The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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down to New York whenever he sang at the Capitol and scream my head off. He was so 
wonderful.” 
“We’ll meet him later,” Michael said. 
When Johnny finished singing and vanished into the house with Don Corleone, Kay said 
archly to Michael, “Don’t tell me a big movie star like Johnny Fontane has to ask your 
father for a favor?” 
“He’s my father’s godson,” Michael said. “And if it wasn’t for my father he might not be a 
big movie star today.” 
Kay Adams laughed with delight. “That sounds like another great story.” 
Michael shook his head “I can’t tell that one,” he said. 
“Trust me,” she said. 
He told her. He told her without being funny. He told it without pride. He told it without 
any sort of explanation except that eight years before his father had been more 
impetuous, and because the matter concerned his godson, the Don considered it an 
affair of personal honor. 
The story was quickly told. Eight years ago Johnny Fontane had made an extraordinary 
success singing with a popular dance band. He had become a top radio attraction. 
Unfortunately the band leader, a well-known show business personality named Les 
Halley, had signed Johnny to a five-year personal services contract. It was a common 
show business practice. Les Halley could now loan Johnny out and pocket most of the 
money. 
Don Corleone entered the negotiations personally. He offered Les Halley twenty 
thousand dollars to release Johnny Fontane from the personal services contract. Halley 
offered to take only fifty percent of Johnny’s earnings. Don Corleone was amused. He 
dropped his offer from twenty thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars. The band leader, 
obviously not a man of the world outside his beloved show business, completely missed 
the significance of this lower offer. He refused. 
The next day Don Corleone went to see the band leader personally. He brought with 
him his two best friends, Genco Abbandando, who was his Consigliere, and Luca Brasi. 
With no other witnesses Don Corleone persuaded Les Halley to sign a document giving 
up all rights to all services from Johnny Fontane upon payment of a certified check to 
the amount of ten thousand dollars. Don Corleone did this by putting a pistol to the 

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