Originally posted by Sophia:
That was kinda suspicious to me - yes, I would think if we are "family" , you would tell me if someone approaches you to go against me. Anyway that scene kinda made me wonder if Tom wanted to get out - One last thing - did Michael feel that close to Tom, like I felt he never really trusted him, because he was not a Sicilian?
The job offers weren't asking Tom to go against the family. They were just job offers to run hotels and other normal legitimate things. A man in Tom's position and with his education would have received plenty of those.
Michael felt closer to Tom than anyone else at that point. He trusted him. With that being said, Michael trusting anyone is not as you or I would trust someone. With everything that Michael has been through, he was very paranoid of everyone including family. Remember his brother was killed, first wife was murdered, his second wife aborted their baby, and his brother had betrayed him. This was not the life Michael wanted and he wasn't happy with it, although he was making the best of what he could. Michael learned to never let his guard down. With that he questioned Tom, I feel because he was afraid of losing the last caring person in his life.
Tom might have wanted out. He saw Michael's paranoia. He saw that Michael resisted his advice. I'm sure any man would have thougt about leaving for a legitimate income at that point. Hell Michael wanted to be legit too. Easier said than done. I do not, however, believe that Tom would have left Michael. He turned down the jobs and he felt loyalty to his family, which was Michael.
Tom loved Michael and Michael loved Tom as much as he could allow himself too. Michael was always a reserved person and he continued to be. He didn't show his love to people the same way other members of the family did. We saw that in the first Godfather as well.
