Marco Polo (The Sopranos) - Episode Recap

Episode Recap

The conflict in New York increases, as Little Carmine's party boat is damaged and sinks. Tony tries to keep his family out of the hostilities. He meets with Johnny Sack and agrees to have Phil Leotardo's car fixed, even though it was damaged because Phil owed Tony money. To save money, Tony has the work done in the late Pussy Bonpensiero's body shop (now run by Pussy's widow, Angie). Phil however causes trouble with Angie, and claims numerous problems with the car (none of which Angie was originally to be responsible for). Tony Blundetto is asked to attend Phil's return visit, where Phil turns down a counter-offer and sticks Angie with the cost of $2,000 to replace a seat.

Carmine's crew begins courting Tony B. through his old prison buddy, Angelo Garepe. Angelo and Rusty Millio approach Tony B. and offer him a freelance job. They want him to kill Johnny Sack's associate Joe Peeps in retaliation for the hit on Lorraine Calluzzo, whom Little Carmine was quite fond of. Tony B. turns them down, but he soon realizes he isn't moving up in Tony's crew fast enough and wants more than he is being given.

Carmela's father, Hugh De Angelis, accidentally falls off the roof of her house while fixing a loose shingle and injures himself, though not seriously. Carmela plans a surprise 75th birthday party for her father. After Uncle Junior ruins the surprise by telling Hugh that he isn't coming, the old man gets involved with planning the event. When he hears Tony is not invited, he demands the "man of the house" attend. When Tony arrives at the party, Carmela's mother, Mary, is humiliated at his behavior and presentation. She apologetically explains the behavior of the Sopranos to her more cultured Italian-American friends. Hugh, however, is overjoyed with Tony's attendance. When Tony presents Hugh with a Beretta DT-10 over-under barrel shotgun, his gift warrants a condescending comment from one of Mary's friends, informing the partygoers that the best Berettas never leave Italy. As her parents leave, Carmela expresses her disgust at her mother for her behavior.

After most of the guests depart, Artie Bucco leads the younger guests in a game of Marco Polo. During the game, Tony and A.J. grab Carmela and throw her in the pool, where she is immediately made "it" by Artie. After everyone else is out of the pool, Tony and Carmela find themselves together. A few kisses in the pool lead to the two of them spending the night together.

The evening at the Sopranos' house seemed to bother Tony B., chafing at the way Carmela instructed him to help her at the party. His sons were dissatisfied returning to their own home after they had so much fun at the Sopranos'. After thinking about the situation, Tony B. calls Rusty and agrees to do the hit. He finds Joe Peeps in his car outside a brothel and shoots him and his innocent female companion, but his foot is injured when the vehicle rolls over it. He limps back to his own car to make his getaway.