"The Killers-, by Ernest Hemingway, is a story about an event's influence on the story's characters. The story is set in a restaurant in a small town in New Jersey. Two killers come into the restaurant and gradually reveal their intention of killing Ole, an ex-heavyweight prizefighter, to the three protagonists: Sam, the black cook; George, the restaurant owner; and Nick, a young customer that dines in the restaurant. The killers wait in the restaurant for Ole, who customarily dines there, but he does not show up that evening. While they wait, the killers tie up Sam and Nick and later release them. The killers finally leave and Nick goes to Ole's home to warn him, but Ole seems resigned to his fate. While Sam, Nick and George all learn of the killers' intentions in the same manner, their varied responses toward this clearly illustrate certain differences in their personalities. Sam does not want to be involved in the situation. He goes out of his way to avoid being a part of it. George remains composed; he is so calm throughout the story that the killers do not tie him up. In contrast to Sam and George, Nick is deeply disturbed by the incident as well as Ole's indifferent response towards his warning.
Sam is the black cook that does not want to have anything to do with the killers and their plans. He and Nick are tied up in the back room, and when they are finally released after the two killers leave the restaurant, Sam's first words are "I don't want any more of that, I don't want any more of that- (73). To further clarify his stance, Sam suggests that everyone had "better not have anything to do with [the incident] at all- (74) and should "stay way out of it- (74). After Nick comes back to the restaurant from Ole's place and tells everyone what happens, Sam once again shows his desire to have no part of it. He opens the door from the kitchen, tells everyone that "[he doesn't] even [want] to listen to it- (76) and then shuts the door.
