Marco Polo (The Sopranos)

"Marco Polo"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 5
Episode 8
Directed by John Patterson
Written by Michael Imperioli
Cinematography by Alik Sakharov
Production code 508
Original air date April 25, 2004
Running time 53 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

see below

Episode chronology

"Marco Polo" is the sixtieth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the eighth of the show's fifth season. It was written by Michael Imperioli, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on April 25, 2004.

Starring

* = credit only

Guest starring

Episode recap

The tensions in New York City rise. Little Carmine is actively recruiting supporters for his faction: in one such meeting at his recently purchased mansion on the ocean where he is giving away the newest Whirlpool washing machines to his allies, their business is suddenly interrupted when Carmine's party boat, recently refurbished, is found damaged and sinks.

Tony Soprano meets with Johnny Sack and agrees to have Phil Leotardo's car fixed, previously crashed in a car chase with Tony, even though it was damaged because Phil owed Tony money. To save money, Tony has the work done in the late Pussy Bonpensiero's body shop (now run by Pussy's widow, Angie). Phil, however, is uncooperative with Angie, and claims numerous problems with the car (none of which Angie was originally to be responsible for). After the stressed Angie complains to Tony, he sends Tony Blundetto to oversee Phil's return visit to the shop. Despite himself determining the car to be fine, Tony B is unable to change Phil's mind, and he once again turns down a counteroffer and sticks Angie with the cost of $2,000 to replace a seat. At the site, Tony B meets Phil's aide, New York mob associate "Joey Peeps" who acts much more courteously towards him than Leotardo.

Little Carmine's crew begins courting Tony B through his old prison buddy, Angelo Garepe. Angelo and Rusty Millio approach Tony B and offer him a freelance job. They want him to assassinate "Joey Peeps" in retaliation for Johnny Sacks' hit on Lorraine Calluzzo, who worked and earned for Little Carmine. As Tony B knows that Tony S tries to keep his family out of the New York hostilities, he turns them down.

Tony B meets Tony at the Bada Bing to deliver him his cut from the car airbag scheme. He uses the opportunity to ask him for any more jobs, expressing his willingness and determination to work, but his cousin tells him to be patient.

Carmela's father, Hugh De Angelis, accidentally falls off the roof of her house while fixing a loose shingle and injures himself, though not seriously. Carmela plans a surprise 75th birthday party for him with many friends and family members invited, but she also visits Tony at Livia's and tells him she believes he should not attend the event in order to avoid any discomfort for both of them there due to their separation. After Uncle Junior ruins the surprise by telling Hugh that he would not be attending his party, Hugh gets involved with planning the occasion. His wife Mary seems very happy to reveal to him that the couple's old friend Russ Fegoli, a holder of a doctorate in international relations, who has worked in many parts of the world, including the Vatican, and his wife will be attending. However, when Hugh also hears Tony, who he is fond of, is not invited, he demands the "man of the house" attend. Carmela is left with no options but to invite Tony to the celebration on short notice.

The party sees many family members and friends gather together to express their congratulations to Hugh, including the Moltisantis, the Blundettos, Brian Cammarata, Father Phil Intintola, Artie and Charmaine Bucco, who are also preparing food, and the Fegolis, among others. When Tony arrives at the party, Carmela's mother, Mary, seems embarrassed by his behavior: Tony plays with grill sausages, cracks crude jokes, and mistakes Dr. Fegoli for a physician rather than a PhD. Hugh, however, is overjoyed with Tony's attendance. Tony presents Hugh with a Beretta DT-10 over-under barrel shotgun, which he seems to be ecstatic about. His gift later warrants an awkward moment, though, when Dr. Fegoli comments that the best Berettas are never legally sold outside Italy. As night comes, some of the increasingly drunk partygoers start to leave for home, including an almost unconscious Hugh having to be carried and placed on the back seat of a car. Mary De Angelis apologizes for the Tony's uncivilized conduct to the Fegolis, but Carmela voices her disgust at her mother for her behavior. Carmela also commends Tony for his gift to her father, his performance grilling, and his treatment of guests.

After most of the invitees depart, Artie Bucco leads the younger guests in a game of Marco Polo. During the game, Tony and A.J. grab Carmela and throw her in the pool, where she is immediately made "it" by Artie. After everyone else is out of the pool, Tony and Carmela find themselves alone. A few kisses in the pool lead to the two of them spending the night together.

The evening at the Sopranos' house seemed to particularly bother Tony B. He admired and felt jealous of the estate and congratulated Tony for enabling his daughter Meadow to successfully turn into an educated and beautiful woman. Back home, Tony B finds his sons were dissatisfied with returning to their own home after they had so much fun at the Sopranos' home. He is shocked to find the twins even stole A.J.'s 1996 Summer Olympics pin collection, justifying their action as A.J. having so many goods that he would not even notice anything missing. The next morning, Tony B calls Rusty and agrees to do the hit. He finds "Joey Peeps" in his car outside a New York brothel at night and shoots him and his female companion, but his foot is injured when the vehicle rolls over it. He limps back to his car to make his getaway.

Deceased

Title reference

References to previous episodes

Other cultural references

Music

References

  1. ↑ J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps (1843). The Nursery Rhymes of England: Obtained Principally from Oral Tradition (2 ed.). London. p. 122.
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