Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request...

"Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request..."
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 6
Episode 5
Directed by Steve Buscemi
Written by Terence Winter
Cinematography by Phil Abraham
Production code 605
Original air date April 9, 2006
Running time 52 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

see below

"Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request..." is the 70th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fifth of the show's sixth season. Written by Terence Winter and directed by Steve Buscemi, it originally aired on April 9, 2006.

Starring

* = credit only

Guest starring

Episode recap

Johnny is granted a six-hour supervised release from prison in order to attend his daughter Allegra's wedding. Tony hires a new bodyguard and driver, Perry Annunziata. He is welcomed back by Dr. Melfi, who inquires about his position towards Junior, but Tony says he never wants to talk about his uncle again. They talk about A.J., and Tony says he is disappointed in his son flunking out of college and working a petty job. A judge decides Junior's mental condition has deteriorated to the level where he should be held in a psychiatric facility while awaiting his retrial. Tony proudly displays his surgery scar on his stomach to his crew, and discusses the surgical procedures he underwent. Phil asks for a private talk with Tony, saying that Johnny wants him to take care of killing New York capo Rusty Millio, fearing he may wage another power struggle within the Lupertazzi family; Tony refuses the request. Before Tony arrives home, Carmela fetches the newspaper and sees an article touting Junior's "cushy psych lockup." She throws that section in the trash before Tony can see it.

At the Bada Bing, Ahmed and Muhammad ask about getting some Tec-9 semi-automatic weapons for their "family troubles". Later, at the wedding, Tony collapses when he is asked by U.S. Marshals to remove his shoes for a security check. At the reception, Tony accepts an envelope of cash from Vito and is able to talk to Johnny for the first time since his arrest. As a personal favor, Johnny asks Tony to perform the hit on Rusty. Surrounded by U.S. Marshals, Tony and Johnny join the latter's family at a large table and discuss the situation in code. Tony reluctantly agrees to the hit, but he and Chris disagree on how the hit should be carried out.

Johnny's pleasant time at the wedding is cut short when the Marshals inform him it's time to return him to jail. An emotional Johnny tears up and cries openly in front of the guests as Marshals haul him away. Attendees are angered by Johnny's treatment, and his wife Ginny faints. Afterwards, members of Tony's crew discuss the scene with Phil and the Lupertazzis. Phil and Chris agree that Johnny can be made to talk by the government. Tony defends Johnny's display of emotion. Vito informs his wife he's heading out to make collections, but instead goes to a gay club. While dancing in leather fetish garb with other patrons, he is spotted by two New York associates making collections. Although Vito tries to play it off as a joke, they call him a "fag" and leave. Vito collects a gun and some cash from home and checks into a motel. After phoning Silvio, Vito makes no further contact with anyone and does not return subsequent calls from Tony.

Tony talks to Melfi about his crew and their perception of him. Melfi comments that Tony tries to project himself as an alpha male. She suggests he should act as if he is fine, and do something to let the subordinates know he remains a decisive leader. At Satriale's, Tony tries to bait Perry into a confrontation under the pretext that he slammed the refrigerator doors but he does not respond. With his crew looking on, Tony punches his bodyguard, starting a one-sided fight that ends with Perry bleeding on the floor and Tony defiantly walking away, seemingly unscathed. Afterwards, Tony retreats to the bathroom and vomits blood. Leaning on the bathroom sink and looking at himself in the mirror, Tony gives himself a twisted, satisfied smile. The moment is short-lived, however, as Tony violently vomits again in the toilet.

First appearances

Final appearance

Title reference

  • The title refers to the first words on the wedding invitation for John and Ginny's daughter, Allegra.
  • It is also possibly a reference to John's request to his judge to be granted a leave from jail to attend his daughter's wedding.
  • The title could also be a reference to John's request that Tony's family kill Lupertazzi capo, Rusty Millio.

Production

  • The location of the reception scene is at "Leonard's of Great Neck" on Northern Boulevard in Long Island, New York.
  • Despite sharing the same last name, Caitlin Van Zandt, who plays Johnny "Sack"'s daughter Allegra, is not related to Steven Van Zandt, who plays Silvio Dante.

Other cultural references

  • When dressing for his court appearance, it is specifically stated that Johnny "Sack" wears a Brioni suit.
  • Tony tells Melfi Tylenol helps him sleep.
  • When Dante Greco offers to set a timer to remind Tony to take his medications, Silvio derisively comments: "Nurse Betty over here."
  • Phil Leotardo when talking to Tony, refers to Rusty Millio as "the mayor of Munchkinland."
  • When Middle Eastern men meet Christopher to pay for stolen credit card numbers and order weapons, Christopher greets them with a reference to the Ali Baba story: "Where are the rest of the 40 thieves?"
  • Christopher also quips, when handing over the stolen credit card numbers: "Don't leave home without them!" This confuses the Middle Easterners, who are unfamiliar with the American Express advertising campaign Chris is referring to.
  • Johnny "Sack" angrily asks his lawyer if he read the latest GQ magazine after inspecting the dress shoes brought to him.
  • Christopher erroneously comments to Paulie that "Allegra" (as the bride's name) is a brand of cold medication. In fact, it is an anti-allergy drug brand.
  • Vito Spatafore calls the construction official interested in "playing ball" with the mob Joe DiMaggio.
  • Phil and Tony's men make "Cinderella" references (e.g., "his coach turned into a pumpkin" or "even Cinderella didn't cry") when the Marshals abruptly cut the festivities short to make an embarrassing public display of returning John to prison.
  • The movie Marie Spatafore is watching, when Vito leaves for the leather bar, is Imitation of Life.

Music

  • The song played at the Bada Bing! VIP room where strippers are dancing and Ahmed and Muhammad come in looking for Christopher is "I Need a Freak" by Sexual Harassment.
  • At Allegra's wedding party, the hired band plays and the singer sings:
  • The song played at the New York gay bar, where Vito is outed, is "Flashing For Money" by Deep Dish.
  • As Vito checks into the motel, "The Three Bells" by The Browns is played — specifically, the second verse, about Jimmy Brown's marriage. The song is also used in the previous episode, "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh", though in that instance, the first verse (about Jimmy Brown's birth) is featured.
  • The song played over the end credits is "Every Day of the Week" by The Students.
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