Equally important as the cat representing death - Tony's in particular - are Paulie's and Tony's respective
attitudes toward the cat. Paulie wants to have nothing to do with it. He wants the cat gone, immediately. This
attitude is a reflection of the take-no-chances, eternal vigilance, that a successful life in the Mafia requires.
The reference to the "old Italians" is a confirmation of this attitude based on long-standing Mafia traditions.
Tony, on the other hand, steps in on behalf of the cat and in so doing secures the cats presence in the Bada Bing.
He is, in essence, letting down his guard and is so doing allowing the cat, i.e. his own death, to exist.
Scene: Phone Conversation Between Tony and Paulie
Tony: What if he flipped?
Paulie: Who? Carlo?
Tony: Well? You there?
Paulie: His kid, the imbecile.
Tony: Jason.
Paulie: He got picked up yesterday, Patsy told me, for selling ecstasy.
This is the beginning of the end for Tony. Jason Gervasi has been picked up for selling ecstasy and Carlo
Gervasi is cooperating with Law Enforcement in the interest of saving his son. Furthermore, Jason Gervasi is good
friends - partners in crime, so to speak - with Jason Parisi, Patsy's younger son. Jason Parisi may be somehow
involved in the ecstasy situation - we just don't know. That Patsy told Paulie, of course, means Patsy has some
degree of knowledge regarding Jason Gervasi's problem. Perhaps Carlo simply informed Patsy, or perhaps Patsy is
well informed due to Jason Parisi's involvement.
Scene: Meadow's Bedroom
Carmela: Mead, they're gonna be here in... Miss Hunter?! Long time no see.
Hunter: How are you, Mrs. Soprano?
Carmela: Oh my God, when was it? It was right around when you quit college.
Hunter: You're being kind. I was kicked out for partying and drunk driving.
Carmela: Well, I didn't want to say, but... Well, that was always you. So, what are you up to now?
Hunter: I'm in my second year of med school.
Carmela: Oh?
Hunter: Yeah, I completed undergrad at Purchase and got my act together.
Carmela: Yes. They're gonna be here, Meadow.
Hunter was previously perceived as a negative influence on Meadow. The unexpected and conspicuous return of
Hunter symbolizes the return of a negative influence to Meadow's life. The fact that Hunter has managed to
orchestrate an impressive, if not rather improbable, life turnaround serves to illustrate that while she
represents the negative influence, she herself is not the negative influence. Fortunately, we don't have to wait
long for a clue as to who the negative influence actually is. As Carmela says, "They're gonna be here, Meadow."
Scene: Parisis Visiting the Sopranos
Donna Parisi: A man took a horse to a vet and the vet says to him: "Why do you have a long face?"
Patsy: "A horse goes." There's no man.
Donna: Right. Right. A horse goes to a vet. And the vet looks at his face and he says to him: "My friend..."
Patsy: A horse goes to the doctor. The doctor says, "Why the long face?"
[All laugh]
Patsy: Can't tell jokes.
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