Season 3: Episode 9: "Omerta"

 

Written by Michael R. Perry

Directed by Paul Shapiro

Airdate: December 18, 1998

Guest Star: Jon Polito (Eddie Scarpino Giannini)

"Omerta" stands as one of the strangest episodes of the series (in a good way). It's like a hybrid of Miller's Crossing and a Hallmark Christmas movie. You read me right.

The episode begins with Mafioso Eddie (Polito) about to be executed by his buddies in the woods playing out like a scene from The Sopranos. There's a hint of mysticism in the scene, which will come into play later. 

Meanwhile, Frank and Jordan are Christmas shopping. Frank notices Jordan eyeing other Moms with their kids and they have a talk about the loss of Catherine - something the season's spent little time addressing. They decide to spend the holiday in Vermont for a change of scenery. As expected, strange things are already afoot when a half-naked man is wandering around muttering to himself. The local authorities reach out to Frank for help. Even on Xmas vacation he cannot escape from work!

The man relates a story of being attacked by a wolf in the woods, believing his wounds to be mortal. Then he woke up in a cave with two beautiful women are nursing him back to health through "feminine energy." Hollis joins Frank to investigate the strange case. In their investigation of the woods, they find Eddie alive despite the fact he was shot several times. Eddie is brought in and confesses to his crimes as a contract killer, but his whereabout for the past nine years are a mystery. 

Two women are also discovered living in the woods, Rose and Lhasa. They cannot speak and appear to have healing powers. Eddie confesses Rose and Lhasa saved his life and he's apparently been living in the cave with them. The women also bond with Jordan and comfort her about losing Catherine. The FBI hopes to use Eddie as a witness, but his old cronies come back to town and end up shooting Lhasa. She survives and the doctors arrange to have her moved to a specialist for surgery. As they are leaving in the ambulance, Eddie is driving and there's an explosion. The episode ends with three of them reunited at a cabin.

There are many urban legends of women with special powers who live apart from society in the forest. The episode never spells out the mystery of Rose and Lhasa, but I suppose it's unnecessary since our collective unconscious will grasp it. I like how the episode focused on Frank and Jordan, adding a theme of healing and understanding the season desperately needed. Polito brought a humanistic dimension to the episode in a memorable guest shot. Also, the Pagan themes intertwined with this Christmas tale gave the episode something unique for television - then and now.