The Happy Wanderer (The Sopranos episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = The Happy Wanderer
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 2
Episode = 19
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = February 20, 2000 (HBO)
Production = 206
Writer = Frank Renzulli
Director = John Patterson
Episode list = Episode chronology


Prev = Big Girls Don't Cry
Next = D-Girl

"The Happy Wanderer" is the nineteenth episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and was the sixth of the show's second season. It was written by Frank Renzulli, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on Sunday February 20 2000.

Guest starring roles

* Lillo Brancato Jr. as Matthew Bevilaqua
* Nicole Burdette as Barbara Soprano Giglione
* Federico Castelluccio as Furio Giunta
* Vince Curatola as Johnny Sack
* John Fiore as Gigi Cestone
* Joseph R. Gannascoli as Vito Spatafore
* John Hensley as Eric Scatino
* Paul Mazursky as "Sunshine"
* Robert Patrick as David Scatino
* Frank Sinatra, Jr. as Himself
* Lewis J. Stalden as Dr. Ira Fried
* Chris Tardio as Sean Gismonte
* Ed Vassalo as Tom Giglione
* John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco

Episode recap

During College Night at Meadow's school, Tony reunites with an old school friend, David Scatino, who owns a sporting goods store in Ramsey, New Jersey. Davey then casually asks Tony if he can play in the "Executive Game", a high-level poker game established by Tony's father, Johnny Boy, and Uncle Junior in the 1960s, and now resurrected by Tony himself since Junior's house arrest. Tony warns Davey that because of the high stakes, he recommends that he not join the game due to his compulsive gambling problem. The following day, Davey begins to owe serious debts after playing at Richie Aprile's small poker game, and falls behind on payments. Richie warns him that missing payments will only cause his debt to escalate faster (missed payments are added to the principal), and bars Davey from the Aprile poker game until he can catch up.

At his therapy session with Dr. Melfi, Tony discusses that things are going well for him but that he is becoming angry at everything. As an example he refers to "happy wanderers," people walking down the street with a smile and a happy manner. Tony explains that he is resentful of these people because "they always walk around with a clear head", while he cannot stave off depression and anger even when life is seemingly unproblematic, despairing at the death of his brother-in-law's father, Tom Giglione Sr., who was swept off a roof while putting up a satellite dish just one day after his retirement. Tony then tells Melfi that he is beginning to resent therapy as it encourages feelings of victimization, while his hero, Gary Cooper, was always resilient, "the strong, silent type". Tony also learns from Uncle Junior that he had another uncle who was mentally disabled. Uncle Junior tells him that his name was Ercoli (nicknamed "Eckley") and that his mother could not take care of him, instead sending him to the most suitable charity home in the state. Melfi sarcastically asks Tony if having a retarded family member makes him feel better about coming to therapy.

At Tom Giglione's funeral, Tony becomes angry when Livia arrives, saying she is dead to him. He also becomes angry when she attends a school performance where Meadow is scheduled to sing.

Before the card game, Christopher Moltisanti grooms Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte giving them the dos and don'ts when they arrive at the game. Furio Giunta arranges the game to be held at the Teittleman motel, and is derisive when Hillel Teittleman complains about the criminal enterprises the mob has brought into his family's establishment, noting that the Hasidim enjoy the services of their prostitutes. At the card game, the players include Frank Sinatra, Jr., Johnny Sack, Silvio Dante, and Dr. Ira Fried, who specializes in penile implants. Tony is surprised when Davey Scatino arrives looking to join the game, and initially resists ("Dave, this game isn't for you") but at his friend's insistence, finally allows him to enter. By the morning, Davey owes $45,000 to Tony. Richie then visits the motel room where he sees Davey and attempts to choke him for even daring to enter the Executive Game when he still owes Richie thousands of dollars. Tony breaks up the fight and takes Richie outside. Richie tells Tony that Davey already owes him $8,000. As punishment for causing a scene during the game and threatening one of his players, Tony tells the disobedient capo that Davey will pay his debt first and then Richie's. Davey fails to come up with the money for Tony, who tracks the debtor down to his store and smacks him around his office. Desperate, Davey turns to his friend Artie Bucco for a loan, but Artie declines when he learns that Davey is asking for $20,000, even though he is concerned by the news that his friend is in debt to Tony. Although not stated, Artie probably realizes that with Dave heavily in debt to two "mafiosi", his own chances of ever being repaid would be minimal.

As partial payment, a desperate Davey gives Tony the Nissan Pathfinder that belongs to his son, Eric Scatino. Tony then gives the car to Meadow, who soon realizes that it belonged to her friend and refuses to take it. Offended, Tony tells her that he is justified in demanding whatever payment Davey Scatino could offer, and insists that Meadow either accepts what he provides or leave. However, Eric is not prepared to accept his father's responsibility for the loss of his property. When they meet later that night to perform a duet with Meadow at the school's cabaret night, Eric demands that Meadow "make" Tony give his SUV back. When Meadow points out that she can't force Tony to give anything back, and further suggests that Davey bears at least some responsibility for his situation, he drops out minutes before their scheduled performance, saying, "Fuck you, fuck your gangster father and fuck this." As the show begins, an announcer alerts the audience a program change in the second act: that Meadow will be performing alone. Carmela is surprised, but relieved that Meadow will have a solo performance for her college application, while Tony seems unrepentant at the obvious impact he has had on the Scatinos and their friendship with his own family.

First appearances

* Vito Spatafore: Richie Aprile's nephew, who is also in his crew.
* David Scatino: Tony's childhood friend and compulsive gambler.
* "Sunshine": The Executive Game's dealer, who would return to deal at Eugene Pontecorvo's poker game in the episode "Amour Fou".
* Dr. Ira Fried: A player the Executive Game and doctor specialized in treating erectile dysfunction. Also performs illegal surgeries for mob-related injuries.

Deceased

* Tom Giglione, Sr.: Tony's brother-in-law's father, who died after falling off a roof.

Title reference

* The episode's title refers to a "happy wanderer", a person who walks around with no worries in the world, whom Tony despises.
* "The Happy Wanderer" is also a song by Frankie Yankovic, which is played during the end credits.

Music

* The song sung by the blond soprano after Meadow and Eric's on-stage rehearsal, and again at the beginning of the concert, is "Gretchen am Spinnrade" by Franz Schubert.