The Godfather (Il Padrino) – Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola (estratto)

INT. DAY: DON’S OFFICE (SUMMER 1945)
The PARAMOUNT Logo is presented austerely over a black  background. There is a moment’s hesitation, and then the  simple words in white lettering:
THE GODFATHER
While this remains, we hear: "I believe in America." Suddenly  we are watching in CLOSE VIEW, AMERIGO BONASERA, a man of  sixty, dressed in a black suit, on the verge of great emotion.
BONASERA  America has made my fortune.
As he speaks, THE VIEW imperceptibly begins to loosen.
BONASERA  I raised my daughter in the American  fashion; I gave her freedom, but  taught her never to dishonor her  family. She found a boy friend, not  an Italian. She went to the movies  with him, stayed out late. Two months  ago he took her for a drive, with  another boy friend. 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 broken, her  jaw was shattered and held together  by wire, and she could not even weep  because of the pain.
He can barely speak; he is weeping now.
BONASERA  I went to the Police like a good  American. These two boys were arrested  and brought to trial. The judge  sentenced them to three years in  prison, and suspended the sentence.  Suspended sentence! They went free  that very day. I stood in the  courtroom like a fool, and those  bastards, they smiled at me. Then I  said to my wife, for Justice, we  must go to The Godfather.
By now, THE VIEW is full, and we see Don Corleone’s office  in his home.
The blinds are closed, and so the room is dark, and with  patterned shadows. We are watching BONASERA over the shoulder  of DON CORLEONE. TOM HAGEN sits near a small table, examining  some paperwork, and SONNY CORLEONE stands impatiently by the  window nearest his father, sipping from a glass of wine. We  can HEAR music, and the laughter and voices of many people  outside.
DON CORLEONE  Bonasera, we know each other for  years, but this is the first time  you come to me for help. I don’t  remember the last time you invited  me to your house for coffee… even  though our wives are friends.
BONASERA  What do you want of me? I’ll give  you anything you want, but do what I  ask!
DON CORLEONE  And what is that Bonasera?
BONASERA whispers into the DON’s ear.
DON CORLEONE  No. You ask for too much.
BONASERA  I ask for Justice.
DON CORLEONE  The Court gave you justice.
BONASERA  An eye for an eye!
DON CORLEONE  But your daughter is still alive.
BONASERA  Then make them suffer as she suffers.  How much shall I pay you.
Both HAGEN and SONNY react.
DON CORLEONE  You never think to protect yourself  with real friends. You think it’s  enough to be an American. All right,  the Police protects you, there are  Courts of Law, so you don’t need a  friend like me. But now you come to  me and say Don Corleone, you must  give me justice. And you don’t ask  in respect or friendship. And you  don’t think to call me Godfather;  instead you come to my house on the  day my daughter is to be married and  you ask me to do murder… for money.
BONASERA  America has been good to me…
DON CORLEONE  Then take the justice from the judge,  the bitter with the sweet, Bonasera.  But if you come to me with your  friendship, your loyalty, then your  enemies become my enemies, and then,  believe me, they would fear you…
Slowly, Bonasera bows his head and murmurs