Did Connie ever get to book passage on the Queen?

In a draft script of Godfather II, she and Merle book passage in a luxury suite and then Michael cuts off her finances, so the ship's crew remove them and put them into a tiny little cabin on the ship, where they're miserable for the voyage presumably.

It would have been the Queen Mary--QE2 hadn't been built yet.

So are what you are saying, according to the draft, Micheal did give Connie the funds to "book passage", but then cut off her finances? Why did they have to be moved, if they alreasy paid for the luxury suite?

In the draft script I've seen, the check Connie wrote for the cabin bounced.

By the time it was processed, they were already at sea. The boat received telegrams indicating that the check was returned and the account it was drawn on was closed.

Ergo, the mid-trip cabin switch.

This is from the second draft, dated September 24, 1973, which was a few months before production began. The link to the script in its entirety is below the text.

EXT. ITALIAN LUXURY LINER - DAY

The luxury liner making its way across the Atlantic.

INT. ITALIAN LUXURY LINER - MED. VIEW - DAY

The PURSER followed by several white uniformed associates
knocks on the door of something designated the "Leonardo
Suite." He is holding a telegram.

The door opens, and a tanned Merle peeks out of the door.

PURSER
(holding up the telegram)
I'm terribly sorry to disturb you
but we have received two telegrams.

MERLE
(reluctantly)
Well...come in.

This entourage enters the suite, an impressive and
beautifully spacious luxury suite. Connie is relaxing.

CONNIE
What is it?

PURSER
Yes. One is from our office in New
York. The check that you wrote for
your passage has been returned.

CONNIE
Can't be...

MERLE
Why don't you wire your bank?

PURSER
The other telegram is from your
bank. Your account has been closed
and the company is warned not to
extend any credit.

CONNIE
I'll take care of it in Naples.

PURSER
The company hopes so. But for now,
we have orders to change your
accommodations.

And with that, the men in white begin to pack Connie and
Merle's luggage.

CONNIE
That son of a bitch!

INT. ITALIAN LUXURY LINER - TINY THIRD CLASS CABIN - NIGHT

Connie and Merle are attempting to sleep in the miniature
cabin in bunk beds. The little space is crowded with their
trunks and luggage. Merle can barely hang onto the bunk,
the boat pitches so violently below.

http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Godfather-Part-II.html

Production actually began a few days later. FFC started filming with Anthony's party at Lake Tahoe on October 1. So the second draft is the final draft of the screenplay. They did however change some things during the production itself. A good example is Marlon Brando's sudden absense which forced FFC to rewrite that scene.

So this screenplay is in fact "officially" the final draft.

Yeah Sonny, I meant to type "a few days before production began"

I must be "getting too old for my job" .

It's a great script.

Part of me would've loved for that scene to be left in myself. You can't argue that Connie didn't deserve being knocked off her high perch.

Thanks for the quote.
Does Connie know what she's saying? If her brother is a son of a bitch, she's talking about her own mother.

Lmao! One wonders why that scene didn't make it into the film.

So am I to understand that Mike gave the money to Connie to put in her checking account, and once the ship was underway, he proceeded to close down the account?

It's impossible to say, Johnny. Being that the scene was never filmed (or filmed and discarded), it really doesn't count. That's the thing about these early movie drafts that have become available online (and not just "The Godfather" films). They were all ultimately edited, so there's little sense in debating "what might have been."

I would just like to take a moment and mention what a complete and utter tool Merle was.

So there's actually a third draft? Didn't know they could do that in just a couple of days. Can you show it to me?

No, Sonny. You're 100% right; that's the "final draft," as far as I know. And I've searched the Internet far and wide over the years.

I know it's confusing because I keep referring to it as an "early draft." But I only do that because there were so many changes made to it, it seems like an early draft.

You know what would be great? If they'd come out with "The Annotated Godfather Part II," like they did with the original a few years ago. That would answer a lot of questions. And I'd REALLY love to see the first draft! No one ever brings the first draft up here, but I'd love to see if Clemenza was going to betray Michael the same way Pentangeli did (if you call what Pentangeli did a betrayal; some people don't).

A screenplay is mostly made to act as a "guide" during filming anyway. Even the latest official draft doesn't necessarily have to be the definitive version. If you compare the final screenplays of many movies you will likely notice that many scenes didn't turn out to be literary the same in the film as being described in the script. The director will always make some changes and/or add artistic license.

But I'm very positive that FFC filmed most of the scenes that you will find in the screenplay. After filming of part II was completed, I recall that there was something like tens of hours of film material. Many of those scenes didn't make it into the film or even the made-for-tv "saga".

The editors of the Trilogy (especially Part II) really did an incredible job. I think their importance to the crew is often underestimated. Without them, The Godfather Part II wouldn't have been as good as it is.

What's fascinating is all the material that didn't make it into the film or even as "deleted scenes". You would find it suprising how much there actually is stocked somewhere that's never been seen by anyone except the crew itself. They could make a mini-serie of it.

I know, we've discussed that here in years past (especially me and Turnbull). I read somewhere that at least six hours of footage didn't make it into the theatrical or television/vhs/dvd versions of the film. If you add that to the running time of Part II, it does come out to over ten hours . I often wonder if that film is, indeed, stored somewhere, or if it's gone for good.

Off topic, Sonny: Are you a film student?

I guess that "tens of hours" is probably somewhat exaggerated, but there really where a lot of hours of film material which probably still exists somewhere. Will look it up in one of those Godfather books I have.

Off-topic: "amateur" film student. But I've studied journalism a while ago. I did thought about going to the film school, but it's difficult to be accepted.