Clemenza, the caporegime (Mafia captain) in charge, has been ordered to kill Paulie Gatto, the man who betrayed the Don to Sollozzo. He is going to do it himself because Paulie’s betrayal was not only of the Don but of himself as well, as he mentored Paulie. The killing does not bother Clemenza, but he is trying to decide whom to promote to Paulie’s position of “button man,” or hit man. He decides on Rocco Lampone and contacts the man, telling him to come to his house. Next, he invents a pretense for Paulie to come pick him up and a reasonable explanation for why Lampone will be with them. Clemenza could simply kill Paulie, but he wants to follow the same protocol as with anyone else. Also, Paulie’s body must be found so that everyone, within their family and the other families, knows that the Corleone family is not weak.

Clemenza decides that they will look for a safe apartment, telling Paulie that Sonny wants to “go to the mattresses,” a term that means go to war. Paulie believes the story, partly because he is already thinking about the money he will get from Sollozzo for this information. At the end of the day, on the way home, Clemenza has Paulie stop on the side of the road, and Rocco, sitting in the backseat, shoots him.