Chapter 5 Section 1 (5)

Late in the afternoon that day, Hagen received a call from the secretary of the film studio owner, saying that a car would pick him up within an hour and take him to Mr. Woltz's country house for dinner.She said the car would take three hours to get there, and that there was alcohol and snacks in the car.Knowing that Woltz was going there on his private jet, Hagen wondered why he wasn't being asked to fly too?The female secretary added very politely: "Mr. Woltz also advises you to take your excursion bag. He intends to send you to the airport early in the morning." "Well, it's settled," said Hagen.

Another puzzling question, how did Woltz know he was going to catch an early flight back to New York?Possibly Woltz sent a private eye to follow him, gathering as much information as he could.From this point of view, Woltz must know that he represents the old man, which shows that he knows the old man somewhat, and also shows that he is now willing to reconsider the matter seriously.Hagen thought: Maybe it will work out a bit in the end.Perhaps Woltz is more sensible than he was this morning.Woltz's villa looks like an inexplicable movie set: a plantation-style mansion, a vast garden, surrounded by a very elegant cinder road that only allows horses to walk and not cars, and has a stable for a large group of horses. , Opened up the pasture.Fences, flowerbeds, and lawns are as meticulously manicured as movie star nails.

Woltz received Hagen on the glass-paneled, air-conditioned verandah.The boss was in casual clothes, a sky-blue silk shirt with an open neckline, mustard-coloured slacks, and moccasin sandals.Against the background of this bright and luxurious costume, his rough face can really shock people to see.He handed Hagen an oversized glass martini glass and picked one up from the tray himself.His attitude was much more friendly than the previous half day, and he put his hand on Hagen's shoulder and said: "There is still a while before dinner, let's take a look at my horse." As they were walking towards the stable, he said:

"I've finally figured you out. Tom, you should have told me your boss was Corleone. This morning I thought you were some third-rate coward that Johnny invited to scare me. And I'm not used to frightening. Not because I want to make enemies, but because I don't approve of frightening at all. But let's take it easy for now! Serious business, after dinner." Unexpectedly, Woltz turned out to be a host who really cared about his guests.He wanted his stable to be the most successful in America.To this end, he adopted some new methods and new measures, and explained them one by one.The stables are fire-proofed, kept to the highest degree of cleanliness and guarded by a full-time security team.Finally, Woltz showed him the isolated stables, where the name "Katum" was written on a large brass plaque on the wall.

The horse in the stable was a handsome horse, even to Hagen's inexperienced eye.Katumu's body is black and shiny, and there is a diamond-shaped white hair on his big forehead.The big brown eyes are shining like a pair of golden apples; the round body is covered with black hair, like black silk.Woltz said with childlike pride: "It's the best racehorse in the world. I bought it from England last year for six hundred thousand dollars. I bet not even the Tsar of Russia would have paid that much for a horse. But I I don’t plan to let it race any more, but keep it for breeding, and I plan to build the largest horse racing stable in the country.”

As he stroked the horse's mane, he cried tenderly: "Katum, Katoum!" The animal also nodded in understanding and wagged its tail.Woltz said to Hagen: "I'm still a good rider by nature, you know? I didn't start" until I was in my fifties. He laughed loudly, "Maybe my grandmother was raped by Cossacks in Russia when she was young, so I also have Cossack blood." " He scratched Katum's belly to tickle it, and said in a convincing tone: "Look at the guy under it, how pompous it is!" They went back to the building for dinner, the tablecloth was woven with gold and silver thread, and the tableware was all inlaid with gold and silver, but the food was not very good.It's clear that Woltz lives here as a single; it's also clear that he's a light eater.Hagen kept off topic.It was only when they were both lighting up their Havana cigars that he asked Wultz:

"Is Johnny going to be in that movie anyway?" "I can't," Woltz said, "I can't put Johnny in that movie, even if I wanted to. The whole cast is already signed: shooting starts next week, and there's really no turning back for me." room." Hagen couldn't help it, and said: "Mr. Woltz, one of the great advantages of dealing with people in the highest position is that it can make such excuses untenable. In fact, you can do whatever you want. Made it." He sucked on his cigar and said: "Do you not believe that my client can keep his word?"

Woltz said flatly, "I'm sure I'm going to get into trouble with the union. Goff called me about it. Goff the son of a bitch, from the way he spoke to me." , you never thought I'd pay him $100,000. And I'm sure you guys can keep my gay-fucking, masculine star out of heroin. But, I don't care: I can film for myself The main reason is that I hate that little bastard Fontane. Tell your boss: This is something I can't say yes to, you might as well ask me some other question, any other question It's all right." Hagen thought to himself, "You mean old bastard, if that's the case, why did you invite me out to the country? The studio owner has something on his mind." Hagen said dryly:

"I don't think you understand that Mr. Corleone is Johnny Fontane's godfather. It's a very close, very sacred religious relationship." Whenever he mentioned religion, Wultz bowed his head in devotion.Hagen said: "There's a little joke in Italy that says the world is too dangerous for a man to have two fathers to take care of him, so they both have a godfather. Since Johnny's father is dead, Mr. Corleone feels more responsible. Significant. Mr. Corleone isn't going to be so cowardly when it comes to testing you. He's never going to make a second request, anywhere, if the first request is denied."

Woltz shrugged his shoulders and said: "I'm sorry, but the answer is still no, but since you're here, I'd like to ask, how much will it cost me to clear up the troubles brewing in the union? Cash, immediately." With that said, a mystery in Hagen's mind was solved. Since Woltz had already decided not to assign that role to Johnny, why did he spend so much time.That decision seemed irreversible.Woltz had nothing to fear: he had no fear of Don Corleone's power.Of course, Woltz, with his political prowess in the middle of the country, his friendship with the head of the FBI, his vast wealth, and his absolute authority in the film industry, is Not afraid of the threat of Don Corleone.To any sane person, even Hagen, Woltz's assessment of himself seemed correct.If he was willing to bear the losses that the workers' struggle might cause, there was nothing the old man could do.But Don Corleone had promised his godson that he would get the part.And Don Corleone, as far as Hagen knew, had never broken his word on such matters.

Hagen said calmly, "You're misrepresenting me on purpose. You're trying to make me an accomplice in extortion. Mr. Corleone promised to speak well for you on the issue of the union dispute, as a gesture of friendship, and he hoped to reciprocate. It's a friendly exchange, nothing more. But, I can see, you don't take it seriously. In my personal opinion, you're making a mistake." Woltz seemed to have been waiting for such a comment, and then lost his temper. "I've been fully aware," he said, "that's how the underground works, right? When you're making a real threat, it's all olive oil, slippery, sweet-speaking Honey. So let me get the point straight. Johnny Fontane will never get the part, even though he's a good fit for it. Playing the part would make him a great star. However, he will never have that chance, the reason is that I hate him, the pink little hooligan, and I want to kick him out of the film industry. I can also tell you the inside story. He took one of the most valuable girls under my family Actor, one of my top students is ruined. For five years I managed to get this girl to take classes, train, sing, dance, act; I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm going to make her a star ..I might as well tell you a little bit more frankly to show that I'm not a hard-hearted person and it's not about the money. That girl is beautiful and has a big ass, a big ass I've never seen, and I'm all over the world Ever touched a big ass. She sucks you dry like a water pump. But Johnny stepped in, and with his olive-oil slick tone and shallow charm, she got away. She I was ridiculed for walking away with a flick of both hands. A man in my position, Mr. Hagen, cannot bear to be ridiculed. I must let him go!" Woltz's words startled Hagen.He found it inconceivable that an elderly man of property should let such trifles influence his judgment of a serious business, and a serious business of this magnitude.In Hagen's world, in the Corleones' world, physical beauty, a woman's sexual allure, carried little weight in the conduct of worldly affairs.Problems between men and women are trivial and private matters, unless, of course, they involve marriage and family honor.Hagen decided to try again. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Woltz," said Hagen, "but are you so upset over such little things? I don't think you understand how important this little request is to my client." Mr. Corleone held Johnny in his arms when he was a baby at his baptism. After Johnny's father died, Mr. Corleone became a father. Truth be told, there were Many, many people reverently called him "The Godfather" in reverence and gratitude for the help he provided. Mr. Corleone would never leave his friends alone." Woltz stood up suddenly. "I'm tired of hearing this. Scoundrels aren't qualified to give me orders; I'm entitled to give them orders. If I pick up this phone, you'll spend the night in jail tonight. If the leader of the underground gang If you dare to be tough on me, then he will find that I am not a small foreman with only a few people. Humph, I have heard that statement before. Listen, when the time comes, your Cowley Mr. Ang has been hit, and he doesn't know where it came from. Even if it gets to the point where I have to use my power in the White House, I will not hesitate." What a stupid bastard.Hagen couldn't understand how an idiot like that could rise through the ranks and become a tycoon, an adviser to the President, and head of the biggest movie studio in the world.The Don should be in the movies, that's for sure.The guy in front of him only understood the literal value of the old man's words from an emotional point of view, and he hadn't grasped the real message in it. "Thank you for treating me to this fine meal and another pleasant evening!" said Hagen. "Can you take me to the airport? I don't think I need to spend the night here." He sneered at Wultz, "Mr. Corleone has always had the style of hearing bad news immediately. " Hagen waited at the door, the colonnade was floodlit and a long limousine was already parked in the drive outside.He saw two women getting into the car.The two women were the same two he had seen in Woltz's office this morning: the beautiful little girl and her mother.But now, the little girl's finely carved and soft lips were a thick pink mass due to smearing.Her sea-blue eyes also seemed to be covered with a film; as she walked down the steps to the car, her long legs faltered like a colt with a broken leg.The mother held the baby, helped her into the car, and kept whispering orders to her.Occasionally she turned her head and cast a quick glance at Hagen; he noticed a kind of hawk-like triumph in her eyes.Then she got into the car too. That, perhaps, was why he didn't get the plane, Hagen speculated.The little girl was on the same plane as her mother and the owner of the film studio.In this way, Woltz had ample time to rest before dinner; at the same time, he also played with the little girl by the way.But Johnny wants to live in such a world, why?Good luck to him, good luck to Woltz. Paulie Gatto has an aversion to quick-fix missions, especially when they involve the use of violence.He likes to plan ahead.For example, this task tonight, although it sounds very ordinary, if one of them makes a mistake, it may cause a big mistake for the whole team.At this time, he was drinking beer, and from time to time he looked at the young guy Fuzi who was flirting with the little prostitute at the counter. Paulie Gatto knew all he needed to know about the two lads.Their names are Jerry Wei Nai and Kefen Mengnan.They are all about twenty years old, with fine features, brown hair, tall stature, and burly physique.They are going back to college in two weeks.Their fathers were both politically powerful men.Firstly, because of their father's political power, and secondly, because they are all college students, they were never recruited into the army.They were serving suspended sentences for beating Amerigo Bonasera's daughter.Paulie Gatto thought to himself, These two mean, nasty little bastards, dodging the draft, violating their probation, drinking and chasing sluts in bars in the middle of the night.These two lads are really annoying.Paulie Gatto himself was given a reprieve when a doctor provided a medical certificate to the conscription board certifying that he was a patient, male, white, aged 26, unmarried, who had been electroshocked for insanity Interfering with physiotherapy.Of course, the so-called medical certificates were all false, but Paulie Gatto felt that his immunity was legitimate.This is all concocted by Clemenza after proving Gato's "loyalty" to the Corleone family. Today, it was Clemenza who told him that this task had to be done decisively, before the two boys returned to college.Gato didn't quite understand why this mission had to be done in New York City.It was Clemenza's usual style to always give some supplementary instructions in addition to explaining the tasks.Now if the two little whores went out with the two young rascals, it would be another night for nothing. He heard one of the girls laughing and saying: "Jerry, you're crazy! I don't want to ride in a limousine with you. I'm afraid I'll end up in the hospital like that poor girl." Her triumphant demeanor was disgusting.But this is sufficient information for Gatu to decide what to do next.He drank his beer and went out, hiding in the darkness of the street.It was after midnight, and there was only one other bar with the lights on, and all the other shops were closed.Clemenza had already taken care of the patrol car in the police precinct.The patrolling police don't come here, they don't come until they receive a radio signal. He was standing next to a four-door Pursuit.There were two people sitting in the car. Although they were two big men, they were almost invisible from the outside.Paulie said to the inside: "When those two little hooligans come out, catch them." He still felt that everything was rushed, and Clemenza had given him mugshots of the two punks from the police, as well as the places where the punks used to drink and pester the bar girls. .Paulie picked two goons and gave them specific instructions, no hits on the top of the head, no hits on the back of the head, no accidental death, but otherwise, they could do what they pleased.He also offered them a warning: "If those two little rascals are cured and discharged after less than a month in the hospital, then you two boys will drive a truck for me." The two men got out of the car.They had been boxers at first, just to show off in the little clubs, and they were picked up by Sonny Corleone.Sonny had done them a little philanthropy and helped them live a decent life.They are naturally happy to show their gratitude. Jerry Weiner and Kewen Moonan were the worms right after they stepped out the door of the bar.Paulie Gatto, who was leaning against the fender over the wheel of the car, laughed teasingly when he saw them approaching, and called to them: "Hey, daredevils, even the nasty women are pushing you away." The two young men turned to him with playful faces.Paulie Gatto acted as if he had no power to fight back.Gatto the lad, rat-headed, short and thin, has a knack for this kind of thing.They swooped on him.It was too late, and at that moment, they were tightly grasped by the two people who came from behind. Paulie Gatto took the opportunity to put on a special set of brass knuckles on his right hand, which was still filled with sixteenths of the knuckles. An inch long iron nail.His movements were accurate and nimble, and he aimed at the little rascal named Wei Nai cracklingly on the nose. Wei Nai was picked up, raised high, and lifted off the ground; Baoli swung his arms and aimed his fist at the groin Hit straight up.Wei Nai was beaten softly; the big man who was carrying him slapped him to the ground.All this in less than six seconds. Now they turned their attention to Kewen Moonan, who struggled to cry out, but the man who was holding him from behind lifted him easily with one thick, powerful arm, and with the other Stopped his throat, so stuck that he couldn't even snort. Paulie Gatto jumped into the car, ready to drive.Those two big men beat Mengnan into a pulp.They played with such a deliberate deliberation that it was astonishing, as if they had all the time in the world at their disposal.Their fists are not swinging wildly like a storm, but in rhythmic slow motion.It seemed that with every punch, the fist carried the full weight of their huge bodies;Gatu glanced at Mengnan's face from the car, and it was no longer human.The two dropped Mengnan to lie on the pavement, then turned their attention to Wei Nai, who was trying to get up and screaming for help.A few people came out of the bar.Therefore, the two had to speed up.They beat him to his knees, and one of them grabbed him by the arm, twisted it violently, and then kicked him in the spine.There was only a "click", Wei Nai cried out in pain, and at this moment the windows along the street were opened.The two men did it neatly, one of them grabbed Wei Nai's head with his hands like a vise and lifted him up, and the other aimed his huge fist at a fixed target and slammed it hard.More and more people came out of the bar, but no one interrupted.Paulie Gatto yelled again from the car: "Hurry up and get in the car, all right." The two big men jumped into the car, and Paulie stepped on the gas, and the car flew away.Someone might describe the model and memorize the license plate number, but it won't help: first, the license was stolen from California, and second, there are at least 100,000 "Pursuit" black cars in New York City.