- In Sicily, Michael and Apollonia get married, followed by a topless scene on their wedding night.
- Back in New York, we see Kay talk to Tom Hagen and try to give him a letter. He says that he (needs to act like he) doesn't know where Michael is and can't give him Kay's letter for that reason. She's upset because she hasn't been able to make contact with him.
- Next, we shift to Connie and Carlo's apartment. A girlfriend apparently calls Carlo, but Connie picks up the phone. This leads to an argument, and Carlo savagely beats Connie with a belt.
- Connie calls Sonny to ask him to come help her. Sonny speeds out of the family compound in a car, though Tom tries to stop him, since he knows Sonny's life is at risk if he leaves the compound.
- Assassins ambush Sonny at a toll-booth and murder him, riddling his corpse with bullets. Tom arrives moments later and then leaves.
- Somberly, at home, Tom tells Vito what happened. Vito says he wants no vengeance—they're going to end this mob war.
- They bring Sonny's corpse to Bonasera, the undertaker from the beginning of the film, and Vito asks Bonasera to make Sonny's corpse presentable so his mother won't see how many times he's been shot. The Don weeps.