In the film, we see him sniveling on the curb after his father was shot--hardly the stuff of gangsterdom. But the novel provides lots more detail. After the shooting, "Freddie went into physical shock...he was weeping openly...one detective knelt next to Freddie to question him but he was too deeply in shock to answer..." When Michael shows up at the Mall, he asks about Fredo, and Clemenza replies, "The doctor gave him a shot. He's sleeping." Later, when Sonny is making plans to attack Sollozzo, Michael says, "if we make plans, Freddie should be here." Sonny replies, "Freddie is no use to us. The doctor says he's in shock so bad he has to have complete rest." Sounds like a nervous breakdown to me. What about you?