The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
48
close, a very sacred religious relationship.” Woltz bowed his head in respect at this 
reference to religion. Hagen went on. “Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard 
a man must have two fathers to look after him, and that’s why they have godfathers. 
Since Johnny’s father died, Mr. Corleone feels his responsibility even more deeply. As 
for trying you again, Mr. Corleone is much too sensitive. He never asks a second favor 
where he has been refused the first.” 
Woltz shrugged. “I’m sorry. The answer is still no. But since you’re here, what will it cost 
me to have that labor trouble cleared up? In cash. Right now.” 
That solved one puzzle for Hagen. Why Woltz was putting in so much time on him when 
he had already decided not to give Johnny the part. And that could not be changed at 
this meeting. Woltz felt secure; he was not afraid of the power of Don Corleone. And 
certainly Woltz with his national political connections, his acquaintanceship with the FBI 
chief, his huge personal fortune and his absolute power in the film industry, could not 
feel threatened by Don Corleone. To any intelligent man, even to Hagen, it seemed that 
Woltz had correctly assessed his position. He was impregnable to the Don if he was 
willing to take the losses the labor struggle would cost. There was only one thing wrong 
with the whole equation. Don Corleone had promised his godson he would get the part 
and Don Corleone had never, to Hagen’s knowledge, broken his word in such matters. 
Hagen said quietly, “You are deliberately misunderstanding me. You are trying to make 
me an accomplice to extortion. Mr. Corleone promises only to speak in your favor on 
this labor trouble as a matter of friendship in return for your speaking in behalf of his 
client. A friendly exchange of influence, nothing more. But I can see you don’t take me 
seriously. Personally, I think that is a mistake.” 
Woltz, as if he had been waiting for such a moment, let himself get angry. “I understood 
perfectly,” he said. “That’s the Mafia style, isn’t is? All olive oil and sweet talk when what 
you’re really doing is making threats. So let me lay it on the line. Johnny Fonfane will 
never get that part and he’s perfect for it. It would make him a great star. But he never 
will be because I hate that pinko punk and I’m going to run him out of the movies. And 
I’ll tell you why. He ruined one of my most valuable protegees. For five years I had this 
girl under training, singing, dancing, acting lessons, I spent hundreds of thousands of 
dollars. I was going to make her a star. I’ll be even more frank, just to show you that I’m 
not a hard-hearted man, that it wasn’t all dollars and cents. That girl was beautiful and 
she was the greatest piece of ass I’ve ever had and I’ve had them all over the world. 
She could suck you out like a water pump. Then Johnny comes along with that olive-oil 

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