Monster Hours (Animated YouTube Series)
Richard Gibson for Nicholas Helings
Nicholas Helings is a smug and distant man, often turning to substances to “let loose”. He’s quite a bit of a playboy and a downright prick at times. While not the biggest jerk in the world, he’s definitely not likeable in the early stages of the story, which this pilot takes place in of course.
Nicholas isn’t simply the “I’m better than everyone else” type. He sees the average joe as below him, as a subhuman, while he sees himself as “normal.” With this in mind, Nicholas is a dynamic character. His ‘70s childhood was friendless. It was also simultaneously privileged and tough. There wasn’t anything he wanted that he couldn’t have (besides friends). His multi-millionaire parents would buy him whatever he asked for just to keep him busy, and he could watch whatever he wanted at the nearby movie theaters. At the same time, he was subject to things a child shouldn’t see. His mother partied a lot with him around the house, and we’re talking parties. His father often substituted fatherly advice with lessons in business that went in one ear and right out the other, so there was no real parental connections to be found.
Nicholas has a very smarmy sounding voice. It’s not exactly aggressive or fake, just a very “I’m better than you in every way” type of flavour. His voice is not too high nor too low pitched, it is at a pretty average level for a man in his early twenties. Think spoiled rich fellow from California U-S-A and you'll nail it.
1. (Said to a cab driver) “Your seats are ass on ice.”
This is one of the first lines we hear out of Nicholas in the story. It is at the height of his douchebaggery.
2. (Said to the monster employees) “Ah, shut up and get back to work.”
Nicholas’ voice should quiver a little here. Like he almost wants to cry. This line comes right after Patrick the Gillman really told him off, and after Nick gave names to all of the monsters (they did not have names before Nick arrived in the the story). He’s begun to humanize the monsters just a little, and has had all of his insecurities laid out in front of him at the same time.
3. (Said in reference to Pip, a small demon with a gun) Who’s the short, tubby one with the… gun?
This is his first time seeing Pip. He is witnessing an imp holding a gun. He’s seen enough so that at this point he’s not really surprised, but he’s nervous. Say it with humor. Give us what you believe to be a humorous delivery of this question. Don’t oversell it, don’t undersell it. Just be funny.
