"Eddie's Bastard" Is william amos mann iv, known as billy -- the son of a heroic pilot killed in vietnam and an unknown woman. The last in a line of proud, individualistic Irish-American men, billy is discovered in a bas..."Eddie's Bastard" Is william amos mann iv, known as billy -- the son of a heroic pilot killed in vietnam and an unknown woman. The last in a line of proud, individualistic Irish-American men, billy is discovered in a basket at the door of the dilapidated mansion where his bitter, hard-drinking grandfather, thomas mann, has exiled himself.