Godfather Revisited:In the City

starring

Tim Geithner as Michael Corleone

Vikram Pandit as Moe Green

Win Bischoff as Fredo.

Co-Starring Hank Paulson as Tom Hagen.

Michael/Tim: My credit good enough to buy you out?
Moe Greene/Vikram Pandit: Buy me out?
[Fredo/Win Bischoff laughs nervously]
Michael/Tim: The bank, the brokerage. The Administration and the Fed want to buy you out.
Moe Greene/Pandit: The Fed wants to buy me out? No, I need funds I come to the window, you don’t buy me out.
Michael/Tim: Your operation loses money, maybe we can do better.

Moe Greene/Pandit: You think I’m skimmin off the top, Tim?
Michael/Tim: [Michael shakes his head] You’re unlucky.
Moe Greene/Pandit: You goddamn public servants you really make me laugh. I do you a favor and take Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae when you’re having a bad time, and now you’re gonna try and push me out!
Michael/Tim: You took Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae in because the Treasury bankrolled your bank/casino, and the Federal Reserve guaranteed your paper. Now we’re talking business, let’s talk business.

Moe Greene/Pandit: Yeah, let’s talk business, Tim. First of all, you’re all done. The FED’s policy options don’t even have that kind of muscle anymore. The FED’s balance sheet is sick, right? You’re getting chased out of the currency markets by China and borrowing from the Saudis. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my bank and take over? I talked to the Saudis- I can make a deal with them, and still keep my bank!
Michael/Tim: Is that why you failed to integrate Smith Barney into the operation?

Fredo/Winn: Aw, now that, that was nothin’, Tim. Vikram didn’t mean nothin’ by that. Yeah, sure he flies off the handle every once in a while, but CITI and Smith Barney, we’re fully integrated, right Vikram?
Moe Greene/Pandit: I got a business to run. I gotta kick asses sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, Smith Barney’s management and me, so I had to straighten them out.
Michael/Tim: You straightened Smith Barney out?
Moe Greene: They were banging cocktail waitresses two at a time! Players couldn’t get a drink at the table! What’s the matter with you? (classic line cannot be changed

Michael/Tim: I leave New York tomorrow, think about a price.
Moe Greene/Pandit: Sonofabitch! Do you know who I am? I’m Vikram Pandit! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders! You guys are fearmongering!

Fredo/Winn: Wait a minute, Vikram, Vikram, I got an idea. Hank, you’re the Treasury Secretary until January. Treasury Secretary you can talk to the President, you can explain…

Tom Hagen/Hank Paulson: Now hold it right there. The President is semi-retired and Tim is in charge of the  business now. If you have anything to say, say it to Timothy.
Fredo/Winn: [Vikram Pandit leaves] Tim! You do not come to Park Avenue and talk to a man like Vikram Pandit like that!
Michael/Tim: Win, you’re like my older brother, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the Fed again. Ever.

READ MORE: CEO lashes out at fear-mongering

NEXT WEEK:

THE DIRTY DOZEN

CITI BOARD ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL