DON'S BEDROOM (SPRING 1946) All the MEN of the family stand around the hospital bed with grim faces, SONNY and HAGEN closest to the OLD MAN. The DON does not speak, yet he asks questions with his looks and glances, as clearly as if they were verbalized. HAGEN is the spokesman for the family.
HAGEN:
...since McCluskey's killing, the police have cracked down on most of our operations...on the other families too. There's been a lot of bad blood.
The OLD MAN glances at SONNY.
SONNY:
Pop, they hit us and we hit them back.
HAGEN:
We put out a lot of material through our contacts in the Newspapers...about McCluskey's being tied up with Sollozzo in the Drug Rackets...things are starting to loosen up.
The OLD MAN nods.
SONNY:
Freddie's gonna go to Las Vegas...under the protection of Don Francesco of L.A. I want him to rest...
FREDO:
I'm goin' to learn the casino business.
The DON nods approvingly. Then he searches around the room for a face he does not see. HAGEN knows who he's looking for.
HAGEN:
Michael... (he takes a breath) It was Michael who killed Sollozzo.
The DON closes his eyes, and then reopens them in anger and rage.
HAGEN:
He's safe now...we're already working on ways to bring him back.
The DON is very angry, he motions with a weak hand that they leave him alone.
INT. DAY:
DON'S STAIRS AND HALL (SPRING 1946) HAGEN is very upset as he comes down the Stairs; SONNY is expansive and optimistic.
SONNY:
We'll let the old man take it easy for a couple of weeks. I want to get things going good before he gets better. What's the matter with you?
HAGEN:
You start operating, the five families will start their raids again. We're at a stalemate Sonny, your war is costing us a lot of money.
SONNY:
No more stalemate Tom, we got the soldiers, we'll match them gun for gun if that's how they want it.
They know me for what I am, Tom-- and they're scared of me.
HAGEN:
Yes. That's true, you're getting a hell of a reputation.
对。这是真的,你的名声很差。
SONNY:
Well it's war! We might not be in this shape if we had a real war- time Consiglere, a Sicilian. Pop had Genco, who do I have?
(TOM starts to leave) Hey Tom, hey...hey. It's Sunday, we're gonna have dinner. Don't be sore.
INT DAY:
DON'S DINING ROOM (SPRING 1946) The FAMILY, WIVES, CHILDREN and all sit around the table over Sunday dinner. SONNY is at the head of the table.
EXT DAY:
MALL (SPRING 1946) SOME of the CORLEONE GRANDCHILDREN play in the enclosed Mall, in the proximity of the BUTTON MEN stationed liberally by the gate.
ONE CHILD misses a ball, it rolls by the gate house. A young BUTTON MAN scoops it up and throws it back, smiling.