GFII Question

In GFII an attempt is made on Michael as he nears the window of his bedroom. After escaping unharmed the grounds are lit with flood lights and combed by numerous guards and dogs. Michael meets with Tom Hagen and tells him that if he is right the assassins are already dead. Soon we find the would be killers dead on the property.
So I assume Michael thinks the traitor is still on the property, if not who kills the assassins and is never found?

Welcome tuneturner.

You may be interested to know that this was the first question I ever asked here.

21 months and 3500 posts later, I'm still waiting for an answer that makes sense. To me, it's a major plot hole.

To you plawrence? I think for this whole community. Nobody knows who killed them. Logic is Fredo but he's to weak. So...

Here we go.....

Logic is anyone but Fredo. How is he going to kill two professional hitmen? Forget the "weak" part, and let's assume he was strong enough to do it. It would have required some degree of planning, so if you believed him when he said "I didn't know it was gonna be a hit" (as I do), then that excludes him as a possibility.

Anyway, we do have a lot of new members since the last time this question was raised. Maybe a new theory will emerge.

In my opinion you hit the nail on the right spot. Fredo said: "I didn't no it was gonna be a hit Mike." Thus...that's why he killed them. He heard the shots and immediately knew what the heck was going on. To save his own ass there was one option, kill the hitmen.

Thanks for all the replies and the insight to the unanswered question.
M.M. Floors, I like your rational about Fredo figuring out what went wrong and to cover his ass he plugged the assassins but think of this:
What happened to Fredo when his father was shot? He couldn't get his gun out and when he did he fumbled it to the ground. Granted the situation but Fredo was no buttman. Secondly Fredo's wife freaked out when she heard the shots and Fredo is seen running after her to calm her down and get her back in the house.
I am stumped.

That's an interesting theory, MMF, and one that I don't think has been suggested before.

The problem, though, is that Fredo was just too weak, IMO, to take on and kill two professional hitmen. With a gun, maybe, but I believe they were garroted.

The best theory, as bad as it is I believe, is that it was Rocco, although there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to suggest that he was in any way dis-loyal to Michael. But perhaps, as Turnbull has suggested in the past, he was jealous over Neri's ascension and his own diminshed role in the family, although I'm not sure what he would have accomplished by helping to get Michael killed.

Rocco as the traitor could also account for his willingness to take on the Roth suicide mission. He realizes the eror of his ways, and seeks some form of redemption.

But the bottom line for me is that if it were Rocco, Mike would have figured that out and Rocco would have been long gone.

That's what makes the whole question a major plot hole. The only one identified as a traitor is Fredo, but his physical weakness, in my mind, makes it impossible to believe that he killed two professional hitmen.

I am as baffled by the killing of the gunmen as anyone.
BTW, plawrence: I believe that Neri pushed past Rocco in the family hierarchy. I didn't suggest that Rocco was jealous. I did mention another poster's comment that he (the poster) had seen an earlier script treatment in which Rocco volunteered for the one-way mission at the end out of guilt because he was involved in the Tahoe attack.

...euhhh yeah. But what does this have to do with the person who killed the hitmen, because that was the question. Rocco is jealous (or whatever), the hitmen come and shoot, and then Rocco kills them..? That doesn't make sense either.

Although I fully agree with the fact that Fredo is to weak, but for me that's the only option and the one I believe in.

I never really though about this one too in depth, because of the lighting in that scene, I just recently discovered who some of those guys actually were.Right after that scene,Mike is talking to Tom and he says, "Fredo and all his men" so maybe some of Fredo's men took care of the shooters, and then they were taken care of later, but that sounds a lot like a JFK theorey.Also I find it hard to believe that anyone could actually bring themselves to take orders from Fredo.Good question.

Rocco is no traitor. Fredo didn't kill the gunmen. Johnny Ola's men had to be on the property that night to silence them.

Johnny Ola's men had to be on the property that night to silence them.

Do tell us how Johnny's men got off after all that shooting at Michael's room and then the killing of the shooters minutes later without being seen? If they could get away why not take their men who tried the hit with them and leave no clues at all?

I never gave much thought to how the men who shot at Michael died. I assumed that the two were led to a specific point by Fredo where they could escape. When they realized what had happend the two commited suicide. If you know your history, it is widely known that Roman soliders would commit suicide before being captured by the enemy. So maybe that has something to do with it.

Escape from what, since Fredo had no idea it was going to be a 'hit'.

Except what was it that they would've realized had happened? Michael Corleone wasn't dead?

Regardless of what the Romans did, I think it's most likely these were shot while trying to escape. A map of the grounds had probably been laid out for them long beforehand, this was to be a professional job so they would need no one to 'lead them' anywhere immediately after the shooting. They had an escape route planned, and were gunned down before they could get out.

The neverending mystery that remains is exactly WHO shot them....possibly Fredo (which I've personally never believed), possibly one of the many compound guards who may have shot them on sight prior to getting word of Michael's orders to bring them in alive.

Apple

Weren't they garroted?
Weren't they garroted? But if they were shot in the circumstances you describe, wouldn't the guard just say "Listen...I didn't know you wanted them alive...They came at me with guns...What was I supposed to do? I had to kill them.

plawrence...

MAYBE they were garroted, could be. Though if there was ever any reference to that in the film it's just another thing that's gotten past me over all these years.

Though if they were, then my question would be why would there be two guys waiting to garrot two other guys who were hired to assasinate Don Corleone. And where would THOSE two guys flee to, now that the compound would most certainly be secured, locked down and almost impossible to escape from?

And also that would squish the theory that Fredo may have killed them to cover his own sorry ass. I can barely picture him shooting these guys, let alone garroting them which of course he'd have to do one at a time and then dump the bodies into a drainage ditch...just picturing this makes me

Apple

This is a good question to pose to FFC or our don J Geoff, anyone know what he has said about it?

However as others have said it was probably a hole in the films plot.

I'm a little upset with you apple. You don't even think about what other people are saying. How do you know they knew the grounds very well? They were from New York remember? Also how do you know they didn't think things had gone wrong? Maybe they were told to go to that spot where someone would be waiting for them. When they got there they realized that there was no one there and in the panic of the security closeing down on them they killed themselves. As for you pointing out Fredo saying he didn't know it was gonna be a hit. I've always thought that to be total bullshit. How can you explain Michaels face after this? He's holding his head then looks to Fredo with a look of "do I look that dumb?" And Apple how do you explain the drapes being open? Did Fredo open them thinking two guy were gonna stand outside Michaels room with signs saying "We need to talk about a deal?" c'mon now true Fredo was an idiot but he was a Corleone and even a weak and stupid Corleone can still lie. He didn't fool Michael but apparently he fooled Apple.

When Mike told Tom that he was in charge, he said that he would be in charge of Fredo and his men..,

"I'm gonna leave here tonight. I give you complete power, TOM -- over FREDO and his men, ROCCO, NERI, everyone"

My theory is that Fredo used his men to botched everything up.........,

I suppose this will always be one of those unanswered questions, but Fredo killing the assassins?? IMHO no way! This is the same guy who cried like a baby when Vito got shot. He just didn't have it in him. Like PLaw, I too always believed Fredo sincerely didn't know it was gonna be a "hit".


TIS

You appear to be looking at this in extremely simplistic terms. We know these gunmen were sent in by Hyman Roth. For them to even get access to the compound, this attempted hit on Michael would have to have been planned and thought out well ahead of time. Whether they were from NY or Timbuck Two, you bet they would have to know the grounds well. Let's remember that the only reason the assasination didn't succeed is that Michael dropped to the ground a second before the shots began. Until he appeared outside, the hitmen would have no way of knowing he was still alive and they had failed. Even by the time he DID make it outside to demand that Rocco take them alive, I would guess they were already attempting a getaway, not standing around somewhere to see if they'd succeeded.

Well, I'll let you debate that with others, as MOST do agree that Fredo really didn't realize it was going to be a hit. As for that 'look' Michael gives Fredo in the boathouse, I always took it more for a look of disgust, as in 'I can't believe even YOU were dumb enough to fall for al this'.


Nobody can explain it. It's another mystery in the film that's been pondered and discussed for years, and nobody's yet come up with a definitive answer.

On the contrary, DFTC, It's quickly becoming apparent that the entire movie has YOU fooled

Best,
Apple

See I don't agree with you there, I think it has fooled you. My explanation has left nothing uncovered. Yes maybe they did know the grounds but maybe like I said someone was suppose to meet them there. Your theory of Fredo knowing nothing leaves lots of holes. Yes maybe Fredo was weak and stupid but he was an older brother. As an older brother I think Fredo was jealous like he said he felt stepped over. How do you really know what Michael was thinking when he gave that look you don't. So why don't you take into consideration what i'm saying. Fredo knew the whole time what was going on and when he knew Michael had found out about him being the one involved he played the stupid card. Michael knowing his brother better than anyone saw right through it. Thats why ultimatly I feel Michael had Fredo killed b/c he was in on Michael being killed. Had it been just a misunderstanding and Fredo had been mis-led then I tend to believe Michael might not have killed him. However Fredo tried to have him killed and thats that.

TOM
If we catch these guys do you think we'll be able to find out who's backing them?

MICHAEL
That's not the catch -- unless I'm very wrong, they're dead already. They're killed by somebody close to us -- inside. Very, very scared they botched it.

TOM
What about your people ROCCO and NERI? You don't think that they had something to do with this.

MICHAEL
You see -- all our people are business men, their loyalty is based on that. Now, one thing that I learned from Pop was to try to think as people around you think. Now on that basis, anything's possible.

CUT TO: Outside, DEANNA screams
DEANNA
Right out my window! I want to get out of here! They're lying there dead!

CUT TO: BUTTONMEN running to the drain.

BUTTONMAN
Over here there's two of them. Looks like they were hired out of New York, I don't recognize them. We won't get anything out of them now.

MICHAEL
Fish 'em out.

[Two BUTTONMEN fish out the bodies]
TOM
Alright, get rid of the bodies.

ROCCO
Where's Mike?

TOM
ROCCO.

[TOM walks off.]
CUT TO: MICHAEL walks into ANTHONY's room.

The answers are right there in the script. Michael states that it is a inside job someone close who got scared when the job was botched. Michael shows that he thinks just like his old man and the suspects are mainly Rocco or Neri.
Deanna gives the final clue with her line
"Right out my window! I want to get out of here! They're lying there dead!".

Now there is no refrence to how they died but they are dead. Fredo may be weak & dumb but I am sure he rose to the ocasion to cover his ass and kill them both.

The phone call to Fredo from Johnny Ola in a later scene confirms Fredo as the inside man.
That is the "No Luke I am Your Father" twist to the movie.

And how do YOU know? Obviously, you don't.

Actually, I have been taking EVERYTHING you say into consideration...and have to say it's been quite an entertaining couple of days!!

That's where you're flat out wrong. Whether it was a 'misunderstanding' on Fredo's part (and you're putting that pretty kindly), or whether Fredo had deliberately set Michael up to be murdered (which of course we all know he didn't do)...Michael would've ultimately had him killed either way.

Apple

the thing is here apple you don't know either what Michael was thinking. However in my theory nothing is left un covered like in your theory, plain and simple. Your theory leaves questions like, who killed them, who left the drapes open, my doesn't.

MICHAEL
I want you to reach Fredo. I know
he's scared, but have one of our
people reach him. Assure him that
there will be no reprisals. Tell
him that I know Roth misled him.

HAGEN
My information is that Fredo
thought it was a kidnapping. Roth
assured him nothing would happen to
you.

So if Fredo thought it was a kidnapping why would he have complied with opening the drapes? Additionally who were Fredo's men? I've never seen them and would assume at that point in the saga, probably not muscle or button men. I would assume they were more businessmen like Mike said running the casino's, chicken ranches, etc.

Im sure Fredo didnt intend to have Mike killed. Do you think he thought that would make him the Don by default? If so, maybe. But I dont think that was Fredo's thinking. Anyway, this is only a movie.

DFTC...those questions you mention have NEVER been answered, by anyone. They've been pondered, discussed and debated and nobody's come up with a satisfactory solution.

To say that your 'theory' doesn't leave these questions 'open' that it leaves 'nothing uncovered' is frankly quite absurd. Because it implies that after all these years, YOU are the one who has come along and solved the mystery and we can all move on. But then if somebody pokes holes in your brilliant 'theories' and brings up other circumstances or conversations that directly contradict them, or if your 'theories' bring up even further questions...you continue to whine.

Keep whining, when you come up with a theory that even begins to make sense, I'll let you know.

Apple

Ok apple, whatever you say. I'm just bringing up my theory just as I have before. Now listen carefully very carefully b/c for some reason it has failed you in the past. Bring up some holes in my theory and I will further my reasons to support my theory. Now did you get that all at once honey? if not read it again. Also i'm not pretending to be the "all knowing" guy who has solved the mystery. I'm simply stating my opinion. Your problem is when someone brings up there point of view you immediatly shut it down if its opposed to you. Your very narrow minded you know that.

Can someone let me know exactly where in the film Tom speaks these words?

Also I don't believe it was in Fredos intentions to become Don. I feel Roth misled him into thinking that if Michael was knocked out then he being Fredo and Roth could work together for years just as Roth and Vito had. Since its pretty apparent Fredo is trying to become like his father in the second one. I point out the conversation in Cuba between Michael and Fredo and the mustache Fredo has on in the beginning of GF II.

I know where your going with this comment apple and as for that being a hole in my theory. Well Tom wasn't involved in that part of the Family business in the second one. So I doubt you can count on him as a reliable source of information. Even if you do you might realize that Tom thought of Michael as becoming to paranoid and Tom wasn't happy where the Family was going. Remeber the conversation between Tom and Frank in jail "it once was." I think Tom was giving the information to try and see if it would stop Michael from killing Fredo he knew Michaels intentions and thought it wasn't a good idea. Plus Tom was never good with dealing with a person getting killed close to the Family. Remeber the look on his face as he sees Tessio getting put into the car.

This conversation took place at the hotel when Mike returned and wanted and update from Tom. He asked for a towel from Neri and then asked he and Rocco to step outside. Mike asked Tom about what he got Anthony for Christmas, Fredo and the baby.

You may want to double-check that.

I remembered hearing no such thing from Tom's mouth but just to be sure, I checked the GFII transcript which can be found in The Godfather Trilogy link below.

Here's the dialogue:

CUT TO: The inside of a hotel room. ROCCO stands in front of the door as MICHAEL opens it. MICHAEL shakes his hand and pats him on the back. NERI shuts the door as MICHAEL rubs his eyes.

MICHAEL: Al - could you get me a wet towel?
KAY know I'm back? [TOM nods.] What about my boy -did you get him something for Christmas?

TOM: I took care of it.

MICHAEL: What was it so I'll know?

TOM: Well, it was a little car with an electric motor that he can ride in - it's nice.

[MICHAEL pours himself a glass of water. NERI comes to him with a wet towel.]

MICHAEL: Thank you, Al. Fellas, could you step outside for a minute?

[ROCCO opens the door and steps outside, NERI follows.]

Where's my brother?

TOM: ROTH got out on a private boat, he's in a hospital in Miami. Had a stroke but he recovered okay. Your BODYGUARD's dead.

MICHAEL: I asked about FREDO.

TOM: I think he got out - he must be somewhere in New York.

MICHAEL: Alright - I want you to get in touch with him - I know he's scared - tell him everything's all right. Tell him I know ROTH misled him - and he didn't know they were planing to kill me.

[TOM nods.]

Um -- they can come in now.

TOM: Uh - there is something else.

What follows is where Tom informs Mike of Kay's miscarriage.

There is NO discussion from Tom as to what Roth had led Fredo to believe would happen to Michael.

Apple

So what are you trying to prove with this apple? I see your up to your normal ways of not answering anyone when they present something to you.

I've answered you several times, DFTC. In detail.

You are apparently too (fill-in-the blanks) to figure that out.

Apple

I don't understand you apple at all. You make no real sense to me. I'm not even sure you know how to have a debate. Sorry for thinking outside the box and bringing some new theories to the table. Instead of thinking about it you just dismiss it immediatly.

I thought I brought up some real good ideas behind Fredo and his thinking and you don't even consider them. You choose to insult people.

Yes you are correct the transcript on this site states Tom said nothing. However being new and viewing several posts to get the gist of what's going on several people refer not to just the movie but to the book or versions of the GF scripts.
What I am referencing is from a GFII script, here is the link:
http://www.allmoviescripts.com/scripts/17584365683f3d9aa7445d6.html

Finally I started this post to hopefully find out some answers or gather other peoples insight not to prove one and another wrong with their opinions.

What I did was challenged your theories.

If you're going to be insulted by that, then you may as well go find a Board where everyone will agree with you and praise you and tell you that you are right, thank goodness you came along where have you been all our lives.

Better yet, if you can't handle debate of any kind, go & start your own board. If it'll help to boost you ego I promise not to become a member.

Apple

Thanks, tuneturner. I figured you had gotten that line from some draft version of the GFII script. In my opinion, if a line wasn't spoken in the film(s) then it isn't a factor. But that's just my opinion...others like to bring them into play.

I'm glad you started the thread to gain insight and opinions. The quesion you happened to begin with which was who killed the would-be assassins is one that has been discussed many times and as you can see, no one has ever come up with an answer that satisfies everyone. Some think it was Fredo, some don't. So if it wasn't Fredo, then who was it? That's where the questions begin and the possibilities are endless.

Sadly, the same question that can lead to interesting threads also can lead to nasty brawls, when people think they've come up with the definitive answer and cannot handle their ideas being challenged. Which of course is what healthy debate is all about!!

Best,
Apple

When the assassins bodies are located in the ditch, at least one of them clearly (at least to me) has a red line across his throat, indicating that he either had his throat cut, or was garroted. Plus, there were no gunshots that anyone heard

That's exactly Michael's point when he says to Tom:

"Unless I'm very wrong, they're dead already. Killed by someone close to us. Inside.

"THOSE" guys didn't have to flee.

Quote

Since there were two of them, I don't see how Fredo could have possibly been responsible.

That, I agree with.

To those who think it was Fredo:

Let's say Fredo didn't know it was gonna be a hit, but he killed the guys to cover his ass. So he runs out into the darkness in his bathrobe and pajamas and finds the two of them before the dozen or so guys and dogs running around the property looking for the same two guys, gets the drop on them, and kills them both. What a stroke of good fortune.

And as far as covering his ass goes, these were hired hitmen. It's doubtful that they would have been aware of the scope of the plot and that Fredo was the inside man. Roth, or whoever hired them acting for Roth, would have no logical reason to tell them of Fredo's involvement. So I don't think that Fredo had anything to fear from them if they were captured alive.

I think the ultimate proof, BTW, that Fredo didn't know it was gonna be a hit, was his line to Johnny Ola in the late night telephone call:

"You guys lied to me"

Why would he say that to Johnny Ola if Johnny hadn't lied to him? What else was there that Johnny could have lied about

Apple you never cease to suprise me I can't believe you said all of that, your pathetic. Now back to the topic which is what we are here for.
For the reasons I believe Fredo knew it was going to be a hit. Who left the drapes open? I believe it was Fredo no one else inside the Family was ever implicated in the plot other than Fredo. I also think it is highly unlikely that the shooters themselves would come in and do so. Even I think apple can agree with that. However I won't be suprised if she doesn't.
Also I believe Fredo was mis-led by Roth but in a different way. I feel Roth mis-led him in believing what would happen after Michael was killed. I think Fredo was under the impression that he and Roth would be on the basis of say Roth and Vito in the old days. I back this up by Fredo trying to be like his father in the second one. Sporting the mustache that Vito had in GF I as well as saying to Michael in Cuba "For once be more like pop."
I think that the shooters themselves were given the grounds of the estate by Fredo himself. I think there was pre-arrainged meeting point that they were suppose to go. When they got there though they were murdered not escaping which was probably the plan.
Also i'm not sure I want to make that clear to apple esp. I'm not sure but my interpetation of the look given by Michael to Fredo after "I swear I didn't know it was gonna be a hit" was more like "do I look that stupid to you?" thats just my interpretation of it. Its not the truth and I don't claim it to be. I just think its interesting b/c it doesn't leave any holes. If you find one bring it up b/c I would like to hear it.

WOW, plaw...you've got better eyes than me! I never really got a good look at the bodies, will have to check that out at next viewing.

I'll agree that throat-cutting is more of a possibility than garroting. This would have to be done quickly, and there would be too much struggling involved in a garroting.

GREAT catch, I had forgotten about Fredo's phone conversation w/ Johnny Ola!!

Apple

I think theres a flaw in my theory. Fredo does say "you guys lied to me" I can't think of anything else they would have lied about to Fredo other than it wasn't going to be a hit. I'll try and think of something. Good point plaw

Leave the drapes open? I agree why would the shooters need to do it, that wasn't their job. We have to take into account the possibility that there were more people involved here than simply the shooters.

Possibly. All Fredo really needed to hear though, was that there would be something in it for him. Roth & Ola knew they would not need to promise anything specific. Fredo would probably have had his own delusions of granduer as to exactly what that 'something' was.

I disagree that Fredo gave them the grounds of the estate. To do that, Fredo would have to have been in on some foul play. And as we all know, he did not realize this was going to be a hit. So for what other reason would he be coerced into turning over the ground plans?

You can certainly interpret it that way if you like. However at this point Fredo was far to frightened to even begin to try to lie to Michael. After all, Michael does say to Fredo at one point..."And you believed that story?"

So I believe the look was one of amazement that even weak, stupid Fredo had fallen for such a line.

Best,
Apple

I bet you will !!!



Apple

Thinking with Apple in the boat house when Mike was questioning Fredo, Fredo says that Johnny Ola approached him to help with the deal between Mike & Roth. Fredo says that if helped move things along there would be a piece of something in it for him. Now before you flame me I am loosely quoting here.

But this leads me to believe Fredo thought he was getting the best of both worlds but mostly was helping Mike out. Plus Fredo was looking for respect from Mike and he thought making this deal would give him that respect from his younger brother that he always sought. He wasn't looking for respect from anyone else, just Mike.

Would you expect anything less from a Irish guy from Boston living with a 86 year old curse on his baseball team.

I agree. Hagen's line in the un-used script about Fredo believing it was going to be a kidnapping makes sense to me, even if it asn't in the actual film Fredo's exact words were "You lied to me". Since the hit was unsucessful, he would have no way of knowing whether he was lied to or not about a future relationship between him and Roth. What he was lied to about was what the goal of the plot was.
If you mean that Fredo gave them a map of the grounds, which showed them an access and egress points, sure. But again, if Fredo didn't know it was gonna be a hit, which I think his comment to Johnny Ola proves, then it could not have been part of the plan for him to kill the hitmen.

I mean, if you were Roth, as smart as he was, would you have trusted the bumbling and stupid Fredo to murder two professional assasins?

So, for me, that brings us back to the question of who did kill the hitmen?

Something else just occured to me as well:
If it wasn't Fredo, and Fredo didn't know it was gonna be a hit, that means there had to be someone else in on the plot, on the inside, working independently of Fredo.

Trying to figure out the answer to this one is always fun, but I go back to my original statement. It's just a giant hole in the plot.

"It was Barzini all along!"
"Tataglia never could have outfought Fredo!"

I think it was Anthony Coleone on the advice from his fav. uncle Fredo to leave the drapes open. Then he drew that painting to distract his father for the shooting. Motive? well he knew after his father he was the smartest Corleone left and we know he wanted to help Michael when he asked to go with him in the scene where the two are talking in the bedroom. This is totally for a laugh but it does make a small case.

It was Anthony, he was getting back at Michael because he secretly blamed him for his fathers death in the tomato garden with the squirt gun.

Getting back to the topic at hand, I beleive it's elluded to early in the movie, before Michael visits Roth in Florida. He says that the hitmen are dead and now it's only a matter of time to find out who it was on the inside that killed them or who the true trader was.

To me, there are 2 opions
1. Fredo DID know there was gonna be a hit. He opened up the drapes. He let one of his men kill the hitmen.
(Maybe: After the hit the hitmen should come to Fredo's house, and Fredo would give them an alibi(don't know if it's the good word. If they come looking for the jitmen, he would protect them and say that they were in his house during the hit). But now they know Micheal survived he was to scared and had an other men (also in his house) kill the hitmen).
2. Fredo did NOT know there was gonna be a hit. A few soldiers of the corleone-family killed the hitmen. They also opened the drapes. The soldiers betrayed the family, they became loyal to Roth.

I believe in the 2nd. Cause i think Fredo really didn't that there was gonna be a hit

Fredo may or may not have known it would be a hit, but he sure as hell opened the drapes. Do you think Mike would let just anyone in his house?And if it wasnt Fredo who opened the drapes, he would have no part in the hit and Johnny Ola would have no reason to call him in the middle of the night and say the things he did to Fredo.

My theory is that it was Fredo's part of the plan to open the drapes in Mike's room then meet with Johnny Ola or one of his men and the assassins inside the compound. Then the assassins attempted their hit on Mike and afterwards met with Johnny of whoever who then killed them both.

maybe someone opened the drapes with no intention to make it easyer for the gunmen. Maybe Kay or someone else...

It wasn't Kay. She asked Michael why the drapes were open just before the shooting.

The drapes were opened on purpose.

Though i don't credit Fredo with much bravery or
cunning, I think he killed the gunmen when the attempt on Micheal's life failed, for 2 reasons:
he truly did not know it was going to be a hit, and to keep them silent.
And I must humbly agree with DFTC, Apple, we're ALL entitled to state our opinions here without fear of being ridiculed. This is supposed to be a forum for civil debate among Godfather fans. (Just a gentle suggestion- don't come after me now)

I always thought that was a messy, punked-out hit. Why didn't they do a "Rocco hit" on Michael and put the gun in his gut and blasted away?

It really don't not seem clear to me who left the drapes open. Hell, Anthony could have pulled the drapes open after he placed Michael's present on the pillow. How important did the drapes really play? Did the drapes have to open that evening? In other words, did the hit have to take place that evening or could it have waited in the morning? Did the hit man just took advantage of the opportunity without that "curtian-call"?

I don't know who executed the hit but one thing is for sure, all roads leads to Roth