The Godfather: Part II Page #10

EXT. TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY

Clemenza jumps down the stairs, and out to the middle of the

street, where Vito and Tessio are waiting in the car with

some of the stock.

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

What took so long?

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

She couldn't decide.

Tessio and Clemenza each take more armsful of dresses and

divide the neighborhood.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

Vito, take the rest of the stock

over to Dandine's warehouse; he'll

move it to a wholesaler.

The three part. Vito drives the truck off.

MOVING VIEW:

Vito drives the truck through the downtown streets; he turns

a corner and stops for a light.

Suddenly, to his left, he sees the formidable figure of

Fanucci.

He grabs young Corleone by the shoulder.

CLOSE VIEW ON FANUCCI

frightening, revealing the large circular scar, now healed.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

Ahhh, young fellow. People tell me

you're rich, you and your two

friends. Yet, you don't show

enough respect to send a few

dresses to my home. You know I

have three daughters.

Vito says nothing. Fanucci thumbs through the stock.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

This is my neighborhood. You and

your friends have to show me a

little respect, ah? This truck you

hijacked was in my neighborhood.

You should let me wet my beak a

little.

Fanucci takes a few of the dresses.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

I understand each of you cleared

around six hundred dollars. I

expect two hundred dollars for my

protection and I'll forget the

insult. After all, young people

don't know the courtesies due a man

like myself.

Vito smiles at him and nods.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

Otherwise the police will come to

see you and your wife and children

will be dishonored and destitute.

Of course, if my information as to

your gains is incorrect, I'll dip

my beak just a little. Just a

little, but no less than one

hundred dollars, and don't try to

deceive me, eh paisan?

VITO:

(Sicilian)

(quietly)

My two friends have my share of the

money. I'll have to speak to them

after we deliver these to the

wholesaler.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

You tell your friends I expect them

to let me wet my beak in the same

manner. Don't be afraid to tell

them. Clemenza and I know each

other well, he understands these

things. Let yourself be guided by

him. He has more experience in

these matters.

VITO:

(Sicilian)

(shrugging innocently)

You must understand, this is all

new to me...

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

I understand...

VITO:

(Sicilian)

But thank you for speaking to me as

a Godfather.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

(impressed)

You're a good fellow.

He takes Vito's hands and clasps them in his own.

FANUCCI:

(Sicilian)

You have respect. A fine thing in

the young. Next time, speak to me

first, eh? Perhaps I can help you

make your plans.

Fanucci turns with the dresses draped over his arms, waving

to Vito.

Vito throws the truck in gear, and drives off.

CLOSE VIEW ON VITO

We know that throughout this encounter he has seethed with

an icy rage.

INT. VITO'S APARTMENT - MED. VIEW - NIGHT

He wife serves a dinner for her husband and his two friends.

They discuss Fanucci as they eat.

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

Do you think he'd be satisfied with

the two hundred dollars? I think

he would.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

That scar-faced bastard will find

out what we got from the wholesaler.

He won't take a dime less than

three hundred dollars.

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

What if we don't pay?

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

(gestures, it's hopeless)

You know his friends...real animals.

And his connections with the police.

Sure he'd like us to tell him our

plans so he can set us up for the

cops and earn their gratitude.

Then they would owe him a favor;

that's how he operates. We'll have

to pay. Three hundred, are we

agreed?

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

What can we do?

Clemenza doesn't even bother checking for Vito's opinion.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

They say Fanucci has a license from

Maranzalla himself to work this

neighborhood.

VITO:

(Sicilian)

If you like, why not give me fifty

dollars each to pay Fanucci. I

guarantee he will accept that

amount from me.

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

When Fanucci says two hundred he

means two hundred. You can't talk

with him.

VITO:

(Sicilian)

I'll reason with him. Leave

everything in my hands. I'll

settle this problem to your

satisfaction.

Tessio and Clemenza regard him suspiciously.

VITO:

(Sicilian)

I never lie to people I've accepted

as my friends. Speak to Fanucci

yourself tomorrow. Let him ask you

for the money, but don't pay it,

and don't in any way quarrel with

him. Tell him you have to get the

money and will send me as your

messenger. Let him understand that

you're willing to pay what he asks,

don't bargain. I'll go to his

house, and quarrel with him. He

likes me; enjoys explaining how

things are here. He uses ten

sentences when he only needs one,

so while he talks, I'll kill him.

Clemenza, irritated, makes a large belch, and washes his

food down with wine.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

Vitone!

(to Tessio)

Our driver has drunk too much wine.

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

(laughs at himself)

He's going to kill Fanucci.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

(stern)

Then, after that, what? Joe

'Little Knife' Pisani; Willie

Bufalino, maybe, Mr. Maranzalla

himself, c'mon!

VITO:

(Sicilian)

Fanucci is not connected; he is

alone.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

(sarcastically)

What? You read it in the papers?

VITO:

(Sicilian)

This man informs to the police;

this man allows his vengeance to be

bought off... No, he is alone.

TESSIO:

(Sicilian)

If you're wrong...

VITO:

(Sicilian)

If I'm wrong, they will kill me.

Both Clemenza and Tessio are impressed with their young

friend; his willingness to risk his life on his perception

of the situation.

EXT. NEW YORK STREET - MED. VIEW - NIGHT

A ten piece Italian street band plays in front of the church

to commemorate the first night of the Festa di San Gennaro.

People swarm in crowds, delighted by the music, as out of

the church four men carry the statue of San Gennaro down to

the street.

MOVING VIEW:

Clemenza moves along the booths that have been set up along

the street:
sausage cooking on an open fire; pork livers and

sweetbeards. He stops for a sandwich, and makes an irritated

gesture when the vendor expects to be paid. He crosses to a

church-sponsored booth with a great Wheel of Fortune, and

slaps a dollar on a number. Standing next to him is Vito;

they embrace.

CLEMENZA:

(Sicilian)

(quietly)

All three daughters are at church;

he is alone. It's important that

you let his neighbors see you leave.

Tessio has broken the latch on the

skylight of his building.

The wheel stops; they both lose.

CLEMENZA:

(English)

See, Brother Carmello, even the

church makes numbers.

PRIEST:

(English)

It's only the way we collect that's

different.

Vito has left while Clemenza jokes with the Priest.

EXT. FESTA STREET - NIGHT

Vito passes the booths of food, crossing toward a small and

dark club.

INT. SOCIAL CLUB - NIGHT

We can still HEAR the crowds and music of the festa. Vito

enters; the club is empty, except for the large white figure

sitting alone at a small table. Fanucci barely acknowledges

Vito as he joins him.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes