Moe Green - I took him in because the Corleones bankrlled my casino and the Molinari family on the coast guaranteed his safety.

Roth - BE careful with him Moe. I've heard you have humiliated him pblically by slapping him around.

Green - He was banging cocktail waitresses two at a time.

Roth - Moe, you see he's not that bright. The Corleones are in deep trouble in New York. Santino is dead, and Don Corleone had to concede almost everything to get his youngest son back. The word is he's being groomed to take over, but Vito is kidding himself. Michael's still nothing more than a kid, and we scared the hell out of him in Sicily by taking care of his bride. When the Don dies, there will be nothing for them to build on.

Green - So what are you getting at?

Roth - I want you to cultivate Fredo. He's stupid and he's weak, but he may be of use to us in the future. I'm sending Johnny Ola to Vegas. Make sure you give Freddie some time off and convince him Johnny is there to be shown a good time.

Green - Whatever you say Hyman, but I just don't see him as an asset.

THREE YEARS LATER

Roth - We badly underestimated Michael Corleone. He secretly built an entire regime, wiped out all the heads of the New York families and, as you know he put a bullet through Moe's eye.

Ola - So what's your plan.

Roth - Michael doesn't know that we bankrolled a good portion of Virgil Solllozo's operation and also Barzini's after Sollozo died. That's the reason he never came after us. I've always taken care to send Michael birthday cards, and the like even from the time he was a kid, so I think he kind of looks up to me as a father figure.

Ola - What do you have in mind?

Roth - What's your relationship with Freddie?

Ola - Its solid. We've gone to Havana a few times on our own and also on some of the trips you made. I've taken him to that damn spuerman show 10 times. I swear to god he likes that guy more than the hookers.

Roth - You think maybe he's ...

Ola - Not that I've seen, but who knows.

Roth - Well, it doesnt matter. Here's what I want you to do.
Fly out to the coast and set something up with Freddie in Beverly Hills, or someplace away from Vegas or Tahoe. Tell him that Mike and I have something going on but that he's being tough on the negotiations. Be vague.

Ola - No problem, curiosity isn't Freddie's stong suit.

(both men laugh briefly)

Roth - Tell him it is very important that Freddie keeps your relationship secret from Michael. Tell him you'll be in Tahoe at the kid's Communion, and to make himself scarce. Tell him you need a favor from him, and that if he does it there is something big in it for him. Tell him you can't say what it is right now, but that you'll get word to him.