Крестный отец

           HewasembarrassedatthedepthofJohnny’sfeelingandembarrassedbythesuspicionthatitmighthavebeeninspiredbyfear,fearthathemightturntheDonagainsthim.AndofcoursetheDoncouldneverbeturnedbyanyoneforanyreason.Hisaffectionwasmutableonlybyhimself.

           "Thingsaren’tsobad,"hetoldJohnny."TheDonsayshecancancelouteverythingWoltzdoesagainstyou.ThatyouwillalmostcertainlywintheAward.Buthefeelsthatwon’tsolveyourproblem.Hewantstoknowifyouhavethebrainsandballstobecomeaproduceronyourown,makeyourownmoviesfromtoptobottom."

           "HowthehellishegoingtogetmetheAward?"Johnnyaskedincredulously.

           Hagensaidsharply,"HowdoyoufinditsoeasytobelievethatWoltzcanfinagleitandyourGodfathercan’t?Nowsinceit’snecessarytogetyourfaithfortheotherpartofourdealImusttellyouthis.Justkeepittoyourself.YourGodfatherisamuchmorepowerfulmanthanJackWoltz.Andheismuchmorepowerfulinareasfarmorecritical.HowcanheswingtheAward?Hecontrols,orcontrolsthepeoplewhocontrol,allthelaborunionsintheindustry,allthepeopleornearlyallthepeoplewhovote.Ofcourseyouhavetobegood,youhavetobeincontentiononyourownmerits.AndyourGodfatherhasmorebrainsthanJackWoltz.Hedoesn’tgouptothesepeopleandputaguntotheirheadsandsay,‘VoteforJohnnyFontaneoryouareoutofajob.’Hedoesn’tstrong-armwherestrong-armdoesn’tworkorleavestoomanyhardfeelings.