Don Corleone's face had become cold without a hint of sympathy. He said
contemptuously, "You can start by acting like a man." Suddenly anger contorted
his face. He shouted. "LIKE A MAN!" He reached over the desk and grabbed
Johnny Fontane by the hair of his head in a gesture that was savagely
affectionate. "By Christ in heaven, is it possible that you spent so much time in
my presence and turned out no better than this? A Hollywood finocchio who
Weeps and begs for pity? Who cries out like a woman – 'What shall I do? Oh, what
shall I do?' "
The mimicry of the Don was so extraordinary, so unexpected, that Hagen and
Johnny were startled into laughter. Don Corleone was pleased. For a moment he
68
Reflected on how much he loved this godson. How would his own three sons have
Reacted to such a tongue-lashing? Santino would have sulked and behaved badly
For weeks afterward. Fredo would have been cowed. Michael would have given
Him a cold smile and gone out of the house, not to be seen for months. But
Johnny, ah, what a fine chap he was, smiling now, gathering strength, knowing
Already the true purpose of his Godfather.
3 Don Corleone went on. "You took the woman of your boss, a man more
Powerful than yourself, then you complain he won't help you. What nonsense.
You left your family, your children without a father, to marry a whore and you
Weep because they don't welcome you back with open arms. The whore, you
Don't hit her in the face because she is making a picture, then you are amazed
Because she laughs at you. You lived like a fool and you have come to a fool's
end."
4 Don Corleone paused to ask in a patient voice, "Are you willing to take my
advice this time?"
5 Johnny Fontane shrugged. "I can't marry Ginny again, not the way she wants. I
Have to gamble, I have to drink, I have to go out with the boys. Beautiful broads
Run after me and I never could resist them. Then I used to feel like a heel when I
went back to Ginny. Christ, I can't go through all that crap again."
6 It was rare that Don Corleone showed exasperation. "'I didn't tell you to get
Married again. Do what you want. It's good you wish to be a father to your
|
|
Children. A man who is not a father to his children can never be a real man. But
Then, you must make their mother accept you. Who says you can't see them every
Day? Who says you can't live in the same house? Who says you can't live your
life exactly as you want to live it?"
7 Johnny Fontane laughed. "Godfather, not all women are like the old Italian
wives. Ginny won't stand for it."
8 Now the Don was mocking. "Because you acted like a finocchio. You gave her
more than the court said. You didn't hit the other in the face because she was
Making a picture. You let women dictate your actions and they are not competent
In this world, though certainly they will be saints in heaven while we men burn in
hell. And then I've watched you all these years." The Don's voice became earnest.
"You've been a fine godson, you've given me all the respect. But what of your
Other old friends? One year you run around with this person, the next year with
Another person. That Italian boy who was so funny in the movies, he had some
69
Bad luck and you never saw him again because you were more famous. And how
About your old, old comrade that you went to school with, who was your partner
Singing? Nino. He drinks too much out of disappointment but he never complains.
He works hard driving the gravel truck and sings weekends for a few dollars. He
Never says anything against you. You couldn't help him a bit? Why not? He sings
well."
9 Johnny Fontane said with patient weariness, "Godfather, he just hasn't got
enough talent. He's OK, but he's not big time."
1 Don Corleone lidded his eyes almost closed (прикрыл веками; lid – веко) and then
said, "And you, godson, you now, you just don't have talent enough. Shall I get you a
job on the gravel truck with Nino?" When Johnny didn't answer, the Don went on.
|
|
"Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It
is almost the equal of family (/дружба/ почти равноценна семье; equal – ['i:kw∂l] –
равный, равносильный, тождественный). Never forget that. If you had built up a wall
of friendships (если бы ты построил стену = укрепление из дружеских связей) you
wouldn't have to ask me to help (тебе бы не пришлось просить у меня помощи). Now
tell me, why can't you sing? You sang well in the garden. As well as Nino."
2 Hagen and Johnny smiled at this delicate thrust (утонченный, искусный выпад,
удар, укол; delicate ['delıkıt]). It was Johnny's turn to be patronizingly patient (настала
его очередь быть снисходительно-терпеливым; patronize [‘pжtr∂naız] – заботиться,
опекать; относиться снисходительно, свысока). "My voice is weak. I sing one or two
songs and then I can't sing again for hours or days. I can't make it through the
rehearsals or the retakes (не выдерживаю, не могу продержаться во время
репетиций или повторных записей). My voice is weak, it's got some sort of sickness
(что-то с ним не так, тут какая-то болезнь: «получил какую-то болезнь»)."
3 "So you have woman trouble (женская проблема). Your voice is sick. Now tell me
the trouble you're having with this Hollywood pezzonovante (с этой голливудской
шишкой: 90-ый калибр /итал./) who won't let you work." The Don was getting down to
business (переходил к делу).
4 "He's bigger than one of your pezzonovantes," Johnny said. "He owns the studio. He
advises the President on movie propaganda for the war. Just a month ago he bought
|
|
the movie rights to the biggest novel of the year. A best seller. And the main character is
a guy just like me. I wouldn't even have to act, just be myself. I wouldn't even have to
sing. I might even win the Academy Award (я, возможно, даже получу награду
академии; award [∂’wo:d] – присуждение /награды, премии/). Everybody knows it's
perfect for me and I'd be big again. As an actor. But that bastard Jack Woltz is paying
me off, he won't give it to me. I offered to do it for nothing (я предложил сыграть
бесплатно), for a minimum price and he still says no. He sent the word that if I come
70
and kiss his ass (его задницу) in the studio commissary (на складе ['komıs∂rı]), maybe
he'll think about it."
5 Don Corleone dismissed this emotional nonsense with a wave of his hand. Among
reasonable men (среди разумных людей = между разумными людьми) problems of
business could always be solved (всегда могут быть /раз/решены). He patted his
godson on the shoulder (похлопал по плечу). "You're discouraged (деморализован:
«обескуражен»; courage [‘kΛrıdG] – отвага, мужество). Nobody cares about you, so
you think. And you've lost a lot of weight (потерял много веса). You drink a lot, eh?
You don't sleep and you take pills (таблетки /снотворное/)?" He shook his head
disapprovingly (неодобрительно; to disapprove [dıs∂’pru:v] – не одобрять).
6 "Now I want you to follow my orders (следовать моим указаниям)," the Don said. "I
want you to stay in my house for one month. I want you to eat well, to rest (отдохнуть)
and sleep. I want you to be my companion, I enjoy your company, and maybe you can
|
|
learn something about the world from your Godfather that might even help you in the
great Hollywood. But no singing, no drinking and no women. At the end of the month
you can go back to Hollywood and this pezzonovante, this .90 caliber will give you that
job you want. Done (по рукам: «сделано»)?"
7 Johnny Fontane could not altogether believe (не мог вполне поверить) that the Don
had such power. But his Godfather had never said such and such a thing could be done
(что та или иная вещь может быть сделана) without having it done (и не сделал бы:
«без того, чтобы ее сделать»). "This guy is a personal friend of J. Edgar Hoover (этот
парень – личный друг Хувера /director of the FBI 1924–72/)," Johnny said. "You can't
even raise your voice to him (он вас даже слушать не станет)."
8 "He's a businessman," the Don said blandly (мягко, ласково). "I'll make him an offer
he can't refuse (я сделаю ему предложение, от которого он не сможет отказаться)."
9 "It's too late," Johnny said. "All the contracts have been signed (были подписаны; to
sign [saın]) and they start shooting in a week (и они начинают снимать через неделю).
It's absolutely impossible."
10 Don Corleone said, "Go, go back to the party. Your friends are waiting for you.
Leave everything to me." He pushed Johnny Fontane out of the room (вытолкнул).
1 Don Corleone lidded his eyes almost closed and then said, "And you, godson, you
now, you just don't have talent enough. Shall I get you a job on the gravel truck with
Nino?" When Johnny didn't answer, the Don went on. "Friendship is everything.
Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of
family. Never forget that. If you had built up a wall of friendships you wouldn't have to
71
ask me to help. Now tell me, why can't you sing? You sang well in the garden. As well
as Nino."
2 Hagen and Johnny smiled at this delicate thrust. It was Johnny's turn to be
patronizingly patient. "My voice is weak. I sing one or two songs and then I can't sing
again for hours or days. I can't make it through the rehearsals or the retakes. My voice
is weak, it's got some sort of sickness."
3 "So you have woman trouble. Your voice is sick. Now tell me the trouble you're
having with this Hollywood pezzonovante who won't let you work." The Don was getting
down to business. "He's bigger than one of your pezzonovantes," Johnny said. "He
owns the studio. He advises the President on movie propaganda for the war. Just a
month ago he bought the movie rights to the biggest novel of the year. A best seller.
And the main character is a guy just like me. I wouldn't even have to act, just be myself.
I wouldn't even have to sing. I might even win the Academy Award. Everybody knows
it's perfect for me and I'd be big again. As an actor. But that bastard Jack Woltz is
paying me off, he won't give it to me. I offered to do it for nothing, for a minimum price
and he still says no. He sent the word that if I come and kiss his ass in the studio
commissary, maybe he'll think about it."
4 Don Corleone dismissed this emotional nonsense with a wave of his hand. Among
reasonable men problems of business could always be solved. He patted his godson on
the shoulder. "You're discouraged. Nobody cares about you, so you think. And you've
lost a lot of weight. You drink a lot, eh? You don't sleep and you take pills?" He shook
his head disapprovingly.
5 "Now I want you to follow my orders," the Don said. "I want you to stay in my house
for one month. I want you to eat well, to rest and sleep. I want you to be my companion,
I enjoy your company, and maybe you can learn something about the world from your
Godfather that might even help you in the great Hollywood. But no singing, no drinking
and no women. At the end of the month you can go back to Hollywood and this
pezzonovante, this .90 caliber will give you that job you want. Done?"
6 Johnny Fontane could not altogether believe that the Don had such power. But his
Godfather had never said such and such a thing could be done without having it done.
"This guy is a personal friend of J. Edgar Hoover," Johnny said. "You can't even raise
your voice to him."
72
7 "He's a businessman," the Don said blandly. "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."
"It's too late," Johnny said. "All the contracts have been signed and they start shooting
in a week. It's absolutely impossible."
8 Don Corleone said, "Go, go back to the party. Your friends are waiting for you. Leave
everything to me." He pushed Johnny Fontane out of the room.
1 Hagen sat behind the desk and made notes. The Don heaved a sigh and asked, "Is
there anything else?"
2 "Sollozzo can't be put off any more (/его/ нельзя больше откладывать). You'll have
to see him this week." Hagen held his pen over the calendar.
3 The Don shrugged. "Now that the wedding is over, whenever you like (когда
угодно)."
4 This answer told Hagen two things. Most important, that the answer to Virgil Sollozzo
would be no (ответ будет отрицательным). The second, that Don Corleone, since he
would not give the answer before his daughter's wedding (поскольку не хотел давать
ответа до свадьбы дочери), expected his no to cause trouble (вызовет
неприятности).
5 Hagen said cautiously (осторожно; cautious [‘ko:∫∂s] – осторожный,
осмотрительный), "Shall I tell Clemenza to have some men come live in the house?"
6 The Don said impatiently, "For what? I didn't answer before the wedding because on
an important day like that there should be no cloud (чтобы не было ни облачка), not
even in the distance (даже вдалеке). Also I wanted to know beforehand (заранее)
what he wanted to talk about. We know now. What he will propose is an infamita
(бесчестие /итал./ = позорное дело, безобразие)."
7 Hagen asked, "Then you will refuse?" When the Don nodded, Hagen said, "I think
we should all discuss it – the whole Family – before you give your answer."
8 The Don smiled. "You think so? Good, we will discuss it. When you come back from
California. I want you to fly there tomorrow and settle this business for Johnny
(уладить). See that movie pezzonovante. Tell Sollozzo I will see him when you get
back from California. Is there anything else?"
9 Hagen said formally, "The hospital called. Consigliori Abbandando is dying, he won't
last out the night (не протянет; to last [lα:st] – продолжаться, тянуться, длиться). His
family was told to come and wait (его семье было сказано прийти и ждать)."
10 Hagen had filled the Consigliori’s post (занимал пост; to fill – наполнять;
занимать /пост/) for the past year, ever since the cancer had imprisoned Genco
73
Abbandando in his hospital bed (с того самого времени, как рак приковал Дженко к
постели ['kжns∂]). Now he waited to hear Don Corleone say the post was his
permanently (постоянно, навсегда). The odds were against it (все говорило против
этого; odds – неравенство, разница; перевес, преимущество). So high a position
was traditionally given only to a man descended from two Italian parents
(происходящего от родителей-итальянцев; to descend [dı'send] – спускаться;
происходить). There had already been trouble about his temporary performance of the
duties (из-за временного исполнения этих обязанностей [p∂'fo:m∂ns]). Also (кроме
того, к тому же), he was only thirty-five, not old enough, supposedly (как
предполагалось), to have acquired the necessary experience (чтобы приобрести
необходимый опыт; to acquire [∂’kwaı∂] – обзаводиться, приобретать) and cunning
(умение, навыки; хитрость) for a successful Consigliori (для удачливого,
преуспевающего советника; success [s∂k’s∂s] – успех, удача).
11 But the Don gave him no encouragement (никак его не обнадежил;
encouragement – одобрение, поощрение [ın'kΛrıdGm∂nt]). He asked, "When does my
daughter leave with her bridegroom?"
12 Hagen looked at his wristwatch (ручные часы; wrist – запястье). "In a few minutes
they'll cut the cake and then a half hour after that." That reminded him of something else.
"Your new son-in-law. Do we give him something important, inside the Family (какое-
нибудь важное дело, поручение в Семье)?"
13 He was surprised at the vehemence of the Don's answer (был удивлен силой,
горячностью [‘vi:ım∂ns]). "Never." The Don hit the desk with the flat of his hand
(ладонью, разжатой рукой; flat – плоский). "Never. Give him something to earn his
living (чтобы зарабатывать на жизнь), a good living. But never let him know the
Family's business. Tell the others, Sonny, Fredo, Clemenza."
14 The Don paused. "Instruct my sons, all three of them, that they will accompany me
to the hospital (сопровождать [∂'kΛmp∂nı]) to see poor Genco. I want them to pay their
last respects (чтобы оказали последние почести). Tell Freddie to drive the big car and
ask Johnny if he will come with us, as a special favor to me (как особое одолжение)."
He saw Hagen look at him questioningly. "I want you to go to California tonight. You
won't have time to go see Genco. But don't leave until I come back from the hospital
and speak with you. Understood?"
15 "Understood," Hagen said. "What time should Fred have the car waiting?"
16 "When the guests have left," Don Corleone said. "Genco will wait for me."
17 "The Senator called," Hagen said. "Apologizing for not coming personally
74
(извиняясь, что не прибыл лично) but that you would understand. He probably means
(возможно, имеет в виду) those two FBI men across the street taking down license
numbers. But he sent his gift over by special messenger (переслал со специальным
посланником, курьером ['mesındG∂])."
18 The Don nodded. He did not think it necessary to mention (не посчитал
необходимым упомянуть, сказать) that he himself had warned the Senator not to
come (предостерег). "Did he send a nice present?"
19 Hagen made a face of impressed approval («впечатленного одобрения») that
was very strangely Italian on his German-Irish features. "Antique silver, very valuable
(очень ценное ['vжlju∂bl]). The kids can sell it for a grand at least (за штуку /баксов/
как минимум, самое малое). The Senator spent a lot of time getting exactly the right
thing (потратил массу времени, чтобы достать точно то, что нужно, что он искал).
For those kind of people that's more important than how much it costs."
20 Don Corleone did not hide his pleasure (не скрыл: «не спрятал» удовольствия,
радости) that so great a man as the Senator had shown him such respect. The Senator,
like Luca Brasi, was one of the great stones in the Don's power structure, and he too,
with this gift, had resworn his loyalty (возобновил клятву, присягу своей лояльности:
«поклялся вновь»; to swear [swε∂] – клясться, присягать).
Дата добавления: 2018-10-26; просмотров: 142; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!