HAIL STORM (2013) dir. Luke Enfield; I: NIGGAS IN SEUROPE

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Hail Storm
Written and Directed by: Luke Enfield
Produced by: Crimson Media
Studio: Remedy Studios
Run time: 153 minutes
Budget: §25 million
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AGE RATING: 15+
CONTAINS: STRONG LANGUAGE, MODERATE VIOLENCE
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(The sound of people communicating echoes in the restaurant)















Stephan: Time to draw things to a close...



Stephan: Goodbye old Rodherland, goodbye to you Alterra. We'll meet up again some day sweetie... some day my dear.

















My name is Klaus Hagel. I was born in Nelso, Rodherland... in 1970. To sum up my life? Well, it definitely would be a mistake if I was to say it was uneventful. It's certainly not easy, it's certainly not fun. Just keep reminding yourself at the end of the day that you're the CEO of one of the most successful blue-collar businesses in Rodherland.



I moved to Herbonn as soon as I got the oppurtunity. Went to university here, and managed to invest in an apartment here, moving away from my family in the process. Why? My father worked on the other side of Ryone the majority of the year. My mother took more pride in my younger brothers and sisters... and my brothers and sisters? They were somewhat frightened by my short temper. I had everything to make me a boss of a big company.



(Audience laughter sounds from the TV)

I was rich, self-centered, arrogant, short-tempered and had few friends. The only way was up.



... or, at least I thought so.



Delivery woman: One cheese and tomato pizza here, Mr. Hagel. No toppings?
Klaus: No toppings, that's correct.
Delivery woman: Enjoy your pizza, Mr. Hagel.
Klaus: Yeah, thanks.

On the other hand, there were many glitches. I had no wife to cook meals, I had nobody to love. So that's why the majority of my days consisted of ordering pizzas or any other form of take-away. I had got so used to the taste of pizza I'd almost lost interest in making such an order. I couldn't go downtown for a meal at a pub though, bringing my laptop along and using the pub's free wi-fi, analysing gross and net profits of my company, could I? Not unless I could hide behind the thing. Everybody who knew me would give me a depraved stare. I would decide not to stare back and get on with business matters, but I couldn't bear it seeing in the corner of my eye that they still continued to glare at me for no apparent reason.





I wanted to make a change to these things. I was sociable around people, but in any other matter, meeting them around people I don't know... I suddenly come across all shy. It baffles me, I really am a strange man. I guess it just is my problem with people in general. Especially when they don't just look, but stare.



Sometimes, I wish all of Alterra would just care. I don't know why I'm so attention-seeking, a part of me says its a bad thing, but a part of me tells me I need to put my utmost efforts into letting people know I'm still there.



There was always Ressu, my marvelous dog. He knew me well, he knew what pain I was experiencing. He always eased the pain considerably... even if I took my anger out on the poor thing.



(Phone rings)

Klaus: Oh, wait here Ressu. I'll just go see to whatever this dickhead wants... (sighs)



Klaus: Yes, hello? Erm, speaking?



Klaus: Oh. Hello there Janne. What do you want? You sound... frantic? Whatever is the matter?



Klaus: Wh... wh... wh... wait hold on a minute! What do you mean 'dead'? How is he dead?



Klaus: I don't believe it. Honestly, I don't believe that this is happening. When was he found? How long has he been there!? ... right. Wait there.



Klaus: I'm on my way to work.



As it turns out, someone had commited suicide jumping off the very office block our business is based in. It's no wonder, either. I'd fired him earlier that day. Why? I don't recall constantly arriving later and later to work each day acceptable in my mind.









Klaus: Right, deep breaths Klaus. Let's see what this has got to do with me.



As soon as I heard of his death, I quickly jumped to the worst conclusions. I had fired him earlier that day, it was inevitable that I had played a role in this. Being really upset enough to kill yourself over losing a job to which you never attended to though? The more I thought of it, the more I knew I was in the right.



I'd never seen my business so deserted. Only I wasn't the first to arrive, which is always the case.



Clearly someone was taking this far too serious, going from past experience. But then again, this didn't regard myself. This only regarded the ex-worker who'd lost his life.



(The workers talk amongst themselves)

Klaus: Good morning everybody...



Janne: (Sighs)
Klaus: What, what's wrong? Has Rodherland all of a sudden came under Seemonist power? Cheer up!

I knew I'd taken that line too far, it was simple. They weren't in the mood.



Klaus: Quite shocked of your arrival before mine... wow, congratulations. Be more prepared on another date and I may give you a tiny pay rise!



Klaus: Oh... come on guys. What's the big deal? You know how stupid Stephan was, I don't know... maybe he was doing himself a favour.



Eva: Stephan was our friend, Klaus. A good friend. Couldn't you see he was having a hard time?



Klaus: Oh... well, if he was having a hard time he only had to tell me, didn't he? Business is business. He decided not to show up for work on numerous occasions, we lost many orders because of him. Don't you dare say he was fully-deserving of keeping his job. He was good for nothing.
Eva: He was having a hard time, Klaus! You didn't do nothing about it. You see, you don't care one bit. All you care about is the turnover this company is making... well, I'm going to tell you now... I wouldn't be surprised if Stephan did what he did all because of you. Klaus... you treated him disgustingly.
Klaus: Like I said, he never told me what the matter was. I went by the rules.
Janne: Klaus, he was having too hard of a time to even be brave enough to anyone even to admit how bad life was for him.
Klaus: And...?
Janne: Why didn't you care? Why!? If he didn't care about this job he would have walked. Instead, you fired him. He wanted this job.
Klaus: Well, he had a funny way of showing it!



Matti: You could have just sat down with him and listened to him. Keep it between him and yourself. But of course Klaus, he wouldn't do that. He was too scared of you. You make out you're scared of us, you want the attention yet not at the embarrasing moments of your life. Well, all eyes are on you now, Klaus. Stephan is dead, and it's all down to you. He died the day you fired him. From where I'm sitting, it says a lot about the future of Wardline.



Klaus: (Grunts) I don't care to listen to another word any of you say. Open this place up and let's go about today as normal as we can.



Janne: Man, Klaus has got a hell of a lot of things to answer for.
Matti: I was thinking the same, Janne. It's not going to be easy for him. But I think he's clearly to blame. He made Stephan's life hell. Stephan was always a somewhat shy and sensitive person, it was inevitable that all this pressure from Klaus would drive him to the edge. I feel sorry for that poor bloke.
Janne: Ah, well... I guess he's in a better place now. He won't have to put up with Klaus no more.
Matti: Neither do I want to put up with him anymore. In fact, I'm willing to do the same as Stephan. I honestly don't blame him.
Janne: Are you sure? It all seems a bit... surreal? I mean yeah, he's sensitive alright. Klaus is a bastard alright. But I'm not sure if Klaus is strong enough to drive Stephan that far over the edge. They do have a bit in common those two.
Matti: Nah, Klaus isn't shy and sensitive.
Janne: Oh, I know he's shy.
Matti: He is but... only at the worst of times unfortunately. Around us, in other words.
Janne: It all makes sense.
Matti: I don't suppose you think Klaus did it do you? You know, pushing Stephan off?
Janne: I wouldn't be surprised if Klaus would do such a thing, but you know... it's all but confirmed that Stephan commited suicide. It makes perfect sense.
Matti: Hmm, I guess...



That day I spent looking at the same chip in the ceiling, or that same whiteboard pen mark on the walls. I hadn't anything else to say, nor do. In the calmest manner they could, everybody pointed the blame on me.



Klaus: Eva...
Eva: Oh, yes Klaus?
Klaus: Come here.
Eva: Can't you get up?
Klaus: I said come here. You've got legs. Put them to use.
Eva: Sorry, Klaus.
Klaus: So... why?
Eva: Why... why what?
Klaus: Why me?
Eva: I don't know, why you?
Klaus: Isn't it simple? Stephan, Eva. Stephan. Why is all the blame on me?
Eva: You treated him awfully, Klaus.
Klaus: No I didn't. I only treated him like any other CEO would. I persecuted him for his wrongdoing. What else do you expect in a working environment, taking time off work like that?
Eva: You treated him how any other CEO would? I don't think so. Awfully, Klaus. Awfully. Everybody is going to hate you for this.



Klaus: I know! But what can I do about it? This is just the way I am, Eva. A cold-hearted bastard. I carry little respect for others, yes. I don't carry a great acceptance for immigrants working at Wardline, I don't carry the respect for the poor... I'm a colossal prick. Yeah, and it's too late to make a change. I am who I am, and I did what I did. The rest of my life I am going to spend living this way.
Eva: But you can't Klaus, you can't! It's never too late to change!
Klaus: Nah, I can't change.
Eva: People change all the time Klaus! Schoolfriends, they changed! You know, you was best friends with each other one week, and you despised one another the following week. That's life!
Klaus: Eva, let me tell you something. We are not in Kindergarten anymore, Eva. We are businessmen and women. Everybody changes during school life, you're young, naive... and still learning. You're bound to change. But now? It's too late, it's just far too late. I will always be the sinister man that I am, and that everybody knows me as.
Eva: You can make a change, Klaus. Donate to charity. Treat these immigrant workers with more respect. Raise people's salary which you know you can do!
Klaus: Let me tell you something. I won't change my views. I can donate to charity, but frankly... I don't care. It's their own fault they're raiding dustbins, not mine. I live a life of work. There is always business to be done.
Eva: But when someone makes an order, you don't care what people take on any of our pieces of hardware. We ship parts in from all over Ryone, produce a piece of machinery, somebody purchases that machinery. You don't care what they do with it.
Klaus: It's about making money, Eva. If they buy it, they can now hang a painting up with screws. Me, on the other hand? I get a wad of cash that can keep this business afloat. Don't you understand the prospect of business? My work doesn't go into the machinery. My money does.
Eva: Exactly! Your money... and that's still part of you! It's YOUR money.
Klaus: Yes, but what I spend, can only be returned. Or else I wouldn't be doing this, would I?



Eva: I'm going to make a cup of tea, you want one?
Klaus: No, I need cooling down, not warming up. You've raised my temperature already. I probably couldn't have drove Stephan off the edge if it wasn't for you lot.
Eva: Now you're admitting it?
Klaus: Oh, I don't know what to say or think. It was his choice. I never murdered the bugger, what have I got to be sorry for?



Matti: Oh, Klaus...
Klaus: What do you want?
Matti: Come here a second...



Klaus: Make this quick.



Matti: A client of ours has cancelled an order.



Klaus: Oh well, we'll live to fight another day.
Matti: You don't know who it is yet.
Klaus: Who?
Matti: It's Mr. Phelps, from Archades? Incase you hadn't remembered, he ordered almost a fifth of the hardware we're distributing this month to benefit his hardware store?
Klaus: He's cancelled that bloody order!?
Matti: Yep.
Klaus: (Grunts) Oh, damnit!
Matti: I hope you're happy now...
Klaus: Spare me the thought, Matti. This is all I need. WHY did he do this!?
Matti: He heard about Stephan's murder. It's all over the news.
Klaus: As I would imagine.
Matti: The trouble is, all but every news channel is pointing the blame on you.
Klaus: Oh... this just gets better and better! ME!?
Matti: You, Klaus! I could have easily imagined your reaction to all of this, and boy oh boy, was I spot on!
Klaus: Right, I'm going on the phone now to this Mr. Phelps bastard. I want to know why he believes such shit.



Matti: Oh no, I'm afraid you can't do that. He was pretty upset as well, so he's left his hardware store to his employees, and jetted off for a holiday in Shellas.
Klaus: (Sighs)
Matti: Are you going to try and put people in their place or not with this? Did you kill Stephan, Klaus?
Klaus: No!
Matti: Are you sure, because if you tell me now... we can sort everything out.
Klaus: I swear I did not kill Stephan. He took his own life!
Matti: This is not what the news broadcasts are saying.
Klaus: I don't give a toss about what they say! I did not kill him. Urgh!
Matti: Journalists are going to be all over you like a rash soon, Klaus.
Klaus: I know. But I will only walk on by. If they want to hear anything regarding this escapade, they're going to talk to you.
Matti: Oh don't be stupid. Get off your arse and prove your point for once. Don't let the money do the talking.



Klaus: Quit telling me what I can and can't do. Why don't you go and make yourself useful? Tell the journalists to sod off.
Matti: (Sighs) You just don't get this, do you?



Klaus: I've got much more important things to deal with now, like persuading clients to leave their order be... and tell them that I had nothing to do with poor Stephan. So for your information, I do much more than lying around on my arse all day...
Matti: ... (grunts)





Klaus: Hell, I've got the cash... why can't I just run away and get away from this all?



There was something that I needed, I was in desperate need of it... not just cool and refreshing water but... a chill wasn't going to be the case. It was going to get much warmer.





(The hail splashes sound as the wind begins to gush)



Klaus: Where along the line had you gone wrong Klaus, where?
Eva: Klaus?



Klaus: What on Alterra might you want!?



Eva: Oh not much, I was just meaning to say goodbye to you, that's all. It's been a long day, you might want a little company...
Klaus: Not now I want. I don't want anybody's company just now. I just want to think. That's all, think. Contemplate to myself.
Eva: Well, sure. I guess I understand that Klaus. I know it's been hard for you today, you need time to think about what you're going to do next I can only wonder. But before I do go, is there anyway I can help?
Klaus: No... not yet.
Eva: ... not yet? You mean I may be able to help you?
Klaus: M... maybe. No. No! No, I don't need your help.
Eva: ...
Klaus: Goodbye, Eva.
Eva: Ok... (sighs) ... see you tomorrow, Klaus?
Klaus: Yeah, see you.



Eva: And just so you know, I'm willing to help you. Willing to help a friend. I know you was harsh with Stephan, and I think you know that too. But you need not get into trouble because of somebody else's actions...





What Eva had said to me had given me an epiphany. I wanted to reach the bottom of this, to put people in their place. I didn't want to run. Sometimes it seemed the best thing to do, but not here. I still saw the potential in Wardline. I'd came too far to give in now. I wasn't going to let the media, the law, or anybody stop me.



I didn't own the tower block, but I owned the two floors that Wardline operated on. I wasn't in charge of lights, doors or anything. Even as the CEO and founder of Wardline, I had to break in if I was to reach my goal.



I had no clue what the poor bugger's password was, so I began to guess, failing miserably...

Klaus: Ah, if it's not any of those, he's got to be one of those chaps who doesn't take things serious enough. I bet his password is 'password'. Ah... no.



Then, all of a sudden, it dawned upon me.

Klaus: Aha! His daughter, Maria. 'Maria' is surely the password... come on... come on! Oh, marvelous. We're in...



After many attempts, I had hacked successfully into Stephan's account. I didn't want to make a racket hunting noisily through the filing cabinet to find his details, so hacking into his computer account was the only solution, the way I saw it. But it was no good. His account had been wiped of its contents.



There was now only one solution to what I could only simply describe as the cherry on the top of a hectic day, and that was to make my way to a place I knew very well.















There's no point in lying to you here, I did visit the pub. On a daily basis, in fact. But this was when everybody had left, had their fun and wanted a good night's sleep ready to go into work the following morning. I thought to myself that I should be doing that too, just let me have one more drink. No, make it two.



Coming here, I could partake in what I could probably describe as 'enjoyment', 'fun' and 'diverting'. Staring at an empty beer bottle until I was lead to believe that everything was green in this life, money being no exception. All this was happening whilst the landlady was on the phone to her godforsaken sister-in-law. I hadn't a clue what could make me more amused. Go home? Nah. Can't be bothered to walk to the car.



You struggle to think you can miss anything staring into thin air, but I missed it all. Never was a fan of eye-to-eye contact, so ignoring the bloke was my first choice.



But then it dawned upon me. He never recognized me, either.





Harry Lindström. I knew who this guy was. I couldn't help but stare.



Harry: Klaus, how you doing man? What brings you here?
Klaus: I could question you the same thing.
Harry: May I...?
Klaus: Knock yourself out.



Harry: So, Klaus... what does bring you here?
Klaus: What about you?
Harry: Hey look, we're not going to get anywhere if you carry on like this. I can walk out that door and leave you.
Klaus: Why don't you then? Can't you see I'm not asking for attention right now? Well, not that kind of attention.
Harry: I asked first, man. Why are you here?
Klaus: I'm here for the same reason why I'm here every other night.
Harry: What, you're here every evening?
Klaus: Yeah. There something wrong with that?
Harry: No, just... I was just...
Klaus: Sure you was. You was thinking... why would a man like me be here? The man who has everything... Klaus Hagel. Millionare. Businessman... eh?
Harry: You don't seem too good.
Klaus: Why, would you think I'd be at my best right now? One of my employers that I fired has killed himself... and the blame is all on me.
Harry: Oh, don't worry my friend. I know it wouldn't be a guy like you. You wouldn't even dare.
Klaus: Harry... believe me. I would!



Harry: What makes you think such a thing?
Klaus: (Sighs) For heaven's sake, Harry. Shut up asking me questions. The guy was hopeless in the job, and don't come up with crap like 'maybe something was wrong with the guy, he needed help, you should have helped him'. It's not for me but himself to deal with. You can't come to a workplace in that state.
Harry: But you know that Stephan was a good man.
Klaus: Can't you give me something different to listen to? I'm sick and tired of Stephan this and Stephan that. I tell you, it's only going to go in one ear and come out from the other ear. I don't... give... a...
Harry: Look, look... Klaus. I can see you're not too good.
Klaus: I'm not drunk. I don't get drunk...!
Harry: Klaus, I think it's time you went home, don't you think?
Klaus: Nah, nah... no, come on! Don't be silly. I've been staring into this same beer glass for three-quarters of an hour and it hasn't appeared differently one bit.
Harry: How long have you been here, Klaus? How long have you been drinking?
Klaus: Quit it with the questions...
Harry: You're drunk, Klaus.
Klaus: This is not me when I am drunk. Leave me alone.
Harry: Why are you doing this to yourself? Not just because of what happened to Stephan, but you do this all the time?
Klaus: And what brought you here this evening?



Harry: ...
Klaus: Come on, what was it!? What's the big deal, hey Harry?
Harry: I'm observing the place.
Klaus: Observing it? So we both happened to bump into each other in a pub that is seven kilometres away from the metropolitan area of Herbonn? Do you know about me coming here already?
Harry: No, or else I wouldn't have asked.
Klaus: Why are you here?
Harry: My local shut down, I come here from now on.
Klaus: Are you sure? It seems to me as if there's more to it than that.
Harry: No... I... I... I... (stuttering)... I know what it's like to be lonely, Klaus.
Klaus: ...
Harry: I lost my wife, Klaus.
Klaus: You lost your wife?
Harry: Yeah, but I carried on. I never aborted work like Stephan did. Did you ever notice erratic behaviour from me by any chance?
Klaus: No, I didn't.



Harry: Well, you know what they say. History repeats itself, Klaus. I've got no one, you've got no one and I suspect that Stephan was left with no one.
Klaus: Somebody has left his life...
Harry: It's inevitable.
Klaus: But... but... he has a daughter. He told me how proud he was of his daughter. I mean, I understand his wife had died in a plane crash but... his daughter was still around.
Harry: His daughter?
Klaus: Yeah, you don't so happen to know anything about her do you?
Harry: Well, Klaus. I was never really that close to Stephan, so I wouldn't know a great deal. I don't think it has anything to do with his daughter. You know, she's a teenager now though. Kids change. Kids change all the time. You know, like one minute in kindergarten for example, they're best friends with you... the next minute, they don't want to know you. I reckon Stephan didn't want anything to do with his girl anymore.
Klaus: This is all too much to think about now. I'm tired.
Harry: We should get you home, Klaus.
Klaus: Nah, I can make my own decisions. Not you. I'm the boss of you.
Harry: O... of course, Klaus. But please, if there's anything you want, just give me a call.
Klaus: Alright.







The amount of my work partners that wished to give me a helping hand, it genuinely baffled me. Why would they, the kind, average, Fauch businessmen and women wish to help a miserable old fart like me? What had I done to twist their arm? Don't say they had sympathy for me, nobody can sympathize with me.



(Doorbell rings)

Klaus: Oh, who is it now!? (Glances to left)



Klaus: Oh, fucking hell...



Eva: Well, hello there... (clears throat) ... Klaus!



Klaus: That bloody stray dog again, come on... stop sniffing around here... go somewhere else!





Eva: Oh, good morning Klaus.
Klaus: Yeah?
Eva: Yeah, what?
Klaus: I'm asking you what you want.
Eva: Nothing, just a... a chat?
Klaus: I don't need the company right now, thanks.



Eva: Wait, I'm sorry!? This is a difficult time for you, and I'm only trying to help. Let me in.
Klaus: No.
Eva: What!?
Klaus: What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand, exactly?
Eva: I'm only trying to help!
Klaus: Shut up. I'm hearing that way too much recently. Nobody is supposed to help me. I'm a selfish, greedy and miserable old man... nobody is supposed to care. Make yourself useful to me and go away.
Eva: This is not making anything better for you or Wardline, Klaus.
Klaus: You're all being too kind for your own advantage, not mine. It's your job what you want to keep, not the smile on my face you want to see.



Eva: At least let's have a talk.
Klaus: I DON'T WANT A DAMN TALK, CAN'T YOU HEAR ME!?
Eva: Klaus...!
Klaus: (Sighs)
Eva: Your business is on the brink of collapse. The journalists are sniffing around everywhere looking for you. I'm telling you, for your own good... you need to get to Wardline right now and tell them the truth. Tell them...
Klaus: (Chuckles) Haha... they're not going to believe me. What complete and utter nonsense. They all think it's me!
Eva: But you've got to get yourself into shape and PROVE to them that you didn't kill Stephan or cause his suicide.
Klaus: Why are you doing this, being so kind? How do you know that it's not me!? Hey? Come on! Why isn't it me?
Eva: ...
Klaus: You all hate me. You don't like me, you don't trust me. You know it's me... but you want to hold on to your little job.



Eva: No, Klaus.
Klaus: Oh, it's true. I always knew. You don't care about me. Why would anybody NEED to care about me? I'm just a sick and twisted old man. To everyone else, I'm a dead man.
Eva: It's not like that, Klaus. I understand what you're going through.
Klaus: Why is everybody saying the same godforsaken thing? You and him are in this together aren't you!? You and him? (Chuckles) I should have known!
Eva: Who? You... you're not making any...



Klaus: SENSE!? Sense! That's it, isn't it? You see, I never have made much sense to you lot, have I?
Eva: Klaus...!
Klaus: Nah, I don't make sense. Just like children, they change... but not like this. Not like me. I don't have a thing in common with no soul. To you, I'm dead.
Eva: LOOK! KLAUS!
Klaus: OH WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY!? YOU'VE ALL BUT ADMITTED IT! YOU'RE DOING THIS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR JOB AND WARDLINE, NOT FOR ME!
Eva: But I've seen what you've been through, and I've grown closer to you, Klaus!
Klaus: Oh, spare me the thought!
Eva: I have!
Klaus: LEAVE!
Eva: ...
Klaus: Just... leave... me... leave me... ALONE!



Klaus: I don't want your stupid help, YOU HEAR ME!? I DON'T WANT IT!
Eva: (Snuffles and whispers) Bastard...
Klaus: I DON'T WANT IT! I DON'T NEED YOU OR YOUR RIDICULOUS HELP! I'LL FIGHT MY OWN BATTLES, EVA! I'll fight my own battles...!



I suspected that Eva was upset by this, very upset indeed. But for the sick and twisted part of me, it had satisfied me. To shout at her... it had released all my stress, and I knew that I had released my stress on the right person. The sweet girl that only wanted to help. But I'd need a lot more than anything that had 'only' in front of it. I took her advice on board, even though I didn't want her coming back. I was going to prove it to the media. I would get it off my chest. I would reach the bottom of it all.



Klaus: You're a bad dog, Ressu! You hear me? A BAD DOG! You know not to interact with people at the door... and never... EVER... do you interact with stray dogs! That was right. Poor Ressu had to put up with it. I didn't blame him if he wanted to be out of my house. Then I realised, a sensitive man like me with a dog as clostest friend, an old and tough guy like me you wouldn't reckon would cry and hug his dog, would you? If there was someone that did sympathize with me, for all the right reasons... then it was probably Ressu.



That next day I decided that I should probably do what they said, and begin my campaign.









I didn't want to be the bad guy in all of this. Nearly a week after Stephan's death... and I was more determined than ever to put the naysayers in their place.



I began by looking around in Stephan's neighborhood, asking locals if they knew him well, when they saw him before he pulled the plug, that kind of stuff. But more than importantly, I wanted to know where he hid all along. The thought of the hard drive containing all his personal information being stolen from the computer left me on a loose end.



Shop assistant: Well, hey there. How could I help you, sir?



Klaus: Look, I'm looking to see if you know a certain Stephan Henneman?
Shop assistant: You're looking for that cat? (Grunts) He's dead meat.
Klaus: I'm aware of that. I'm his boss.
Shop assistant: Oh... I... I'm sorry. What may I do to help?
Klaus: When was the last time you saw him?
Shop assistant: I don't know... let me think... oh! I know. It was a couple of weeks back.
Klaus: And how did he seem?
Shop assistant: Frail? No, he didn't seem all too good to talk to me.
Klaus: Ok... this was how many weeks ago?



Shop assistant: I'd say three. I lose track of these things, you know?
Klaus: Ok, alright. So, do you think you know where he might live?
Shop assistant: Shouldn't you know?
Klaus: I'm afraid his computer hard drive has been wiped of its contents, and his records have been stolen too.
Shop assistant: Hmm, well... that's a bitch. You should probably try Doose Street. I don't know what number, but I saw that cat walking down there a couple of weeks back. I know he's got a car, so he wouldn't have been walking far. So by my logic, he lives on Doose Street.
Klaus: Alright, thanks.



Klaus: So, as you'd have probably guessed, I set off in to the exploration of Stephan's residence... if you could call it that.







Klaus: What a hideous place... (sighs)



Klaus: If I wasn't going to find anything, I would've been upset. I detected that getting out of this hellhole wouldn't be easy.



Klaus: Walls were terribly run down like a decrepid old man, the washing on the line was probably older than said man too. I began to shiver with disgust.



Klaus: Fuck.



Klaus: Myself and long corridors hadn't had what you'd call a friendly past. Far from it. You see, I'm an ex-paramilitary. That means we did the army's dirty work but boy oh boy, the training was damn good. I probably learnt more as a para than I had in any other job.



Klaus: Why didn't I like corridors? Must have been losing Ruben at the battle of Anuthir. Stephan. Room 207.





Klaus: It was clear in my head that I didn't have anything nice in particular to uncover in this building.



Klaus: Room 207. Right, well... here goes.





Klaus: Stephan-boy, you could have at least spruced this up a bit.



Klaus: Heaven forbid, how could you live like this?



Klaus: I was beginning to become uncomfortable in such a dilapidated room like Stephan's. And then, a huge wave hit me. It was a wave of digust. Had I been responsible for Stephan living like this? Was it really time I did something?



Klaus: Just as that happened, something caught my eye.



Klaus: Harry was talking of Stephan's daughter, and this girl right here I suspected was her. It was known that she was the only person close to Stephan. Until recently.



Klaus: AGGGH! I'd been thumped right where it hurt the most. The weight that rested on Stephan's shoulders had clearly been pasted on to me as a gift of retribution.







Klaus: Clearly this strange figure was obstructing to my activities...





Klaus: The guy's name was Dane. Today was a dark day, not just in the sky. Clearly, I realized that the situation had become ugly.
Dane: Hello, Klaus.





Dane: How are you? Do you like the motel? (Chuckles) It's not what you'd call mine, but... hey, you want to own a place of this size without the need to open your wallet? Just wait for the birds to flock and boom! It's all yours. Everybody turns a blind eye to this part of town, don't they Klaus? Of course, everyone is loaded. They work in the city. You would know about this, wouldn't you Klaus? The only chaps we get around here are madbean urban explorers. We send them packing alright.



Klaus: Never mind me. Who the fuck are you?



Dane: The name's Dane. I'm a fairly close relative of a man you know a lot about. I find you sniffing around his belongings, Klaus. Isn't it all rather clear? Stephan is dead. You're the one who killed him.
Klaus: (Sighs)
Dane: Why, Klaus?
Klaus: Why what?
Dane: Why of all the people did it have to be Stephan?
Klaus: You don't know a thing about him. He was never close to you so don't act as if he was.
Dane: Oh, Mr Hagel. Don't go jumping to conclusions so soon. How would a guy like you know? Stephan was never at work, was he? (Chuckles menacingly)



Dane: You see, I know a lot about you and your wicked ways, Hagel. You've definitely been in the right place at the right time. Man, the papers are thriving with your name on it. Of course, everybody's hero... Mr Hagel. CEO of a huge company. How would he even find THE TIME to kill a brother of mine? The police want to hear your word, as does the press. If I were you, Klaus... I would run. But unfortunately, now I have you here... I'm not going to let you go. So no doubt, the police are getting closer to you every minute.



Klaus: Ugh... and don't you reckon the feds would be interested in what was going on here, too?



Dane: What makes you think that you're going to be here the moment the police arrive? You're mine now, Klaus. There's got to be a good reason why you killed Stephan... and I want to know NOW!
Klaus: I did not kill Stephan.
Dane: Tell me!
Klaus: I didn't kill him.
Dane: Well... then if you didn't... who did?
Klaus: ...
Dane: I knew it!
Klaus: He killed himself! You and I both know that.
Dane: If he killed himself, WHY are you sniffing around his belongings?
Klaus: I want to help.
Dane: Help!? HELP!? What HELP can be done now!? He's fucking dead!
Klaus: I know... and I'm sorry for your loss.
Dane: S...sorry for your loss!? YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU KILLED HIM OR NOT!



Klaus: Tell me what drove him to do this.
Dane: YOU!
Klaus: Is there anything that I should know about!?
Dane: I'm interrogating you, bastard. Shut the hell up and let me do the talking.
Klaus: WHERE IS HIS DAUGHTER!?
Dane: ...
Klaus: WHERE IS THE DAUGHTER!? TELL ME!
Dane: ...
Klaus: COME ON!
Dane: She went missing.
Klaus: ... missing?
Dane: Missing. And no sight of her yet.



Dane: Stephan returned home from your workplace one day, and she'd gone missing...



Dane: From there, I lost what I knew as my brother.



Klaus: The guns around me told that Dane certainly wasn't too happy, even though we both knew that I wasn't to blame in all of this. I just needed to get out of there... quickly. I had what I needed. It was time.



(Klaus' cuffs unlink)

Klaus: I was only trying to help, Dane. I'm not the guy I used to be.
Dane: We'll soon put that to the test. The fact is, you still could have treated him a little better... and I believe that because of you, Stephan lost faith in his hunt for Maria. So you're going to pay for it.
Klaus: You don't want to see your niece again do you?
Dane: ...
Klaus: Hmm? Please believe me on this one.



(Sirens near)

Dane: Shit, the feds!
Klaus: Please?
Dane: ...



Klaus: AGH!
Henchman: Umph!



Klaus: I'm not giving into this, Dane. Your time is up.



Dane: I DIDN'T FUCKING BELIEVE A WORD YOU EVER SAID! YOU KNOW WHAT!? YOUR TIME IS UP KLAUS! LET HIM HAVE IT!

(Gunshots)



Klaus: I knew this was now the test. It was time to get out of there. The sirens had settled and faded into the distance, so they clearly joined the club, turning a blind eye to that area of town.