The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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the figures and the plans. OK?” 
Johnny was silent for a long time. Then he said quietly, “Is there anything else?” 
Hagen smiled. “You mean, do you have to do any favors in return for a loan of twenty 
million dollars? Sure you will.” He waited for Johnny to say something. “Nothing you 
wouldn’t do anyway if the Don asked you to do it for him.” 
Johnny said, “The Don has to ask me himself if it’s something serious, you know what I 
mean? I won’t take your word or Sonny’s for it.” 
Hagen was surprised by this good sense. Fontane had some brains after all. He had 
sense to know that the Don was too fond of him, and too smart, to ask him to do 
something foolishly dangerous, whereas Sonny might. He said to Johnny, “Let me 
reassure you on one thing. Your Godfather has given me and Sonny strict instructions 
not to involve you in any way in anything that might get you bad publicity, through our 
fault. And he will never do that himself. I guarantee you that any favor he asks of you, 
you will offer to do before he requests it. OK?” 
Johnny smiled. “OK,” he said. 
Hagen said, “Also he has faith in you. He thinks you have brains and so he figures the 
bank will make money on the investment; which means he will make money on it. So it’s 
really a business deal, never forget that. Don’t go screwing around with the money. You 
may be his favorite godson but twenty million bucks is a lot of dough. He has to stick his 
neck out to make sure you get it.” 
“Tell him not to worry,” Johnny said. “If a guy like Jack Woltz can be a big movie genius, 
anybody can.” 
“That’s what your Godfather figures,” Hagen said. “Can you have me driven back to the 
airport? I’ve said all I have to say. When you do start signing contracts for everything, 
hire your own lawyers, I won’t be in on it. But I’d like to see everything before you sign, if 
that’s OK with you. Also, you’ll never have any labor troubles. That will cut costs on your 
pictures to some extent, so when the accountants lump some of that in, disregard those 
figures.” 
Johnny said cautiously, “Do I have to get your OK on anything else, scripts, slats, any of 
that?” 
Hagen shook his head. “No,” he aid. “It may happen that the Don would object to 
something but he’ll object to you direct if he does. But I can’t imagine what that would 

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