Classic Scene : The Godfather (1972)

23rd October 2009

“Do you know who I am ? I’m Moe Greene ! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders !”

Francis Ford Coppola’s timeless classic from Mario Puzo’s novel needs no introduction. Possibly the most famous movie of all time, which is masterfully done and set to Nino Rota’s memorable music – a film of epic proportions.

SETTING THE SCENE : Classic scene after classic scene, the one chosen here has casino & hotel owner Moe Green (Alex Rocco) who has Mob ties, being confronted by Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)…

INT. HOTEL ROOM. DAY

Michael : My credit good enough to buy you out ?

Moe Greene : Buy me out ?

[Fredo laughs nervously]

Michael : The hotel, the casino. 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 shakes his head]

Michael : You’re unlucky.

Moe Greene : You goddamn guineas you really make me laugh. I do you a favor and take Freddie in when you’re having a bad time, and now you’re gonna try and push me out !

Michael : You took Freddie in because the Corleone Family bankrolled your casino, and 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. Moe didn’t mean nothin’ by that. Yeah, sure he flies off the handle every once in a while, but me and him, we’re good friends, right Moe ?

Moe Greene : I got a business to run. I gotta kick asses sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, Freddy and me, 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 the matter with you ?

Michael : I leave for New York tomorrow, think about a price.

Moe Greene : Son of a bitch ! 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 : Now hold it right there. 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.

[Moe Greene leaves]

Fredo : Mike ! You do not 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.

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