Hagen came directly to the point. That he was an emissary from a friend of
Johnny Fontane. That this friend was a very powerful man who would pledge his
Gratitude and undying friendship to Mr. Woltz if Mr. Woltz would grant a small
Favor. The small favor would be the casting of Johnny Fontane in the new war
Movie the studio planned to start next week.
2 The seamed face was impassive, polite. "What favors can your friend do me?"
Woltz asked. There was just a trace of condescension in his voice.
3 Hagen ignored the condescension. He explained. "You've got some labor
Trouble coming up. My friend can absolutely guarantee to make that trouble
Disappear. You have a top male star who makes a lot of money for your studio but
He just graduated from marijuana to heroin. My friend will guarantee that your
Male star won't be able to get any more heroin. And if some other little things
come up over the years a phone call to me can solve your problems."
Jack Woltz listened to this as if he were hearing the boasting of a child. Then
he said harshly, his voice deliberately all East Side, "You trying to put muscle on
me?"
5 Hagen said coolly, "Absolutely not. I've come to ask a service for a friend. I've
tried to explain that you won't lose anything by it."
Almost as if he willed it, Woltz made his face a mask of anger. The mouth
Curled, his heavy brows, dyed black, contracted to form a thick line over his
glinting eyes. He leaned over the desk toward Hagen. "All right, you smooth son
Of a bitch, let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is. Johnny
Fontane never gets that movie. I don't care how many guinea Mafia goombahs
come out of the woodwork." He leaned back. "A word of advice to you, my friend.
J. Edgar Hoover, I assume you've heard of him" – Woltz smiled sardonically – "is
A personal friend of mine. If I let him know I'm being pressured, you guys will
never know what hit you."
114
1 Hagen listened patiently (терпеливо). He had expected better from a man of Woltz's
stature (он ожидал большего: «лучшего» от человека такого формата,
|
|
занимающего столь высокое положение; stature [‘stжt∫∂] – рост; высота). Was it
possible that a man who acted this stupidly (настолько глупо) could rise to the head of
a company worth hundreds of millions? That was something to think about (здесь было
о чем подумать) since the Don was looking for new things to put money into (так как
Дон искал новые возможности вложения денег), and if the top brains of this industry
were so dumb (и если главные мозги в этой индустрии настолько тупы [dΛm]),
movies might be the thing (кино может оказаться подходящим делом). The abuse
itself bothered him not at all (оскорбление само по себе его вовсе не беспокоило, не
раздражало; abuse [∂’bju:s] – оскорбление, брань; to bother [‘boр∂] – беспокоить,
докучать). Hagen had learned the art of negotiation from the Don himself (выучился
искусству вести переговоры у самого Дона). "Never get angry (никогда не сердись:
«не становись сердитым»)," the Don had instructed. "Never make a threat (не
угрожай). Reason with people (рассуждай с людьми, приводи доводы)." The word
"reason" sounded so much better in Italian, rajunah, to rejoin (отвечать на обвинение
истца, возражать; соединять). The art of this was to ignore all insults, all threats; to
turn the other cheek (подставлять: «поворачивать» другую щеку). Hagen had seen
the Don sit at a negotiating table for eight hours, swallowing insults (проглатывая,
проглатывающим оскорбления), trying to persuade (старающимся убедить
[p∂s’weıd]) a notorious (известного) and megalomaniac (и крайне заносчивого:
|
|
«страдающего манией величия») strong-arm man (крутого парня; strong-arm –
применяющий силу /напр. о преступнике/) to mend his ways (исправиться; to mend
– чинить, ремонтировать, штопать). At the end of the eight hours Don Corleone had
thrown up his hands (всплеснул руками) in a helpless gesture and said to the other
men at the table, "But no one can reason with this fellow," and had stalked out (и
величаво, гордо вышел; to stalk – шествовать) of the meeting room. The strong-arm
man had turned white with fear (побелел, побледнел от страха). Emissaries were sent
to bring the Don back into the room. An agreement was reached (соглашение было
достигнуто) but two months later the strong-arm was shot to death in his favorite
barbershop (был застрелен в своей излюбленной парикмахерской).
2 So Hagen started again, speaking in the most ordinary voice (самым обычным =
115
спокойным голосом). "Look at my card," he said. "I'm a lawyer. Would I stick my neck
out (разве я стал бы высовывать шею = напрашиваться на неприятности)? Have I
uttered one threatening word (разве я произнес хоть одно угрожающее слово)? Let
me just say (позвольте мне только сказать) that I am prepared to meet any condition
you name (что я готов на любое условие, которое вы назовете) to get Johnny
Fontane that movie (чтобы доставить). I think I've already offered a great deal (уже
предложил довольно много) for such a small favor. A favor that I understand it would
|
|
be in your interest to grant. Johnny tells me that you admit (признаете) he would be
perfect for that part (что он в совершенстве подходит для этой роли). And let me say
that this favor would never be asked if that were not so. In fact, if you're worried about
your investment (если вы волнуетесь по поводу ваших вложений), my client would
finance the picture. But please let me make myself absolutely clear (позвольте мне
высказаться со всей ясностью). We understand your no is no. Nobody can force you
or is trying to (никто не может вынудить вас и никто не пытается сделать это). We
know about your friendship with Mr. Hoover, I may add (я хотел бы добавить,
заметить), and my boss respects you for it. He respects that relationship very much."
3 Woltz had been doodling (машинально чертил, рисовал: to doodle [du:dl]) with a
huge, red-feathered pen (ручкой с красным пером). At the mention of money (при
упоминании денег) his interest was aroused (был разбужен, пробудился; to arouse –
будить, пробуждать) and he stopped doodling. He said patronizingly
(покровительственно = высокомерно, свысока), "This picture is budgeted at five
million."
4 Hagen whistled softly (тихо свистнул) to show that he was impressed. Then he said
very casually (очень вскользь, ненавязчиво), "My boss has a lot of friends who back
his judgment (которые поддержат его суждение = решение)."
5 For the first time Woltz seemed to take the whole thing seriously. He studied
Hagen's card. "I never heard of you," he said. "I know most of the big lawyers in New
York, but just who the hell are you (но вы-то кто, черт возьми)?"
6 "I have one of those dignified corporate practices (я работаю на одну солидную
|
|
корпорацию; dignified ['dıgnifaıd] – обладающий чувством собственного
достоинства /dignity/, достойный, солидный)," Hagen said dryly (сухо). "I just handle
this one account (мне просто поручили заняться этим делом /в виде исключения/)."
He rose. "I won't take up any more of your time." He held out his hand, Woltz shook it.
Hagen took a few steps toward the door and turned to face Woltz again. "I understand
116
you have to deal with a lot of people who try to seem more important than they are. In
my case the reverse is true (в этом случае верно обратное). Why don't you check me
out with our mutual friend (почему бы вам не навести обо мне справки через нашего
общего друга; mutual ['mju:tju∂l] – взаимный, обоюдный)? If you reconsider
(передумаете), call me at my hotel." He paused. "This may be sacrilege to you (это
может показаться вам кощунством ['sжkrılıdG]), but my client can do things for you
that even Mr. Hoover might find out of his range (может найти выше своих сил: «вне
своей досягаемости»)." He saw the movie producer's eyes narrowing. Woltz was
finally getting the message (наконец начал понимать, о чем речь: «получать весть»).
"By the way (кстати), I admire your pictures very much (весьма восхищаюсь)," Hagen
said in the most fawning voice he could manage (самым вкрадчивым голосом, на
какой был способен; to fawn [fo:n] – вилять хвостом, ласкаться /о собаке/;
подлизываться). "I hope you can keep up the good work. Our country needs it."
7 Late that afternoon Hagen received a call from the producer's secretary that a car
would pick him up within the hour (заедет за ним: «подберет его» примерно через
час, в течение часа) to take him out to Mr. Woltz's country home for dinner. She told
him it would be about a three-hour drive but that the car was equipped with a bar and
some hors d'oeuvres (закусками; hors d'oeuvre [o:’d∂:vr] – закуска /франц./). Hagen
knew that Woltz made the trip in his private plane and wondered why he hadn't been
invited to make the trip by air. The secretary's voice was adding politely, "Mr. Woltz
suggested you bring an overnight bag (сумку с ночными принадлежностями;
overnight – прдназначенный для использования ночью) and he'll get you to the
airport in the morning."
8 "I'll do that," Hagen said. That was another thing to wonder about (над чем стоило
задуматься). How did Woltz know he was taking the morning plane back to New York?
He thought about it for a moment. The most likely explanation was (наиболее
вероятным объяснением было) that Woltz had set private detectives on his trail (по
его следу) to get all possible information. Then Woltz certainly knew he represented the
Don, which meant that he knew something about the Don, which in turn meant that he
was now ready to take the whole matter seriously. Something might be done after all,
Hagen thought. And maybe Woltz was smarter than he had appeared this morning (был
умнее, чем казался).
Дата добавления: 2018-10-26; просмотров: 136; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!