An epiphany/question about a just-freed Tom Hagen

Happy New Year all!

'Sbeen awhile.

So, I'm listening to GF1 off Amazon Video on my road trip in PA back to NYC on NY Eve, and something hit me that I'd never thought about before.

You only see this in the NBC version of the Saga and in the novel but, after Tom is released by Sollozzo and returns home safe. He sez as he's groping the better half, "Boy I'll never argue a case before the Supreme Court the way I did with that Turk."

So, what did he mean by that? He was never in any REAL danger, so there wasn't anything he had to talk the Turk out of, right? Virg basically said 'you're in no danger, just pass on this proposition to Sonny and keep the kids and the fat Clemenza in check.' The only time he may have been in hot water was when the Turk found out that the Don, rest in peace, was.... RECOVERING! But with that he just told Tom to make double-dog sure he gets that deal with Sonny.

Even in the novel, did I miss a passage where they were thinking of whacking Tom but were convinced otherwise?

Yes. At the beginning of Chapter 5, Tom tells Sony that after Sollozzo learned that Vito had survived, he knew he meant to kill him.

Yes. Plus, the dialog you cited, Montauk, was in a deleted scene that was included with the "Saga" version. Perhaps at some point in an earlier script, FFC had intended to shoot additional dialog twixt Sol and Tom, with Sol threatening to kill him. Or, it may have been filmed and dropped.
Either way, it's good it wasn't included. Sol killing Tom would have killed any chance whatsoever of Sol making a deal with Sonny.

One of the things Tom says in the book is that in order to persuade Sol to free him, he gave Sol the impression that Sonny wouldn't be too upset to have Vito out of the picture. It's a little sloppy, because at that point Sol and Tom knew Vito was still alive.

After reading these last few pages, I plan on reading the Book.

I have seen the Movies of course but never read the book.
The book has been always recommended but did not know it would have so much other insight due to other aspects not revealed or portrayed in film.

Dues I would recommend it. Just skip through the Lucy Mancini chapters and you're good to go.

Will do.

Mancini Chapters?
What is that?

Got it, the chic Sonny bangs.....

She gets a Chapter in the Book?
Oohfa

Yea if I remember correctly, it was a whole chapter. Blah

And the worst thing is: Puzo included her, and her romance with the doctor, just so he could describe her gynecological operation in detail.

WTF, I gotta read it now.

Oofa

Be prepared for a big yawn.

Not if he buys the limited edition novel with the sketches, polaroids, and video.

I see it listed on Kindle for $10.99

That version has close-ups.

I just downloaded to my Kindle.

Amazon having a one-day sale today $1.99

I almost paid $12.99 last week, good thing I was too lizzie to read. since its next on my list.

I hope I make it through the chapter about the broad.