In Part III while in Sicily, Michael & Kay have a good, long talk and "clear the air" about their past. Michael explains himself to Kay and the reasons for his actions that we see in GFII. While I don't believe that they would have gotten back together as a couple, I do believe they were both doing a lot toward mending their relationship. Then Calo comes in to deliver the news of Tommasino's murder to Michael. Kay witnesses the exchange and knows that Michael is okaying Calo to avenge Tommasino's murderer. She comments, "It never ends."

Even worse, I would venture to say that Kay most likely blamed Mary's death on Michael, at least to some degree.

My question is had these two events not occurred, do you think Michael & Kay would have had a civil relationship again? I doubt that Kay would have left her 2nd husband, but it was obvious that she still had strong feelings for Michael. We are left to assume that Michael probably rarely, if ever, heard from Kay again since the time of Mary's death to Michael's death at the end of the film.

In my opinion their relationship is already mended by the time the movie begins. In his letter we hear him reciting to his children at the opening, he mentions that their schooling had been managed by their mother. Also, Kay is a guest at the reception following his being honored by the church. They somewhat reasonably discuss their concern for lives & futures of their children. Far different attitude from the 15-20 years earlier when Michael didn't even want to see her face. They are no longer in love, but have already reconciled.

And of COURSE Kay blames Michael for Mary's death, and rightfully so...don't you see that look she gives him?

But of course...all of this stuff, including Michael's 'It wasn't me, Kay...' speech...was manufactured specifically to ensure Diane Keaton a prominent role in the movie. For it to even remotely succeed, they had to have as many of the original cast present as possible.

Oh, if only they had given Duvall the salary he wanted!!! But I digress...

Apple

I agree 100%.

I don't think they were on good terms at the beginning of III. Mainly because Kay was very bitter toward Michael and that they hadn't seen each other in 8 years. Kay talks about dreading Michael and how Michael's life was a sham. She scolded Michael, "This is greatness? You know Michael, now that you’re so respectable I think you’re more dangerous than you ever were. In fact, I preferred you when you were just a common Mafia hood."

Not until Michael agrees to let Anthony go pursue the musical career does Kay even act civil toward Michael.

I think the scenes between Pacino and Keaton are the best in the movie.

Kay and Micheal loved each other. The always did and always will. Both of them, deep down inside know that but its these things that Micheal has grown up with, these values that make him, only on the outside, a ruthless killer. In GF3, I don't think Kay likes Micheal any less when she sees him close the door on her again, she just was remided that, well once a corleone, always a corleone. At the end though, Micheal is out of the business and at the opera, you can really see them getting along. If Kay hadn't been married, I do think a strong realtionship would have formed. However, when Mary was shot, Kay probably did feel a lot worse about the business. Kay, all these years in the mafia life, never really lost a loved one and this probably hit her like a cannon. But Kay had to realize Micheal's struggle to get out of the business...but the facts are, she didn't.

But anyway, I do believe that if Mary's death hadn't occered thenm they would be extremely close friends.

I alway's thought that Kay and Michael are "soul mates" but they are incompatable in living together. Each of them hates the idea of one hating the other. In all, I don't think they would ever get together.

Although Mike is essentionally a loner and somewhat selfish, Kay knows that Michael loves his children, but she never knew to the extent until she saw Mike craddle Mary in his arms and yelled out. I don't think Kay blames Mike for her death because it is obvious that the bullet was meant for Michael, not Mary. Plus she commented to Mike how "dangerous" is it for him to be in Sicily.

i agree. i think micheal and kay were soulmates. i also think keaton and pacino are too but thats another topic(its sad they couldnt have worked it out in real life.) i do think that if kay wasnt married to douglas that they would have eventually got back together. i think in an odd way mary's death might have brought them either closer/ or farther apart. they still had anthony so they were still going to be at events for him. also no one else would understand what kay was going through better than micheal and vice versa. cause no one can truly understand what its like to loose a child unless you have experienced that tragedy.

I agree.

Michael and Kay spoke openly about many things in Sicily, including Apollonia. Had Kay (and Mary and Anthony) known about Apollonia all along, or do you suppose they were learning about her for the first time?