Wait a minute! Turnbull “Michael takes Kay and Mary to the opera house--all of them sitting in an open box, together†because Vincent, guaranteed their safety
Barzini and the other Dons, in a sense, have already won the war? at least got the upper hand? – There was no retaliation from Vito after Sonny's murder which “weakened the Corleones and devastated Vitoâ€
I am not sure whether “Michael’s survival actually was a lucky break for the Dons†as if Michael had died in the car bomb, I believe Vito becomes irrelevant, a non-entity
My take, for what it is worth!
- Vito with both his Don material [bad and good Dons] sons dead, would probably have handed over what was left of the Corleones to Clemenza and Tessio
- As regards “Vito’s police/political protection†with Vito out of the 'business' the judges and the politicians now in Barzini's pocket
- Barzini and the other Dons “get into drugs here and nowâ€
- money rolling in! for Barzini, the other Dons, the judges and the politicians
- Barzini becomes the Numero Uno Mafia Don
- Vito dies a broken man