Irregular Around the Margins: Difference between revisions

"**Irregular Around the Margins**"
"Irregular Around the Margins"
The Sopranos episode
	File:Sopranos ep505.jpgTony and Carmela projecting family solidarity.
Episode no.	Season 5; Episode 5
Directed by	Allen Coulter
Written by	Robin Green; Mitchell Burgess
Cinematography by	Phil Abraham
Production code	505
Original air date	April 4, 2004
Running time	52 minutes
Guest appearance
	see below
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Revision as of 19:27, 15 June 2021

"Irregular Around the Margins" is the 57th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fifth of the show's fifth season. Written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, and directed by Allen Coulter, it originally aired on April 4, 2004.

Starring

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr.
Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante
Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri
Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr.
Jamie-Lynn DiScala as Meadow Soprano
Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano Baccalieri *
Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby Baccalieri
Kathrine Narducci as Charmaine Bucco
Steve Buscemi as Tony Blundetto

* = credit only

Guest starring

Jerry Adler as Hesh Rabkin

Also guest starring

Max Casella as Benny Fazio
Joseph R. Gannascoli as Vito Spatafore
Robert Funaro as Eugene Pontecorvo
Lola Glaudini as Agent Deborah Ciccerone-Waldrup
Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi
Will Janowitz as Finn De Trolio
Hill Harper as Stokley Davenport, MD
Anthony Ribustello as Dante Greco
Frank Vincent as Phil Leotardo
Tony Siragusa as Frankie Cortese
Joe Maruzzo as Joey "Peeps"
Duke Valenti as Corky DiGioia
Karen Young as Agent Sanseverino
Rae Allen as Quintina Blundetto
Frank Pellegrino as Bureau Chief Frank Cubitoso
Frank Pando as Agent Grasso
William DeMeo as Jason Molinaro

Synopsis

Tony has a mole removed, later determined to be a squamous skin cancer. Adriana is being treated for irritable bowel syndrome caused by stress. Tony spends more time at her club and, with Christopher traveling to North Carolina on a cigarette smuggling job, is alone with her in her office. The two bond over recent problems and use cocaine together. They are about to kiss before being interrupted by Phil and Joey, who have arrived for a meeting. Tony resumes his psychiatric therapy; he tells Dr. Melfi that he could start over with Adriana, but a relationship would lead to problems with both Chris and Carmela. "I was able to control myself," he says. Melfi commends Tony for this "milestone".

On the eve of Chris's return, Tony and Adriana drive to Dover to buy cocaine. Tony swerves to avoid a raccoon, and his SUV flips over to the driver's side. Tony is released from the hospital unhurt. Adriana is bruised and has a head injury. Tony suggests a cover story to explain why they were alone together in the early morning: they were going to get something to eat. However, Tony's crew and their associates play an unintentional game of "telephone" with the story of the accident. The details get more elaborate and lurid with each retelling; the final version is that Adriana was fellating him when the accident happened.

Chris learns of the accident from his crew and is immediately suspicious. At Satriale's, he loses his temper and nearly starts a fight with Vito, who is now a capo. At a face-to-face meeting, Tony turns the conversation against Chris, telling him he does not deserve a woman as good-looking as Adriana. He swears on his children that the rumors of their affair are untrue. At home, Adriana admits that she and Tony were going to see her drug dealer, but insists that nothing happened between them. Chris slaps her hard and physically throws her out. He then relapses.

Chris, drunk, arrives at the Bing and empties his pistol into Tony's car before entering the club, where he is overpowered. Tony and his crew take him to the Meadowlands, where Tony prepares to execute him if he doesn't acknowledge that nothing happened. However, at Tony B's suggestion, Chris is taken to the doctor who treated Tony and Adriana on the night of the accident. Though they are threatening him, the doctor freely acknowledges that Adriana's injuries show that she was wearing her seatbelt and sitting upright when the accident occurred. Chris, though placated, remained defeated.

Agent Sanseverino, believing the final version of the story of Adriana and Tony, wants Adriana to exploit their "relationship," and the FBI wants to plant listening devices in her club. Adriana becomes angry and moves to get out of the car. As she is leaving, Sanseverino tries to warn her that by staying with Chris she is protecting her abuser. "If it had been Christopher alone in the car with a woman," Adriana says, "I would have killed him." Tony convinces Carmela that there is nothing between him and Adriana. In a show of unity, Tony and Carmela, Chris and Adriana, and Tony B and Quintina Blundetto arrive to dine at Nuovo Vesuvio, where most of Tony's crew are eating at other tables. Vito approaches them and shakes Chris' hand, wishing him a pleasant evening.

Production

Tony's burgundy 1999 Chevy Suburban is seen for the last time in this episode (he was last seen driving it in the closing scene of the season 4 finale). He had upgraded to a black Cadillac Escalade at the beginning of season 5 (and drives/is driven in a white 2003 Escalade from the middle of this season onwards).

First appearances

Frankie Cortese: an associate/soldier in the Soprano family. He is one of the two bodyguards who subdue Christopher when he comes into the Bada Bing to confront Tony
Jason Molinaro: member of the Aprile crew

Title reference

Tony tells Adriana that he's afraid a mole on his shoulder looks "irregular around the margins," a worry he's had ever since a cancerous mole was removed from his forehead.

Awards

Allen Coulter was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for his work on this episode.
Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green were nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for their work on this episode.
Drea de Matteo won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in this episode.
Michael Imperioli won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode.

Music

The song that plays during the meeting in the Crazy Horse, when Adriana comes in, is "Beat Connection" from LCD Soundsystem.
The song that plays while Tony and Adriana use cocaine at the Crazy Horse is "Come for Me" by Little Steven and the Lost Boys. The band's singer, Steven Van Zandt, plays Silvio Dante on the show.
The music that plays during the final restaurant scene is the aria, "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta?", from La rondine, an opera by Giacomo Puccini sung by Luba Orgonasova. The same aria was used in the pilot episode, when Tony got his first panic attack at the moment the ducks left his pool. The song describes a woman who rejects a king as a suitor in favor of a student.

References

External links

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 ==Synopsis==
-[[Tony Soprano|Tony]] has a mole removed, later determined to be a [[Squamous-cell carcinoma|squamous skin cancer]]. [[Adriana La Cerva|Adriana]] is being treated for [[irritable bowel syndrome]] caused by stress. Tony spends more time at her club and, with [[Christopher Moltisanti|Christopher]] out of town on a [[cigarette smuggling]] job, is alone with her in her office. The two bond over recent problems and snort [[cocaine]] together. There is sexual tension: they are about to kiss—when there is a knock at the door. [[Phil Leotardo|Phil]] and [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Lupertazzi crime family#Joseph "Joey Peeps" Peparelli|Joey]] have arrived for a meeting. Tony resumes his psychiatric therapy; he tells [[Jennifer Melfi|Dr. Melfi]] that a relationship with Adriana would lead to problems with both Chris and [[Carmela Soprano|Carmela]]. "I was able to control myself," he says. Melfi commends Tony for this "milestone": he avoided doing something destructive.
+[[Tony Soprano|Tony]] has a mole removed, later determined to be a [[Squamous-cell carcinoma|squamous skin cancer]]. [[Adriana La Cerva|Adriana]] is being treated for [[irritable bowel syndrome]] caused by stress. Tony spends more time at her club and, with [[Christopher Moltisanti|Christopher]] traveling to [[North Carolina]] on a [[cigarette smuggling]] job, is alone with her in her office. The two bond over recent problems and use [[cocaine]] together. They are about to kiss before being interrupted by [[Phil Leotardo|Phil]] and [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Lupertazzi crime family#Joseph "Joey Peeps" Peparelli|Joey]], who have arrived for a meeting. Tony resumes his psychiatric therapy; he tells [[Jennifer Melfi|Dr. Melfi]] that he could start over with Adriana, but a relationship would lead to problems with both Chris and [[Carmela Soprano|Carmela]]. "I was able to control myself," he says. Melfi commends Tony for this "milestone".
 On the eve of Chris's return, Tony and Adriana drive to [[Dover, New Jersey|Dover]] to buy cocaine. Tony swerves to avoid a [[raccoon]], and his SUV flips over to the driver's side. Tony is released from the hospital unhurt. Adriana is bruised and has a head injury. Tony suggests a cover story to explain why they were alone together in the early morning: they were going to get something to eat. However, Tony's crew and their associates play an unintentional game of [[Chinese whispers|"telephone"]] with the story of the accident. The details get more elaborate and lurid with each retelling; the final version is that Adriana was [[fellatio|fellating]] him when the accident happened.
-Chris learns of the accident from his crew and is immediately suspicious. At [[Satriale's Pork Store|Satriale's]] he loses his temper and nearly starts a fight with [[Vito Spatafore|Vito]], who is now a ''[[caporegime|capo]]''. At a face-to-face meeting, Tony turns the conversation against Chris, telling him he does not deserve a woman as good-looking as Adriana. He swears on his children that nothing is going on. At home, Adriana admits that she and Tony were going to see her drug dealer, but insists that nothing happened between them. Chris slaps her hard and physically throws her out. He then [[relapse]]s.
+Chris learns of the accident from his crew and is immediately suspicious. At [[Satriale's Pork Store|Satriale's]], he loses his temper and nearly starts a fight with [[Vito Spatafore|Vito]], who is now a ''[[caporegime|capo]]''. At a face-to-face meeting, Tony turns the conversation against Chris, telling him he does not deserve a woman as good-looking as Adriana. He swears on his children that the rumors of their affair are untrue. At home, Adriana admits that she and Tony were going to see her drug dealer, but insists that nothing happened between them. Chris slaps her hard and physically throws her out. He then [[relapse]]s.
-Chris, drunk, arrives at the Bing and empties his pistol into Tony's car before entering the club, where he is overpowered. Tony and his crew take him to the Meadowlands, where Tony prepares to execute him if he doesn't acknowledge that nothing happened. However, at Tony B's suggestion, Chris is taken to the doctor who treated Tony and Adriana on the night of the accident. Though they are threatening him, the doctor freely acknowledges that Adriana's injuries show that she was wearing her seatbelt and sitting upright when the accident occurred. Chris, though placated, feels like a [[Wiktionary:laughing stock|laughing stock]].
+Chris, drunk, arrives at the Bing and empties his pistol into Tony's car before entering the club, where he is overpowered. Tony and his crew take him to the Meadowlands, where Tony prepares to execute him if he doesn't acknowledge that nothing happened. However, at Tony B's suggestion, Chris is taken to the doctor who treated Tony and Adriana on the night of the accident. Though they are threatening him, the doctor freely acknowledges that Adriana's injuries show that she was wearing her seatbelt and sitting upright when the accident occurred. Chris, though placated, remained defeated.
-Agent [[FBI on The Sopranos#Agent Robyn Sanseverino|Sanseverino]], believing the final version of the story of Adriana and Tony, wants Adriana to exploit their "relationship," and the FBI wants to plant listening devices in her club. Adriana verbally explodes at her and moves to get out of the car. As she is leaving, Sanseverino tries to warn her that by staying with Chris she is protecting her abuser. "If it had been Christopher alone in the car with a woman," Adriana says, "I would have killed him." Tony convinces Carmela that there is nothing between him and Adriana. In a show of unity, Tony and Carmela, Chris and Adriana, and Tony B and [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Quintina Pollio Blundetto|Quintina Blundetto]] arrive to dine at Nuovo Vesuvio, where most of Tony's crew are eating at other tables. Vito approaches them and shakes Chris' hand, wishing him a pleasant evening, and it seems that all fences have been mended.
+Agent [[FBI on The Sopranos#Agent Robyn Sanseverino|Sanseverino]], believing the final version of the story of Adriana and Tony, wants Adriana to exploit their "relationship," and the FBI wants to plant listening devices in her club. Adriana becomes angry and moves to get out of the car. As she is leaving, Sanseverino tries to warn her that by staying with Chris she is protecting her abuser. "If it had been Christopher alone in the car with a woman," Adriana says, "I would have killed him." Tony convinces Carmela that there is nothing between him and Adriana. In a show of unity, Tony and Carmela, Chris and Adriana, and Tony B and [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Quintina Pollio Blundetto|Quintina Blundetto]] arrive to dine at Nuovo Vesuvio, where most of Tony's crew are eating at other tables. Vito approaches them and shakes Chris' hand, wishing him a pleasant evening.
 ==Production==
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 ==First appearances==
-* '''[[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Soprano crime family#Frankie Cortese|Frankie Cortese]]''': an associate/soldier in the Soprano family. He is one of the two bodyguards who subdue Christopher when he comes into the [[Bada Bing]] to confront Tony.
+* '''[[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Soprano crime family#Frankie Cortese|Frankie Cortese]]''': an associate/soldier in the Soprano family. He is one of the two bodyguards who subdue Christopher when he comes into the [[Bada Bing]] to confront Tony
-* '''[[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Soprano crime family#Jason Molinaro|Jason Molinaro]]''': member of the Aprile crew.
+* '''[[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Soprano crime family#Jason Molinaro|Jason Molinaro]]''': member of the Aprile crew
 ==Title reference==