Directed by: Martin Bruestle
Written by: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and Frank Renzulli

PUSSY IS A RAT.

When Pussy goes to the doctor for steroid injections in his back, the person leafing through old magazines in the waiting room is FBI agent Skip Lipari. As they drive home afterwards it’s revealed that Sal Bompensiero, AKA Big Pussy Bompensiero, made man and life-long friend of Tony Soprano, is facing a heroin possession charge and has become an informant for the Feds.

But for the moment at least, Tony is blissfully unaware of Pussy’s conversion. Well, unaware maybe, but hardly blissful. After all, Junior is out of jail on a medical release pending trial — and even though he’s under house arrest, the disgruntled old capo is nursing a molto grande grudge against his nephew. If that weren’t enough, Freddy Capuano, the Director of Green Grove, has been going around telling people that Tony likes “to fluff his mother’s pillows.” Although Tony doesn’t know about Pussy, and Junior’s not an immediate threat, this Capuano situation needs to be taken care of quickly. So Capuano’s Cadillac and toupee are soon discovered by a State Trooper by the side of a New Jersey thoroughfare. But as for their owner . . . well, the camera cut away before the trooper opened the Cadillac’s trunk.

At least Tony’s business dealings are going according to plan. When black protesters picket Massarone Brothers Construction Tony accepts payment from Mr. Massarone to “fix” the problem. What Massarone doesn’t know is that the whole thing is a setup and Tony is splitting the money with the protesters’ leader.

And speaking of setups, Livia is convinced her two eldest offspring are planning to tuck her in for the big sleep. When Anthony, Jr. tells his grandmother he overheard Tony and Parvati discussing her DNR, to Livia it can mean only one thing. Her children would only be discussing a “Do Not Resuscitate” order if they’re planning to get rid of her once and for all.

But back to Pussy and his new relationship with the Federal Government. When they’re in the car Pussy lies to Skip, telling him that he hasn’t been to see Tony since he got back to town. So, if Pussy is fibbing to the FBI, is it possible he’s not a rat after all?