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Marco Polo (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"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.
increases, as Little Carmine's party boat is damaged and sinks. Tony
tries to keep his family out of the hostilities. He meets with Johnny Sack
and agrees to have Phil Leotardo's car fixed, 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 his widow, Angie). Phil however causes trouble with Angie, and claims numerous problems with the car (none of which Angie was originally to be responsible for). Tony Blundetto
is asked to attend Phil's return visit, where Phil turns down a counter-offer and sticks Angie with the cost of $2,000 to replace a seat.
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 kill Johnny Sack's associate Joe Peeps in retaliation for the hit on Lorraine Calluzzo, who Little Carmine was quite fond of. Tony B. turns them down, but he soon realizes he isn't moving up in Tony's crew fast enough and wants more than he is being given.
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 her father. After Uncle Junior
ruins the surprise by telling Hugh that he isn't coming, the old man gets involved with planning the event. When he hears Tony is not invited, he demands the "man of the house" attend. When Tony arrives at the party, Carmela's mother, Mary, is humiliated at his behavior and presentation. She apologetically explains the behavior of the Sopranos to her more cultured Italian-American friends. Hugh, however, is overjoyed with Tony's attendance. When Tony presents Hugh with a Beretta DT-10
over-under barrel shotgun
, his gift warrants a condescending comment from one of Mary's friends, informing the party goers that the best Berettas never leave Italy
. As her parents leave, Carmela expresses her disgust at her mother for her behavior.
After most of the guests 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 together. A few kisses in the pool lead to the two of them spending the night together.
The evening at the Sopranos' house seemed to bother Tony B., chafing at the way Carmela instructed him to help her at the party. His sons were dissatisfied returning to their own home after they had so much fun at the Sopranos'. After thinking about the situation, Tony B. calls Rusty and agrees to do the hit. He finds Joe Peeps in his car outside a brothel and shoots him and his innocent female companion, but his foot is injured when the vehicle rolls over it. He limps back to his own car to make his getaway.
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 the eighth of the show's fifth season. It was written by Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli
James 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...
, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on April 25, 2004.
Guest starring roles
- Ray AbruzzoRay AbruzzoRay Abruzzo is an Italian-American actor, noted for his appearances on television.He made regular appearances in the following series: Dynasty , The Practice and The Sopranos .Other TV credits include: Falcon Crest, Murder She Wrote, L.A...
as Little Carmine - Tom AldredgeTom AldredgeThomas Ernest "Tom" Aldredge was an American television, film and stage actor.-Life and career:Aldredge was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Lucienne Juliet and W. J. Aldredge, a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps...
as Hugh De Angelis - Allison BartlettAlison Bartlett-O'ReillyAlison Bartlett-O'Reilly is an American actress known for portraying Gina Jefferson on Sesame Street. Initially playing the character on an on-and-off basis in 1985, Bartlett-O'Reilly has played Gina regularly since November 1987...
as Gwen McIntyre - Chris Caldovino as Billy Leotardo
- 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 - Joe Maruzzo as Joe Peeps
- Joe SantosJoe SantosJoe Santos is an American film and television actor.-Biography:Santos was born Joseph Minieri in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Rose and Joseph Minieri. He began his film acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in films directed by his cousin, Joseph W...
as Angelo Garepe - Paul SchulzePaul SchulzePaul Schulze is an American actor best known for portraying Ryan Chappelle on the FOX series 24 from 2001 to 2004 and Father Phil Intintola on HBO The Sopranos from 1999 to 2006....
as Father Phil Intintola - Suzanne ShepherdSuzanne ShepherdSuzanne Shepherd is an American actress and theater director. She is best known for her portrayal of Karen's overbearing mother in the film Goodfellas, and Carmela's overbearing mother in the television program The Sopranos. Shepherd studied acting with Sanford Meisner, and later went on to teach...
as Mary De Angelis - Frank VincentFrank VincentFrank Vincent is an American actor, musician, author and entrepreneur. He is a favorite performer of director Martin Scorsese, having played important roles in three of Scorsese's most acclaimed films: Raging Bull , Goodfellas and Casino . He often plays a gangster and works both in features and...
as Phil Leotardo
Episode recap
The conflict in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
increases, as Little Carmine's party boat is damaged and sinks. 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...
tries to keep his family out of the hostilities. He meets with Johnny Sack
Johnny Sack
John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, played by Vince Curatola, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was the longtime underboss and later the boss of the powerful Brooklyn-based New York City Lupertazzi crime family...
and agrees to have Phil Leotardo's car fixed, 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 his widow, Angie). Phil however causes trouble with Angie, and claims numerous problems with the car (none of which Angie was originally to be responsible for). Tony Blundetto
Tony Blundetto
Anthony "Tony" Blundetto, played by Steve Buscemi, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Soprano's cousin who is released from prison at the beginning of the show's fifth season. Tony Blundetto first appears as a calm, composed, and reformed criminal ready to pursue...
is asked to attend Phil's return visit, where Phil turns down a counter-offer and sticks Angie with the cost of $2,000 to replace a seat.
Carmine's crew begins courting Tony B.
Tony Blundetto
Anthony "Tony" Blundetto, played by Steve Buscemi, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Soprano's cousin who is released from prison at the beginning of the show's fifth season. Tony Blundetto first appears as a calm, composed, and reformed criminal ready to pursue...
through his old prison buddy, Angelo Garepe. Angelo and Rusty Millio approach Tony B. and offer him a freelance job. They want him to kill Johnny Sack's associate Joe Peeps in retaliation for the hit on Lorraine Calluzzo, who Little Carmine was quite fond of. Tony B. turns them down, but he soon realizes he isn't moving up in Tony's crew fast enough and wants more than he is being given.
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
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:...
plans a surprise 75th birthday party for her father. After Uncle Junior
Junior Soprano
Corrado 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...
ruins the surprise by telling Hugh that he isn't coming, the old man gets involved with planning the event. When he hears Tony is not invited, he demands the "man of the house" attend. When Tony arrives at the party, Carmela's mother, Mary, is humiliated at his behavior and presentation. She apologetically explains the behavior of the Sopranos to her more cultured Italian-American friends. Hugh, however, is overjoyed with Tony's attendance. When Tony presents Hugh with a Beretta DT-10
Beretta DT-10
The Beretta DT10 is an over and under shotgun. It is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy. It is one of the few Beretta shotguns that has a trigger unit that is detachable in the field, DT standing for detachable trigger...
over-under barrel shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
, his gift warrants a condescending comment from one of Mary's friends, informing the party goers that the best Berettas never leave Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. As her parents leave, Carmela expresses her disgust at her mother for her behavior.
After most of the guests depart, Artie Bucco leads the younger guests in a game of Marco Polo
Marco Polo (game)
The children's game marco is a form of tag played in a swimming pool.One player is chosen as "It". This player closes their eyes so they can't see and tries to tag the other players. The player who is "It" shouts out "Marco" and the other players must respond by shouting "Polo", which "It" uses to...
. During the game, Tony and 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...
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 together. A few kisses in the pool lead to the two of them spending the night together.
The evening at the Sopranos' house seemed to bother Tony B., chafing at the way Carmela instructed him to help her at the party. His sons were dissatisfied returning to their own home after they had so much fun at the Sopranos'. After thinking about the situation, Tony B. calls Rusty and agrees to do the hit. He finds Joe Peeps in his car outside a brothel and shoots him and his innocent female companion, but his foot is injured when the vehicle rolls over it. He limps back to his own car to make his getaway.
Deceased
- Joseph "Joey Peeps" Peparelli: shot by Tony Blundetto on Little Carmine's orders
- Heather: prostitute with Joey Peeps; shot by Tony Blundetto
Title reference
- At Hugh's birthday party, a game of Marco PoloMarco Polo (game)The children's game marco is a form of tag played in a swimming pool.One player is chosen as "It". This player closes their eyes so they can't see and tries to tag the other players. The player who is "It" shouts out "Marco" and the other players must respond by shouting "Polo", which "It" uses to...
breaks out in the Sopranos' pool. - The title may also be a reference to Tony B.'s exploring new territory/making deals with "foreigners" (i.e., the New York families).
- The title may also refer to the return home, after a long, life-changing sojourn elsewhere, by Hugh's Navy friend Russ Fagoli (who moved back to New Jersey after traveling with the Navy, serving as an ambassador, and living in Marin County), "Little Carmine" (who moved back to the northeast, from Miami, after his father's death), and Tony B. (who told his sons he had been traveling internationally during his long time away from home, although he had actually been serving time in prison).
- The title may also refer to the long journey made by Angie Bonpiensero, who has travelled a long way from being wholly dependent upon men (first her husband, Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, then Tony Soprano) to co-managing Pussy's auto body shop with Sal's brother, Edward "Duke" Bonpensiero (after Pussy's "departure"), an enterprise through which Tony runs much of his illicit business.
Music
- The song on the radio in the opening scene is Mason WilliamsMason WilliamsMason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
' "Classical GasClassical Gas"Classical Gas" is an instrumental musical piece composed and originally performed by Mason Williams. Originally released in 1968 on the album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, it has been re-recorded and re-released numerous times since by Williams...
". - The song played over the end credits is "Bad n' Ruin" by FacesFaces (band)Faces are an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after Steve Marriott left that group to form Humble Pie...
, it's also played at the Bada Bing, when Tony S. and Tony B. have their meeting. - One of the songs played at Hugh's birthday party is "Bandstand Boogie", a song that is more well-known as the theme to American BandstandAmerican BandstandAmerican Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. - Another song played at the party is "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" by Perez PradoPerez PradoDámaso Pérez Prado was a Cuban bandleader, musician , and composer. He is often referred to as the 'King of the Mambo'.His orchestra was the most popular in mambo...
. - The song being played on saxophone when the party is closing is "StardustStardustStardust may refer to:* A type of cosmic dust composed of particles in space-Music:* Stardust * "Stardust" , by Galneryus* "Stardust" , by Hoagy Carmichael* "Stardust" , by David Essex* Stardust...
" by Hoagy CarmichaelHoagy CarmichaelHoward Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
.