The Sopranos (SM): Selected Scripts from Three Seasons

This must-have book for every fan of HBO's hit show packs five scripts from the best episodes, handpicked by the series creator.

The Sopranos is HBO's TV show about your average New Jersey mafia capo, with major headaches. His mother wants him dead, his psychiatrist makes him nuts, and the FBI takes an unhealthy interest in his business.

Here are the complete scripts from five of the best episodes, chosen by the series' Emmy Award-winning creator David Chase:

• “Pilot”: Tony's shrink sessions focus on ducks in his swimming pool while he plans to blow up a restaurant.
• “College”: While driving his daughter to college interviews, Tony discovers and garrotes a mob informant who betrayed his family.
• “The Happy Wanderer”: David Scatino loses his son's SUV to Tony in a high-stakes poker game.
• “The Knight in White Satin Armor”: Tony's Russian mistress attempts suicide, and his sister shoots her fiancé.
• “Pine Barrens”: Christopher and Paulie try to dispose of a murdered Russian gangster who turns out to be very much alive.

Includes an introduction by David Chase, unused dialogue, and behind the scenes color photographs

For rabid Sopranos fans and would-be screenwriters, this is a no-brainer-but even for the rest of the mildly interested public, these scripts make worthwhile reading. Series creator Chase's introduction describes the writing process and illuminates some of the themes present in each season. The pilot episode (which opens in Dr. Melfi's waiting room); "College," in which Tony and Meadow visit Bates College and mayhem ensues; "The Happy Wanderer"in which "Parvati" (Janice) sows seeds of serious family discontent; "The Knight in White Satin Armor" which has Richie getting offed in an unexpected manner; and "Pine Barrens," in which a "package" awaiting burial hits Christopher with a shovel and disappears, are all featured within. Individual authors and directors are credited script by script, and the lists of casts and settings makes this book workable for productions, though some scenes are omitted. One can imagine thousands of amateur productions mounted in improvised Ba-Da-Bing!s around the country; expect cigar sales to rise accordingly.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.