The Godfather

Nino Valenti is still drinking himself to death. Johnny Fontane is with him when, at the blackjack table, Nino Valenti passes out. The pit boss tells him that it has been happening for some time. Jules Segal comes to examine Nino. He tells them that Nino has diabetes and is in a mild diabetic coma. Jules suggests that Johnny have Nino committed to a mental hospital. He suggests that, when Nino wakes up, he, Johnny, and Lucy should confront him about his behavior. When Johnny puts him off, Jules gets angry at him, and Johnny says he will think it over.

Johnny Fontane is in Las Vegas because Michael Corleone is flying in with Tom Hagen to meet with him. Lucy and Jules, who are now engaged, will be at the dinner as well. Nino wakes up and says he will stop his current behavior, adding that he is not jealous about a situation a year ago involving two women and Johnny.

A year ago, Johnny had just recovered from the throat operation recommended by Jules, but he had not tried singing yet. He went to visit his ex-wife and children, but Virginia was irritable, and his daughters left. He drove to Palm Springs with Nino and two young women. While Nino had sex with one of them, Johnny sat at the piano and tried his voice out. He was happy to realize that his voice was working well; it sounded deeper, richer, and older. Johnny and Nino sang all of his old songs, and the girls listened. Now, Johnny realizes what Nino meant was that he was not jealous of the girls, or that Johnny got his voice back. He was jealous that Johnny was happy. Johnny sees that Nino does not care about anything the way Johnny cares about singing.

Michael Corleone, Tom Hagen, and his new button man Albert Neri fly into Las Vegas. Fredo meets them and says he will call Moe Greene, the man who owns the other shares of the hotel. But Michael says to call Johnny, Nino, Lucy, and Jules; they will deal with Moe Greene later. Michael tells them that the Corleone family plans to sell out of the olive oil business and move completely to Las Vegas, though it may take several years to set up. They plan to buy Moe Greene’s shares of the hotel, which surprises Fredo. Michael also offers Johnny a standing singing contract at the hotel and tells Jules he can get him a position at a new hospital built in Las Vegas. Until then, he will be medical director for their four hotels—they already own three others, which none of the others, except Tom, knew. He also gives Lucy a new job.

They discuss Nino, but before they can decide what to do, Moe Greene comes into the room with two bodyguards. Greene is a former hitman with a terrible temper, and when he comes in, everyone except Michael, Moe, Tom, and Fredo leave. Moe tells Michael that he will not sell his shares in the hotel to them. He says that Don Corleone is not that powerful anymore, and Michael asks if that was why he felt like he could hit Fredo in public. Michael reminds both Fredo and Moe that Don Corleone is semiretired, and Michael is running the Corleone family now. Both men leave, subdued. The next morning, Moe sends a message that he will not sell his shares for any price. Michael visits Nino and then leaves Las Vegas. Before doing so, he asks Al Neri if he has “made” Moe Green, and Al replies that he has.

Michael has been home for three years and married to Kay for two. He now has a full grasp of the family business, which is far more extensive than he thought. Kay is pregnant for the second time and is settling into their life. She always meets him at the airport when he travels. Every morning, she sees Carmella Corleone out her window going to mass, and Michael’s mother actively tries to convert Kay to Catholicism. When Kay asks her why she goes daily, she says she is praying so that her husband does not go to hell when he dies. Kay’s relationship with Connie is also developing—Connie teaches her authentic Sicilian cooking, and they visit daily. Kay does not understand the tension Connie feels between Carlo and the family until Michael tells her the part they played in Sonny’s death. She asks him to reassure Connie, but Michael says they do not talk about those things in their family. Everyone in the family wants Michael to get facial surgery, but he does not do so until Kay says he should do it for their children.

Once back in Long Beach, Michael meets with the Don, Tom, Carlo, Clemenza, and Tessio. Things are tense because the Don has announced is semiretirement, and Clemenza and Tessio would like to form their own families. Michael reports on Las Vegas and tells Clemenza and Tessio to trust him and be patient. After a year, if they want to, they can split off and start their own families. Michael tells them that the Corleone family is moving to Las Vegas. Even when pressed by Tessio, Don Corleone keeps his word of not seeking vengeance against Barzini or Tattaglia. After the meeting, Michael, Tom, and the Don talk alone. Tom asks why Michael has not kept him informed of his moves. Michael is surprised that Tom has figured out elements of their plan, but the Don is not. Yet Michael still will not allow him to be a part of the plan.

After Tom leaves, Michael talks about his plan to avenge Sonny and Apollonia by killing Barzini. He also says that he has found the shepherd who planted the bomb now; he is now living in upstate New York. Michael reassures the Don that this is not the Don’s decision; he plays no part in it and could not veto it even if he wanted to. In the next year, Moe Greene is killed. Albert Neri disappears from New York for a month, and when he returns, he is given a valuable living by the Corleone family.