Daily Dialogue — May 6, 2010

Don Corleone: Oh, I want you to arrange to have a telephone man check all the calls going in and out of here because it could be anyone…
Michael: I did that already, Pop. I took care of that.
Don 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.
[the Don rises as if to leave, but changes his mind midway and seats himself closer to Michael]
Don Corleone: I knew Santino was going to have to go through all this and Fredo… well, Fredo was… But I, 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 strings held by all of those big shots. That’s my life, I don’t apologize for that. But I always thought that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone, something.
Michael: Another pezzonovante.
Don Corleone: Well, there wasn’t enough time, Michael. There just wasn’t enough time.
Michael: We’ll get there, Pop. We’ll get there.
[the Don kisses his son on the forehead]

 — Don Corleone (Marlin Brando), Michael (Al Pacino), The Godfather (1972), screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by Mario Puzo

The Daily Dialogue theme this week is poignant father-son exchanges, suggested by JD Walters. The Godfather suggested by filmocrat.

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