Michael did order the death of Frankie. And he gave the contract to.....Frankie.

They knew that they could not get to him in a federal maximum security army base prison. So the best way to get to him was through a lawyer who would be permitted to see Frankie. And that lawyer was Tom Hagen. It was Hagen who gave the contract to Frankie, to carry out on himself.

I believe that it was probably Tom's idea in that he, unlike Michael, still had a respect for tradition, and probably felt bad for Pentangeli in his own way. Of course Tom realized that no matter what, Pentangeli had to answer for turning against Mike and the family, but at least with this idea, it would serve what Michael wanted to happen to Frankie and at the same time it would give Frankie the respectability of righting a wrong himself which would save his family from shame and misfortune.

TOM : "Frankie -- when a plot against the Emperor failed -- the planners were always given a chance to let their families keep their fortunes."

PENTANGELI :"Yea -- but only the rich guys TOM. The little guys -- they got knocked off and all their estates went to the Emperors. Unless they went home and uh, killed themselves -- then nothing happened. And their families -- their families were taken care of TOM."

TOM : "That was a good break -- nice funeral."

PENTANGELI : "Yea -- they went home -- and sat in a hot bath -- opened up their veins -- and bleed to death.. And sometimes had a little party before they did it."


TOM :"Don't worry about anything Frankie Five Angles."


PENTANGELI :"Thanks TOM -- thanks."


Don Cardi