Another Toothpick
| "Another Toothpick" | |
|---|---|
| The Sopranos episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Jack Bender |
| Written by | Terence Winter |
| Cinematography by | Alik Sakharov |
| Production code | 305 |
| Original air date | March 25, 2001 |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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see below |
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see below
"Another Toothpick" is the thirty-first episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fifth of the show's third season. It was written by Terence Winter, directed by Jack Bender and originally aired on March 25, 2001.
* = credit only
As they have their first therapy session with Dr. Melfi together, Tony remains quiet throughout, while Carmela asks Melfi questions. Carmela asks Dr. Melfi if she's feeling better after her "accident", which she says she's doing better. Dr. Melfi then asks if Tony has been telling Carmela about any of the origins of his "root causes". Carmela tends to forget, which forces Tony to remind her of the capicola from Satriale's. Carmela asks Dr. Melfi why the therapy has not helped Tony very much, since he is still passing out on a regular basis. Carmela then becomes defensive when she thinks she has only been brought for the session as a scapegoat to take the blame for Tony's mental problems and starts yelling at him about his infidelity and guilt for what she says are more likely reasons for his attacks. Melfi says she notices both of their anger.
Afterwards, Tony drives a tearful Carmela home. Tony speeds in frustration and is pulled over by a traffic cop named Leon Wilmore. After attempts at winning him over, casually offering a bribe, and gentle taunting all backfire, Tony gives in after Officer Wilmore begins to radio in for backup. Officer Wilmore writes Tony a ticket.
Tony then gets in touch with his government contact, the corrupt Assemblyman Ronald Zellman, about the ticket. Zellman says he will look into the situation and take care of it. Days later, when Tony goes to purchase a water pipe at Fountains of Wayne, a lawn ornament store, he sees Officer Wilmore selling pottery. Tony sarcastically antagonizes and insults Wilmore, who then tells Tony that he was transferred to the property room and is no longer eligible for overtime thanks to him and his "friend the Assemblyman," and that he has taken the job at the pottery store to make ends meet. Tony denies having anything to do with his situation. Feeling guilty, Tony later calls Zellman, who informs Tony that Officer Wilmore was reassigned because he was a rabble-rouser and disliked by a number of other cops. Zellman goes on to relate that Wilmore was thought to be battling depression or another mental illness. Despite this, Tony asks if Wilmore can have his job back.
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