While Paulie gets his affairs in order for his return, his mother is contemplating her own future. Rina calls Teri at the salon.
“I have to speak with you,” Rina says.
“Okay,” Teri replies, hearing the stress in her voice. “Come over in an hour.”
When Teri opens the door, Rina falls into her friend’s arms, weeping. Teri senses what this is all about. She knows everything in the Neighborhood, including the fact that Carmine is walking free. They talk for hours.
The phone rings. It’s Paulie on the line, asking for Vincent. He’s finally built up the courage to share his news. Teri abruptly tells him that Vincent is not home. She turns to Rina, pointing to the phone and mouths, It’s Paulie. Rina shakes her head, No.
“So, I’ll have him call you, honey. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, thanks, Teri. I’m gonna call my mother now. Take care.” He hangs up.
“He said he was going to call you. Why didn’t you want to talk to him?”
“He knows me,” Rina replies. “He’d sense something was wrong. I’ve got to see his father before I speak with Paulie.”
They continue to discuss Rina’s problem. About an hour later, there’s a knock on the door. Teri opens the door to two guys she thinks she recognizes.
“Sorry to bother you, Teri. Is Vincent home?”
“Who are you and what do you want?” she replies.
“We’re friends of Tony’s. He sent us here to see you and talk to your son.”
“My son is not home now,” Teri says warily. “Give me your phone number, and I will have him call you.”
They look at each other.
“We’ll come back tomorrow,” one says. “Please, do us a favor, and call Tony. He’ll tell you we’re okay, okay?”
They turn and leave. Rina looks out the window at the two walking down the steps. She recognizes one of them as Peter Pazienza, a friend of Carmine’s.
“I haven’t seen him in a long time,” Rina says. “He moved out of the Neighborhood years ago. I wonder what he wants from Vincent.”
“Who knows?” Teri replies. “But I’ll have Vincent call Tony tomorrow and find out. My son has now got himself ensnared. I think he’ll get lots of visits in the future.”