Consequently the Mafia golden rule of "omerta" (translated as honor) was born. Because of the inherent instability of being conquered by so many different peoples, the Sicilians came to distrust all forms of government. It became an unwritten rule to leave the government out of private affairs. Crimes were considered to be personal with justice served by the vendetta.
The code of omerta, if put into words might say: "Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without police protection is both. It is cowardly to betray an offender to justice, even though his offenses be against yourself, as it is not to avenge an injury by violence. It is dastardly and contemptible in a wounded man to betray the name of his assailant, because if he recovers, he must naturally expect to take vengeance himself. A wounded man shall say to his assailant: If I live, I will kill you - If I die you are forgiven."
Script.
(Both men speak with Brooklyn accents, dress in suits, fedoras)
LEN -- (enters running, carrying briefcase, turns walks
backward, looking desperate)
DON -- (enters opposite) Lenny, baby.
LEN -- (freezes, gasps, turns) Boss!
DON -- You don't look happy to see me, Lenny.
LEN -- (backing away slowly) Look, Boss, I can explain.
DON -- (follows) What is there to explain Lenny? Everything is
alright, isn't it?
LEN -- (stops) Ah... Yeah. Ah... Everything is fine. Why?
DON -- What's in the briefcase?
LEN -- Briefcase? What briefcase?
DON -- The briefcase in your hand.
LEN -- Oh, this? This briefcase here?
DON -- Yeah, that briefcase there. What's in it?
LEN -- Ah... Oh, ah. Gee, you know, I have no idea. See this
isn't my briefcase. I was just holding it for a friend.
DON -- Lenny, (points to forehead) look at my forehead. Do I
have the word STUPID tattooed here?
LEN -- (sinks to knees, slides briefcase toward Don) Here's your
money. Please don't kill me. I'm begging you, Boss. Please don't
kill me. (kisses Don's hand)
DON -- (pulls hand away) Alright.
LEN -- Alright?
DON -- Yeah.
LEN -- Boss, can we clarify your terms a little? When you say
ALRIGHT, does that mean "alright, you'll take back the money" or
"alright, you won't kill me"?
DON -- Both.
LEN -- So, you're NOT going to kill me?
DON -- That's right.
LEN -- Listen, Boss, just to make things crystal clear here,
does that mean you're not going to kill me right away or you're
not going to kill me at all.
DON -- I'm not going to kill you at all.
LEN -- Excuse me for belaboring the point, Boss. But, does that
mean you intend to torture me instead?
DON -- There will be no punishment at all. I forgive you
unconditionally.
LEN -- (kissing Don's hand) Oh, thank you, Boss. Thank you,
thank you, thank you.
DON -- (pulls hand away) That's enough with the gratitude
already.
LEN -- (stands) Sorry, Boss, I... I don't know what else to do.
Anybody who steals from you usually ends up swimming with the
fishes.
DON -- Well, this is your lucky day, Lenny. I have turned over a
new leaf. From now on, I will forgive all who trespass against
me.
LEN -- You're a real manja, Boss, a real humanitarian.
DON -- Thank you, Lenny.
LEN -- You're welcome. Boss. (backs away) Well, I suppose I
should get back to work. (points over shoulder)
DON -- Good. You can start by mopping the floors and cleaning
the toilets.
LEN -- Boss! I don't do that kind of work!
DON -- You do, if you want to work for me.
LEN -- But, I thought you forgave me.
DON -- I did. But do not mistake forgiveness for stupidity.
LEN -- Boss, I never said you was stupid.
DON -- Forgiveness does not mean restoration. When I said I
forgave you unconditionally, I vowed that I will never beat
you up for this offense ever again. I won't even bring it up.
LEN -- Yeah, but...
DON -- It does mean not we go back to business as usual.
LEN -- But, Boss, mopping floors?!
DON -- I would be stupid if I put my trust in someone who has
shown himself to be untrustworthy, would I not?
LEN -- Cleaning toilets? Isn't that a little punitive?
DON -- It's not punitive. It's the only job I have where I know
you won't steal from me.
LEN -- Oh, man!
DON -- Nobody is holding a gun to your head, Lenny. But if you
want to reestablish a working relationship with me, it will have
to be on my terms.
LEN -- (sigh) After word gets out that I stole from you, nobody
else will hire me. (sigh) Alright, where are the mops?
DON -- (exiting, arm around Len's shoulder) Right this way,
Lenny boy.