Mergers and Acquisitions (The Sopranos episode)

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“Mergers and Acquisitions”
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 47
Guest stars see below
Written by Lawrence Konner
Directed by Dan Attias
Production no. 408
Original airdate November 3, 2002
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"Mergers and Acquisitions" is the 47th episode of the HBO original series, The Sopranos. It was the seventh episode for the show's fourth season. The episode's teleplay was written by Lawrence Konner with a story by Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and Terence Winter and directed by Dan Attias. It originally aired on Sunday November 3, 2002.

Contents

[edit] Guest Starring roles

[edit] Episode recap

Paulie is concerned about his mother's welfare when she finally makes the move to Green Grove Retirement Home. Quickly, Nucci is excited to reunite with old friends Cookie Cirillo and Minn Martone who warmly welcome her. While Nucci is in the restroom, the ladies politely inform Paulie that Nucci will not be allowed to play cards with them or eat lunch together since they are a set group. Paulie insists that the girls make room and be respectful to his mother. At Casino night, Nucci is ostracized by Cookie after she ruins a game of blackjack. Nucci then confines herself to her room which begins to worry Paulie. Paulie then pays a visit to Cookie's son Chuckie who is a high school principal. Paulie then discusses the relationship of Nucci and Cookie and would like them to have a better relationship since Minn Martone is an instigator and a "malignant cunt" according to Paulie. Chuckie tries to convince Paulie that he cannot intervene with who his mother is friends with. The following day, Chuckie is chased through a hallway by members of Paulie's crew and is badly injured. When Chuckie's wife threatens to take Cookie out of the nursing home, she reluctantly agrees to make peace with Nucci.

Meanwhile while at the stables, Tony meets Ralph's girlfriend Valentina La Paz who Tony immediately falls for. Valentina then convinces Tony to have a portrait made of him with Pie-O-My. Afterward, the two have sex. Valentina then fools around with Tony by taking the top off of a salt shaker, and then Tony, jocularly, threatens to throw her meal out of the window. Valentina continues to date Ralph, and Tony buys her an expensive pin as a parting gift. Valentina objects (she still wants to see Tony), and complains to Tony that her sex life with Ralph consists mostly of his masochistic fetishes. Dr. Melfi suggests that Tony is reluctant to "cuckold" Ralph, and in fact Tony continues to push Valentina away until he gets confirmation from Janice that Ralph really does have a masochism fetish.

Carmela, who is falling for Furio, feels empathy for Furio when he leaves for Italy to attend his father's funeral. While in Italy, Furio discusses his attraction to Carmela with his uncle. When Furio tells him that the woman is the boss' wife, he is warned to not pursue the relationship any further since it would be considered an act of treason. At home, Carmela discovers a broken false nail in Tony's clothes, infuriating her. She vents her anger by taking a stipend of money from his bird feed (after guessing Tony was hiding money there) and invests it with several stock brokers (in order to avoid IRS suspicion). Tony then finds money missing from the feed after recounting the money. Before having a chance to talk about it with Carmela, he discovers the false nail on his nightstand. Tony walks downstairs, where Carmela is reading the paper. He asks for coffee, which she makes, and, noticing his demeanor, asks Tony if he wishes to discuss anything. He says no. A.J. comes downstairs, and Tony asks if A.J. had been through the bird feeder (tipping off Carmela the he knows she's taken the money). After A.J. leaves, Carmela again asks Tony if he wishes to talk about anything. He declines, and asks Carmela the same -- she, as well, declines. The scene ends with Carmela sitting, reading the paper, Tony standing, and the coffee brewing.

[edit] First appearances

  • Valentina La Paz: An art dealer and Ralph's girlfriend who quickly begins to fall for Tony.

[edit] Deceased

  • Furio's Father: Cancer.

[edit] Title reference

  • The phrase mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as other assets. It refers to
    • Carmela's acquiring of Tony's cash, putting it into long-term investments (both for revenge and to take control of their finances)
    • Tony's acquisition of Ralph's horse
    • Tony's acquisition of Valentina
    • More obliquely, Nucci merging into life at Green Grove
    • Christopher's merging into a more central position in the hierarchy
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