| Series: | The Sopranos |
| Season: | 2 |
| Episode: | 11 |
| Director: | Tim Van Patten |
| Photographer: | Phil Abraham |
| Production: | 211 |
| Length: | 57 minutes |
| Prev: | Bust Out |
| Next: | The Knight in White Satin Armor |
| Season Article: | The Sopranos season 2 |
| Episode List: | List of The Sopranos episodes |
"House Arrest" is the 24th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the 11th of the show's second season. It was written by Terence Winter and directed by Tim Van Patten, and originally aired on March 26, 2000.
Tony is advised by his lawyer, Neil Mink, to "insulate" himself from the "shenanigans." He spends time at home, where he is bored, and then in the office of Barone Sanitation, where he is still bored, though he draws up an office basketball pool and has vigorous sex with the office assistant.
Dr. Melfi is under heavy stress because of her relationship with Tony. She is drinking between sessions on the days that she sees him. Tony comments once, "You seem very mellow today. You look like you're on drugs." In a restaurant with her son, she creates a scene when she tries to stop another patron from smoking. She tells Dr. Kupferberg that, although she is repulsed by what Tony tells her, "I can't stop myself from wanting to hear it." Kupferberg prescribes medication and urges her again to cease treating Tony.
Uncle Junior and Richie are selling cocaine on their garbage routes. Tony angrily tells Richie to stop, saying that this can draw FBI and DEA attention to their legitimate business. Richie glares at him before turning away. After this confrontation, Tony has a panic attack. He almost has another when he sees Janice behaving lovingly with Richie, who is now her fiancé. Thinking aloud, Tony says, "Oh, you poor bastard."
One of Junior's drivers continues selling cocaine; Junior says he needs the income for legal and medical expenses. At the hospital, he is recognized by Catherine Romano, who was a classmate of his younger brother Johnny. She is now the widow – and the mother – of a police detective. At first, Junior evades her, embarrassed by his illnesses and house arrest. Eventually, he phones her, and in his home she affectionately looks after him.
Tony returns to Satriale's, where his crew – including a now-discharged and nearly fully-recovered Christopher – welcomes him back.
House arrest is a sentence issued by a judge as an alternative to prison time and helps keep track of convicted criminals after or as an alternative to, a prison sentence. The sentence states that the person cannot leave their main domicile and can only be released for important family functions, medical appointments, or funerals. Junior is also able to leave his residence when he needs to visit a supermarket. Junior's social life begins to dwindle under his sentence.
The title also applies to the increased amount of time that Tony spends at home, surrounded by mundane activities that do not interest him. In this way, Tony experiences a sort of "house arrest", isolated from his friends and the work that he enjoys. Although Tony's sentence is more self-imposed than his uncle's, it has been advised by his lawyer.
Listed in order of first appearance:[1]