46 Long

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“46 Long”
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 2
Guest stars see below
Written by David Chase
Directed by Dan Attias
Production no. 102
Original airdate January 17, 1999 (HBO)
Episode chronology
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"The Sopranos" "Denial, Anger, Acceptance"
Episode chronology

"46 Long" is the second episode of the first season of the HBO original series The Sopranos. The episode was written by David Chase and was directed by Dan Attias. It originally aired on Sunday January 17, 1999.

Contents

[edit] Guest starring roles

[edit] Episode recap

Brendan Filone and Christopher have created their own lucrative gig hijacking trucks. They hijack a shipment of DVD players from a Comley Truck and beat up the driver at his behest so he can avoid suspicion. They deliver the players to Tony, Silvio and Paulie at the Bada Bing where Tony's distaste for Brendan is obvious. Tony tells Chris he doesn't like Brendan's methamphetamine habit.

Chris and Brendan's activities upset Uncle Junior, who is actually being paid to protect the Comley Trucking vehicles. After Uncle Junior has a sit-down with acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr. and Tony Soprano, he complains about the loose-cannon behavior of Brendan and Chris and their hijacking shenanigans. We learn that Jackie is suffering from cancer and is musing over naming his successor. When Tony leaves, Junior complains to Mikey about Tony's treatment of Livia. Tony later relays Junior's message to Chris at Satriales. Chris complains to Tony that he is due his button after his work on the Tri Borough towers garbage disputes. Brendan offends Tony by insulting Jackie and this prompts Tony to throw him out. Tony takes Chris' 15,000 dollar tribute and pockets his cut promising to talk Junior down a little.

Brendan and Chris, both high on crystal meth, are negligent of the demands made to them and plan another hijacking on a delivery of Italian suits departing that night at a club. However, when Brendan arrives to pick his partner-in-crime up, a sober and reflective Christopher decides to sit this one out. However, Brendan, who is apparently high on crystal meth, pulls off another hijacking on his own. This time, he is accompanied by two cohorts, Antjuan and Special K. When the truck driver is threatened, he steps out of the truck. Special K accidentally drops his gun which fires and the driver is killed from the ricochet bullet. The two associates flee from the scene and Brendan is left cursing and fearful of what might happen.

After Tony learns of this from Chris, he tells Chris and Brendan that they must return the truck to Comley and restitution must be made but not before his crew help themselves to a small number of suits.

Pussy and Paulie are sent to find out who stole Anthony Junior's science teacher's car. They are able to find the perpetrators but not the car and force them to steal a new one in its place. After the teacher receives a brand new vehicle thinking it's the same one, AJ mentions that his father is a hero. The teacher, however, is shown confused as to why the paint is still wet, the interior is a different color, and the key is different despite the presence of identical plates.

After a fire in Tony's mother Livia's kitchen, caused by Livia failing to pay attention to her cooking and not being able to call for help, Carmela suggests that she needs to live with others and even offers to have Livia come live with her family. Livia rejects both offers and becomes distraught about the loss of her husband, a "saint". Tony hires a Trinidadian nurse to take care of her. Livia ends up complaining and notifying him that she's stealing and the nurse eventually quits the job from annoyance. Livia drives her friend Fanny home and accidentally knocks her over when she goes to reverse out of her drive. Her doctors say she can't live alone any more and Tony places Livia in the Green Grove retirement community. While visiting her house to pack up her things Tony has another panic attack.

Tony's therapy continues and he discusses his mother with Dr. Melfi. We learn that he is feeling guilty about not being able to have his mother live with them. Melfi tries to show him that his mother is a difficult person using Livia's relationship with Tony's siblings and lack of happy childhood memories. We learn that Tony blames Carmela for preventing his mother living with them. Tony refuses to shift his blame for the situation onto his mother. In another session Melfi pushes Tony to admit he has feelings of anger towards his mother and he storms out.

Georgie the barman at the Bada Bing is confused about the operation of the telephone system, in the same way as Livia, causing Tony to finally beat him with a telephone handset to release his anger.

[edit] First appearances

  • Jackie Aprile, Sr.: Acting Boss of DiMeo Crime family. Meets Tony and Uncle Junior at Satriale's to discuss his cancer and his current position.
  • Brendan Filone: Christopher's crystal meth addled friend and partner in crime. He is rather reckless but he is well aware of Tony's power and hopes to somehow move up in the ranks alongside Christopher.
  • Georgie: Barman at the Bada Bing who upsets Tony
  • Mikey Palmice: Uncle Junior's consigliere and trigger man, who Tony dislikes intensely.

[edit] Deceased

[edit] Title reference

  • The truck that Brendan Filone hijacks was carrying designer suits. The title refers to the tailoring measurement.

[edit] Miscellanea

  • Fanny returns in Season Three when she attends Livia's funeral. Despite having been run over by Mrs. Soprano and being confined to a wheelchair, Fanny is the only person at the gathering who volunteers kind words for Livia.
  • This is the only episode that features a teaser scene before the opening credits.
  • Michael Rispoli is credited as a guest star in the opening credits
  • The first episode to feature Silvio's Al Pacino impression
  • The first episode to feature Tony beating up Georgie, the dimwitted Bada Bing barman
  • This episode shows Tony's practice of driving to payphones to talk business matters. Henry Hill mentions in the book Wiseguy that this is a common tactic of real-life mafioso, and is portrayed in the film Goodfellas.