Rat Pack (''The Sopranos'')

"Rat Pack"
The Sopranos episode
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(s)

see below

"Rat Pack" is the 54th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and is the second of the show's fifth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Alan Taylor, it originally aired on March 14, 2004.

Starring

* = credit only

Guest starring

Also guest starring

Episode recap

During a meeting in a diner, contractor Jack Massarone presents Tony with a painting of the 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 Junior reminisce, 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 at Johnny and his friend cracking 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 Florida 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 airbag operation. However, Tony B is not eager to get back in the business and seeks to go legitimate by becoming a state-licensed massage therapist. A disappointed Tony calls him "useless" in front of Silvio and Christopher, and reprimands his cousin for making jokes about him and distracting mobsters 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, Tony arranges a meeting and hugs Massarone to find the wire, not realizing it's in his 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. Tony drives to the Pulaski Skyway and tosses Massarone's painting into the river below. 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 Bonpensiero's widow, Angie, is not welcome in their group because of what they believe to be 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

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

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