The Weight (The Sopranos episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = The Weight
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 4
Episode = 43
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = October 6, 2002 (HBO)
Production = 404
Writer = Terence Winter
Director = Jack Bender
Episode list = Episode chronology


Prev = Christopher
Next = Pie-O-My

"The Weight" is the 43rd episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and was the fourth of the show's fourth season. It was written by Terence Winter, directed by Jack Bender and originally aired on October 6 2002.

Guest starring roles

* Sharon Angela as Rosalie Aprile
* Peter Bogdanovich as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg
* Denise Borino as Ginny Sacrimoni
* Carl Capotorto as Little Paulie Germani
* Matthew Del Negro as Brian Cammarata
* Raymond Franza as Donny K.
* Robert Funaro as Eugene Pontecorvo
* Joseph R. Gannascoli as Vito Spatafore
* Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi
* Tony Lip as Carmine Lupertazzi
* Richard Maldone as Ally Boy Barese
* Joe Maruzzo as Joey Peeps
* Maureen Van Zandt as Gabriella Dante
*Joseph Castellana as Lou 'Dimaggio' Galina
*Richard Bright as Frank Crisci
*Jeff Robins as Chris
*Lisa Altomare as Rose
*Stephen Sable as Florida Hit Man

Episode recap

Johnny Sack is conversing with an associate, Joe Peeps, in a New York bar. While there, Johnny spots a member of Ralph Cifaretto's crew, Donny K., and is infuriated to see him laughing and joking with the bartender, reminding him that Ralph had made an insulting joke about John's wife, Ginny. As Donny K. gets up to leave, Johnny follows him outside, beats him into unconsciousness and urinates on him. Tony Soprano learns of the encounter the following morning and is deeply troubled that Johnny inappropriately lashed out, especially for an Underboss. Johnny reminds Tony about Ralph's joke regarding Ginny's weight. Tony assures Johnny that the joke is disgraceful but feels he has to protect his Capos since Ralph is one of his highest earners.

Johnny then tries to convince Lupertazzi family Boss Carmine Lupertazzi to intervene along with Uncle Junior in order to make a settlement since it may threaten the two families' already tense relationship over the Esplanade building project. Uncle Junior recommends that Johnny receive a piece of the Aprile construction business. However, Johnny wants Ralph to be executed for bringing shame to his wife. After failing to gain support from both Carmine and Junior, Johnny decides to order a hitman to visit Ralphie in Miami, Florida, where he is vacationing. Meanwhile, Carmine, who has anticipated Johnny's anger as a threat to profits from the Esplanade, makes a veiled suggestion to Tony to have his Underboss killed. Quite surprised, Tony is advised by Uncle Junior to put a hit on Johnny using the skills of a notorious crew of an elderly soldier from Rhode Island, Lou "DiMaggio" Galina -- nicknamed for his liking of using a baseball bat for a murder weapon. In Miami, however, events are already well in motion, as an assassin traces Ralph to his hotel. Back in Jersey, Johnny catches Ginny in their laundry room secretly eating junk food and yells at her for how much embarrassment she has caused him. Ginny begins to become emotional and tries to convince Johnny that she truly wants to lose weight. Johnny assures her he does not care about how she looks as long as she is happy. His anger subsiding, he calls off the hit on Ralphie at the last second and approaches Tony, offering reconciliation. Surprised, but relieved, Tony in turn cancels the contract on Johnny's life.

Meanwhile, Meadow Soprano is recommended by Dr. Elliot Kupferberg's daughter, Saskia, to join the South Bronx Law Center -— to which Tony objects, given the lack of profit often offered from the underprivileged clients. Meadow disagrees with her father's advice and continues to volunteer. Meanwhile, Carmela draws emotionally closer to Furio Giunta, who throws a charming housewarming party to celebrate his new home, and the pair dance alone to Italian music. Carmela is happy that Furio is staying permanently and takes along an unsuspecting A.J. as a chaperon to be a restraining influence when she goes to his home to help him with decorating.

The following evening, as Tony and Carmela lie in bed, Tony presents Carmela with a slim designer dress which he then asks her to put on. Carmela does so and Tony tenderly compliments her sexy figure. They begin to make love as Meadow plays the music from the party in the next room, reminding Carmela of Furio, which causes her to interrupt Tony's advances on her and to get up and bang on Meadow's room door and tell Meadow to turn it down. Tony and Carmela resume love making but Furio's party music plays in Carmela's head, indicating she is thinking of him as she makes love to Tony.

First appearances

* Brian Cammarata: Carmela's cousin
* Lou "DiMaggio" Gallina: Atwell Avenue Crew hitman
* Frank Crisci: Atwell Avenue Crew hitman

Title reference

* The title refers to the joke Ralph Cifaretto made about Ginny Sacrimoni's weight in "No Show," which Johnny Sack eventually learned about from Paulie.
* The title is also a reference to The Band song of the same name. In the song, the weight (though referred to as "a load" in the lyrics) is the removal of a burden off one person and putting it on another. Johnny Sack's burden was the fact that Ginny was mocked and he was not allowed by Tony or Carmine to seek revenge. In turn, Johnny Sack wished to lift the weight by having Ralph, the one who mocked Ginny, whacked.
* The title may be also be a subtle double entendre regarding the song's chorus ("Take a load off, Fanny") which could be interpreted as a reference to Ralph's joke about Ginny having a large mole removed from her rear end.

Music

* Music from Furio's housewarming includes "O'Mare" and "Vesuvio" by Italian band Spaccanapoli.
* "Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels plays in the background when Furio visits Carmela.
* One scene at the Bada Bing features ZZ Top's "Tush".