The Godfather 2 Scene 9

[EXT. THE CORLEONE ESTATE AT TAHOE - FULL VIEW - DAY]

[A collection of dark cars and black limousines are gathered to one side. A few drivers wait quietly. And then, to the other extreme of the estate, is a small grouping of about twenty to thirty people, gathered near Michael's house.]

[MED. CLOSE SHOT]

[Connie Corleone, dressed simply and now showing her age without the carefully applied makeup which we have been used to, kneels down before the shrine of Santa Theresa, and puts down a bouquet of flowers, along with others that have been placed there. We see that some have the simple silk ribbon with the word "Mama" hand-lettered upon it. Her two children stand close behind her; they had been raised by their Grandmother. Connie steps back, and moves through the small group of friends and relatives, into Michael's house.]

[INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - CONNIE'S VIEW - DAY]

[Fredo, kneeling by the coffin of his mother in a portion of the house that has been set aside for the wake. Fredo concludes his prayer, wipes away the tears in his eyes and steps away from the coffin. He stops when he notices Neri, a little distance away, looking at him.]

[VIEW ON NERI]

[After a moment, he nods respectfully to Fredo, and steps forward, moving to the old woman's coffin. Fredo moves to Hagen, who is there with his wife and children.]

FREDO: Tom. Where's Mike?

HAGEN: *difficult to tell him* He's waiting for you to leave.

FREDO: Can I talk to him?

HAGEN: No chance. I'm sorry, Freddie.

CONNIE: *who has heard this* Can I see him?

HAGEN: He's in the boathouse.

[INT. THE BOATHOUSE - MED. VIEW - DAY]

[Michael sits quietly in the darkened room in one of the big sofas, dressed immaculately in suit and tie. His two children, also dressed for the wake sit opposite him in the other oversized sofa, their shoes not touching the floor. We regard this tableau for a long moment.]

CONNIE *O.S.*: *quietly* Michael? It's Connie.

[She comes in, and sits down by his knees.]

CONNIE: I want to stay close to home now, is that alright?

[Michael nods.]

CONNIE: Is Kay coming?

MICHAEL: No.

CONNIE: Michael, Fredo's in the house with Mama. He asked for you, and Tom said he couldn't see you.

MICHAEL: Tom is right.

CONNIE: Kids, why don't you go outside for a while?

[The children don't move; Connie realizes they will only
listen to Michael.]

CONNIE: I want to talk to you, Michael.

MICHAEL: The children can stay.

CONNIE: I hated you for so long, Michael; for so many years. I think I did things to myself, to hurt myself, so that you would know -- and you would be hurt too. But I understand you now; I think I do. You were being strong for all of us, like Papa was. And I forgive you, and want to be close to you now. Can't you forgive Fredo; he's so sweet, and helpless without you.

[Slowly, Michael puts his hand on her hair, and touches her gently.]

CONNIE: You need me, Michael. I want to be with you now.

[INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - DAY]

[Friends, relatives; Francesca and her new husband, Gardner and their baby; Sandra Corleone; Teresa, her children; all the familiar faces of the family are present, quietly paying their respects to Mama. Some of the men can be seen in the kitchen, drinking wine, and talking in low voices. Fredo is there, broken-hearted over the loss of his Mother; like some lost child with no friends.]

[MED. VIEW]

[Michael enters the room, followed by Connie, who tends little Mary and Anthony. He approaches his brother, and then embraces. Fredo breaks into tears.]

FREDO: Christ, Mike. Jesus Christ, Mike.

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[Embracing his brother, he glances up.]

[VIEW ON NERI]

[Quiet, and deadly.]

[EXT. THE TAHOE ESTATE - MED. VIEW - DAY]

[Tom Hagen is talking in the distance to his wife, and one of his older sons; he kisses, and moves toward the boathouse. After crossing the lawn, he stops.]

[VIEW ON SANDRA CORLEONE]

[Waiting there; obviously wanting to talk to him. He continues, and she walks with him.]

[MOVING VIEW ON THE TWO]

[As they cross toward the boathouse.]

SANDRA: You're going to talk to him now.

HAGEN: Yes.

SANDRA: Will you tell him?

HAGEN: I don't know.

[She stops him.]

SANDRA: Tom, think of yourself for once. Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers; don't do it. We're all trapped here, don't you see?

[He continues past her, without answering her. Continues up to the boathouse. He stops before he enters.]

[HAGEN'S VIEW]

[Fredo is sitting by the edge of the harbor with Michael's son Anthony; he is helping him with some fishing rig.]

[INT. THE BOATHOUSE - VIEW ON MICHAEL - DAY]

[Looking through the window at his son and brother. Neri sits in the room, dressed informally.]

MICHAEL: *without looking back* Sit down, Tom. Have you heard about our friend and partner, Mr. Hyman Roth?

HAGEN: I know he's in Israel.

NERI: *hands Hagen the paper* The High Court of Israel turned down his request to live as a 'returned Jew.' His passport's been invalidated except for return to the U.S. He landed in Buenos Aires yesterday, offered a gift of one million dollars if they would give him citizenship. They turned him down.

HAGEN: *reading* He's going to try Panama...

MICHAEL: They won't take him; not for a million, not for ten million.

HAGEN: His medical condition is reported as... "terminal."

MICHAEL: He's been dying of the same heart attack for twenty years.

HAGEN: That plane goes to Miami...

MICHAEL: I want it met.

HAGEN: *understanding* Mike, it's impossible. He'll be met by the Internal Revenue; the Customs Service, and half the FBI.

MICHAEL: I don't like it when you use the word impossible; nothing is impossible...

HAGEN: Mike, it would be like trying to kill the President; there's no way we can get to him.

MICHAEL: I'm surprised at you, Tom. If there's anything certain; certain in life; if history has taught us anything, it's that you can kill... *he stops, then coldly* ANYBODY. But perhaps your relucatance is because you've come to tell me that you're moving your family to Vegas, that you've been offered the Vice-Presidency of the Houstan Hotels there. Or weren't you going to tell me at all?

HAGEN: Are you so hungry for traitors; do you want to find them everywhere?

MICHAEL: They are everywhere!

HAGEN: I turned Houstan down; I didn't see why I should tell you about an offer I turned down. *Michael begins to confuse him* Are you sure, Mikey? Are you sure of what we're doing; what we'll gain; what does the family gain? Forget that, Mike; I already know the answer.

MICHAEL: I know you do, Tom. Then I can count on you to help me do the things I have to do. If not, call Houstan, and become a Vice-President. Take your family and your mistress and move them to Las Vegas.

HAGEN: Why do you hurt me, Michael? I've always been loyal to you.

MICHAEL: Good. Then you're staying.

HAGEN: I'm staying. *he pauses...then, without being asked* Don't ever enjoy the cruel part of all this; Sonny never listened to me about that. *then he sits down, and opens his briefcase* Now, explain everything to me.

[EXT. THE HARBOR - DAY]

[Fredo sits with Anthony, with a silly-looking fishing hat on
his head, covered with lure and flies.]

FREDO: Anthony, ole buddy, your Uncle Fredo's gonna teach you how to catch the big fish. You know, when I was a kid, I did this amazing thing. I went out on a fishing trip; me and my brothers and my Pop, and no one could catch a fish except me. And this was my secret: *confidentially* Every time I would put the line down I would say a "Hail Mary" and every time I said a "Hail Mary" I would catch a fish. Now, when it's sunset, we're gonna go out on the lake, and we're gonna try it.

[INT. GUARDED HOUSE - DAY]

[The guards step aside as Tom Hagen enters the foyer of the house. He shows a court order to them and they lead him up the stairs where he knocks on the door.]

[INT. GUARDED HOUSE - DAY]

[There is a KNOCK at the door. The two guards show Hagen in and Hagen presents the court order to one of the FBI men.]

HAGEN: I think I prefer to see my client privately.

PENTANGELI: The room has a bug in it.

HAGEN: *to the FBI men* I'd like to go outside with him, in the open air.

FBI MAN #1: This room is not bugged.

HAGEN: You have guards outside and the electric fence. There's no security reason for not letting us talk in the yard.

FBI MAN #1: Okay.

[They pass out of the room.]

[EXT. THE ARMY POST - DAY]

[Hagen and Pentangeli outside, by the electric fence. They cannot be overheard. Pentangeli takes out some cigars and offers Hagen one. Hagen takes it and Pentangeli lights both their cigars. They puff on them contentedly. They are comfortable together, almost.]

HAGEN: Everything is going to be okay, Frankie, don't worry.

PENTANGELI: Did my brother go back?

HAGEN: Yeah, but don't worry.

PENTANGELI: He's ten times tougher than me, my brother. He's old-fashioned.

HAGEN: Yeah. He wouldn't even go out to dinner. Just wanted to go home.

PENTANGELI: That's my brother. Nothing could get him away from that two mule town. He coulda been big over here -- he could of had his own Family.

HAGEN: You're right.

PENTANGELI: Tom, what do I do now?

[The light is beginning to turn reddish as the sun falls.]

HAGEN: Frankie, you were always interested in politics, in history. I remember you talking about Hitler back in '43. We were young then.

PENTANGELI: Yeah, I still read a lot. They bring me stuff.

HAGEN: You were around the old timers who dreamed up how the Families should be organized, how they based it on the old Roman Legions, and called them 'Regimes'... with the 'Capos' and 'Soldiers,' and it worked.

PENTANGELI: Yeah, it worked. Those were great old days. We was like the Roman Empire. The Corleone family was like the Roman Empire.

HAGEN: *sadly* Yeah, it was once.

[They both puff on their cigars. Pentangeli lets himself be carried away by thoughts of old days of glory; Hagen thinks of other days too.]

HAGEN: *very gently* The Roman Empire... when a plot against the Emperor failed, the plotters were always given a chance to let their families keep their fortunes.

PENTANGELI: Yeah, but only the rich guys. The little guys got knocked off. If they got arrested and executed, all their estate went to the Emperor. If they just went home and killed themselves, up front, nothing happened.

HAGEN: Yeah, that was a good break. A nice deal.

[Pentangeli looks at Hagen; he understands.]

PENTANGELI: They went home and sat in a hot bath and opened their veins, and bled to death. Sometimes they gave a little party before they did it.

[Hagen throws away his cigar. Pentangeli puffs on his.]

HAGEN: Don't worry about anything, Frankie Five-Angels.

PENTANGELI: Thanks, Tom. Thanks.

[They shake hands. The FBI Agents come out to let Hagen out the gate. Pentangeli is led back to the house.]

FBI MAN #1: Your lawyer tell you he can get that 600 years reduced to 500?

[Pentangeli puffs on his cigar and reflects.]

PENTANGELI: You boys sure you can't get me a broad for tonight? Give me a little party?

FBI MAN #2: We got some nice books.

[Pentangeli puffs on his cigar and gives the Agent a smile an old man gives a child. He starts upstairs.]

PENTANGELI: I guess I'll just take a hot bath.

[EXT. THE ARMY POST - DAY]

[Hagen walks away; glances back. Then gets into his waiting
car and drives off.]

[INT. THE BOATHOUSE - FULL VIEW - SUNSET]

[Michael sits alone in the empty boathouse; in the shadows.]

[INT. BOAT DOCK - SUNSET]

[Neri stands by the dock area under the boathouse. He pushes the button which lowers a boat by winch and tackle. He wears a fishing cap. He steps into the boat, and pulls the small outboard, which glides the boat out into the harbor.]

[MED. VIEW]

[The boat pulls up alongside Fredo and Anthony.]

FREDO Here we go; and remember the secret.

[He lifts Anthony into the boat.]

CONNIE *O.S.*: Anthony.

[THEIR VIEW]

[Connie, in houseclothes, is calling Anthony.]

FREDO: He's here; we're goin' fishing.

CONNIE: He can't go; Michael wants to take him into Reno.

FREDO: Ah. Okay, kid, you got to go to Reno with your Pop.

[He lifts the boy out of the boat, and puts him on the shore.]

FREDO: I'll catch one for you, with the secret.

CONNIE: Hurry, Anthony.

[Neri stands the motor; and the boat with the two fisherman glides off.]

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[Watching, from the dark window of the boathouse.]

[INT. HIGH SECURITY HOUSE IN ARMY POST - NIGHT]

[The FBI man knocks on the bathroom door in the house where they have kept Pentangeli.]

FBI MAN #1: Frankie, open up. You okay?

[No answer; he hammers on the door. Using his elbow, and then a kick he breaks into the bathroom.]

[HIS VIEW]

[Pentangeli lying in a tub of water. His stomach shows above it. His wrists are cut and covered with blood. The bath water has a purplish tone.]

[DISSOLVE TO: EXT. LAKE TAHOE - MED. VIEW - SUNSET]

[Fredo and Neri are fishing, each with lines out. The VIEW MOVES CLOSER, and we can hear Fredo as he holds the pole.]

FREDO: ... the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[LONG SHOT]

[The boat on the shimmery lake.]

FREDO: ... Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us...

[We hear a quiet, echoing GUNSHOT; and then silence.]

[DISSOLVE TO: INT. MIAMI AIRPORT - NIGHT]

[An exhausted Hyman Roth, ill-shaven, and in shirt-sleeves in taken into custody by a swarm of Customs, and FBI men. They allow him to be photographed by press people; and television cameramen.]

FBI MAN: Mr. Roth, we have to take you into custody.

ROTH: Yes, I know.

[Some flashbulbs go off.]

REPORTER: Can you give us your reaction to the High Court of Israel's ruling.

ROTH: I am a retired investor on a pension, and I wished to live there as a Jew in the twilight of my life...

LAWYER: Mr. Roth is not a well man; he's tired of running.

ROTH: I'm an old man; at my age, it's too late to start worrying.

REPORTER: Is it true you are worth over three hundred million dollars, Mr. Roth?

ROTH: I'm a retired investor, living on a pension... I came home to vote in the Presidential election, because they wouldn't give me an absentee ballot...

[The newsmen and photographers all laugh, as the FBI men move him away.]

[CLOSE VIEW]

[One of the newspapermen laughing we recognize to be Rocco Lampone.]

[He moves closer to Roth, and shoves his revolver right against his head, and in a second, on camera, assassinates Roth. People scream, as Rocco attempts to run down the airport corridor, limping as he does.]

[FBI men easily pick him off.]

[EXT. THE DRIVEWAY BY MICHAEL'S HOUSE - DAY]

[A taxi cab waits by the house; its driver sleeping with a newspaper over his face.]

[INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - DAY]

[The cleaning woman, Esther, who had been with Kay for years, sits by the dining room table, weeping profusely. Behind her, in the recreation room, we can see the tableau of Kay sitting on the couch, her little daughter Mary, between her knees, talking quietly about things we cannot hear. Her son Anthony sits by himself, in another chair by the side of the room.]

[MED. VIEW]

[Connie comes into the house quickly, and moves toward them.]

CONNIE: Kay, you have to go.

[This prompts Esther to weep all the more. Kay hugs her daughter, and kisses her many times.]

CONNIE: You have to hurry; he's coming.

[Kay puts her coat on; then stands, and reaches out for her son.]

KAY: Anthony, kiss Mama goodbye.

[He doesn't move.]

CONNIE: *angrily* Anthony, you kiss your Mother goodbye!

[He rises, and walks to her. Hugs her lifelessly.]

[MED. CLOSE VIEW]

[On Kay, kissing her boy.]

KAY: Anthony, say goodbye; your Mama loves you.

ANTHONY: Goodbye.

[She restrains any tears; she has become too strong for tears. Kay starts to go; picks up Mary, kisses her, and starts to go.]

[NEW VIEW]

[She steps out the kitchen door; then she cannot help herself. Crouches down, outside, and calls to her son.]

KAY: Anthony, kiss me once.

[Then she looks up, and slowly rises.]

[HER VIEW]

[Michael has stepped into the dining room. He seems older somehow; as though some sickness has taken more years away from him.]

[VIEW ON KAY]

[Looks at him; instinctively, she takes a step back.]

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[Slowly steps toward her.]

[VIEW ON KAY]

[Another step back; the door is still open.]

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[He moves closer to the door; stops, looks at her. And then closes it obscuring any view of her.]

[DISSOLVE TO: EXT. TAHOE ESTATE - DAY]

[It is late fall -- most of the leaves have fallen on the grounds and there is quite a wind.]

[MED. VIEW]

[The water is whipped up by the wind, and the waves are high as they break against the pavilion. We HEAR the MUSIC of time passing, of Michael, of the Godfather over these images.]

[VIEW ON THE SWIMMING POOLS]

[They have not been used in several months; they are drained and the bottoms are mossy and dark.]

[VIEW ON THE MAIN GATE]

[Leaves blowing past it; we don't see the button men; only a hint of someone in the gatehouse.]

[VIEW ON THE HOUSES]

[Some of the houses have had the summer awnings taken down, and put away. Some of the windows have been boarded up.]

[VIEW ON THE KENNELS]

[There are still the guard dogs; some sleeping, some moving impatiently.]

[As the MUSIC concludes its statement.]

[MED. VIEW]

[The peninsula of the private Corleone Harbor. We see the figures of two people, seated at a table.]

[MED. VIEW]

[Michael sits at a table having a sparse lunch. He is attended by his sister Connie, who seems to be the closest person now living on the estate with him. We see from the way she pampers him with his lunch, that she has fallen into the role of a surrogate Mother-Wife. He seems older than his years, as though his illness, diabetes, has taken its toll.]

CONNIE: Don't worry; I'm sure he got here on time. The roads from the airport are so windy, it takes forever; I've driven them myself.

[She picks up some of the serving plates that he has left untouched.]

CONNIE: I'll bring him out to you as soon as he comes.

[She moves back to the main house.]

[MED. CLOSE VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[He turns and looks at the rough water of the lake for a moment. He slowly takes a sip of wine.]

[EXT. A PLACE IN THE GARDEN - DAY]

[There are a few chairs.]

[MED. VIEW ON ANTHONY CORLEONE]

[He is eighteen years old.]

ANTHONY: Hello, Dad.

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[Squinting up at his son.]

MICHAEL: Anthony.

[He rises, and reaches up to his son, who is now taller than he; he embraces him.]

MICHAEL: You've grown so tall... so tall in the last year. You're much taller than me.

ANTHONY: I was taller than you when I was fourteen.

MICHAEL: Sit down. Your Aunt Connie and I waited for you to have some lunch, but now it's all dried out.

ANTHONY: I'm not hungry.

MICHAEL: Well, that's alright... alright. Good. You'll graduate in another year, isn't that right? You know... I never finished college. I was a good student, but I never finished. Of course, there was a war then.

[Connie approaches them.]

CONNIE: Don't let me interrupt anything, this will just take a second. Here. *she takes out a small needle, and begins to prepare it* Your father has to have his insulin shot. Why don't you go to your room and put your things away, Anthony.

[She begins to give Michael the shot.]

MICHAEL: Hurry back; we'll talk. We'll talk.

[Anthony goes on his way to the house with his things. Connie gives Michael the shot.]

CONNIE: Whenever I see that lake so cold, I think of poor Fredo, drowned. Lake Tahoe is very cold. They say if a person drowns in it, that the body will remain mid-suspended -- perfectly preserved. Some say it will remain forever.

[She finishes the shot, puts her things away.]

CONNIE: Your boy will be right back.

[She leaves.]

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[Alone in the garden.]

[OUR VIEW begins to MOVE CLOSER to him. We begin to HEAR MUSIC of the forties; happy music, swing music, as we move CLOSER to Michael.]

[DISSOLVE TO: INT. OLD CORLEONE HOUSE - MED. VIEW - NIGHT]

[SONNY CORLEONE, his arm wrapped around a smiling red-faced Carlo Rizzi, pulls him into the Corleone dining room.]

SONNY: Hey, who knows my buddy Carlo Rizzi. Here... my brother Fredo, here's my Mom. Mom, whatcha got cooking? And Carlo, this is my kid sister Connie. Here, pull up a chair, Carol is sitting next to Connie. Oh, the droopy kid over there is Mike. The college boy.

[An older, lanky man enters the room, his arms laden with
presents. This is TESSIO.]

TESSIO: Buon Natale, everybody. Buon Natale... *he smiles at Tom Hagen* Hi, Tom, how's every little thing?

HAGEN: *helping him with the presents* Wonderful, Sal.

[Now the study door opens, and DON CORLEONE enters.]

DON CORLEONE: Is dinner ready?

MOM: Two minutes.

[The Don happily regards his family; his sons and daughters and even some Grandchildren. He raises a glass.]

DON CORLEONE: A good life, a long life to all my children, and friends. To my grandchildren, and those that will be. To our family.

[They all drink. They refill glasses; then Tessio proposes a toast.]

TESSIO: To our Godfather.

[They all drink.]

[INT. THE DINING ROOM - MED. VIEW - NIGHT]

[The family is happily at Christmas dinner. Don Corleone seated at the head of the table.]

SONNY: What'd you think of those Japs, eh? The nerve of those Japs, coming right here in our own backyard dropping bombs!

HAGEN: Well, we could have expected it after the embargo.

SONNY: Hey! Expect it or not, those Japs don't have a right to drop bombs in our backyard. Whose side you on?

MAMA: Please, do we have to talk about the war at the table? On Christmas, much less.

[VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[He has been listening to this discussion.]

MICHAEL: Pop, I've decided I'm going to enlist.

[A quiet hush descends over the table, as though everyone knows the effect this will have on the old man. Sonny tries to make light of it.]

SONNY: Kid, stay in college. The girls are cuter, if you know what I mean.

HAGEN: Pop had to pull a lot of strings to get you your deferment.

MICHAEL: I never asked for it; I don't want it.

[VIEW ON DON CORLEONE]

[Disturbed; but wise and prudent.]

DON CORLEONE: My son wants to talk about this, and so we'll talk, but not at the dinner table.

[He rises, and starts across the room toward his study. Then he looks back.]

DON CORLEONE: Michael.

[He disappears into his study. Michael rises, glances around. People are generally tense over the situation. Michael follows his father into the study.]

[INT. DON CORLEONE'S OLD STUDY - NIGHT]

[The Don closes the door behind his son, and then moves across the room. He stops at the little bar there, and pours himself a brandy.]

DON CORLEONE: Would you like some?

MICHAEL: No, Dad.

DON CORLEONE: Now what is this talk about joining the army? Eh?

MICHAEL: It's not talk; I'm doing it.

DON CORLEONE: You would risk your life for strangers?

MICHAEL: Not for strangers; for my country.

DON CORLEONE: Anyone not in your family, is a stranger. Believe me, when trouble comes, your country won't take care of you.

MICHAEL: That's how it was in the old world, Pop, but this is not Sicily.

DON CORLEONE: I know. I know, Michael. It's Christmas, your brothers and sister are all here -- we are happy. Let's not spoil this. Go your own way, but when you are ready, come to me the way a son should. I have hopes for you...

[CLOSE VIEW ON MICHAEL]

[Looking at his father with a mixture of great love, and also fear, and confusion.]

MICHAEL: I won't be a man like you.

[DISSOLVE TO: EXT. THE TAHOE ESTATE - HIGH FULL VIEW - DAY]

[The leaves are blowing. MUSIC comes up. Michael and his young son, Anthony, walk through the grounds of the estate, talking about things we cannot hear.]