The Godfather
EXT DAY: CORLEONE HILL
They continue their long hike, high on a promentory; until they
hesitate, and look down.
CALO
Corleone.
They can see a grim Sicilian village, almost devoid of people.
EXT DAY: CORLEONE STREET
MICHAEL and his bodyguards move through the empty streets of the
village. They walk behind him, and spread to either side about
fifteen feet away from him.
They move down ancient steps, past an old stone fountain. MICHAEL
hesitates, cups his hands and drinks some water. They go on.
They move up a very narrow old street. MICHAEL looks at the doorways
that they pass.
MOVING VIEW: Each door has a plaque, with a ribbon or flower.
CALO sees MICHAEL looking.
CALO
The names of the dead.
MICHAEL hesitates in the center of the main street. He looks.
The street is empty, barren. Occasionally, an old woman will pass.
MICHAEL turns his head.
The other side of the street: empty and deathly.
A HIGH VIEW of MICHAEL standing in the center of the old street, the
shepherds a respectful distance away.
-------------------------------------FADE OUT-----------
EXT DAY: BARONIAL ESTATE
A green ribboned field of a baronial Estate. Further ahead is a
villa so Roman it looks as though it had just been discovered in the
ruins of Pompeii. There is a group of young village GIRLS
accompanied by two stocky MATRONS, dressed in black. They have been
gathering the pink sulla, purple wisteria, and mixing them with
orange and lemon blossoms. They are singing, off in the distance as
they work.
MICHAEL, CALO and FABRIZZIO are silent as they watch this
Fantasy-like scene.
FABRIZZIO
(calling out to them)
Hey, beautiful girls!
MICHAEL
(sternly)
Shhhhh.
He settles down to watch.
The GIRLS are dressed in cheap gaily painted frocks that cling to
their bodies. They are still in their teens, but developed and
womanly.
They are moving along the fields, picking blossoms, not aware of the
three men watching them from the orange grove. Three or four of the
girls begin chasing one of them playfully, in the direction of the
grove.
The GIRL being chased holds a bunch of purple grapes in her left
hand and with the right, picks more grapes, and throws them back at
her pursuers laughing.
They come closer and closer. Just short of the grove, she poses,
startled, her large, oval shaped eyes catching the view of the THREE
MEN. She stands there on her toes about to run.
MICHAEL sees her; now face to face. He looks.
Her face. Incredibly beautiful with olive skin, black hair and a
rich mouth.
FABRIZZIO
(murmuring)
Jesus Christ, take my soul. I'm dying.
Quickly, she turns, and runs away.
MICHAEL stands up never taking his eyes from her. We hold on him for
a long while; and eventually hear the SHEPHERDS laughing. Then he
turns to them.
FABRIZZIO
You got hit by the thunderbolt, eh?
CALO pats him on the shoulder.
CALO
Easy man.
MICHAEL
What are you talking about?
FABRIZZIO
You can't hide it when you're hit by the thunderbolt.
EXT DAY: BARONIAL VILLAGE
The little village built attendant to the Baronial Estate, is decked
with the flowers the girls had been picking.
MICHAEL, followed by the bodyguards, moves into the central square,
and onto the balcony of a little cafe.
The proprietor of the cafe, VITELLI, is a short burly man; he greets
them cheerfully, and sets a dish of chickpeas at their table.
FABRIZZIO
You know all the girls in this town, eh? We saw some beauties coming
down the road. One in particular got our friend hit with the
Thunderbolt...
(he indicates MICHAEL)
VITELLI gives a big knowing laugh, and looks at MICHAEL with new
interest.
VITELLI
You had better bring a few bottles home with you, my friend; you'll
need help sleeping tonight.
(he laughs) FABRIZZIO
This one could seduce the devil. A body! and eyes as big and black
as olives.
VITELLI
(laughing with them...pouring more wine)
I know about what you mean!
FABRIZZIO
This was a beauty. Right, Calo?
VITELLI
(laughing)
Beautiful all over, eh?
FABRIZZIO
And hair. Black and curly, like a doll. And such a mouth.
VITELLI does not laugh quite so much.
VITELLI
Yes, we have beautiful girls here... but virtuous.
VITELLI is no longer drinking with them.
MICHAEL
She wore a red dress, and a red ribbon in her hair. She looks more
Greek than Italian. Do you know a beauty like that?
As MICHAEL describes her, VITELLI laughed less and less, until he
wears a scowl.
VITELLI
No.
Then he curtly leaves him, and walks into the back room.
FABRIZZIO
God in Heaven, I think I understand...
He goes into the back room after the innkeeper. Then he returns.
FABRIZZIO
Let's get out of here; he's boiling up his blood to do us mischief.
It's his daughter.
They start to leave; but MICHAEL doesn't move.
CALO
Come quickly.
MICHAEL
Innkeeper. More wine!
FABRIZZIO
(whispered)
The old bastard mentioned two sons he only has to whistle up.
MICHAEL turns to FABRIZZIO with his cold authority.
MICHAEL
Tell him to come to me.
The two BODYGUARDS shoulder their luparas, and disappear in a moment
they return with the red-faced angry VITELLI between them.
MICHAEL
(quietly)
I understand I've offended you by talking about your daughter. I
offer you my apologies, I'm a stranger in this country, I don't know
the customs very well. Let me say this, I meant no disrespect to you
or her...
CALO and FABRIZZIO are impressed.
VITELLI
(shrugs)
Who are you and what do you want from my daughter?
MICHAEL
I am an American hiding in Sicily from the police of my country. My
name is Michael. You can inform the police and make your fortune but
then your daughter would lose a father rather than gain a husband.
In any case, I want to meet your daughter. With your permission and
under the supervision of your family. With all decorum. With all
respect. I am an honorable man.
CALO and FABRIZZIO are stupefied; VITELLI pauses, and then asks:
VITELLI
Are you a friend of the friends?
MICHAEL
When the proper time comes
I'll tell you everything that a wife's father should know.
FABRIZZIO
It's the real Thunderbolt, then.
VITELLI
(formally)
Come Sunday morning: My name is Vitelli and my house is up there on the hill,
above the village.
MICHAEL
Your daughter's name?
VITELLI
Appolonia.
-------------------------------------FADE OUT-----------