CUT TO: The Don's bedroom. Vito is in bed, holding cards and presents given to him.

Clemenza, Tessio, Tom, Fredo and Sonny are standing around the bed. -day

TOM (sighs)

Since McCluskey's killing, the police have been cracking down on most of our operations --

and also the other Families. There's been a lot of bad blood.

SONNY

They hit us so -- we hit 'em back.

TOM

Through our contacts in the newspapers, we've been able to put out a lot of material about

McCluskey being linked with Sollozzo in the drug rackets. See -- things are starting to

loosen up.

SONNY

And I'm ah sending Fredo to uh Las Vegas, under the protection of uh Don Francesco of L.A

-- I want him to rest.

FREDO

I'm going to learn -- the -- casino business...

SONNY

Yeah...

VITO CORLEONE (whispering)

Where's Michael?

(then, a little louder, after Tom doesn't answer)

Where's Michael?

TOM (after looking off toward Sonny, bends his head toward the Don)

It was Michael -- who killed Sollozzo. But he's safe -- and we're starting to work to bring

him back now.

[The Don, markedly upset and angry, gestures that they leave him alone. They exit:

Tom, Tessio, Sonny, then Fredo]