Kaisha

Infobox Television episode
Title = Kaisha
Series = The Sopranos


Caption =
Season = 6
Episode = 77
Airdate = Start date|2006|06|04
Production = 77
Writer = Terence Winter and
David Chase & Matthew Weiner
Director = Alan Taylor
Photographer =
Guests =
Tom Aldredge
Denise Borino
Cara Buono
Miryam Coppersmith
Kobi and Kadin George
Kimberly and Brianna Laughlin
Geraldine LiBrandi
Julianna Margulies
Angelo Massagli
Arthur Nascarella
Dania Ramirez
Suzanne Shepherd
Lenny Venito
Episode list = List of "The Sopranos" episodes
Season list = Infobox The Sopranos season six
Prev =
Next ="Kaisha" is the seventy-seventh episode of the HBO television series "The Sopranos" and the twelfth of the show's sixth season. It was written by Terence Winter, David Chase and Matthew Weiner, and directed by Alan Taylor. It originally aired in the United States on June 4 2006.

Episode recap

Tension with New York

Carlo Gervasi disposes of the head of "Fat Dom" Gamiello, while Silvio Dante arranged for the body to be dumped at the shore. Phil Leotardo arrives with his comàre at the wire room, which is fronted with the sign Sheepshead Hair Design. As they approach the building, it explodes, knocking them to the street. Watching from his car nearby, Benny Fazio calls Tony Soprano to let him know the operation was a success. Tony is pleased to hear that Phil was so close when the bomb went off.

Little Carmine hosts a "meeting of minds" between New York and New Jersey with Tony, Silvio, Phil, Gerry Torciano, and Butch DeConcini. His rambling introduction is criticized by Phil, who then makes a joke about Vito Spatafore, which seems to offend Tony. Tony reminds Phil that Vito was one of his captains and mentions Vito's earning ability. Phil brings up the "disappearance" of Fat Dom. Silvio and Tony feign ignorance. Little Carmine brings them back to the subject, and offers the confused statement "a pint of blood costs more than a gallon of gold," indicating that the dispute is costing both men money. Tony and Phil agree to a truce, but it all falls apart when Little Carmine continues to talk and mentions Phil's brother, which sends Phil into a rage. He storms off, after insulting both Tony and Little Carmine. Later, Phil discusses Tony with his captains Albie Cianflone, Gerry, and Butch. The latter is particularly critical of Tony and suggests whacking him. Phil refuses to consider this and Butch suggests picking "somebody" over there".

Tony, Julianna and Christopher

Tony completes the Jamba Juice real estate deal and apologizes to realtor Julianna Skiff about his behavior when they last met. He makes another pass at her, but she politely turns him down. Meanwhile, Christopher and Kelli Moltisanti discuss decorating a nursery for their expected child. Chris worries that they are counting their chickens before they hatch. Kelli asks him to put aside superstition and enjoy the time, reminding him she does not have the health worries of his ex, Adriana La Cerva.

While Tony, Christopher, Bobby, and A.J. watch football on Thanksgiving, Tony questions Chris about his secret phone calls, and Chris admits having a new comàre, "Kaisha". Tony criticizes Chris's timing in starting an affair while he has a pregnant wife at home, but sympathizes when Chris complains that the "playground is closed" and he has unmet sexual needs. When Bobby asks why Chris has not brought Kaisha around, Chris explains that she is black, and cites Paulie Gualtieri's racism as the reason he has kept her away.

However, the girlfriend is actually Julianna Skiff, having met Chris in AA. She asks how he could like a person who would sleep with a married man. He tells her he rushed into marriage with Kelli and does not want a family with her, as she "has no idea who [he is] ". Oblivious to the situation, Tony continues to make passes at, and is rejected by Julianna while she continues her affair with Chris, and the two relapse into drug use.

Eventually, at Satriale's, Tony notices Christopher talking to Julianna in her car down the block. He questions Christopher, who asks for Tony's version of what happened between them, and then pretends that Julianna is friends with "Kaisha", the black comàre he made up at Thanksgiving. Christopher and Julianna continue smoking heroin, and discuss their (self-deluding) ability to control their use of drugs and integrate it into their lives. Chris tells her that he must reveal their relationship to Tony in order to prevent him finding out that he is using again. Chris catches up with Tony at the Bing, and tells the truth about his relationship with Julianna, placating Tony by saying the reason he concealed the relationship was that he was not sure how things had ended between him and Julianna. Tony says Christopher can do whatever he wants with her.

In therapy, Tony discusses his anger at being "rewarded" for his fidelity by Christopher's relationship with the woman Tony desired for himself. Dr. Melfi is pleased that Tony did not react to the situation violently, and that it is a corollary to Tony's view that each day is a gift—he does not need to sleep with every woman he meets. Tony brings up his realization that all the women he has pursued, including Dr. Melfi, share certain qualities, and that this must be the reason he continues seeing her, since "nothing changes with the therapy part."

A.J. and Blanca

While working at the construction site, A.J. watches Paulie make a collection from Blanca, an administrator there. A.J. is struck by the woman and introduces himself. While having drinks with his coworkers, A.J. notices Blanca dancing. She approaches him to continue their aborted conversation at the construction site and encourages A.J. to take her out, though warning him that she has a three-year-old son, Hector. On their date, while watching television at Blanca's house, a group of youths begin playing loud music outside while her son is sleeping. She asks them to move, but they respond with profanity. She tells A.J. her ex used to beat them up, which prompts him to resolve the dispute in his own way; by bribing them with a mountain bike that was a gift from his parents. Blanca rewards him with vigorous sex. During pillow talk, A.J. asks whether their age difference bothers Blanca. She laughs it off, asks him about Hector, to which A.J. responds that he loves kids.

Carmela's concerns

Carmela visits Liz La Cerva at the hospital to find that she is restrained in her bed, having apparently attempted suicide. Carmela returns home and tells Tony that Liz was set off by a letter from the Salvation Army, to whom Adriana made annual donations. Tony suggests that Liz is an alcoholic who cannot accept the reality that Adriana moved away because she could not stand her mother. Carmela takes offense at that suggestion, on the heels of Meadow moving away two weeks prior. Carmela again complains about her spec house being stalled and her life in general, and Tony attempts to comfort her by pointing out that A.J. is doing better. Carmela suggests they hire a private investigator to track Adriana down; Tony attempts to dissuade her, but she is not easily swayed. Tony's only recourse is to meet Silvio at the Bing and tell him to lean on the building inspector in order to restart Carmela's spec house project, which he hopes will distract her. When the stop-work order is lifted, she immediately realizes that it is Tony's work, and thanks him profusely.

At home, Carmela is going through paperwork and preparing Christmas dinner. Tony's hope that the spec house will distract her pays off, as she discards the business card of the PI she wanted to hire to find Adriana, and instead calls the roofing subcontractor. The family is hanging out before dinner. A.J. arrives with Blanca and Hector. Hugh remarks on Blanca's necklace, which A.J. bought for her. In another room, Carmela and Tony discuss Blanca. Carmela does not approve of her age or race, but Tony seems much more accepting, seemingly glad his son is acting more grown up. When Tony suggests to A.J. that he could have helped with the necklace, A.J. responds, "I have a job." Blanca compliments Carmela on their beautiful home, and she thanks Blanca and agrees. The entire extended family is gathered peacefully around the tree with Christmas music playing.

Phil becomes ill

At the Leotardo house, Phil and his wife Patty discuss Christmas dinner and Phil complains of feeling ill. Phil and Patty go to the emergency room, where the doctor diagnoses Phil with gas, not a heart attack. However, that night, Phil wakes up hyperventilating, thinking he is dying and is rushed him back to the hospital. Murmur brings news that Phil has had a heart attack. Tony is pleased and orders a round of drinks, but Silvio and Paulie are critical of his joy, pointing out that Phil had been a manageable pain, and any replacement could mean further unrest. Tony disagrees, citing the insult-laden exchange at Little Carmine's. Agent Harris tells Tony that inside sources at the FBI say that someone in Tony's organization may be in danger from a retaliation from the Lupertazzi family. Tony later visits Phil at the hospital. When alone, Tony tells Phil about his coma, revealing that he went to a place that he never wants to visit again. Tony tells Phil to take his time recovering and enjoy his grandchildren and the good things in his life when he is better, at which point Phil begins to cry.

Junior's Christmas

Bobby visits Uncle Junior at his care facility and returns his Christmas gift (an envelope of money), saying he cannot accept it after what happened with Tony. Junior is clearly not in his right mind, as he suggests he may not have been acting alone, and that he is "mounting [his] case" with the help of a lawyer, another patient in the institution. After Bobby leaves, Junior gives the envelope to an orderly.

First appearances

The episode marks the first appearances of:
* Blanca Selgado: A.J.'s girlfriend.
* Butch DeConcini: a Lupertazzi family captain who pushes for the murder of someone close to Tony.

Title reference

The episode's title, "Kaisha", has many different meanings which include:
* Christopher's imaginary African-American comàre is named Kaisha.
* "Kaisha" is also the Japanese word for company or corporation.
* Used in Japanese slang, "Uchi no kaisha" means "Don't mess with my buddies" or "I've got my pal's back."
* "Kaisha" was also the name of the girlfriend of Credenzo Curtis, a killer whom Christopher hired in Season 4 to assassinate Carmine Lupertazzi. Curtis was murdered by Benny and Petey after the assassination was called off; she was never shown. Just before Curtis and his partner Stanley Johnson were ambushed and murdered, Curtis asked Johnson not to mention the money (from the hit) to Kaisha or she would be hounding him for child support.

Production

* "Sentimental Journey" was the working title for this episode.
* The episode was dedicated to John T. Patterson, who directed every season finale for the first five seasons and worked regularly on the series.
* The exploding storefront is an actual location in the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood on Fresh Pond Road (one of the two main local shopping streets). Actor John Ventimiglia (who plays Artie Bucco) was born there, before moving to New Jersey.

Connections to prior episodes

* Bobby Jr. is seen watching the film "Casablanca" at the Christmas gathering. In the previous episode, "Cold Stones", Casablanca's signature song, "As Time Goes By" plays over the closing credits.
* Christopher initially claims his comàre is black and that the reason he does not bring her around is due to Paulie's "racial bullshit." Paulie himself has a girlfriend of Dominican heritage in episode 2.9, "From Where to Eternity".

Music

* The episode opens and closes with the Rolling Stones song "Moonlight Mile". The line "with a head full of snow" accompanies Carlo's transport of Fat Dom's frozen head.

References to other media

* In what appears to be a joke towards writer Terence Winter , Christopher mentions that the "50 Cent movie" aka "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was being given away free at the car wash. Winter wrote the script for that film and co-wrote this episode.
* Christopher's comments about penguins spending a long time guarding an egg only to lose the chick inside refers to the film "March of the Penguins".
* A.J. and Blanca are watching "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" before the noise outside wakes Hector.