The Killers

“George looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter.

‘It’s five o’clock.’

‘The clock says twenty minutes past five,’ the second man said.

‘It’s twenty minutes fast.’

‘Oh, to hell with the clock,’ the first man said. ‘What have you got to eat?’”

The two hitmen engage in a heated exchange with George as he can’t yet serve them their desired meal. This highlights their arrogance and inclination toward violence, shedding light on their menacing personalities. Moreover, the clock introduced here is a potent symbol of the unreliability of expectations, conveying the overarching theme of Disillusionment With Reality and sowing confusion and frustration among the characters.

“‘Got anything to drink?’ Al asked.

‘Silver beer, bevo, ginger-ale,’ George said.

‘I mean you got anything to drink?’

‘Just those I said.’”

This exchange between Al and George offers historical context. Al indirectly requests alcohol, while George has only non-alcoholic drinks to offer, revealing that the story is set during the Prohibition era when alcoholic beverages were illegal. This interaction also characterizes the two hitmen as criminals who disregard the restrictions of the era.

“‘What do you do here at nights?’

‘They eat the big dinner,’ his friend said. ‘They all come here and eat the big dinner.’”

The two hitmen cynically suggest that the town of Summit’s only activity of note is dining at Henry’s lunchroom, portraying it as a tranquil place. However, this sense of safety and tranquility is abruptly disrupted by the ominous presence of the killers.