The scene opens out onto a view of the main living room of the rented home of Hans and Vanessa von Richtoven. It’s Sunday morning, 10AM and both are moving about, readying themselves for the day ahead. (Vanessa): So we have, what, three viewings? (Hans): Jah, three. Not far apart, which is gut. (Vanessa): Lunch after? (Hans): If you want, then yes. (Vanessa): Well since someone got up at silly o’clock to watch the grand prix, yes, I think we’ll need to eat. (Hans): Urgh, don’t… waste of my morning… (Vanessa): I did tell you that you’d have had a better time just staying under the covers, but no… you made your decision, you can own it. (Hans): Jah, jah, jah… Tilting his head back and acting bored, he drifts away from his wife, out of reach of her taking a small swat at his arm. (Vanessa): Cheek. Blowing a raspberry at her, Hans gestures at the pair of dark blue Converse adorning his feet. (Hans): When you’re ready to go like I am, you can be cheeky yourself. (Vanessa): Oh ha-ha mister. She leans in and kisses him before taking a few strides towards the bedroom. (Vanessa): I’ll be 5 minutes, ok? (Hans): So ten minutes, jah? Not rising to the jibe, she just smiles sweetly at him, moving off camera and into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. (Hans): Well if I have ten minutes… Said more to himself than anyone else, he’s reaching into his pocket, pulling out his iPhone. (Hans): Herr Chaos, du bist eine kaputte schallplatte. A conceding nod of the head to one side. (Hans): Appropriate though, given that you sport a broken mind. His free hand comes up, pointing at the camera. (Hans): You should know this, but for those at home that don’t, what is the definition of insanity? Turning around, he begins to slowly walk back up the room, the backdrop of the LA skyline behind him. (Hans): As the great Albert Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Here you are, banging the same old drum, ‘oh you had Butch throw you to the wolves’, ‘you’re scared’, ‘I’m the monster’. Shaking his head from side to side as he speaks, Hans carries on. (Hans): Nein, mein armer verblendeter freund. Eins, Butch did no such thing. Zwei, you’re an idiot if you think that. Drei, jah, I’m in agreement, you are a monster, nice of you to finally admit it. A moments pause, Hans’ expression getting serious. (Hans): Speaking of monsters though… to compare me to Hitler? A low exhalation of breath and a look of vehement disgust settles on his face, eyes like flint. (Hans): To casually reference the holocaust as part of your schtick about a wrestling match? Sechs million dead Jews let alone the others that the Nazi’s murdered as part of their crimes. Somewhere in that im arsch head of yours went, ‘yes, I want to go there, I want to be that person’... Coming to a halt, he lets a few seconds pass. (Hans): You actually disgust me, Herr Chaos. You disgust me not only because you have done this, you’ll take delight in, revel in the offense it will cause… though given the state of your countries politics, perhaps you’ve got one eye to run as a Republican when your career winds down. I tell you what Herr Chaos, let me expedite that for you. I’ve warned you you’re swimming in deeper waters Herr Chaos, you’ve now just been stupid enough to slit a wrist open and dive in. Turning about, he begins to walk back up towards the window. One person dealt with, now the second. (Hans): Now, let me be clear to you, Frau Martinez, you are seeing ghosts where none are, you’re smelling smoke where there’s no fire. Both you and Herr Chaos are very very adamant that I’m being set up by Butch here. Nein, not at all. As for the specifics, I don’t need to ask, I already know. He pats himself on the chest in emphasis. (Hans): Let’s run down the list of who Herr Chaos could face. Monster versus Monster perhaps? Ah, nein… he went and got himself fired. One of the Blaze Brothers? They left the arena and haven’t been heard from since. Miller? Nein, not when he’s facing you already at the PPV. Jeremy? Nein, Herr Chaos would be throttled on live TV. Price? Perhaps, but Herr Chaos would want to play with Laney, he just wouldn’t be able to help himself and so, once again, would end up being throttled on live TV. Sean? A man who understandably wants to end the life of a monster, jah, let’s put him in the ring with the one monster that remains. Do you see where I’m going with this? Shrugging the shoulders as he says this, he waits for the non existent answer to come. (Hans): I’m one of the few people on this roster that Butch and Wisdom can look at and trust to not keep that chokehold going longer than it has to… tempting as it is… That predatory smile once again flits across his face before it becomes deadly serious once more. (Hans): Speaking of which, Frau Martinez, touch my wife again and I will do to you tenfold in return for what you manage to do before Hell’s Guardian halts you in your tracks then has the unfortunate position of trying to stop me visiting my wrath upon you. This… this thing you think we have. We don’t. We don’t have it now, we won’t have it later. You need help Erika. I hope you get it before long. Knowing that his words will fall upon deaf ears, Hans looks somewhat somber at the thought. (Vanessa): Ready to go my love? (Hans): Jah, let’s get going. They lean in and kiss as the scene fades to black as they walk towards the hallway and out to the McLaren sitting in the driveway.
Hans is fully dressed, white t-shirt and a pair of charcoal ripped jeans with a pair of blue Converse sneakers on, while Vanessa is similarly attired in a relaxed fashion with a funnel-neck tank top in black over a loose pair of white linen trousers. In one hand she’s holding a pair of strappy heels, and in the other, her phone, looking at it while talking to Hans.
The camera moves in, bringing their conversation into range of the microphone.
Amused with himself, Hans takes a few steps of his own, looking out over downtown LA from the window.
It had been several months since they’d moved over and they’d finally found a potential home that ticked the boxes they were both looking for. The rented place had done well, both of them not sure if they’d have made the move permanent, but with the things the way they were, it made sense to put down roots. The apartment in New York wasn’t going to go anywhere and they could move between them both as they wished, but it would be good to have a place to call their own in LA.
Holding it out at arms length, he debates internally for a second if he wishes to carry on. He needs to say things to two members on the roster… is now the time? Yes, it is. Better to say it now and get on with his day.
He opens the app, hitting the record button and begins with a smile.
He takes a slow exhale out, composing himself before prodding himself in the chest and carrying on.
Reaching over to the phone, he hits the recording button once again, stopping it. Picking up the phone, he slowly steps towards the large windows overlooking downtown LA.
A few swipes and tapping of the keypad of his iPhone have the promo uploaded to the HWA channel in good order, in time for his wife to exit the office, smiling at him.
Message Thread
« Back to index