WWI - after war was announced
Serbia dressed in her normal everyday male attire ties a rope around a tree. She has turned her back to the screen not noticing that someone has approached her. "What are you doing?" we recognize Austria's voice. Serbia flinches and quickly turns. Seeing him she smiles and stands up: "Oh hello. Sorry, I didn't expect company."
Austria is in his fine walking outfit. He even brought a cane. "Yes, well, I felt bored with my usual route." He sees the rope and asks: "What are you exactly doing?"
Serbia turns her head towards the tree. "Oh, I'm testing my latest product. Want to see?"
With a raised eyebrow he agrees and Serbia runs to the tree. She pulls on the rope as hard as she can, ripping it out of the ground with the entire root. Austria watches as she raises her arms excited.
"Yes! Perfect!" she yells jumping. He looks at her slightly confused, not saying anything.
Serbia unties the rope and ceremoniously presents it to him. "What do you think? Is it good enough to sell?" she asks. Austria looks at it carefully: "I suppose...Why did you make it. I would have sold you some?"
"Well...I wanted to make it myself. It's not like it's complicated or anything. Figured, pigs and agriculture is alright but the real money is in production" she replies.
Austria is not pleased. "My boy, entering such a field requires skills. I'm afraid industrialisation is still out of your range" he says concerned.
"Strangle my barely existing economy why don't you?" she mutters annoyed. "Don't worry, I'm being careful. But I have to start from somewhere?...By the way, how would you like to be the first person to take this quality rope home?" she says sounding just like a merchant. He looks at it again unconvinced. Serbia gets a little nervous: "You don't have to answer right away. Test it yourself and then tell me."
Austria is still iffy about it. "I'll even throw in a free lunch. What do you say?" she replies. He shrugs and sighs: "If you insist...The usual place?"
"The very same" she says happily tapping his shoulder as they move towards the city.
Next scene: Austria, in a much sportier outfit, is sitting on a fallen tree. He is slouching deep in thought as his hands clench the rope while prompting his chin. Hungary, who is still dressed in maid's clothes approaches him. "Is anything the matter?" she asks.
"The little swine herder makes decent rope...Who knew?" he says still frowning into the distance. Standing up, he gives Hungary the rope as well as an order: "Buy his entire stock. And don't let anyone else know about it."
Confused even more, Hungary nods and watches Austria leave in a very bad mood. She then turns in the opposite direction and is surprised by the sight. All of the trees, roots included, are ripped from the ground. She looks at the rope and at Austria. "Did he do this?" she whispers to herself scared.
End of flashback: End of summer +
1914. We see Austria in the salon, alone and with a glass of strong liquor, much stronger than his usual glass of wine. He stares straight with a worried expression. Hungary, in one of her many evening dresses, carefully enters the room. She is still angry with him but figures nothing can be achieved by pouting.
She clears her throat to announce her presence. "The troops have been mobilized. They are approaching the Russian boarder as we speak" she says leaning on the door-frame with her hands crossed.
Austria hums still staring at the exact same spot. After a moment or two he asks hesitant: "My dear, do you think...I made a mistake?"
Hungary makes a face. "I don't know my husband. Was declaring a war that would undeniably cause all of the major powers to get involved a mistake?" she answers sarcastically.
He sighs with his lips pressed. "Oh well...it's too late to change anything now" he says taking another sip. Hungary spots and opportunity. She rushes towards him and gently takes his hand sitting next to him eager to say something.
"It doesn't have to be this way. Nothing has happened yet. You can still pull back. Tell the powers that you have changed your mind. Make up some excuse and..." before she can finish he pulls his hand away and turns his head.
"For Heaven's sake Hungary! I can't do that. That will only give them more reasons to ridicule me...If it was with anyone else besides Serbia, I would consider it. This way, if I back out now, I will be cemented as the weakling who let a sly little peasant get the better of him. I would lose my position in the tower for good."
"Look at me" Hungary demands. "If you don't back out now, we will have more serious problems to worry about. This could shatter our entire way of life. Do you have any idea how many young soldiers are preparing for this war? How many guns, tanks and hand grenades are being prepared as we speak? It's the greatest mobilization of force seen in Europe since the Napoleonic wars. Only this time, it's everyone versus everyone else" she speaks with her eyes wide from fear.
Austria turns his head a little to the left a little to the right, avoiding her gaze. "To be honest, I can't stand them. Acting so mighty and holly with their long-winded speeches on how to properly rule over your subjects. Ha! The only reason they have so much wealth is because they robbed everyone else blind. Do you know what they do in their colonies? Those beacons of civilization and prosperity? They kidnap people, put them in ships, transport them half way around the world and then work them to death. Without pay or anything. They make them work until they bleed them dry, and when those people die, they get a new batch because it's cheaper that way" he talks with a slight slur. "But that is acceptable because it is happening away from the public's eye, to people most don't really care about. Rebellions—crushed. Food and shelter—denied. Who lives lives, who dies...well...it's like they never existed in the first place. And what happens when I run into a problematic situation? It's 'Austria is this' and 'Austria is that'. Bla bla bla. Ha ha ha…The nerve of some nations!" he says pouring another glass and drinking it to the last drop.
Hungary listens without blinking. "Then why do you care what they think? We are prosperous in our own right. Don't make us lose that!" she speaks determined to change his mind.
Austria looks at his glass pondering. After a while, he says: "No!"
Before Hungary can say anything, he stands up and turns away. "I don't expect you to understand, but this is a matter of honor. I will not be the first to back down."
"Austria listen. No one wants this war. We all fear what it will bring. I beg you. Say you have decided to resolve the issue in a different way. Say there is no need for it now. Say, the spirit of the prosperous era maintaining the peace will bring has showed you the true path you must take. Say...say anything really. It doesn't matter. Any reason is acceptable at this point. All will be forgotten within a week..."
His angry look makes her stop. "Don't tempt me! You know how I can get when I'm angry" he says through his teeth. Hungary takes a deep breath and carefully nods. "I'm going to sleep now" he says slowly moving towards the door. He stops and turns, making Hungary hopeful.
"Where is the representative of Serbs in our empire? Is she still in prison?" he asks. Not expecting this, she gulps and says yes. Austria is silent for a second. "Tell the guards to let her go. I want to talk to her tomorrow." He then walks out, leaving Hungary to dread in solitude.
WW1 - next morning
SAH is brought into Austria's office with her hands in a lock. She is in her work outfit which is slightly dirty. She looks hungry and in a desperate need of a bath. Austria sends away the multiple guards that brought her in. She looks at the floor scared.
"Have they been treating you well?" he asks in a civil manner.
"For some reason, they forgot to bring me meals" she says looking down.
"I apologize for that. Must have been a misunderstanding" he replies. SAH stays quiet.
"You look terrible. Some fresh air would do you good" he says after a short pause. Moving towards the door he turns and adds: "Come on then. Don't make me wait."
Taking a deep breath, she moves towards him. They leave the room and the door closes.
