Episode no. Season 1
Episode 11 Written by Frank Renzulli Production code 111 | Directed by Henry J. Bronchtein Cinematography by Phil Abraham Original air date March 21, 1999 | |
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"Nobody Knows Anything" is the eleventh episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Frank Renzulli, directed by Henry J. Bronchtein and originally aired on March 21, 1999.
Contents
Starring
Guest starring
Episode recap
Big Pussy, who has recently injured his back in a bordello, and Jimmy Altieri are arrested at a pool hall belonging to Jimmy. Pussy tries to escape by running out of an exit but, as he is out of shape, he is caught as he reaches the corner of the block. The FBI discovers that a pool table conceals a stash of guns. Pussy later claims his back has been worsened as a result of the chase and arrest.
Vin Makazian, a police detective who provides Tony inside information, meets Tony near a harbor and tells him that he has an informant in his crew. Vin says Big Pussy is wearing a wire. Tony later learns from Silvio that Makazian is a gambler and owes Big Pussy $30,000 which may bring his objectivity into question. Distressed that his best friend could betray him, Tony asks Makazian to provide a copy of the police report naming the informant. However, before the detective can provide the report Makazian is arrested at a brothel, alongside DiMeo family capo Raymond Curto. Upon his release, Makazian commits suicide by jumping off a bridge. Tony visits the brothel's madam, Debbie, who was a friend of Makazian and acted as a confidante and therapist of sorts to him. Tony is saddened to hear from the madam that Makazian trusted and respected Tony, as Tony treated him with disdain. Tony realizes that he contributed to the detective's suicide and relates to his feelings of depression and suicidal tendencies.
Big Pussy is bailed out of jail by his wife and then stays at home, nurses his back, and stops making his collections. When Pussy complains to Tony about the hardship of putting his children through college, Tony tells Pussy that he has friends and options. Tony is looking for a sign that confirms Pussy is the informant.
Tony assigns Paulie Walnuts to investigate Pussy, but Paulie is not to act unless he sees a wire on Pussy. Paulie takes Pussy to a steam bath facility but Pussy refuses to undress, stating his doctor told him that heat is bad for his blood pressure and his heart. When Tony questions Dr. Melfi about Pussy's physical problems, she tells Tony that Pussy's issues may be psychosomatic.
Jimmy Altieri is released from FBI custody and surprises Tony at his home, asking Tony a lot of questions, including where Tony is planning to keep the cash which was looted from the Colombian drug dealer Gallegos in the previous episode. This prompts Tony to conclude that Makazian must have gotten his facts crossed since Jimmy and Big Pussy were both arrested at the same time and they both share the same basic physical description - "two fat fucks with black hair". Tony tells Paulie and Silvio Dante that Jimmy, and not Big Pussy, is the informant. Paulie confirms to an angry Tony that he has not harmed Pussy, but that Pussy has disappeared.
Junior Soprano meets with Livia, who tells him that Tony and other capos have placed their mothers in Green Grove and have held meetings there. Furious, Junior concludes that a plot against him is forming and decides to organize a hit on Tony. Junior is also still angry about Tony's disrespect toward him over his relationship with his now former girlfriend Bobbi Sanfillipo, as well being agitated about the continuing animosity Tony has displayed toward him since the death of Jackie Aprile. Junior instructs Mikey Palmice and Chucky Signore to organize Tony's assassination.