46 Long

In the second episode of The Sopranos first season, Tony gets involved when Carmela asks him to locate a car stolen from A.J.’s science teacher. He puts the word out to Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, who runs an auto shop. The thieves are caught, but the car has already been dismantled, so they are ordered to steal an identical model. The teacher is surprised when the vehicle reappears with the same license plates but a different color and set of keys.

Meanwhile, Christopher Moltisanti and his friend Brendan Filone—a meth user—hijack a truck full of DVD players and deliver the goods to Tony, Silvio Dante, and Paulie Gualtieri at the Bada Bing strip club. The trucking company, however, pays protection money to Junior Soprano, who sets up a sit-down with Tony and acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr. Jackie rules that $15,000 in restitution must be paid. Tony accepts, but Christopher—who believes he deserves to be made—tries to object.

Tony insists on collecting the full amount, planning to negotiate Junior down, but Christopher realizes Tony will keep a cut for himself, leaving little for him and Brendan. Despite being told not to target the trucking company again, Christopher and Brendan, high on cocaine, plan to hijack a shipment of Italian suits. When Brendan arrives to pick him up, Christopher—stoned and reflective—backs out. Brendan proceeds with two inexperienced associates; one drops his gun, which fires on impact, killing the truck driver.

Learning of this, Tony orders Christopher and Brendan to return the entire consignment to Junior and settle matters with him, though not before the crew helps themselves to a few suits. At home, a small fire occurs while Livia is cooking. Tony insists she accept a live-in nurse, whom Livia soon provokes into quitting. While driving, she forgets to shift into reverse and badly injures a friend she has just given a ride.

As a result, Livia is forced to move into the Green Grove retirement home. At her house, while collecting childhood photos of himself with his parents, Tony nearly has another panic attack. He tells his mother, “You’ve got to stop with this black poison cloud, because I can’t take it anymore!” but cannot bear harsh words about her from Dr. Melfi. After he discloses feelings of guilt, Melfi says he must either acknowledge or displace his “feelings of hatred” toward his mother; he walks out.

At the Bada Bing, when bartender Georgie Santorelli clumsily uses the phone in a manner similar to Livia, Tony grabs the handset and beats him with it.