The Godfather
RON PERLMAN: “Well, you know, anybody who knows me knows, like, I’m the Marlon Brando geek. He was able to go to places that no actor has even been able to understand how he got there. And to me, the greatest moment of all of his is, he comes down the stairs in The Godfather. He’s just recovered from the assassination attempt. Robert Duvall [as Tom Hagen] is finishing a drink and he says [does perfect Don Corleone impression], ‘I hear cars coming to the house,’ and launches into the scene where he gets the news that Sonny has been killed. [Voice starts to break] I can’t even talk about it without losing my shit. But what he does in that tiny little scene — the scene’s no more than 40 seconds, one minute maybe — the changes that he goes through emotionally, it’s mind-boggling. And so that’s my favourite moment in cinema.”
INT. FRONT ROOM — NIGHT
Tom Hagen is sitting in the dark, nursing a drink. The camera waits outside the door, watching. A noise on the stairs is followed by the arrival of Don Corleone, who walks into the room and sits down. Tom turns to look at the Don. The camera follows into the room. The Don beckons for Tom to hand him his glass.
DON CORLEONE: Give me a drop.
Tom complies. The Don takes a drink of the whiskey. Swallows hard. His hair is unkempt. He’s in his pyjamas. It’s clear that he has just awakened.
DON CORLEONE: My wife is crying upstairs. I hear cars coming to the house.
He puts the glass onto the side table. Tom takes it back.
DON CORLEONE: Consigliere of mine, I think you should tell your Don what everyone seems to know.
TOM: I didn’t tell Mama anything. I was about to come up and wake you just now, tell you…
DON CORLEONE: But you needed a drink first.
Tom puts his glass on the table.
TOM: Yep.
DON CORLEONE: And now you’ve had your drink.
A small nod from Tom.
TOM: They shot Sonny on the causeway. He’s dead.
The Don says nothing. He simply exhales. And then looks down at his feet. When he looks up, his eyes are filled with tears.
DON CORLEONE: I want enquiries made. I want no acts of vengeance. I want you to arrange a meeting with the heads of the Five Families. This war stops now.
He places his hand on his knee and, slowly, pulls himself out of the chair. He walks over to Tom and holds him close. Then the Don moves away, touching the phone as he does.
DON CORLEONE: Call Bonasera. We need him now.
As Tom dials a number, the Don walks out of the room towards the staircase.