S04E13 — aired 2002-12-08

Whitecaps

Season 4 episode guide — plot, credits, music, and analysis.

Plot

The season opener finds Tony Soprano struggling to maintain his grip on the family while facing a new, volatile player in the organization. Bobby Baccalieri and Salvatore "Big Sal" Conte have been quietly building their own power base, often clashing with Paulie Gualtieri's more aggressive style. The tension boils over when Tony confronts Big Sal about his relationship with Carmela, specifically regarding her interactions with Baccalieri. This domestic squabble quickly escalates into a serious business disagreement involving the Paganos and the ongoing feud with the DiMeo family. Tony decides to take matters into his own hands, ordering a hit on the DiMeo cousins to settle a score that has been festering for months. However, the situation spirals out of control when Paulie gets involved, leading to a chaotic shootout in Little Italy that leaves bodies everywhere and forces Tony to rethink his strategy regarding who holds real power within the mob structure. Meanwhile, Dr. Jennifer Melfi struggles with her own demons as she processes a traumatic event involving a patient, questioning whether she is truly objective or if her personal life is influencing her sessions.

Credits

Written by Terence Winter and James Manos Jr. Directed by Tim Van Patten. Starring James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, Dominic Chianese as Corrado "Junior" Soprano, Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano, Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri, Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante, Robert Iler as A.J. Soprano, Brad Dourif as Billy Zanotti, and Vincent Pastore as Bobby Baccalieri. Special guest appearances include Michael Giancola as Big Pussy Bonasso, Frank Vincent as Tony Blundetto, and many others from the supporting cast including John Lombardi as Phil Leotardo and Brian Cutler as Christopher's girlfriend.

Music

"Whitecaps" by The White Stripes "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters "Theme from A Summer Place" by Percy Faith "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens "Straight On Till Morning" by The Who "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins "Good Golly Miss Molly" by Little Richard "Walk Don't Run" by The Everly Brothers "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton "Shake Rattle and Roll" by Bill Haley & His Comets "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard "Rocket 88" by Jackie Wilson "Runaround Sue" by Dion and the Belmonts "Ruby Baby" by Bobby Hebb "Good Times" by Charles Brown "Hanky Panky" by The Drifters "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe "Milk Cow Blues" by Muddy Waters "Dust My Broom" by Elmore James "Crosscut Saw" by Blind Lemon Jefferson "Cemetery Polka" by The Shadows "Polk Salad Slow" by The Ventures "Sugar Shack" by The Ventures "Walk Don't Run" by The Ventures "Pipeline" by The Chantels "Little Girl" by The Chantels "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes "Bo Diddley" by Bo Diddley "Bring It to Jerome" by Bo Diddley "I'm a Man" by Bo Diddley "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels "The Locomotion" by The Dixie Cups "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by Everly Brothers "Eloise" by The Clovers "Hound Dog" by Howlin' Wolf "Sweet Home Chicago" by Muddy Waters "The Sun Was Rising" by Blind Lemon Jefferson "St. James Infirmary Blues" by Lead Belly "Casey Jones" by Blind Lemon Jefferson "Big Black Snake" by Blind Boy Fuller "Dust My Broom" by Elmore James "I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins "Shout" by The Isley Brothers "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino "Goin' to the River" by Ray Charles "Greenback Dollar" by Ray Charles "Wake Up Little Susie" by The Everly Brothers "Raunchy" by Stan Getz "Moonlight in Vermont" by Les Baxter "My Prayer" by Paul Anka "Volare" by Domenico Modugno "Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra "Come Fly with Me" by Frank Sinatra "In the Wee Small Hours" by Frank Sinatra "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra "Very Early Years" by Frank Sinatra "Summer Wind" by Dean Martin "Volare" by Dean Martin "Sentimental Journey" by Les Paul and Mary Ford "Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glenn Miller "Jeepers Creepers" by Bing Crosby "Moon River" by Henry Mancini "The Shadow of Your Smile" by Andy Williams "Can't Help Falling in Love" by UB40 "Sailor" by UB40 "Wild Is the Wind" by UB40 "River Deep - Mountain High" by The Supremes "My Girl" by Temptations "Yesterday" by Beatles "Let It Be" by Beatles "Hey Jude" by Beatles "Come Together" by Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" by Beatles "Something" by Beatles "Let Me Roll It" by Beatles "Octopus's Garden" by Beatles "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by Beatles "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" by Beatles "Come Together" by Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" by Beatles "Something" by Beatles "Let Me Roll It" by Beatles "Octopus's Garden" by Beatles "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by Beatles "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" by Beatles "Come Together" by Beatles "Hey Jude" by Beatles "Yesterday" by Beatles "Let It Be" by Beatles "My Girl" by Temptations "River Deep - Mountain High" by The Supremes "Wild Is the Wind" by UB40