Eddie's house is a small lower middle class abode.
Eddie and his mother, Delia, eat at TV trays, watching the evening news. Eddie's dad lives in Buffalo.
A local serial killer, the Hammer Man has struck again. His 14th known victim in North Florida/South Georgia. Eddie asks how they know its one guy. Delia turns the station and tells him not to watch news about serial killers.
Delia stands up and takes both plates and walks towards the kitchen. Eddie gets up and puts away the TV trays.
Delia tells him to get in his cross country practice and to leave the trays.
Eddie walks from his room to the front door. Delia finishes putting away the TV trays. She tells him to be careful. She's concerned as he leaves.
Eddie runs along the neighborhood and approaches a somewhat busy city park. A sign at the entrance says this is “Floridatown Park.” Eddie runs through the park, past the playground to a grassy field that abuts a small beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
He stops at a water fountain and sips some water. Then he lifts his head up and freezes. He sees the Hammer Man.
The Hammer Man, Ted, makes eye contact with Eddie. He smiles. Eddie looks away quickly.
He leans down to drink more water. When he’s done he looks up. The Hammer Man is gone. He lets out a sigh of relief.
Eddie leans down to drink more water. Ted says hello. Eddie is shocked. He spins around to see who is behind him, his feet getting twisted as he does. Eddie trips and falls to the ground. Ted looks on with concern. He leans down to help Eddie. Eddie recoils.
Ted asks if Eddie's okay. Eddie doesn’t answer. He’s afraid. Ted offers Eddie a hand. Eddie hesitates, then takes Ted’s hand. Ted helps Eddie to his feet.
Eddie wipes his knees off. Eddie studies Ted’s face. Ted smiles. Eddie asks if Ted is the Hammer Man.
Ted’s smile falters. He studies Eddie’s face. Ted’s smile returns. He says he is and he admires Eddie's perception.
Eddie asks if he can ask Ted some questions. Ted says yes. They walk on the beach for privacy.
Ted and Eddie walk side-by-side along the beach, away from any other people. Eddie asks if Ted is married. Ted said he was but his wife is dead. Eddie asks, but Ted didn't kill her. She died from cancer. They both say "fuck cancer."
Eddie asks how many Ted has killed. He says he can’t really remember.
Eddie asks about keeping souvenirs. Ted says no, it's keeping evidence and is dangerous. Eddie is dejected.
They walk quietly for a while. Ted gives Eddie space to think through things.
Eddie asks about the hammer and shows it to him. Ted says he'd never use it in public.
They’ve walked past the end of the park. No other people are around them.
Ted asks if Eddie wants to see his house. It's hidden by a copse of trees on the beach.
Eddie perks up. He asks if it's safe. Ted says "you tell me. Ted walks towards the house. He doesn’t look back.
Eddie watches him go. He hesitates. Eddie follows Ted into the trees.
Eddie emerges from the trees and sees the house, a very architecturally unique one floor home. The house is surrounded by trees on all sides. It’s very hidden, very private. He says he's never seen anything like it. Ted says it's unique.
Ted goes inside. Eddie follows with no hesitation.
Ted shows Eddie the interior of the house. Modern interiors. No art. Minimal furniture. Very normal. Eddie is disappointed.
Red asks if he can make them hamburgers. Eddie says yes. Ted grabs what he needs from the fridge. He lights up a gas stove and tosses two pre-made burgers into a pan. Eddie sits on a stool at a bar looking into the kitchen.
He stares at the bulge of the hammer in the back of Ted’s pants. He asks Ted if he can see the hammer. Ted turns towards him and studies Eddie’s face.
Ted lays the hammer on the bar in front of Eddie and goes back to cooking. Eddie picks up the hammer. He studies it. There is blood between the claws, as if it was poorly cleaned after a previous use. Eddie grins.
Eddie asks for something to drink. Ted opens the fridge. He offers orange juice and Diet Coke. Eddie asks for Diet Coke.
Eddies stands up and walks around the bar. Ted grabs a can and shuts the fridge. He turns to give it to Eddie. Eddie brings the hammer down, smashing Ted’s face. The Diet Coke can falls to the floor. The can breaks, and sprays fizzy soda everywhere.
Eddie strikes again. And again. Ted collapses to the floor. Eddie grins.
Ted’s dead body lays on the kitchen floor, his crushed skull emitting a growing pool of blood. Eddie looks over his handiwork.
Eddie washes the hammer in the sink, getting rid of the blood, including the old blood left from Ted’s exploits. He sets the hammer down.
Eddie sets the hammer down and examines Ted's body. He discovers Ted’s class ring. He struggles to pull it off Ted’s finger and pockets it. Eddie stuffs the hammer into the back of his pants. He covers it with his shirt. He exits through the front door, making sure the door is locked behind him.
Eddie walks to the front of his house. He notices a splash of blood on his sneakers. He turns on the hose and washes the blood away. He takes the shoes off and examines them closely. He rinses them off more thoroughly. He leaves the wet shoes on the front porch and goes inside.
He enters the house. He turns on the light as he goes through the living room. He goes into the bedroom and goes to his toybox. He kneels down and pulls a lot of toys out. He sets them on the floor.
He digs to the bottom and pulls out a wooden box. He opens it. Inside are dozens of rings: wedding rings with diamonds, gold bands, class rings, a Dolphins Superbowl ring, cheap jewelry.
Eddie takes Ted’s ring out of his pocket. He admires it for a moment. He puts the ring in the wooden box. He buries it in the bottom of the toybox. He Shuts the door behind him.