雅思阅读：教父Ⅱ

　　The Godfather Part II presents two parallel storylines. One involves Mafia chief Michael Corleone in 1958/1959 after the events of the first movie; the other is a series of flashbacks following his father, Vito Corleone from 1917 to 1925, from his youth in Sicily to the founding of the Corleone family in New York.

　　The film begins in 1901, in the town of Corleone in Sicily, at the funeral of young Vitos father, Antonio Andolini, who has been murdered for an insult to the local Mafia lord, Don Ciccio. During the procession, Vitos older brother is murdered because he swore revenge on the Don. Vitos mother goes to Ciccio to beg for mercy, but he refuses, knowing that nine year old Vito will seek revenge later in life. The mother takes Ciccio hostage at knifepoint, allowing her son to escape, and Ciccios men kill her. They search the town for the boy, but he is aided in his escape by the townspeople. Vito finds his way by ship to New York, and at Ellis Island an immigration agent chooses Vitos hometown of Corleone as his surname, and he is registered as Vito Corleone.

　　In the late 1950s, in a scene similar to the opening of the first film, Michael Corleone, Godfather of the Corleone family, deals with various business and family problems during an elaborate party at his Lake Tahoe, Nevada compound to celebrate his sons First Communion. He meets with Nevada Senator Pat Geary, who despises the Corleones, to discuss the price of the gaming licenses for the hotel/casinos the Family is buying.

　　Michael deals with his sister Connie, who, although recently divorced, is planning to marry a man with no obvious means of support and of whom Michael disapproves. He also talks with Johnny Ola, the right hand man of Jewish gangster Hyman Roth, who is supporting Michaels move into the gambling industry. Belatedly, Michael deals with Frank Five Angels Pentangeli, who took over Corleone caporegime Peter Clemenzas territory after his death, and now has problems with the Rosato Brothers, who are backed by Roth. Pentangeli leaves abruptly, after telling Michael your father did business with Hyman Roth, your father respected Hyman Roth, but your father never trusted Hyman Roth.

　　Later that night, an assassination attempt is made on Michael, which he survives when his wife Kay notices the bedroom window drapes are inexplicably open. Afterwards, Michael tells Tom Hagen that the hit was made with the help of someone close, and that he must leave, entrusting all his power to Hagen to protect his family.

　　The action then switches to 1917, where the adult Vito Corleone works in a New York grocery store with his friend Genco Abbandando. The neighborhood is controlled by a member of the The Black Hand, Don Fanucci, who extorts protection payments from local businesses. One night, Vitos neighbor Clemenza asks him to hide a stash of guns for him, and later, to repay the favor, takes him to a fancy apartment where they commit their first felony together, stealing an elegant rug.

　　The film flash-forwards to Michaels time. Michael meets with Hyman Roth in Florida and tells him that he believes Frank Pentangeli was responsible for the assassination attempt, and that Pentangeli will pay for it. Traveling to Brooklyn, Michael lets Pentangeli know that Roth was actually behind it, and that Michael has a plan to deal with Roth, but he needs Frankie to cooperate with the Rosato Brothers in order to put Roth off guard. When Pentangeli goes to meet with the Rosatos, he is told Michael Corleone says hello, as he is attacked from behind but the attempted murder is accidentally interrupted by a policeman. Pentangeli is left for dead, and his bodyguard, Willie Cicci, is struck by a car.

　　In Nevada, Tom Hagen is called to a brothel run by Michaels older brother Fredo, where Senator Geary is implicated in the death of a prostitute, and Tom offers to take care of the problem in return for friendship between the Senator and the Corleone family.

　　Meanwhile, Michael meets Roth in Havana, Cuba, in late 1958, at the time when dictator Fulgencio Batista is soliciting American investment, and communist guerrillas are trying to bring down the government. At a birthday party for Roth, Michael mentions that there is a possibility that the rebels might win, making their business dealings in Cuba problematic. The comment prompts Roth to remark, privately, that Michael has not delivered the two million dollars to firm their partnership.

　　Fredo, carrying the promised money, arrives in Havana and meets Michael. Michael mentions Hyman Roth and Johnny Ola to him, but Fredo says he has never met them. Michael confides to his brother that it was Roth who tried to kill him, and that he plans to try again. Michael assures Fredo that he has already made his move, and that Hyman Roth will never see the New Year.

　　Instead of turning over the money to Roth, Michael asks him who gave the order to have Frank Pentangeli killed. Roth avoids the question, instead speaking angrily of the murder of his old friend, Moe Greene, which Michael had orchestrated .

　　Michael has asked Fredo, who knows Havana well, to show Senator Geary and other important officials and businessmen a good time, during which Fredo pretends to not recognize Johnny Ola. Soon after, at a sex show, Fredo comments loudly that Johnny Ola told him about the place, contradicting what he told Michael twice earlier, that he didnt know Roth or Ola. Michael now realizes that the traitor is his own brother, and dispatches his bodyguard to deal with Roth.

　　Johnny Ola is strangled, but Roth, in a delicate state, is taken to a hospital, where Michaels enforcer is shot trying to kill him. At Batistas New Years Eve party, at the stroke of midnight, Michael grasps Fredo tightly by the head and kisses him: I know it was you Fredo; you broke my heart. When guerillas attack, the guests flee, but Fredo refuses to go with Michael, despite Michaels pleas that Fredo is still his brother and that its the only way out.

　　Michael returns to his Lake Tahoe compound, where Hagen tells him that Roth escaped Cuba after suffering a stroke and is recovering in Miami, that Michaels bodyguard is dead, and that Fredo is probably hiding in New York. Hagen also informs Michael that Kay had a miscarriage while he was away.

　　In New York of 1917, Don Fanucci of the Black Hand is now aware of the partnership between Vito, Clemenza and Sal Tessio, and wants his share. Clemenza and Tessio agree to pay, but Vito is reluctant and asks his friends to leave everything in his hands so Fanucci will accept less and indeed, Vito manages to get Fanucci to take only one sixth of what he demanded . Immediately afterwards, during the neighborhood festa, Vito murders Fanucci. With Fanucci dead, Vito earns the respect of the neighborhood and begins to intercede in local disputes, operating out of the storefront of his Genco Pura Olive Oil Company .

　　In Washington, D.C., a Senate committee, of which Senator Geary is a member, is conducting an investigation into the Corleone family. They question disaffected soldier Willie Cicci, but he cannot implicate Michael, because he never received any direct orders from him. When Michael appears before the committee, Senator Geary makes a big show of supporting Italian-Americans and then excuses himself from the proceedings. Michael makes a statement challenging the committee to produce a witness to corroborate the charges against him. The hearing ends with the Chairman promising a witness who will do exactly that.

　　Frank Pentangeli, who did not die in the attack by the Rosato Brothers, has made a deal with the FBI, and will testify against Michael. Tom Hagen and Michael discuss the problem, observing that Roths strategy to destroy Michael is well planned. Michaels brother Fredo has been found and persuaded to return to Nevada, and in a private meeting he explains to Michael his betrayal: upset about being passed over to head the family in favor of Michael, he wants respect and his due. He helped Roth thinking there would be something in it for him, but he swears he didnt know they wanted to kill Michael. He also tells Michael that the Senate Committees chief counsel is Roths man. Michael then tells Fredo: Youre nothing to me now. Not a brother, not a friend, nothing, and privately instructs Al Neri that nothing is to happen to Fredo while their mother is still alive.

　　At the hearing in which Pentangeli is to testify, Michael arrives accompanied by Pentangelis brother, whose presence causes Frank to recant his previous statements about Michael. When Pentangeli is pressed, he claims that he just told the FBI what they wanted to hear. With no witness to testify against Michael the committee adjourns, with Hagen, acting as Michaels lawyer, loudly demanding an apology.

　　At a hotel room afterwards, Kay tries to leave Michael, taking their children with her. Michael at first tries to mollify her, but loses his temper and hits her violently when she reveals to him that her recent miscarriage was actually an abortion to avoid providing another child into Michaels criminal inheritance.

　　While visiting Sicily, Vito is introduced to the elderly Don Ciccio as the man who imports their olive oil to America, and who wants his blessing. When Ciccio asks Vito who his father was, Vito says, My fathers name is Antonio Andolini, and this is for you!, cutting the old mans stomach open with a knife, avenging the death of his father, mother, and brother.

　　When Carmella Corleone, Vitos widow and the mother of his children, dies, the whole Corleone family is reunited. Michael is still shunning Fredo, who is miserable, but relents when Connie implores him to. Michael and Fredo embrace, but at the same time Michael signals to his capo that Fredos protection from harm, in effect while their mother lived, has now run out.

　　Michael, Tom Hagen, and Rocco Lampone discuss their final dealings with Hyman Roth, who has been unsuccessfully seeking asylum from various countries, and was even refused entry to Israel as a returned Jew. Michael rejects Hagens advice that the Corleone familys position is secure, and killing Roth and the Rosato brothers for revenge is an unnecessary risk. Later, Hagen pays a visit to Frank Pentangeli on a military base and suggests that he take his own life, in the manner of unsuccesful ancient Roman conspirators who, in return, were promised that their families would be taken care of after their suicide.

　　With the connivance of Connie, Kay visits her children, but cannot bear to leave them and stays too long. When Michael arrives, he coldly closes the door in her face.

　　The Godfather Part II reaches its climax in a montage of assassinations and death, reminiscent of the end of The Godfather. As he arrives at an airport to be taken into custody, Hyman Roth is killed by Rocco Lampone disguised as a journalist, who is immediately shot dead in his turn. On the military base, Frank Pentangeli is found dead, having followed Hagens instructions and committed suicide. Finally, Fredo is murdered by Al Neri while they are fishing on Lake Tahoe - while Fredo is saying a Hail Mary to help catch a fish.

　　The penultimate scene takes place in 1941, and the Corleone family is preparing a surprise birthday party for Vito. Sonny introduces Carlo Rizzi, Connies future husband and betrayer of Sonny, to his family. They all talk about the recent attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, and Michael shocks everybody by announcing that he has just enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Sonny ridicules Michaels choice, and Tom Hagen mentions how his father has great expectations for Michael. Fredo is the only one who supports his brothers decision. Sal Tessio comes in with the cake for the party, and when Vito arrives, all but Michael leave to greet him.

　　The final scene in the film is Michael sitting by himself at Lake Tahoe, in silent contemplation.

　　在西西里，少年时代的维托为报父仇，袭击了当地黑手党首领唐乔奇。在母亲的掩护下，维托得以逃脱，并来到了美国。这已经是1901年的事了，第二代教父回忆起父亲的青年时代，不由得深深感到了创业的艰辛。

　　迈克和妻子凯为儿子托尼举行了圣餐仪式和庆祝活动。但就在当夜，迈克遭到了袭击，凯受了伤。面对接管家族后所遇到的种种困难，迈克又回忆起了父亲唐维托到美国后的奋斗历程。

　　迈克尔一步步进行着复仇。同时他也在不断拓展家族的势力。通过与吉尔参议员勾心斗角的明争暗斗，迈克尔终于又控制住了一家大饭店，并开展了赌博生意。就在迈克尔扩大家族的势力时，一名叫罗斯的黑道人物又闯了进来，企图占领迈克尔的地盘。双方在暗地里展开了较量。迈克尔不满足于在国内已有的势力，他的手又伸到了古巴。然而革命的爆发却使他的计划受到了严重的挫折。

　　罗斯收买了迈克尔的哥哥弗雷多为他提供情报，企图暗杀迈克尔。但迈克尔也已对罗斯采取了暗杀行动。迈克尔含泪处置了弗雷多，却不禁回忆起当年父子兄弟间其乐融融的情景。迈克尔的不法行为终究为他招来了麻烦。政府展开了对他的调查。迈克尔受到了一系列的指控。然而借助权术，迈克尔又一次转危为安，逃脱了法律的制裁。

　　迈克尔成功地对付了政府的调查，但他的妻子凯却再也受不了这种充满了暴力、暗杀和罪恶的生活。她去做了人工流产，含泪离开了迈克尔。亲人的离去和兄长的背叛使迈克尔深受打击。金钱和权势并未给迈克尔带来幸福。他孤独地坐在湖边的住宅外，茫然地望着远方