The Happy Wanderer (The Sopranos)

"The Happy Wanderer" is the 19th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the sixth of the show's second season. It was written by Frank Renzulli, directed by John Patterson, and originally aired on February 20, 2000.

Tony tells Dr. Melfi that he is angry with everybody, but doesn't know why; he wants to hit her, and the happy looking people he sees in the street. Tony is told by Uncle Junior that he and Tony's father had a deceased brother, Ercole, who was, in Junior's words, "slow". He also tells Tony that his father left a "package" of money to his mother, Livia. Tony is uncomfortable when he sees Livia at a funeral and later during a cabaret night at Meadow's high school. Davey Scatino, a former classmate of Tony's, owns a sporting goods store; his son, Eric, is a classmate of Meadow's and they are going to sing a duet at the cabaret night. Davey, a compulsive gambler, owes Richie $8,000 and has been banned from Richie's poker game until the debt has been paid. Davey knows that Tony has taken over the high stakes "Executive Game" from Junior and asks to participate. He comes to the game uninvited, at which point Tony agrees and loans him $5,000. Davey initially wins and the game goes on through the night while Tony is asleep. Tony wakes in the morning and is told by Christopher that Davey is down $45,000 after talking his way into more loans. Richie comes into the room, sees Davey playing and attacks him, which causes the game to break up. For this act of disrespect, Tony tells Richie that he is not permitted to collect his debt from Davey until Tony has collected his. Janice tells Richie he has a right to stand up to Tony. Davey attempts to talk to Tony as a friend, but Tony rebuffs him. When Davey misses the first deadline for payment, Tony goes to his office at the store and beats him. Davey finds a pretext to take Eric's SUV away from him and gives it to Tony as partial payment. Tony presents it to Meadow, but she realizes it belongs to Eric and tearfully rejects it. At the cabaret night, Eric refuses at the last minute to perform with Meadow and walks out, leaving Meadow to perform a solo, as she had wished.

Vito Spatafore: Richie Aprile's nephew, who is also in his crew. David Scatino: Tony's childhood friend and compulsive gambler. Dr. Ira Fried: A player in the Executive Game and doctor specialized in treating erectile dysfunction. Also performs emergency surgeries for mob related injuries.

Tom Giglione, Sr.: Tony's brother in law's father, who died after falling off a roof.

The episode's title refers to a "happy wanderer", a person who walks around with no worries in the world, whom Tony despises.

Though this is Joseph R. Gannascoli's first appearance as Vito, he previously had appeared briefly as Gino, a bakery customer, in a scene during the first season episode, "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti." He would not be credited as a main cast member until Season 6. Tony Sirico's real life older brother Carmine appears as the nameless "Dealer" in Richie's small stakes poker game. His few words of dialogue are spoken off camera.

James Gandolfini won his first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode.