Paulie was the boss--he could order others to do his killing for him. The old guy, Vinnie, was there because he looked harmless, and Tommy wouldn't suspect him of foul play.
Also, the man who played Vinnie was Martin Scorsese's father.


Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu,
E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu...
E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu
Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.