I asked this question, or at least a question like it some time ago. I believe there were a few explanations, but none that I can really say explained anything to me. So, here goes again!

In the scene where Michael is meeting with Senator Geary, Sen. Geary makes some really obnoxious and rude remarks to Mike about Mike's family and his Italian heritage. Along the course of the discussion, Michael says something to Geary like: "Trumbull is a good man." Then, a little while after that, the senator then shakes his finger in Mike's face and says, "Don't you ever call me again. From now on, you deal with Trumbull." So, who is Trumbull? Was he in the movie? If not, who is he in the story? I know there is a poster here who goes by the name "Trumbull" but I don't think they are the same people.

So, if you could please let me know who was Trumbull in the movie or book, and then who was the Trumbull Geary referred to when he told Michel to contact only Trumbull?

Also, what was the name of the man who nearly killed Roth in the hospital? Who was the guy who actually killed Roth in the airport? Those are a few left over questions that I still have in my mind.

Thanks again for your help!

~~ Lollie

Turnbull (not "Trumbull") probably was Geary's political bagman--a middleman between Geary and the people who needed to bribe him to get political favors. For my full take on Turnbull, see:
http://www.thegodfathertrilogy.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004794


The guy who was shot while attempting to kill Roth in Havana was Michael's bodyguard. His name, according to the script, was Buscetta, but you never heard his name mentioned in the film. The guy who shot Roth in the airport was Rocco Lampone.

Turnbull:

Thanks for the explanation which I read diligently. Here is my reply to it on that board:

Wow...that was an incredible explanation! And, unfortunately, it's scarey at the same time because it sounds all too real and plausible, too!

But, I still don't understand why Mike seemed to have a problem with what Geary was saying because his response to Geary was, "Turnbull's a good man." Was it that Geary didn't want to go the route of Turnbull? Also, what did Geary mean when he said to Mike, "The cost of the gaming license is $250,000. In addition, I want 5 (or was it 10?) percent of the gross on the casinos--all four casino's. Mr. Cor-lee-oooo-neeee." Before this, Geary said something to Mike about the casino being "grandfathered in so that there would be no problem with the gaming commission." How does that statement fit in? This whole part of the movie has had me very confused for a long time. Some of it now makes more sense after your explanation, but I'm still not 100% sure about what really was going on based on my additional questions above. Can you help a little further?

Thanks so much!

~~ Lollie
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So, do my questions make any sense to you? I hate to seem to be beating a dead dog, but I have a difficult time taking apart some of these mysterious events in the movie because they are a bit clandestine in their own right to begin with! So, I hope you don't mind. Thanks again!

~~ Lollie

Lollie, I don't know how old you are, what life experiences you've had, what life experiences of other peole you've been exposed to, or whether or how closely you've rad the novel or watched the movies. The questions you've asked indicate a certain naivete about life and human relationship dynamics and/or an inattention to the novel and/or movies.

It would be helpful to you if you would read the novel more closely and watch the movies again and pay real close attention to the dialogue. For example, in GFII it is very clear that Michael wants to wait before giving Roth the $2 million because Michael believes that the rebels could win and the $2 million would be a waste of family money.

Ascoltate and Imparate!

I believe Michael had no intention of turning over the $2M to Roth. By the time he'd arrived in Havana, he'd figured out that Roth was behind the Tahoe attack. And he'd already "made my plans...Hyman Roth will never see the New Year." Why would he turn over the $2M to a man he intended to kill?
So, why did Michael have Fredo bring the money to Cuba? IMO, it was Michael's way of keeping himself alive until he could figure out who the traitor was in his family. Michael took a gigantic risk in going to Cuba, where Roth, as the most powerful gringo on the island, could have him squashed like a bug. But he played on Roth's greed: Roth wouldn't move against Michael as long as there was a possibility that Roth would get $2M from him.

Turnbull, why don't you ask JGeoff to change your name?

Of all the things you know, and to think you spelt your username wrong.

Mick

Sorry to bring this old post back into the frey, but I think I finally understand the comment Michael made during the discussion between he and Geary...when Michael said, "Turnbull's a good man." I think he meant that because he (Michael) was surprised at what Turnbull was able to find out about Michael's intended moves on the Tropicala, he was saying to Geary that he was impressed with Turnbull's ability to uncover what he (Michael) was doing. I think he meant it as a compliment to Turnbull.

~~ Lollie

As I posted in an earlier thread:
http://www.thegodfathertrilogy.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004794
Michael said, "Turnbull is a good man" after Geary demanded an outrageous sum for his approval of Michael moving Klingman out of the Tropigala (or Tropicala?) casino. I believe he was saying, "Hey, I know that to get your permission, I have to bribe you by going through Turnbull, just like everyone else. Why are you demanding more?" He got his answer immediately, when Geary made his "oily hair/silk suit" speech.

I think Michael makes the comment about Turnbull being a "good man," after the Senator shows Michael how much information he has gathered about the Family's efforts to consolidate their power in the casinos. This is similar to a scene in GF I where Don Corleone is telling Sollozo how much information he has on his dealings. Sollozo congratulates the Don on his research, but when he says it he is looking at Tom Hagen.

I can see why you'd take that inference from both scenes, dontomasso, but FFC didn't really apply logic when he used both. Yes, Geary says, "My sources tell me you're gonna move Klingman out." But Michael or one of this people would have had to make a public application to get on the license instead of Klingman in any event. And yes, Sollozzo says, "My compliments," after Vito asks for the percentage for the Tattaglias. But Sollozzo would never have gotten to meet Vito without a recommendation from the Tattaglias, so anyone--especially Vito--would have figured that the Tattaglias would be cut in for a share. N.B.: In the novel, Hagen tells Vito that Sollozzo is "vouched for by the Tattaglia Family.")