History Recap / TheSopranosS4E13Whitecaps

Johnny Sack is forced to cancel a vacation with Ginny in light of his lower income following Carmine's shutdown of the Esplanade. Intending to move forward with the hit, he meets with Tony, hoping to farm it out to Jersey. Tony remains cagey as a negotiating tactic until Johnny offers to relinquish all HUD profits to Tony, with a 60/40 split favoring Tony on all future enterprises involving Zellman. Tony asks Christopher to arrange the hit on Carmine, intending to frame it as a carjacking. Christopher contacts Stanley Johnson and Credenzo Curtis, two former drug dealers who could believably carry out such a crime, and gives them information on Carmine's daily routine.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: In addition to Carmela's "what does she have that I don't have?" noted above, Irina poses a particularly mean-spirited [[BrutalHonesty but also honest one]] to Carmela at the end of her phone call.

* LoudOfWar: Tony resorts to this against a man who refuses to return him the entrance fee of a house that Tony no longer wants. The man lives by the sea so Tony's men play invasive crooner music day and night from a boat with almost sheer impunity. The man finally caves in.

* RecoveredAddict: Chris.

* RageBreakingPoint: While Carmela has been willing to put up with Tony's affairs before, despite how much they have angered and pained her. First losing Furio and then having it rubbed in that Tony had a fling with Svetlana, a poor immigrant, is finally just too much for her to swallow, leading her to angrily demand a divorce.

* GunboatDiplomacy: Sapinsly refuses to do business with Tony, so he has some of his men park a boat next to the agent's beach house and play loud music.
* HeelRealisation: Devastated by her parents' separation, Meadow takes a guilty look back at some of her BrattyTeenageDaughter behavior.

** Carmine says he's not going anywhere soon, and Johnny Sack says Carmine is as 'healthy as a Rhino'.

* AnswerCut: Outraged over having found that Tony had a tryst with Svetlana, a poor immigrant, Carmela asks him "What does she have that I don't have?" The next time we see Tony interact with Svetlana, she expresses sympathy for him, but firmly and calmly upholds her earlier rejection of him and refuses to let push him to put the responsibility for what happened away from him and over on her, and in the end, Tony has no course but to realize that he has to concede the argument. This implies that the ultimate answer to Carmela's previous question is "Integrity."

* ShesGotLegs: The episode makes a point of showcasing that for Adriana.

* DefenestrateAndBerate: Tony drives home to the sight of Carmela tossing all of his belongings out the upper floor balcony. And then comes their massive argument that results in a TemporaryDivorce ...

* TheDogBitesBack: Irina calls Carmela and reveals her affair with [[ReallyGetsAround Tony]], as well as Tony's affair with Svetlana. She's motivated by spite after [[CorruptPolitician Zellman]] [[TheLoinsSleepTonight can no longer perform]] after [[CrazyJealousGuy Tony]] gave him a BeltWhipping. It becomes a critical factor in precipitating Tony and Carmela's [[TemporaryDivorce temporary separation]].

** Carmine says he's not going anywhere soon, and Johnny Sack says Carmine is as 'healthy as a Rhino'. Not quite apparently ...
** A.J. wants to stay in Tony's [[ExiledToTheCouch improvised man cave]], under the delusion that Tony will be the easier parent to live with. He'll [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor find out the hard way]] that Tony [[SubvertedTrope is not]] the most [[HandsOffParenting permissive parent]] either.

** Tony threw a wrench into Irina's relationship with [[CorruptPolitician Zellman]] by giving him a BeltWhipping, so Irina [[TheDogBitesBack returns the favor]] by calling Carmela to precipitate a TemporaryDivorce.

* RecoveredAddict: Chris, but it won't last.

Tony goes looking for Irina but finds Svetlana instead. He learns that Irina found out about the tryst from Svetlana's assistant Branca, who told her out of spite after a financial dispute, and Irina's resentment came from Tony's beating of Ronald Zellman, who lost his ability to perform in bed with Irina after she saw his belt beating, and subsequently broke up with her. Acquiescing to Carmela's demands for the time being, Tony spends the night on the floor of Whitecaps. In the morning, Sapinsly finds him there and Tony explains his situation. Visiting with Sapinsly and his wife Trish, Tony asks that Sapinsly allow him to withdraw his purchase of Whitecaps. Sapinsly takes issue with this request, as the sale has already gone through, and tries to negotiate with Tony. After Tony leaves, Trish points out the danger of getting into a dispute with a mobster.

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Tony hints that Carmela still suffers this, when he brings up that she chose him instead of a [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan stable]] [[SubvertedTrope but boring]] pharmacist.
* AnswerCut: Outraged over having found that Tony had a tryst with Svetlana, a poor immigrant, Carmela asks him "What does she have that I don't have?" The next time we see Tony interact with Svetlana, she expresses sympathy for him, but firmly and calmly upholds her earlier rejection of him and refuses to let push him put the responsibility for what happened away from him and over on her, and in the end Tony has no course but to realize that that he has to concede the argument. This implies that the ultimate answer to Carmela's previous question is "Integrity."

* DistaffCounterpart: This episode, it's Carmela who spends a good bit of time moping around the house in her robe and slippers.

* GoldDigger: Tony accuses Carmela of knowing ahead of time that she would be getting involved with a serial adulturer, much like other mobsters she knew aside from Tony, in exchange for enjoying the perks of being a MafiaPrincess. Tony likens it to a contractual arrangement.

* HeelRealisation: Devastated by her parents' separation, Meadow takes a guilty look back at some of her BrattyTeenageDaughter behaviour.

* ItsAllMyFault: Meadow has a {{Flashback}} of one of her BrattyTeenageDaughter phases, signifying that she's starting to blame herself for her parents' separation.

* PunchAWall: Tony provides a very literal example after Carmela reveals her emotional affair with Furio. It's all he can do to to avoid [[DomesticAbuse hitting Carmela herself]].
* RageBreakingPoint: While Carmela has been willing put up with Tony's affairs before, despite how much they have anger and pained her. First losing Furio and then having it rubbed in that Tony had a fling with Svetlana, a poor immigrant, is finally just too much for her to swallow, leading her to angrily demand a divorce.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Subverted. Tony lets on that he actually prefers the dial and touch-tone phones of years past. At least they didn't have [[EmbarrassingRingtone Embarrassing Ringtones]] like more current cellphones do.

'''Season 4, Episode 13'''
!Whitecaps

Carmela falls ill, and Tony drives her to a checkup at Dr. Cusamano's office. Cusamano confirms that her sickness is just a common cold, citing stress as a possible factor in her poor health. As he drives her home, Tony misses a turn and takes an unexpected route. He surprises Carmela by bringing her to Whitecaps, a beach front property he plans to buy, finally fulfilling one of the biggest caviar dreams from their youth and securing a location where the family can spend time together. Meeting with the realtor, Virginia Lupo, they learn that the owner, a lawyer named Alan Sapinsly, has already sold the property to another couple, but their home loan might be rejected, opening it up for an upfront cash payment from Tony.

Christopher gets out of rehab, and is greeted by Adriana. Tony is pleased with Christopher's apparent good health, but still needles him to ensure he's genuinely sober. He catches Christopher up on the events since he's been away, including the HUD conflict and Johnny Sack's plan to have Carmine Lupertazzi whacked. When Tony references Carmine's unwillingness to kill Ralph over the fat joke about Ginny as a factor in Johnny's motive, Christopher can't help but notice the irony in the situation. Meanwhile, Adriana meets with Agent Sanseverino, showing optimism about Christopher's sobriety. When Sanseverino asks about Ralph's disappearance, Adriana relays a cover story Chris told her, that he believes Ralph went off the rails with cocaine after his son's accident, and would benefit from rehab. The two bond when Adriana mentions lecherous phone calls Vito Spatafore made to her during Christopher's absence, and Sanseverino allows her to leave their meeting early to visit her mother.

Tony goes looking for Irina, but finds Svetlana instead. He learns that Irina found out about the tryst from Svetlana's assistant Branca, who told her out of spite after a financial dispute, and Irina's resentment came from Tony's beating of Ronald Zellman, who lost his ability to perform in bed with Irina after she saw his belt beating, and subsequently broke up with her. Acquiescing to Carmela's demands for the time being, Tony spends the night on the floor of Whitecaps. In the morning, Sapinsly finds him there and Tony explains his situation. Visiting with Sapinsly and his wife Trish, Tony asks that Sapinsly allow him to withdraw his purchase of Whitecaps. Sapinsly takes issue with this request, as the sale has already gone through, and tries to negotiate with Tony. After Tony leave, Trish points out the danger of getting into a dispute with a mobster.

Tony meets with a sympathetic Carmine Lupertazzi, who expresses remorse for Tony's marital difficulties. Possibly influenced by this, Carmine finally settles on a favorable HUD split, accepting Tony's offer of 12.5%. Though a deal has been reached, Johnny still wants to overthrow Carmine and wants Tony to follow through with the planned hit. Tony, however, smells a rat. Worrying that Johnny might be planning some kind of deeper game, and seeing no more need for the risky and destabilizing act of killing a New York boss, he calls off the hit and tells Christopher to leave no trace of the plan. Taking the hint, Christopher meets with Johnson and Curtis to pay them half, then has Benny Fazio and Petey La Rosa murder the would-be hitmen moments later. Tony later meets with Johnny, who is furious that the plan has been canceled, and the two part ways on ambiguous ground despite Tony insisting that he still considers Johnny a good friend.

While Tony relaxes in the backyard pool, Carmela asks him to move some displaced chairs off the lawn. He considers this an excuse for Carmela to bother him, and the two argue again, with Tony criticizing Carmela's assertion years ago that he would go to Hell. Carmela relents that this was excessive and follows Tony into the pool house, attempting to reason with him and reminiscing about the good times they shared. Tony accuses her of hypocrisy for marrying a guy in his lifestyle but expecting a somehow unique arrangement, also leveling the accusation that she enjoys the wealth his lifestyle pays for. Carmela finally reveals that she had fallen in love with Furio, and compares Tony's presence in her life for the past year to cancer. Tony grabs Carmela and moves to strike her, but punching several holes in the wall instead. Tony attempts to justify his affairs, Svetlana in particular, by claiming he looked for women who were stronger and more self-reliant than his wife. Carmela points out that he barely knew them, and calls him a hypocrite. Tony later calls Dr. Melfi but hangs up when she answers. Tony finally decides to move out of the property, sharing an emotional moment with his children before driving off, leaving Carmela alone with AJ in the house.

* AdultFear: Chris is not sure about having children after having killed Adriana's dog by accident.

* BrokeEpisode: A downplayed version. The Sacrimoni family isn't exactly in poverty. But Johnny missed his daughter's tuition payment, and is not sure he can afford the trip to Italy that Ginny wants, in the wake of Carmine shutting down the [[RealEstateScam Esplanade project]]. It's meant to lampshade his motivations for wanting to initiate a [[TheStarscream coup]] against Carmine.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Carmine and Tony manage to work out a mutually beneficial deal after the [[RealEstateScam Esplanade]] shutdown has gone on long enough.

* AnswerCut: Outraged over having found that Tony had a tryst with Svetlana, a poor immigrant, Carmela asks him "What does she have that I don't have?" The next time we see Tony interact with Svetlana, she expresses sympathy for him, but firmly and calmly upholds her earlier rejection of him and refuses to let push him put the responsibly for what happened away from him and over on her, and in the end Tony has no course but to realize that that he has to concede the argument. This implies that the ultimate answer to Carmela's previous question is "Integrity."

!Tropes:

* YouKNowImBlackRight: Curtis and Johnson call Chris on planning the Carmine hit on the basis of GangBangers stereotypes.

** Tony also tries to justify his fling with Svetlana as a case of GoodAdulteryBadAdultery, on the basis that Svetlana was actually a SelfMadeWoman of substance, and could relate to her in ways he never could with Carmela. But Carmela is just as quick to point out that Tony [[MenActWomenAre actively undermined any efforts on her part to be more active and independent]], and also points out that Tony's [[ReallyGetsAround numerous other flings]] couldn't possibly be all self-made women with depth and connection.

* AffairHair: Carmela brings up Valentina's nail again to call Tony out on his [[YourCheatingHeart adultery]], doubling as a CallBack to the [[Recap/TheSopranosS4E8MergersAndAcquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions episode]].

* CloseToHome: The doctor's questions about stress hit a little too close for Carmela, who won't admit she's reeling over losing [[YourCheatingHeart Furio]].

* CrazyJealousGuy: Tony, after Carmela reveals that she had an [[YourCheatingHeart emotional affair]] going with Furio.

* TheDogBitesBack: Irina calls Carmela and reveals [[YourCheatingHeart her affair]] with [[ReallyGetsAround Tony]], as well as Tony's affair with Svetlana. She's motivated by spite after [[CorruptPolitician Zellman]] [[TheLoinsSleepTonight can no longer perform]] after [[CrazyJealousGuy Tony]] gave him a BeltWhipping. It becomes a critical factor in precipitating Tony and Carmela's [[TemporaryDivorce temporary separation]].

* GoldDigger: Tony accuses Carmela of knowing ahead of time that she would be getting involved with a [[YourCheatingHeart serial adulturer]], much like other mobsters she knew aside from Tony, in exchange for enjoying the perks of being a MafiaPrincess. Tony likens it to a contractual arrangement.

** Carmela is outraged over Tony enjoying himself with [[ReallyGetsAround multiple]] [[TheMistress Goomahs]], even though [[YourCheatingHeart she cheated with Furio]] in [[UnresolvedSexualTension every way short of actually sleeping with him]]. Meadow even [[CallingTheOldManOut calls her on it]].
** Tony in turn is [[CrazyJealousGuy outraged]] over Carmela falling for Furio, despite his own [[ReallyGetsAround numerous]] [[YourCheatingHeart infidelities]].

* PunchAWall: Tony provides a very literal example after Carmela reveals her [[YourCheatingHeart emotional affair]] with Furio. It's all he can do to to avoid [[DomesticAbuse hitting Carmela herself]].