The Test Dream

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"The Test Dream"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 11
Directed by Allen Coulter
Written by David Chase
Matthew Weiner
Cinematography by Phil Abraham
Production code511
Original air dateMay 16, 2004 (2004-05-16)
Running time50 minutes
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Cold Cuts"
Next 
"Long Term Parking"
The Sopranos (season 5)
List of episodes

"The Test Dream" is the 63rd episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos and the 11th episode of the show's fifth season. Written by series creator/executive producer David Chase and supervising producer Matthew Weiner, and directed by longtime series director Allen Coulter, it originally aired in the United States on May 16, 2004. This episode is unique in that it features an elaborate 20-minute dream sequence, alluded to in the title, featuring many actors from past seasons briefly reprising their roles.

Contents

Starring

* = credit only

Guest starring

Synopsis

Cooking for Tony, his girlfriend Valentina accidentally sets fire to the sleeve of her nylon kimono and is badly burned. After visiting her in a hospital burn unit, Tony calls on Tony B. Tony notices that his cousin is behaving erratically, but does not know the reason. Tony B has just learned that Angelo, his former cellmate and close friend, has been murdered by Phil and Billy Leotardo. Tony B says he has to leave soon with his sons, so Tony himself leaves.

Tony checks into a luxury suite at the Plaza Hotel "to get a good night's sleep", and nearly runs into Dr. Melfi there. When evening comes, a bored Tony starts drinking and nuisance-calls Charmaine Bucco, to whom he is attracted; she tells her unknown caller to stop it. He makes a call for an Asian girl from an escort agency. He gets a voicemail from Silvio telling him about Angelo's murder. He immediately tries to call Tony B, who is already on the move and is not answering his phone. Tony then frantically calls Tony B's casino, Aunt Quintina, and the Bada Bing, telling everyone to let Tony B know he is looking for him. The prostitute arrives and, at some point, Tony falls asleep and has a long and vivid dream.

Tony first encounters the deceased Carmine Lupertazzi, who is hiding from "the man upstairs", and receives a phone call telling him to kill somebody. Next, he sits in Melfi's office and is counseled by his deceased "ex- comàre " Gloria Trillo. He then finds himself riding in the backseat of a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado being driven by his long-dead father Johnny Boy Soprano and accompanied by the also-deceased Big Pussy Bonpensiero and Mikey Palmice. Mikey briefly turns into Artie. Tony asks where they are going and Pussy, who has now turned into Ralphie Cifaretto, turns around and says, "We're driving you to the job."
Tony then wakes up at his house and prepares to go to dinner with Carmela to meet Finn's parents at Nuovo Vesuvio. When they finally arrive, Finn's father is the deceased Detective Vin Makazian, while his mother is Annette Bening. Finn occasionally turns into A.J. during the course of the dinner. Tony's teeth start to fall out while Finn's father starts singing "Three Times a Lady". Tony tries and fails to get Bening's attention. In the restroom with Vin, Tony reaches behind a toilet tank trying to find a gun. He hears shots fired outside and sees Tony B shooting Phil in his car. A crowd blames Tony and chases him; during the pursuit Lee Harvey Oswald shoots at him. He escapes in the Cadillac with help from Artie. Tony looks in the backseat and sees the deceased Richie Aprile and Gigi Cestone.
Tony then has wild sex with Charmaine, while her husband Artie coaches him. Suddenly Tony is sitting on Pie-O-My in his living room, with Carmela allowing him to return home on the condition that he does not bring his horse (whores) there. Finally, Tony is confronted by Mr. Molinaro, his high school football coach, who criticizes his lifestyle and points out that he didn't have to be a criminal and live with all the stress that comes with being one. When Tony tries to shoot Molinaro, his gun malfunctions and the bullets melt in his hands; the coach continues to taunt him about not being prepared.

Tony awakens with a start. Shortly afterward, he receives a visit from Christopher, who tells him that Tony B has killed Billy and wounded Phil. Tony goes to bed and, though it is not dawn yet, calls Carmela. He says, "I had one of my Coach Molinaro dreams." She is half asleep and they have a gentle, slow conversation.

Deceased

Title reference

Production

References to past episodes

Other cultural references

Music

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References

  1. 1 2 NJ.com: The stuff that Tony's dreams are made of
  2. Martin, Brett (2007-10-30). ""Whatever Happened to the Strong, Silent Type?": plumbing The Sopranos subconscious". The Sopranos: The Complete Book. New York: Time. p. 114. ISBN   978-1-933821-18-4.