Employee of the Month (The Sopranos episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Employee of the Month
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 3
Episode = 30
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = March 18, 2001 (HBO)
Production = 304
Writer = Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess
Director = John Patterson
Episode list = Episode chronology


Prev = Fortunate Son
Next = Another Toothpick

"Employee of the Month" is the thirtieth episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and the fourth of the show's third season. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on Sunday March 18 2001.

Guest starring roles

* Sharon Angela as Rosalie Aprile
* Peter Bogdanovich as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg
* Denise Borino as Ginny Sacramoni
* Jason Cerbone as Jackie Aprile, Jr.
* Vince Curatola as Johnny Sack
* John Fiore as Gigi Cestone
* Robert Funaro as Eugene Pontecorvo
* Oksana Lada as Irina Peltsin
* Will McCormack as Jason LaPenna
* Mario Polit as Jesus Rossi
* Peter Riegert as Ronald Zellman
* Richard Romanus as Richard LaPenna

Episode recap

Dr. Melfi decides that since Tony has had a breakthrough in his prior therapy session, he is ready to be referred to a behavioral therapist. Tony takes offense, convinced that Melfi is trying to hand him off to someone else. She quickly changes the subject by asking Tony what is new with his life. Tony proceeds to tell her about some problems with his children. Dr. Melfi suggests that he bring Carmela into the therapy sessions. Tony feels uncomfortable about the idea, but agrees to ask his wife.

John "Johnny Sack" Sacrimoni, the powerful Underboss of the Lupertazzi crime family, quietly moves to New Jersey with his wife, Ginny. They are surprised to receive a visit from Tony Soprano, who is upset because Johnny had not previously mentioned anything about the move. Johnny explains that Ginny wants to be closer to her sisters, and that they already had a condo in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Nevertheless, he assures Tony that he will not "stick his beak" into the New Jersey family business. He then invites Tony to a housewarming party, along with several other Soprano associates and captains.

Meanwhile, as Dr. Melfi leaves her office late in the evening, she is approached in the deserted parking garage by a young man named Jesus Rossi. He grabs Dr. Melfi from behind and pushes her into the stairwell where he brutally rapes her and leaves her crying for help. She is taken to the emergency room where she learns her leg is badly wounded. She also has bruises on her face. Her son, Jason, wants revenge on the rapist, but Richard LaPenna (Melfi's ex-husband, who she has begun dating) tells Jason to let the police handle it. The following day, Richard phones the detectives, who inform him that Rossi was released on a technicality, due to a breakdown in the chain of custody. Upon learning of Rossi's release, Melfi becomes very upset and afraid. Later, while buying a sandwich at a sub shop, she notices a plaque indicating that Rossi is the establishment's "Employee of the Month." She drops her soda and runs out of the building.

Dr. Melfi later dreams about buying a soda at a vending machine and getting her hand trapped in the machine. While trapped, she dreams of a large Rottweiler that scares her, but then she sees her rapist coming to assault her again. The dog viciously attacks Rossi, mauling him as he begs for his life. When Melfi awakens, she feels a sense of relief. Later, she describes the dream to her therapist, Dr. Elliot Kupferberg, and realizes its meaning: the large dog protecting her was actually Tony Soprano —- someone who could take revenge on her behalf. However, Melfi assures Kupferberg that even though the justice system has failed her, she will not turn to him for help, albeit she mentions that the dream of watching that man suffering brought her great pleasure.

Ralph Cifaretto begins to show a fatherly interest in Jackie Aprile, Jr., the son of his girlfriend, Rosalie Aprile. During dinner at Nuovo Vesuvio, Ralph asks Jackie if he has any current love interests; he then recommends Meadow Soprano to him. Shortly thereafter, Ralph takes him to help collect money from a client who refuses to make his payments, goading the man into a fight. The client swings a bat at Jackie and a struggle ensues. Jackie and Ralph manage to knock the man down and take the money from his wallet. Hearing of this, Tony warns Ralph to keep Jackie away from the family, as he had promised to Jackie's father that his son would not live such a life. Due to Ralph's taking Jackie Aprile, Jr. along with his criminal ventures, Tony ultimately decides against promoting Ralphie to capo of The Aprile Crew. Ralph is furthered disappointed to learn Tony has chosen Gigi Cestone as less qualified family member.

After refusing to give up Svetlana Kirilenko's prosthetic leg, Janice receives a visit from the Russian mob. At first they ask nicely for the leg, but soon the encounter becomes violent. The Russians attack Janice and force her to retrieve the leg, which is in a bowling alley locker. Tony visits Janice at the hospital where she tells him that she has "found God" and has forgiven Svetlana for what happened.

During their next session, Dr. Melfi begins to weep when Tony agrees to see the behaviorist, and he tries to comfort her. Tony asks her what is wrong, but she persuades him to sit back down and continue the session. Tony asks Melfi if she wants to tell him something. After a tense pause, Melfi declines.

First appearances

* Ginny Sacramoni: The wife of Johnny Sack.

Title reference

* Dr. Melfi's rapist is "Employee of the Month" at a local sub shop.

Awards

* The episode's writers, Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, won an Emmy Award in 2001 for Best Writing in a Drama Series.

Production

* Series creator, David Chase, says of the rape subplot and those expecting revenge from Tony: "If you're raised on a steady diet of Hollywood movies and network television, you start to think, 'Obviously there's going to be some moral accounting here'. That's not the way the world works. It all comes down to why you're watching. If all you want is to see big Tony Soprano take that guy's head and bang it against the wall like a cantaloupe… The point is—Melfi, despite pain and suffering, made her moral, ethical choice and we should applaud her for it. That's the story." [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20038366_4,00.html EW.com: Chase 'n' the Russian] ]
* Denise Borino (Ginny Sacramoni) won her part by attending an open-casting session, she had not acted professionally before.

Music

* The song played over the end credits is "Fisherman's Daughter" by Daniel Lanois

References