The Godfather Page #26

He walks through some glass doors, and moves to an ornate

elevator waiting shaft.

The lights indicate the elevator has arrived.

The doors open, and we see a surprised CUNEO standing with

the dapper MOE GREENE.

CLEMENZA fires into the small elevator with a shotgun.

The PRIEST hands a lighted candle to MICHAEL.

PRIEST:

I christen you Michael Francis Rizzi.

Flash bulbs go off. Everyone is smiles, and crowds around

MICHAEL, KAY, CONNIE...and CARLO.

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

EXT DAY:
CHURCH (1955)

The christening party outside the Church.

Four or five limousines have been waiting; now pull up to

receive MAMA, CONNIE and the baby; and the others.

Everyone is very happy; only MICHAEL seems aloof and grave.

As the fuss is going on, a car pulls up. LAMPONE gets out

and works his way to MICHAEL. He whispers in his ear. This

is the news MICHAEL has been waiting for.

CONNIE holds the baby up to MICHAEL.

CONNIE:

Kiss your Godfather.

The infant turns its head, and MICHAEL uses that as an

excuse to back away.

MICHAEL:

Carlo...we've had a change in the

plans. Mama, Connie, Kay and the

kids will have to take the trip out

to Vegas without us.

CONNIE:

Oh Mike, it's our first vacation

together.

CARLO:

(anxious to please)

Jesus, Connie...Sure, Mike...

MICHAEL:

Go back to your house and wait for

me...

He kisses KAY.

MICHAEL:

(to KAY)

I'll just be a couple of days...

People are guided to the correct limousines; they start to

drive off.

INT DAY:
DON'S KITCHEN

TESSIO sits in the Kitchen of the Main House on the Mall.

HAGEN enters.

HAGEN:

You'd better make your call to

Barzini; Michael's ready.

TESSIO nods; moves to the telephone and dials a number.

TESSIO:

We're on our way to Brooklyn.

He hangs up and smiles.

TESSIO:

I hope Mike can get us a good deal

tonight.

HAGEN:

(gravely)

I'm sure he will.

EXT DAY:
MALL (1955)

The TWO MEN walk out onto the Mall, toward a car. On their

way they are stopped by TWO BODYGUARDS.

BUTTON MAN:

The boss says he'll come in a

separate car. He says for you two

to go on ahead.

TESSIO:

(frowning)

Hell, he can't do that. It screws

up all my arrangements.

THREE MORE BODYGUARDS appear around him.

HAGEN:

(gently)

I can't go with you either, Tessio.

He flashes at the men surrounding him; for a moment he

panics, and then he accepts it.

TESSIO:

(after the pause)

Tell Mike it was business...I

always liked him.

HAGEN:

He understands that.

TESSIO looks at the men, and then pauses.

TESSIO:

(softly)

Tom, can you get me off the hook?

For old times' sake?

HAGEN:

I can't.

HAGEN turns, and walks away from the group. Then about

twenty paces away, he stops, and looks back.

TESSIO is led into a waiting car.

HAGEN looks away, and walks off.

INT DAY:
CARLO'S LIVING ROOM (1955)

CARLO RIZZI is alone in his house, smoking, waiting rather

nervously. He moves to the window and looks out.

WHAT HE SEES:

EXT DAY:
MALL (1955)

MICHAEL, still dressed in a dark suit; followed by NERI,

LAMPONE and CLEMENZA, then HAGEN.

They move toward us.

Excitedly, CARLO moves to the front door; opens it.

He wears a broad smile.

CARLO:

Godfather!

MICHAEL:

You have to answer for Santino.

The smile on CARLO's face slowly fades, then, in a foolish

attempt for safety, he slams the door in their faces and

backs into the living room.

INT DAY:
CARLO'S LIVING ROOM (1955)

The door opens, and the grim party enters.

MICHAEL:

You fingered Sonny for the Barzini

people. That little farce you

played out with my sister. Did

Barzini kid you that would fool a

Corleone?

CARLO:

(dignity)

I swear I'm innocent. I swear on

the head of my children, I'm

innocent. Mike, don't do this to

me, please Mike, don't do this to me!

MICHAEL:

(quietly)

Barzini is dead. So is Philip

Tattaglia, so are Strachi, Cuneo

and Moe Greene...I want to square

all the family accounts tonight.

So don't tell me you're innocent;

admit what you did.

CARLO is silent; he wants to talk but is terrified.

MICHAEL:

(almost kindly)

Don't be frightened. Do you think

I'd make my sister a widow? Do you

think I'd make your children

fatherless? After all, I'm

Godfather to your son. No, your

punishment is that you're out of

the family business. I'm putting

you on a plane to Vegas--and I want

you to stay there. I'll send

Connie an allowance, that's all.

But don't keep saying you're

innocent; it insults my intelligence

and makes me angry. Who approached

you, Tattaglia or Barzini?

CARLO:

(sees his way out)

Barzini.

MICHAEL:

(softly)

Good, good. Leave now; there's a

car waiting to take you to the

airport.

CARLO moves to the door; opens it. There is a car waiting;

with a group of MEN around it.

He looks back at MICHAEL, who reassures him.

MICHAEL:

I'll call your wife and tell her

what flight you're on.

EXT DAY:
MALL

CARLO moves out to the Mall; the BUTTONMEN are putting his

things in the trunk.

ONE opens the front door for him.

SOMEONE is sitting in the rear seat, though we cannot see who.

CARLO gets into the car; out of nervousness, he looks back

to see the other man.

It is CLEMENZA, who nods cordially.

The motor starts, and as the car pulls away, CLEMENZA

suddenly throws the garrote around CARLO's neck. He chokes

and leaps up like a fish on a line, kicking his feet.

The garrote is pulled tighter; CARLO's face turns color.

His thrashing feet kick right through the front windshield.

Then the body goes slack.

CLEMENZA makes a foul face, and opens the window as the car

drives off.

EXT DAY:
CARLO'S STEPS (1955)

MICHAEL and his party. They watch.

Then he turns and walks off, and they follow.

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

FADE IN:

INT NITE:
MICHAEL'S LIMO EN ROUTE (1955)

MICHAEL sits alone in the back of his car; NERI is driving.

They do not speak for a long time; it is night--car lights

flash by.

NERI turns back.

NERI:

You know I would never question

anything you say.

MICHAEL:

(smiles)

Speak your mind.

NERI:

I'll do this for you; you know I

should.

MICHAEL:

No. This I have to do.

EXT NITE:
PIZZA STREET (1955)

MICHAEL's car pulls up in a quiet neighborhood, near an

Italian Pizzeria. NERI opens the door.

MICHAEL:

Sit in the car.

INT NITE:
PIZZA PLACE (1955)

He walks alone into the restaurant. A MAN is tossing pizza

dough in the air.

MICHAEL:

Where's the boss?

MAN:

In the back. Hey Frank, someone

wants you.

A MAN comes out of the shadows, with a strong Italian accent.

MAN:

What is it?

He stops, frozen in fear. It is FABRIZZIO.

VIEW ON MICHAEL. Gunfire from under his coat. FABRIZZIO is

cut down. MICHAEL throws the gun down; turns and exits.

EXT DAY:
MALL (1955)

HIGH ANGLE ON THE CORLEONE MALL

Several moving vans are parked in the Mall; one feels that

these are the final days; the families are moving out; signs

indicating that the property is for sale are evident.

A black limousine pulls up, and before it has even stopped,

the rear door flies open, and CONNIE attempts to run out,

restrained by MAMA. She manages to break free and runs

across the Mall into Michael's house.

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