Mergers and Acquisitions (The Sopranos episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Mergers and Acquisitions
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 4
Episode = 47
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = November 3, 2002
Production = 408
Writer = Lawrence Konner
Director = Dan Attias
Episode list = Episode chronology


Prev = Watching Too Much Television
Next = Whoever Did This"Mergers and Acquisitions" is the forty-seventh episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and the eighth of the show's fourth season. Its teleplay was written by Lawrence Konner from a story by Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess and Terence Winter. It was directed by Dan Attias and originally aired on Sunday November 3 2002.

Guest starring roles

* Sharon Angela as Rosalie Aprile
* Fran Anthony as Minn Martone
* Leslie Bega as Valentina La Paz
* Anna Berger as Cookie Cirillo
* Carl Capotorto as Little Paulie Germani
* Max Casella as Benny Fazio
* Charlotte Colavin as Lorraine Cirillo
* Matthew Del Negro as Brian Cammarata
* Heidi Dippold as Janelle Cammarata
* Frances Ensemplare as Marianucci "Nucci" Gualtieri
* Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi
* Anthony Patellis as Chuckie Cirillo
* Paul Schulze as Father Phil Intintola

Episode recap

Paulie Walnuts 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 Matrone, who warmly welcome her. While Nucci is in the restroom (which she called the "W.C."-the "Water Closet"), 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. On 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, who pays a visit to Cookie's son, Chuckie, a high school principal. Paulie discusses the relationship of Nucci and Cookie and would like them to get along, since Minn Martone is an instigator and a "malignant cunt" according to Paulie. Chuckie tries to convince Paulie that he cannot intervene in his mother's social life. 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, at the stables, Tony Soprano meets Ralph Cifaretto's new girlfriend, Valentina La Paz, a Cuban-Italian beauty whom Tony immediately falls for. Valentina then convinces Tony to have a portrait made of him with the horse, Pie-O-My, and soon Tony and Valentina have sex. Valentina 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 horseshoe pin as a parting gift. Valentina objects (she still wants to see Tony), and complains to him 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 - by agreeing to pay her $3,000 for the info - that Ralph really does have unusual sexual tendencies.

Carmela, who is falling for Furio Giunta, feels empathy for him 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's wife, he is warned to not pursue the relationship any further since it would be considered an act of treason and disrespect. 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 it there and stealing the keys to it when he was in the shower) and invests it with several stock brokers at $9,900 segments (in order to avoid the $10,000 mandatory notification of the IRS and generate their suspicion). After recounting the hidden money, Tony discovers that there is some missing. Before having a chance to talk about it with Carmela, he discovers the false nail on his nightstand next to his car keys, probably left there on purpose by Carmela for Tony to find. 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 his son if he had been in the backyard (tipping off Carmela that he knows the money is missing). After A.J. denies being in the backyard and leaves, Carmela again asks Tony if he wishes to talk about anything. He declines, and asks Carmela the same —- she responds likewise and "it" is left hanging in the air between them.

First appearances

* Valentina La Paz: An art dealer and Ralph's girlfriend, who quickly falls for Tony.
* Minn Martone: Friend of Paulie's mother, Nucci Gualtieri at Green Grove.

Deceased

* Furio's Father: Cancer.

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. In the episode it alludes 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
* Christopher's merging into a more central position in the hierarchy

References to other media

* Janice watches " Robot Wars " on television.
* Tony watches the 1993 film, "The Fugitive " (which includes cast mate Joe Pantoliano) on his new widescreen television
* Tony references the movie "Hud", which starred "Paul Newman", when Carmela's cousin mistakenly references the HUD scam to Carmela at dinner.

Music

* The Song which is played over the end credits is "When the Battle is Over" by Delaney & Bonnie.
* Tony falls asleep listening to Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon". The closing track "Eclipse" is heard when he wakes.