In some ways, yes. Many of us here believe it came even earlier: when, in the hospital, he said, "I'm with you now, Pop," he could have meant that he was, finally, with the family, not just at his father's side.

But I believe that he could have chosen to go his own way after Sicily. He could have said to Vito: "Pop, I was wrong to hold you and the family at arms-length, but I made up for it. I killed the two guys who were conspiring to kill you, and saved your life. I paid a heavy price: I had to ditch my beloved Kay and hide in Sicily. I lost my beloved Apollonia to a bomb intended for me because I'm your son. We're quits. Sonny dead? I grieve as do you. Fredo not up to the Donship? Sorry, Pop, but that's not my problem. Besides, you always said you wanted me to be 'Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone.' Well, Pop, I can't get there if I'm 'Don Corleone.'"