Inside Don Corleone’s office, Fredo Corleone feels the effects of activating [Bull-Like Strength].
The change nearly makes him yell out loud.
Every muscle in his body feels different now.
At this moment, he honestly feels like even Captain America could only go fifty-fifty with him.
One word: glorious.
He takes a sip of whiskey and calms himself down.
Don Corleone continues hearing petitions.
Today’s third petitioner at the wedding is his godson, Johnny Fontane.
Johnny sits beside the desk while Don Corleone remains in the chair behind it.
Johnny complains bitterly.
“…If I could land that role, I’d become a star again.
But that guy won’t let me have it.
He owns the studio.”
Don Corleone asks, “What’s his name?”
Johnny lowers his head, discouraged.
“Woltz.
He says I’m never getting the part.
Says there’s no chance.”
A moment later, Tom Hagen quietly enters the room, closes the door, and takes a seat.
Fredo raises his glass toward him in a silent toast.
The two take a drink.
Johnny keeps venting.
“…That role is practically written for me.
I wouldn’t even need to act.
I’d just be playing myself.
Godfather…
I don’t know what to do anymore.”
He covers his face with both hands and even starts quietly sobbing.
Don Corleone, resting the left side of his face on his hand, finally loses patience seeing his godson like this.
He stands up angrily, grabs Johnny’s hands, and says:
“You can act like a man!”
Then he slaps Johnny across the face.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?”
Still gripping him, Don Corleone continues:
“Is this what they teach you in Hollywood?
Crying like a woman?”
Then, mocking Johnny’s tone, he imitates him dramatically:
“‘Boo-hoo…
what am I gonna do?
What am I gonna do?’ Nonsense.
Absolute nonsense.”
Tom and Fredo exchange a glance and nearly crack up, though neither of them dares laugh out loud.
Right then, Sonny finally walks in after disappearing for some “private business” halfway through the party.
Don Corleone shoots Sonny a look.
You little bastard.
Then he turns back to Johnny.
“Have you been spending time with your family?”
Johnny quickly answers, “Of course I have.”
That finally eases Don Corleone’s expression a little.
At least the boy still remembers family matters.
“Good.”
Then he glances at Sonny again and says:
“Because a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”
Fredo knows exactly what that line means.
It’s a warning aimed directly at Sonny.
Too bad his bargain-bin big brother never listens to anything.
Don Corleone pulls Johnny closer, wipes the tears off his face himself, and gently calms him down.
“You look terrible.
I want you to eat properly and get some rest.
Within a month, you’ll be starring in that Hollywood picture.”
Johnny still looks hopeless as he shakes his head.
“It’s too late.
They start filming next week.”
Hearing the lack of trust in his voice, Don Corleone frowns slightly, but still says calmly:
“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Then he wraps an arm around Johnny and walks him toward the door.
“Now go outside and enjoy yourself.
Forget all this nonsense.
Leave the rest to me.”
Johnny finally relaxes a little.
“Okay.”
Fredo has already stood up by then.
He’s moving into position.
Once Don Corleone and Johnny finish embracing, Fredo smoothly steps over and helps close the door behind them.
Don Corleone lets out a long breath, like he’s both tired and relieved at the same time.
Fredo pretends to be concerned and asks:
“Pop, you alright?”
He places both hands on Don Corleone’s shoulders.
For once, the Don doesn’t even mind the lack of formality.
Instead, he holds his son’s hands and simply smiles without saying anything.
Don Corleone walks over, picks up his drink, and listens to the cheerful music outside before asking Tom:
“When is my daughter leaving?”
Tom glances out the window and answers cleanly:
“Soon.
Right after they cut the cake.”
He’s the Godfather.
The head of one of the Five Families.
But right now, he’s just a father who doesn’t want to let his daughter go.
That feeling…
Your daughter hasn’t even left yet, and you’re already wondering when you’ll see her again.
That feeling…
She hasn’t even walked out the door yet, and you’re already worried whether she’ll be happy out there.
Honestly, every father in the world probably feels this way when his daughter gets married.
Tom looks at the Don and asks:
“Should we give your son-in-law an important position?”
A man can live without love.
But he can’t live without purpose.
And for Sicilians, if a man wants a future, he starts by building a family first.
Especially in the Corleone family, where family means everything.
Even Michael—the son Don Corleone loves most—has to settle down and marry before fully stepping into the family business.
That’s why Tom asks the question.
But Don Corleone answers firmly:
“No.
Let him live a peaceful life.
Keep him away from family business.”
Then he asks Tom:
“What else?”
Tom replies:
“Virgil Sollozzo called earlier.
He wants a meeting next week.”
“We’ll discuss it after you return from California.”
Tom smiles slightly.
“So when am I leaving for California?”
Don Corleone takes another sip of whiskey.
“Tonight.
Go speak with the movie producer and handle Johnny’s problem.
Unless there’s something else, I’m going back to my daughter’s wedding.”
He sets down the glass and walks toward the door.
Fredo and Sonny follow behind him.
‘Collected [Music Mastery] Fragment ×1 (1/4).
Fragments incomplete.
Cannot activate.’
‘Collected [Music Mastery] Fragment ×2 (2/4).
Fragments incomplete.
Cannot activate.’
These fragments come from Johnny.
Back in the office, whenever Johnny’s emotions spike, the glowing fragments appear.
Fredo just doesn’t have a good opportunity to grab them earlier.
After all, the guy is sitting there crying his eyes out.
Interrupting that moment would completely ruin the atmosphere.
Even if the skill isn’t especially useful for a mobster, something is still better than nothing.
Today’s been a huge haul already.
Opportunities like this probably won’t happen often anymore, because Fredo notices something important:
Only characters who appear in the original storyline seem capable of dropping fragments.
No wonder the twenty-something guys under Mikey only produce fragments from Rocco.
Turns out the others aren’t useless losers—it’s just how the system works.
Not long after, the photographer calls everyone over for another family photo.
This time Michael is present, along with his girlfriend, Kay Adams.
After the photo session, Fredo calls Rocco over.
“Tell Mikey there’s work to do.
Have his best surveillance guys tail Barzini—the old man I told you to remember earlier.
Dig up everything you can on him and report back to me.
You personally go point him out to Mikey’s people.
Be careful.”
Rocco lowers his voice.
“Got it, boss.”
“Go.”
The old saying exists for a reason:
Know your enemy, know yourself, and you’ll never lose.
Might as well see what Mikey’s men are really capable of too.
At the center of the wedding party, Don Corleone shares a dance with his little princess Connie, the bride of the day.
Meanwhile, Fredo stands quietly at the edge of the celebration, watching the wedding slowly approach its end.
Every party eventually comes to a close.
Under the reluctant gazes of Don Corleone and his wife, Connie’s wedding car finally drives away.
After giving the two of them a quick hug and a few comforting words, Fredo leaves with the wedding convoy alongside Sonny and Michael.
As one of the bride’s escorts, he has no choice but to go too.
Even though he really doesn’t like Carlo.
But Connie chose him herself.
All Fredo can say is—
She’s gonna cry over this guy someday.
Shout out to William Skondras and Doglore63 for becoming my P Knight, my cats eat a feast tonight.