing daughter, Kelly. He never did and he never will. Along with power and money, a good family is another thing Tony has that Tony B wants. He resents his cousin even more. Tony notices Tony B's surly attitude when Carmela calls him to help with the drunken Hugh, who is having trouble standing. "What am I, a fucking slave?"
Hugh is placed in a car as several guests leave, including the Fegolis. Mary, wringing her hands, apologizes to the Fegolis for everything. They leave, and Carmela, who heard her mother's apology, confronts Mary. Mary says she was apologizing for Tony's crassness in front of the "cultured Italians".
Carmela calls "bullshit". She says that Russ Fegoli is a pompous ass and always has been, and is pissed about Fegoli's insult to Tony. She says she is proud of her Italian heritage, even if her mother is not. She accuses Mary of self-loathing, and cites the times Mary said she was glad "DeAngelis" didn't end in a vowel, and when Meadow was born, she said, "She's so dark!" Mary denies it and starts crying. Carmela is merciless. "What the fuck are you crying about? Your secret is out!"
Later at night, several of the family are playing "Marco Polo" in the pool. Tony steps out, as does AJ. Tony casually walks up to Carmela, who is cleaning up after the party. Tony and AJ grab the fully-clothed Carmela and throw her in the pool as everyone laughs. Carmela is grumbling at first, but smiles and joins in the game of Marco Polo.
The kids and their significant others leave, and Artie falls asleep in a beach chair near the pool, leaving Tony and Carmela alone in the pool. They talk for a while, and end up having sex in the pool for the first time since their separation.
At the Blundettos' house, Tony B is tucking his twin boys Jason and Justin into bed. He finds out that Jason stole a collection of 1996 Olympic pins from AJ's closet. Tony B is angry and distraught with his sons. He punishes them by taking away their GameBoys. Jason, sullen and unapologetic, says he hates the house they're in, because they have nothing, and loves the Sopranos' house, because they have so much. Tony B says nothing to that, and leaves the room.
The next morning, Artie wakes up poolside, looks around in a groggy daze, and goes home. Tony wakes up in the Soprano bedroom, and leaves a sleeping Carmela. Tony B is having coffee in his mom's kitchen, deeply troubled. He comes to a decision. He picks up the phone.
Rusty Millio, the New York capo, answers his cellphone. It's Tony Blundetto. His message is short and to the point: "I'm in."
That night, New York mobster Joey Peeps is collecting from a brothel run by Muzzy Nardo. He accepts a huge envelope from Muzzy, then gives one of the callgirls, Heather, a ride to Manhattan in his car. As he starts his car outside the brothel, someone knocks on the window. Joey rolls down his window, and sees it's Tony Blundetto, who he met the other day. Tony B pulls out a gun and executes both Joey and the prostitute with multiple shots to the head. Joey slumps over and his car rolls forward, running over Tony B's feet. Tony B reacts with great pain, hobbles over to his car, and makes his getaway.
The Sacrimoni-Lupertazzi conflict is now raised to a bloodier level, with a highly-placed made man getting murdered. And the triggerman is someone from Tony Soprano's Family. This places Tony squarely in the middle of the potential gang war, something he strove to avoid. Tony B's actions threaten to destabilize everything.
) next weeks episode looks interesting, but all the previews make them seem that way, lol
Don't you just hate people who think they are better than everyone else? 
If I were Tony I would have slapped some of that sazeetsa (sp. but that's how my family pronounces it) right in that guys face, just to piss him off. 