it's strictly business

wats good for business is good for america

[speaking to himself, practicing his speech] Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on the wedding day of your daughter. And may their first child be a masculine child. [then, starting over]
[delivering his rehearsed speech] Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your daughter... 's wedding... on the day of your daughter's wedding. And I hope their first child be a masculine child. I pledge my ever-ending loyalty.
[after Michael gets off the phone with Kay, clearly too embarrassed to tell her I love you too] Clemenza: Mikey, why don't you tell that nice girl you love her? I love you with all-a my heart, if I don't see-a you again soon, I'm-a gonna die...
Sonny: Goddamn FBI don't respect nothin'.
Calo: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
Sonny: Hey, listen, I want somebody good - and I mean very good - to plant that gun. I don't want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his dick in his hands, alright? Clemenza: The gun'll be there.
Michael: My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator. Kay Adams: Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed. Michael: Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?
Jack Woltz: 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: 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 that it's not all dollars and cents: She was beautiful; she was young; she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I've ever had, and I've 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 a man in my position can't afford to be made to look ridiculous!
Jack Woltz: Now you 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 dago guinea wop greaseball goombahs come out of the woodwork.
[first lines] Bonasera: I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom, but I taught her never to dishonor her family. She found a boyfriend; not an Italian. She went to the movies with him; she stayed out late. I didn't protest. Two months ago, he took her for a drive, with another boyfriend. They made her drink whiskey. And then they tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor. So they beat her, like an animal. When I went to the hospital, her nose was a'broken. Her jaw was a'shattered, held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain. But I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life beautiful girl. Now she will never be beautiful again. I went to the police, like a good American. These two boys were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison - suspended sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a fool. And those two bastards, they smiled at me. Then I said to my wife, for justice, we must go to Don Corleone.
Michael: That's my family, Kay. It's not me.
Kay Adams: Michael, you never told me your family knew Johnny Fontane! Michael: Oh sure, you want to meet him? Kay Adams: Yeah! Michael: You know, my father helped Johnny in his career. Kay Adams: Really? How? Michael: ...Let's listen to this song. Kay Adams: [after listening to Johnny for a while] Please, Michael. Tell me. Michael: ...Well when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to this contract with a big-band leader. And as his career got better and better he wanted to get out of it. Now, Johnny is my father's godson. My father went to see the bandleader, with a contract for $10,000 to let Johnny go, but the bandleader said no. So the next day, my father went to see the bandleader again, only this time with Luca Brasi. Within an hour, the bandleader signed the release, with a certified check of $1000. Kay Adams: How did he do that? Michael: My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Kay Adams: What was it? Michael: Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured the bandleader, that either his signiture or his brains would be on the contract. Kay Adams: ... Michael: ...That's a true story. [cut to Johnny singing again for about 10 more seconds before going back to Michael] Michael: That's my family Kay, it's not me.
Tom Hagen: [after finding out Tessio sold Michael out] Tessio. I always thought it would be Clemenza. Michael: It's the smart move. Tessio was always smarter.
Tessio: [realizing that Michael knows he was the traitor] Tom. Can you get me off the hook? You know, for old times sake? Tom Hagen: [shakes his head] Can't do it, Sally.
Don Corleone: Do you spend time with your family? Good. Because a man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.
Michael: My credit good enough to buy you out? Moe Greene: Buy me out? [Fredo laughs nervously] Michael: The casino, the hotel. The Corleone Family wants to buy you out. Moe Greene: The Corleone Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don't buy me out. Michael: Your casino loses money, maybe we can do better. Moe Greene: You think I'm skimmin' off the top, Mike? Michael: You're unlucky. Moe Greene: You goddamn guineas really make me laugh. I do you a favor and take Freddie in when you're having a bad time, and then you try to push me out! Michael: Wait a minute, you took Freddie in because the Corleone Family bankrolled your casino, because the Molinari Family on the Coast guaranteed his safety. Now we're talking business, let's talk business. Moe Greene: Yeah, let's talk business, Mike. First of all, you're all done. The Corleone Family don't even have that kind of muscle anymore. The Godfather's sick, right? You're getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my hotel and take over? I talked to Barzini, I can make a deal with him, and still keep my hotel! Michael: Is that why you slapped my brother around in public? Fredo: Aw now that, that was nothin', Mike. Now, Now uh Moe didn't mean nothin' by that. Sure he flies off the handle once in a while, but Moe and me, we're good friends, right Moe? Huh? Moe Greene: I gotta business to run. I gotta kick asses sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, Freddy and I, so I had to straighten him out. Michael: You straightened my brother out? Moe Greene: He was banging cocktail waitresses two at a time!Players couldn't get a drink at the table! What's wrong with you? Michael: I leave for New York tomorrow, think about a price. Moe Greene: Sonofabitch, Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders! Fredo: Wait a minute, Moe, Moe, I got an idea. Tom, you're the Consiglieri and you can talk to the Don, you can explain... Tom Hagen: Just a minute now, the Don is semi-retired and Mike is in charge of the Family business now. If you have anything to say, say it to Michael. Fredo: [Moe Greene leaves] Mike! You don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that! Michael: Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.
Tom Hagen: Now we have the unions, we have the gambling; and they're the best things to have. But narcotics is a thing of the future. And 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.
[Tessio brings in Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest, delivered with a fish inside] Sonny: What the hell is this? Clemenza: It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.
Capt. McCluskey: I thought I got all you Guinea hoods locked up, what the hell are you doing at this hospital! Michael: What happened to the men who were guarding my father? Capt. McCluskey: I pulled them guys off of here, eh, now get away from this hospital! Michael: I'm not leaving until you put some men around my father. Capt. McCluskey: Phil, take him in! Cop with Capt. McCluskey outside hospital: The kid's clean Captain, he's a war hero! Capt. McCluskey: God Damn it Phil, I said take him in! Michael: What's the Turk paying you to set up my father? Capt. McCluskey: [to Patrolmen] Take a hold of him, stand him up real straight. [punches Michael and breaks his jaw]
Michael: [while eating diner with Sollozzo and McCluskey] What I want - what's most important to me - is that I have a guarantee: No more attempts on my father's life. Sollozzo: What guarantees could I give you, Mike? I am the hunted one! I missed my chance. You think too much of me, kid - I'm not that clever. All I want, is a truce.
Fredo: [after Moe Greene storms out after an argument] Mike, you don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that! Michael: Fredo - you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.
Emilio Barzini: [during a meeting with the Five Families] Times have changed. It's not like the Old Days, when we can do anything we want. A refusal is not the act of a friend. If Don Corleone had all the judges, and the politicians in New York, then he must share them, or let us others use them. He must let us draw the water from the well. Certainly he can present a bill for such services; after all... we are not Communists.
Tessio: Can you get me off the hook, Tom? For old times' sake? Tom Hagen: Can't do it, Sally.
Don Corleone: Tattaglia's a pimp. He never could've out-fought Santino. But I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along.
Don Corleone: I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless. But not men.
Tom Hagen: You know how they're going to come at you? Michael: They want to arrange a meeting between me and Barzini. On Tessio's ground. Where I'll be safe.
Don Corleone: You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you? Or my boy to me?
Don Corleone: I never thought you were a bad consiglieri, Tom. I thought Santino was a bad don, rest in peace.
Don Corleone: What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you'd come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.
[Johnny Fontaine is discussing his problems with Woltz] Johnny Fontane: Oh, Godfather, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. Don Corleone: [shouts] You can act like a man! [he slaps Johnny] Don Corleone: What's the matter with you. Is this how you turned out? A Hollywood fannuchio that cries like a woman. [Don Corleone imitates him sobbing] Don Corleone: What can I do? [camera pans to Tom who is laughing] Don Corleone: What can I do? What is that nonsense. Ridiculous.
Don Corleone: I like to drink wine more than I used to. Michael: It's good for ya, Pop. Don Corleone: Anyway I'm drinkin' more.
Tom Hagen: Mr. Corleone never asks a second favor once he's refused the first, understood?
[after being asked how he will arrange to buy a hotel from Moe Greene] Michael: I'll make him an offer he can't refuse.
Don Corleone: I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.
[speaking with the father of the girl he plans to marry, and after telling him that he's in hiding from some gangsters] Michael: Some people will pay a lot of money for that information; but then your daughter would lose a father, instead of gaining a husband.
Sonny: Hey, whataya gonna do, nice college boy, eh? Didn't want to get mixed up in the Family business, huh? Now you wanna gun down a police captain. Why? Because he slapped ya in the face a little bit? Hah? What do you think this is the Army, where you shoot 'em a mile away? You've gotta get up close like this and bada-bing. you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere... [kisses Michael's head] Michael: Sonny... Sonny: You're taking this very personal. Tom, this is business and this man is taking it very personal.
Michael: It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.
Sollozzo: I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman; blood is a big expense.
Michael: My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Kay Adams: What was that? Michael: Luca Brasi, held a gun to his head, and my father assured him, that either his brain or his signature would be on the contract.
Michael: Ah, get me Long Beach 4-5620. please
Don Corleone: Someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as gift on my daughter's wedding day.
Sonny: We don't discuss business at the table.
Don Corleone: I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life - I don't apologize - to take care of my family, and I refused to be a fool, dancing on the string held by all those bigshots. I don't apologize - that's my life - but I thought that, that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the string. Senator Corleone; Governor Corleone. Well, it wasn't enough time, Michael. It wasn't enough time. Michael: We'll get there, pop. We'll get there.
[after Sonny beats up Carlo Rizzi for hitting Connie] Sonny: You touch my sister again, I'll kill you.
Don Corleone: You could act like a man. [slaps Johnny Fontane] Don Corleone: What's the matter with you? Is this what you've become, some Hollywood finnochio that cries like a woman? [mockingly imitates Johnny] Don Corleone: Oh, Godfather, what am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?
Don Corleone: I'm a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall Michael - if he is to be shot in the head by a police officer, or be found hung dead in a jail cell... or if he should be struck by a bolt of lightning - then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room; and then I do not forgive. But with said, I pledge - on the souls of my grandchildren - that I will not be the one to break the peace that we have made today.
Kay Adams: Michael, is it true? Did you have Carlo murdered? Michael: Don't ask me about my business, Kay.
[to his associate, who has killed Paulie in the car] Clemenza: Leave the gun. [pause] Clemenza: Take the cannolis.
Clemenza: You know any goodest spots on the west side? Paulie Gatto: Yeah, I think about it. Clemenza: Well think about it while you're driving, I wanna hit New York sometime this month.
Capt. McCluskey: Is the Italian food good here? Sollozzo: Yeah, try the veal. It's the best in the city.
Don Zaluchi: I, too, don't believe in drugs. For years I paid my people extra to stay away from that sort of stuff, but someone comes along saying, I've got powders where if you put up a three to four thousand dollar investment, you can make fifty thousand distributing, then there is no way to resist it. I want to keep it respectable. [shouts] Don Zaluchi: I don't want it near schools. I don't want it sold to children! In my city, we'd keep the traffic in the Dark People, the Coloreds - they're animals anyway, so let them lose their souls.
Clemenza: All right, you just shot 'em both. Now what do you do? Michael: Sit down and finish my dinner.
Sonny: How's Paulie? Clemenza: Oh, Paulie... won't see him no more.
Connie: Dinner's on the table. Carlo Rizzi: I'm not hungry yet. Connie: Your food is on the table. It's getting cold. Carlo Rizzi: I'll eat out later. Connie: You just told me to make you dinner! Carlo Rizzi: Hey, vaffanculo, eh? Connie: I'll vaffanculo you!
Don Corleone: [seeing Sonny in the mortuary] Look how they massacred my boy.
Don Corleone: Never let anyone outside the family know what you're thinking.
Tom Hagen: Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer, I have not threatened you. Jack Woltz: I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you? Tom Hagen: 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.
Don Corleone: Bonasera... Bonasera.
Capt. McCluskey: [talking with Solozzo in the restaurant after Michael goes to the bathroom] I frisked him, he's clean [pause] Capt. McCluskey: I frisked a thousand young punks.




offer.wav(25K) offer.mp3(25K)
Don Corleone: I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. someday.wav(149K) someday.mp3(149K)
Don Corleone: Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day. goomba.wav(195K) goomba.mp3(195K)
Jack Woltz: Johnny Fontane will never get that movie. I don't care how many dego, wop, guinea, greaseball goombas come out of the woodwork. Tom Hagen: 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'm have not threatened you. Woltz: I know every big lawyer in New York. Who the hell are you? p_of_ass.wav(85K) p_of_ass.mp3(85K)
Woltz: She was beautiful! She was young, she was innocent! She was the greatest piece of ass I've ever had, and I've had 'em all over the world! spoil.wav(73K) spoil.mp3(73K)
Don Corleone: I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them as you can see. They talk when they should listen.
');
-->


blood.wav(78K) blood.mp3(78K)
Sollozzo: I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman. Blood is a big expense. fishes.wav(76K) fishes.mp3(76K)
Sonny: What the hell is this? Tessio: It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes. canoli.wav(51K) canoli.mp3(51K)
Clemenza: Leave the gun. Take the cannollis. pauley.wav(41K) pauley.mp3(41K)
Sonny: How's Pauley? Clemenza: Oh, Pauley. You won't see him no more. badabing.wav(199K) badabing.mp3(199K)
Sonny: Whatya gonna do? Nice college boy huh? Don't wanna get mixed up in the family business? Now you wanna gun down a police officer because he slapped you in the face a little bit, huh? Whatya think this is the army, where you shoot 'em a mile away? You gotta get up close like this.. badaBING! you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere... you're taking this very personal. plantgun.wav(80K) plantgun.mp3(80K)
Sonny: Clemenza, I want somebody good, and I mean very good, to plant that gun. I don't want my brother comin' outta that toilet with just his dick in his hands, alright? sonny.wav(362K) sonny.mp3(362K)
: (Sonny gets it at the Causeway toll booth. No dialogue, just lots of gunshots) naive.wav(246K) naive.mp3(246K)
Michael: My father's no different than any other powerful man. Any man who's responsible for other people, like a Senator, or a President. Kay: Do you know how naive you sound? Michael: Why? Kay: Senators and Presidents don't have men killed. Michael: Oh. Who's being naive, Kay? peace.wav(490K) peace.mp3(490K)
Don Corleone: But I'm a superstitious man. And if some unlucky accident should befall him...if he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room. And that I do not forgive. But that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one who will break the peace we have made here today. wholife.wav(598K) wholife.mp3(598K)
Don Corleone: I never wanted this for you. I worked my whole life, I don't apologize, to take care of my family. And I refused to be a fool dancing on the string held by all those big shots. I don't apologize, that's my life. But I thought that when it was your time that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone. Governor Corleone. Somethin'. Michael: Another pezzonovante. Don Corleone: Well.. there just wasn't enough time, Michael. Wasn't enough time. Michael: We'll get there Pop. We'll get there. mogreen.wav(81K) mogreen.mp3(81K)
Moe Green: You sonofabitch. Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Green! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders. fredo.wav(142K) fredo.mp3(142K)
Michael: Fredo, you're my older brother... and I love you...but don't ever take sides, with anyone, against the family again. Ever. hook.wav(78K) hook.mp3(78K)
Tessio: Tom, can you get me off the hook? For old times sake? Tom: Can't do it, Saly