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lls to bee a producer on your own； make your own movies from top to bottom。〃
〃How the hell is he going to get me the Award？〃 Johnny asked incredulously。
Hagen said sharply； 〃How do you find it so easy to believe that Woltz can finagle it and your Godfather can't？ Now since it's necessary to get your faith for the other part of our deal I must tell you this。 Just keep it to yourself。 Your Godfather is a much more powerful man than Jack Woltz。 And he is much more powerful in areas far more critical。 How can he swing the Award？ He controls； or controls the people who control； all the labor unions in the industry； all the people or nearly all the people who vote。 Of course you have to be good； you have to be in contention on your own merits。 And your Godfather has more brains than Jack Woltz。 He doesn't go up to these people and put a gun to their heads and say； 'Vote for Johnny Fontane or you are out of a job。' He doesn't strong…arm where strong…arm doesn't work or leaves too many hard feelings。 He'll make those people vote for you because they want to。 But they won't want to unless he takes an interest。 Now just take my word for it that he can get you the Award。 And that if he doesn't do it； you won't get it。〃
〃OK；〃 Johnny said。 〃I believe you。 And I have the balls and brains to be a producer but I don't have the money。 No bank would finance me。 It takes millions to support a movie。〃
Hagen said dryly； 〃When you get the Award； start making plans to produce three of your own movies。 Hire the best people in the business； the best technicians； the best stars； whoever you need。 Plan on three to five movies。〃
〃You're crazy；〃 Johnny said。 〃That many movies could mean twenty million bucks。〃
〃When you need the money；〃 Hagen said； 〃get in touch with me。 I'll give you the name of the bank out here in California to ask for financing。 Don't worry； they finance movies all the time。 Just ask them for the money in the ordinary way； with the proper justifications； like a regular business deal。 They will approve。 But first you have to see me and tell me the figures and the plans。 OK？〃
Johnny was silent for a long time。 Then he said quietly； 〃Is there anything else？〃
Hagen smiled。 〃You mean； do you have to do any favors in return for a loan of twenty million dollars？ Sure you will。〃 He waited for Johnny to say something。 〃Nothing you wouldn't do anyway if the Don asked you to do it for him。〃
Johnny said； 〃The Don has to ask me himself if it's something serious； you know what I mean？ I won't take your word or Sonny's for it。〃
Hagen was surprised by this good sense。 Fontane had some brains after all。 He had sense to know that the Don was too fond of him； and too smart； to ask him to do something foolishly dangerous； whereas Sonny might。 He said to Johnny； 〃Let me reassure you on one thing。 Your Godfather has given me and Sonny strict instructions not to involve you in any way in anything that might get you bad publicity； through our fault。 And he will never do that himself。 I guarantee you that any favor he asks of you； you will offer to do before he requests it。 OK？〃
Johnny smiled。〃OK；〃 he said。
Hagen said； 〃Also he has faith in you。 He thinks you have brains and so he figures the bank will make money on the investment； which means he will make money on it。 So it's really a business deal； never forget that。 Don't go screwing around with the money。 You may be his favorite godson but twenty million bucks is a lot of dough。 He has to stick his neck out to make sure you get it。〃
〃Tell him not to worry；〃 Johnny said。 〃If a guy like Jack Woltz can be a big movie genius； anybody can。〃
〃That's what your Godfather figures；〃 Hagen said。 〃Can you have me driven back to the airport？ I've said all I have to say。 When you do start signing contracts for everything； hire your own lawyers； I won't be in on it。 But I'd like to see everything before you sign； if that's OK with you。 Also； you'll never have any labor troubles。 That will cut costs on your pictures to some extent； so when the accountants lump some of that in； disregard those figures。〃
Johnny said cautiously； 〃Do I have to get your OK on anything else； scripts； slats； any of that？〃
Hagen shook his head。 〃No；〃 he aid。 〃It may happen that the Don would object to something but he'll object to you direct if he does。 But I can't imagine what that would be。 Movies don't affect him at all； in any way； so he has no interest。 And he doesn't believe in meddling； that I can tell you from experience。〃
〃Good；〃 Johnny said。 〃I'll drive you to the airport myself。 And thank the Godfather for me。 I'd call him up and thank him but he never es to the phone。 Why is that； by the way？〃
Hagen shrugged。 〃He hardly ever talks on the phone。 He doesn't want his voice recorded； even saying something perfectly innocent。 He's afraid that they can splice the words together so that it sounds as if he says something else。 I think that's what it is。 Anyway his only worry is that someday he'll be framed by the authorities。 So he doesn't want to give them an edge。〃
They got into Johnny's car and drove to the airport。 Hagen was thinking that Johnny was a better guy than he figured。 He'd already learned something； just his driving him personally to the airport proved that。 The personal courtesy； something the Don himself always believed in。 And the apology。 That had been sincere。 He had known Johnny a long time and he knew the apology would never be made out of fear。 Johnny had always had guts。 That's why he had always been in trouble； with his movie bosses and with his women。 He was also one of the few people who was not afraid of the Don。 Fontane and Michael were maybe the only two men Hagen knew of whom this could be said。 So the apology was sincere； he would accept it as such。 He and Johnny would have to see a lot of each other in the next few years。 And Johnny would have to pass the next test； which would prove how smart he was。 He would have to do something for the Don that the Don would never ask him to do or insist that he do as part of the agreement。 Hagen wondered if Johnny Fontane was smart enough to figure out that part of the bargain。
**********
After Johnny dropped Hagen off at the airport （Hagen insisted that Johnny not hang around for his plane with him） he drove back to Ginny's house。 She was surprised to see him。 But he wanted to stay at her place so that he would have time to think things out； to make his plans。 He knew that what Hagen had told him was extremely important； that his whole life was being changed。 He had once been a big star but now at the young age of thirty…five he was washed up。 He didn't kid himself about that。 Even if he won the Award as best actor； what the hell could it mean at the most？ Nothing； if his voice didn't e back。 He'd be just second…rate； with no real power； no real juice。 Even that girl turning him down； she had been nice and smart and acting sort of hip； but would she have been so cool if he had really been at the top？ Now with the Don backing him with dough he could be as big as anybody in Hollywood。 He could be a king。 Johnny smiled。 Hell。 He could