Originally Posted By: Turnbull
When Michael said, “I thought you were going to tell me that you’re leaving to become vice president of the House and Hotels,” and, “You can take your wife, your family and your mistress and move to Vegas,” he was not only belittling Tom, he was mocking him. “Why do you hurt me, Michael—I’ve always been loyal?” Tom was reduced to crawling, while Neri, so obviously the source of that info, smirked. What Michael was reminding Tom was that he couldn’t leave the family—he had nothing on his own, and had he tried, Michael would have him whacked rather than let him get out of his gilded prison.

Your thoughts?


I interpret this as a provocation; either forcing Tom to leave and at the same time testing his loyalty. After Fredo's betrayal, Michael did not trust anyone anymore, not even his own wife. Pretty much anyone had become disposable to Michael except his own children. That's why he put Tom on the spot. It was for selfish reasons only, he didn't care about hurting Tom, because he had nothing to lose for he had already lost his family.

"It was between the brothers Kay -- I had nothing to do with it."