Hans

[DemonPrincess]

He felt suddenly lightheaded, frozen in place. He gripped the puppy tighter as no one spoke. The next thing he knew, he was halfway up the stairs, and he tripped and hit his knee hard, but he got back up and kept going. He could hear his father say something from the basement and his uncle respond. They could have been saying something to him, he didn't know, but he wasn't going to stop. Not for them. Not for anyone.

Up another level of stairs, up to his bedroom. He shut the door forcefully. He could hear his heart pounding and it felt like his chest was about to burst. He took off his jacket and gently set it and the puppy down on his bed before turning on his radio. He turned it up as loud as possible and sat down on the bed, knees pulled to his chest. The radio was set on a popular rock music station, and Led Zeppelin was playing. Hans didn't know who they were (he recognized them somewhat, but he didn't exactly live in a popular music-loving household,) but he knew they were loud, and loud was what he needed.
As the guitar blared a solo, Hans began to shake.

Uncle Reuben, who took care of him when Dad was sad.
The dead body on the table.
Uncle Reuben, who had looked after him when he was sick.
The dead body on the table.
Uncle Reuben, who took care of his cuts and scrapes.
The dead body on the table.
Uncle Reuben, who made him grilled cheese for lunch during winter and who taught him how to make a great cup of tea.
The dead body on the table.
She looked so scared.

He hated to admit it, but he would have understood if it was just his father. His dad had always been the calculating one. But his uncle? No. God, no.

The room was closing in. He couldn't breathe. His stomach churned.
The puppy nuzzled his hand and whined nervously.

"Hans?" Everything sounded muffled, like he was hearing it underwater, "Hans, I'm coming in." As the door creaked open, he looked up. It was his uncle, looking concerned.
"Hans, I think we need to talk about what just happened." Hans looked at his uncle, got up off his bed, pushed past Reuben in the doorway, bolted to the bathroom, and threw up. He was hyperventilating and he couldn't stop shaking. He suddenly felt a hand on his back. Without saying anything, his uncle handed him a tissue and pressed a cool, wet towel to the back of his neck.
"I never wanted you to find out," he said.
"Why?" Hans looked up at him, "Why?" Reuben sighed and helped his nephew to his feet. He was getting so tall...soon he would be much taller than he or his father.
Reuben racked his brain for what to say. Hans looked so...heartbroken. So betrayed. It made his heart bleed.
"Your father---he's a good man, Hans, don't doubt that." This was going to help nothing. Reuben sighed. "Hans, family is the most important thing in this world. And you need to look out for them and protect them, even when they do things you don't agree with." He laid a hand on his nephew's shoulder, "In the end, all we have is each other." Hans nodded, understanding. Reuben felt something on his foot. He looked down and the puppy was sitting on him, looking up sleepily.
"Is that way you came downstairs?" Hans nodded. "Do you want to keep him?" Hans nodded again. "Okay. I'll go pick up some food for him."
Reuben left, Hans went back to his room, and Werner stayed downstairs, finishing his business. At dinner, they didn't talk about what had happened.

Hans forgave his uncle and father, although he never felt like he could fully trust his father again. Surprisingly, his relationship with his uncle didn't suffer, and he was glad for that.

 

[DemonPrincess]

When he turned sixteen, his father suggested that he come with them to pick the next house. Reuben was furious that he would even suggest such a thing, but Hans wasn't totally against the idea.
"As long as I don't have to hurt anyone," he said.
It was agreed that Hans would wait in the car, in case things went badly.
"Remember," Reuben told him as he got out of the car, "If it seems like we can't get out or if the police come, you go. Do you understand me, Hans? You go and you leave us. Is that clear?" Hans nodded. "Good. Good boy."
Everything went smoothly.
And so their new system was born.

In summary: Reuben can't help but do his utmost to protect his brother and his nephew (although he sometimes still has dreams about the look on Hans' face when he found out, or the one time he actually witnessed his brother kill someone, which drove him to drink.) Werner tries to connect with his son, but he knows their relationship will probably never fully recover. And Hans still can't hear the song Black Dog without a shiver going down his spine. Landru is content to live with the Klopeks, and he loves his master. Despite his size, a more gentle dog you will never meet (although he doesn't take to uninvited guests very well.) As dysfunctional as they are, they are a family. And, for them, that's good enough.

 

[Kris_Klopek]

When I come across something Burbs-related to read I like to save it I might read all these posts when I go to bed...So expect some feedback tomorrow. And thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!

The company that's making the upcoming blu rays are known for the booklets they include. They've often 60 or 70 pages long, and usually feature new writing by fans and critics. As someone who likes to write about The Burbs, I think you'll appreciate that.

 

[RayPeterson]

Thanks demonprincess. Wow, I got so much Burbs stuff to read, the script Kris just sent, your Klopek background story...

So please bear with me as it might take some time to read through but thanks for sharing this.

 

[Kris_Klopek]

Wow, DemonPrincess, that was great! Thanks for taking the time to write/share it. I love how much detail you put into it, even including a little backstory for Landru

Since I've watched The Burbs so many times, obviously I've thought a lot about the Klopeks over the years, but after reading your backstory I realised how basic my ideas were. I'd always generalised the Klopeks as a family of pshycopathic killers, but your explanation works much better. I love that Werner is the sole pshyopathic killer, and that Reuben and Hans get dragged into it through love and loyalty. There's something very creepy and also sad about the thought of the 3 Klopeks travelling from town to town across America, Werner killing while Reuben and Hans follow along, sometimes being called on to help clean up the mess.

Having this backstory in mind might make my next viewing of The Burbs very weird!