"From Where to Eternity" is the 22nd episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the ninth of the show's second season. It was written by Michael Imperioli and directed by Henry J. Bronchtein, and originally aired on March 12, 2000.
Starring
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr. *
Vincent Pastore as Big Pussy Bonpensiero
Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante
Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri
Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr. Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva David Proval as Richie Aprile Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano
* = credit only
Guest starring
Jerry Adler as Hesh Rabkin
Also guest starring
Synopsis
Christopher is in the hospital after being shot. He is clinically dead for about a minute and his spleen is removed, but he survives. Conscious but heavily medicated with morphine, he asks to see Tony and Paulie. He tells them he went to Hell and saw Brendan Filone and Mikey Palmice; he also saw his father, who gets killed again every night. He reports that Filone and Palmice had a message for Tony and Paulie: "Three o'clock."
Tony comforts Christopher, assuring him it was only a dream. Discussing his experience with Dr. Melfi, Tony says he does not think he or Christopher will go to Hell. He explains: "Soldiers don't go to Hell ... everybody involved knows the stakes and ... you gotta do certain things. It's business. We're soldiers."
Paulie, however, is deeply disturbed. He tries to persuade Christopher it was only purgatory, not Hell, but still has nightmares about it. On his girlfriend's advice, he seeks the help of a psychic, who appears to have a terrifying knowledge of Paulie's past, including the name of the first man he ever killed thirty years before. Paulie complains to his priest that all the donations he has made to the church should have given him immunity; he will not donate anymore.
Pussy has a bad-tempered meeting with Agent Skip Lipari. He tells him nothing but repeats his fear that Tony suspects him. An informer on the street tells him where Matt Bevilaqua is hiding, and he and Tony go there together. Tony questions Matt, establishing that Richie had no part in the attempt to kill Christopher, then shoots him. He glances at Pussy, who hesitates but shoots him too; they empty their guns into the lifeless body. They have dinner in a familiar restaurant and talk nostalgically of old times.
While Christopher is near death, Carmela finds an empty hospital room with a crucifix and prays for him. When he is conscious, she tells him he has been given a second chance, but as they speak she realizes Tony lied when he told her that Christopher dreamed of going to Heaven.
The women are gossiping about an associate of the Sopranos whose long-term comàre has had his child. Dreading the shame if such a thing happened to her own family, Carmela asks Tony to have a vasectomy. He vigorously refuses, and when he assures her that he has had his girlfriend tested for AIDS she leaves their bed in revulsion. Later, having reconsidered, he tells her he will consent but to his bafflement, she has changed her mind. She says, "All I want is you. That's all I have ever wanted," and makes passionate love to him.
First appearance
Joanne Moltisanti: the widow of Richard Moltisanti and Christopher Moltisanti's mother. Played by the first of 2 actresses to play the role.
Deceased
Matthew Bevilaqua: Riddled with bullets by Tony and Pussy for his involvement in the attempted assassination of Christopher.
Title reference
The episode's title is a play on the film From Here to Eternity (1953). It also refers to Christopher's taking a trip to the afterlife and not knowing whether it was purgatory or hell.