You Cannot Understand Darth Vader Unless You Understand Godfather III
Darth Vader is The Ultimate Father.
Luke Skywalker is not - He is
The Ultimate Uncle.
"It turns out massacres are a lot like sitting through Godfather III - once is enough."
Krevlornswoth of the Deathwok Clan
"I'm Your Little Cousin"
Mary Corleone,
Daughter of Commendatori Michael Corleone
Knight-Commander of the Order of St. Sebastian
 |
Hell Hath No Fury Like
Connie Corleone |
Mary Corleone walks over to Vincent.
MARY
Hi Vincent. I remember you.
VINCENT
You remember me? From where?
MARY
From the last time we had a party together.
VINCENT
Did you come down to the club?
MARY
No, it was a wedding.
VINCENT
A wedding?
MARY
I was 8; and you were 15
VINCENT
Well I, I had a lot of girlfriends when I was 15.
MARY
8 year olds?
VINCENT
Especially 8 year olds!
CUT TO: Connie.
CONNIE
Where’s Mary?
Would somebody please hail Mary.
Excuse me your Excellency.
CUT: Back to Mary and Vincent.
MARY
You know?
You haven’t kissed me hello yet.
Relatives always kiss.
VINCENT (Laughs)
Oh, now we’re related?
MARY
I’m your little cousin.
VINCENT (thinking)
Who’s your father?
MARY
I’ll give you a hint: he’s Italian.
******
CUT TO: The cafe. We overhear some of Vincent’s men about a meeting which is supposed to be taking place but isn't due to the absence of a member.
Vincent and Mary are at a table in the cafe with the old ladies who are just leaving.
OLD LADY #1
I trust you.
VINCENT
Don't worry about it.
OLD LADY #1
Thank you very much.
MARYBye bye.
VINCENT
Enjoy yourself.
The old ladies leave.
MARY
What was that?
VINCENT
The neighborhood's in trouble…
MARY
You keep your eye out for it?
VINCENT
That's right.
MARY
And for me?
VINCENT
From now on.
MARY
I missed you all this time.
VINCENT
I missed you, too, cousin.
I missed growing up with all my cousins. I didn't even know you and I missed you.
MARY
Do you remember stories about, our fathers, the old days?
VINCENT
Yeah, what do you wanna know?
MARY
What was Sonny like?
VINCENT
He was the Prince of the city.
Yeah -- he died before I was born but I heard a million stories about him, he was a legend.
MARY
What about my father?
VINCENT
A great man, your father.
He's a hero, he saved the family.
MARY
Vincent…?
VINCENT
What?
MARY
Did he kill his own brother?
VINCENT (pauses)
No.
MARY
So those’re all lies?
VINCENT
Just stories, sweetheart. Okay?
MARY
Okay. I believe you. I'm glad you're around.
VINCENT
I'm glad you're here, too.
Vincent and Mary kiss.
*****
CUT TO: The cafe. We overhear some of Vincent’s men about a meeting which is
supposed to be taking place but isn't due to the absence of a member. Vincent
and Mary are at a table in the cafe with the old ladies who are just leaving.
OLD LADY #1
I trust you.
VINCENT
Don't worry about it.
OLD LADY #1
Thank you very much.
MARY
Bye bye.
VINCENT
Enjoy yourself.
MARY
What was that?
VINCENT
The neighborhood's in trouble…
MARY
You keep your eye out for it?
VINCENT
That's right.
MARY
And for me?
VINCENT
From now on.
MARY
I missed you all this time.
VINCENT
I missed you, too, cousin. I missed growing up with all my cousins. I didn't even know you and I missed you.
MARY
Do you remember stories about, our fathers, the old days?
VINCENT
Yeah, what do you wanna know?
MARY
What was Sonny like?
VINCENT
He was The Prince of The City.
Yeah -- he died before I was born but I heard a million stories about him, he was a legend.
MARY
What about my father?
VINCENT
A great man, your father.
\He's a hero, he saved the family.
MARY
Vincent…?
VINCENT
What?
MARY
Did he kill his own brother?
VINCENT (pauses)
No.
MARY
So those’re all lies?
VINCENT
Just stories, sweetheart. Okay?
MARY
Okay. I believe you. I'm glad you're around.
VINCENT I'm glad you're here, too.
CUT: Back to the drawing room. Vincent and Connie are still talking.
CONNIE
You are the only one left in this family with my father's strength.
If anything happens to Michael, I want you to strike back.
VINCENT
I'll have everything ready.
CONNIE
You swear?
VINCENT
I swear to you.
CUT TO: A road in Corleone, Sicily. Michael is showing Kay around.
MICHAEL
Here it is. The house where my father was born. This is where they came, to take him when he was a boy. To kill him.
KAY (noticing music playing in the distance)
Wait. Listen to that.
KAY
You know, Mary's in love.
MICHAEL
Yes, I know.
KAY
With a handsome young Italian man. Dark eyes.
MICHAEL
I won't allow it.
It's wrong.
It's wrong and it's dangerous.
CUT TO: A square. Michael and Kay are watching a puppet show. A man standing beside the puppet tent provides the dialogue in Italian to accompany the actions of the puppets.
PUPPETEER (as female puppet)
"Oh father, my father! Give me some time to pray to the Lord."
(then, to the audience)
"The Baroness of Carini had betrayed her husband and fallen in love with her cousin."
(then, as male puppet)
"There will be no forgiveness!"
(then, to the audience)
"Her father stabbed her through the heart."
(continues, in Italian…)
KAY
Honor, huh?
*****
MICHAEL
Oh Mary. Mary you're such a warm-hearted girl, you always were.
MARY
I love my family.
MICHAEL
Even your cousin Vincent?
MARY
I really love him.
MICHAEL
He's your first cousin.
MARY
Then I love him first.
MICHAEL
Mary, you can't see him.
Just don’t see him any more…
ANTHONY
He’s right – it’s too dangerous…
MICHAEL
Mary, listen to me.
You can't see him anymore.
Not in that fashion.
MARY
No.
MICHAEL
Please promise me…
MARY
No!
MICHAEL
Obey me on this Mary!
MARY (runs off)
No, dad!
ANTHONY
Mary's smart, dad, she'll understand eventually.
CUT TO: a room in the compound. Mary and Vincent are kissing again to Elvis Costello’s "Miracle Man" blasting in the room. Vincent says something to Mary in Italian.
CUT TO: Michael's Room on the compound. Michael is shaving. Vincent enters.
VINCENT
You wanted to see me?
MICHAEL
Yeah. I want you to do something for me.
VINCENT
Okay.
MICHAEL
It’s dangerous.
VINCENT
Good. I'm in. What do you need?
MICHAEL
I want you to sell your soul to Don Altobello.
To betray me.
VINCENT
He'll never believe me.
(then, as he offers to shave Michael)
Here…
MICHAEL
That depends.
VINCENT (begins to shave Michael with the razor)
Sit down.
MICHAEL
I have an idea. See if you can learn how high Altobello is connected.
Arrange a meeting. You say how devoted you are to me.
Tell him your problems. You ask for his help.
VINCENT
What problems?
MICHAEL
That you want to run away with my daughter.
Only you know that if you do, I will become your enemy.
VINCENT
You know I'd never do that, Uncle Mike.
CUT TO: Altobello’s residence. Vincent is doing as Michael asked, and talking to Don Altobello. As they talk we can still hear Michael's instructions as a voice over mixed in.
MICHAEL (OS)
I know. You ask Altobello to speak to me. To further the marriage.
DON ALTOBELLO (to Vincent)
You’re cousins … Michael was always a little old fashioned.
MICHAEL (OS)
Explain to him how, you can never be part of my, legitimate world. That you want your own family.
VINCENT (to Altobello)
…straighten out with Joey Zasa…
If you could use your friendship to persuade him.
I would be indebted to you forever.
(then, gesturing like Young Vito Corleone from Godfather Part II, with fingers tapping his temple)
A Corleone, knows the value of such a friend.
DON ALTOBELLO
So, then, you would work for me?
VINCENT
Si.
CUT TO: Back to present, with Vincent shaving Michael.
MICHAEL
Remember, if he hints that he wants you to betray me, get insulted.
Because that's his trap.
CUT TO: Future, Altobello and Vincent talking. Vincent has his back to Altobello.
DON ALTOBELLO
You're not telling me the whole truth, Vincenzo. Isn't it true, with Michael gone, the girl controls everything?
VINCENT (turning to Altobello)
You leave the girl out of this.
DON ALTOBELLO
Of course, you love her.
And she loves you.
CUT TO: Mary's room. Mary is looking at pictures of Apollonia and Michael in a photo album.
CUT: Back to the balcony with Altobello and Vincent.
DON ALTOBELLO
I guessed it Vincenzo, huh?
VINCENT
You're a wise man, Don Altobello. I'm going to be learning a lot from you.
DON ALTOBELLO
The richest man is the one with the most powerful friends.
DON ALTOBELLO
It's my duty to make the introductions.
(then, introducing Don Lucchesi to Vincent)
Don Lucchesi…
DON LUCCHESI (to Vincent)
Don Altobello tells me you have good character, strong, a man of respect.
DON ALTOBELLO (to Lucchesi)
This is the hero who put Joey Zasa in his grave.
If we'd known of his existence, we would never have backed Joey.
DON LUCCHESI
No one wants another Joe…
(then, to Vincent)
Let me be your friend. Even the strongest man needs friends.
VINCENT
I'm flattered.
But you're a man of finance and politics, Don Lucchesi, these are things I don't understand.
DON LUCCHESI
You understand guns?
DON LUCCHESI (smiling)
Finance is a gun.
Politics, is knowing when to pull the trigger.
VINCENT
How can I help?
DON LUCCHESI (in Italian)
"Come…"
vincent and Don lucchesi walk away
DON ALTOBELLO
Blessed is the peacemaker, for he can be can be called a child of God.
