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"Irregular Around the Margins" is the 57th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fifth episode of the show's fifth season. Written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, and directed by Allen Coulter, it originally aired on April 4, 2004.
| "Irregular Around the Margins" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sopranos episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 5 | ||
| Directed by | Allen Coulter | ||
| Written by | Robin Green Mitchell Burgess | ||
| Cinematography by | Phil Abraham | ||
| Production code | 505 | ||
| Original air date | April 4, 2004 (2004-04-04) | ||
| Running time | 52 minutes | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| The Sopranos season 5 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
* = credit only
Tony has a mole removed, later determined to be a squamous skin cancer. Adriana is being treated for irritable bowel syndrome caused by stress. Tony spends more time at her club and, with Christopher traveling to North Carolina on a cigarette smuggling job, is alone with her in her office. The two bond over recent problems and snort cocaine together. The mood becomes intimate; they nearly kiss, but are interrupted. The incident compels Tony to resume his psychiatric therapy. He tells Dr. Melfi that a relationship with Adriana would lead to problems with both Chris and Carmela. Melfi commends Tony not taking an action that would have harmful consequences, calling it a breakthrough in his therapy.
Late at night on the eve of Chris's return, Tony and Adriana drive to Dover to buy cocaine. Tony swerves to avoid a raccoon, and his SUV flips over to the driver's side. Tony is released from the hospital unhurt. Adriana is bruised and has a head injury. Tony suggests a cover story to explain why they were alone together in the early morning: they were going to get something to eat. However, Tony's crew and their associates play an unintentional game of "telephone" with the story of the accident. The details get more elaborate and lurid with each retelling; the final version is that Adriana was fellating Tony when the accident occurred.
Chris learns of the accident from his crew upon his return from North Carolina and quickly becomes suspicious. At Satriale's, he loses his temper and nearly starts a fight with Vito, who is now a capo. At a face-to-face meeting, Tony turns the conversation against Chris, saying that Chris does not deserve a woman as good-looking as Adriana. Tony swears on his children that the rumors of their affair are untrue. At home, Adriana admits to Chris that she and Tony were going to see her drug dealer but insists that nothing happened between them. Chris batters her and physically throws her out. He then relapses with a bottle of vodka.
A drunken Chris arrives at the Bing and empties his pistol into Tony's car. He enters the club shouting threats to Tony and brandishing the empty gun, but is easily overpowered. Tony and the crew drive him to the Meadowlands, where Tony prepares to execute him if he doesn't acknowledge that nothing happened between Tony and Adriana. At Tony B's suggestion, Chris is taken to the doctor who treated Tony and Adriana on the night of the accident. Though they are threatening him, the doctor freely acknowledges that Adriana's injuries show that she was wearing her seat belt and sitting upright when the accident occurred. Chris appears to be placated but says that he feels like a laughing stock.
Agent Sanseverino believes the final version of the story of Adriana and Tony. Meeting in a car, she tells Adriana she wants to exploit the supposed relationship by planting listening devices in her club. This infuriates Adriana, who moves to go. As she is leaving, Sanseverino tries to warn her that by staying with Chris she is protecting her abuser.
Tony convinces Carmela that there is nothing between him and Adriana. In a show of unity, Tony and Carmela, Chris and Adriana, and Tony B and Quintina Blundetto dine at Nuovo Vesuvio, where most of Tony's crew are eating at other tables. Vito approaches them and shakes Chris's hand, wishing him a pleasant evening, resolving the tension between them.