Tommy Walker

> See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
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**Tommy Walker** is the titular protagonist of Tommy and its adaptations. Born to Nora and Captain Walker, Tommy becomes dumb (mute), deaf and blind after witnessing the murder of his mother's Lover. While in this state he becomes a master of pinball, regaining his senses after the mirror he stares into is smashed.

## History

### Childhood

Tommy was born just after WW1 to Nora Walker. His unnamed father, a group captain, went MIA, leaving Nora to raise the boy on her own. At some point she met the Lover who acted as Tommy's stepfather. One night in 1921, the young Tommy wandered to his parents to see Captain Walker murder the Lover. The traumatic experience, combined with Nora insisting that Tommy didn't hear it or see it, and that he wouldn't tell a soul.

### Growing Up

The catatonic state of Tommy led his parents to seek out potential cures for him, for example seeking out the Hawker. One Christmas, Nora and the Captain ponder over Tommy's mortal soul, as his state leaves him unable to know what Christmas, Jesus or praying is. They leave him several times with ill-fit babysitters, including physically abusive Cousin Kevin and sexually abusive Uncle Ernie. Another cure attempted for Tommy were drugs from the Acid Queen, which fail.

### A Mean Pinball

At some point, Tommy's talents for playing pinball are noted, and he is taken to play pinball professionally, challenging the the current champ and winning, much to the champ's shock. Once again, Tommy's parents attempt to find a cure for their son, visiting a specialist. The specialist reveals that Tommy's problems originate from his emotions, and that the mirror Tommy watches might be the key to bringing his senses back. This leads Nora to, in a state of emotional collapse, smashing the mirror. This leads Tommy to having his senses back, in a miracle cure.

### A New Messiah

Tommy soon begins preaching his ideals, attracting a huge crowd of people amazed at his cure. One of these fans, Sally Simpson, visits one of his sermons about love but ends up being scarred by an incident with a bodyguard. Tommy begins opening up his house to everyone, but when it started getting overcrowded, he creates the idea of opening up an extension - “a colourful palace”. This leads to the creation of Tommy's Holiday Camp, a camp devoted to his ideals and pinball. The attendees start to rise against him during it, much to Tommy's shock, and the camp is burnt down. Tommy, climbing out of the wreckage. His final fate is unknown.

## Personality

As a child, Tommy was an inquisitive and curious boy, which led to him witnessing the death of the Lover.

As an adult, Tommy was egotistical and self-centered, considering himself a “sensation” and almost like a god. However, he did show compassion towards others, openly letting people he didn’t know into his house and into his holiday camp. As shown in We're Not Gonna Take It, he had a dislike of alcohol and drugs. It’s possible he had good motivations, but they were warped by the influences of those around him.

## Quotes

> I heard it! I saw it!
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> Love as one, I am the light.
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> If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high, you'd laugh and say nothing's that simple!
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> Come to my house, be one of the comfortable people.
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> Welcome to the camp, I guess you all know why we're here. My name is Tommy and I became aware this year. If you want to follow me, you got to play pinball.
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## Family

* Nora Walker - mother
* Captain Walker - biological father
* Frank Hobbs - stepfather, film only
* Ernie - uncle, musical only
* Kevin - cousin

## Appearances

* It's A Boy (mentioned)
* 1921
* Amazing Journey (mentioned)
* Christmas
* Cousin Kevin (non-speaking)
* The Acid Queen (non-speaking)
* Do You Think It's Alright? (mentioned)
* Fiddle About (non-speaking)
* Pinball Wizard (non-speaking)
* There's A Doctor (mentioned)
* Go To The Mirror!
* Tommy Can You Hear Me? (non-speaking)
* Smash The Mirror (non-speaking)
* Sensation
* Miracle Cure (mentioned)
* Sally Simpson (mentioned)
* I'm Free
* Welcome
* We're Not Gonna Take It