D-Girl (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"D-Girl" is the twentieth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and was the seventh of the show's second season. It was written by Todd A. Kessler
, directed by Allen Coulter
and originally aired on Sunday, February 27, 2000.
continues to be a source of anguish to Tony
. One afternoon as he is driving in Carmela
's Mercedes-Benz E320, which he had taken without permission, A.J. misjudges his lane width and scrapes a parked truck, leaving a few scratches and a broken side view mirror, whose damage A.J. attempts to conceal. As Carmela begins to drive out of the garage, the crudely repaired mirror falls off. Carmela and Tony then sit A.J. down and lecture him on how he could have killed the people in the car. A.J. thinks that the scenario would be "interesting", since "death just shows the absolute absurdity of life". Appalled, Tony and Carmela ask where he developed such ideas. A.J. reveals that he has encountered the philosophy of Nietzsche, and even asks not to be confirmed because he says there is no God. Tony feels confused about A.J.'s sudden somber outlook and discusses it with Dr. Melfi
. While Tony believes it is not normal to question the faith, Melfi thinks that existentialist concerns are a natural phase of adolescence that was repressed by Tony's parents. Melfi then asks Tony how his disconnected relationship with Livia
is taking a toll on the children, as how he has publicly insisted that his mother is effectively dead to him. Tony does not answer, but dejectedly admits that A.J.'s concerns could be legitimate.
Tony turns to Pussy for guidance on A.J., since Pussy is both A.J.'s godfather
and confirmation sponsor, and by the looks of things, has a more active relationship with the Soprano son than Tony has. Pussy then takes A.J. and his own college-age son, Matt, to the batting cage
s, where the more educated Matt argues that philosophers such as Nietzsche
or Sartre
were often mentally disturbed or lacking integrity, and advises that he study earlier, theistic
philosophic work (he quotes Kierkegaard).
Christopher Moltisanti
rediscovers his interest in the world of filmmaking
. While having dinner with his cousin Greg, Greg's fiancée, Amy Safir (an associate of Jon Favreau
's), invites Christopher and Adriana
to come on the set to see their new film being shot. Adriana tells Christopher that she believes in him, and has saved a copy of the script he had previously discarded. Christopher goes to the set alone and sits in on a film shoot starring Janeane Garofalo
and Sandra Bernhard
. When Janeane objects to the word "bitch" in the script, the director has difficulty finding a suitable substitute. Christopher suggests "pucchiaca" (Italian for "cunt
"), which is readily accepted by the impressed cast and crew. Christopher soon becomes very close with Amy and they begin a sexual relationship. The wild sexual revelry and Amy's attractiveness are suddenly contrasted with Livia's ugliness and sterile
hospital environment, when A.J. is directed to regularly bicycle over to visit Livia after the Mercedes incident. When A.J. tells his grandmother how he got in trouble, Livia dismissively concurs that life is meaningless and lonely, telling her grandson that everyone is destined to "die in your own arms". This only serves to exacerbate A.J.'s teenaged angst
.
The next day over lunch, Christopher discusses his screenplay
with Jon and Amy, and relates a story about a mobster's violent encounter with a transsexual. Jon and Amy ask questions about the mob and appear impressed and respectful of Christopher. This is unbeknownst to Adriana, who is still waiting for Christopher to propose. When having dinner with Carmela and Tony, Christopher pours his wine into his soup and storms out of a restaurant, when Adriana and Carmela continue to pressure him about marriage. An upset Adriana says she supported Christopher on his screenplay, unknowingly revealing to Tony that Christopher is not giving his full attention to crime family matters. Christopher then visits Amy at her hotel, stating that he was "in the neighborhood", and they enjoy another night of sex. It does not dawn upon Amy until the next morning that she has betrayed her fiancé and she and Christopher should come clean. Christopher warns her not to, but is soon distracted when he happens upon Favreau's screenplay in Amy's room. While reading the draft, Christopher learns that Jon has used the story Christopher had told him in confidence. Irate, Christopher searches for Favreau, but finds that he has already returned to California. When Christopher approaches Amy, she adopts a strictly businesslike attitude, saying that Hollywood has lost interest in mob films. Furious, Christopher denounces her as a "fucking D-girl
", causing an offended Amy to proclaim that she is a vice president, and Christopher is an asshole, before storming off.
Pussy is forced by the FBI to wear a wire
while at A.J. confirmation ceremony and party afterwards. Hours before the ceremony, Pussy shaves his chest as an impatient Angie asks if she can enter the bathroom. Pussy tries to stop her and, as she opens the door, she throws a mirror at him which leads Pussy to lunge at her furiously. As he is about to strike her, Matt storms in, breaks up the fight, and in the process knocks his father to the floor. As Pussy gets up, Matt spots blood on his father's chest.
After the ceremony, A.J. is caught smoking pot with two cousins in the garage, further dismaying his parents. An embarrassed A.J. then retreats to his room, where Pussy tells him his father is a good man. An increasingly emotional Pussy then tells A.J. the story of his deceased sister and how Tony always stayed with her in the hospital until her death. After Pussy hugs A.J., the FBI's reception of signals from his wire becomes troublesome.
At the confirmation party, Tony delivers Christopher an ultimatum
: Tony will give him ten minutes to meditate about the path Christopher wants to take in life. Afterwards, Tony will know Christopher has made up his mind if he sees Christopher mingling at the party or not. Christopher is either to make a commitment to the mob life, seeking no other distractions, or to continue with his own life, in which case Tony never wants to see him again. Christopher thinks about this, sitting on the front steps of Tony's house, and re-enters the premises, indicating his pledge of loyalty to Tony and the family. A.J., along with his family and their pastor, gathers for a picture. When Tony asks where the godfather is, a distraught Pussy is revealed to be sobbing alone in the bathroom over his disloyalty to Tony. In contrast to Christopher, Pussy has been forced into his position.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and was the seventh of the show's second season. It was written by Todd A. Kessler
Todd A. Kessler
Todd A. Kessler is an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer and director. He is the co-creator and head writer of the FX drama series Damages...
, directed by Allen Coulter
Allen Coulter
Allen Coulter is an American television and film director, credited with a number of successful television programs. He has directed two feature films, Hollywoodland, a film regarding the questionable death of George Reeves starring Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, and Ben Affleck, and 2010's Remember...
and originally aired on Sunday, February 27, 2000.
Starring
- James GandolfiniJames GandolfiniJames J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
as Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely... - Lorraine BraccoLorraine BraccoLorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...
as Dr. Jennifer Melfi - Edie FalcoEdie FalcoEdith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
as Carmela SopranoCarmela SopranoCarmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:... - Michael ImperioliMichael ImperioliJames Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an American actor and television writer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. He also...
as Christopher MoltisantiChristopher MoltisantiChristopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:... - Dominic ChianeseDominic ChianeseDominic Chianese is an American film, television and theatre actor, perhaps best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Corrado Soprano, Jr.Junior SopranoCorrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco...
* - Vincent PastoreVincent PastoreVincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Pussy Bonpensiero - Steven Van ZandtSteven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
as Silvio DanteSilvio DanteSilvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure...
* - Tony SiricoTony SiricoGenaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico, Jr. is an American character actor who is most famous for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in the television series The Sopranos.- Background and career :Sirico was born in Midwood, Brooklyn...
as Paulie GualtieriPaulie GualtieriPeter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is a caporegime and later underboss in the Soprano crime family.-Plot details:...
* - Robert IlerRobert IlerRobert Michael Iler is an American actor, known for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos which aired on HBO from 1999-2007....
as Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents... - Jamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn Sigler is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO television series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Meadow SopranoMeadow SopranoMeadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano... - Drea de MatteoDrea de MatteoDrea de Matteo is an American television actress, perhaps best known for her roles Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey, as Angie Bolen on ABC's Desperate Housewives, and as Adriana La Cerva on the acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos, a role for which she won the Primetime Emmy...
as Adriana La CervaAdriana La CervaAdriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:... - David ProvalDavid ProvalDavid Aaron Proval is an American actor, known for his roles as Tony DeVienazo in the Martin Scorsese film Mean Streets opposite Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel and as Richie Aprile on the HBO television series The Sopranos .-Biography:Proval was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Jewish heritage,...
as Richie AprileRichie AprileRichard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr... - Aida TurturroAida TurturroAida Turturro is an American actress probably best known for playing Janice Soprano, sister of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, on the HBO TV series The Sopranos .-Personal life:...
as Janice SopranoJanice SopranoJanice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:... - and Nancy MarchandNancy MarchandNancy Marchand was an American actress, whose career encompassed both stage and screen. She appeared in various theatre productions throughout the early 1950s, before being offered roles on film and television....
as Livia SopranoLivia SopranoLivia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
Guest starring
- Jon FavreauJon FavreauJonathan Kolia "Jon" Favreau is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and comedian. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Rudy, Swingers , Very Bad Things, and The Break-Up. His notable directorial efforts include Elf, Iron Man and its sequel, and Cowboys & Aliens...
as Himself - Sandra BernhardSandra BernhardSandra Bernhard is an American comedian, singer, actress and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy in which she often bitterly critiques celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is number 97 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of...
as Herself - Janeane GarofaloJaneane GarofaloJaneane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
as Herself - Alicia WittAlicia WittAlicia Roanne Witt is an American film, stage, television actress and singer.-Early life:Witt was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her mother, Diane , is a junior high school reading teacher, and her father, Robert Witt, is a science teacher and photographer. She has a brother, Ian...
as Amy Safir - Louis Lombardi, Jr.Louis LombardiLouis Lombardi is an American actor.Lombardi was born in The Bronx, New York City, the son of Louis Lombardi, Sr. On television, Lombardi had a recurring role on The Sopranos as Agent Skip Lipari, and guest starred on such shows as Entourage, Heroes and CSI. He was a cast member of a 1990s...
as Skip Lipari - Toni KalemToni KalemToni Kalem is an American actress, screenwriter and director. Kalem is best known for her portrayal of Angie Bonpensiero on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Angie Bonpensiero - Arthur Barnes as Security Guard
- Stephen Bienskie as Hotel Clerk
- John Devlin as Assistant Director
- Dominic FumusaDominic FumusaDominic Fumusa is an American stage and screen actor, currently starring on the comedy drama series Nurse Jackie on Showtime.-Career:Fumusa has originated roles on the Broadway stage in such plays as the Tony Award-winning Take Me Out, Tape, and [sic]...
as Gregory Moltisanti - Andersen GabrychAndersen GabrychAndersen Gabrych is an American comic book writer and actor. He was born on September 4, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Chico, California, where he was known as "Ande."-Biography:...
as UTA Receptionist - Bryan Matzkow as Hotel Manager
- Andrea Maulella as Michele Forman
- Jason Minter as Bellman
- Frank PandoFrank PandoFrank Pando is a Chilean American actor. Pando's acting career debuted in 1999 in the TV series The Sopranos as Agent Frank Grasso. Also, he is scheduled to appear in the 2012 movie Man on a Ledge as a cameraman for Kyra Sedgwick's role, a newsperson....
as Agent Grasso - Steve Porcelli as Matt Bonpensiero
- Elizabeth ReaserElizabeth ReaserElizabeth Ann Reaser is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films Stay, The Family Stone, and The Twilight Saga and the TV series Saved, Grey's Anatomy and The Ex-List....
as Stace - Asa SomersAsa SomersAsa Somers is an American stage, film, and television actor. He is an alumnus of the Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and Theatre Studies at Yale University.-Stage work:...
as Blaine Richardson
Episode recap
A.J.Anthony Soprano, Jr.
Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents...
continues to be a source of anguish to Tony
Tony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
. One afternoon as he is driving in Carmela
Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
's Mercedes-Benz E320, which he had taken without permission, A.J. misjudges his lane width and scrapes a parked truck, leaving a few scratches and a broken side view mirror, whose damage A.J. attempts to conceal. As Carmela begins to drive out of the garage, the crudely repaired mirror falls off. Carmela and Tony then sit A.J. down and lecture him on how he could have killed the people in the car. A.J. thinks that the scenario would be "interesting", since "death just shows the absolute absurdity of life". Appalled, Tony and Carmela ask where he developed such ideas. A.J. reveals that he has encountered the philosophy of Nietzsche, and even asks not to be confirmed because he says there is no God. Tony feels confused about A.J.'s sudden somber outlook and discusses it with Dr. Melfi
Jennifer Melfi
Jennifer Melfi, M.D., is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the psychiatrist of Mafia boss Tony Soprano. She is portrayed by Lorraine Bracco.-Character description:...
. While Tony believes it is not normal to question the faith, Melfi thinks that existentialist concerns are a natural phase of adolescence that was repressed by Tony's parents. Melfi then asks Tony how his disconnected relationship with Livia
Livia Soprano
Livia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
is taking a toll on the children, as how he has publicly insisted that his mother is effectively dead to him. Tony does not answer, but dejectedly admits that A.J.'s concerns could be legitimate.
Tony turns to Pussy for guidance on A.J., since Pussy is both A.J.'s godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
and confirmation sponsor, and by the looks of things, has a more active relationship with the Soprano son than Tony has. Pussy then takes A.J. and his own college-age son, Matt, to the batting cage
Batting cage
A batting cage is an enclosed cage for baseball players to practice the skill of batting.It is usually made of netting or a chain-link fence and rectangular in shape. A batter stands at one end of the cage, with a pitching machine at the opposing end...
s, where the more educated Matt argues that philosophers such as Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
or Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
were often mentally disturbed or lacking integrity, and advises that he study earlier, theistic
Theism
Theism, in the broadest sense, is the belief that at least one deity exists.In a more specific sense, theism refers to a doctrine concerning the nature of a monotheistic God and God's relationship to the universe....
philosophic work (he quotes Kierkegaard).
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:...
rediscovers his interest in the world of filmmaking
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
. While having dinner with his cousin Greg, Greg's fiancée, Amy Safir (an associate of Jon Favreau
Jon Favreau
Jonathan Kolia "Jon" Favreau is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and comedian. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Rudy, Swingers , Very Bad Things, and The Break-Up. His notable directorial efforts include Elf, Iron Man and its sequel, and Cowboys & Aliens...
's), invites Christopher and Adriana
Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:...
to come on the set to see their new film being shot. Adriana tells Christopher that she believes in him, and has saved a copy of the script he had previously discarded. Christopher goes to the set alone and sits in on a film shoot starring Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
and Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard is an American comedian, singer, actress and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy in which she often bitterly critiques celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is number 97 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of...
. When Janeane objects to the word "bitch" in the script, the director has difficulty finding a suitable substitute. Christopher suggests "pucchiaca" (Italian for "cunt
Cunt
Cunt is a vulgarism, primarily referring to the female genitalia, specifically the vulva, and including the cleft of Venus. The earliest citation of this usage in the 1972 Oxford English Dictionary, c 1230, refers to the London street known as Gropecunt Lane...
"), which is readily accepted by the impressed cast and crew. Christopher soon becomes very close with Amy and they begin a sexual relationship. The wild sexual revelry and Amy's attractiveness are suddenly contrasted with Livia's ugliness and sterile
Sterilization (microbiology)
Sterilization is a term referring to any process that eliminates or kills all forms of microbial life, including transmissible agents present on a surface, contained in a fluid, in medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media...
hospital environment, when A.J. is directed to regularly bicycle over to visit Livia after the Mercedes incident. When A.J. tells his grandmother how he got in trouble, Livia dismissively concurs that life is meaningless and lonely, telling her grandson that everyone is destined to "die in your own arms". This only serves to exacerbate A.J.'s teenaged angst
Angst
Angst is an English, German, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch word for fear or anxiety . It is used in English to describe an intense feeling of apprehension, anxiety or inner turmoil...
.
The next day over lunch, Christopher discusses his screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
with Jon and Amy, and relates a story about a mobster's violent encounter with a transsexual. Jon and Amy ask questions about the mob and appear impressed and respectful of Christopher. This is unbeknownst to Adriana, who is still waiting for Christopher to propose. When having dinner with Carmela and Tony, Christopher pours his wine into his soup and storms out of a restaurant, when Adriana and Carmela continue to pressure him about marriage. An upset Adriana says she supported Christopher on his screenplay, unknowingly revealing to Tony that Christopher is not giving his full attention to crime family matters. Christopher then visits Amy at her hotel, stating that he was "in the neighborhood", and they enjoy another night of sex. It does not dawn upon Amy until the next morning that she has betrayed her fiancé and she and Christopher should come clean. Christopher warns her not to, but is soon distracted when he happens upon Favreau's screenplay in Amy's room. While reading the draft, Christopher learns that Jon has used the story Christopher had told him in confidence. Irate, Christopher searches for Favreau, but finds that he has already returned to California. When Christopher approaches Amy, she adopts a strictly businesslike attitude, saying that Hollywood has lost interest in mob films. Furious, Christopher denounces her as a "fucking D-girl
D-Girl
"D-Girl" is a song by the American R&B singer Brooke Valentine. The song was released on May 16, 2006 to iTunes as the first single for Valentine's second studio album, Physical Education...
", causing an offended Amy to proclaim that she is a vice president, and Christopher is an asshole, before storming off.
Pussy is forced by the FBI to wear a wire
Covert listening device
A covert listening device, more commonly known as a bug or a wire, is usually a combination of a miniature radio transmitter with a microphone. The use of bugs, called bugging, is a common technique in surveillance, espionage and in police investigations.A bug does not have to be a device...
while at A.J. confirmation ceremony and party afterwards. Hours before the ceremony, Pussy shaves his chest as an impatient Angie asks if she can enter the bathroom. Pussy tries to stop her and, as she opens the door, she throws a mirror at him which leads Pussy to lunge at her furiously. As he is about to strike her, Matt storms in, breaks up the fight, and in the process knocks his father to the floor. As Pussy gets up, Matt spots blood on his father's chest.
After the ceremony, A.J. is caught smoking pot with two cousins in the garage, further dismaying his parents. An embarrassed A.J. then retreats to his room, where Pussy tells him his father is a good man. An increasingly emotional Pussy then tells A.J. the story of his deceased sister and how Tony always stayed with her in the hospital until her death. After Pussy hugs A.J., the FBI's reception of signals from his wire becomes troublesome.
At the confirmation party, Tony delivers Christopher an ultimatum
Ultimatum
An ultimatum is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance. An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series of requests...
: Tony will give him ten minutes to meditate about the path Christopher wants to take in life. Afterwards, Tony will know Christopher has made up his mind if he sees Christopher mingling at the party or not. Christopher is either to make a commitment to the mob life, seeking no other distractions, or to continue with his own life, in which case Tony never wants to see him again. Christopher thinks about this, sitting on the front steps of Tony's house, and re-enters the premises, indicating his pledge of loyalty to Tony and the family. A.J., along with his family and their pastor, gathers for a picture. When Tony asks where the godfather is, a distraught Pussy is revealed to be sobbing alone in the bathroom over his disloyalty to Tony. In contrast to Christopher, Pussy has been forced into his position.
Title reference
- The episode's title is a shortened title for "development girlDevelopment girlA d-girl or development girl is a person in a film production company who is responsible for finding and identifying potential movie ideas for their development into a script. Also, they are responsible for writing script coverage for scripts that arrive at a production company. Typically, a d-girl...
", used mostly in the film and television industry.
Connections to other media and cultural references
- The plot device involving Jon Favreau's interest in writing a screenplay for a mafia movie is echoed in his actual 2001 film MadeMade (2001 film)Made is a 2001 film written and directed by Jon Favreau. It stars Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Peter Falk, and Sean Combs.-Plot:Bobby has ties to the local mafia boss, Max, but works as an honest mason for Max's construction projects. He fights in amateur boxing matches on the side, but his career is...
, which focuses on the exploits of two would-be wiseguys assigned to a job in New York City. Three cast members of The Sopranos appearing in this episode (Vincent PastoreVincent PastoreVincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
, Federico CastelluccioFederico CastelluccioFederico Castelluccio is an Italian-American actor and professional visual artist, who is best known for his role as Furio Giunta on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
, and Drea de MatteoDrea de MatteoDrea de Matteo is an American television actress, perhaps best known for her roles Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey, as Angie Bolen on ABC's Desperate Housewives, and as Adriana La Cerva on the acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos, a role for which she won the Primetime Emmy...
) play supporting roles in Favreau's film. - Amy reminds Christopher that Mickey Blue EyesMickey Blue EyesMickey Blue Eyes is a 1999 film directed by Kelly Makin. Hugh Grant stars as Michael Felgate, an English auctioneer living in New York City who becomes entangled in his soon-to-be father in-law's mafia connections...
(which starred Tony SiricoTony SiricoGenaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico, Jr. is an American character actor who is most famous for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in the television series The Sopranos.- Background and career :Sirico was born in Midwood, Brooklyn...
) failed to live up to its advance billing. - Adriana tells Amy and John that she enjoyed Favreau's 1996 film SwingersSwingers (1996 film)Swingers is a 1996 comedy-drama film about the lives of single, unemployed actors living on the 'eastside' of Hollywood, California during the 1990s swing revival...
, with Vince VaughnVince VaughnVincent Anthony "Vince" Vaughn is an American film actor, screenwriter, producer and comedian. He began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in minor television roles before attaining wider recognition with the 1996 movie Swingers...
. - When Carmela and Tony express concern about AJ's existentialist pronouncements, Meadow quotes Mme de Staël: "One must choose in life between boredom and suffering.”
- When Christopher relates the story of the feminine-looking cross-dresser whose lover threw acid in his face after becoming intimate and learning the cross-dresser was really a man, Amy recalls the 1992 film, The Crying GameThe Crying GameThe Crying Game is a 1992 psychological thriller drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan. The film explores themes of race, gender, nationality, and sexuality against the backdrop of the Irish Troubles...
. - Amy relates Maslow's hierarchy of D-needsMaslow's hierarchy of needsMaslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation. Maslow subsequently extended the idea to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity...
to Christopher before becoming intimate with him. - When Amy tells Christopher they were wrong to have begun a relationship and Christopher responds that he really liked her, Amy observes that the mood has become rather "William IngeWilliam IngeWilliam Motter Inge was an American playwright and novelist, whose works typically feature solitary protagonists encumbered with strained sexual relations. In the early 1950s, he had a string of memorable Broadway productions, and one of these, Picnic, earned him a Pulitzer Prize...
".
Music
- The song played over the end credits is "Vedi, Maria", by Emma ShapplinEmma ShapplinEmma Shapplin is a French operatic coloratura soprano.-Biography:...
. - When Chris, John, and Amy sit down at the pizza shop, the song played is "Swing Town" by the Steve Miller BandSteve Miller BandThe Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
which is then followed by "RhiannonRhiannon (song)"Rhiannon" is a single released by Fleetwood Mac in 1976. The song was written by Stevie Nicks."Rhiannon" was voted #488 in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. Its US chart peak was in June 1976, when it hit #11...
" by Fleetwood MacFleetwood MacFleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
.