A Clockwork Hammer - Recap

As seen previously, Hammer tries to disarm a nuclear warhead and fails, blowing up Los Angeles.

And now... Sledge Hammer! The Early Years, five years earlier.



Police Officer Chris Raker testifies in court during the trial of crime boss Johnny "Red Shoes" Haggis. Haggis is on trial for conspiracy to murder district attorney Burnem. The prosecuting attorney, Theiss, has Raker swear in and then asks him to testify to what he saw. Raker starts to answer, but then stutters and clutches at his head as a ringing noise sounds in his ears. He hallucinates explosions and then says he doesn't remember what happened. The prosecuting attorney pursues the matter and Raker grabs him, shouting that he doesn't remember. The bailiffs are forces to escort Raker out of the courtroom.



Hammer and Doreau discuss the case, and Hammer dismisses Raker as a wimp for breaking on the stand. They talk to Trunk, who was a father figure to Raker. Hammer insists that Raker was paid off and Trunk angrily snaps at him for insulting his protégé's honor.

Haggis' attorney Rinsler is meeting with Landon Smartikoff, the owner of Vile Video Concepts. Smartkioff shows Rinsler his reality reprogramming nerve center, showing off his mind control technology. Rinsler pays off Smartikoff on Haggis' behalf and is forced to listen to the programmer describe his dream of dominating everyone in the world through television.



Hammer is at home watching TV when Raker pays him a visit and denies taking a bribe. He describes hearing a strange noise in court and his mind blanking, and asks Hammer for help. Raker starts talking about nightmares involving a white room, then goes berserk trying to get rid of the noise. He asks Hammer to hit him over the head, which Hammer does... repeatedly. Raker attacks Hammer and the inspector is forced to knock him out.



Doreau arrives with the paramedics and while they take Raker away, she talks with Hammer who mentions the white room. Back at the station house, Doreau runs a check on articles mentioning a "white room" and finds a reference to KGB mind control techniques being researched by advertising agencies. They figure that Raker was "programmed" to forget anything he knows about Haggis. The duo suggest to Trunk that they use Hammer as bait and spread the story that he's going to testify about new information concerning Haggis. Trunk is skeptical, until they point out that Hammer will be in danger.

That night, Doreau escorts Hammer back to his place but he insists that he doesn't need any help from her. Disappointed, she leaves. Later that night, two men in VCC uniforms break in and chloroform Hammer unconscious, unaware that he's expecting them and holding his breath. They take him to the white room at VVC and put him through "brainwaxing." Hammer dozes off, unimpressed. At the next level, they try to use images of violence to trigger amnesia but Hammer enjoys himself too much. Hammer boasts that nobody but himself can get through to him. Smartikoff gets an idea and programs a virtual image of Hammer and then has the computer-generated image convince Hammer to forget what he knows about Haggis, then snap and shoot the district attorney, Theiss. Seemingly convinced, Hammer goes back to sleep and they return him to his apartment.



The next day, Hammer testifies in court but starts to suffer head pains and amnesia. He starts to get angry, but then pulls his gun and threatens... Rinsler. Pressured, Rinsler blurts out that Hammer was supposed to shoot Theiss. Realizing that he's been exposed, Rinsler goes for his gun but Hammer shoots it out of his hand. The gun goes off when it hits the floor and shoots off Haggis' right toe. Haggis and Rinsler are taken away, while Hammer boasts that they couldn't influence his subconscious because he doesn't have one.

Later in the office, Hammer admits that he did have some help: someone beautiful who he's neglected recently. Doreau is embarrassed at his praise... until Hammer pulls out his gun.


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