I mean he practically did anyways. It's not like Tony could have done anything about it (even a boss can't kill a made guy over a horse). I don't think he came to Ralph with the intention of killing him when he confronted him (he didn't have a weapon)
You're standing on my neck
I don't believe Ralphie did it, he was going through a transitional period where he was trying to be a good person to bring good karma to his son. Burning a bunch of horses alive would've been out of character for him at that time.
In my opinion, it was Paulie.
Why would Paulie do it? He wasn't involved with Pie O My at all, I doubt he would have known about the insurance on the horse, he certainly wouldn't have been able to collect the insurance money (he had no ownership). Remeber Ralph had medical costs piling up for kid in the hospital, he certainly had an incentive for torching the horse.
You're standing on my neck
Ralphie made that prank call to Paulies mother, and he wanted to do something to hurt Ralphie. He probably didn't think that killing the horse would actually benefit Ralphie financially.
shareThe horse partly belonged to Tony though, if he found out Paulie did it he would lose serious respect from Tony and probably forced to pay for it. There was nothing in the show that indicated Paulie had anything to do with Pie O My getting burnt.
You're standing on my neck
Paulie was in jail when Ralphie bought the horse, so he didn't know Tonys involvement. And there was never any proof that Ralphie was behind it either. And that whole beating Tony gave to Ralphie was mostly about Tracee anyway.
shareThen by that reasoning Paulie wouldn't know about the horse in general. Yes, maybe there wasn't any "proof" Paulie was involved, but he did have an incentive and practically admitted it to Tony, the writers were clearly trying to get this across the audience. I think you're really far reaching with the Paulie theory.
You're standing on my neck
How did he admit it? He denied it almost to his dying breath. He admitted that the money he received would be beneficial, but he was adamant about not being involved.
share"And even if I did, so what?!"
You're standing on my neck
"And even if I did, so what?!"
The actor who played Ralphie was fantastic. He has been in other things including the Matrix, and interestingly as a wounded soldier in MASH who stole someone's identity to come back home.
Ralphie was such an annoying b.stard. He really was. Jerkoff is a good word. The character was one of the most annoying one of all. It's like jeesh, why hasn't this guy been killed already? Especially after killing the young stripper girl from the club outside a hangout one night with Ralphie refusing to take any responsibility for the act blaming her for being "a klutz". I am a casual watcher of the show and frankly am not up on all the stories of the series like a rabid fan (and there are rabid ass fans of this show much like Trekkies), and know Ralphie was an important cog in the "Esplanade" project. An interesting story, having the guys put up with someone who was so annoying, so insane, etc., but he was so important, he could not have been done away with.
Did Ralphie kill the horse? The series never said. More than likely. I will say that Ralphie was such a loose cannon, such an annoyance and an absolute pain in the ass, who wouldn't want to kill him? Ralphie walked outside the lines which could bring the heat. Again with the 20 year old girl. Tony and the rest of his crew would have never killed someone like her. Maybe like Silvio to slap her around to get her to do what he wanted, but kill basically a kid? F.ck that. Tony and the boys should have whacked Ralphie then and there.
We'll never know. Even more than the others, Ralphie always instinctively lied about things.
TONY: Is your first name Ralph?
RALPH: Tony, oh Tony. I just do not know where you ever heard such a thing.... My first name, as you well know, is Mario. I was named after my grandfather, who....
Remember Tony told Ralphie he was seeing Ralphie's ex-girlfriend (Valentina). I think that's what made him burn the horse.
shareI will say that Ralphie was such a loose cannon, such an annoyance and an absolute pain in the ass, who wouldn't want to kill him?
Again with the 20 year old girl. Tony and the rest of his crew would have never killed someone like her. Maybe like Silvio to slap her around to get her to do what he wanted, but kill basically a kid? F.ck that. Tony and the boys should have whacked Ralphie then and there.
Tony didn't have a lot of respect for human life but he loved animals. I think they represented something pure and innocent to him. Remember the ducks? Tony loved Pie O My and was geniunely sad when he died. And Ralph was on his last leg with Tony. He was driving him crazy with his disrespect and all of the nonsense he brought (the stripper girl, instigating Jackie Jr. to get in trouble etc).
And yes Ralph did kill the horse for the insurance money.