The Godfather Page #22

Part of the wall is caved in, the kitchen door is blown off;

and there is nothing left of the Alpha, or of Appolonia.

MICHAEL is thrown against the wall, and knocked unconscious.

INT DAY:
VILLA BEDROOM

MICHAEL is unconscious in a darkened room. We hear

whispering around him, but can't make any of it out. A soft

cloth is applied to his face; gradually his eyes open. DON

TOMMASSINO is there, close to him. He looks at them and

from their grave expressions, he knows his wife is dead.

MICHAEL:

Fabrizzio. Let your shepherds know

that the one who gives me Fabrizzio

will own the finest pastures in

Sicily.

--------------------------------------FADE OUT----------

FADE IN:

EXT DAY:
MALL (SPRING 1951)

Easter.

A HIGH VIEW ON THE CORLEONE MALL in the springtime. Hordes

of little CHILDREN including many of the Corleone Children

and Grandchilren, rush about carrying little Easter baskets,

searching here and there for candy treasures and hidden

Easter eggs.

The DON himself, much older, much smaller in size, wearing

baggy pants and a plaid shirt and an old hat, moves around

his garden, tending rows and rows of rich tomato plants.

Suddenly, he stops and looks.

MICHAEL stands there, still holding his suitcase.

Great emotion comes over the DON, who takes a few steps in

MICHAEL's direction.

MICHAEL leaves his suitcase and walks to his favorite son

and embraces him.

DON CORLEONE:

Be my son...

INT DAY:
THE OLIVE OIL FACTORY

DON CORLEONE leads MICHAEL through the corridors of the

building.

DON CORLEONE:

This old building has seen its day.

No way to do business...too small,

too old.

They enter the DON's glass-panelled office.

DON CORLEONE:

Have you thought about a wife? A

family?

MICHAEL:

(pained)

No.

DON CORLEONE:

I understand, Michael. But you

must make a family, you know.

MICHAEL:

I want children, I want a family.

But I don't know when.

DON CORLEONE:

Accept what's happened, Michael.

MICHAEL:

I could accept everything that's

happened; I could accept it, but

that I never had a choice. From

the time I was born, you had laid

this all out for me.

DON CORLEONE:

No, I wanted other things for you.

MICHAEL:

You wanted me to be your son.

DON CORLEONE:

Yes, but sons who would be

professors, scientists,

musicians...and grandchildren who

could be, who knows, a Governor, a

President even, nothing's impossible

here in America.

MICHAEL:

Then why have I become a man like

you?

DON CORLEONE:

You are like me, we refuse to be

fools, to be puppets dancing on a

string pulled by other men. I

hoped the time for guns and killing

and massacres was over. That was

my misfortune. That was your

misfortune. I was hunted on the

streets of Corleone when I was

twelve years old because of who my

father was. I had no choice.

MICHAEL:

A man has to choose what he will be.

I believe that.

DON CORLEONE:

What else do you believe in?

MICHAEL doesn't answer.

DON CORLEONE:

Believe in a family. Can you

believe in your country? Those

Pezzonovante of the State who

decide what we shall do with our

lives? Who declare wars they wish

us to fight in to protect what they

own. Do you put your fate in the

hands of men whose only talent is

that they tricked a bloc of people

to vote for them? Michael, in five

years the Corleone family can be

completely legitimate. Very

difficult things have to happen to

make that possible. I can't do

them anymore, but you can, if you

choose to.

MICHAEL listens.

DON CORLEONE:

Believe in a family; believe in a

Code of Honor, older and higher,

believe in Roots that go back

thousands of years into your Race.

Make a family, Michael, and protect

it. These are our affairs, sono cosa

nostra, Governments only protect

men who have their own individual

power. Be one of those men...you

have the choice.

--------------------------------------FADE OUT----------

EXT DAY:
STOCK FOOTAGE LAS VEGAS (1955)

A MOVING VIEW, driving up the Las Vegas Strip of 1955.

FREDO (O.S.)

There's a new one. Construction

going on everywhere.

MORE VIEWS, showing new hotels and casinos being built; the

bill marquees read: "MARTIN AND LEWIS", "PATTI PAGE", etc.

FREDO (O.S.)

That's one of the family's new ones.

Not bad, eh?

EXT DAY:
FLAMINGO (1955)

The car pulls up at the Flamingo Hotel.

Inside the car:
MICHAEL, FREDO, TOM HAGEN and a new man,

NERI, quiet and sinister.

MICHAEL:

Why didn't Moe Green meet us at the

airport?

FREDO:

He had business at the hotel, but

he'll drop in for dinner.

From the expression on MICHAEL's face we know this is a

discourtesy.

INT DAY:
FLAMINGO HOTEL SUITE (1955)

A whole entourage precedes FREDO and his V.I.P. party of

MICHAEL, HAGEN and NERI. Great fuss is made. They are

being shown into the hotel's 'special' suite.

FREDO:

You look wonderful, kid; really

wonderful. That doctor did some

job on your face.

MICHAEL:

You look good, too.

They enter the suite.

FREDO:

Nice, eh?

FREDO is as excited as a kid, snapping orders at the

bellboys, waiters and maids.

FREDO:

(hurrying into the bedroom)

Kid, take a look-see.

MICHAEL gives a look to HAGEN, and continues into the bedroom.

There is an enormous circular bed on a huge platform,

mirrors to each side. FREDO points upward.

A VIEW into a large CEILING mirror.

FREDO:

Ever seen anything like that before?

MICHAEL:

(dryly)

No.

INT NITE:
FLAMINGO SUITE BEDROOM (1955)

MICHAEL is alone in the bedroom. He is just finishing

dressing; he puts on his jacket. From the window, with the

lights blinking, we can tell it's late at night. MICHAEL

passes into the other room.

He stops, looks. He is disturbed.

INT NITE:
FLAMINGO SUITE (1955)

A magnificent, circular table has been set up in his suite;

a lavish table setting for eight. Standing by the table are

HAGEN, JOHNNY FONTANE, looking wonderful, a little heavier,

beautifully dressed; FREDO, a dandy, and TWO LAS VEGAS GIRLS.

NERI stands quietly by the door.

FREDO:

Mike! The party starting!

MICHAEL:

Come here a minute, Fredo.

FREDO goes to him, a big smile all over his face.

MICHAEL:

Who are those girls?

FREDO:

(jokingly)

That's for you to find out.

MICHAEL:

Give them some money and send them

home.

FREDO:

Mike!

MICHAEL:

Get rid of them...

INT NITE:
FLAMINGO SUITE (1955)

They are seated around the lavish table in Michael's suite.

MICHAEL is speaking to JOHNNY.

MICHAEL:

Johnny, the Corleone family is

thinking of selling out all our

interests in the Olive Oil business

and settling here. Moe Greene will

sell us his interest so it can be

wholly owned by friends of the

family.

FREDDIE seems anxious.

FREDO:

Mike, you sure about Moe selling.

He never mentioned it to me and he

loves the business.

MICHAEL:

I'll make him an offer he can't

refuse.

MICHAEL turns to JOHNNY.

MICHAEL:

Johnny, the Don wants you to help

us get started. We figure

entertainment will be the big

factor in drawing gamblers. We

hope you'll sign a contract to

appear five times a year for maybe

a week long engagement.

We hope your friends in the movies

will do the same. We count on you

to convince them.

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