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College (the Sopranos Episode)




  Season 1
  Episode 5
  Guests ''see below''
  Airdate February 7 , 1999
  Production 105
  Writer Jim Manos, Jr and David Chase
  Director Allen Coulter
  Episode List Episode Chronology
  Prev Meadowlands
  Next Pax Soprana


"College" is the 5th episode of the HBO original series, '' The Sopranos ''. It was the 5th episode for the show's first season. The episode was written by Jim Manos, Jr. and series creator David Chase and was directed by Allen Coulter . It originally aired on February 7 , 1999 .


GUEST STARRING ROLES



EPISODE RECAP

Tony takes Meadow on a trip to New England to visit colleges she is considering applying to. On the drive to Maine , Tony is taken aback when his daughter asks if he is 'in the Mafia ', and his instinctive reaction is to deny everything. When Meadow proves sceptical, he relents and admits (if understates) an involvement in organised crime, and both are actually relieved by their mutual honesty on what was expected to be an awkward topic.

However, later on the journey, Tony spots a familar face from afar at the gas station; Fabian Petrulio, a former member of the DiMeo crime family who turned FBI informant and was relocated under the Witness Protection Program . Despite Meadow's obvious alarm and suspicions at his agitated reaction, Tony resolves to personally locate the man, confirm his identity, and execute him, leaving his daughter at a bar to get drunk while he tracks him down. What Tony has failed to realise is that his investigation has not gone unnoticed, and Petrulio in turn tracks the pair back to the motel where they are staying, only the number of bystanders present preventing him from taking a shot at an unsuspecting Tony.

The next morning, however, Tony drops Meadow off for an interview at Bowdoin College , and leaves to ambush Petrulio at his travel agency, strangling him with a length of wire as the informant pleads for his life. On his return to Bowdoin, Tony is met with fear and lack of trust from his daughter, and is struck by a Nathaniel Hawthorne quote on display in the college; "No man... can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which one is true."

Meanwhile, back in New Jersey, Carmela has been at home recovering from a bad case of the flu, and spends an intimate evening alone with Father Phil while AJ is at a sleepover. The pair relax with wine and romantic films, and Carmela's emotions are spurred when Dr. Melfi phones to reschedule Tony's appointment, abruptly revealing to her that Tony's psychiatrist is female. Offended by what she considers to be her husband's infidelity, Carmela is almost driven to kiss Father Phil, only the moment is lost when the priest's stomach revolts against his alcohol consumption. He sleeps it off until morning on the sofa. Tony and Meadow return the same day, but his enquiry as to what Carmela was doing spending her evening alone with another man is turned around when she mentions her conversation with Dr. ''Jennifer'' Melfi, forcing him onto the defensive.


DECEASED

  • Fabian "Febby" Petrulio. (garrotted by Tony)



TRIVIA

  • The murder of Febby Petrulio is the first time viewers see Tony killing someone.

  • Favorite episode of actor James Gandolfini



TITLE REFERENCE

  • Tony and Meadow visit New England colleges.