The Sopranos Question: A Godfather Whacking a Godson (Open Spoilers)

Cafe Society
1

We are just now watching The Sopranos, and so I apologize if this has been covered in any of the previous The Sopranos threads. If this has already been covered in the past, then just point it out gently and I’ll go do some more searching.

Anyway, in Season 3, Episode 5 (“Another Toothpick”), Bobby Bacala, Sr. “comes out of retirement to exact revenge on Mustang Sally”. (List of The Sopranos episodes - Wikipedia).

In the second scene, Tony and others are attending a funeral for someone, and Uncle Junior, Bobby Bacala, Jr., and a sick old man (Bobby Bacala, Sr.) slip in during the service. After the service, Tony and Bobby Sr. talk about Mustang Sally being out of control (he had just attacked someone with a golf club).

(I apologize that I am paraphrasing, not quoting).

During the conversation, Tony says, “I’m telling you this because he is your godson …” and then explains that Mustang Sally needs to be whacked. Later, Bobby Sr. replies, “You do what you have to do.”

In later scenes, Bobby Jr. and Uncle Junior are playing checkers and Bobby Jr. is all upset, primarily because Tony has ordered Bobby Sr. to make the hit on Mustang Sally.

I have watched the scenes 3 times, and I am totally confused. At no time do I hear Tony tell Bobby Sr. that he is the one who has to whack his godson. In fact, the whole tone of the conversation is that Tony is simply telling the old man as a courtesy that he (Tony) is ordering the hit. Bobby Sr.'s reply of, “You do what you have to do” seems to confirm this.

How did it jump to being construed that Tony had ordered the old man to make the hit? Or is this some sort of godfather/godson thing where if the godson screws up, his godfather has to make it right?

2

In true Mafia fashion, you are **not supposed **to hear Tony order the hit.

But as for the Godfather taking out the godson, the Godfather was supposed to play an important role in the rearing of a child. Bobby Sr. could get close to Mustang Sally by tradition and position. Who better to make the hit, than the person who was supposed to make sure he didn’t screw up?

It would also show Bobby Sr.'s acknowledgement and acceptance and respect of Tony’s position.

3

I agree with ministryman. Part of the whole mafia system is being subtle enough so that if someone overhears you (phone tap, someone wearing a wire), what you said isn’t enough to get you convicted. That’s why there’s a lot of vague talk (“the thing we talked about” or “remember that friend of ours?”).

4

I wonder if there was also an undercurrent of Bobby Sr. taking care of the hit because he was supposed to have a role in Sally’s upbringing. Essentially, taking care of a problem that he should have taken care of long before.

5

Did the characters take the whole godfather/spiritual upbringing role all that seriously, though? Not necessarily agreeing with you. It was just one of those things that always piqued my curiosity. They’re all Catholic and none of them believe in divorce for that reason but at the same time, they violate so many other tenets of their religion.

I remember the ep where AJ gets confirmed and Big Pussy is meant to be his sponsor and yet it’s so hard to imagine any of these men as having any kind of spiritual grounding. Though the same is true for the women–Carmela was initially really into the priest and look at how much she loved her material possessions. Sorry if that’s too off topic…

6

I was under the impression that Bobby Sr wanted to do the hit, both because he saw it as his duty and so that he could die as a contributing mafia guy instead of as an invalid old man.

7

That’s the way I remember it too.
It’s been a while since I saw that episode but I thought Bobby Sr. asked to be allowed to do it.

8

I don’t remember if Bobby Sr. asked but either way I remember he wanted to. It was his son, Bobby Jr., who was upset at his dad having to do it.

I remember Bobby Sr. seemed pretty happy after he killed Mustang Sally. Of course then he had an attack and got into a car crash and died, but I suppose he died doing what he loved.

9

Tony didn’t order Bobby Sr to do the hit. One of Tony’s capos, Gigi, ordered Bobby Sr to do the hit, since Vito was in Gigi’s crew. Tony mentions that he doesn’t want to order Bobby Sr to not do the hit since it would look like he was “cutting Gigi’s balls off.” (Which roughly translates to not trusting his judgment)

10

I seem to remember Bobby Sr did it because he was a) dying anyway and b) the only person Sally was going to let get close enough to him to do the deed.

11

This is the correct version. Gigi made the call, and Tony OK’d it. Tony didn’t have to, but he had no reason not to allow Bobby Sr. to do the hit, except for the concerns of Bobby Jr. and his health.

The upside of Sr. doing the hit was that he could get close to Mustang Sally without raising suspicion.

If I remember correctly, this was when Ralphie was around, and he was breaking Tony’s balls about the decision. Uncle Junior was also pissed, since the man was dying of cancer. Ralphie was pushing to be a capo and he was in Gigi’s crew, so he questioned everything Gigi did.

12

OK … thanks. I missed the part where Gigi ordered the hit. Thanks again to all the contributors.