The Sopranos/Boca

Boca
Season 1, Episode 9
Airdate	March 7, 1999
Production Number	S109
Written by	Jason Cahill, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess
Directed by	Andy Wolk
Produced by	Allen Coulter, Ilene S. Landress
← 1x08 The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti	1x10 → A Hit Is a Hit
The Sopranos — Season One

Boca is the ninth episode of the first season of The Sopranos, and the ninth episode overall.

Starring: James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano), Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Melfi), Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti), Dominic Chianese (Junior Soprano), Vincent Pastore (credit only), Steven Van Zandt (Silvio Dante), Tony Sirico (Paulie "Walnuts"), Robert Iler (Anthony Soprano, Jr.), Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano)

And: Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano)

Guest Starring: John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco), John Heard (Vin Makazian), Katherine Narducci (Charmaine Bucco)

Also Guest Starring: Al Sapienza (Mikey Palmice), Robyn Peterson (Bobbi Sanfillipo), Kevin O'Rourke (Coach Don Hauser), Tony Darrow (Larry Boy Barese), Joe Badalucco, Jr. (Jimmy Altieri), Richard Portnow (Attorney Melvoin), Cara Jedell (Ally Vandermeed), Candace Bailey (Deena Hauser), Jaclyn Tohn (Heather Dante), Donna Marie Recco (Bebe)

Co-Starring: Nell Balaban (Receptionist), Moises Belizario (FBI Man), Mary Ellen Cravens (Taylor), Elaine del Valle (Waitress), Steve "Inky" Ferguson (Moldonado), Brian Guzman (Delivery Boy), Mark Hartmann (Capman), Patrick Husted (Waiter), Marissa Jedell (Becky), Joyce Lynn O'Connor (Shelly Hauser), Annika Pergament (TV Reporter), John Nacco (Contractor), Bill Winkler (Soccer Ref)

Plot Overview

Uncle Junior has learned about Tony's visits to a therapist, but he is apparently unconcerned. He dismisses both Livia's warnings and suggestions from Mikey—who does not know about the therapy—that Tony's visits to the medical center may be to rat to the FBI. The reason Junior may be so relaxed is because he is planning a weekend getaway to Boca Raton with his girlfriend, Bobbi Sanfillipo, whom he has fixed up with a cushy job. In Boca, Junior pleases Bobbi with his skill at cunnilingus, but he warns her not to tell anyone he performs that act, as it might ruin his reputation with other Italian men. Unfortunately, Bobbi cannot help but brag a little to her friend at the beauty salon, although she gives strict orders for the secret not to get out.

Nonetheless, it does, and Carmela eventually catches wind of it and spills the beans to Tony. While the two are playing golf together the next day, Tony teases Junior about this nugget of information. Enraged, Junior hints that he knows about Tony's therapy sessions. Back in the locker room, he also tells Mikey what he knows about Tony and suggests Tony's therapy may be a danger to the family business. He also hints the solution may be violent.

Meanwhile, Tony, Silvio and Artie are thrilled at the success of their daughters' soccer team under the leadership of Coach Don Hauser, and to reward him for his work, they bring Hauser by the Bada-Bing and offer him drinks and girls, although he declines and says he has to get back home. However, while camping with Meadow and the others, the team's star player, Ally Vandermeed, attempts suicide. Yet another blow is dealt to the team and the three fathers when they learn Coach Hauser is planning on changing jobs to a college in Rhode Island.

Silvio and Artie are unsuccessful in convincing him to change his mind. So Tony tries bribing him by sending Paulie Walnuts over with a big-screen TV. When that does not work, Meadow announces she is quitting soccer, and Charmaine angrily confronts Artie over his friends' involvement in the attempted bribe. The situation escalates as Tony has Christopher intimidate Coach Hauser by snatching his dog and returning it. This last bit seems to do the trick, and Tony proudly announces Coach Hauser is staying, but Meadow seems very upset, and upon further questioning, she reveals Coach Hauser has been having sex with Ally.

The news comes as a shock to Tony, Silvio and Artie, who all agree Coach Hauser should be killed for his indiscretion. Meadow, too, begs Tony not to go to the cops, as the publicity could ruin Ally's life. Charmaine, however, convinces Artie killing Coach Hauser would only help the three fathers and nothing else. On the day Silvio goes to Coach Hauser's house to carry out the hit, Artie comes to Tony and asks him not to go through with it. Tony throws Artie out of the Bada-Bing, but the guilt eats away at him. At last, he calls Silvio and orders him to stand down. He calls the police, who arrest Coach Hauser with much publicity.

That night, Junior comes to Bobbi's office and fires her and calls off their relationship by smashing a pie in her face, although when he leaves, he is crying. Meanwhile, Tony comes home falling-down drunk. Meadow watches as Carmela helps him stagger into the living room, where he reassures Carmela, "I didn't hurt nobody," before passing out.

Notes

Music

• Can't You Feel the Fire, performed by Little Steven: Bada-Bing dance music as Tony, Artie, Sil and Coach Don Hauser celebrate the soccer team's victory.

• Buena, performed by Morphine: Ally and Meadow watch music videos. Also later, over the closing credits.

• Frente a Frente, performed by Rocio Durcal: Junior and Bobbi Sanfillipo dance in Boca Raton. Also later, when Bobbi begs Junior to stay, but he storms out.

• Little Joe, performed by The Spaniels: Charmaine confronts Artie in the basement about Tony's attempted bribing of Coach Don Hauser (background).

• South of the Border (Down Mexico Way), performed by James Gandolfini: Tony taunts Junior while they play golf.

• A-Hoy, performed by B-Tribe: Bada-Bing dance music as Tony debates making the call to have Coach Hauser killed.

• There Was a Time, performed by James Gandolfini: Tony comes home drunk and singing to himself.

Whack List

• N/A

Total Episode Body Count: 0

Title Significance

Boca Raton, FL is a popular vacation destination spot, particularly amongst middle-aged and elderly people on the east coast. Junior takes his girlfriend Bobbi there with disastrous consequences for the both of them and possibly Tony.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• The captains move their parents into the Green Grove retirement community (where Tony's mother is) so they can meet there without suspicion.

Characters

• Tony Soprano and Junior: Tony finds out that Junior likes to go down on his girlfriend. While playing golf together, they start to make fun of each other about each others' secrets (Tony's secret being he sees a psychiatrist).

• Junior Soprano: Junior begins to plan Tony's murder on the basis that Tony's shrink could be called to testify against members of the family based on what Tony tells her.

Referbacks

• 1x08 - The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti: Junior knows Tony is seeing a therapist, and everyone refers to the impending indictments from the feds. Also, Tony apologizes to Melfi for calling her a whore.

Trivia

The Show

• MIA: Although credited, actor Vincent Pastore does not appear in this episode.

• First Appearance: This episode marks the first appearance of Attorney Harold "Mel" Melvoin.

Behind the Scenes

• Soundtrack Title: While they meet in Attorney Melvoin's office and order lunch, Junior hears Mikey's order and says, "Peppers and eggs? That's what I shoulda had." This apparently throwaway line would be the inspiration for the title of the second soundtrack collection for the series.

Allusions and References

• The Godfather: Coach Don Hauser's line about the job offer in Rhode Island is a reference to a famous line in the classic 1972 mob movie in which Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), talks about his father Vito (Marlon Brando) making a bandleader "an offer he couldn't refuse"—with a gun to his head, Vito had told the bandleader "either his signature or his brains would be on" a contract regarding one of Vito's friends.

Coach Don Hauser: What could I do? They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

• Kurt Cobain: Lead singer and frontman for the legendary 1990s grunge rock group Nirvana who committed suicide in 1994 with a shotgun to his head.

Tony: It wasn't like friggin' Cobain. It was just a little suicidal gesture, that's all.

• Catfish Hunter and Billy Martin: Late 1970s New York Yankees pitching great Hunter frequently clashed with the notoriously short-tempered manager Martin, yet during his five seasons with the Yankees from 1975 to 1979 (most of them under Martin), the Yankees would win three pennants, and Hunter would play for the All-Star team twice.

Tony: So? W-w-w-what-what difference does that make? You don't have to love him to be successful! Catfish Martin hated Billy Martin!...

• Bill Parcells: Hard-driving former head coach of the New York Giants, the New England Patriots, the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, for whom he became the first coach in NFL history to lead four teams to the playoffs.

Tony: ... Bill Parcells, his guys, they can't stand him, 'till they start to win.

• The Menendez Brothers: Erik and Lyle Menendez of Beverly Hills, California were sentenced in life in prison in 1996 for murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with shotguns to the head. At their trial, their psychotherapist Dr. Jerome Oziel was called to testify about alleged abuse the boys had suffered at their parents' hands and about their confession of the murder to him, although in the trial at which he testified, the proceedings were declared a mistrial due to a hung jury.

Junior: Do you remember those two fuckin' Escobito brothers, whoever the fuck, in California, they whacked their parents? The shrink was in the fuckin' witness chair.

Memorable Moments

• Tony and Artie are both offended to see a Capman wearing a baseball cap at a nice Italian restaurant, so Tony walks over and tells him to take it off. At first, the Capman says, "It's my hat. I'll wear it where I want," but when Tony stares him down, the Capman nervously removes his hat.

• Tony and Junior subtly threaten to reveal each other's secrets over a few rounds of golf.

Quotes

• Silvio: Heather Dante, a hundred bucks for a goal!

• Tony: What do you, love him or what?
  Artie: Frankly, yes. If he steers Tiara to a college scholarship, I'll blow the guy in midfield.

• Carmela: So, Ma, you gonna come to the big game?
  Livia: Game? What game?
  Tony: Miss Meadow's soccer team is goin' to the sectionals.
  Livia: Nobody tells me anything.
  Tony: Did everybody hear me just tell my mother about the game?

• Tony: Uncle Jun, how was Boca?
  Junior: Wonderful. I don't go down enough.
  Carmela: That's not what I heard.

• Carmela: Let's just say your uncle has acquired a taste for her.
  Tony: Uncle Jun gives head?
  Carmela: World class.
  Tony: The old man's whistling to the wheat field?
  Carmela: Don't be disgusting.
  Tony: He's a bushman of the Kalahari?