Daily Dialogue — December 14, 2013

VITO CORLEONE: So — Barzini will move against you first. He’ll set up a meeting with someone that you absolutely trust — guaranteeing your safety. And at that meeting, you’ll be assassinated. I like to drink wine more than I used to — anyway, I’m drinking more…
MICHAEL: It’s good for you, Pop.
VITO CORLEONE: I don’t know — your wife and children — are you happy with them?
MICHAEL: Very happy…
VITO CORLEONE: That’s good. I hope you don’t mind the way I — I keep going over this Barzini business…
MICHAEL: No, not at all…
VITO CORLEONE: It’s an old habit. I spent my life trying not to be careless — women and children can be careless, but not men. How’s your boy?
MICHAEL: He’s good — 
VITO CORLEONE: You know he looks more like you every day.
MICHAEL: He’s smarter than I am. Three years old, he can read the funny papers
VITO CORLEONE: Read the funny papers — Oh — well — eh, I want you to arrange to have a telephone man check all the calls that go in and out of here — because…
MICHAEL: I did it already, Pop.
VITO CORLEONE: — ya’know, cuz it could be anyone…
MICHAEL: Pop, I took care of that.
VITO CORLEONE: Oh, that’s right — I forgot.
MICHAEL: What’s the matter? What’s bothering you? I’ll handle it. I told you I can handle it, I’ll handle it.
VITO CORLEONE: I knew that Santino was going to have to go through all this. And Fredo — well — Fredo was — well — But I never — 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 — that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator — Corleone. Governor — Corleone, or something…
MICHAEL: Another pezzonovante…
VITO CORLEONE: Well — this wasn’t enough time, Michael. Wasn’t enough time…
MICHAEL: We’ll get there, Pop — we’ll get there…
VITO CORLEONE: Uh… Now listen — whoever comes to you with this Barzini meeting — he’s the traitor. Don’t forget that.

— The Godfather (1972), written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is parental advice, suggested by David Proenza. Today’s suggestion by Alejandro.

Trivia: “Pezzonovante,” means “.90 caliber,” or more accurately an idiom meaning “big shot”.

Dialogue On Dialogue: This is such a meaningful moment. Business. Family. And the shadow of death, both Vito and the threat of the upcoming meeting. Of course, there is another death hanging in the air: The end of Vito’s dream that Michael would avoid having to get involved in the family business. It’s parental advice laced with much bitter fruit.

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