HF, I believe also that the cause and effect can be questioned here. Consider this; Carlo didn't beat Connie with the SOLE intent of enticing Sonny out of hiding. Carlo was a wife beater anyway. Plus, how could they be sure Sonny would come by himself?? I believe there was a plan to get Sonny. Most likely they would have been "sitting" on him for several days waiting for the right circumstances. Afterall he did come out for a little nookie with Lucy. If memory serves me there were 3 cars of Barzini/Tattaglia men at the tollbooth? They were prepared for more than Sonny. The toll booth was the perfect ambush unless Sonny's firepower outnumbered them. Keep in mind it made for great cinema.

There are so many dramatic scenes in the film, but that has to be one of the more intense. I wonder how many takes they did? Connie breaks dishes, wrecks the table, throws wine, throws the poker chips at Carlo's crotch and gets whipped. How many full dress-rehearsals did that take?