My Part IV Plot

Picking up directly after the events in Part III, the remaining characters are at Mary’s funeral. Michael apologizes to Kay as she gets into a limousine. Kay says she never wants to see him again. She then shuts the door on him, mirroring the way Part I ended with Kay having the door shut on her.

Vincent, meanwhile asks Michael to be his consigliore. Michael says that he wants nothing to do with the family business anymore. He is retired and decides to spend the rest of his life in Sicily.

Vincent has set up meeting with Gil Steinhauser, the owner of the most storied baseball team in the NBL, the New York Knights, which the Corleone’s have a 49% share of.

Steinhauser is in massive debt due to low attendance. The Knights would have folded if it weren’t for support from the Corleone’s who have kept the Knights on the backburner after acquiring total control of Immobliare. Steinhauser is seeking a new stadium deal from the city, who are headstrong in their denial of negotiating with him.

Vincent is trying to pull strings down at City Hall in order to get the city to come up with a new deal.

Meanwhile, Steinhauser (without Vincent’s consent) is looking to move the team to Las Vegas where Don Cortovino, a casino mogul, has already arranged a new stadium deal with the city, who’s mayor is in his pocket.

Don Cortovino took over all of the Corleone’s Las Vegas interests once Michael moved back to NYC to become completely legitimate. Michael was in a jam and needed to get rid of his LV interests and Cortovino was the only one at the time who was buy. Cortovino is new school, flashy and loved by the media. Michael doesn't like him much, and this is passed down to Vincent.

Complications arise. Unknown to Vincent and the rest of the family, Cortovino and Steinhauser are in it together in order to bilk more money and a better deal out of NYC and the Corleone’s.

When Steinhauser comes to Cortovino and tells him that he regrets selling 49% to the Corleone’s and asks for a way out, Cortovino says he’ll take care of it. An assassination attempt is made on Vincent that fails.

He turns to Michael, who is in Sicily, for advice, but Michael is steadfast in his denial to help. Instead, he offers Vincent stories of his father Sonny, when he was younger and we are treated to flashbacks of Sonny rising to power with his father and the rest of the family in the 1930’s.

Vincent takes the lessons he’s learned through Michael’s stories about his father and the family business back in the old days.

He returns to America and as the Knights reach the World Series, Vincent learns where the temper he acquired from Sonny can be put to use.

Al Neri is sent to Las Vegas to take care of Cortovino, Michael sits on the chair and puts on his sunglasses, and Vincent himself decides to pay a visit to Steinhauser’s press box.

First, let me just say I'm automatically biast because of the modern day story, but I have to say yours was pretty good. It was somewhat believable. The only problem I have with it was the flashbacks.(Yeah, yeah me having a problem w/ flashbacks)They dont seem to contribute to the story. Since Vinnie's is the main story, your flashbacks would have to parallel Vinnie's actions. But with the actions Vinnie is taking, it would be very hard to show how the old family was like them.

That's my problem with a Part IV too. Set after Part III you are going to have to do a modern day story. Not modern in the 2000's but back in the 1980's when baseball took off to become what it is today with the larger than life players, agents, and owners.

And Michael's stories about Sonny would be about something that Sonny took care of for Vito and the family or something, and the way he went about it, Vincent will apply it to his situation.

And since people in the Godfather are sometimes modeled after real life people, why not model Gil Steinhauser after good ol' George Steinbrenner? I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

I like it personally, I think it should be mixed up a bit more, add a few more dimension, if it were to play out as it is, it will be very effective, but lacking in terms of the complicated structure systemic to the GF Trilogy. But it's a good core storyline though.

A suggestion I have for an additonal storyline that ties into the assassination attempt. NOTE: This is not my idea for a main plot, Vincent's as outlined by DBCH would be the main plot, this would be a secondary plot.

Kay filled with greif suffers a stroke and dies a year after the death of Mary.

The movie starts off with a slow pan of the elaborate NYC cathedral. Michael thinks back to times with Kay, especially in bed in NY, when they were carefree and at the wedding from GF I when the whole family was one, then to Connie and Carlo's Son's baptism and his dance with Mary and him screaming for Appolonia not to start the car.

Likewise, Vincent remebers first meeting Mary, the Dough scene and finally them departing at the end of GF III and is likened in this scene to Michael in terms of his greif. Both Michael and Vincent arrive in seperate cars and both scenes take place in those cars.

In my version the funeral will be the first scene, the funeral of Kay Corleone, in which Michael's intentions for retiring is laid bare and Anthony's scorn for his father also is. Oh and Anthony has turned cold like his father by the Funeral.

Due to the death of his sister and his mother he has hits the bottle hard, develops a drug habit and starts to gamble, in which time his career is in the toilet, he's purposely estranged from his Father, he wants nothing to do with Vincent anymore (due to his association with organized crime).

So, Anthony, in an attempt to get rid of a huge gambling debt, falls under the thumb of Don Cortovino's point man Raphael Pregento. Known as the Saint of Little Italy, he has been known to take in orphans, helps out families and in a way that is of no humiliation to them, he devises a way for them to pay him back and keep their dignity.

Only Pregento, is in actuality a crocket philantropist. Pregento comes to Anthony as a kindly old man, almost father figure to Anthony, encourages him and helps him kick drugs and for assumes his debt he asks nothing more from Anthony than for Anthony to make his comeback in a lavish charity operetta based on an Italian variation on the biblical story of Cane and Able. The success of this event will allow Anthony to payback the money he was orignally given by the Charity as "gig money". The Charity is debt assuming company that doubles as a scholorship for people of Italian American descent and Italian American Families. After the concert a visibly drained Anthony is holding his throat, which painfully sipping tea. There is something wrong with his throat.

The charity ploy however is simply an elaborate ploy to get Vincent to attend the funchtion (for his cousin's Comeback) and on the way home from the event a roadblockage due to road construction is the scene of the attempted hit on Vincent.

To complicate things even more Pregento's mother's maiden name was Ciccio (the Don that killed Vito's family). The death of grandfather Don Ciccio (in GF II), caused the line of succession to pass from his father (Don Ciccio's son) to his cousin due to experience, who eventually drove the family name into the ground. So as an advisor and consultant to Don Cortovino, Pregento is the main influence on Cortovino's plan to bilk the Corleones out of money and further Cortovino's expansion into NY with the death of Vincent.

VIncent then goes to Sicily to hid out with Michael, who is initially reluctant to take him in out of guilt. He eventually reneiges and welcomes the company and opens up to him.

Vincent figures out the Ciccio connection from talking to Michael and makes his plans. There is the interlaced story of death of Fannucci and Sonny watching it. Sonny's first act true of cold hearted revenge and red hot rage is when he beats another boy into a coma after being slighted as a young teen and embarassed infront of a girl, she becomes his wife later. Finally it will show how Sonny made his bones as a young man and helped his father avoid an assassination plot by some local hoods. Vito subseqently needed to help Santino avoid the wrath of any proceution by taling to some investigating detectives. The final scene with Sonny shows him closing up a number's racket in the City, taking a stack of money and returning home to the compound where he sits down to have dinner with Vito and the rest of the family.

Now back to timeframe I, months after the concert it's determined that Anthony's voice is gone due to a couple years of heroin use and can't be repaired. Vincent, now reunited after the charity event encourages Anthony to finish his law degree, in several months he is a lawyer after passing the bar and Vincent pulls some stings to get him to inturn in a law firm (One of his, but incognito).

Vincent then gets Anthony to deliver to Pregento a "draft" mini-statue of Michaelangelo's David to donate for the opening of an exhibit of great Italian works of art at the Guggenheim, only we don't know this at this point. As Anthony delivers it on behalf of a private investor, Pregento meets with Anthony thanks him for his client for taking the statue on behalf of his client.

Pregento invites Anthony's client to exhibit's opening in a week's time. Pregento smiles after Anthony leaves, he talks to the curator, who is the only other person in the wing, milling about. It then cuts to Anthony walking out of the museum, Pregento asks his assistant to ask the curator (who has walked off at this point) who donated the peice. His assistant leaves the room and then after an additional cut to Anthony getting into a cab his assistant returns and says and says, "a Mister Vincent Andolini from Corleone Sicily". As Anythony's cab pulls away there is an explosion that rocks the stationary outside view of teh Guggenheim. This happens concurently with with the timeline of the other deaths of Steinhauser and Controvino.

The final shot is the shot of the greif, guilt and dread on Anthony's face inside the cab as he realizes what he has done.

Wow - UnderBoss... I am... speechless. That is an excellent plot and it sounds true to the Godfather Legcacy. I was having trouble figuring out how to add some of that nostaglia into my rough outline, but you have fixed that!

I personally thought of the opening as a shot panning across the Palermo Opera House as we hear the strains of the Godfather score and the shouts and cries from Vincent, Michael and Kay after Mary is shot.

I had the story picking up at Mary's funeral, but, since the actors have aged since then, I agree that it should start at Kay's funeral a few years after Mary's death - plus she is really no use to the plot - so might as well kill her off. That way the players can age without it looking silly. Also in that time period since Part III the Corleone's could have picked up ownership of the Knights. I like it!

I like the backstory involving Sonny. That story will add a lot of insight into Sonny's temper, being humiliated in front of a woman... it sounds good. A stroke of genuis. My compliments, UnderBoss!

I also like the Ciccio bloodline being introduced and the way that Anthony is dragged back into the family. Good work!

I had some problems deciding where to go outside of the main outline, but this fixes that!

One scene that would occur shortly after Vincent conducts business at Kay's funeral is that Roy Gentry, a ego-centric baseball player, refuses to play for the Knights. Harrison goes to see him (a la Woltz) and gets him to agree to a contract.

If the script based on this outline can be as good as it sounds - let's get on the horn with FFC!

Thanks man, it was definatly not only my doing, it just needed one other element of complexity to complete the circuit and I'm lucky to be the one to beable to compliment you on this one.

I say we storyboard it from here on in, something may come of it. It definatly was fun coming up with a complimentary plot to your's and I think we can work and maybe even develop a great script. We should also come up with several different supporting characters that we can use and/or develop.

To begin with I think a pan shot should be used and consist of a roll over of sicily, perhaps of Corleone with the people of Sicily going about their daily business, with bright music in the backgroud, men strolling down the road with luparas, etc. The music will turn more erie then contrasted with an early morning picture outside the Palermo Opera house, with a few people straggling along the street, some contrast in the shots with new and old, finally having an overall pan over the steps of the opera house and dissolve into the funeral scene.

Personally, I don't think the funeral scene should be more than about 5 minutes, just showing without words the drastic evolution of the characters since GF III, with intreguing yet subtle respectful dialogue.

The next scene I think in keeping with GF tradition would be a cut at a lavish ballroom at a new year's eve party. This party will have the whole family and main characters including the bassball mogal. At this Michael will announce he is going to be turning over his minority control of the Corleone Corporation (or whatever) to Vincent, who will be running it and will be retiring to Sicily. Vincent in his private office, considerably more ornate than any of the other Don's with black marble counters and a desk in meeting with Michael asks Michael to act as Consigliere and he turns him down.

Steinhauser also make his entrance and as a shrood businessman, Vincent skillfully critizes him by simply recapitulting the sequence of events that left him Steinhauser with only 38% control of the company, but he is also the CEO of the corporation. I think 32% minority control for Vincent is a more obtuse number, with the rest of the control of the company (28%), going to Young and McCloud, who are also in bed with Steinhauser, but do not have a voting track record to substantiate this. Steinhauser then grieves about his troubles Trying to convince Gentry, known as the one man army and rookie of the year last year. Steinhauser also tells Vincent about how they need one great pick or the team may be in trouble. He goes on about Roy Gentry and how he is shaping up to be the next Joe Dimaggio and batted 0.450 in his last 2 years in the college leagues and had a .390 last year to win the rookie of the year. Gentry only needs a little persuading to make a decision that will benefit him and the team in the opinion of Steinhauser. He makes it clear Gentry is the only choice

Now my take on the baseball plot is this. Vincent plays dumb and hears out his whole story and how Roy Gentry just needs a little coaxing. Vincent chims in after a few minutes and tells Steinhauser things he has kept from Vincent to get a better position, like the attendance, the expenses, how Steinhauser's bad business practices and skimming off to pay the IRS for back taxes has lead the team down the path to ruin. When Steinhauser looks surprised Vincent loosens up and tells Steinhauser in order for him to do this he will have to gain a voting minority in the team and besides Steinhauser has no choice, if things go the way they are going the team will have to relocate.

Only the complication of the baseball plot (which happens in the middle of the movie) is that a rather mundane knee injury to Gentry in his last season has virtually guaranteed him a short baseball career. Steinhauser along with Controvino payed off the doctors to ignore the injury as a long term problem and give him a clean bill of heal. Now the plot is this, to sign Gentry they need a cash infusion and some coercion on the part of Gentry. For this Vincent is sold an additonal %, giving him a voting share. But Controvino and Steinhauser are still confident that any injury will end Gentry's career and doom the team financially, forcing the sale of the team to COntrovino's investor group in Vegas, causing the team to be moved and the stadium being built at the expense of the tax payers with additonal profits from union and the monopoly construction monopoly of Controvino. Part of the profit will go to Steinhauser as per a percentage of his part in the plot.

He is guaranteed to be given another clean bill of heal by the special team doctor also working for Steinhauser. Early in the season Gentry suffers a knee injury and it is discovered the gravity of the problem, when a specialist declares that knee injury as untenable, Gentry is benched for 2 out of 3 games and only pulls off a .245 batting average. This sinks attendance and in a voting decision Steinhauser and McCloud and Young vote to sell their share to an investor group and relocate the team to Los Vegas. Vincent suspects this much, knows something else is up and sees a newpaper article detailing that the original knee injuring to Gentry in season 1 was actually misdiagnosed and caused his career to practically be ended. The Doctor is being sued by Gentry.

We can have Steinhauser coaxed into an agreement that will have the Corleones take over majority control by a certain date - say 1/1/1985 or whatever. That way, it gives Steinhauser time to make backroom deals with Cortivino in Las Vegas and sets up the assassination plot in order to keep control of the team.

At the same time - there has to be a way too keep the assissination attempt secret - so you're never sure who is beind it. I think with the subplot you added, we'll be able to make it look like anyone. But we need to keep that in mind.

Also - during the grand finale of bodies, as I like to call it, should Michael's death be included? We've already seen him die, and there is no need to cover it again - but I think it would add a dimension to the story.

What familiar faces should be kept? I think they are vital to the continuity of the series.

It looked like Calo died at the end of Part III when he went for Lucchesi but we never see him actually get shot or anything.

Neri is still alive and it is pretty safe to say that he would remain in the family.

Harrison is probably still around but the sight of Mary's death may have scared him off since he was just a lawyer and not a full blown consigliere.

Johnny Fontaine - he could have a role in Las Vegas under Cortovino or something - a potential traitor - but I think he would remain loyal. He could be caught in the middle of the cross fire.

Connie needs a role. I thought originally that she could become consigliere once Michael turns it down. Maybe she could weasel her way into the role like she did in Part III.

This sounds good. E-mail me at s_jester@yahoo.com with any other ideas you might have or just continue to add them here... as I will.

All I can say is you people are geniuses. Make an appointment with Coppalla-I want to see this movie!

Let me know if this is in one of your above posts(I sort of just skimmed through them) but elaborate on the flashbacks. Your modern day story is coming along nicely, but I havent seen what the flashbacks will include. My script is totally set back in the "olden day" but pretty much deals with Sonny, coming up through the family, making his bones yadayada but I also threw in a part about Fredo, because I think he didnt get enough screen time in the first 2. Anyway, I'm at the point right now where I'm introducing Pentangelli. I need an enemy to the family though. I got the Irish gang that shoots Vito, but Luca takes care of them so... any suggestions for an olden day enemy?

Thanks for the comments guys. DBCH and myself are sorting out some stuff by email but will be back with some more developments soon.

As for the Sonny flashbacks, I added 4, to show the evolution of SOnny, I'm thinking of changing them a bit perhaps to make them paralell the plot of the Modern story a bit. The flashbacks are contained in my first long post.

The flashbacks will show the Fannucci killing, and him witnessing it. It will show Sonny's first cold fit of rage where he beats a fellow teen almost to death for a slight and insult infront of a woman he liked. Him taking a plot against his father very personally as a young man and having a really kick ass gun battle with them where he dusts them all, making his bones. Vito will cover for him and bribe the Detective and judge, he will get more embroiled in the game and by the 4th flash back he will be runnig his own numbers racket and well within the family business while leaving to go to dinner in December at his father's house (same month as the initial assassination attempt on Vito).

Personally the Irish Gangs is a good plot development. I personally see 2 options for enemies. One being the contrast between the irish gangs and the sicilian ones. Showing the Irish gang leader as impulsive, not very well thought out, or strategic, he is cunning however, but lacks the true edge that a Don would have in terms of intelligence or overall tact in handling things. Or the Irish gangs being a pawn of a Sicilian family, that would be a little too GF I, I think personally, but could work as well if the right concession are made. I think the first theme would be more captivating and original, but also a bit more simplistic but more to the point. It would depend on how deep you want the plot to run.

OK. Steinhauser should get changed… I agree with you there. Too close to home. So we can come up with a new name or just leave it as Hauser. I also agree about the recycling of characters - we should avoid it. However - there does need to be a feeling that these people are still part of the same family in Part 1, 2, and 3.

To be honest - I am getting a little confused now. I think we need to create a list of all the players that we’re intending to use - and their motivations. So, here is what I have come up with so far, and feel free to add the characters from the plot you’ve added and make changes to mine:

Michael Corleone - even more guilt ridden from the death of Mary, decides he wants nothing more to do with the family, turns down the role of consigliere and returns to Sicily to live out the remainder of his years there.

Don Vincenzo Corleone - also racked with guilt over Mary’s death. He has changed since Part III, becomes more business savvy like Michael was early on, but still has that violent edge he inherited from his father Sonny. Has minority ownership in the New York Knights baseball team. After attending Anthony Corleone’s comeback operatic performance, an attempt on his life fails. He hides out in Sicily to recover and seeks advice from Michael.

Alfredo Fenzini - consigliere to the Corleone’s. An accomplished lawyer, yet he grew up on the streets with Vincent in Hell’s Kitchen. He knows what goes on behind the scenes, and helps make things happen.

Gil Hauser - majority owner of the New York Knights. Under his watch, the team hasn’t had a winning season in 12 seasons, attendance is dropping and the stadium is in shambles. Word is out that the next season he won’t be able to pay his playroll, which has reached an all-time low. Hauser was stonewalled into selling part of the team to the Corloene’s, who basically keep the team afloat with deposits here and there. Hauser doesn’t want to move the team, but makes it appear to Vincent that he does. In Las Vegas, Don Cortovino has pulled strings to make it appear that the city is willing to build a stadium for the Knights and will market the team in casinos to attract fans.

Don Francesco Cortovino - the “King of Las Vegas.” He was the one who took over Michael’s shares of the Casinos once Michael left Nevada to come back home to NYC and built Las Vegas into what it is in the 80’s. Michael was in a hurry to sell and had to enter into a shaky agreement with Cortovino. Hauser and Cortovino are making it appear that Las Vegas will support the team so that they can bilk more money out of the Corleone’s and the city of NYC. In turn, Hauser will split his earnings from the deal with Cortovino. When Vincent learns that the Knights could be headed to Vegas, he spaces out and abuses Hauser and threatens him. “The team stays in New York,” Vincent says. “My father, my ancestors rooted for this team growing up, and the team will stay.” Word about this gets back to Cortovino and he and Hauser set up an assassination on Vincent after Anthony’s comeback performance at the Opera House.

Roy Gentry - star player of the Knights minor league system. “Knight in shining armor,” the press dub him. He can single handedly save the Knights. Only he has been threatened throughout his career to play with a bum knee. He wants out of the Knights organization. Vincent believes that he can make the team profitable again, only he doesn’t know that Hauser and Cortovino have been fudging his medical records.

Steven Hegler - Gentry’s stubborn agent who smells the plot Cortovino and Hauser are cooking up and wants in.

The Remaining Owners - made up of various businessmen, these are the people who hang in the balance when it comes to the Knights. They tend to side with Hauser, yet they could care less where the team ends up.

Feel free to change things to make it fit the overall story. I’m still trying to come up with the details of the move and why and how Cortovino would benefit from entering into the deal to move the team...

And here is a rough outline of the modern business deal plot:

I. Family Gathering (New Year’s Eve, Christmas, etc…)

A. Hauser comes to Vincent and confesses to him that the team is in serious financial trouble. Vincent agrees to help out, throws some money Hauser’s way expecting the problem to fix itself. Knowing that this is all that Vincent will ever do, Hauser leaves frustrated, and decides to contact Cortovino for help.

B. Vincent asks Michael to be his consigliere, that he needs guidance through this new business deal with Hauser. Michael refuses, and retreats to Sicily.

II. Baseball meetings in Houston

A. Hauser tells Vincent that Las Vegas will build him a new stadium and market the teams in casinos, etc.
B. Vincent objects and states that team will remain in NYC. Abuses Hauser in some way, Hauser gets upset, leaves.

III. Anthony’s Opera Performace

A. Vincent attends the performance, Michael attends as well, sits alone from the rest of the family.
B. After performance, Vincent is blockaded down the street and an attempt is made on his life.
C. Surviving, Vincent flees to Sicily, leaving Alfredo in charge of the family.

IV. Sicily with Michael

A. Vincent sees Michael who wants nothing to do with him when he sees that business has threatened Vincent's life again. Eventually Michael takes him in.
B. Here are where the flashbacks with Sonny take place.
C. Michael tells Vincent stories of Sonny while he gets better.
D. After clearing his head, and with the indirect help of Michael, Vincent is able to see who is behind his assassination attempt.

V. Back in NYC

A. Vincent has Cortovino, Hauser, Hegler, and the Remaining Owners killed.
B. Takes over majority ownership of the Knights.

I really like what you have here, it's a very nice outline.

I want will add a few things here:

Michael Corleone: Has always been a victim of his own ambition and knowledge of running crime family. He is always sucked back into doing the easy thing instead of doing the harder, right thing. I think he should reluctantly give advice to Vincent and advise him in what to do. His advice will be crucial for the less wise Vincent to continue down a negative path set out by him and his father. Namely he will have a hand in Pregento and Hauser. Through his advice, he will not make any value judgements, but still at the same time have a hand in what is to happen and along with vincent hold piece of the puzzle for figuring out the role of Pregento and his true identity. In his advice being a recant of history he will be encouraging vincent and although not activly not doing anything will still be insturmental in what happens and is guilty of the same crime that he was in the whole GF series.

Vincent: Is alot more sophisiticated and complex in this one. In GF III Vincent wasn't fully concious of the reprecussions of what the life can entail in this he is sadder and wiser for his loss. Vincent is offered a majority ownership in the team to help convince Gentry to sign onto the team. Knowing a good opportunity when it presents itself he doesn't just float Hauser a loan, but demands ownership of the team from Hauser for this favour, pointing out that Hauser will still profit. Hauser delays on the ownership handover due to the league ownership approval process.

Gil Hauser: Although he still retains majority control of the team, the team is about to become bankrupt and therefore to save the team he must turn to Vincent to delay this and getting him to get Gentry into the mix. Gentry is the only thing that can save the team. when he was drafted and instantly improved the team he was drafted for say the Cub's fortunes and their attendance. The backstory for Hauser is he owes Controvino for the original loan to get the ownership in the team. With the team going bankrupt and his finances scarce, he is dead if he defaults on this loan. That's why the Controvino plans to move the team.

Controvino: Knows Hauser from his work with the LA Angels (Hauser worked for them) and had some dealign in terms of fixing games. Floated a huge loan to Hauser in the early 70s to buy majority ownership in the then prosperous team. He as such has been collecting part interest in the wake of the teams diminsihed fortunes and the remaining interest has caused Hauser's debt to sky-rocket. He threatened Hauser's life and Hauser has no choice but to go along with Controvino's plot of moving the team, which will allow Controvino's construction rackets to bilk the city for millions and his legit construction company will get the contract for the stadium as per his bribes in the way of party contributions to his party. For this service Hauser will retain ownership of the team and have his nefarious debt erased. Hauser turns to Vincent because he fears no more favours will flow from Controvino, and not wanting the financial situation of the team to truly be known by C, he must turn to Vincent for a favour. But Vincent demanded more than he is expecting. He then goes to Controvino with this problem and Controvino tells him to play along, knowing he could get more money out of this and stay hidden if he kills Vincent.

Gentry: Surgery in the off season has bandaged his knee and delayed the inevitability of of a serious problme occuring with his knee. His doctors were paid to give him a clean bill of health. Hauser saw a solution in Gentry, that's why he bribed the Dr's. Hauser, knowing he could over the course of a season bail the team out of their short term debt and keep the team in NYC and under his control until he could arrange the move with the league, he paid the doctors off to give Gentry a great bill of health.

Anthony Corleone: After the death of his sister Anthony has hit the bottle then the gambling tables. When his mother had a stroke he started using drugs and after the death of his mother he switched from cocaine to heroin. His voice has suffered in the years since and by the time of the opening family scene he is almsot all washed up.

Pregento: A legitimate business man who is the most hidden Don of the whole series. He has done this by posing as a humanitarian. His mother was a Ciccio, and has an alterior motive for wanting Vincent dead aside from the profit his associate Controvino will make and float to him for helping set up the hit. Pregento taking pity on Anthony and attempts to bail him out and help save his career. He poses as a humanitarian and is called "The Saint of Little Italy", is the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing. Vincent finds out about Pregento after Michael gives him the Ciccio and Andolini story.

Donkey Boy Assassian: After the first hit failed, Controvino lines up Donkey Boy from GF III to make a hit on Vincent in NYC and he gets far but fails so VIncent, usually fearless flees to Sicily for solitude.

Vincent's Body Guard: A kick ass hard faced sicilian (I'm thinking the main protagonist from Snatch would be great in this role), he carries two desert eagles and is cold and stoic.

Remaining Owners: Bought out by Controvino, this is Vincent's first indication that something is up with the plot, is the insistance of the Remaining owners to move to LV.

And here are some additions to the plot. I still have to some of my plot as well and I am going to review the scenes in the 3 GFs to see how they are ordered:

I. Funeral of Kay and flashbacks of Michael’s thoughts with Kay paralleled with those of Vincent’s of Mary.

II. Family Gathering (New Year’s Eve, Christmas, etc…)

A. Michael hands over all the control of the business over to Vincent, even his minority investments in the company and announces he will no longer be a consultant to Vincent and is moving to Sicily to retire. After this Vincent asks Michael to be his consigliere, that he needs guidance through this new business deal with Hauser. Michael refuses, and retreats to Sicily.

B. Vincent requests to meet with Anthony, he confronts him on his drug problem and asks him about his financial problem, all of which he knows about through his connections. Vincent points out he doesn’t want to tall his father because of his fragile condition since Mary and Kay’s deaths. Anthony, boozed up and a bit high goes off on an angry rant about his father being responsible for Mary’s death, at which Vincent gets so enraged and angry that he instantly quiets Anthony. Anthony elaborates about his feelings to his father.

C. Hauser comes to Vincent and confesses to him that the team is in serious financial trouble. Vincent agrees to help out, throws some money Hauser’s way expecting the problem to fix itself. Knowing that this is all that Vincent will ever do, Hauser leaves frustrated, and decides to contact Cortovino for help.

III. Vincent meets with two of his Capos at a warehouse in the Bronx

A. 2 Capos who are hard faced middle aged Italian men come to Vincent and ask to meet with him, they meet in the middle of the night in an office in a warehouse. They ask for permission to sell drugs complaining they are losing ground because other gangs are dealing drugs in their neighborhood. Vincent gets annoyed by is controlled, particularly due to his relationship with Anthony and his realization of the stance of the law on drug dealing turns them down in a very even manor, leaving them with confidence.

IV. Baseball meetings in Houston

A. Hauser tells Vincent that Las Vegas will build him a new stadium and market the teams in casinos, etc. and all the owners back him up on this point.
B. Vincent objects and states that team will remain in NYC. Abuses Hauser in some way, Hauser gets upset, leaves.

V. The fundraising Gala (shorter scene)

A. At an fundraising gala Pregento makes his appearance. He meets Vincent and Hauser (he doesn’t’ know Hauser at all, they are being used by Controvino seperatly). He enters with the grace and air of an ex-president. He asks Vincent if he would be interested in helping the Italian people at another benefit he is putting together.

B. Meanwhile it cuts to Anthony drinking hot tea and in pain emanating from his vocal chords after a short performance. When Anthony retires in the washroomm taking out a baggie of drugs to help him with the pain, Pregento meets up with him and talks to him, confronts him on his problems expertly and convinces him to enter drug rehab. Pregento also adds how he should do if for his father, who has been through enough. If his father knew of Anthony’s problem he would die.

C. Vincent socializing and then looks at a pair of teens, the girl being 18 years old resembling mary and is visibly reminiscing

VI. First Sonny Flashback #1, the one with him and the girl.

VII. Anthony in rehab/Vincent Figuring thing out

A. Anthony in rehab is met with Pregento who asks Anthony to do a benefit concern, saying he will erase his debt, which will be paid for by the foundation as a kickback.

B. Vincent gets a lead from Contoivno and his potential benefit from the contract of the LV stadium construction.

VIII. Anthony’s Opera Performace

A. Vincent attends the performance, Michael attends as well, sits alone from the rest of the family.
B. After performance, Vincent is blockaded down the street and an attempt is made on his life.
C. Surviving, Vincent flees to Sicily, leaving Alfredo in charge of the family.

Something has to be here to thicken the plot, we can't go right from the assassination into the Sonny Plot, there has to be additional plot development.

IX. Sonny's 2nd and most involved flashback involving a plot against vito and a headstrong and brave Sonny making his own name for himself.

X. Sicily with Michael

A. Vincent sees Michael who wants nothing to do with him when he sees that business has threatened Vincent's life again. Eventually Michael takes him in.
B. Here are where the flashbacks with Sonny take place.
C. Michael tells Vincent stories of Sonny while he gets better.
D. 3rd flashback involving Vito bailing out Sonny & getiing him out of the situation
E. 2nd Assasination plot is hatched with Donkey boy
F. Vincent bonds with the people of his homeland
F. Last Sonny Flashback with him running a number's house and returning home for Christmas dinner
G. After clearing his head, and with the indirect help of Michael, Vincent is able to see who is behind his assassination attempt. Leaves for America.

XI. Back in NYC

A. Vincent has Cortovino, Hauser, Hegler, and the Remaining Owners killed.
B. Takes over majority ownership of the Knights.

Ya know, this plot is starting to grow on me. I have no critism to offer.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Sonny, we're still flushing it out, if you have any comments feel free to make them.

UB

We should probably take it scene by scene and just storyboard the action and dialogue. Basically flesh out the outline.

So… here is the opening of the film.

We begin with the titles and music… THE GODFATHER… PART IV

FADE IN TO:

Michael sitting in the back of the limousine. He looks like a man beaten by fate. His eyes are hollowed, his face looks like it is sagging from his face, his hands are still, resting on his lap.

Godfather Music Plays in the background as Michael flashes back to:

He and Kay, walking out of the Best & Co. during Christmas, sitting and eating at the family wedding, dancing at Anthony’s first communion, and Michael and Kay walking and smiling together in Sicily.

CUT BACK TO:

Michael, looking out of the window.

CUT TO:

Vincent, sitting in the back of a different limousine. He is older, but still looks like a man on the edge. His facial mannerisms are statuesque like Michael’s in Part I and II.

Vincent’s Theme Plays as Vincent recalls times with Mary -- flirting at the club, rolling dough, kissing, at the opera, etc.

CUT TO:

Vincent in the limousine. His car pulls up behind Michael’s and they both get out at the same time, amongst scores of others walking towards the gravesite. Vincent looks over at Michael who sees Vincent, but pays him little attention. They both make their separate ways to the gathering around Kay’s gravesite.

Anthony sees Michael coming, rolls his eyes, and almost breaks down. It is apparent that Anthony is not the composed young man he was in Part III. He looks strung out, either from drugs or depression -- or both. Michael walks over to sit with his son, but Anthony huffs walks over to the other side of the gravesite.

CUT TO

Vincent sits in a chair, flanked by various people from the family, including Connie. Vincent nods towards Michael, who again, practically ignores him.

Someone comes to Vincent and rests a hand on his shoulder. He leans in and talks to Vincent in a hushed tone.

“The old man must be going through hell. Losing a daughter less than 5 years ago, and now losing his wife to a stroke. My regards to the family. If there is anything I can do, please, by all means, let me know.”

Vincent nods slightly and places his hand on the man’s hand. The man walks off.

The family priest begins the service as Anthony breaks down crying and sobbing. People try to console him and he storms off. Michael starts to walk after him but is stopped by Anthony’s friend.

“He needs to be alone now.”

Michael nods his head and looks toward Anthony, walking off, then back to the priest.

FADE TO:

After the service. Vincent stands amongst several people, while Michael, alone, starts back to his limousine. Vincent takes notice.

“It’s a shame to see him this way.” Someone says. Vincent nods in agreement. The camera lingers on Michael, who walks alone to his limousine. He gets in, the car remains still for a moment, as we see Michael’s head fall into his hands. He then composes himself and the limousine pulls away.

CUT TO:

Vincent watching Michael pull away then shaking hands and embracing several members of the family.

Make changes and then we can go to the next scene.

That's a very effective opening secne, the should be raining at the service, tarps set up flanking the grave. There needs to be openign dialogue, a subtle introduction of characters of sorts, the camera lingers on some for a couple seconds, ohters make comments and say their condolences. The Coffin is lowered into the ground and there will be a contrast between Michael and Vincent who's eyes follow it being lowered and linger almost as if with the lowering of the coffin they have become more sorrowful human being.

The Funeral will take place in November.

There should be a shot of the grave for a second and much of the exposition in terms of the limos could be done at the end of this scene. The next scene will take place, the celebration.

I am unsure of whether to hld the next scene on christmas or Newyears or the aniversary of the corporation's founding. We can also have it in the funeral after party, but unless it can be made a less sorrowful occasion I don't think this will be workable. A funeral after party is most likely doable simply based upon the fact that it is a family gathering and as such would fit this criteria for the basic Godfather formula.

I am unsure I want to set it in the winter time. Early march may be a better time to set the majority of the plot, your opinion DBCH?

Just as a NOTE: DBCH, from now on when we add new characters cut and paste the original character description text list and then amend the list in a new post and the same goes for the plot sequence list.

Here is an elaboration I have made of Anthony's character:

Anthony Corleone: After the death of his sister Anthony has hit the bottle then the gambling tables. When his mother had a stroke he started using drugs and after the death of his mother he switched from cocaine to heroin. His voice has suffered in the years since and by the time of the opening family scene he is almsot all washed up. He has been drummed out of Opera singing, basically black listed, and has in the last 3 months taken a job in Vincent's old club which is now very disco like. He is a manager there and makes a good living. Vincent threw him a bone after his financial troubles, Anthony reluctantly accepted it, but has since gotten deeper into drugs.

Anthony is about to lose a long time girlfriend, who leaves him in the beginning. This scene will be used to further illustrate how pathethic he has become, he lets it go, doesn't chase her and just goes to drugs for escape.

GF IV PLOT

I. Funeral of Kay and flashbacks of Michael’s thoughts with Kay paralleled with those of Vincent’s of Mary.

II. Family Gathering (New Year’s Eve, Christmas, or Funeral etc…)

A. Michael hands over all the control of the business over to Vincent, even his minority investments in the company and announces he will no longer be a consultant to Vincent and is moving to Sicily to retire. After this Vincent asks Michael to be his consigliere, that he needs guidance through this new business deal with Hauser. Michael refuses, and retreats to Sicily.

B. Vincent requests to meet with Anthony, he confronts him on his drug problem and asks him about his financial problem, all of which he knows about through his connections. Vincent points out he doesn’t want to tall his father because of his fragile condition since Mary and Kay’s deaths. Anthony, boozed up and a bit high goes off on an angry rant about his father being responsible for Mary’s death, at which Vincent gets so enraged and angry that he instantly quiets Anthony. Anthony elaborates about his feelings to his father. Vincent asks Anthony about or metnions his girlfriend, of which Anthony laments about another fight they had (regardless there is some indication that there are problems between them).

C. Hauser comes to Vincent and confesses to him that the team is in serious financial trouble. Vincent agrees to help out, throws some money Hauser’s way expecting the problem to fix itself. Knowing that this is all that Vincent will ever do, Hauser leaves frustrated, and decides to contact Cortovino for help.

D. A drunk Anthony returns home to his manhatten loft after the party. He returns and there is evidence of things missing, furniture having been taken, he goes into the bedroom and things are olbviously missing, drawers are open, a closet is open and empty. His longtime live-in girlfriend has left him. He finds a note, looks at it, stands there looks thoughtful, gets a little visibly infuriated, scrunches the note a bit, then eases up, lets it drop, goes to his desk, takes out some cocaine and takes a hit.

III. Vincent meets with two of his Capos at a warehouse in the Bronx/ Anthony New Manager at Vincent's Club

A. 2 Capos who are hard faced middle aged Italian men come to Vincent and ask to meet with him, they meet in the middle of the night in an office in a warehouse. They ask for permission to sell drugs complaining they are losing ground because other gangs are dealing drugs in their neighborhood. Vincent gets annoyed by is controlled, particularly due to his relationship with Anthony and his realization of the stance of the law on drug dealing turns them down in a very even manor, leaving them with confidence.

B. Vincent's Club - Anthony is working as a manager at Vincent's club. In this scene it is made clear how strung out Anthony has become. He arrives late to the club on a busy night, his assistant, who really runs the show for him due to his condition, is runnign around doing 2 jobs at once, while Anthony is in the back, snorting a line. Anthony is interupted by the manager during his snorting session by his Assistant who tell him there is a complaint of two latinos harassing a young party goer, saying she is just WOP slut. He is forced to get three of his bounces who take them out to the alley, where they are beaten. Before they leave, they yell that their brother's gang will be back to slam the face. They are identified by Vincent's assistant as being connected with the Latino's and he should talk to Carmine ( one of Vincent's Capos) to take care of the problem. Anthony is none too happy at this proposition, but goes into his office. End Scene. (It is clear in this that Anthony, has incidentally gotten involved with a crowd he doesn't want to be with out of necessity). It has to be made clear though that this club is legit and since the Latino's make trouble now and again the problem has to be dealt with and the only way that would happen is getting Vincent's Capo involved.

IV. Baseball meetings in Houston

A. Hauser tells Vincent that Las Vegas will build him a new stadium and market the teams in casinos, etc. and all the owners back him up on this point.
B. Vincent objects and states that team will remain in NYC. Abuses Hauser in some way, Hauser gets upset, leaves.

V. The fundraising Gala (shorter scene)

A. At an fundraising gala Pregento makes his appearance. He meets Vincent and Hauser (he doesn’t’ know Hauser at all, they are being used by Controvino seperatly). He enters with the grace and air of an ex-president. He asks Vincent if he would be interested in helping the Italian people at another benefit he is putting together.

B. Meanwhile it cuts to Anthony drinking hot tea and in pain emanating from his vocal chords after a short performance. When Anthony retires in the washroomm taking out a baggie of drugs to help him with the pain, Pregento meets up with him and talks to him, confronts him on his problems expertly and convinces him to enter drug rehab. Pregento also adds how he should do if for his father, who has been through enough. If his father knew of Anthony’s problem he would die.

C. Vincent socializing and then looks at a pair of teens, the girl being 18 years old resembling mary and is visibly reminiscing

VI. First Sonny Flashback #1, the one with him and the girl.

VII. Anthony in rehab/Vincent Figuring thing out

A. Anthony in rehab is met with Pregento who asks Anthony to do a benefit concern, saying he will erase his debt, which will be paid for by the foundation as a kickback.

B. Vincent gets a lead from Contoivno and his potential benefit from the contract of the LV stadium construction.

VIII. Anthony’s Opera Performace

A. Vincent attends the performance, Michael attends as well, sits alone from the rest of the family.
B. After performance, Vincent is blockaded down the street and an attempt is made on his life.
C. Surviving, Vincent flees to Sicily, leaving Alfredo in charge of the family.

Something has to be here to thicken the plot, we can't go right from the assassination into the Sonny Plot, there has to be additional plot development.

IX. Sonny's 2nd and most involved flashback involving a plot against vito and a headstrong and brave Sonny making his own name for himself.

X. Sicily with Michael

A. Vincent sees Michael who wants nothing to do with him when he sees that business has threatened Vincent's life again. Eventually Michael takes him in.
B. Here are where the flashbacks with Sonny take place.
C. Michael tells Vincent stories of Sonny while he gets better.
D. 3rd flashback involving Vito bailing out Sonny & getiing him out of the situation
E. 2nd Assasination plot is hatched with Donkey boy
F. Vincent bonds with the people of his homeland
F. Last Sonny Flashback with him running a number's house and returning home for Christmas dinner
G. After clearing his head, and with the indirect help of Michael, Vincent is able to see who is behind his assassination attempt. Leaves for America.

XI. Back in NYC

A. Vincent has Cortovino, Hauser, Hegler, and the Remaining Owners killed.
B. Takes over majority ownership of the Knights.

Notes for the screenplay:

1) It is clear now that there are 2 modern main protagonists and 2 main antagonists and 2 plots that converge upon each other in this. A) the Vincent baseball - Hauser plot and B) the Anthony Opera - Pregento plot. Both plots converge upon each other and flow into one plot, the main antagonist being Controvino.

2)I've been thinking about it and there should be no real imagry in terms of baseball, simply because this movie really doesn't have anything to do with Baseball, just incidentally about the business of baseball. Underneath it all, it's about Vincent and Anthony and the corruption of people, even at the top. So as such there should be talk of baseball, just nothing major about baseball.

3) The hit on Hauser should not be executed by Vincent. Now I am thinking of 3 ways to hit him a) in his box by a waiter, b) in the stadium when it is empty and Hauser is taking a lady around the park by someone with a cleaning suit on or c) at his house or office by 2 people with baseball bats, ironic isn't it.

4) I don't think the hit on Pregento should be delivered via the statue by Anthony, but he should have some hand in setting it up. Pregento should either be a) blown up by the statue, b) hit by a sniper or c) hit by a person dressed as a temp worker who is approached angrily by Prengento because he almost drops the model statue. Either way this will still occur sometime after pregento finds out who the statue is from.

5) We need to think of a way for Controvino to go too.

6) We need to capture the mood of the time as well, so personally I am adding the disco club, early 80s when the scene was dying out type thing.

I totally agree about the lack of baseball imagery. We can have scenes set in snow covered baseball stadiums, or after games have been played and the stadium is empty, or just show the action in the skybox.

And if baseball must be showed, there will be no play by play.

I personally think that Vincent shouldn't take a place in the killings, rather, he should be somewhere else like Michael in the previous movies when his work was being done. Maybe watching the game in his own skybox, or somwhere else.

One idea is that Vincent could fly back to Sicily while the hits are being carried out. He can be talking to Michael about how the family is totally legitimate - even though it is a lie, juxstaposed with the imagery of the hits being carried out - and Michael goes to his death thinking that the family has gone legit - even though he really doesn't care much.

We need the hits, and all acts of violence to contain the memorable imagery as well, the towel around Vito's gun and flashing light, the horsehead, the shot through McKlusky's throat and then slamming his head on the table.

And we cannot forget about the oranges. Matter of fact, if there is ever a scene involving baseball, or the uniforms or logos, they should be orange in some way, after all the team is doomed and will result in several people's deaths.

For Hauser, I like the idea of someone coming to him while he is in the skybox while he's watching a game - the world series perhaps. Maybe someone lifts off one of those aluminum plate warmers to unveil a silenced pistol and then Hauser meets his maker.

For Pregento, I like the statue idea, since no one would expect a bomb to be in one. Workers can be carrying it through the museum, and almost drop it, and Pregento comes over and scolds them for doing so. Then they deliver it, and the curator and Pregento admire it as it explodes.

I like the idea of the agent, Hegler, being stabbed in the throat with a fountain pen, which he is attached to throughout the movie.

As for Cortovino, I think we need something to happen that totally shows his character begging for mercy since he is the one who devises the plan against the Corleone's. Send that hard-ass bodyguard to him, and have him humiliate him before killing him.

As for the "Family Gathering Scene," I think a somber gatehring after the funeral would work, since everyone is pretty much down in the dumps, but even then, business must be attended to. However, the transition from funeral to Christmans or New Year's Party would work on many different levels.

OK.... (takes deep breath) what next?

There is a problem that is presenting itself at this point (as far as I see it) is that is basically we need to work in the Sonny flashbacks in such a way that they don't detract from the modern story line or cause the modern storyline to be too disjointed and confusing. Putting them at the end of the movie, with the Sicily scenes, in turn would cause this story line to become too distracting and kill the movie. So feel free to work the 4 flashback sequences in any way you feel they may work. I added one in that I feel will work well. The one I added is relativly early enough in the movie that it won't detract too heavily from the flow, but occurs well enough in the movie that it won't disrupt the modern storyline too much for the modern characters.

Also the Hegler killing to too Luchese in GF III, there needs to be a new and unique way of capping his ass, or just shooting him and adding some memorable part of the scene like FFC likes to do.

Personally I think we can do without Hegler, since we already have 2 paralell modern storylines that meet up in the middle and the additonal Sonny storyline that still needs to be flushed out. So Hegler would confuse the issue a bit too much. I say the amount of protagonists and antagoinists are just right and we work on flushing out a great flow of events and then the details of each scene and then the minuscha of every little scene followed by anything minor about the characters that should be noted or expanded upon, finally followed by anything cinematrographic or to do with lighting or what not.

We should establish the general plot or sequence of events at this point, as many as we can think of without cluttering or confusing the plot and then cut out any extraneous ones that detract from the overall story.

As far as the baseball idea, I don't think a game should be added at all, only maybe a passing shot or two, but nothing to do with a game in terms of any setting. I love the idea of the snow covered stadiums, that will add wickedly to the imagry. I like the private box idea, but we need to limit the baseball references, it's very distracting and modernizing. Hauser is simply a business man in this and the plot is about baseball, in fact he could be rewritten as a textiles plant owner, but then the plot wouldn't be as exciting .

Personally I think the key that will make this screenplay sink or swim will be how well adhere to the classic feel of the GF series without modernizing the imagry and the scenes to too much.

I am also wary of "modernizing" the Godfather story, but remember, we are in the 1980's and the family would have their hand in modern business, which is around the time that porfessional sports became big business.

After all, Elvis Costello and Disco music were featured in Part III.

I agree that baseball footage should be abandon, but I do like the idea of snow covered stadiums. There should be a scene where Hauser is talking with Cortovino in his office, stadium below him, setting up a plot against the Corleone's.

I agree that we can abandon Hegler. Cortovino, Pregento and Hauser are sufficient as villains. Hegler can be a small role or written out all together.

I finally got around to reading the story line you guys have put together and it is pretty interesting.

As you know I have put together a story line for GF IV - and GF V - in another thread, but that concentrates almost completely on the struggles *within* the Corleone family as to who is going to control the family enterprises.

What would probably be pretty cool would be some kind of amalgam of both ideas - mixing the intrigue of (Stein)Hauser and the baseball owners (who are the closest thing to mafioso we have in the real world) with the struggles between the grandsons of Vito Corleone over who will eventually control the empire he founded.

In GF III, Vincent Mancini came out of nowhere and made a meteoric rise in the family. Anthony Corleone rejected any idea of following his father in "the business." We know from GF I and II that Santino Corleone Jr. and Michael Francis Rizzi/Corleone are out there, but no explanation is given as to what happened to them.

My story line would bring those guys back in the picture - and also explain what happened to the "lost cousins," Santino's son Frank and Connie's son Victor.

GF IV, in my opinion, would have to deal with "the Happy years" from 1927-1941 when Vito Corleone rose from a neighborhood gang leader to a national underworld figure, and also cover how his grandsons would seek to fulfill his legacy and battle for control of his empire.

GF V, then, would deal with the aftermath of the battles of succession among Vito's grandsons - finally concluding with the final serving of justice on Vito's final heir - the child who most fully fulfilled the legacy of his career - the final inheritor of the consequences of his life, Constanzia Corleone.

And GF V would also explore the legacy of blood vengeance carried over from Sicily - how Antonio Andolini was himself the son of a regional don, Michele Andolini, a fair yet fearsome man, who was eliminated by the ambitious and duplicitous Don Ciccio, setting up a cycle of revenge that might not play out for over 100 years.

Anyway, write up some more of your version, tack it on, it's fun to read.

I think one problem we're facing now is what's at stake for Vincent? I mean at the end of our script, what has he gained/lost by entering into this deal with Hauser/Cortovino. I think that all the GF movies ended with a change in all the characters and I think that we've got one change so far in a character - Anthony - who has become a member of the family business which he and Michael set out to avoid.

As for the Sonny/Connie children angle, we pretty much abandoned it. Although they would be new characters in a Part IV, we've decided to go outside of the family for some new characters, which is what I, II, III have done well.

Once we've finalized the script, we might post it somewhere on the web or something.

DBCH, you and EnzoBaker really should combine your plotlines, I liked your overall lines (with the baseballstuff,...) and I also liked EnzoBaker's idea with Michael Rizzi, Santino Jr, and Anthony.
As for the flashbacks (1927-1945), I don't want it to be just the story of Sonny's youth. Actually, I want it more to be about Vito and his rise, more about Clemenza and Genco and Luca Brasi, and how they meet with Pentangeli and Tessio, and how Sonny and Tom got in.
You 2 guys should look at what Don Sonny Corleone made in his topic about 1927-1941 and work with him too. Improve it, and send it to Paramount.

In the previous installments, there have usually been both "internal" and "external" storylines - the whole Cuba episode in GF II, the Vatican/Immobilaire stuff in GF III. In each film, there have been conflicts set up both inside and outside the Corleone organization, and the films move toward resolution of those conflicts.

The baseball plotline would definitely be a good 'external conflict' for the 80s/90s 'epilogue' sequences, while of course the 'internal' conflict would center on:

1) Whether Vincent would retain control of the family - would any of the other Vito grandchildren emerge into a bigger role or challenge him;

2) What role would Connie and Michael play? Would Michael withdraw completely following Mary's death? Or would he find himself drawn back in? Would Connie's role continue to expand as it had in GF III?

The flashback sequences in the 1930s would have to focus on how Vito rose to be as powerful as he was, his earlier dealings with Hyman Roth (and probably Moe Greene), Pentangeli, how Tessio and Clemenza ran their regimes, how Vito used Luca Brasi as a weapon to terrorize his enemies, and of course the early careers of Sonny and Tom Hagen.

Fredo, Michael and Connie, by necessity, are going to be relatively minor characters in the 1930s sequences - they were kids at the time. About all you can really do with those characters is kind of foreshadow their later lives -- make Fredo nervous and weak, maybe more interested in partying than anything else, Michael intense and detail-oriented, and Connie naive and sheltered.

The real action of the "happy years" sequences of GF IV woudl have to concentrate on Vito running the family, and Sonny's early involvement.

My storylines extend into 1997-2004 on one track, and back into the 1880s in Sicily on the other... .. which would play into the inclusion of Pregunto, a grandson of Don Ciccio. I would use this subplot for the basis of flashback sequences in GF V.

We would see how Vito's grandfather Michale Andolini, who was a community boss/regional gang leader in rural Sicily near Corleone, was targeted by the young up-and-coming punk Don Ciccio and then murdered, setting up the cycle of revenge which would play out into Ciccio's murder of Antonio, Paolo and Maria Andolini in 1903 - and Vito Andolini's flight to the US to become Vito Corleone.

In my thinking, the present-day plot of GF IV would bridge the time span between the death of Mary and the assumption of the role of Don by Vincent (1980), and the death of Michael Corleone in 1997.

GF V would pick up in 1997 and carry on virtually to present day, 2004-2005.

Lot of good ideas from a lot of people in this forum. Yeah, I think if you took bits and pieces of the things a few people have going, you could come up with a kick-butt GF IV story line.