I was alone, in a network of make-believe European cities, all quite close in proximity. I was travelling from one to another by a seemingly quaint trolley line painted green with white trim. Somehow it traveled almost instantaneously but it went unnoticed by other passengers. I exited the trolley in what would've been a lively Armenian city but there were few people in the streets.
Walking around a bit, snapping photographs I noticed a convoy of soldiers approaching though they were in more traditional uniform and seemed to be of more Western European heritage. The streets flooded of people attempting to get on the trolley approaching from the other direction. A black sports car stopped beside me, a ginger-hue bobbed American woman told me to get inside, this is the first moment it struck me that there may be danger. She let me off seconds down the road at the trolley stop and accelerated away.
At this point the soldiers reached the sea, refusing anyone to board the innocent trolley. They herded us all over to a football field close by. We all proceeded to settle on and around the bleachers, uncertain. An officer broke away from the huddle of soldiers before us, becoming a leader. It was actor Rick Hoffman (Hostel, Suits, Samantha Who?) who, in-dream was definitely not acting.
He immediately asked all Armenians to get off the bleachers and come forth. All of us tourists looked at ourselves assuming we were being given the seats in a blatant act of racism. Rick (although I am unaware of his name in my dream) knew what we were thinking, as if he'd planned that reaction and asked us all off so that the Armenians could take the bleachers un-staggered between us. Rick smiled his infamous smile as if laughing to himself at our reactions, and proceeded to heard us back toward the streets with a small handful of the soldiers. Leaving the Armenians to be informed by another officer stepping up to lead.
Rick did not explain to us why we weren't to get back on the trolleys but it became apparent to us that there was some danger involved. Unafraid, but still uncertain of our situation we waited for orders. Having been herded to the end of the street and consequently the city limit, a sign pointed ahead 17 km. Rick explained we would have to travel back by foot and so we all started walking, not in silence, it was much like the marching of summer campers though we very much respected our "counselors".
About halfway we came to a river. How the trolley had managed to travel over it before was beyond me, and I wondered whether or not it'd even been there before. We stopped at the shore, unsure of how to continue on. Why I did it I would never have known but I sprung myself backpack and all into the water and began to swim. The rest all followed along with Rick whom for the first time was noticing me although he'd been in my vicinity throughout the short journey. And in that same vicinity we began the swim across.
About halfway across this river, we all began to sink a little with fatigue and the weight of our backpacks. Rick sank below beside me and I immediately sprang to his aid. I turned him onto his back but he was not floating, his mouth just an inch or two below the surface. I tried with all my might to pull him up above the flow. Just when I began to believe I would fail, tears fell from my eyes, barely distinguishable from the spray of the current. And just then Rick rose up, swimming in place and smiled at me. I immediately sensed that this "trick" may not have been maliciously intended but may have been a test of my character, and the fact that he'd thought to test me was flattering, not beguiling. Or so I felt at the time...
We all made it across the river, as the current was not at it's strength, although most were left fatigued but we'd almost made it to the neighboring city. The mood was jubilant, rejoicing. And to my greatest surprise Rick had managed to strap on a pair of old fashioned roller skates and was attempting to proceed up the slight incline toward the city.
He was having a clumsy go of it skating toward me and the city behind me. I outstretched my arms to him to hold onto, he clutched them. I had no idea why he was doing this, maybe it was just the fatigue of the swim but I did not question it. I just ushered him along and after a few minutes wondered to myself whether or not I could mount my own roller skates and still manage to help Rick along. He sensed this and began to skate with more ease and assuredness, loosening his grip on me and eventually letting go. He smiled at me, his infamous smile, and turned away from me.
For a second I thought he might just skate along ahead but he stopped and held his arms out at his sides leaning down slightly and I knew what I was to do, just as I knew to swim and I leaped up onto his back, piggy back. It was fantastic! He skated us up toward the city, meandering really, leisurely turning, and spinning me about, making me laugh. And I just instantly fell in love with him.
I awoke this morning to think about Rick Hoffman, as an actor. He makes such a fantastic villain, playing malicious, greedy, and unthinking with a twinkle in his eye. A glee if you will, similar to that of Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds
And if my dreams made any sense at all I would write the script myself and beg him, beg him to star in it.
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