The Godfather Page #24

CLEMENZA:

And I don't like Barzini. I say

the Corleone Family has to move

from strength, not weakness. We

should build our Regimes and take

back our lost territories in Staten

Island, at least.

DON CORLEONE:

Do you have faith in my judgement?

CLEMENZA:

Yes, Godfather...

DON CORLEONE:

Then do what Michael says...

MICHAEL:

All I can say is that things are

being resolved that are more

effective than a thousand buttonmen

on the streets. Understood?

There are uneasy looks all around.

CARLO:

Understood. I just wish I was

doing more to help out.

MICHAEL:

I'll come to you when I need you.

He looks at CLEMENZA, TESSIO and HAGEN. They all nod,

reluctantly.

MICHAEL:

All right, then it's resolved.

NERI knows the meeting is over, he opens the Den's door.

CLEMENZA and TESSIO pay their respects to the DON and leave,

then CARLO. NERI watches CARLO as he walks down the

corridor, casting a nervous look back at the sinister man.

Then NERI closes the door.

MICHAEL relaxes.

HAGEN:

Mike, why are you cutting me out of

the action?

MICHAEL:

Tom, we're going to be legitimate

all the way, and you're the legal

man. What could be more important

than that.

HAGEN:

I'm not talking about that. I'm

talking about Rocco Lampone building

a secret regime. Why does Neri

report directly to you, rather than

through me or a caporegime?

DON CORLEONE:

I told you that it wouldn't escape

his eye.

MICHAEL:

How did you find out?

HAGEN:

Bookkeepers know everything.

Rocco's men are all a little too

good for the jobs they're supposed

to be doing. They get a little

more money than the job's worth.

(pause)

Lampone's a good man; he's operating

perfectly.

MICHAEL:

Not so perfectly if you noticed.

HAGEN:

Mike, why am I out?

MICHAEL:

You're not a wartime Consigliere.

Things may get tough with the move

we're trying.

HAGEN:

OK, but then I agree with Tessio.

You're going about it all wrong;

you're making the move out of

weakness... Barzini's a wolf, and

if he tears you apart, the other

families won't come running to help

the Corleones...

DON CORLEONE:

Tom, I never thought you were a bad

Consigliere, I thought Santino a

bad Don, rest in peace. He had a

good heart but he wasn't the right

man to head the family when I had

my misfortune. Michael has all my

confidence, as you do. For reasons

which you can't know, you must have

no part in what will happen.

HAGEN:

Maybe I can help.

MICHAEL:

(coldly)

You're out, Tom.

TOM pauses, thinks...and then he nods in acquiescence. TOM

leaves.

MICHAEL looks at NERI.

MICHAEL:

I'm going to talk to my father.

NERI nods, and then leaves. The DON opens the doors,

breathes in the air, and steps outside.

EXT DAY:
THE GARDEN (1955)

DON CORLEONE:

I see you have your Luca Brasi.

MICHAEL:

I'll need him.

DON CORLEONE:

There are men in this world who

demand to be killed. They argue in

gambling games; they jump out of

their cars in a rage if someone so

much as scratches their fender.

These people wander through the

streets calling out "Kill me, kill

me." Luca Brasi was like that.

And since he wasn't scared of

death, and in fact, looked for

it...I made him my weapon. Because

I was the only person in the world

that he truly hoped would not kill

him. I think you have done the

same with this man.

They walk through the DON's vegetable garden. Tomatoes,

peppers, carefully tended, and covered with a silky netting.

MICHAEL follows; the DON turns and looks at him. Then

stoops over to right a tomato plant that had been pushed over.

DON CORLEONE:

Barzini will move against you first.

MICHAEL:

How?

DON CORLEONE:

He will get in touch with you

through someone you absolutely

trust. That person will arrange a

meeting, guarantee your safety...

He rises, and looks at Michael...

DON CORLEONE:

...and at that meeting you will be

assassinated.

The DON walks on further.

DON CORLEONE:

Your wife and children...you're

happy with them?

MICHAEL:

Yes.

DON CORLEONE:

Good.

MICHAEL wants to express something...hesitates, then:

MICHAEL:

I've always respected you...

A long silence. The DON smiles at MICHAEL.

DON CORLEONE:

And I...you.

EXT DAY:
CHURCH (1955)

KAY and MAMA walking from the black car that has just left

them off.

KAY:

How is your husband feeling?

MAMA:

He's not the same since they shot

him. He lets Michael do all the

work. He just plays the fool with

his garden, his peppers, his

tomatoes, as if he was some peasant

still. But men are like that...

She stops toward the Church.

MAMA:

You come in, too.

KAY shakes her head.

MAMA:

The Priest ain't gonna bite you

cause you're not Catholic.

(whispered)

He's in the back drinkin' his wine.

KAY laughs and follows MAMA up the steps of the Church.

They enter.

INT DAY:
CHURCH (1955)

Inside the Church, KAY watches as MAMA blesses herself from

the holy water.

MAMA:

You can.

Tentatively, KAY dips her fingers into the water, and

blesses herself. Then SHE follows MAMA down the aisle, in

awe at the high ceiling, the art, the windows, and finally

the Altar.

MAMA stops by the impressive tiers of candles. There is a

large coin box for those who wish to pay for lighting

candles. MAMA fumbles in her purse for change; KAY gives

her some.

MAMA drops the coins in the box, one by one; then takes the

taper, and in a pattern known only to her, and with great

dignity, she closes her eyes, says a prayer, and then lights

twenty candles.

She finishes, and bows her head.

EXT DAY:
BONASERA'S FUNERAL HOME

Very few people in the streets. TOTAL SILENCE. But black

flower cars as far as the eye can see, for blocks and blocks.

An expression of respect, of honor and fear that is enormous.

Certainly no more could be done for a President or a King.

Each car carries an elaborate floral decoration. We show

these in detail; and the flowered messages: "A Benefactor to

Mankind", "He Knew and Pitied"..."Our Don Our Leader"..."The

Sacred Heart"...

EXT DAY:
MALL (1955)

HIGH ANGLE ON THE CORLEONE MALL

Silence.

The flower cars, funeral limousines, and private cars fill

all the areas attendant to the Corleone residence.

Hundreds of people fill the Mall, reminiscent in size of the

wedding of Connie and Carlo; of course, now the mood is

somber and respectful.

MICHAEL, MAMA, FREDO and HAGEN stand by the flowered platform

which holds the ornate coffin. We cannot see the remains of

Don Corleone.

BONASERA is nearby, ready to do service to the bereaved

family. One by one the mourners come by, weeping, or merely

with grave expressions; pay their respects and continue on.

The VIEW ALTERS,

and we see that the line is endless. JOHNNY FONTANE, tears

openly falling, takes his turn.

Children are taken by the hand, and lifted for their last

look at the great man.

CLEMENZA whispers into the ear of LAMPONE. LAMPONE

immediately arranges for the members of the Five New York

Families to pay their respects.

First CUNEO, then STRACHI and then ZALUCHI. Then PHILIP

TATTAGLIA, who merely passes by the Coffin.

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