"Something in it for me"

In his boathouse confrontation with Michael, Fredo says that Johnny Ola promised him "there'd be something in it for me" if he betrayed Michael. What do you think Ola promised Fredo?

From what we know, I think Fredo's soft spot would be control of a hotel-casino. That seems like a pretty big reward for opening some drapes, so maybe he was offered an operator's slot with points and a percentage of the gross. Whether in the States or Cuba, I don't know.

Just reading this I realized how "dumb" (for lack of a better word) Fredo was. Johnny was basically a flunky for Roth. He wasn't apart of the NY power structure, to my knowledge. So what ever it was, it would be coming from Roth. Probably a piece of Cuba.... but I think it was just a promise because if they killed Michael, whats Fredo gonna do????

I never understood, siding with someone outside your Family. Because at least, if you're a traitor with another Family member, you on the same team, in theory. But an outsider, doesn't benefit either of you, especially in the Underworld.

If Johnny Ola was based on Vincent Alo, then he wasn't a flunky. Alo was a captain in the Genovese family and worked extensively with Meyer Lansky on casinos.

I think that Fredo adequately explained why he sided with Lansky. He felt left out of the real decision making of the family even though he may have been a capo ("Fredo and his men"). If indeed Fredo was stupid as Michael opined about him, then there's the answer. He did not have the Corleone intelligence and subtle intuitiveness of Michael and Vito. He was literal: he only saw what was in front of him. He would have made a terrible chess player.

Fredo really was incredibly stupid, incompetent,and envious , He felt that he got stepped over,that no one in the Family (including Mike ) had any respect for him.
I don't think Ola would have had to promise him much. I'm thinking a shiny dime and a new hat would have sealed the deal.

Fredo was dumb but I don't think he was that dumb..... It had to be something enticing enough. Because Fredo was frail emotionally, I can't see him deciding to kill his parents son for peanuts (just think of how Michael felt in GF3 when it finally hit him and he was a cold as it gets). It had to be enough to bypass that thought, which also makes me think it was something that Roth would never actually come thru with. Besides, they could just whack Fredo after it done. Once again who's gonna help or care because it's Fredo.

The reason I say Ola was Roth's flunky is because there was no indication that he was apart of the actual mafia power structure and he was referred as "his Sicilian message boy" ,(or something to that effect). That's a flunky, if you comparing him to Corleone or Roth or Pentangelli. I mean even Willie Cicci was disclosed as a actual soldier. I'm not say the guy was a nobody, but in that dynamic, he was Roth's flunky.

I think it's possible--likely--that Ola/Roth didn't offer Fredo anything specific--they didn't have to:

They figured Fredo was deeply resentful of being "passed over" for the Donship. So, when Johnny "bumped into Fredo in Beverly Hills," he probably bought him a few drinks, then commiserated with Fredo ("a shame about you being passed over...you, the older brother...")--just what Fredo bellowed about in the boathouse with Michael.

Then, in the scenario I'm envisioning, Ola told Fredo what Fredo told Michael: That Roth was negotiating a big deal with Michael, that Michael was being tough on the negotiations, and that if they got some information, it'd be "helpful to the family--and that there'd be something in it for Fredo." Fredo would have jumped at it, but Ola wouldn't have told Fredo what he needed to do--and what he'd get--right then. He'd tell him to wait for further word.

Once they firmed up the Tahoe shooting plan, Ola called Fredo and told him to open the drapes. Fredo was stupid, but he had to know immediately that they weren't interested in ogling Kay getting undressed--they were going to ither kidnap or assassinate his brother. That, I believe, was just what he wanted: to step in and become the Don, as he thought he deserved. He wouldn't have been satisfied with owning or managing a casino in Cuba or anything less. And, I think, stupid though he was, he'd figure out that he couldn't reap a big reward from Roth if Michael survived--it had to be all or nothing for Fredo. The Donship was the prize; and once he figured out that Michael would be removed, one way or another , he didn't have to ask Ola again about what was in it for him. That's why, in the boathouse, he said: "I swear to God I didn't know it was gonna be a hit." What he meant was that Ola didn't specifically tell him it was gonna be a hit--Ola didn't have to.

To Lou's point about a "shiny dime and a new hat": Yes, a constant theme in the movies and in the novel is that greed and thirst for revenge motivate and undo stupid people. How could Paulie think he wouldn't be the immediate suspect in Vito's shooting? How could Carlo think he could get away with beating Connie a second time to lay the ground for Sonny's assassination? And, how could Fredo think he qualified to be Don, and would be able to run the family after conspiring in his brother's murder?

No doubt The Donship was the prize; was just what he wanted

Sure thing Turnbull spot on! indeed

My only debating point! is if Michael had died in the Tahoe shooting I doubt Tom or any one would have even suspected that Fredo “conspired in his brother's murder”

Fredo still would not have “qualified to be Don” even as a figurehead but you are right about the “constant theme in the movies and in the novel is that greed and thirst for revenge motivate and undo stupid people”

Well, not just people like Paulie, Carlo, Fabrizio, Tessio and Fredo though
Michael was nearly undone himself with Roth

Paulie was a dead man either way same as Tessio Once a traitor always a traitor However....

What would your take be?

• if Paulie had not called in sick on the day of Vito's attempted murder
• say if Paulie had 'tried' heroically to save Vito, putting his own life on the line but couldn't and ended up with 'non-life'! threatening injuries
• Paulie may have got away with it? at least been given the benefit of the doubt?
• ”something in it” for Paulie - obvious 'promises' 'rewards' only money

I think that kind of behavior was too subtle for Paulie. Being greedy usually precludes serious thought other than what he'd do with the money he got. I'm guessing he got the money up front from Sol and Tatt, and just figured (hoped, really) he'd get away with it. Of course there was no way he'd get away with it, but greed blanks out thought of bad consequences.

Thanks Turnbull you are right

Paulie was greedy and stupid Paulie was small potatoes and expendable to Sollozzo and Tattaglia [and Barzini]

Paulie probably thought he'd gotten away with it, Paulie 'coughing' and Sonny offering him food and brandy!

”something in it” for Paulie - obvious 'promises' 'rewards' only money because Paulie couldn't just cross over to a rival family then or ever unless the Corleones were totally annihilated

From the book, Paulie was chosen to exact the revenge for Bonasera and he carried it out perfectly. He was a rising star in the family which made his betrayal so shocking. Greed undoes everyone.