While this remains, we hear: "I believe in America."

Suddenly we are watching in CLOSE VIEW, AMERIGO BONASERA, a

man of sixty, dressed in a black suit, on the verge of great

emotion.

BONASERA:

America has made my fortune.

As he speaks, THE VIEW imperceptibly begins to loosen.

BONASERA:

I raised my daughter in the American

fashion; I gave her freedom, but

taught her never to dishonor her

family. She found a boy friend,

not an Italian. She went to the

movies with him, stayed out late.

Two months ago he took her for a

drive, with another boy friend.

They made her drink whiskey and

then they tried to take advantage

of her. She resisted; she kept her

honor. So they beat her like an

animal. When I went to the hospital

her nose was broken, her jaw was

shattered and held together by

wire, and she could not even weep

because of the pain.

He can barely speak; he is weeping now.

BONASERA:

I went to the Police like a good

American. These two boys were

arrested and brought to trial. The

judge sentenced them to three years

in prison, and suspended the

sentence. Suspended sentence!

They went free that very day. I

stood in the courtroom like a fool,

and those bastards, they smiled at

me. Then I said to my wife, for

Justice, we must go to The Godfather.

By now, THE VIEW is full, and we see Don Corleone's office

in his home.

The blinds are closed, and so the room is dark, and with

patterned shadows. We are watching BONASERA over the

shoulder of DON CORLEONE. TOM HAGEN sits near a small

table, examining some paperwork, and SONNY CORLEONE stands

impatiently by the window nearest his father, sipping from a

glass of wine. We can HEAR music, and the laughter and

voices of many people outside.

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