- Vito sends his henchman, Luca Brasi, to go visit with the Tattaglias and Sollozzo, pretending like he wants to switch sides. He wants to know what they're up to.
- Meanwhile, Mike and Kay go Christmas shopping and talk together in bed in a hotel.
- Back with Vito, he and Fredo (another son) are going to drive into the city. Vito's bodyguard has called in sick.
- The action switches to Luca, who approaches Bruno Tattaglia (the Tattaglia Don's son) and Sollozzo at a bar. They act like they're making a deal with him, but Sollozzo stabs Luca in the hand, and an assassin strangles him from behind with wire.
- A little later, Sollozzo pulls up next to Tom Hagen on the street and makes him get in his car.
- Elsewhere, Don Corleone and Fredo stop to buy some fruit in the city. Hit-men attack the Don, shooting him multiple times. He collapses in the street next to his car, as Fredo weeps over him.
- Outside Radio City Music Hall, Michael and Kay are walking together. He sees a newspaper saying that his father may have been murdered, and rushes away to call Sonny. Sonny isn't sure whether the Don is still alive or not.