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This scene uses direct requests, refusals, and negotiation to show how respect and power shape a difficult conversation between people with competing interests.
C
Cooper former pilot and farmer
D
Donald Cooper’s father-in-law
Read more 00:00 / 03:57 1× English only
00:00 All of you know me. 00:02 When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? 00:08 Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . 00:14 It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. 00:25 Even the police that have helped us in the past with gambling and other things are going to refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics. 00:34 I believed that then and I believe that now. 00:39 Times have changed. 00:41 It's not like the old days, when we could do anything we wanted. 00:46 A refusal is not the act of a friend. 00:49 If Don Corleone had all the judges and politicians, then he must share them or let others use them. He must let us draw the water from the well. 01:00 Certainly he can present a bill for such services. 01:04 After all, we're not communists. 01:10 I also don't believe in drugs. 01:13 For years I paid my people extra, so they wouldn't do that kind of business. 01:18 Somebody says to them " I have powders. " " If you put up 3-4,000 dollar investment, we can make 50,000 distributing. " 01:29 They can't resist. I want to control it as a business, keep it respectable. 01:35 I don't want it near schools, I don't want it sold to children. 01:40 Thats an infàmia. 01:43 In my city we would keep the traffic to the colored. 01:47 They're animals, so let them lose their souls. 01:56 I hoped that we could come here and reason together. 02:01 And I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to find a peaceful solution. 02:09 We are agreed. The traffic in drugs will be permitted, but controlled. 02:13 Don Corleone will give us protection in the east, and there will be peace. 02:18 I must have strict assurance from Corleone. 02:22 As time goes by and his position becomes stronger, will he attempt any individual vendetta? 02:28 We are all reasonable men. We don't have to give assurances. 02:33 You talk about vengeance. 02:36 Will vengeance bring your son back to you? 02:39 Or my boy to me? 02:42 I forgo the vengeance of my son. 02:47 But I have selfish reasons. 02:52 My youngest son was forced to leave this country 02:57 because of this Sollozzo business. 03:01 And I have to make arrangements to bring him back here safely. 03:06 Cleared of all these false charges. 03:10 But I'm a superstitious man. 03:13 If an unlucky accident should befall him, if he should be shot by a police officer, 03:19 or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, 03:27 then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room. 03:33 And that I do not forgive. 03:37 But, that aside 03:43 let me say that I swear 03:47 on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we've made here today. Language points Click a card to jump to its moment in the video All 28 Collocation 20 Grammar 3 Pronunciation 3 Slang 2
P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:02 when did i when did i
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:02 ever refuse, except ever refuse, except
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:02 one time? and one time? and
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? G Grammar B2 ↩ 00:02 When conditional clause: The past form frames a hypothetical explanation rather than a confirmed fact. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? S Pronunciation ↩ 00:02 When Practice reducing the function words; stress bookshelf and talk. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? ↗ Slang B2 ↩ 00:02 When every single one — Emphatic and conversational; use when stressing totality. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 because i believe because i believe
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 this drug business this drug business
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 will destroy us will destroy us
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 in the years in the years
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 to come to come
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . G Grammar B2 ↩ 00:08 Because ellipsis: The omitted verb makes the fragment sound like a sharp continuation of the previous thought. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . S Pronunciation ↩ 00:08 Because Link the words across boundaries while keeping sky and wonder prominent. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . ↗ Slang B2 ↩ 00:08 Because when I was young — Often nostalgic or teasing; less suitable for formal writing. Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come . P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 it's not like it's not like
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 gambling or liquor gambling or liquor
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 or even women or even women
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 which is something which is something
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 that most people that most people
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 want, but is want, but is
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:14 forbidden by the forbidden by the
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. G Grammar B1 ↩ 00:14 It's opportunity phrase: The structure links an opportunity to the talent or resource that could have been used. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. S Pronunciation ↩ 00:14 It's Stress look down and worry to make the contrast audible. It's not like gambling or liquor or even women , which is something that most people want, but is forbidden by the Church. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:25 even the police even the police
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Even the police that have helped us in the past with gambling and other things are going to refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:25 that have helped that have helped
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Even the police that have helped us in the past with gambling and other things are going to refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:25 us in the us in the
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Even the police that have helped us in the past with gambling and other things are going to refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:25 past with gambling past with gambling
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Even the police that have helped us in the past with gambling and other things are going to refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics. P Collocation B2 ↩ 00:25 and other things and other things
This phrase expresses a concrete action or position. Even the police that have helped us in the past with gambling and other things are going to refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics.
Teaching points Review right after watching My level A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
✦ Collocation B2 ↩ 00:02 When did I keep developing or investigating something above my level In the scene Murph tells Cooper she has continued investigating the strange bookshelf as he suggested.I can explain this clearly in another conversation. In daily life Let us discuss this calmly today. ✦ Collocation B2 ↩ 00:02 ever refuse, except because something might happen above my level In the scene Murph gives a possible reason for counting the gaps, without claiming it is certain.I can explain this clearly in another conversation. In daily life Let us discuss this calmly today. ✦ Collocation B2 ↩ 00:02 one time? And adjust for an unusual effect above my level In the scene Cooper explains that the anomaly required practical corrections to navigation and timing devices.I can explain this clearly in another conversation. In daily life Let us discuss this calmly today. ✦ Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 Because I believe want every benefit at once above my level In the scene Donald sums up humanity’s appetite with a critical, slightly bitter expression.I can explain this clearly in another conversation. In daily life Let us discuss this calmly today. ✦ Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 this drug business choose a similar path to someone above my level In the scene Cooper reports that the school expects Tom to follow his father’s path, raising the question of choice.I can explain this clearly in another conversation. In daily life Let us discuss this calmly today. ✦ Collocation B2 ↩ 00:08 will destroy us the only important consideration is above my level In the scene Cooper responds to Tom’s doubt by shifting attention from other people’s opinions to Tom’s own feelings.I can explain this clearly in another conversation. In daily life Let us discuss this calmly today.
Golden lines A great line in its own right — why and how to use it “When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why?”
Why it's great
Cooper turns a family conversation into a quiet question about a civilization losing its purpose.
Use it yourself
It’s like we’ve forgotten who we are as a team.
◈ Create share poster ↩ 00:02
“Because I believe this drug business will destroy us in the years to come.”
Why it's great
The balanced “too late or too early” frames alienation as a problem of time, not talent.
Use it yourself
We look down and worry about our place in the new industry.
◈ Create share poster ↩ 00:08
Takeaways What you walk away with “Look down” carries a social and emotional contrast. “Have it all” can sound critical, not admiring. “In case” leaves room for uncertainty. “Follow in my footsteps” frames inherited choices. “All that matters is” narrows a difficult decision.
People also search Questions, then the lines What does “look down” suggest in this Interstellar scene? It contrasts humanity’s lost habit of looking at the stars with anxiety about survival o
What does “follow in my footsteps” mean? It means choosing a path similar to someone else’s, often a parent’s career or life.
Is “have it all” positive here? No. Donald uses it critically to describe humanity’s appetite for every possible advanta
How does “in case” differ from “if”? “In case” usually motivates preparation for a possible event; “if” simply sets a conditi
