I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano

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“I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 13
Guest stars see below
Written by David Chase
Directed by John Patterson
Production no. 113
Original airdate April 4, 1999
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano" is the 13th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was the final episode for the show's first season. The episode was written by David Chase and directed by John Patterson. It originally aired on Sunday April 4, 1999.

Contents

[edit] Guest starring roles

[edit] Episode recap

At Uncle Junior's meeting with his capos, Jimmy Altieri makes it obvious to the boss that he is wearing a wire. Junior agrees to let Tony have him killed. Christopher takes Jimmy to a hotel for what he promises will be a night with two Russian women. But after they enter the hotel room, Silvio emerges from behind a door and shoots Jimmy in the back of the head. His body is later found with a rat stuffed in his mouth, sending a message that he had made a deal with the FBI.

Dr. Melfi, in a session with Tony, tells him that his dream (of Jeannie Cusamano) indicates his subconscious is alerting him to problems with his mother, and suggests that she may be the cause of the attempt on Tony's life. Tony becomes furious, and attacks Dr. Melfi, holding her down on her chair. He tells her that they are finished and that she is lucky he does not physically harm her.

Carmela and Rosalie Aprile have lunch at Nuovo Vesuvio, Artie Bucco's "new" restaurant that he opened with the insurance money he received after the original Vesuvio burned down. Father Phil drops by and sits with them. He discusses food and his watch, which belonged to Jackie Aprile but after his death was given to Father Phil by Rosalie. Meanwhile, Artie's wife Charmaine complains about the prior restaurant being a mob hangout.

FBI Agents Harris and Grasso hold a meeting with Tony and U.S. Attorney Gene Conigliaro. Gene lets Tony listen to recordings they made at Green Grove to attempt to convince him that his days are numbered. On the tapes, Tony hears Junior and Livia planning a hit on him and discussing Tony’s visits with Dr. Melfi.

Artie Bucco visits Livia and brings her some food. She informs him that Tony burned down his restaurant. Artie later confronts Tony with a loaded rifle outside Satriale's meat market, and expresses his anger that the restaurant is gone, a place where three generations of Buccos worked over the same stove. Tony denies that he started the fire, saying he would not be so stupid to burn down the restaurant, and that Livia was confused. He swears "on his mother" that he did not incinerate the restaurant, which causes Artie to withdraw and smash the rifle.

At the Bing, Tony informs Paulie, Silvio and Christopher that he has confirmed that Junior took out the hit on his life. Paulie suggests that Junior may want to finish what he started, and Christopher points out that Junior would use his own staff to do the job. It is decided that Chucky Signore, the most likely candidate, should be made to "disappear without setting off any alarms."

Tony and Silvio pay Chucky a visit at a marina. After starting a conversation with Chucky about a large fish that he is carrying, Tony pulls a gun out of the mouth of the fish and shoots Chucky repeatedly. Silvio unloads cement blocks and chains from the car and he and Tony load the items onto Chucky's boat and cast off.

Tony convinces Dr. Melfi to see him and admits that she was correct about his mother. He warns Dr. Melfi that her life might be in danger. She tries to give him pragmatic reasons why it would be unnecessary for any of Tony’s enemies to come after her, but Tony tells her none of that matters. Tony demands she leave town and she reluctantly agrees once she realizes people are about to be killed.

Artie Bucco visits Father Phil and consults him about the anger and rage he is feeling towards Tony and life. He tells Father Phil he cannot tell Charmaine about the fire because she would be distraught. Father Phil tells Artie he should tell Charmaine and turn in Tony to the police.

Tony tells his crew about seeing a shrink because of the times when he passed out, and that Junior knows and has decided to use the situation against Tony. Silvio doesn’t mind the news, and Paulie admits to once seeking similar help himself because he had issues and "lacked some coping skills." Christopher asks if it is like marriage counseling then seems upset as he gets up and leaves the meeting.

Carmela visits Father Phil with a bowl of food, but observes Rosalie and Father Phil having an intimate discussion, as Father Phil eats and praises the food that Rosalie has brought him. Carmela leaves in disgust and dumps the bowl of food in the trash can outside the church.

Charmaine hires Adriana La Cerva as a hostess and tells Artie that she is very happy with the new restaurant and how things are progressing. Artie is glad and fails to tell her about Tony and the fire.

Mikey Palmice heads out for a jog with his cellular phone. He tells his wife that, if Chucky calls, to call his cell phone and let him know. Paulie and Christopher, still seeking vengeance for the death of his friend Brendan Filone, track down Mikey, eventually chasing him into the woods where Mikey falls into a stream. Christopher confronts Mikey with the Brendan slaying, while Paulie is angry because he believes that he has contracted poison ivy. Both empty their guns into Mikey. Following the execution Mikey's cell phone rings.

The FBI arrests Junior, capo Larry Boy Barese, and underboss Joseph Sasso and 13 others. A reporter mentions that Mikey "Grab Bag" Palmice is missing and may have fled. Tony learns from his lawyer that he was not indicted because the charges relate to a telephone calling card scam and a stock scam that he was not involved with.

Father Phil visits Artie, who confesses that he never informed his wife of the information concerning Tony because she, for the first time, is not being negative and is happy.

Junior is offered a deal, if he confesses that Tony was the de facto boss of the family running things behind Junior's back with the help of two New York families and Johnny Sack. The Feds want bigger targets in New York. Junior refuses.

Father Phil visits Carmela with a movie rental and asks about Tony. Carmela points out that Father Phil is a hypocrite in that he is against Tony's lifestyle but enjoys Tony's food and entertainment center. He wonders if she thinks of him as a parasite. She accuses him of manipulating spiritually thirsty women, and mentions that food and sexual tension are part of his game.

Tony goes to Green Grove to confront his mother, picking up a pillow on the way to her room. However he discovers that she has had a stroke. As she is being wheeled into the nursing facilities, Tony discards the pillow but tells her he knows what she has done. He has to be restrained when he perceives her to be smiling.

As a storm erupts, Tony fails to drive Carmela and the children to their intended destination. Instead Tony pulls the car over near Bloomfield Avenue where Nuovo Vesuvio is located. Tony, Carmela and the children hurry to the door where Tony begs Artie to let them in so they can get out of the storm. Artie, who is cooking by candlelight without electrical power, reluctantly opens the door and welcomes them in, where they meet Paulie (with calamine lotion on his face) and Silvio. Tony proposes a toast to his family, and they enjoy dinner.

[edit] Deceased

  • Jimmy Altieri: Lured to a hotel by Christopher and shot through the back of the head by Silvio for possibly being involved with the FBI
  • Chucky Signore: Shot by Tony in a marina for conspiring with Uncle Junior to have Tony killed
  • Mikey Palmice: Chased down and shot to death in the woods by Paulie and Christopher for conspiring with Uncle Junior to have Tony killed

[edit] Title reference

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