| “House Arrest” |
| The Sopranos episode |
 |
| Episode no. |
Season 2
Episode 24 |
| Guest stars |
see below |
| Written by |
Terence Winter |
| Directed by |
Tim Van Patten |
| Production no. |
211 |
| Original airdate |
March 26, 2000 (HBO) |
| Episode chronology |
| ← Previous |
Next → |
| "Bust Out" |
"The Knight in White Satin Armor" |
|
| Episode chronology |
"House Arrest" is the twenty-fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and was the eleventh of the show's second season. It was written by Terence Winter, directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired
on Sunday March 26 2000.
Guest starring roles
Episode recap
Uncle Junior and Richie Aprile begin selling
cocaine on the Barone Sanitation garbage routes in an attempt to obtain extra money. When
Tony learns about this, he takes Richie aside and warns him to stop, saying that such
action will only serve to draw FBI and DEA
attention to the family's involvement with the garbage industry. When informed of his nephew's decision, Uncle Junior decides to
go against Tony since the cocaine has supported him tremendously through his personal expenses and legal fees.
Tony's attorney, Neil Mink, advises
Tony that the FBI is making attempts to indict him after the failed accusation with the Matthew Bevilaqua murder. Neil suggests that Tony begin
reporting to Barone Sanitation, and fulfill his nominal job as a waste management consultant instead of spending huge amounts of
time acting as "the boss" at the Bada Bing. Tony does as he is told but becomes increasingly
bored on the job as the days drag on. Tony begins to pass time by having sex with the receptionist and making a company pool for
sports. After lecturing Richie at a banquet for the company, Tony suffers an anxiety attack
and is rushed to the hospital. Tony then discovers a rash on his arm, aggravated by stress and his own scratching at it, and
continues to blame his attacks on Dr. Melfi's poor treatment. Melfi also begins to hurt
when she begins drinking between sessions, particularly those with Tony. At a meal with her son, Jason, a drunken Melfi embarrasses them both when she rudely
asks a restaurant patron to put out her cigarette. When she refuses, Melfi uses force to put out the smoke and is asked to
leave.
Uncle Junior goes to Dr. Douglas Schreck
after having difficulty breathing. Dr. Schreck recommends that he breathe using a special mask to help him with his excessive
snoring and to take pressure off of his heart. As he prepares to leave the hospital, a court officer places an electronic
bracelet on Junior's leg. In the hallway, Junior reunites with an old widow of a close friend, Catherine Romano. When Catherine asks him what he has been up
to, he tries to cover up his restrictive legal and medical situations. Junior is quickly forced to make excuses when Catherine
drops by with a tray of manicotti and suggests they go out, but finally admits that he cannot
leave home under the terms of his house arrest. Junior tells her that the house arrest
greatly affects his life, including an incident with his sink disposal that led to having his hand stuck in the kitchen sink for
over six hours until he is later discovered by Janice and Richie. Catherine understands
and tells Junior that she enjoys spending time with him despite the fact that he got into trouble. Catherine demonstrates her
affection for Junior by massaging him and helping him put on his mask at night.
During an appointment with Dr. Melfi, Tony is introduced to the idea that he may exhibit some conditions consistent with a
condition known as alexithymia, by Melfi asking Tony if he knew why sharks were always in
motion. Tony replies, "They have to," showing some knowledge of what she was talking about. Melfi goes on to explain that this is
a condition that affects people with antisocial personalities, and if
they aren't constantly engaged in activity and receiving the required stimulus, they tend to crash because they then have time to
confront the ways in which their actions have brought suffering on others.
Tony decides to return to work at Satriale's Pork Store after being overcome by
boredom at Barone Sanitation. Tony is welcomed back to work by his underlings, as well as Agent
Harris who is in the neighborhood to introduce his new partner. Tony and his crew idly relax in the store, but are soon
occupied when a neighborhood street racer crashes his car outside. In this scene, Tony and his crew, along with Agent Harris and
another FBI agent, all exhibit alexithymic tendencies, possibly implying similarities in the personalities of the people that
constitute the two opposing organizations, the FBI and the Mafia. The episode ends with the agents and the mobsters amicably
chatting outside Satriale's.
Title reference
- House arrest is a sentence issued by a judge as an alternative to prison time and helps
keep track of convicted criminals after or as an alternative to a prison sentence. The sentence states that the person cannot
leave their main domicile and can only be released for important family functions, funerals or doctor's appointments. Junior's
social life begins to dwindle under his sentence. Tony is in a similar, albeit self-imposed, situation when he tries to curtail
his interactions with his crew.
Music
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