The Godfather Scene 2

CUT TO: TOM ARRIVING IN HOLLYWOOD – DAY

[By plane, takes a cab, then walks by foot through Woltz International Studios. Music: "Manhattan Serenade" plays.]

WOLTZ *who's just walked toward Tom*: All right, start talking.

TOM: Uh, I was sent by a friend of Johnny Fontane's. His friend is my client, who'd give his undying friendship to Mr. Woltz, if Mr. Woltz would grant us a small favor.

WOLTZ: Woltz is listening.

TOM: Give Johnny the part in that new war film you're starting next week.

WOLTZ *laughs*: And ah, what favor would ah your friend ah grant Mr. Woltz?

TOM: You're gonna have some union problems; my client could make then disappear. Also, one of your top stars has just moved from ah marijuana to heroin...

WOLTZ: Are you trying to muscle me?

TOM: Absolutely not.

WOLTZ: Now listen to me, you smooth-talking son- of-a-bitch! Let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is. Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don't care how many daigo guinea WOP greaseball gumbahs come out of the woodwork!

TOM: I'm German-Irish...

WOLTZ: Well let me tell you something my Kraut Mick friend, I'm gonna make so much trouble for you, you won't know what hit you!

TOM: Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer, I have not threatened you.

WOLTZ: I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you?

TOM: I have a special practice; I handle one client. Now you have my number; I'll wait for your call...by the way, I admire your pictures very much.

[Tom shakes Woltz' hand, then leaves.]

WOLTZ *to a staff member*: Check him out...

CUT TO: LATER – EARLY EVENING

Tom and Woltz walking around Woltz' estate. "Manhattan Serenade" plays again.

TOM: This is really beautiful.

WOLTZ: Well, look at this. It used to decorate the palace of a king.

TOM: Oh, yeah; very nice.

WOLTZ: Why didn't you say you worked for Corleone, Tom? I thought you were just some c heap two-bit hustler Johnny was running in trying to bluff me.

TOM: I don't like to use his name unless it's really necessary.

WOLTZ: How's your drink, Tom?

TOM: Fine.

WOLTZ: Hey, come on over here with me; I wanna show you something really beautiful. You do appreciate beauty, don't you? *then* There you are, $600,000 on four hooves. I bet a Russian Czar never paid that kind of dough for a single horse. *toward the horse* Khartoum. Khartoum. *to Tom* I'm not gonna race him, though. I'm gonna put him out to stud.

TOM: He's beautiful.

WOLTZ *to stablehand*: Thanks, Tony.

TONY: You're welcome...

WOLTZ *to Tom*: Let's get something to eat, huh?

CUT TO: INT. WOLTZ'HOUSE – EARLY EVENING

[Woltz' dinner table.]

TOM: Mr. Corleone is Johnny's godfather. To the Italian people, that's a very religious, sacred, close relationship.

WOLTZ: I respect that; just tell him he should ask me anything else. But this is one favor I can't give him.

TOM: He doesn't ask a second favor once he's been refused the first, understood?

WOLTZ: You don't understand. Johnny Fontane never gets that movie. That part is perfect for him; it'll make him a big star. And I'm gonna run him out of the business, and let me tell you why. *after he stands* Johnny Fontane ruined one of Woltz International's most valuable proteges. For five years we had her under training. Singing lessons; acting lessons, dancing lessons. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on her. I was gonna make her a big star! And let me be even more frank, just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, and it's not all dollars and cents. She was beautiful; she was young, she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I ever had, and I had'em all over the world! And then Johnny Fontane comes along with his olive-oil voice, and guinea charm. And she runs off. She threw it all away just to make me look ridiculous! And *more*

WOLTZ *Cont’d*: a man in my position can't afford to be made to look ridiculous ! Now you get the hell outta here! And if that gumbah tries any rough stuff, you tell him I ain't no band leader! Yeah, I heard that story...

TOM: Thank you for the dinner and a very pleasant evening. If your car could take me to the airport; Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately.

[Tom nods, then exits.]

CUT TO: PAN OF EXTERIOR OF WOLTZ' ESTATE – DAWN

[Music is a variation of the Title Theme, then we see the interior of Woltz' bedroom. Woltz awakens in a pool of blood, and finds Khartoum's severed head in his bed; and SCREAMS ah...ah...ah...ah...ah!]

CUT TO: CLOSEUP OF VITO CORLEONE'S FACE He nods.

VITO CORLEONE: You're not too tired, are you, Tom?

TOM: No, no. I slept on the plane. *as we see Sollozzo entering the Don's office from the street* I have the Sollozzo notes here. Now Sollozzo is known as 'The Turk.' He's supposed to be very good with a knife, but only in matters of business or some sort of reasonable complaint. Uh, his business is narcotics. He has fields in Turkey where they grow the poppy. And in Sicily he has the plants to process them into heroin. Now he needs cash, and he needs protection from the police, for which he gives a piece of the action...I couldn't find out how much. The Tattaglia family is behind him here in New York. Now they have to be in it for something.

CUT TO: SONNY INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO SOLLOZZO – DAY Shaking hands.

SONNY: Sonny Corleone...

CUT TO: BACK TO DON, SONNY AND TOM BEFORE THE MEETING – EVENING

VITO CORLEONE: What about his prison record?

TOM: Two terms. One in Italy, one here. He's known as a top narcotics man.

VITO CORLEONE: Santino? Whattaya think?

SONNY: There's a lot of money in that white powder.

VITO CORLEONE: Tom?

TOM *Sollozzo scenes still intercut*: Well, I say yes. There's more money potential in narcotics than anything else we're looking at. Now if we don't get into it, somebody else will. Maybe one of the Five Families, maybe all of them. Now with the money they earn, they can buy more police and political power; then they come after us. Now we have the unions, we have the gambling; an' they're the best things to have. But narcotics is a thing of the future. An' if we don't get a piece of that action, we risk everything we have...I mean not now, but ah ten years from now.

SONNY: So, what's your answer gonna be, Pop?

CUT TO: SOLLOZZO MEETING IN DON CORLEONE'S GENCO OFFICE – DAY

[Scene includes the Don, Sollozzo, Tom, Sonny, Fredo, Clemenza, and Tessio sitting in Room #2.]

SOLLOZZO: Bene. Don Corleone. I need a man who has powerful friends. I need a million dollars in cash. I need, Don Corleone, those politicians that you carry in your pocket, like so many nickels and dimes.

VITO CORLEONE: What is the interests for my family?

SOLLOZZO: Thirty percent. In the first year, your end should be three-four-million dollars. And then it would go up.

VITO CORLEONE: And what is the interest for the Tattaglia Family?

SOLLOZZO *to Tom*: My compliments. *to Don Corleone* I'll take care of the Tattaglia's, outta my share.

VITO CORLEONE: So I receive thirty percent for finance political influence, and legal protection, that's what your telling me?

SOLLOZZO: That's right

VITO CORLEONE: Why do you come to me? Why do I deserve this generosity?

SOLLOZZO: If you consider a million dollars in cash just finance, ti saluto, Don Corleone.

VITO CORLEONE *gets up to pour Sollozzo another drink*: I said that I would see you because, I heard that you're a serious man, to be treated with respect. *after sitting* But uh, I must say no to you and I'll give you my reasons. It's true, I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be friendly very long if they knew my business was drugs instead of *more*

VITO CORLEONE: *Cont'd* gambling, which they rule that as a harmless vice. But drugs is a dirty business.

SOLLOZZO: Don Corleone...

VITO CORLEONE: It...makes...it doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, understand. But your business is ah...a little dangerous.

SOLLOZZO: If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglia's will guarantee it.

SONNY: Aw, you're telling me that the Tattaglia's guarantee our investment?

VITO CORLEONE *to Sonny*: Wait a minute...Clemenza and Tom look at each other, realizing Sonny's faux pas. Sollozzo notices this.

VITO CORLEONE *to Sollozzo*: I have a sentimental weakness for my children, and I spoil them as you can see; they talk when they should listen. But, anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my no is final, and I wish to congratulate you on your new business, and I hope you do very well. And good luck to you...as best as your interests don't conflict with my interests. Thank you. The group begins to leave the room: Sollozzo, Clemenza, Tessio, Fredo.

VITO CORLEONE: Santino, come're. Whattsa matter with you? I think your brain is going soft fro m all that comedy your playing with that young girl. Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again! *more*

VITO CORLEONE *Cont'd* *then*: Go on... *after Sonny exits* Tom..*after a huge flower arrangement appears at the office entrance* What...what is this nonsense?

TOM: It's from ah Johnny, staring in that new, ah, film.

VITO CORLEONE: Ah...Well, take it away.

TOM *to person holding flowers*: Take it over there.

VITO CORLEONE: And uh, tell Luca Brasi to come in.

CUT TO: LUCA SITS DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DON – DAY

[We hear scary Luca-like music.]

VITO CORLEONE: I'm a little worried about this Sollozzo fella. I want you to find out what he' s got under his fingernails, ya'know. Go to the ah Tattaglia's, and ah, make them think that ah you're...you're not too happy with our family and...and ah find out what you can.

FADE IN: EXT. BEST & CO – DAY

[Michael and Kay Christmas shopping. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is playing.]

KAY: I got something...I got something for your mother, and for Sonny, and a tie for Freddy, and Tom Hagen got the Reynolds pen...

MICHAEL: And what do you want for Christmas?