Senator Pat Geary quotes from The Godfather Part II (1974)

For years now a growing number many of my constituents have been of Italian descent. I've come to know them well. They have honored me with their support and with their friendship. I can proudly say that some of my very best friends are Italian-Americans. However, Mr. Chairman, at this time unfortunately, I have to leave these proceedings in order to preside over a very important meeting of my own committee. But before I leave, I do want to say this, that these hearings on the Mafia are in no way whatsoever a slur upon the great Italian people because I can state from my own knowledge and experience that Italian-Americans are among the most loyal, most law-abiding, patriotic, hard-working American citizens in this land. And It would be a shame, Mr. Chairman, if we allowed a few rotten apples to give a bad name to the whole barrel. Because from the time of the Great Christopher Columbus, up to the time of Enrico Fermi, right up to the present day, Italian-Americans have been pioneers in building and defending our nation. They are the salt of the earth, and one of the backbones of this country...

Freddie, that thing can't be real.

Fredo Corleone

Sure it is. That's why they call him Superman.

I despise the dishonest way you pose yourself...yourself and your whole **** family.

Senator, we're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.

Mr. Cicci, would you care to amplify your answer?

Would I what?

Would you expand on your response? I'm interested to know, was there always a buffer involved?

A what?

A buffer. Someone in between you and your possible superiors who passed on to you the actual order to kill someone.

Oh yeah, a buffer. The family had a lot of buffers!

The Corleone family has done very well here in Nevada. You own, or you control, two major hotels in Vegas, one in Reno. The licenses were grandfathered in so there was no problem with the Gaming Commission. Now, my sources tell me that you plan to make a move against the Tropigala. They tell me that within a week you're gonna move Klingman out. That's quite an expansion. However, it will leave you with one little technical problem. The license will still be in Klingman's name.

Turnbull is a good man.

Well, let's cut out the bullshit. I don't want to spend any more time here than I have to. You can have the license. The price is $250,000 plus a monthly payment of five percent of the gross of all four hotels, Mister... "Cor-lee-oh-nay."

Now, the price for the license is less than $20,000. Am I right?

That's right.

Now, why would I ever consider paying more than that?

Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come out to this clean country with your oily hair, dressed up in those silk suits, trying to pass yourselves off as decent Americans. I'll do business with you, but the fact is that I despise your masquerade, the dishonest way you pose yourself — yourself and your whole **** family.

Senator... we're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.

All right, alll right, some people need to play little games. You play yours. But I want your answer and the money by noon tomorrow. And one more thing: Don't you contact me again, ever. From now on, you deal with Turnbull.

Senator? You can have my answer now, if you like. My final offer is this: Nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.