A FULL-LENGTH FEATURE FILM
for wide distribution in Russia, Europe, India, China.
SCREENWRITER — LAUREATE
1.«Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood» — LACFH-2024 «Best Script» Los-Angeles, USA 26.03.2024
2.«Austin International CINEVERSE Screenplay Awards» — «TV Pilot Series Script 50 pages» Austin, Texas USA 23.12.2024
https://youtu.be/Za8Y5iOm2sQ
Script AWARDS
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https://vgik.info/today/creativelife/detail.php?ID=13572&
http://proza.ru/2023/11/19/1638
https://filmfreeway.com/IliyasDaudi
https://swedenfilmawards.se/zugzwang-of-ober/
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From the military-historical novel-trilogy «IN THE CIRCLE OF KUNDUZ»
Project is timed to THE WITHDRAWAL OF NATO COALITION FORCES FROM AFGHANISTAN 2021.08.31. Based on real events, the names of the prototypes have been partially changed.
Author: Iliyas DAUDI
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Format: full meter; movie series
Materials: Logline; Request; Short synopsis (full meter) & Long synopsis (movie series); Script
* THE SINOPSIS/ http://proza.ru/2020/09/26/9
* THE STORY/ http://proza.ru/2020/10/01/871
MOTTO
«The story of heroes among whom you want to live!»
LOGLINE
This story is about Afghan war and peace, happiness and tragedies, strong friendship and a return to the roots.
— The main character is a Russian German, Bruno Thevs, he is an officer of the special operations forces of the KSK Bundeswehr (FRG), the son of a Soviet soldier who died in 1986 in Afghanistan.
— The desire to get even for the death of his father directs Bruno, who was taken away from the USSR for permanent residence in Germany in 1989 to participate in the military operation of the NATO forces (ISAF) "Enduring Freedom" in the 2010s.
— The victims and destruction inflicted by ISAF, the death in that moloch of his own Afghan bride and close comrades lead to a turning point in the hero's consciousness, a reassessment of the causes of the bloody confrontation.
— Disappointed by the actions of the Western ISAF coalition, not wanting to be part of a cynical military machine, Bruno resigns from military service, returns to his historical homeland in Russia.
— Bruno's gratitude for the hardships and overcoming he experienced, at the end of the story, will be the new happiness he found in Russia.
APPLICATION
«Zugzwang is a chess term meaning forcing a disastrous move».
— The story about a young ober-lieutenant of the Bundeswehr of Germany, Bruno Thevs, who serves in the KSK special operations forces unit.
Bruno was one year old when his father, a Soviet soldier, was killed in Afghanistan in 1986.
— In 1989 Bruno, along with relatives from the Volga Germans, was moved from the USSR to Germany for permanent residence.
— Having grown up and become a professional soldier, despite the spell of his mother, Bruno appeals to the command with a request for rotation in the special anti—terrorist unit «TASK FORCE-47» TF-47 in the German ISAF forces in Afghanistan, fighting the radical Taliban movement.
— After rigorous testing and selection, Bruno arrives at the Mazar-I-Sharif military base in Afghanistan.
He is motivated, assertive, and brusque; everything about Bruno is subordinated to a single goal — fighting the rebels and avenging his father.
— While solving anti-terrorist tasks in Afghanistan, Bruno involves his friend, Otto Grinberg, a reporter for a leading Western publication, whom Bruno released from Taliban captivity, in one of the special operations, during which Otto pays for the cynicism of the TF-47 command with his life.
— The death of a comrade shocks Bruno. Bruno will not be able to prevent the death of his beloved Afghan girlfriend Seeta Ahmadzai, who dies in an ISAF airstrike on the hospital of the MSF Doctors Without Borders humanitarian mission.
— Participating in special operations against the Taliban, Bruno is in the midst of dramatic events, the epicenter of the mass casualties of the Afghan population.
— A recent apologist for Western values, convinced of the rightness of the actions of the ISAF fighting international terrorism, Bruno will experience a psychological breakdown and a transformation of his worldview, blaming the victims on Afghan civilians — ISAF and his commanders.
— Not wanting to remain a part of the brutal military machine anymore, Bruno resigns from the Bundeswehr and goes to his historical homeland in Russia. There, Bruno searches for his late Father's friends who survived the battles.
— The events in Russia will fill Bruno's life with new meaning.
SYNOPSIS
Bruno Thevs, military intelligence officer, Ober lieutenant of the special operations forces of the KSK Bundeswehr (FRG), who submitted a report to the command to send him to serve in Afghanistan at his own request, is undergoing rigorous selection and testing at the KSK base in Karlsruhe, FRG.
— The authoritative commission approves the castling, Bruno arrives at the Mazar-I-Sharif airbase in Afghanistan, where he enlists in the special anti-terrorist TASK FORCE TF-47 unit of the German forces in the ISAF joint grouping, the North zone, the city of Kunduz.
— From the very first days of service in Afghanistan, Bruno, the commander of the TF—47 special forces group, has been involved in dangerous special operations against the radical Taliban movement, manifests himself as a brave, determined warrior.
— In the first operation, Bruno prevents a terrorist attack involving suicide truck drivers loaded with explosives who broke into the TF-47 garrison in Kunduz.
— In other operations, Bruno performs with the group the task of capturing and eliminating Taliban leaders, frees hostages, among whom is a wounded reporter, the correspondent of a major European publication, Otto Greenberg (Otto).
— Bruno delivers the wounded Otto to Kunduz, MSF — the hospital of the international humanitarian mission Doctors Without Borders.
— An old notebook and a photo of a soldier of the Soviet Army are unexpectedly found in Otto's personal belongings.
— Bruno is shocked — after all, this is a notebook and a photo of his father who died in Afghanistan…
— Father, Konstantin Thevs from the Volga Germans, a native of Southern Kazakhstan, USSR in the mid-1980s served as part of a limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, and together with his comrades fought with the Mujahideen.
Konstantin Thevs has more than one dangerous operation on his account.
— In one of the heavy battles, Konstantin is seriously wounded and dies. Konstantin's wife, Rosa, Bruno's mother, emigrated to Germany (Freiburg) together with their young son in 1989.
— There Bruno grows up and, under the influence of his mother's stories about his father, becomes a professional military intelligence officer.
— Bruno's decision to file a report on being sent to serve in Afghanistan is related to where his father fought and died.
— Friendly relations are established between military intelligence officer Bruno and reporter Otto.
— Otto promises Bruno that when he recovers, he will take him to a former mujahideen who gave him a notebook and a photo of the deceased Soviet soldier Konstantin Thevs.
— At the MSF hospital, Bruno meets a beautiful, modest Oriental girl, Sita Ahmadzai.
— Sita Ahmadzai is a Pashtun woman born in Germany, a family of Afghan immigrants, who serves as a doctor at MSF in Kunduz.
— Bruno is fascinated by Sita, shows signs of attention in every possible way. Sita accepts Bruno's courtship with restraint.
Sita, although born and raised in Germany, is still brought up in strict Muslim traditions, observes the canons.
— The probability that Sita's family will allow her to marry a non-believer Bruno is negligible, but the approaching Bruno and Sita do not lose hope.
— The wounded Otto goes to MSF to recover, as promised, takes Bruno to a remote mountain village to the former mujahideen Ismatullah.
— Ismatulla tells Bruno under what circumstances he had a notebook and a photo of the deceased Konstantin Thevs.
— Ismatulla agrees to take Bruno and Otto to the mountains — to the site of the last bloody battle, where Konstantin Thevs was mortally wounded.
— In the narrative of Mujahid Ismatullah, Bruno reconstructs the picture of that battle, and realizes that Ismatullah is obviously the one who fatally wounded his father.
— Ismatullah, who lost his arm in that battle and almost lost his life, sincerely empathizes with the relatives who lost their relatives in the Afghan war in the 1980s, speaks with respect about the Soviet soldiers, brave and worthy.
— Ismatullah admits to Bruno that he has largely revised his previous views, and would not fight with Shuravi now, but despite his advanced age, he is still ready to take up arms again to beat the occupiers from the ISAF coalition.
— Bruno is puzzled by Ismatullah's position, because ISAF, in his opinion, is fighting international terrorism, protecting Afghan civilians!
— During his service, Bruno becomes an eyewitness to the death of a large number of civilians in ISAF operations, and with each case he becomes more and more convinced of the harm of the presence of the ISAF coalition in Afghanistan.
— Bruno will be especially shocked by the ISAF airstrike in the village of Daftani on a mosque and madrasah during the celebrations on the occasion of a religious holiday, awarding the winners of the competition of Qur'an reciters — Hafiz (boys aged six to fourteen years).
— The result: hundreds of innocent victims, hundreds of seriously injured — all children.
Is this a deliberate blow or a tragic mistake?!
— Reporter Otto, fulfilling his journalistic duty, despite the deadly danger, uses his contacts with the Taliban to shoot a live report in the village of Daftani, the site of the tragedy, to interview the parents of the dead children.
— On the frames of the video camera, Otto captures horrific scenes with fragments of bodies scattered on the site, rows of children's shoes left at the place of prayer, mournful memorial services in the courtyards for the dead children, grief-stricken relatives, a damaged mosque, destroyed residential buildings.
— Otto's truthful revelatory material about the tragedy in Daftani, published in the world's leading publication, caused a wide public outcry and condemnation of ISAF's actions in the world, strengthening Otto's authority among the Taliban.
— Contrary to the horrifying facts, heralds from the official Afghan media and the ISAF coalition call what happened in Daftani the destruction of the Taliban training center together with the leaders.
— The Taliban respond to the tragedy in Daftani by kidnapping the son of the commander of the Bundeswehr garrison, Colonel (Oberst) Georg Jung, Bruno's immediate superior, Alfred, who flew from Munich to visit his father.
— Bruno volunteers to help in the release of Alfred Jung, turns to Otto with a request to talk to the Taliban about the exchange of Alfred.
— Otto is staunchly opposed, because he is shocked by the victims of Daftani and does not want to deal with an officer who gave orders for the use of military force against civilians.
— Bruno pushes Otto, argues that he owes his rescue from Taliban captivity to TF-47 special forces and directly to Oberst Jung. As a result, he persuades to reach out to the Taliban, to ask for exchange conditions.
— The Taliban's terms are accepted by TF-47. For Alfred Jung, the Taliban demand 5 of their regional leaders from captivity.
— As a guarantee of security, the Taliban demand that Bruno and Otto be taken hostage before the exchange is completed. The conditions are accepted.
— Loving Sita is heartily worried about Bruno. The young are waiting for the blessing of the marriage of Sita's parents. The mother, who understands Sita in a feminine way, persuades her husband Ayub to agree. Ayub, firmly against the gentile Bruno, but after learning that he is the son of a Soviet soldier who died in Afghanistan, surrenders under persuasion. Bruno and Sita are immensely happy, preparing for the wedding.
— But happiness is not destined to come true: an airstrike by the American ISAF Air Force on the MSF Doctors Without Borders hospital leaves over a hundred dead under the rubble, including Sita. Bruno is heartbroken. Hates the culprits.
— The exchange of Alfred Jung and the Taliban leaders in action — the parties exchange prisoners, Otto and Bruno are released.
— Oberst Jung and Alfred with senior TF-47 officers get into armored personnel carriers, drive off. Bruno's SWAT team is waiting for him and Otto. Before Otto and Bruno have time to leave the exchange site, ISAF helicopter gunships appear in the sky and begin hitting the Taliban with rockets.
— The Taliban are returning fire on helicopters and special forces. Their automatic burst hits Otto. Dying, Otto forcefully says «it was impossible to believe Oberst Jung».
— Bruno is furious: who called the aviation and ordered to open fire?!
— Bruno breaks into Oberst Jung, harshly reprimands the claim.
— Bruno, completely disappointed in the ISAF mission, cynical, inhumane methods, returns to Germany, resigns from military service and goes to the city of birth — Dzhambul.
There he pours a handful of earth from the place of the disastrous battle on his father's grave and, in fulfillment of the purpose of the old notebook, flies to Moscow.
— Using phone numbers, Bruno searches for his father's surviving friends.
— Legless invalid Rust introduces Bruno to Masha, the daughter of one of the three survivors of the war, but who died at the walls of the House of Soviets in October 1993 Koster (Ivan Kostrov). United by a common misfortune — the loss of their father-friends, Bruno and Masha are connected by a relationship.
— The events in Russia will fill Bruno's life with meaning, hope for the future.
TIME SLICES
— The first, present, 2000s tells about the Ober lieutenant of the special operations forces of the KSK Bundeswehr - Bruno Thevs, the son of a Soviet soldier who died in Afghanistan.
— The second, a flashback to the recent past — an episode of the history of friends in the Afghan war and Modern Russia.
— The third, a flashback to the distant past — the Emirate of Afghanistan 1917-1942, the period of the struggle against Basmatism in the Afghan-Soviet border area.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The prototype of the reporter «Der Spiegel» Otto Greenberg, who conducted a journalistic investigation of the inhumane actions of ISAF, was the well-known American reporter of the New York Times, Stephen Farrell, kidnapped by the Taliban.
— The story is based on real events in Afghanistan, widely covered in the Western media, received a strong resonance in the world.
— The facts of the excessive use of military force by ISAF with the mass death of civilians took place in reality:
— during an air strike on the village of Umar-heil in the province of Kunduz — on civilians who had accumulated near fuel trucks, about 100 people were killed.
— during an air strike on the village of Daftani in Kunduz province — with the mass death of Hafiz children reciting the Koran from 8 to 14 years old on the day of graduation from the madrasah, about 100 children were killed.
— during an air strike on the MSF hospital of the international humanitarian mission «Doctors without Borders» in the city of Kunduz — a large number of civilians, European and Afghan medical workers who were in the buildings, killed more than 100 people.
THE SCRIPT
ZUGZWANG OF OBER LIEUTENANT BRUNO THEVS
1. EXT. DZHAMBUL. GERMAN CEMETERY — DAY.
TITLE: DZHAMBUL. THE GERMAN CEMETERY.
BRUNO, a tall, broad-shouldered young man of 25 years old, of military habit, stands at a grave with a maroon marble tombstone with a photo of his father on it. At the top of the plate there are 2 Orders of the Red Star; an INTERNATIONALIST SOLDIER is written. In the center of the plate is the name Konstantin Oskarovich Thevs, below the date of birth and death (1966-1986).
Bruno is serious, his shoulders are straightened, his hands are stacked on top of each other.
The holy father in a pastor's shirt with a Roman collar reads psalms. The priest holds a Bible and a rosary in his hands.
Bruno listens in silence.
The pastor finishes reading the prayer.
Bruno puts flowers on the grave.
Bruno takes a black cellophane bag with a handful of earth out of the pocket of his leather jacket and pours it on the mound in front of the monument.
2. EXT. AIRPORT — DAY.
A large liner lifts off the ground and soars into the sky.
3. INT. BOARD OF THE PLANE — DAY.
Bruno is sitting in the middle row by the window.
The young slender stewardess carries drinks on a trolley and serves them to passengers. Bruno refuses mechanically.
Bruno is looking out the window, thinking about something.
FLASHBACK
4. EXT. MEDIEVAL CASTLE — NIGHT.
TITLE: CALV.KARLSRUHE COUNTY, THE LAND OF BADEN W;RTTEMBERG, SOUTHWEST OF GERMANY. COUNT ZEPPELIN'S CASTLE.
A picturesque landscape, a large pond with century-old oaks, the facade of the castle is illuminated. A Mercedes executive class car arrives at the castle, accompanied by a military SUV from behind.
Three commandos jump out of the SUV and open the back door of the Mercedes. The head of the KSK Brigadier General MARKUS NEUMANN steps out of it sedately.
5. INT. BUNKER — NIGHT.
TITLE: BUNKER.SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES CENTER. KSK BUNDESWEHR.
The walls are painted in achromatic color, round lampshades shine dimly, a glass spy "gesella" is mounted in one of the walls.
Bruno with ten-day stubble is sitting in the center, his hands are handcuffed to the seat of a chair.
He is severely exhausted, blinded by the light of a powerful searchlight; two soldiers hose him down with a jet of icy water, deafen him with a loud rock and roll sound.
6. INT. BUNKER — NIGHT.
The observation room. In the center there is an oval elongated table for 8 people.
A little to the side, two officers are playing chess at a square glass coffee table.
From the observation room, three KSK military leaders sitting on expensive office chairs are watching the test.
Bruno is behind the glass in profile to them.
Markus Neumann enters the observation room; the officers stand up. Markus Neumann nods his head in greeting, waves his hand, and invites the officers to sit down. Everyone sits down at an elongated table.
Markus Neuman addresses the KSK personnel officer, Oberst — Colonel KURT VOLLMER, without taking his eyes off what is happening behind the glass, where a military man is hosing down Bruno with a powerful jet.
MARKUS NEUMANN
How is he?!
KURT VOLLMER
(To Marcus Neumann)
He's holding up well, Mr. Brigadier General.
Markus Neumann takes a pencil out of a cup, takes a dangerous “SHICK” blade and begins to sharpen the pencil.
MARKUS NEUMANN
Read me his file, Vollmer.
KURT VOLLMER
Yes, Mr. Brigadier General! Bruno Thevs, born in 1985. He arrived in Germany in 1989 from Kazakhstan, USSR, at the age of four.
Graduated from high school with honors, purposefully prepared for military service.
He speaks Russian and English perfectly.
After graduating from school, he served in the 26th Airborne Brigade in the city of Zweibr;cken. From there, Ober Staff Corporal Thevs entered the higher officer school.
In 2008, he received the military specialty of an army intelligence officer and the rank of lieutenant. In the same year he was selected for KSK.
He served as a group commander in the division of the rapid reaction forces in Stadtallendorf. The rank of Ober-lieutenant was awarded ahead of schedule. Athlete, winner of the Bundeswehr in boxing.
In early January 2009, he appealed to the KSK command with a request to send him to the Task Force-47 as part of the joint forces of the Western ISAF coalition in Afghanistan for further service.
MARKUS NEUMANN
(To officers)
What will be the opinions?!
KURT VOLLMER
In all disciplines and stages of testing, Ober-lieutenant Bruno Thevs is certified with the highest scores, Mr. Brigadier General.
The level of professional training gives grounds to consider him one of the best beginning army intelligence officers of the Bundeswehr and recommend him for rotation in Afghanistan.
MARKUS NEUMANN
I agree with you, Kurt!
Markus Neumann signs a document on the castling of Bruno Thevs in Afghanistan.
7. EXT. CATHEDRAL - DAY.
TITLE: FREIBURG. THE CATHEDRAL OF HOLY VIRGIN MARY.
In the frame is a general plan of the view of the cathedral.
8. INT. CATHEDRAL PULPIT - DAY.
Bruno Thevs is sitting at the organ. The work of J.S. Bach sounds.
Bruno plays with inspiration.
Finishes playing and stands up. Closes the lid.
9. INT. THE INTERIOR OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY.
Bruno goes up to the HOLY FATHER, kisses his hand. The Holy Father baptizes Bruno. On the “ring” finger of the Holy Father is a signet with a rectangular black stone.
HOLY FATHER
Please, Bruno, revenge and retribution are not the way of a righteous Lutheran. Take care of yourself, the church will pray for you.
BRUNO
Thank you, Father.
Bruno departs from the Holy Father.
Bruno approaches a 45-year-old woman sitting in the front row next to the pulpit - his mother ROSA. Rosa is pretty, with delicate facial features, exquisitely dressed in dark, and has a hat on her head.
Rosa comes out from behind the bench and heads for the exit with Bruno.
10. EXT. CATHEDRAL - DAY.
Bruno and Rosa come out of the Cathedral. Rosa holds Bruno's arm and looks at him. Bruno looks ahead.
ROSA
I am very saddened by your decision. You're breaking my heart. It will be unbearable for me to lose my only son after the death of my husband.
Bruno looks at Rose.
BRUNO
(reassuringly, with a smile)
Everything will be fine.
11. EXT. AIRBASE — DAY.
TITLE: MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN. BUNDESWEHR AIR BASE. THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE REGIONAL COMMAND OF THE ZONE "NORTH" OF THE JOINT FORCES OF THE WESTERN COALITION ISAF.
The sun is at its zenith. Hot air rises from the scorching earth. A military transport aircraft "S.160D Transall" lands on the runway. A group of German soldiers descends from the opening ramp. From the military, the camera highlights Bruno in a Gainsborough-colored officer's dress uniform with a branded backpack. Bruno throws his head up, looks at the cloudless sky and takes a deep breath of air.
A Bucher (MOWAG) Duro IIIP ambulance with a flashing beacon turns on smoothly to the aircraft parking lot, to the side of the Bombardier Learjet 55 medical board with a red crescent image and the inscription "Medecins Sans Frontieres" MSF. A group of doctors and orderlies in green uniforms is quickly unloaded from the ambulance and begins to evacuate 3 stretchers with patients to be sent to Germany.
The young girl SEETA, accompanying the last of them, under the force of the air flow of the liner's engine, releases a folder with sheets of "case histories" papers from her armpit. Documents are scattered to the side for several meters.
Bruno leaves his backpack in place, begins to catch up the papers carried away by the wind, helping the girl to collect them.
Bruno picks up the last sheet, hands the whole stack to the girl. Bruno looks intently into Seeta’s eyes. Seeta is beautiful. Seeta blushes, looks down, nods gratefully.
Bruno and Seeta are distracted by the loud sound of two motorcycles approaching the airfield checkpoint.
There is pandemonium at the checkpoint - a group of residents and accumulated civilian trucks. The military of the Western ISAF forces with weapons and service dogs do not allow Afghan civilian equipment to enter the airfield, strictly check documents, inspect cargo compartments of transport.
Bruno focuses on Afghan motorcyclists in turban and Afghan national dress. They both have backpacks on their backs. Both motorcyclists quickly conduct reconnaissance, their readiness for quick action is visible.
The Afghan motorcyclists sharply step on the gas and rush one after the other through the narrow space between the transport and the checkpoint gates, penetrate the airfield territory.
The guards try to stop the motorcyclists; but they filter through the crowd. The guards take aim, but do not use weapons on the motorcyclists.
Bruno and Seeta find themselves in the path of speeding motorcyclists. Bruno abruptly pulls Seeta by the arm, saving her from being hit by the first motorcycle. The motorcyclist drives on. Bruno grabs his GLOCK pistol from the holster with his other hand and shoots the first motorcyclist in the back, an explosion occurs. The motorcyclist is being torn to shreds.
The second motorcyclist directs his motorcycle at Bruno. Bruno abruptly steps aside and strikes the motorcyclist's neck with an outstretched hand, knocks him to the ground and fires a control shot to the head.
Seeta runs up to the ambulance, where a team of doctors is waiting for her. Seeta is quickly seated in an ambulance. The car starts moving.
Bruno remains at the scene of the collision with the motorcyclists; military personnel from the ISAF gather around him. Bruno watches the ambulance leaving the airfield.
12. EXT. AFGHANISTAN GARRISON "TASK FORCE 47" — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN. GARRISON "TASK FORCE 47" (TF-47).
Bruno Thevs drives on an armored personnel carrier to the TF-47 headquarters. On the porch he is awaited by the TF-47 commander OBERST JUNG, a short, lean man of 40 years old, strict, secretive, distrustful, cynical, cruel, speaks with a characteristic "Nordic" accent.
Bruno waits for the dust to settle, jumps off the armored personnel carrier, dusts himself off, and walks to Oberst Jung to report.
Oberst Jung greets Bruno with a smile.
Oberst Jung comes down from the porch, passes by Bruno. Bruno follows him a little behind.
OBERST JUNG
(gratifying)
Welcome to Afghanistan!
The TF47 unit is served by the best officers of the Special operations forces and army intelligence units - about 200 people.
Oberst Jung walks between a row of armored personnel carriers and a fence with barbed wire, Bruno follows Oberst Jung, listening attentively to his speech.
OBERST JUNG
In a short period of time, we have developed a good network of agents in the "North" sector of responsibility.
The Oberst stops. He stares intently into Bruno's eyes.
OBERST JUNG
I've read your personal file, Ober Lieutenant. A good start.
Oberst Jung and Bruno continue their leisurely pace, stopping at the site where the instructor officer demonstrates to a group of special forces the technique of hand-to-hand combat with an opponent armed with a knife. Oberst Jung looks from Bruno to the commandos.
OBERST JUNG
Don't you want to show your abilities?
Oberst Jung nods to the instructor officer.
The instructor officer frees the commando, waiting for Bruno's approach.
Bruno approaches the instructor officer; a handshake takes place.
Bruno and the instructor officer stood ready for battle.
The fight began with the use of punches and combat sambo techniques.
Bruno gets the better of the instructor officer.
Bruno and the instructor officer shake hands.
Bruno returns to Oberst Jung.
OBERST JUNG
Not bad, not bad!
(pause)
Answer me, only frankly! Is your desire to be in TF-47 somehow connected with the death of your father here?
Bruno fades away. Before Bruno could answer, Jung continues.
OBERST JUNG
Remember, Ober lieutenant!
(a little quieter)
The accomplishment of retribution should not harm the career of a promising officer.
Bruno nods in agreement.
Oberst and Bruno move along the barbed wire fence, behind which there is military equipment.
OBERST JUNG
By the way, where did this happen?
BRUNO
In the province of Baghlan, Mr. Oberst.
(pause)
Their regiment was stationed here in Kunduz.
OBERST JUNG
I see.
(pause)
Baghlan is also our area of responsibility.
Oberst Jung sees a folio with a Russian title in Bruno's hand.
OBERST JUNG
(with curiosity)
What are you reading now, Ober- lieutenant??
BRUNO
"The Great game in Afghanistan."
OBERST JUNG
(suspiciously)
I see.
(pause)
Tell me, Ober-lieutenant.
(interestedly)
When and from what part of Germany your ancestors moved to Russia? Are you aware of this?
BRUNO
(statutory)
That's right, Mr. Oberst! During the reign of King Frederick II of Prussia, according to the manifesto of 1762 of the Russian Empress Catherine II, Princess Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst.
Among the first German families, my ancestors settled in the Volga region. They went to Russia from the South-West of Germany, Freiburg, where two centuries later we returned.
OBERST JUNG
Well! It's a long time!
The history of the family and the people must be known! Commendable, commendable!
(thoughtfully)
Okay, first solve all the formalities at headquarters, and then I'll introduce you to your group. Tomorrow at 9.00 the meeting of group commanders in the "Combat Control Center".
Oberst Jung and Bruno Thevs are splitting up.
13. INT. BRUNO'S ROOM – DAY.
Bruno enters his room, there are two beds, both made up. His roommate, counterintelligence officer Ober lieutenant Helmut ZIMMER, is sitting at his desk.
Bruno greets Zimmer with a handshake.
BRUNO
Bruno Tevs!
ZIMMER
(haughtily)
Helmut, the counterintelligence service!
Bruno puts his backpack on a chair by the empty bunk.
BRUNO
Oh! I'm lucky, I'll be under the protection of counterintelligence.
ZIMMER
(unfriendly)
Don't be pathetic, Ober Lieutenant.
Bruno takes one of the beds, takes a book out of his backpack, and begins to read.
EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN"
14. EXT. THE BANK OF THE AMU DARYA RIVER — NIGHT, PREDAWN.
TITLE: SOVIET-AFGHAN BORDER 1929.
It is quiet, only the sound of gurgling water is heard. On an open, elevated place visible from everywhere on the northern bank of the border river Amu Darya stands the international formation of a special detachment of the Red Army (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army) 2000 fighters from national units of the Central Asian Military District (SAVO) - Uzbeks, Turkmens, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Kirghiz, Uighurs, Russians, Cossacks all dressed in Afghan military uniforms.
The commander of the detachment, Vitaly Primakov, with the call sign WITMAR, is dressed in the uniform of an Afghan officer, reading out a combat order.
WITMAR
(in a commanding voice)
The detachment is tasked with infiltrating the adjacent territory to perform a responsible government task. For the duration of the operation, in the presence of the Afghan population, address each other with distributed Muslim names.
15. EXT. THE BANK OF THE AMU DARYA RIVER - IT'S GETTING LIGHT.
The advance group of the Witmar detachment secretly swims through the water barrier of the Amu Darya River and silently removes the Afghan border outpost. The main forces of the Witmar detachment with 4 mountain guns, 12 machine guns, 12 light machine guns, powerful mobile radio stations, a supply of provisions are loaded onto motorboats, barges, kayaks, and force the river.
16. EXT. THE BANK OF THE AMU DARYA RIVER, DESERT — DAWN.
TITLE: SOVIET BORDER AREA, AFGHAN TERRITORY.
Six Soviet airplanes equipped with bombs and machine guns appear in the sky. Together with Witmar's detachment, they cross the Soviet-Afghan border and fly into Afghanistan. Part of the squad is in the water; some are still going down to the water. The camera is behind the squad.
Airplanes fly around the Afghan border post Patta-Gissar twice in a circle and, descending, make a fire raid. The Afghan border post, barracks, and most of the Afghan border guards have been destroyed. The shelling of the Afghan territory from the air continues. In response, the Afghan border guards occasionally shoot at Soviet planes with their rifles, but all in vain, only two of the 50 border guards remain alive.
17. EXT.KELIF-DAY.
Fighting is taking place near the city limits of Kelif.
Afghan formations are desperately repelling bayonet and saber attacks by the Witmar’s troops.
Witmar's fighters are pushing forward guns, and the first cannon shots and machine-gun bursts destroy and morally break the Afghans.
The Afghans are fleeing from their positions, leaving their weapons.
18. EXT. MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN — DAY.
TITLE: MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN.
Witmar's detachment attacks the bastion, smashes the gates of the Mazar-I-Sharif fortress with direct artillery fire, and breaks into the city.
Witmar's squad has broken into Mazar-I-Sharif, rushes to the attack with the traditional Russian "Hurrah". Russian obscenities are heard everywhere on the streets.
The defenders of the garrison are crowding in, fleeing.
Piles of motionless, bloody bodies lie near the Afghan guns. The losses of the Afghans are great.
Torn fragments of bodies. The faces of the dead.
Soviet airplanes are raiding Mazar-I-Sharif from the air, dropping bombs on Afghan positions, and additional weapons to the Witmar fighters.
Afghan tribal formations dressed in national Afghan clothes - robes, turban - arrived to help the Afghan detachments in Mazar-I-Sharif. Tribal formations immediately engage in battle, trying to knock Witmar out of the city. Large in number, tribal formations are poorly organized, resume attacks in open terrain one after another, advance in a dense formation, but are cut off by oncoming gun and machine-gun fire from Witmar fighters.
19. INT. TF-47 HEADQUARTERS — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. TF-47 HEADQUARTERS, COMBAT CONTROL CENTER.
A room with many telephones, military maps, where the borders of provinces and counties are outlined, the names of settlements are marked. Oberst Jung gathers deputies and commanders of special forces groups for a meeting at the "Combat Control Center". The room is filled with officers.
OBERST JUNG
Our agents have revealed the plans of the Taliban leaders — Moulawi Shamsutdin and Mullah Abdul Rahman, to organize a series of attacks on columns of German military equipment and to commit a terrorist attack on the Bundeswehr garrison in Kunduz. Based on strategic expediency, TF-47 begins to develop an operation plan codenamed "Joker". The analysis of intelligence data with a high degree of probability indicates the appearances and permanent residence of the leaders Shamsutdin and Abdul Rahman. The objects are monitored around the clock.
(Jung suddenly turns to Bruno)
Despite your lack of practical experience in the participation and planning of special operations, for a speedy entry into the combat environment, I include you in the list of developers of Operation Joker. I hope it pays off!
And now, Ober-lieutenant Thevs, read the intercepted fresh report.
Oberst Jung pushes a folder of documents towards Bruno. Bruno doesn’t hesitate to start reading.
BRUNO
"I, Moulawi Shamsutdin, the leader of the Taliban movement in Kunduz province, order the detachments under my control to attack the German columns in order to seize large-capacity trucks. We will stuff them with explosives and, by means of a suicide driver who will break through the security cordons, we will send them inside the Bundeswehr garrison in Kunduz, to the places of concentration of the German military, their living quarters. We'll blow them up there! The attack on the garrison will be continued by small arms and grenade launcher fire of our mobile groups that will invade after them."
20. EXT. KUNDUZ–BAGHLAN HIGHWAY — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ–BAGHLAN HIGHWAY, ALIABAD DISTRICT.
On the highway near Kunduz, from both sides of the road, the Taliban launch an armed attack on the Bundeswehr convoy. Grenade launchers are the first to hit the head and tail of the column, igniting the first and last cars of escort. Intense shooting can be heard.
Bruno and his group on armored personnel carriers are cut off from other vehicles by heavy fire. The special forces dismount and engage in battle.
One of the commandos is wounded in the neck, blood is gushing from the wound.
Bruno, under fire, quickly crawls up to the commando, grabs his ammunition and hurriedly drags him to shelter.
Bruno gives the commando an injection of the painkiller promedol, bandages the wound.
The Taliban capture two large-tonnage 50-ton tankers filled with diesel fuel. The Taliban shoot the drivers of the tankers and dump their bodies in a ditch. The Taliban hijack tankers from a busy highway to a country road in the direction of the nearest village.
The TF-47 group is blocked by Taliban deterrent fire, remains in place.
21. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
TITLE: TF-47 HEADQUARTERS. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE
Bruno, in a dusty military uniform, with a dirty face, enters the office of Oberst Jung.
BRUNO
(to Oberst Jung)
Mr. Oberst, the Taliban attacked our convoy on the Kunduz-Baghlan highway. Part of the equipment was burned; the drivers were killed and there are wounded. Two large-capacity trucks full of fuel were stolen in an unknown direction. The attack confirmed the authenticity of the intelligence information. A wounded Taliban who took part in the attack on the convoy was detained in hot pursuit. According to his testimony, the organizers of the attack were identified, and they were taken into operational investigation.
OBERST JUNG
(to Bruno)
Ober-lieutenant! Urgently send a request to the headquarters of the North group in Mazar-I-Sharif for aerial photography of the area. It is necessary to establish the location of the stolen equipment!
BRUNO
(in a statutory tone)
Yes, Mr. Oberst!
22. EXT. KUNDUZ–BAGHLAN HIGHWAY — DAY.
When crossing the rapidly flowing narrow river Kunduz-dara, the tankers get stuck in the gravel-sand soil. The Taliban brought two Soviet tractors "Belarus" with cables from the nearest village of Omar Kheyl to pull out the tankers.
They cling to the tankers with cables. The Taliban are getting rid of fuel in tankers, inviting Afghans from the village to replenish their personal diesel reserves.
A long queue of local farmers with cans and other containers has accumulated near the tanks.
23. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
Bruno, in his field uniform, knocks on Oberst Jung's office.
BRUNO
May I come in, Mr. Oberst?
Oberst is sitting at the table.
OBERST JUNG
Come in, Ober-lieutenant!
What news?!
Bruno comes to the table.
BRUNO
(briskly)
We have received pictures from the location of the tankers. They got stuck in the sandy soil of the mouth of the Kunduz-dara River near the village of Omar Kheyl in Chahar-dara County.
(passes the pictures)
See, here they are. The equipment is surrounded by a crowd of civilians.
OBERST JUNG
(in a commanding tone)
Urgently send this to the aviation support headquarters, let them immediately strike at their location!
Bruno is slightly taken aback.
BRUNO
But there are civilians there, Herr Oberst! There will be great sacrifices!
OBERST JUNG
(dissatisfied, in a strict tone)
What kind of sentimentality
Ober-lieutenant! There's a war here!
(pause)
You seem to have forgotten what happened to your father?!
(disgustedly)
Bruno takes the photographs and leaves Oberst Jung's office.
24. EXT. MOUNTAIN VILLAGE — DAY.
TITLE: HOST-VA-FERENG, AFGHANISTAN.
A small adobe house on the outskirts of an Afghan village, three people are sitting on a carpet in the courtyard in front of the entrance to the dwelling, recording interviews. The interviewee is a former mujahid of the Afghan War (1979-1989), one—armed ISMATULLAH.
The interviewer, reporter OTTO Greenberg, holds a voice recorder and microphone in different hands and asks Ismatullah questions.
An Afghan translator from Dari and Pashto, SULTAN MUHADI, translates Otto's questions to Ismatullah and simultaneously records the interview on a video camera.
ISMATULLAH
(with importance)
I fought in the detachment of the field commander Kazi Kabir Marzban, an associate of Ahmad Shah Massoud.
(pause)
I will tell you the story of a dramatic battle in the mountain range of Mugulan, Cholbahir and Tali Gobang in June 1986. Our detachment inflicted significant damage to Soviet landing groups landed by helicopters at the heights closest to our positions. It so happened that our firing points were above the Shuravi landing site. This gave us a significant advantage in battle. For several hours we methodically hit them with fire. Despite their difficult situation, the Shuravi fought stoutly. At the place where the Shuravi stacked their dead and wounded, under boulders, I found this.
Ismatulla hands Otto a notebook stained with dried blood and two photographs enclosed in it.
ISMATULLAH
They belonged to a Soviet soldier.
Otto opens a brown leather notebook with sticky pages, takes out two photographs. On one, a beautiful girl, on the other – against the background of a Soviet combat helicopter, six comrades were standing in an embrace. Both photos are signed in Russian.
25. EXT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE.
Otto takes a taxi to the teahouse on the "Kunduz circle", the central square of Kunduz with a lot of shops, doucans, eateries and service points.
Positive one-eyed YAKUB KHAN with a black eye sling sees Otto at the entrance, breaks into a smile, fervently puts his palm to his heart, offers to enter with a wave of his hand.
26. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Otto, entering the teahouse, loudly greets the visitors sitting inside — AsSalamu alaikum!
Otto makes an order to Yakub Khan on the move, follows him to the back of the hall. There he chooses a corner couch under the cooling air conditioner, takes off his shoes, climbs onto the couch covered with a felt mat, stretches his legs. Otto is very tired.
In the cramped oblong space of the hall, Otto sees three fans slowly rotating the blades from the ceiling, driving air flows. People in Afghan national clothes and traditional headdresses are eating and drinking tea on the couch, peacefully talking. On the wall is a large portrait of the smiling Mujahideen leader Ahmad Shah Massoud.
The guests are served by the son of Yakub Khan - ZALMAY, a sporty dark—skinned youth of thirteen with an embroidered kandahari (Pashtun skullcap with a domed slit in front), black wavy hair. Zalmay wears a patterned vest over a traditional Afghan shirt (perukhan, an Afghan national costume in the form of a knee-length shirt with trousers).
Otto sprawls on a wide couch resting and waiting for the order to be delivered. Contemplating the street hustle, medieval faces in traditional clothes, brisk market bargaining, donkey and horse-drawn carriage, chaises, carts, a caravan of two-humped giant camels arriving from afar, loaded with huge bales of goods, the noise of incessant street hubbub is heard. Otto takes out the notebook and photographs handed over by Ismatulla, looks at a group photo with six Soviet soldiers. Then puts the photo back in the backpack. He leans back, enters a doze.
Zalmay brings otto on a tray a sizzling lamb rib kebab, just removed from the grill, a hot tandoor tortilla, a pot of green tea. Otto does not react; he continues to doze.
27. EXT. THE SHORE OF A SMALL RIVER — DAY.
TITLE: OMAR KHEYL VILLAGE, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
Two F-15ES fighter-bombers of the ISAF forces appear in the sky, fly over 2 German tankers hijacked by the Taliban and hundreds of civilians of the village of Omar Kheyl, who are waiting in line to fill the tanks with diesel fuel. They are bombing people and tankers.
Bloody human body parts and torn clothes are scattered at the site of the airstrike.
The dead and wounded residents of the village are lying. The groans of the wounded are heard. A swarthy, bearded Afghan is crawling with his legs torn off.
28. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Otto's nap is interrupted by the loud noise of a low-flying pair of jet planes. The rumble of heavy bombs falling nearby can be heard, shaking the ground.
Sirens can be heard; dozens of ambulances rush along the central street past the Yakub Khan teahouse at high speed. Yakub Khan is alarmed, runs out of the teahouse.
29. EXT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Yakub Khan looks after the cavalcade of ambulances.
30. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Yakub Khan goes back into the teahouse, adjusts the radio to the news wave, turns up the sound of the radio, listens to the text of the emergency issue. Otto looks at Yakub Khan, Yakub Khan is stunned.
OTTO
(sensing trouble, he asks)
What happened?!
YAKUB KHAN
ISAF aircraft carried out an air strike in the vicinity of the village of Omar Kheyl.
(mournfully)
They reported many civilian casualties.
Otto gets up from the cot and walks over to Yakub Khan.
OTTO
Where is Omar Kheyl?!
YAKUB KHAN
Nearby, from Kunduz, two kilometers to the south, then the same amount to the west.
Otto pays money for food, hurriedly leaves the teahouse.
31. INT. SPINZAR HOTEL. OTTO'S ROOM — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. SPINZAR HOTEL.
Otto is sitting in an armchair in his hotel room, watching the news on TV. German TV channels broadcast: "As a result of NATO air strikes in the Chahar-dara district of Kunduz province, more than 100 Afghan civilians were killed."
Otto switches to an Afghan English-language TV channel, where it is reported: "ISAF aircraft carried out an airstrike on the village of Omar Kheyl in Kunduz province, as a result, 70 Taliban and 30 Afghan civilians were killed - there are women and children."
Otto calls the translator Sultan Mukhadi by phone.
OTTO
Sultan, I need you! We need to go to the village of Omar Kheyl!
32. EXT. SPINZAR HOTEL — DAY.
A taxi pulls up to the hotel with Sultan Mukhadi sitting in the passenger seat in front, Otto gets into the back seat, the car hurriedly drives off.
33. EXT. A WASTELAND, THE OUTSKIRTS OF AN AFGHAN VILLAGE — DAY.
TITLE: OMAR-KHEYL VILLAGE, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
Otto and Sultan Muhadi arrive at the site of the airstrike. Otto and Sultan Mukhadi get out of the car. Otto leans over to the window of the driver sitting behind the wheel and, handing over the cash for the trip, makes a request.
OTTO
Here's the money for the round trip. If we do not leave the village by 20.00, inform the administration of the Spinzar Hotel about it.
The taxi driver agrees.
Otto and Sultan Mukhadi leave. The taxi remains waiting for them.
Otto and Sultan Muhadi go away from the taxi towards the police cordon.
View of the overturned burnt 2 large German tankers, fuel spilled on the ground, fragments of human bodies and clothing fabrics scattered hundreds of meters.
Otto takes several pictures, looks for eyewitnesses to question, but is prevented by Afghan employees from the ISAF assistance force unit. They are pushing Otto and Sultan Muhadi away from the scene of the tragedy.
Otto and Sultan Mukhadi, bypassing the site of the airstrike, go deeper into the village of Omar-Kheil.
Otto and Sultan Muhadi pass by mud-brick dwellings, encounter oncoming Afghans, through Sultan Muhadi's translator Otto invites them to give an interview, but this only causes negativity and malicious remarks. Afghans look at Otto and Sultan Muhadi with hatred and do not want to communicate with them.
At the entrance to one of the dwellings, Otto and Sultan Muhadi find themselves trapped: three Taliban armed with machine guns point the muzzles of their machine guns at them, tie their hands, and capture them.
SULTAN MUKHADI
(To the Taliban men)
Do you know that this European is a professional journalist, a reporter for a German publishing house?!
He's not a military man!
SENIOR TALIBAN
(ignoring the question, strictly)
Think about yourself! Pray to the Almighty that your children are not orphaned!
The Taliban take the prisoners away.
34. EXT. WASTELAND, THE OUTSKIRTS OF AN AFGHAN VILLAGE — EVENING.
A wasteland, the scene of a tragedy on the outskirts of the village of Omar-Kheyl, a tired taxi driver looks at his wristwatch. The taxi driver looks around the area, starts the car engine, slowly moves off, drives onto the highway, and departs.
35. INT. KUNDUZ. SPINZAR HOTEL — LATE EVENING.
The taxi driver enters the lobby, goes to the counter, informs the hotel administration about the disappearance of Otto and Sultan Muhadi in Omar-Kheyl.
36. INT.OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
TITLE: TF-47 HEADQUARTERS, OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE.
Oberst Jung is holding a meeting with a group of officers at a long table. Phones are ringing incessantly in the office; Oberst Jung is depressed.
OBERST JUNG
(with irritation)
The airstrike on Omar-Kheyl caused a wide response. The Bundeswehr High Command, the KSK command, Bundestag deputies, international humanitarian organizations, all want to know: "Who gave the order for the airstrike in Omar-Kheyl?!" "What were the targets of the strike?" "What is the actual number of civilian casualties?!" and so on.
Oberst looks into the eyes of Bruno sitting in the center of the table. Bruno looks away.
OBERST JUNG
(excited)
But this does not cancel the operation "The Joker"! The elimination of the organizers of the attacks on the Bundeswehr columns of Moulavi Shamsutdin and Mullah Abdul Rahman, who are hatching plans to attack the TF-47 garrison in Kunduz, remains a priority for us!
Unfortunately, the intelligence data on the whereabouts of the Taliban leaders that flocked to the TF47 Combat Control Center for a month constantly vary.
This does not allow us to act for sure. However, yesterday, intelligence sources gave similar information.
Based on them, Moulawi Shamsutdin, accompanied by twenty-five Taliban devotees, should arrive at the village of Khalazai at the appointed time.
We will start the operation early in the morning, an hour before the muezzin's call to the pre-dawn Fajr prayer. This will take the Taliban by surprise.
More!
(pauses)
The course of the operation is complicated by the fact that the point of arrival of Shamsutdin with a detachment in the village of Khalazai coincides with the place of detention of civilian hostages, among whom there is also a reporter of the magazine "Der Spiegel" Otto Greenberg, along with an Afghan translator.
(pause)
Our task is to eliminate Shamsutdin and his people, preventing the death of hostages. I entrust its execution to the group of Ober-lieutenant Bruno Thevs.
Oberst Jung gets up from his seat, goes to a large map hanging on the wall.
OBERST JUNG
(to officers)
I suggest we approach the map.
The officers leave the table, stand behind the Oberst in a semicircle.
Oberst Jung points a red ray at the map.
OBERST JUNG
The village of Khalazai.
(pointing the red beam)
The method of delivery of special forces by air. After the landing, it is necessary to urgently and accurately establish in which rooms the Taliban are located and where the hostages are being held. This will dictate the choice of fire density.
Work jewelry! The first thing the Taliban will do when you break into the premises is to start shooting hostages.
This will happen even if the Taliban did not plan to do it ahead of time. The key to success is in the factor of surprise, coherence of actions.
(to Bruno)
Do you understand, Ober-lieutenant?!
BRUNO
That's right, Mr. Oberst!
The officers leave the Oberst's office. Zimmer stays in the office and turns to Oberst Jung.
ZIMMER
Why did you assign the task to an untrained Thevs, Mr. Oberst?
OBERST JUNG
Thevs and Shamsutdin have their own scores. In a battle with his squad in 1986, Thevs's father died. Let him taste the sweetness of retribution.
37. EXT. HELIPAD — NIGHT.
TF-47 garrison helipad. Oberst Jung and Ober-lieutenant Thevs approach the helicopters. Bruno looks at his IWC-PILOT watch. The hands of the clock show 02.15.
Two crews of NHI NH90 helicopters and two groups of special forces — 20 fighters each - are waiting for departure for the operation with slight excitement.
Oberst Jung screams, trying to be heard by Bruno over the noise of running engines and rotating blades.
OBERST JUNG
Good luck, Ober-lieutenant!
BRUNO
(To Jung)
Thank you, Mr. Oberst!
Bruno jumps into the helicopter that has started to rise, stands at the edge, the flight technician pushes Bruno inside, slams the door.
38. EXT. KHALAZAI VILLAGE - EARLY MORNING.
TITLE: KHALAZAI VILLAGE, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
2 helicopters hover over the roofs of the village, fighters land on the roofs by cables. They open fire on the Taliban running out.
Bruno and his group kick out doors with their feet and gun butts, break into the premises of adobe buildings, open fire on the Taliban.
They receive a fierce rebuff from the Taliban. Hostages are rushing to the sides, huddling in corners, trying to hide from the crossfire.
Bruno breaks into one of the rooms, there are dead and wounded inside.
A wounded Talib lies on the floor, looks at Bruno with a pleading look so that Bruno does not shoot him, Bruno comes closer, looms over Talib and, without hesitation, shoots Talib in the head.
The shooting stops.
BRUNO
(to special forces group)
Specify the losses!
Fighters are checking to see if there are any survivors among the killed Taliban. They turn over corpses with their feet, holding them at gunpoint.
Bruno, with his hands in leather mittens, takes a photo out of his breast pocket, approaches the corpses of the Taliban, turns them over with his foot, bends down, carefully investigates everyone's face, looks for leader Shamsutdin among the dead.
He understands that Shamsutdin is not among the killed Taliban. Annoyed.
BRUNO
(hissing with annoyance)
Gone!
SPECIAL FORCES MAN
Herr Ober-lieutenant!
We have two dead, three wounded.
"Der Spiegel" reporter Otto Greenberg was wounded.
Bruno gets in touch with Robert Jung on the radio station.
BRUNO
(disappointedly)
Mr. Oberst, it's over!
(pause)
I have two dead, three wounded, with varying degrees of severity. The reporter of "Der Spiegel" is also wounded... damn him!
OBERST JUNG
(serene)
What about Shamsutdin?!
BRUNO
He is not among the dead. But no one left the perimeter.
(with anger)
I don't understand where we missed him!
There is silence on the air.
OBERST JUNG
(critically)
Bad!
(pause)
OK, after returning to base — debriefing! As for the evacuation of our dead and wounded, load them into a helicopter and into Mazar—I-Sharif. Load the Der Spiegel reporter onto an armored personnel carrier and take him to the MSF Doctors Without Borders (MSF) civilian hospital in Kunduz— there's nothing for him to do in our military hospital!
He already broke our operation.
Oberst Jung comes off the air, a special forces soldier approaches Bruno.
SPECIAL FORCES MAN
Reporter Greenberg's translator, an Afghan, was found. According to the documents, Sultan Mukhadi. In a shootout, he was shot in the head, died on the spot.
BRUNO
(to the special forces)
I suppose Oberst Jung is not interested in this.
There are five ATF DINGO-2 armored personnel carriers at the site of the operation.
TF47 special forces medics give Otto Greenberg an analgesic injection, the thigh stitched with a bullet is tightened with a tourniquet, bandages.
A helicopter has arrived. Bruno orders two commandos to load the bodies of 2 dead and wounded commandos on board. The board lifts off the ground, Bruno switches to Otto Greenberg.
BRUNO
(with dissatisfaction to the commandos)
Load the reporter into an armored personnel carrier! There is an order to escort him to the MSF hospital in Kunduz.
Bruno sits in the front next to the driver, Greenberg and two special forces men — in the back.
39. INT. ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER ATF DINGO-2 — DAY.
Armored personnel carrier is moving, Bruno stares ahead with a glassy gaze, he rides silently, everything is boiling inside him. They drive into Kunduz. Bruno turns sharply back, grabs Otto by the collar and attacks Otto with a loud curse.
BRUNO
(to Otto)
What are you doing here?!
Why didn't you stay at home?!
You've disrupted our operation!
Two fighters were lost because of you, two more were wounded, Shamsutdin was missed!
OTTO
(pale from blood loss, pain shock, analgesic)
You do your job, I do mine!
Bruno turns away silently.
40. EXT. MSF HOSPITAL — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ.MSF HOSPITAL.
The ATF-DINGO-2 armored personnel carrier with the wounded Otto Grinberg drives briskly into the courtyard of the Doctors Without Borders MSF hospital. The accompanying commandos help Otto get off, put him on a stretcher, and bring him into the emergency room.
Bruno comes in after them.
41. INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM — DAY.
The reception room has snow-white walls, the staff in ironed clothes, everything is in turmoil.
BRUNO
(astonished - to the commandos)
Well! After the heat of Kunduz, this is a real paradise!
Here is an island of civilized Europe in the medieval East!
There's a commotion in the waiting room. Doctors come running, then run away again — nobody cares about the wounded Otto. Bruno is very nervous, looking with his eyes for someone to get rid of Otto sooner. Bruno sees that the paling Otto is getting worse.
BRUNO
Where do you live in Germany?
OTTO
(peaceably)
In Munich!
BRUNO
(slightly delighted)
Great! And I'm from the south -from Freiburg!
And what are you doing in Afghanistan?!
OTTO
I am collecting material for an article about the XX anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
BRUNO
To the anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops?!
(shows interest in the topic)
OK! But the Soviet troops left twenty years ago, and how is this connected with the events in Omar-Kheyl?!
How did you get there?!
Otto lifts himself slightly on the stretcher.
OTTO
I'm a journalist!
(unperturbed)
My place is where things happen!
Exhausted, he leans back.
OTTO
Ober-lieutenant, excuse me for being tactless, can I ask you about one thing?
BRUNO
(humorously)
I hope it's not to write an article for you?! With all my desire to be useful to you, we must remember that I am a military member of the ISAF group, and I have a lot of responsibilities: a entrusted unit and demanding superiors.
OTTO
The request is simple — you just need to stop by the Spinzar Hotel, where I rent a room, and pick up a large travel bag from there. It contains all my luggage: clothes, change of underwear.
The room is paid for by the end of the month, there will be no problems with access.
(pause)
And here's another thing: there's an old, battered notebook in the top drawer of the bedside table. Please put it in the bag.
A pleasant female voice speaking German is heard from behind Bruno.
SEETA (V.O.)
Please put the wounded man on a gurney so that the orderly can take him to the operating room.
Bruno turns curiously, he is amazed – in front of him is a tall, beautiful oriental girl, her large dark brown eyes, long eyelashes, thick eyebrows against a light-skinned face, a thick black braid twisted into a ring reminded the stunned girl at the Mazar-I-Sharif airfield with her beauty. The girl is wearing a neat green medical suit — trousers and jacket, emphasizing a thin waist, lean loins, beautiful breasts, a badge "Dr.Akhmadzai" is attached to her chest.
Bruno, leaning over slightly, reads the name on the badge.
BRUNO
Frau Akhmadzai, what a surprise!
You speak excellent German.
It's a pity that I'm only finding out about this now. At the airfield, to put it mildly, you were quite terse.
SEETA
(shyly)
This is my second language.
BRUNO
(surprised)
Strange. And I was sure that the first one.
SEETA
I was born, and until last year I lived in Germany, Munich.
An Afghan orderly appears, rolls up a gurney, inadvertently pushes Bruno with it. Bruno pulls back slightly.
SEETA
Excuse me, I must go.
Seeta gives a low command to the orderly in Dari.
SEETA
Take the gurney to the operating room!
Seeta swims alongside with a graceful, dignified gait. Bruno gets excited.
Otto, riding off on a gurney, shouts to Bruno, who is numb, watching Seeta go.
OTTO
Ober-lieutenant! What about my request?!
BRUNO
(mentally)
I must definitely come back here! Perhaps Otto's request is God's providence that allows me to come here again.
Bruno, without taking his eyes off Sita and following her with his eyes, answers.
BRUNO
Good! Warn the hotel administration by phone call, I will try to do it one of these days.
42. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — EVENING.
The commanders of the special forces’ groups are leaving Oberst Jung's office. Oberst Jung passes by and sits down at his desk.
Ober lieutenant Zimmer sits in the chair at Oberst Jung's desk.
Bruno Thevs looks after the last person leaving and sits down in the chair opposite Zimmer.
Bruno is confused by Zimmer's presence, looks at Oberst Jung and addresses him.
BRUNO
(hesitating)
I have a question, Mr. Oberst!
Bruno looks at Zimmer.
OBERST JUNG
It's all right, Ober Lieutenant, tell me I have no secrets from counterintelligence.
BRUNO
This reporter from "Der Spiegel", Otto Greenberg, you remember him, made a household request, requiring, if you don't object, two hours of my time.
OBERST JUNG
Oh, I was thinking about him just now. This journalist may be very useful to us in the future.
(pause, Oberst thought)
OK! I rely on your responsibility, Ober-lieutenant, you are free!
Bruno comes out of Oberst Jung's office.
ZIMMER
(haughtily)
What a Kipling’s soldier! I don't like these Deutsch-Russians. You never know what's in their head.
Oberst Jung grins.
OBERST JUNG
Take a closer look at him.
43. INT. SPORTS GYM — EVENING.
Bruno, dressed in a sports uniform, runs on a treadmill. Reduces the pace, looks at the clock, goes to a quick step, gets off the treadmill. Approaches the projectiles with a barbell, puts additional pancakes on the neck, proceeds to bench presses.
He finishes training, dries himself with a facial towel, drinks from a bottle of water.
Bruno goes to the locker room, takes a hot shower.
44. INT. BRUNO'S ROOM – EVENING.
Bruno enters his room with replenished forces. Helmut Zimmer is awake.
Bruno greets Zimmer with a nod of his head, lies down on the cot dressed, looks at the ceiling, thinks. He takes a book out of the bedside table and plunges into reading.
HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN".
45. EXT. ALIABAD VILLAGE — DAY.
TITLE: ALIABAD VILLAGE, NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN. THE HEADQUARTERS OF KURBASHI IBRAHIM BEK, 1929.
On the outskirts of the village, near a large yurt a dozen horses are tied on a pole. A RIDER gallops up.
Dismounts, passes the horse's bridle to the guard. He hurries to a large yurt.
46. INT. BIG YURT — DAY.
Three dozen Basmachi are sitting in a circle inside the yurt, drinking tea, eating pilaf, boiled mutton with their hands, breaking off flat bread and passing it to each other.
In the back, facing the entrance, sits kurbashi Ibrahim bek, statuesque, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned with a black beard in a white turban and a national robe.
The rider enters the yurt.
RIDER
(loudly greeting)
"AsSalamu Alaikum!"
The rider disarms at the entrance, gives up his saber, goes inside, approaches Ibrahim bek, bends his knee, comes close to his ear, reports:
RIDER
Venerable Kurbashi!
A detachment of the Red Army invaded Afghanistan this morning. Their strength is up to 500 sabers.
47. EXT. AFGHANISTAN — DAY.
A large detachment of Uzbek kurbashi Ibrahim bek is moving to defeat Witmar's troops.
Ibrahim bek himself prances importantly ahead of the squad.
48. EXT. AFGHANISTAN — DAY.
Two fighters ride up to Witmar, who personally leads the squad.
THE FIGHTER
A detachment of Basmachi horsemen is two versts away. Five hundred sabers.
Witmar orders an assistant.
WITMAR
Put up 8 artillery pieces in the main direction!
Fighters begin to install guns and machine guns.
WITMAR (V.O.)
Install two machine guns on both sides of the road. Take the nearest section of road under the sights.
Let the Basmachi cavalry get as close as possible. Open direct fire from artillery guns on my command.
Hit the head of the approaching basmachs column with three guns, three — at the end, two — in the center. Complete the defeat with machine gun fire from the flanks.
Rows of Ibrahim Bek's Basmachi appears from behind the hill.
Ibrahim bek calls his warriors to attack.
IBRAHIM BEK
Takbir! Allahu Akbar!
He rushes forward himself. The warriors follow him.
A Witmar detachment prancing 500 meters away puts its rifles in combat position and opens fire on the basmachs. After firing a couple of shots, the fighters turn their horses around and rush away from the advancing Basmachi.
The eyes of the galloping Basmachi sparkle with rage.
The Basmachi almost caught up with the retreating cavalry of Witmar. Suddenly, the Witmerians split into two groups, diverging to the right and to the left. In front of the galloping basmachs are the gun and machine gun positions of the Witmar.
Guns and machine guns open rapid fire, mowing down the ranks of the Basmachi. The Basmachi are fleeing the scene of the battle in panic. The Witmerians are catching up with them.
There is a saber fight going on.
Shooting back, only a handful of Basmachi with Ibrahim bek escape.
49. INT. BRUNO'S ROOM — EVENING.
Bruno finishes reading the chapter, puts the book in the nightstand, muses.
He remembers the beautiful Afghan doctor Ahmadzai. (slow-motion footage from the scene of meeting Seeta in the hospital).
Bruno returns from his thoughts, extinguishes the floor lamp, falls asleep positively.
50. INT. HOTEL SPINZAR— DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. SPINZAR HOTEL.
Bruno walks up to the reception desk, nods, and says something. The administrator nods in response. He turns around, removes the key from the stand and gives it to Bruno. Bruno thanks and walks away.
Bruno climbs the marble spiral staircase to the second floor.
51. INT. HOTEL. OTTO'S ROOM - DAY.
Bruno enters Otto's room, takes a large travel bag out of the closet, puts it on the bed, goes to the bedside table where the notebook is, pulls the handle, takes out an old notebook in a brown leather binding with frayed edges, casually throws it inside the bag.
The edges of two yellow photographs with streaks of dried blood protrude from a notebook that has fallen on top of things.
Bruno opens the notebook, sees on one of the pictures his young mother, nee Rosa Schmidt, on the other, six Soviet soldiers standing in an embrace. His father, Konstantin Thevs, who died in Afghanistan, is standing on the left, smiling.
NOTE: A COPY OF THIS COLLECTIVE PHOTO IS FRAMED AT THEIR HOME IN FREIBURG ON THE SIDEBOARD IN THE LIVING ROOM. KONSTANTIN SENT THIS PICTURE IN A LETTER TO DZHAMBUL HOME IN EARLY 1985, DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF HIS STAY IN AFGHANISTAN.
Bruno turns the photo over.
In the corner on the back of the photo it is written diagonally: "To my beloved wife Rosa and our son, whom we will call Bruno, from Dad. Kunduz. Afghanistan, February 1985."
Bruno is amazed.
52. INT. OTTO'S HOSPITAL WARD — DAY.
Frantic Bruno runs into the hospital Otto's ward. Bruno is holding an old notebook and photographs of his Father.
Otto is lying on a cot with a bandaged leg, peacefully having lunch, eating soup, thinking about something.
Bruno steps up to Otto, knocks him off the bed. There is a crash, the clink of broken dishes.
Otto is lying on the floor, terrified.
Bruno shoves photos under Otto's nose.
BRUNO
From where?!
OTTO
(indignantly)
Do you know, Ober-lieutenant, that it is indecent to rummage in other people's things?!
Seeing that Bruno is adamant, Otto responds.
OTTO
(sincerely)
From the Mujahideen!
BRUNO
(persistently)
Get ready! Let's go... and show the one who gave it to you!
OTTO
(serene)
First, it's not possible right now because I can't walk.
Secondly, I never disclose my sources, this is professional ethics!
Bruno's high—pitched speech startled medical staff and three Afghan civilians lying on nearby beds. The nurse on-duty and Doctor Seeta Akhmadzai enter the ward.
SEETA
(in a firm voice)
What's going on?!
BRUNO
(realizing the presence of the problem)
It's all right, Frau, we were clarifying service issues.
SEETA
(in a firm voice)
This is not a military hospital; official investigations are not conducted here!
Please leave the ward!
Seeta pretentiously points with her hand to the exit.
BRUNO
(resigned)
Okay, I'll leave!
Bruno quickly leaves the room, walks down a long corridor. Otto jumps up from his bunk, leaning on crutches in a hurry to catch up with Bruno.
53. INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR — DAY.
Otto comes out of the room, shouts after Bruno who has reached the end of the corridor.
OTTO
(loudly)
Wait, Ober-lieutenant!
Bruno stops. Otto hobbles towards him on crutches.
Together with Otto they leave the corridor into the hospital garden.
54. EXT. HOSPITAL GARDEN — DAY.
Otto and Bruno are sitting on a bench, having a conversation.
BRUNO
(bitterly)
These are the belongings of my deceased father.
Bruno's eyes fill with moisture.
OTTO
(astonished)
So, your father was a Soviet soldier and died in Khost Wa Firing?!
BRUNO
Yes!
(pause)
After his death, my mother and I moved to Germany.
OTTO
(with empathy)
There it is!
(pause)
I promise you, as soon as I switch to the cane, we will certainly go with you to the village in Khost Wa Firing to the Mujahideen who gave me these photos and a notebook.
(pause)
And now, as part of my promise, I have two reciprocal requests to you.
First, you need to go to the brother of the deceased translator Sultan Mukhadi, Yahya, and give his family money from me. At the same time, offer Yahya to work as a translator on our trip to Khost Wa Firing.
Second, I strongly ask you to change from a military uniform to a civilian one during the trip. Or better yet, in traditional Afghan clothes. My personal experience in the tragedy in Omar Kheyl has shown that it is not necessary to arouse anger among the Taliban and poor Afghans.
55. INT. OTTO'S HOSPITAL WARD — DAY.
Bruno is sitting on a chair next to Otto's bed in the hospital room. Otto takes a sealed envelope from a large travel bag and hands it to Bruno.
OTTO
The envelope contains money for the family of the deceased Sultan Muhadi and the address where you will find his brother Yahya Mukhadi.
56. EXT. HOSPITAL GARDEN — FLASHES OF DAWN.
Otto, leaning on a cane, walks around the hospital garden, waiting for Bruno.
A taxi with Bruno arrives, Otto gets in, the taxi is leaving.
57. EXT. YAHCHAN-KHURD VILLAGE — DAY.
TITLE: YAHCHAN-KHURD VILLAGE, KHOST WA FIRING COUNTY, BAGHLAN PROVINCE.
The taxi stops at the home of the former Mujahid one-armed Ismatullah. The passengers are getting out. An excited Ismatullah appears at Yahya Muhadi's call "Ismatullah".
Otto turns to Ismatullah, who has approached.
OTTO
(positively)
AsSalamu Alaikum Ismatullah!
ISMATULLAH
(suspiciously)
Vaaleikum AsSalam!
OTTO
(pointing with his hand)
This is the son of one of the “Shuravi” who died in the battle that you told me about. His name is Bruno.
Yahya translates Otto's words.
Ismatulla looks guiltily and sadly into Bruno's eyes and putting his right palm to his heart, bows his head.
Ismatullah is shivering with excitement, holding the stump of his left arm with his palm, hidden in the sleeve of a perukhan (Afghan long shirt) tied with a ribbon.
ISMATULLAH
(with empathy)
I am sincerely sorry. A lot of our Mujahideen and Shuravi died in that battle. You see...
(ostentatiously stretches out the stump of his left arm)
...in that war, I got badly hurt.
Ismatullah is shivering with excitement, showing the stump of his left arm hidden in the sleeve of a perukhan (Afghan long shirt) tied with a ribbon.
Yahya Muhadi translates Ismatullah's speech.
Sonorous children's voices are heard. A gang of children aged from seven to eleven years runs up. Three of them — two boys and a younger girl — are nailed to Ismatulla, take him in a tight embrace in the waist area.
BRUNO
(surprised)
Are these yours?!
ISMATULLAH
(proudly)
Al-Hamdu li-Llahi! My younger ones!
Bruno takes out hundreds of euro bills from his pocket, passes one to each of the children.
The children take the money and, looking into Ismatullah's eyes, immediately hand it over to him.
BRUNO
(with joy)
Good upbringing!
Ismatullah is touched by the offering and puts his hand to his heart.
ISMATULLAH
Tashakur!
(with gratitude, embarrassed)
It wasn't necessary at all.
Ismatullah gathers his thoughts, and with a wave of his hand invites Bruno, Otto and Yahya Mukhadi to go into the courtyard of his home.
58. INT. ISMATULLAH'S HOUSE — DAY.
Ismatullah, Bruno, Otto and Yahya Muhadi enter the house.
When they see outsiders, the women and girls who are busy in the yard around the house jump up from their seats and hurriedly leave.
Ismatullah and the guests take off their shoes, sit down on a colorful screen. One of the sons – a young man of eleven years old brings tea. Ismatullah pours it into bowls, begins the story.
ISMATULLAH
It was the middle of June 1986.
DOCUMENTARY SERIES WITH AFGHAN MUJAHIDEEN ATTACKING SOVIET CONVOYS.
ISMATULLA (VO)
The Shuravi were pulling columns from Kunduz to Faizabad. Groups of Mujahideen attacked their columns and mined the highway.
Our detachment was waiting for the order of Commander Kazi Kabir to descend from the mountains and strengthen these groups with weapons and additional manpower.
In the early morning of June 16, 1986, we heard the sound of approaching helicopters and saw the landing troops.
The confrontation was stubborn. There were dead and wounded on both sides. But Shuravi had a lot of them.
The fight lasted all day. It continued at night. Then I was wounded and miraculously survived.
With his remaining hand, Ismatullah moves a fruit dish on the table closer to the guests.
ISMATULLAH
After two months of treatment in Pakistan, I returned to the squad. This coincided with the time when the Mujahideen were rebuilding the destroyed base. At the place where the Shuravi were storing their dead and wounded, under boulders, I found a notebook that had fallen out of the pocket of one of the Shuravi and two photos enclosed in it — six soldiers standing in an embrace and a Russian girl. The notebook was covered in blood.
(looking at Bruno)
The day your reporter friend came to Yahchan Khurd, promising to write the truth about the Afghan war, I told him about that dramatic battle and handed over these relics.
(pause)
The Russians were brave warriors, not like these cowards from ISAF.
Otto and Bruno exchange glances.
BRUNO
(resolutely)
Can we get to that place?!
ISMATULLA
Why not?! It's not far from here.
(lifting a beige pakol - Afghan headdress from his sweating forehead, with a reservation)
Unless, of course, you are ready to spend the night in the mountains?!
BRUNO
(resolutely)
We are ready!
59. EXT. VILLAGE OF YAHCHAN-KHURD - MORNING FLASHES OF DAWN.
Ismatullah, Bruno and Yahya Mukhadi load blankets, a bag of provisions, leather bales with water on 2 donkeys and set out on their way. Otto sees them off and stays in the village.
60. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION — TWILIGHT.
Ismatulla, Bruno and Yahya Mukhadi move along the bottom of a deep gorge, squeezed by mountain ranges at the mouths of narrow, rapidly flowing river.
61. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DARK.
The expedition stops moving, breaks up a bivouac.
Ismatullah is lighting a bonfire. Bruno, Yahya Mukhadi, Ismatullah are warming themselves by the campfire. Ismatullah skillfully removes the kettle from the fire, pours tea into bowls for everyone, passes pieces of flatbread.
62. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
The expedition approaches the village of Dekhmiran, which is located at the foot of the mountain with its back pressed against a gentle saddle.
Ismatullah leads Bruno and Yahya Muhadi to a saddle lying between two mountains.
Ismatullah stops, looks around, gets visibly excited. He turns to face one of the peaks.
Covers his eyes with his palm from the blinding edge of the sun from behind the edge of the mountain and begins the narration.
63. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
TITLE: KHOST WA FIRING, BAGHLAN PROVINCE. THE MOUNTAIN STAGE OF OPERATION MANEUVER, JUNE 1986.
To the mountain plateau (saddle) a pair of Soviet MI-8MT helicopters flies up and hovers between the mountains.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
Early in the morning, Soviet helicopters arrived and began landing troops here.
Rebels who came out of hiding are hitting helicopters from grenade launchers from the slopes of the mountains.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
The site was under the control of our firing points. We immediately opened targeted fire and burned two of their helicopters in a short time.
Two MI-8MT helicopters are engulfed in flames, burning.
The fire of the rebels is intensified by small arms fire.
KOSTER, MONGOL, SIDOR, STRELA, RUST, KOSTYAN jump out of 2 burning helicopters with heavy weapons, they immediately join the battle. There is a stubborn fire confrontation.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
Our snipers hit several of their commanders, who were giving orders in battle, fighters, and disabled all radio station.
Rebel snipers hit the officer giving orders, fighters, and aiming at portable radio stations.
64. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
TITLE: OUR TIME.
Bruno is standing a meter and a half away from Ismatullah, attentively listening to his narrative from Yahya Mukhadi's translation.
Evidence of the battle has been preserved on the ground — rusted fragments of the blades and fuselage of burned Soviet helicopters, devastated rusty machine gun belts, scattered shell casings.
Bruno, breathing in air and closing his eyes, is mentally transported back to June 1986, feels like an eyewitness to the confrontation.
65. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
TITLE: YEAR 1986.
There is a stubborn battle, the crackle of bursts, the roar of exploding shells. The number of dead and wounded in “Shuravi” is growing.
Koster, Mongol, Rust, Strela and Sidor are active in battle. Kostyan selflessly hits with a machine gun, covers his comrades.
The “Shuravi” and the rebels are struck by fire.
Scouts are dragging wounded and dead comrades out of the zone of continuous fire into the natural folds of the terrain, behind boulders.
66. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
TITLE: OUR TIME.
Bruno looks up. He closes his eyes. In his ears are the screams of fighters, the roar of grenade explosions, the crackle of machine gun fire.
67. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION – NIGHT.
Scouts Rust, Sidor, Strela, Mongol, Koster, Kostyan (Bruno's father) stretch out in a long chain, wrap around the mountain from the adjacent saddle, set a distance, everyone sees the outlines of comrades ascending on both sides. They begin a silent hidden ascent.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
Night fell. The “Shuravi” decided to make a daring raid.
Kostyan follows in the center, Rust to his right, Strela to his left, and Mongol is even to the left.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
Then I just took up guard duty — I was a sentry. Suddenly in the darkness I heard a crumble of small stones.
Kostyan, rising from the side of the saddle, is discovered by the rebel sentry, Ismatulla, who is carrying guard duty.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
After a moment a sturdy “shuravi” appears in front of me. As powerful as you are. I immediately fired an automatic burst at him, hitting him on the spot.
Amazed by the “Shuravi” who came close, the rebel sentry Ismatullah bellows: "Allahu Akbar" — and immediately focuses a burst from a machine gun on Kostyan.
68. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - NIGHT.
TITLE: OUR TIME.
Bruno is shocked by Ismatullah's story.
Ismatullah takes a few steps forward and, turning, stamps his foot on the edge of the height.
ISMATULLA
Here!
(pointing downwards)
It was here!
Bruno has a rapid throbbing in his temples.
69. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - NIGHT.
TITLE: YEAR 1986.
Kostyan falls, rolls down the slope, rests against a boulder.
There is a hubbub of Dari at the top.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
Our whole squad woke up and took up arms, starting to shoot at the lowland where the “Shuravi” were.
The rebels open small-arms fire at the scouts from several barrels.
Strela is close to Kostyan. He crawls up to him and drags behind a boulder. Kostyan is no longer breathing.
Strela, without stopping, continues his rapid ascent, but is cut off by a short burst.
Rust, who is nearby, sees this, crawls up to Strela, hurriedly pulls him out of the affected area. Strela groans loudly. Rust quickly cuts a blood-soaked section of the mountain suit with a sharp bayonet knife, exposing the wound.
Strela is suffocating, trying to take a deeper breath to be able to say something.
STRELA
(barely)
Rust! I have a bad feeling about this. Do my request with the guys!
(pause, gaining strength)
After the demobilization, visit my mother in Leningrad!
RUST
(strictly)
Stop, Strela! We will come to Leningrad for your wedding. Mongol will build his tailagan in the Gulf of Finland.
Strela turns pale after a moment, raises his chin high and, wheezing, sharply relaxing his body, stops breathing. Strela's blue eyes remain open.
Rust palpates the ray pulse of Strela, it is not there.
Rust takes Strela's machine gun and, filled with rage, thirst for retribution, opens non-stop fire from it, rushes to the top.
Mongol rises from the side of Rust. As soon as Mongol runs into the dome of the mountain, he comes face to face with the sentry who killed Kostyan. The rebel is momentarily ahead of Mongol, pulling the trigger of his AKM first. A short burst throws Mongol back to the slope.
Mongol falls backwards, upside down. 5 shamanic tholes are moving up his neck from his chest. Mongol goes into agony, dies.
A group of scouts continues to advance.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
“Shuravi” were advancing from different sides, and we were no longer able to stop them. They ran to the top; I was able to defeat someone else. But while we were shooting at those who were rising from the saddle, we suddenly saw several “Shuravi” behind us, who came to our rear from where we were not expecting them.
Sidor, Koster and other scouts run out to the top from the back, no one is waiting for them there; they furiously, with loud obscenities, throw hand grenades at the rebels, finish them off with small arms fire.
The rebels at the top of the mountain are brutally destroyed, only some retire in the dark.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
The “Shuravi” started throwing grenades at us and hitting us with machine gun fire. The explosion of one of the grenades cut off my arm. It was hanging by tendons.
The rebel sentry, Ismatullah, retreats from the place of fire contact, his arm dangling on a tendon.
ISMATULLA (V.O.)
But, despite being seriously wounded with outside help with a handful of Mujahideen, I was lucky enough to escape.
(pause)
In the morning, helicopters arrived and then planes - they began bombing all the heights, and our Mujahideen left the area.
70. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
Mi-8MT helicopters hover over the top of the mountain.
The survivors — Sidor, Rust, Koster, and other scouts load the bodies of their fallen comrades in raincoat tents on board of helicopters: Kostyan, Strela, Mongol, and the wounded. They climb themselves.
The MI-8MT helicopter lifts off the ground and gains altitude.
71. INT. HELICOPTER — DAY.
In the helicopter, Sidor, Rust, and Koster look with bitterness at the dead lying on the raincoat tents - Strela, Kostyan, and Mongol.
72. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
TITLE: OUR TIME.
Ismatullah finishes the narrative, looks down.
Bruno stands silently, taking deep breaths of the mountain air.
Bruno silently begins to collect the earth from the place where his father died in a cellophane bag, puts it in a backpack.
73. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
Ismatullah, Bruno and Yahya follow a narrow mountain path.
Ismatullah moves on foot, holding the donkey's bridle and leading Bruno and Yahya, who follow on donkeys.
The noise of falling stones - one, another, turned into a rockfall.
Ismatullah's donkey twitches, pulling Ismatullah towards the abyss.
Bruno and Yahya abruptly dismount and lean their backs against the slope.
The rockfall intensifies, the one-armed Ismatullah cannot hold his twitching donkey, they both shift to a steep cliff, the donkey pulls Ismatullah with him and falls into the abyss.
Ismatullah, who released the bridle from his hands, falls over the edge himself, remains hanging over the cliff, clinging with a death grip to the trunk of a chasmophyte sticking out of a rock crack. The crunch of a tree being uprooted from a rock is heard.
Bruno rushes to help Ismatullah, clings to the back of his head with both hands, pulls him up, tries to prevent falling into the abyss. Ismatullah drags Bruno into the abyss with his weight.
Yahya, who arrived in time, clung to Bruno's belt, holding him from falling. All three are close to death.
Yahya shouts at Bruno in German:
YAHYA
Let him go, there's no way to save him!
Bruno suddenly imagines a picture of the distant past, as mujahid Ismatullah discharges a burst of machine gun fire at his father in the night, fatally wounding him.
FLASHBACK
74. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - NIGHT.
TITLE: YEAR 1986.
Kostyan jumps out from behind a boulder with a machine gun at the ready.
Ismatullah shouts "Allahu Akbar" as loudly as he can out of fear and fires an automatic burst at Kostyan; a long echo sounded in the night.
Kostyan's eyes remain glassy, his pupils dilate, his strength immediately leaves him, the soldier cannot resist and fall on the spot, and collapsing rolls down the slope, resting against a boulder at the end.
75. EXT. THE MOUNTAIN REGION - DAY.
Bruno looks into the eyes of a confused Ismatullah, sees the horror of death. A moment later, Bruno pushes off from the rocky embankment with one hand and makes a dash with the other hand, pulling Ismatulla onto the path.
Bruno, Ismatullah and Yahya lie exhausted on the path, coughing, inhaling air.
76. EXT. YAHCHAN-KHURD VILLAGE — EVENING. IT'S GETTING DARK.
Ismatullah, Bruno, Yahya Mukhadi in Yahchan Hard, say goodbye.
Ismatullah goes out to escort the guests out of the gate, passes Otto a package of goodies-fruits with persimmons, dried apricots. Otto accepts them.
Ismatulla, with a penitent look, extends his hand to Bruno to shake. Bruno holds out his hand in return. There is a handshake.
ISMATULLA
Forgive us, don't hold
a grudge. The years that have passed since “Shuravi”'s departure have opened our eyes to many things. An epiphany, even if it comes decades later, makes sense.
Bruno accepts Ismatullah's words without emotion. It is clear that Bruno's mind is in another place.
Bruno, Otto and Yahya get into a taxi waiting. Bruno is in the front seat next to the driver. Behind him is Otto, to the left of Otto is Yahya. The car is on its way.
Ismatullah remains standing by the road, waving after the departing taxi.
77. INT. TAXI — EVENING.
Bruno is sitting in the front seat, puts his hands into a weightless leather bag lying at the bottom in front of his feet and secretly screws a silencer into a GLOCK G46 pistol.
The taxi turns the corner.
Bruno suddenly turns to Yahya.
BRUNO
Stop the taxi!
Yahya translates the order to the taxi driver, who stops abruptly.
BRUNO
I'll be right back.
Bruno picks up his bag, abruptly gets out of the taxi and, leaving at a brisk pace, disappears around the corner.
Otto and Yahya are perplexed, they are at a loss.
78. EXT. YAHCHAN-KHURD VILLAGE — EVENING.
Bruno quickly steps towards Ismatullah, who is coming out of the gate with a donkey loaded with two flasks at the ready; the distance between Bruno and Ismatullah is rapidly closing.
Bruno takes the safety off the pistol in his bag.
Bruno is already approaching Ismatulla.
At this moment, a group of four of his younger children runs out from behind the gate to Ismatullah, they hug Ismatullah in their belt, drag him into the courtyard of the house.
Bruno is stunned. Ismatullah has figured out Bruno's insidious plan and, keeping his composure, holds out his hand to Bruno.
Bruno holds out his own in return. There is a handshake.
79. INT. HOSPITAL — MIDNIGHT.
Limping Otto and Bruno, helping to carry Ismatullah's gifts, sneaking on tiptoe so as not to cause unnecessary noise, are walking along the hospital corridor to the ward.
At the staff lounge, they suddenly come face to face with Dr. Akhmadzai, who is on duty at night. Bruno froze for a moment, immediately came to his senses.
BRUNO
Frau Ahmadzai, how glad I am to see you! Since our previous meeting, I have been reproaching myself for not asking your name. I want to fix this error.
(smiles)
Seeta accepts Bruno's words without emotion.
SEETA
My name is Seeta!
BRUNO
A beautiful name — Seeta!
Are your parents from Kunduz?
SEETA
Yes, from Imam Sahib, a county north of Kunduz.
BRUNO
Are you a Tajik yourself?
SEETA
I am a Pashtun of the Gilzai tribe.
Our roots are from the southeast - Paktia.
The ancestors moved to Kunduz during the time of Emir Amanullah Khan in 1925. Then there was a state policy of Pashtunization of the northern territories. The peoples of the north — Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras — moved to the south, southeast — to Kandahar, Ghazni, Jalalabad, the places of traditional residence of the Pashtun tribes, and the Gilzai, Karlani Pashtuns — to the northeast to Katagan.
BRUNO
And how did you end up in Germany?
SEETA
In 1980, after the entry of Soviet troops, my parents and my young older brothers emigrated to Germany, Munich, where I was born years later.
Bruno is happy about the conversation that has started. The hubbub in the corridor interferes with communication. Bruno, wanting to question Seeta, barely grabs her by the elbow, dragging her aside. Seeta pulls out her hand, looks accusing.
SEETA
It's not customary in Afghanistan!
This is not Germany!
BRUNO
(apologetically)
Excuse me, Seeta!
SEETA
(omitting the incident, continues)
After school, I graduated from the Medical Faculty of the University of Munich. In 2008, after passing an interview, I got a job at the international humanitarian mission MSF "Doctors without Borders".
That's all I'm ready to tell you about myself right now.
(smiles)
And now I must go.
Seeta goes to one of the wards.
HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN".
80. EXT. AFGHANISTAN, CARAVANSERAI — DAY.
The city square of the "Kunduz Circle" is crowded, horses are tied to poles at the entrance.
TITLE: Kunduz. Caravanserai, 1929.
There is a gathering of elders, clergy, officials. Local elders sit on long benches in the first row. Next to the elders are large Uzbek, Turkmen kurbashi – Ibrahim bek, Ishan-Khalifa Kyzyl-ayak, Mahmud-bek, Utan-bek, and others.
There are armed people behind kurbashi – numerous guards, all in a turban, in dressing gowns, with sabers and rifles.
Vis-a–vis dignitaries are a crowd of people - all men, no women.
From the mouth of the HERALD, elderly, gray-bearded Afghan in an expensive robe and a black turban, an appeal sounds.
HERALD
People of Afghanistan! The Kafirs have set dirty feet on our holy land, captured Balkh, Kelif, Deydadi, Mazar-I-Sharif, and Tashkurgan, and are now heading for Kabul. All for holy jihad! To burn kafirs in hell!
81. INT. A LARGE ROOM. ORIENTAL INTERIOR WITH CARPETS — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. THE HEADQUARTERS OF NAIBUL-HUKUM, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF KATAGAN-BADAKHSHAN PROVINCE.
A nobleman, the governor-General of the Katagan-Badakhshan province of NAIBUL-HUKUM, is sitting on a large cot, drinking tea, taking raisins from a menagerie on the table, thinking about something.
ADJUTANT
Your Highness, kurbashi Ibrahim Bek has arrived.
NAIBUL-KHUKUM
(he climbs off the cot)
Let him in!
Ibrahim Bek proudly enters the hall, handing over a saber and a revolver with a holster to the adjutant at the entrance.
IBRAHIM BEK
AsSalamu Alaikum!
(politely nodded his head)
NAIBUL-KHUKUM
Alaikum Salam, dear Ibrahim Bek!
(ingratiatingly)
Yesterday your squad was defeated by the Red Army.
I am so sorry.
IBRAHIM BEK
(nodded his head, accepting sympathy)
I lost most of my people.
(with excitement, courteously)
I do not quite understand, dear Naibul-Khukum, how it happened that a detachment of the Red Army crossed the state border of the Emirate without meeting a worthy rebuff from the Afghan government forces?! Why are my soldiers carrying out the mission to protect Afghan sovereignty?!
NAIBUL-KHUKUM
Dear Ibrahim Bek!
I have to remind you: when the Red Army smashed your detachments and drove them from their homes, you found salvation here, beyond the Amu Darya.
We have accepted your families, given you shelter, and endowed you with land. Afghanistan is now your land!
It's time to repay the kindness! Stand up for protection!
IBRAHIM BEK
(reducing the fervor)
With all my desire, my army is not able to resist the Red Army! The forces and logistics are incomparable.
Naibul-Hukum listens calmly to Ibrahim bek, takes a dispatch with the royal coat of arms from the chest of drawers and hands it to him.
NAIBUL-KHUKUM
(in a calm tone)
This is a letter from Kabul.
(slowly)
His Holiness the Emir demands that you, dear Ibrahim Bek and other leaders of the Basmachia in northern Afghanistan, immediately send your detachments against the Kafirs!
Otherwise, you and other kurbashi should lay down all the weapons available to your detachments and, obeying the will of the Holy Emir, leave Afghanistan with your families!
IBRAHIM BEK
(with dignity)
Our weapons are not directed against Afghanistan! It's ours, we got it in battle! And while we're alive, we won't give it to anyone!
Frustrated by the pressure of Naibul-Hukum, Ibrahim bek stops the conversation, picks up his abandoned weapon at the entrance.
Naibul-hukum's face expresses dissatisfaction with Ibrahim bek's answer, he shook his head in disbelief.
82. EXT.NAIBUL-HUKUM HOUSE-DAY.
Ibrahim bek walks briskly out of Naibul-Hukum's house. The discontent on his face increases. He approaches the horse, takes the bridle from the groom's hands, famously jumps on the horse and retreats.
83. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
Oberst Jung, Bruno, and a group of officers are present in the office. Everyone is sitting at a large table; at the head of the table is Oberst Jung.
OBERST JUNG
Intelligence channels reported that on the night of October 18-19, a meeting of the Taliban leadership will be held in the Gundai village of Chahar-dara district of Kunduz province under the chairmanship of Abdul Rahman. The goal is to establish cooperation between the Taliban during the attack on the TF-47 garrison.
(to Bruno)
Your group, Ober- Lieutenant, will have an urgent flight by NHI NH90 helicopters to the area of operation near the village of Gundai. Hanging over the building where the Taliban leaders are scheduled to meet, destroy them with the fire of onboard machine guns.
84. EXT. GUNDAI VILLAGE — NIGHT.
TITLE: GUNDAI VILLAGE, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
A special operation is underway. Active pockets of Taliban resistance are suppressed on the ground from NHI NH90 helicopters hovering in the air. The group of Thevs begins to disembark from helicopters and surrounds the building where the Taliban are entrenched, continuing the fight on the ground.
There is an active confrontation between the special forces and the Taliban.
Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Rahman and several other Taliban commanders come out with their hands up, surrendering.
The group of Ober -Lieutenant Thevs escorts the Taliban into a helicopter.
The helicopters are taking off.
85. EXT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
Otto limps around the hospital garden along the benches, talking on a mobile phone with the EDITOR of "DER SPIEGEL" from Hamburg.
EDITOR (V.O.)
(male voice)
Otto, we strongly recommend that you return to Germany for treatment!
OTTO
(adamantly)
Thank you for your concern.
The wound is already healing, I am able to work fully.
We will be in touch, goodbye!
EDITOR (V.O.)
Goodbye!
Otto ends the conversation.
There is a loud sound, two attack helicopters with the image of the national flag of Afghanistan fly low over the ground. Seconds later came the rumble of heavy explosions.
86. INT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
Otto, with a quick limping step, leaning on a cane, follows to the middle of the hospital corridor, where the desk of the nurse on duty is located.
The phones rang, there is a commotion. The medical staff on duty runs along the hospital corridor to the exit, loads into ambulances, with loud sirens turned on, hurriedly leaves for a call.
Otto goes to the working TV in the hospital corridor, starts watching the news. In local TV news with English titles, the ANNOUNCER reports.
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
At 11.00 a.m., the Afghan military aviation, supported by ISAF forces, carried out an airstrike on the village of Daftani in Dasht-e-Archi County, northeast of the city of Kunduz. At the time of the airstrike, celebrations were held at the Daftani Madrasah following the results of the competition of Koran reciters — Hafiz children from 6 to 13 years old. At the time diplomas and gifts were being awarded.
87. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Yakub Khan, standing at the entrance to the teahouse, makes excuses to Otto.
YAKUB KHAN
(to Otto)
Don't get me wrong, in many ways I condemn the policies and actions of the Taliban, and I don't agree with the Honorable Shamsutdin in everything. That's why I stay away from them. I would also recommend you to take into account that during the release of hostages in the village of Khalazai, among whom were you, Mr. Otto, Shamsutdin's people were killed. And he himself, it is important to note, miraculously survived. Therefore, they are unlikely to be happy to see you alive.
OTTO
(to Yakub Khan)
And you explain that I am a journalist!
My job is collecting authentic material. I only ask you to allow me to the local population of the village of Daftani, to the victims who lost their children.
YAKUB KHAN
(pessimistically)
OK, I'll try.
Otto walks with Yahya Mukhadi deep into the teahouse, takes the usual cot, and makes an order. Out of the corner of his eye, he watches Yakub Khan remaining at the entrance. Yakub Khan is calling on the phone to arrange a meeting with someone. Otto watches the visitors who come into the teahouse, at the same time, together with Yahya, slowly eats lamb kebab, flatbread, and drinks tea.
A gray-bearded man HALFUTDIN of about fifty in a blue perukhan and a light turban enters Yakub Khan's teahouse. Yakub Khan leads the man to the cot where Otto and Yahya are sitting, points with his palm at the man.
YAKUB KHAN
This is the one you need.
Otto and Yahya politely get off the couch, invite the guest to sit down together. Yakub Khan calls Zalmai, orders tea for the guest, returns to the entrance himself. The guest silently takes off his shoes, climbs onto the cot, sits down in a corner.
Otto turns to the guest. Yahya synchronously translates Otto's speech without hesitation.
OTTO
I am Otto Greenberg, a reporter for the German magazine Der Spiegel.
(nodding at the translator Yahya Muhadi)
This is my translator Yahya Muhadi.
His brother, Sultan Mukhadi, one of the hostages who died during the liberation in the village of Khalazai.
The guest-parliamentarian nods his head, putting his palm to his heart, expressing his condolences to Yahya.
Halfutdin, looking at Otto, asks dryly.
HALFUTDIN
(looking at Otto, coldly)
I am Halfutdin. What do you want?!
OTTO
I ask to be admitted to the village of Daftani so that I can interview residents, and if possible, the families of the victims.
HALFUTDIN
(with a pause)
Good!
(looks piercingly)
We will guide you to Daftani and are ready to ensure your safety. In return, we must receive truthful coverage of this outrage, without distortion. Exactly as it is.
OTTO
I promise you to shoot a report on photo and video cameras and send it to the editorial office along with the written material.
This will complicate the falsification attempt.
HALFUTDIN
Tomorrow at dawn at 5.00 on the southern outskirts of Daftani.
OTTO
(excited)
Agreed!
Otto is pleased, climbs off the couch with Yahya, warmly thanks Yakub Khan for the meeting. At the exit of the teahouse, Otto claps in a handshake, leaving Yakub Khan a few hundred euros. Zalmai accompanies Otto and Yahya Mukhadi, calls a taxi.
88. EXT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
Otto takes a taxi to the entrance to the courtyard of the MSF hospital. The courtyard is filled with ambulances and more than a hundred Afghans. Male hubbub is heard, female sobs. The MSF hospital is filled with children wounded in the village of Daftani.
89. EXT. DAFTANI VILLAGE — FLASHES OF DAWN.
TITLE: DAFTANI VILLAGE, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
Against the background of the departing taxi, Otto and Yahya approach the waiting Halfutdin. Halfutdin greets them dryly, looks sharply into Otto's eyes. Muhadi translates everything.
HALFUTDIN
Do you confirm the fulfillment of our requirements?!
OTTO
(firmly)
I confirm!
Halfutdin leads Otto and Yahya through the narrow streets of Daftani. They approach the building of the village mosque. Its facade is riddled with a thousand fragments of bombs; from the edge you can see the sagging frame of the tent erected for the festivities, the roof torn off by the explosion, heaps of pairs of children's shoes left behind.
Otto takes the camera out of the bag, sets the current time, starts shooting. The place of celebrations, where the children were, is abundantly covered with blood. Scattered around are scraps of clothing fabrics, small fragments of human bodies. Otto leads the camera smoothly, misses nothing.
A large group of men gathered at the Daftani Mosque, passionately discussing yesterday's tragedy. Halfutdin brings Otto and Yahya, covers his face with a piece of turban against the background of the crowd, leaves only his eyes, points his thumb at himself, orders Otto to take himself off first in the report.
HALFUTDIN
(heartfelt)
Corrupt government officials said that the Afghan Air Force carried out a targeted air strike on the village of Daftani in Kunduz province, destroying a Taliban training center and thirty of its militants. Among those killed, Taliban leader Mullah Biryani, who allegedly arrived from the Quetta Shura, and nine field commanders. It was also said that none of the civilians were injured in the airstrike. Now you will see for yourself that there was no training center in Daftani, but there was a mass murder of children.
Halfutdin finishes, steps aside, makes way for an interview with a resident of Daftani, a lanky dehkan MOHAMMAD ISHAN in a brown perukhan, beige pakol.
MOHAMMAD ISHAN
When helicopters appeared in the sky, the children got scared and started shouting: "They will drop bombs on us! They will drop bombs on us!", and the adults calmed them down. "No, that's not going to happen! Don't be afraid!"
However, it happened!
(emotionally, wiping his tears with the sleeves of perukhan)
More than 200 children attended the ceremony. They were 11-12 years old, a little older, even younger.
I was lucky, I was standing a little further away, and I miraculously survived. It's better, instead of children, all the adults who were on the holiday died!
A bony dehkan HADJI GHULAM holds a gray donkey with fascines by the bridle – with a tremor in his voice, sorrow in his eyes.
HADJI GHULAM
They do not spare us or our children! O Allah, why do we have this grief?!
Halfutdin leads Otto and Yahya through the narrow streets of Daftani past the dwellings, women's wailing, sobbing, crying can be heard from the courtyards. Parents and relatives say goodbye to the dead children before taking the bodies to the cemetery.
They enter the courtyards, Halfutdin raises his hand, makes it clear to the residents of Daftani that kafirs (infidels, not Muslims) Otto and Yahya are under his protection. Otto is serene, continues to shoot everything that appears on camera.
A BLACKSMITH NAMED ABDUL KHALID
(sitting by his son's body)
My son was only thirteen years old!
(wipes tears from his eyes with cracked, crooked fingers)
He learned the Koran by heart and was invited to the awards.
On this day, he dressed festively,
was especially happy.
They leave the Blacksmith's yard and enter the neighboring yard.
Women are sobbing over the bodies of two children. The men are standing on the sidelines.
AN AFGHAN WOMAN DRESSED IN A BURGUNDY BURQA moans, stroking the bodies wrapped in a shroud.
AFGHAN WOMAN DRESSED IN A BURGUNDY BURQA
(moaning, sobbing)
My two sons have memorized the Quran. Finally, the long-awaited day of their awarding with diplomas, participation in the ceremony of tying the turban came.
The sons wanted it so much. The day before they brought home two flower wreaths, they asked me to put them on them on my return from the celebrations. I went out to meet them on the street, holding in my hands the wreaths they had prepared, I was waiting, but they were still not there. Suddenly two helicopters flew low in the sky, and I heard four loud explosions, followed by screams.
A little while later, their father returned, carrying the bodies of our two sons on his shoulders. When he entered the house, he told me: "Our sons learned the book of the Almighty by heart and immediately went to meet him."
HALFUTDIN
(covering his face with a piece of turban — on camera)
Among those killed in the airstrike in Daftani, 101 children were killed, more than 100 were injured.
37 children will be buried today in Daftani. The bodies of children from other villages have already been taken by their parents for burial in other places. I draw everyone's attention!
(raised his index finger)
There were no Taliban fighters among the dead and wounded in the airstrike in Daftani, but only civilians.
The sun is setting. Otto and Yahya come out of Daftani; they are depressed.
EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN".
90. EXT. AFGHANISTAN, ALIABAD — DAY.
TITLE: ALIABAD. KUNDUZ PROVINCE, 1930.
In the village, a group of military Afghan government troops and tribal formations with sabers and rifles break into the homes of local Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmens, and Hazaras. They rob, pillage, harshly push back the owners with weapons, take away their cattle, take away food, set fire to homes. They bring out the men. Women are crying, clinging to them.
91. EXT. AFGHANISTAN, KHANABAD — DAY.
TITLE: KHANABAD. KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
The city square is filled with people. There is a long pedestal in the center. On the pedestal is a row of a dozen pillars with gallows. A decapitation block is equipped on the side of the gallows.
The government is carrying out a public execution of 35 captured soldiers of kurbashi Ibrahim bek, their hands are tied behind their backs, they are brought in turn, executed. A cruel sight. With each execution – hanging, beheading, a hubbub grows in the crowd.
92. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
In the office of Oberst Jung, Oberst himself and Ober lieutenant Zimmer.
Oberst is sitting at the table; Zimmer is submitting documents for signature.
The phone rings, Oberst Jung picks up the phone. Brigadier General Markus Neumann is on the return line.
OBERST JUNG
(ahead with a greeting)
Hello, Mr. Brigadier General.
Markus Neumann is talking on the speakerphone in his office. During the conversation, he sharpens a pencil with a blade on the latest issue of Der Spiegel.
In front of him, a glass is filled with sharpened pencils.
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
Hello, Oberst!
Tell me, which of the German journalists are hanging around there now?
(pause)
Otto Kruger from "Der Spiegel", is there?!
OBERST JUNG
(anticipating the problem)
Otto Greenberg!
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
Greenberg! Did we rescue him from captivity?!
OBERST JUNG
That's right, Mr. Brigadier General, him!
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
His article in "Der Spiegel" about the airstrike in Daftani made a lot of noise. In the Bundestag, ISAF, Pentagon, Bundeswehr — everyone is very nervous. He was wounded, wasn't he, as I recall?
OBERST JUNG
That's right, Mr. Brigadier General, he was!
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
And what is he still doing there?!
OBERST JUNG
He is being treated at the MSF hospital, Mr. Brigadier General.
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
(raising his tone)
So, send him to hell to Germany!
OBERST JUNG
I can't, Mr. Brigadier General. MSF Hospital is an international civilian institution. I'm not Greenberg's boss. He has his own management in Hamburg. In general, I suggest we think about whether we should quarrel with Der Spiegel? Journalists are scandalous people, it's better not to fight with them. They will begin to walk on our heels, sniffing out fried things, destroying the network of agents built up over the years.
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
Oh well. Then block his access to the places of incidents, contacts with the local population when collecting malicious information.
OBERST JUNG
It's impossible, Mr. Brigadier General. Unfortunately, they have their own sources of information, and they are free to move.
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
(with annoyance)
Unfortunately! But we release them from captivity, and often by sacrificing our people!
OBERST JUNG
I'll think about it, I'll try to do something, Mr. Brigadier General.
MARKUS NEUMANN (V.O.)
All right, Oberst! Keep me posted.
Oberst Jung hangs up, immediately calls the assistant.
OBERST JUNG
Urgently call Ober-lieutenant Thevs to me.
There is a knock-on Jung's office. Bruno enters.
BRUNO
Mr. Oberst! Ober-lieutenant Thevs has arrived by your order!
Oberst Jung comes out from behind a large table, offers to sit down on a paired leather chair by the coffee table with a gesture of his hand. Both sit down.
OBERST JUNG
Ober-lieutenant, as far as I know, you are in contact with reporter Otto Greenberg.
BRUNO
That's right, Mr. Oberst, I support it!
OBERST JUNG
(with a squint)
And where is Greenberg now?
BRUNO
Still recovering at MSF hospital.
OBERST JUNG
(almost friendly)
This Greenberg, with his material about the airstrike in Daftani, raised a big stir in society. The big bosses called from Calv; they are extremely indignant at the publication of his article in Der Spiegel.
(pretentiously)
I consider it necessary for you, Ober-lieutenant, to go to the hospital to Greenberg right now and, as he risked his own and the lives of his subordinates - in the name of his salvation, insist on an immediate departure to Germany.
BRUNO
(puzzled)
Yes, Mr. Oberst!
93. INT. HOSPITAL. OTTO'S WARD — DAY.
Hospital ward, a conversation between Bruno and Otto.
BRUNO
(complacently)
Otto! We managed to become friends with you. I sincerely don't want to spoil the relationship with you, but they expect a result from me.
Seeta enters the ward; she looks tired and depressed.
BRUNO
(happily jumps up from his seat)
Seeta!
OTTO
(brightening up)
Frau Akhmadzai! How convenient!
Do you have a private room where the three of us could retire for a while?
Bruno is discouraged. Seeta thinks a little, remembers something, goes to get the keys of the senior nurse's room.
Otto nods at the bedside table.
OTTO
Bruno, please take my video camera at the nightstand.
94. INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR— DAY.
Bruno and Otto leave the ward, walk through the throng of the hospital corridor filled with many beds with wounded children from the village of Daftani, their relatives.
They pass on, they see a young Afghan woman with a blue burqa thrown back, standing at the door to the operating room. A European doctor comes out to the Afghan woman, removes the mask, informs her through the transfer of an Afghan nurse that her son has died. The silence is broken by the wail of the unhappy mother, which turns into a heart-rending sob.
Dumbfounded, Otto and Bruno approach the head nurse's room. Seeta is already in place, opens the room, turns on the light.
95. INT. HOSPITAL SENIOR NURSE'S ROOM — DAY.
Otto, Bruno and Seeta enter the head nurse's room. Seeta is going to leave.
OTTO
Seeta, please stay for a while, please.
Otto pulls up a chair and offers Seeta a seat. Seeta prefers not to sit down, looking at the clock.
SEETA
Okay, but not for long!
Otto takes the video camera from Bruno's hands, puts it on the table, and turns it on. On a small screen with the shooting date continuously flashing in the lower corner, the village of Daftani appears, the facade of a local mosque damaged by an explosion, the lopsided construction of a festive tent with a torn roof, a blood-soaked playground with many pairs of children's shoes left in place after the tragedy, small fragments of human bodies.
Interviews of residents at the mosque, parents sitting by the bodies of their dead children begin. Otto doesn't comment on anything. Bruno doesn't take his eyes off the screen. Seeta stands with her back against the wall, silently wiping her tears.
OTTO
(loudly)
Bruno! The ISAF coalition prefers to hide this inhuman crime, everything is clear with them!
And what do you personally think about the cynical airstrike?!
Do you also think that such crimes are permissible in the XXI century?! What is the difference between ISAF and the fascists of the Third Reich, who wiped out thousands of cities and villages in your Homeland of the USSR, exterminated 30 million people, branded the German people with curses and eternal guilt before humanity?!
Bruno is silent, shocked, dejected, depressed.
FLASHBACK IN
96. EXT. VILLAGE — DAY.
BRUNO'S MEMORIES
(Slow motion) Bruno breaks into one of the rooms; there are dead and wounded. A wounded Talib is lying on the floor, looking at Bruno with a pleading look that Bruno would not shoot at him. Bruno stands up, looming over Talib, aims his machine gun at Talib's head. It's getting dark.
FLASHBACK OUT
97. INT. HOSPITAL SENIOR NURSE'S ROOM — DAY.
Otto, Bruno and Seeta are in the room. Seeta stands with her back against the wall. Bruno and Otto are sitting at the table. Bruno turns to Otto.
BRUNO
Otto, how long are you planning to stay in Kunduz? I see a real threat to your life; you should seriously think about personal safety. Scandalous journalistic activity displeases both the ISAF and the Afghan government. Eliminating you by the hands of ISAF specialists or bribed Taliban is an easily doable task.
OTTO
(sincerely)
I have to finish collecting material about the presence of Soviet troops here. I think it will take a month.
BRUNO
(with pessimism)
It is hard to believe in your willingness to leave Afghanistan.
98. EXT. THE GARDEN OF THE HOSPITAL - IT'S GETTING DARK.
Bruno and Seeta are sitting on a shady bench in the depths of the hospital garden, tenderly looking at each other, silent.
SEETA
Bruno, were you born in the Soviet Union?
BRUNO
(with surprise)
Yes.
(pause)
I was born in Kazakhstan, in Dzhambul. My ancestors came from Germany to Russia in 1762.
SEETA
(with sympathy)
Is it true that your father died in Afghanistan?
(pause)
Mr. Greenberg informed me about this.
BRUNO
Really!
SEETA
And where did this happen?
BRUNO
Here nearby, in the mountains of Khost Wa Firing.
SEETA
(with empathy)
I'm sorry, Bruno!
(changing the subject, smiling)
I imagine the astonished faces of my relatives who found out about the courtship of “Shuravi”'s son.
BRUNO
(with a smile)
Will it make things worse after I'm an ISAF serviceman?
SEETA
You know, the attitude of Afghans to Shuravi is different, ambiguous.
Yes, the war in the 1980s greatly spoiled it. But there were a lot of good things. My parents tell me that the Soviet Union, before the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, built factories, factories, a large hydroelectric power plant "Naglu", founded a Polytechnic institute in Kabul, laid a tunnel on Salang.
Bruno takes Seeta's palms in his overworked hands with protruding veins, looks intently into her eyes.
BRUNO
(with a smile)
So, I still have facilitating circumstances?!
Seeta feels awkward, lowers her gaze, takes her hands away, pays attention to the time of Bruno's watch.
SEETA
(anxiously)
Oh, it's time for me to run!
Bruno escorts Seeta to the door of the hospital, she disappears into the crowd of the corridor.
99. INT. OFFICE SPACE — EVENING.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. TF-47 HEADQUARTERS.
Bruno passes by the window of the TF-47 duty headquarters, goes to the office of Oberst Jung, the DUTY OFFICER calls out to him.
DUTY OFFICER
Ober-lieutenant, Oberst Jung is not in place. In the morning, his son Alfred, a cadet at the Munich Military Medical Academy, came to see him.
Bruno is delighted with the postponement of the report on sending Otto to Germany.
BRUNO
(with joy)
At least one good piece of news!
100. INT. BRUNO'S ROOM — EVENING.
Bruno enters his room, sits down at the table, takes out the book "The Great Game in Afghanistan" from the nightstand, starts reading.
HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN".
101. EXT. THE OUTSKIRTS OF ALIABAD — EVENING.
TITLE: THE OUTSKIRTS OF ALIABAD. THE HQ OF KURBASHI IBRAHIM BEK, 1930.
There are many bonfires in the night. Basmachi are sitting around the campfires in the dark, slightly illuminated by the flashes of fire.
A large hearth is burning, a crowd of armed Basmachi is sitting around, looking at the fire, drinking tea from bowls. In the center, the leaders of the Uzbek and Turkmen Basmatism, kurbashi Ibrahim Bek and ISHAN KHALIFA Kyzyl-ayak, are sitting and talking.
A cauldron with pilaf is installed on the hearth next to them. The cook opens the lid, puts the pilaf in the bowl and serves the kurbashi. He closes the lid and moves away.
Ibrahim bek addresses Ishan Khalifa.
IBRAHIM BEK
(bitterly)
The assistance of Central Asian emigration and local tribesmen has been extremely reduced.
The people are exhausted, people are tired of the war.
Government troops break into houses, empty food supplies, rob, steal cattle, leave people without means of livelihood, burn homes. My detachments are drained of blood, they continue to suffer irreparable losses.
Most of the friendly detachments have been disarmed, some have transferred to the service of the emir.
Those who refuse to lay down their arms are exterminated and executed. In just a month, I lost 1300 warriors killed. The emir demands to witness to him the fullness of the royal authority, to dissolve my army of one and a half thousand, leaving only 200 soldiers.
ISHAN KHALIFA
(with empathy)
It is already obvious that it is no longer possible to stay in Afghanistan! We have to leave! You just must choose – to Iran or beyond the Amu Darya.
(pause)
If your proposal to join forces oppose the Soviets is still in force, I confirm my readiness.
IBRAHIM BEK
The best direction for us is the Soviet territory. Wherever we go, we are required to hand over our weapons everywhere.
In the worst case, there, in our native places, we will hand over weapons to the Soviet government…
Let the Bolsheviks kill us rather than the Afghans!
102. EXT. TF-47 GARRISON — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. TF-47 GARRISON.
The Talibans from the nearest village are constantly monitoring the TF-47 garrison with binoculars.
On the territory of the unit, Alfred Jung and 2 special forces soldiers guarding him get into an ATF-DINGO-2 armored personnel carrier. Oberst Jung accompanies his son.
The armored personnel carrier leaves through the checkpoint. It is followed at some distance by a white ISUZU pickup truck.
103. EXT. AFGHANISTAN HIGHWAY — DAY.
An armored personnel carrier with a junior Jung and accompanying commandos drives into the "Kunduz circle", stops.
The younger Jung goes out to buy souvenirs. A group of Taliban raided the accompanying commandos and Jung from two sides. The Taliban shoot the commandos, push the youngest Jung into an inconspicuous car.
The car is hiding in an unknown direction.
104. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. TF-47 HEADQUARTERS.
Oberst Georg Jung in despair, did not sleep at night waiting for at least some news about his son. There's a knock on the Oberst's office.
Bruno comes into the office.
BRUNO
May I come in, Mr. Oberst?
OBERST JUNG
(with longing)
Come in, Ober-lieutenant.
Oberst Jung points Bruno to an upholstered chair. Bruno sits down. Oberst sits down on the opposite side on the double chair.
BRUNO
Mr. Oberst, do you remember the scandalous article about the airstrike on Daftani in "Der Spiegel", which caused an international outcry?
OBERST JUNG
I remember how not to remember.
BRUNO
(excitedly)
So, I think it was impossible for reporter Otto Greenberg to collect that material without the help of the Taliban.
I am more than sure that he has contacts with the Taliban.
OBERST JUNG
(cheering up)
Think right, Ober-lieutenant!
This card in the deck may be useful to us.
BRUNO
(inspired)
May I go to the MSF hospital and persuade Greenberg to use these contacts to find your son?
OBERST JUNG
Of course, Ober-lieutenant!
I will be sincerely grateful to you!
Bruno, excited, leaves Oberst Jung's office and runs into Zimmer at the door. Zimmer casts a cursory unkind glance at Bruno as he leaves.
Zimmer stays in the office, goes over to Oberst Jung's desk, hands over a folder. Oberst Jung opens a folder containing photos of Bruno and Sita lovingly holding hands on a bench in the MSF Hospital Park.
ZIMMER
I never believed this Deutsch-Rusish. Who do you think this lovely lady is? None other than the niece of Taliban leader Mullah Shamsutdin.
(pause)
Obviously, Thevs is directly involved in the abduction of your son, Mr. Oberst.
Oberst Jung turns purple. He puts the folder in his desk drawer.
OBERST JUNG
(with severity)
Keep this information private! You understand me, Zimmer!
Oberst Jung is looking out the window, thinking.
105. EXT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
Bruno enters the hospital dining room; Otto is sitting at a meal.
Bruno sits down at the table with Otto.
BRUNO
Yesterday in Kunduz the Taliban shot two of our special forces and captured Oberst Jung's son, Alfred.
OTTO
(placidly)
I heard - an unpleasant story.
BRUNO
Otto, after the airstrike on Daftani, did you go to the place and did a voluminous report?!
OTTO
I'm a journalist, this is my job!
(pause)
And what?!
BRUNO
Reporting was impossible without the assistance of the Taliban, right?!
Bruno moves closer to Otto, begins to speak more quietly.
BRUNO
Who, if not the Taliban, took you to the village, provided security, allowed you to film everything?
OTTO
Well, let's say.
BRUNO
I ask you, Otto: raise your contacts, find out about the location of the younger Jung and the conditions of his release.
OTTO
(without pause)
I won't do it!
(with negative)
Oberst Jung is responsible for the deaths of more than a hundred Afghan civilians, I'm not even talking about ordinary Taliban.
Bruno, upset by Otto's refusal, leans back in his chair, half-turned, looks out the window in despair.
BRUNO
(excitedly)
By the way, the operation to free you in Halazai was conducted under the command of Jung. Two of our fighters died in it.
OTTO
(with a pause, reluctantly)
OK, I'll try. I warn you right away, this is unlikely!
BRUNO
(delighted)
Thank you, Otto! I was sure that you would not remain indifferent. While you're getting ready, I'll run over to Seeta and wait for you at the exit in 15 minutes.
In euphoria, Bruno leaves the dining room.
106. INT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
Bruno walks up to the female doctors' lounge and, without knocking, pushes the unlocked door forward.
In the room, Seeta changes into medical uniforms from everyday clothes — she takes off her skirt, blouse, and bra.
At the moment of Bruno's entrance, Seeta turns out to be naked, having managed to turn her back. Shouting "You can't!", Seeta covers her chest with her hands.
Bruno plays with his feelings and, omitting Seeta's words, rushes to her. Seeta stops Bruno with an outstretched hand, shuts off the screen.
SEETA
Quiet! Quiet, young man! Keep yourself in control.
(smiles)
BRUNO
(aggressively)
Seeta, let me breathe by you! I can't live without you anymore!
SEETA
(from behind the screen)
I believe it willingly.
(smiling)
But the immutable condition is still the observance of our ancestral traditions, which do not allow intimacy before entering the marriage bond.
(pause)
Are you ready for this, Bruno?
Seeta listens behind the screen, looks away, smiles.
Endlessly happy, Bruno emotionally throws up his hands.
Seeta, in a medical uniform, comes out from behind the screen.
Bruno beams with happiness, takes Seeta by the waist, lifts her high up. Seeta looks down at Bruno.
SEETA
A letter came from relatives in Munich. My father allowed me to date the German Bruno.
(smiles)
BRUNO
How happy I am Sita; how happy I am!
Bruno remembers something with annoyance, looks at his watch.
BRUNO
I have to run now. But when I get back, you'll tell me all the details, okay?!
Bruno is leaving.
107. INT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
Otto is dressed in civilian clothes, standing at the exit of the MSF Emergency Room, calling the interpreter Yahya Muhadi.
OTTO
Yahya, go urgently to Yakub Khan's teahouse! Meet me at the entrance.
108. INT. TAXI — DAY.
Otto and Bruno are sitting in the back of a taxi, driving through Kunduz.
BRUNO
(with joy)
Otto! I have great news!
OTTO
(serene)
What great news there can be right now!
BRUNO
(happily)
On the personal front, Seeta's parents are ready to give her to me as a wife.
This is unthinkable, Otto!
OTTO
(with humor)
Really unthinkable!
This is a rare piece of luck for a German officer from the ISAF!
BRUNO
(without taking offense, with a positive attitude)
I will invite Seeta to celebrate the wedding in two cities – Freiburg and Munich.
(pause)
Otto, give me a vow that you will definitely be present!
Also promise to come with me to Russia and find his friends together at the addresses in his father's notebook.
OTTO
(smiles)
I promise!
HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN".
109. EXT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
The taxi stops on the other side of the road - opposite the teahouse. Yakub Khan, standing at the entrance to the teahouse, sees Otto and his friend getting out of the taxi, waving his hand in greeting. Otto and Bruno skip the flow of honking cars, cross the road.
Yahya Mukhadi is waiting at the entrance to the teahouse.
OTTO
(to Yakub Khan)
AsSalamu Alaikum!
Yakub Khan nods back with a smile, puts his palm to his heart.
110. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Yakub Khan accompanies Otto, Bruno, Yahya Mukhadi to Otto's usual cot, invites Zalmai to take the order.
OTTO
(addressing Yakub Khan, who is standing next to him)
Yakub Khan! You probably know that a Bundeswehr armored personnel carrier was attacked in Kunduz the other day?
(pause)
Two soldiers were killed, Commander Jung's son from TF-47, a young man of 20 years old, was also abducted?!
Yahya Mukhadi translates Otto's words, Yakub Khan nods sympathetically.
OTTO
I have a request for you: contact Shamsutdin's people, they probably know who did it.
We will transmit their terms to TF-47
(Otto nodes at Bruno, a stranger to Yakub Khan)
I believe the parties will be able to agree.
YAKUB KHAN
(cheerless)
I can't promise anything, dear.
(pause)
I suggest we meet tomorrow, at the same time. Maybe I can clarify something.
The conversation is interrupted by the efficient Zalmai, who is bringing the ordered dishes to the guests — a large plate of pilaf, mutton kebab, hot tortillas. The guests postpone the discussion and, under the sincere "Dast az talab nadara" of the Afghan singer Ahmad Zahir, which sound from the speakers, proceed to the meal.
Two guests are enthusiastically playing backgammon.
111. EXT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Bruno hails a taxi parked on the opposite side of the road.
BRUNO
(to Otto Greenberg, Yahya Mukhadi)
You go, and I'll visit the store.
I need to buy a gift.
Bruno hurriedly heads to the jewelry store located 30 steps from the Yakub Khan teahouse with large panoramic windows and bright showcases.
112. INT. JEWELRY STORE — DAY.
At the entrance Bruno is met by the owner — an elderly Sikh Hindu in a black dastar (an Indian turban tied in a characteristic manner), a snow–white kurta (an Indian long wide shirt below the knees), churidars (narrow long trousers) made of expensive fabric.
BRUNO
(positive)
AsSalamu Alaikum!
THE HINDU
(with a smile)
Guten morgen!
Bruno goes inside the store, looks around and goes to the window with a lot of jewelry - with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, lapis lazuli. The Hindu walks along the inside of the showcases and becomes a vis-a-vis.
THE HINDU
Do you want to choose something for yourself?
BRUNO
Not to me! To the bride!
THE HINDU
(with pathos)
Wonderful! We have everything to win the heart of a beautiful young lady! Is she German?!
(Pause)
How old is she?!
BRUNO
She is an Afghan woman of 25 years old!
THE HINDU
(astonished)
An Afghan woman?!
BRUNO
(hesitated)
It doesn't matter! I need a gift. The ring!
The Hindu looks at the products, pulls on a tray under a glass case, pompously.
THE HINDU
Gold – white, yellow, pink?! You can choose from the best precious stones in Afghanistan- Pamir rubies, Panjshir emeralds, no worse than Colombian ones, I will note to you!
(looks intently at the confused Bruno)
How much money do you expect?
Bruno is puzzled.
THE HINDU
(he calls out to the assistant)
Raj! Bring us some coffee!
(without letting Bruno come to his senses)
Here, the Afghan-Badakhshan lapis lazuli from Jarm!
The Hindu takes out a silver set of elegant earrings and rings with blue lapis lazuli ovals on a stand.
THE HINDU
Excellent quality of the stone. For your information, Afghan lapis lazuli is the best in the world.
During excavations, it was found even in the tombs of the pharaohs!
Bruno becomes interested and imagines the decorations on the Seeta.
BRUNO
(with confidence)
I'll buy it, maybe something else, if you give in to the price.
THE HINDU
(with cunning)
If you buy this and anything else, there will certainly be a discount.
BRUNO
(delighted, runs a glance)
OK! Show me this yellow ring with a green stone.
The Hindu points his finger at the product under the glass.
THE HINDU
Oh! This is a great choice for the future spouse – the mother of your children!
Mister, a gold ring with an emerald! Panjshir emeralds are famous on world stock exchanges, they are not inferior in quality to Zambian and Brazilian ones.
BRUNO
(having studied the price tags on the string tie – strictly)
What will be the discount?!
THE HINDU
(expertly tapping his fingers on the calculator)
25% is the maximum!
BRUNO
(categorically)
Not serious – 35%!
THE HINDU
(compromise)
30%!
BRUNO
(conciliatory)
Persuaded!
The Indian lit up with a smile and, taking a VIZA credit card from Bruno, rolls it in the terminal. Then, he puts the jewelry in a small advertising bag with an inscription in Arabic and passes it to Bruno. Bruno immediately takes them out again and puts them in his uniform backpack. The Hindu smiles. Bruno nods gratefully to the Indian and is about to leave.
THE HINDU
(after)
Young man!
(benevolently)
At the first opportunity – take your passion and leave Afghanistan! There will be nothing good for you here!
BRUNO
(turning, intrigued)
Why is this all of a sudden?!
Bruno returns, stands up vis-a-vis to the Hindu.
THE HINDU
(putting his hand to his heart)
My name is Iqbal Singh!
BRUNO
(with a smile)
You don't have to know my name!
Call, for example, Konstantin!
THE HINDU
(with cordiality)
Mr. Konstantin! My ancestors came from Punjab to Afghanistan more than two centuries ago. I was born and grew up in Kunduz, where most of them lived in my memory – Pashtuns, Uzbeks, followed by Tajiks, Turkmens, ethnic Arabs and, to a negligible extent, we are Punjabi Sikhs! I graduated from a school in Kunduz, then from a university in Kabul. Afghans and Hindus have always coexisted peacefully in Kunduz, as well as in Fayzabad, Jalalabad, Kabul, Gardez, Kandahar. In the Afghan society there was an absolute tolerance for religious traditions, the same- Hazaras-Shiites, Pamiris-Ismailis, Hindus-Sikhs. It should be noted that the Sikhs living in Afghanistan have been engaged in high-budget trade since ancient times and were not poor people.
Their possessions included large shops and bazaars. The Sikh children studied at the universities of Kabul, Islamabad, Delhi, London and were highly educated! However, with the coming to power in Afghanistan of the radical Taliban movement and in the future, an evil intolerance began to manifest itself towards the Hindus and their traditions. Out of the 150 thousand Sikh community of Afghanistan in the 1970s, there are currently not even 4 thousand!
Afghan children are forbidden to play together with our children, to study in the same school, in other educational institutions. Our children, the Afghan ones, are insulted, called names and humiliated, as well as adults.
Sikhs respect their freedom, as well as the freedom of other people! On the day when my unforgettable wife Amrit Singh died, "May she have a better place in paradise", my grown-up children and representatives of the Sikh community and I saw her off on her last journey in compliance with our religious tradition.
113. EXT. EASTERN QUARTER — DAY.
There is a funeral procession of Hindu Sikhs. Sikhs are dressed in their national clothes, carrying the body of the deceased.
THE HINDU (V.O.)
On the way to the place of cremation of tribesmen that existed from time immemorial, we were met by a raging crowd. With obscene shouts, in front of the respectable citizens.
There is a crowd of Afghans shouting insults.
They pelt the procession with stones, rotten vegetables, and demand to get back to their India immediately.
114. INT. JEWELRY STORE — DAY.
Raj pours Bruno's hot coffee from the cup.
THE HINDU
(emotionally)
We had no choice but to endure this humiliation, tame our pride and sacrifice our dignity.
The horror is that none of the elders who saw this outrage tamed and condemned them!
Bruno remembers.
FLASHBACK IN
115. EXT. AN ABANDONED WORKSHOP IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA — DAY.
Bruno, a 13-year-old boy, is tightly surrounded by older boys beating him. He is punched and kicked from different sides, and name-calling "russish" sounds in his address.
Bruno's face is covered in blood, he fights back furiously, but the forces are not equal.
Bruno takes a large boulder and hits one of the offenders in the face with it.
The offender falls unconscious. The crowd makes way in fright.
FLASHBACK OUT
116. INT. JEWELRY STORE — DAY.
Bruno ends the conversation with the Indian.
BRUNO
(nodding sympathetically)
Thank you, Mr. Singh, I'll take your instructions into account!
He leaves the jewelry store.
117. EXT.KUNDUZ CIRCLE-DAY.
Bruno goes out into the street, squeezes through the moving traffic and smartly jumps into a taxi standing on the opposite side of the road.
118. EXT.MSF HOSPITAL-EVENING.
The taxi flows briskly into the courtyard of the MSF hospital and drops Bruno off. He immediately draws attention to a variety stage mounted in the depths of the hospital garden, a farm with lighting devices, sound equipment and artists tuning musical equipment.
119. INT.MSF HOSPITAL-EVENING.
Bruno goes to the staff room and opens the door. He goes inside.
Seeta is sitting alone at the table studying the medical histories. She turns to the door at the noise.
Bruno fixes a loving gaze on Seeta, leans back and locks the door.
Seeta also looks lovingly at Bruno, waiting for his further actions.
Bruno approaches, without looking away, gently takes Seeta's hand and leads her out from behind the table. Turning his back and closing his eyes with the palm of his hand, Bruno slowly takes out boxes of jewelry from his backpack and puts them on the table in an open form. Bruno removes his palm, and Seeta beholds a silver set with lapis lazuli and a gold ring with an emerald.
BRUNO
Please try this on!
Seeta is stunned, shyly inserts the rods of earrings into the ear punctures, puts both rings on her ring fingers. Seeta changes her profile twice with a teasing smile, shows earrings in her ears. Seeta raises her fingers up, shows the outside of her palms, shows rings.
SEETA
Well?!
BRUNO
These are my pre-wedding gifts. With a green stone-an engagement ring.
SEETA
(joking)
Is there any money left for the wedding?!
Bruno is inflamed with passion, leans forward to kiss Seeta. Seeta pulls back slightly, covers Bruno's lips with her palm.
SEETA
It's still early!
(pause)
My father agreed after long persuasions – mom and mine, to marry you.
But!
(smiling)
With the indispensable preservation of chastity before entering into the marriage bond.
Maiden honesty is the main wealth of an unmarried girl!
We'll have to be patient!
BRUNO
(shaking his head to the sides, sobering up)
Where to go!
(smiles)
Be patient, so be patient!
SEETA
In the evening, a charity concert of the beloved Afghan singer, musician Shafiq Murid will be held at the hospital. I invite you to the concert program. Only it will be necessary to sit down among male doctors.
(sympathetically with a smile)
Otherwise, it will cause the indignation of my local relatives and local inhabitants. Afghan traditions are strict and unchangeable!
BRUNO
What can I do?!
(smiling)
To men, so to men!
120. EXT. HOSPITAL GARDEN — EVENING.
The hospital garden is filled with people, aiding for the concert. It will start soon. On the chairs in front of the stage sit the MSF doctoral staff, divided by gender.
Bruno is sitting in the center of the first row. Seeta is in the fourth from the edge. Her beautiful blue dress is in harmony with the stones of jewelry. The patients of the hospital are in the back rows, there are no women among them.
The illustrious Shafiq Murid, a short man in a black pakol and a flowered perukhan, comes out to the musicians who are playing on the stage. The audience meets the artist with applause. Murid begins to perform folk songs in a heartfelt way. To the beat of the tabla (an Afghan musical percussion instrument), the ensemble played rhythmic music, inviting active spectators to dance in front of the stage.
European medical staff MSF employees, who know about Seeta's Pashtun origin, push her to the stage, forcing her to dance.
Seeta is forced to enter the rhythm, dance incendiary and inspires the audience and artists who clap to the beat. Delighted with her grace, Bruno claps are the loudest.
HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM THE BOOK "THE GREAT GAME IN AFGHANISTAN".
121. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Otto, Bruno and Yahya Mukhadi enter the teahouse. At the entrance they are greeted by a friendly Yakub
Khan. The guests go into the hall, climb onto the usual cot.
Halfutdin, the Taliban emissary, approaches Yakub Khan at the entrance.
Yakub Khan leads Halfutdin to the cot where Otto, Bruno and Yahya are sitting.
HALFUTDIN
(to Otto about Bruno without politesse)
Who is this?!
Yakub Khan looks at Otto questioningly.
OTTO
(through the translation of Muhadi)
This is an officer of the Bundeswehr, authorized by Oberst Jung.
HALFUTDIN
(looking unkindly at Bruno)
Let him wait until we talk.
Muhadi translates Halfutdin's insistence.
OTTO
(heeding the demand)
Bruno, wait for tea while Yahya and I talk to Halfutdin.
Four people-Halfutdin, Otto, Yahya Mukhadi, followed by Yakub khan, go to the service room of the teahouse. Bruno remains sitting on the cot and curiously contemplates the street turmoil. Zalmay appears and skillfully brings a teapot of green tea.
Bruno pours it twice from the bowl back into the teapot and, having filled it in half, takes a sip.
A typical swarthy Afghan (Abdullo KODIROV) in a white turban and beige perukhan comes down from the cot opposite, comes close to Bruno, stands sideways. Kodirov addresses Bruno in good Russian, without taking his eyes off the door to the office room, where a conversation with Halfutdin is taking place.
KODIROV
I advise you to avoid personal participation in the exchange of Jung's son for the Taliban leaders. And another thing: the Taliban knows about your close relationship with Shamsutdin's niece Seeta Akhmadzai. This is extremely dangerous!
BRUNO
(surprised with displeasure)
Who are you?!
The stranger skips the question, hurriedly goes to Zalmai, who replaced his father at the entrance, puts a bill in his hand on the move, disappears into a dense stream of passers-by.
122. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
The room: Halfutdin, Otto Greenberg, Yahya Mukhadi, Yakub Khan are talking at the table.
HALFUTDIN
Commander Jung's son is staying with Shamsutdin.
The raid on an armored personnel carrier, the abduction of Jung's son was the response to the deaths of children in Daftani.
The younger Jung is treated normally — they give him water and food.
Zalmai brings tea and flatbread on a plate.
OTTO
What are Shamsutdin's plans for him?!
HALFUTDIN
Anything is possible, Shamsutdin is magnanimous! We will not exclude the exchange option.
OTTO
(with concern)
Who does Shamsutdin want in return?!
HALFUTDIN
Shamsutdin is ready to exchange Commander Jung's son for Mullah Abdul Rahman, who was captured in the Khundai village and five Taliban leaders from Kunduz, Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan, arrested by TF-47!
The list of names is written here!
(hands Otto a folded piece of paper, continuing)
The date and place where the exchange will take place are also indicated there.
Otto opens the crumpled sheet, sees the text in a clumsy font in German. At the bottom, under the list of names of the Taliban, the date, time, and place of exchange are written.
HALFUTDIN
The security of the exchange will be guaranteed by your life and that of someone close to Oberst Jung.
You and someone else from Commander Jung will be taken hostage during the exchange. This is dictated by the fact that the exchange request came from you.
In conclusion, I am told to convey - it is not necessary to take any steps to find the younger Jung!
The young man's life is in the hands of Almighty and Shamsutdin!
The conversation is over; Yakub Khan escorts Halfutdin to the exit.
123. INT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.
Otto and Yahya Mukhadi join Bruno. Yahya pours tea for Otto, Bruno and himself.
OTTO
These are the conditions of the Taliban!
BRUNO
(categorically)
I think it's wrong to involve you in this case! It will be me, and the TF-47 officer!
OTTO
Have you forgotten?! The conditions are set by the Taliban!
124. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — EVENING.
Bruno knocks, enters the office of Oberst Jung, passes a paper from Halfutdin.
BRUNO
The conditions of the Taliban are as follows: Otto Greenberg and I should be held hostage by the Taliban during the exchange at the request of the Taliban.
Oberst Jung turns to the window, looks into the distance, thinks, is silent.
125. EXT. KUNDUZ — DAY.
Kunduz, a loud sound of incoming planes is heard in the city, powerful explosions of dropped bombs are heard seconds later.
Fiery explosions, smoke over the city.
126. INT. HEADQUARTERS "NORTH" ISAF — DAY.
TITLE: MAZAR-I-SHARIF. GROUP HEADQUARTERS "NORTH" ISAF.
Bruno is sitting in the conference room next to the German military commanders of different levels. The commander of the group, Brigadier General of the Bundeswehr HANS STRUCK, is conducting an instruction.
HANS STRUCK
In Kunduz, both in the city and in the province, the situation has deteriorated sharply.
ISAF has decided to conduct raids by US forces to eliminate the Taliban underground.
Struk's adjutant enters the office and transmits a telephone message.
HANS STRUCK
(reads aloud)
Gentlemen officers, a moment of attention! 10 minutes ago, the US air force carried out an airstrike at the MSF hospital in Kunduz.
The horror is reflected on Bruno's face. The pen breaks in Bruno's hand.
VOICE (V.O.)
The US air force carried out an airstrike on the MSF hospital in Kunduz.
127. EXT. HEADQUARTERS "NORTH" ISAF — DAY.
Bruno quickly jumps out of the headquarters building, calls Seeta on her mobile phone, and the answering machine answers.
128. EXT. HOSPITAL — DAY.
TITLE: KUNDUZ. MSF HOSPITAL.
There is a fire and smoke at the place where the impact was carried. Two buildings are half destroyed; the other windows are broken.
129. EXT. HEADQUARTERS "NORTH" ISAF — DAY.
Bruno calls MSF headquarters in Geneva.
BRUNO
Good evening!
MSF OFFICE SECRETARY (V.O.)
(in a pleasant female voice)
The office of the international medical organization "Doctors Without Borders".
How can I help you?!
BRUNO
(alarmed)
Hello! I can't get through to my fianc;e — your employee working at the MSF hospital in Kunduz. Her name is Seeta Akhmadzai. I'd like to make sure she's okay.
MSF OFFICE SECRETARY (V.O.)
I'm sorry, we have an emergency right now. The situation with the victims is still being clarified. Please stay on the line.
An MSF employee puts the call on hold, a melody started playing on Bruno's phone.
Bruno is nervous, he taps the wall with his palm in time to the melody.
The MSF office secretary returns to Bruno's call.
MSF OFFICE SECRETARY (V.O.)
Thanks for waiting! A lot of calls, I'm sorry. Please repeat your fianc;e’s last name.
BRUNO
(clearly)
Akhmadzai! Seeta Akhmadzai!
MSF OFFICE SECRETARY (V.O.)
Please stay on the line.
The secretary of the MSF office puts the call on hold, a melody starts playing on Bruno's phone.
The Secretary returns to the conversation in a faded voice.
MSF OFFICE SECRETARY (V.O.)
I'm sorry, but I have bad news for you: Dr. Seeta Akhmadzai is listed as dead.
AN ECHO IN BRUNO'S EARS
«...Sita Akhmadzai is listed among the dead..."
MSF OFFICE SECRETARY (V.O.)
Please leave your contact phone number, we will certainly call you.
Bruno already skips these words, he is crushed, hangs up the phone.
130. THE TRANSITION - EXT.THE RUINS OF THE HOSPITAL / EXT.
HEADQUARTERS "NORTH" ISAF — DAY.
Otto stands on the ruins of the hospital in torn, burnt clothes, scratches bleeding.
Bruno has his forehead against the wall and is tapping the wall with his palm. Bruno's phone rings. Bruno answers. Otto is calling.
OTTO
(mournfully)
Bruno, do you already know?!
BRUNO
(with longing)
How did this happen?!
OTTO
I was in a dressing room. When the air raid began, we were urgently evacuated to a hospital bunker. I couldn't contact anyone from there. At the time of the impact, Seeta was in the main building at the meeting. The bomb exploded right under their window. The explosion knocked out all the windows. The fragments of the bomb hit everyone who was there. No one survived!
(pause)
I express my condolences to you!
131. EXT. MAZAR-I-SHARIF AIRFIELD — DAY.
TITLE: MAZAR-I-SHARIF AIRFIELD.
The Akhmadzai family descends the ramp — Seeta's parents, older brothers.
Everyone is depressed, the mother in a dark gray mourning shawl is broken. The father is wearing a black suit and a gray shirt.
132. EXT. CEMETERY — DAWN.
TITLE: IMAM SAHIB, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
A large house near the mausoleum "Baba Hatim Ziyarat", adjacent to the cemetery. Bruno and Otto drive up to the open gate of a large house.
In the center of the courtyard is a body wrapped in a shroud. The camera pulls away to Wide Shot.
There is a large cluster of women around the body, sitting on benches on both sides.
Seeta's father, her brothers and male relatives stand aside.
Cars continuously drive up to the house, dropping off armed men.
The men line up, enter the courtyard, hand over their weapons at the gate to the man standing at the entrance. They approach the cohort of sitting men and express their condolences.
Halfutdin has arrived, passes by Bruno and Otto standing at the gate.
Abdullo, who arrived with him in the same car, follows Halfutdin. Abdullo does not recognize Bruno, goes into the courtyard.
Bruno and Otto are standing at the gate of the house, not daring to go inside the courtyard, attracting the stern looks of men, curses of women who are moaning. The situation is heating up.
A group of elders and Seeta's father Ayub Ahmadzai, who is accompanying them, leave the courtyard outside the gate of the house. He is heartbroken, listens to the condolences of the elders and nods his head.
He sees the Europeans, recognizes Seeta's fianc;, Bruno, and approaches them.
AYUB
(delicately in German)
It would be better if you left now!
Bruno and Otto, nodding understandingly, retire.
133. INT. BRUNO'S ROOM — EVENING.
Bruno is lying on the bed in his room, remembering Seeta.
THERE IS A VISUAL SERIES — Bruno gives Seeta pre-wedding jewelry, Seeta dances at a concert at the MSF hospital.
134. EXT. THE OUTSKIRTS OF KUNDUZ — EVENING.
An ATF-Dingo-2 armored personnel carrier drives up to the mud-brick houses of the Afghans; Ober lieutenant Zimmer is sitting in the front passenger seat. Through the front window, Zimmer arrogantly watches as two special forces soldiers hurriedly take translator Yahya Muhadi out of the apartment. Yahya Muhadi looks confused, his arms are pulled back. The commandos put Yahya Muhadi in the back seat of the second armored personnel carrier, and they themselves sit on either side of it.
135. EXT. KUNDUZ. TEAHOUSE — EVENING.
ATF-Dingo-2 armored personnel carrier; Ober lieutenant Zimmer is sitting in the front passenger seat. Zimmer watches as two commandos lead the one-eyed Yakub Khan out of the teahouse. The commandos put Yakub Khan in the back seat of the second armored personnel carrier. Both armored personnel carriers take off.
136. EXT. ALIABAD. KUNDUZ PROVINCE — DAWN.
TITLE: ALIABAD. KUNDUZ PROVINCE.
A wasteland, on the outskirts of a village, a taxi pulls off the highway onto a country road. Bruno and Otto get out of the taxi.
Three-armed Taliban approach Bruno and Otto. The Taliban tie Otto and Bruno's hands behind their backs, blindfold them, and take them behind the nearest adobe buildings.
A column of 5 units of German armored vehicles appears on the horizon: four ATF DINGO-2 armored cars with special forces, an armored MUNGO truck in the middle.
The column decorously pulls off the highway, gets up.
A group of special forces dismount from the lead armored car. They are followed by Oberst Jung, Ober-lieutenant Zimmer, and two TF-47 officers. They are immediately surrounded by guarding special forces. The fog is clearing. Oberst Jung is tense, looking at his watch.
2 motorcycles with 3 Afghans with radio stations leave the highway on a vacant lot. The TF-47 officer points the Afghans to the truck where the Taliban prisoners are. TF-47 officer with a hand gesture orders the special forces to lower the awning on the MUNGO body.
In the back of the MUNGO is Mullah Abdul Rahman, 5 Taliban leaders, TF-47 guards. Motorcyclists are convinced of the presence of Taliban prisoners.
Motorcyclists exchange phrases with Taliban prisoners, report to someone by radio that everything is in order, leave.
Halfutdin puts his hand reverently to his chest and greets the Taliban prisoners standing near MUNGO.
They all leave together and disappear behind the building.
Alfred Jung immediately appears from behind the building in traditional Afghan clothes - in brown perukhan, beige pakol.
Alfred sees his father, beams with a smile, walks towards him with a quick step. Behind Alfred, Bruno and Otto step sedately behind.
Oberst Jung and Alfred with TF47 officers retire to the armored personnel carriers.
Oberst Jung turns to Zimmer on the move, nods silently, thus releasing the order to act.
EC-665 Tiger HAP attack helicopters appear in the sky; they begin to hit buildings behind which the Taliban barely disappeared. From the buildings, a group of Taliban, including Abdullo, return fire on helicopters. At the same time, directed fire is coming at Bruno and Otto.
Bruno and Otto duck and start running, leaving the affected area. A long machine-gun burst from the Taliban hits Otto in the back, his legs give way, he falls. Bruno run up, Otto is still alive.
OTTO
(with the last of his strength)
It was impossible to believe Jung!
Otto goes into agony, death throes, dies.
BRUNO
(loudly, frantically)
Why?!
Helicopters are flying over Bruno's head.
Bruno remains sitting next to the deceased Otto.
Abdullo is lying on the building where the Taliban were, aiming a machine gun in front of him.
Ober-lieutenant Zimmer abruptly steps up from Bruno's back.
He raises his machine gun and, pointing the barrel at the back of Bruno's head, prepares to shoot.
Abdullah shoots Zimmer in the head.
There is a soaring and screeching eagle in the sky above the scene.
The special forces load the bodies of Otto and Zimmer into the back of the Mango, Bruno sits forward in the cockpit.
137. EXT. GARRISON TF-47 — DAY.
TF-47 garrison checkpoint. There are civilian vehicles at the entrance and a group of Afghans — two men and three women in burqas.
Bruno looks excited. Bruno hurries past the Afghans, notices among them the son of Yakub Khan, Zalmay. Zalmay looks extremely upset. Zalmay looks after Bruno with an expression of entreaty.
Bruno passes by the barracks. There are two gurneys with human bodies in black bags at the entrance. Bruno opens the zipper of the first package, and the face of the dead Yahya Muhadi appears in front of him. Bruno opens the zipper of the second package; there is the face of the dead Yakub Khan. Bruno’s face is filled with rage.
138. INT. OBERST JUNG'S OFFICE — DAY.
Bruno resolutely enters the TF-47 headquarters, passes the duty officer, without knocking, bursts into the office of Oberst Jung.
Approaches Oberst Jung sitting at the table.
Bruno bends down, leans close to Otto's face.
BRUNO
(in a raised tone)
Why did you call the aviation?!
OBERST JUNG
(firmly)
Calm down, Ober-lieutenant!
It wasn't my decision! We are at war, and there are commanders above
me!
BRUNO
(with pressure)
Did you want to kill us?! Otto Greenberg saved your son's life! Why did he pay for it with his own?!
(pause)
The cynicism and inhumanity of ISAF has no limits!
You, Mr. Oberst, are personally responsible for the victims of civilians in Omar-heil. The command of the US grouping and the army of the corrupt Afghan government — the MSF hospital and the children of the village of Daftani!
OBERST JUNG
You, Ober-lieutenant, have completely lost your temper with your Pashtun girl, have turned into a blancmange, and you desecrating the memory of your father!
Bruno is furious, immediately punches Oberst Jung sharply in the jaw. Oberst Jung falls off his feet.
Bruno slams the door loudly, leaving Oberst Jung's office.
139. EXT. SHEREMETYEVO-2 AIRPORT — DAY.
TITLE: MOSCOW, SHEREMETYEVO-2 AIRPORT.
A large civilian airliner lands on the runway.
140. INT. SHEREMETYEVO-2 AIRPORT - DAY.
Bruno goes out to the arrival hall of Sheremetyevo-2 airport. Takes out his father's old notebook, dials phone numbers. RUST answers him.
BRUNO
Hello! My name is Bruno Thevs.
I need Rustam Tukaev.
RUST (V.O.)
I'm listening to you.
BRUNO
Rustam, I am the son of your friend Konstantin Thevs, who died in Afghanistan. I'm in Moscow now, and I'll be glad to see you.
RUST (V.O.)
(with amazement)
Guten Abend!
BRUNO
Guten Abend!
RUST (V.O.)
By what fates?!
BRUNO
I want to see my father's friends.
RUST (V.O.)
(approvingly)
Laudable! We'll meet at the Black Cat Inn. Head straight there. It's on Taganka, the taxi drivers know. There will be more people coming to us.
141. INT. TAXI — DAY.
Bruno rides in a taxi in the back seat. He curiously examines the beautiful streets of Moscow. The car drives up to the Black Cat inn.
142. EXT. THE BLACK CAT INN — EVENING.
Bruno gets out of the taxi and enters the inn.
143. INT. THE BLACK CAT INN — EVENING.
At the entrance, stylized as the 1940s, Bruno is met by Rust and a long-bearded, uniformed typical cloakroom attendant.
Rust - in a strict suit with the order bars of 2 orders of the "Red Star", medals "For Bravery". Rust warmly hugs Bruno tightly and invites him to pass.
The inn has a welcoming atmosphere, music is playing. Rust brings Bruno to the set table. Cold appetizers and drinks have already been served.
RUST
(enthusiastically)
Well, let me see you — you look like your father! Like two drops of water! Is Mom okay?
BRUNO
Everything is fine!
(pause)
After the death of my father, she did not want to arrange a personal life.
Rust nods his head understandingly.
RUST
(softly)
Bruno, how are you doing with time? Would you like to accompany me on a trip to the Arkhangelsk region? Sidor, our friend, is being released from prison. He will be glad to see Kostyan's son.
BRUNO
I have plenty of time. I will also be glad to see my father's comrade.
RUST
(smiling)
That's settled. We're going together.
Two lean men with a military bearing enter the tavern. Seeing Rust, they go to him.
RUST
(loudly, through the song "Bessarabian woman", pointing at the two guests)
Bruno! This is our company commander in Afghanistan, SEREDA Grigory Semyonovich, and the translator of our regiment from the Dari language, Abdullo Kodirov.
Rust invites everyone to the table. Bruno looks at Abdullo, wondered where he met this swarthy Asian.
A girl with an armful of bouquets of white, scarlet roses swims briskly between the tables of the inn.
Rust calls her and buys a bouquet, asks the waitress to put it in a vase with water.
Abdullo addresses Bruno with cordiality.
KODIROV
(looking into Bruno's eyes)
Your father saved my life!
In June 1985, we were ambushed in Panjshir.
FLASHBACK IN
144. EXT. MOUNTAIN RANGE — DAY.
TITLE: THE UPPER REACHES OF THE PANJSHIR GORGE, PIRYAH DISTRICT SOUTHEAST OF PISHGOR.
Senior Lieutenant Abdullo Kodirov and Kostyan (Kostya Thevs) are cut off by rebel fire and are in the same shelter.
Single shots hitting them escalate into queues and heavy fire.
Abdullo and Kostyan are running to the nearest shelter 100 meters away.
The rebel fire reaches a high density.
Kostyan is the first to run behind the adobe shelter. He is waiting for Abdullo. Abdullo is still missing.
Kostyan looks out from behind the shelter and sees how the wounded Abdullo, lying on the ground, raises his hand behind the clouds of settling dust.
Kostyan looks around, takes more air into his lungs and, breaking into short dashes, falling and turning over, crawls to the wounded Abdullo.
Kostyan loads Abdullo on himself, starts moving quickly with him.
The rebels are hitting at Abdullo and Kostyan, who are crawling into cover in the open area, from two sides, not allowing them to raise their heads.
Kostyan and Abdullo crawl behind a dilapidated adobe wall.
There is a short pause in the battle. Kostyan cuts Abdullo's camouflage with a bayonet knife, injects promedol, bandages the wound.
FLASHBACK OUT
145. INT. THE BLACK CAT INN — EVENING.
Abdullo looks piercingly into Bruno's eyes.
A waiter approaches the guest table, takes a decanter with red berry juice from the middle, begins to pour into the glasses of the guests.
Bruno is thinking about something.
KODIROV
I was wounded, stayed in the firing zone, and Kostya Thevs came back for me, dragged a decent distance to the shelter under bullets.
Provided first aid, defended.
BRUNO (V.O.)
Where did I hear that voice?!
BRUNO
I know about that case!
(pause)
When my father died, his friend Koster wrote about it.
Mom still keeps all the letters.
SEREDA
(proudly)
Thevs was a good soldier!
We all left a part of ourselves, our souls in Afghanistan. War is the only thing we have -
good and bad!
RUST
(thoughtfully)
That's right! Grigory Semenovich and Abdullo continue to serve the Motherland.
(with pathos)
And Colonel Kodirov
(looks at Abdullo with a smile)
is constantly on the Afghan direction. As they were in intelligence, so they stayed in it!
Rust's words dawn on Bruno.
FLASHBACK IN
146. EXT. TEAHOUSE — DAY.
CAMERA, A HAZE EFFECT USED WHEN BROADCASTING MEMORIES OF THE PAST.
Bruno is sitting on a cot in Yakub Khan's teahouse, curiously contemplating the street commotion.
Zalmai appears, deftly brings a pot of green tea. Bruno pours tea from the kettle into a bowl and takes a sip.
A typical swarthy Afghan ABDULLO (Kodirov) in a white turban and beige perukhan comes down from the cot opposite, comes close to Bruno, stands sideways. Abdullo addresses Bruno in good Russian, without taking his eyes off the door to the office, where Otto and Yahya Muhadi are having a conversation with Halfutdin about the Taliban exchange of Alfred, the son of Oberst Jung.
ABDULLO
I advise you to avoid personal involvement in the exchange of Jung's son for the Taliban leaders. And one more thing: the Taliban is aware of your close relationship with Shamsutdin's niece, MSF doctor Sita Ahmadzai. It's deadly dangerous!
BRUNO
(surprised with displeasure)
Who are you?!
Abdullo omits Bruno's question, hurriedly moves to the exit of the teahouse, thrusts a bill into Zalmai’s hand on the move and disappears into a dense stream of passers-by.
FLASHBACK OUT
147. INT. THE BLACK CAT INN — EVENING.
It dawned on Bruno; he is amazed with joy.
BRUNO
I remembered!
You are a swarthy Afghan in a white turban, beige perukhan, who came up in the teahouse of one–eyed Yakub Khan and advised in Russian to avoid personal participation in the exchange of Alfred Jung for Mullah Abdul Rahman and 5 Taliban leaders, and to stop courting Shamsutdin's niece, because it is dangerous.
ABDULLO
Well, from intelligence, let's say, not just us.
(looks at Bruno with a smile)
As far as we know, the Thevs family is already a dynasty! So does TF-47 manage to successfully solve problems in Afghanistan?!
BRUNO
(embarrassed)
It happens in different ways.
(pause)
I no longer serve in this unit.
The tango “Blue eyes” is nearing completion. A young, tall, beautiful girl, MASHA enters the hall, begins to look for someone. She attracts the eyes of all those present. Slim figure, long blond hair, big blue eyes make an impression.
Rust sees the girl, gets up from the table, takes flowers from a vase, goes to meet her. Rust brings the girl to the guest table, sits her vis-a-vis Bruno. Rust holds the girl by the shoulders, introduces her to the guests.
RUST
Let's get acquainted! This is Masha Kostrova, the daughter of our dear Koster, she is a student of the journalism faculty of Moscow State University.
(smiling)
In the near future, with a high probability, the head of ITAR TASS.
Masha blushes.
RUST
(looking at Bruno and the guests)
Masha, and this strong young man is the son of the equally dear for us Kostya Thevs-Bruno.
Bruno stands up and nods his head politely. Sereda, beaming with a smile, leans back in her chair.
SEREDA
(with joy)
The breed is felt. Gallant as a father.
RUST
Bruno lives in Germany, served in Afghanistan for two years, by the way, in the same zone as we once did.
(smiles)
SEREDA
(glancing at Abdullo)
Did I understand correctly?!
Abdullo nods his head smilingly.
BRUNO
(with a smile)
You can't say anything, Russian intelligence is working well!
SEREDA
(interested)
And what prompted you to serve in the army and even more so to go to Afghanistan?
(pause)
There has already been a tragedy with Afghanistan in your family.
BRUNO
When I began to grow up, not wanting to disturb my mother with difficult memories, I secretly took out, reread my father's and his friends' letters. At a certain point, I firmly decided that I want to become a military intelligence officer, like my father.
Upon reaching military age, I enlisted in the Army, the airborne brigade in Zweibr;cken. At the final stage of my service, I entered officer courses; after graduating, I was selected for a special intelligence unit of KSK.
After serving for some time in Germany, I turned to the command with a request to send me to serve in Afghanistan in TF-47 - the unit that Abdullo mentioned. That's all.
But that's all in the past.
(with a slight smile, sadness)
SEREDA
What are your plans?
BRUNO
(embarrassed)
I haven’t decided yet.
KODIROV
(jokingly)
Or maybe... to us?!
SEREDA
Leave the guy alone!
(smiles)
Sereda changes his smile to severity, gets up with a glass. After him, everyone stands up in silence.
SEREDA
The third toast!
(with a glass, grandiloquently)
Dear combat friends and children of our fallen comrades! The feeling of guilt that we are alive, and your fathers are not with us, will always oppress us. We firmly believed in what we were doing, that the sacrifices are not in vain!
Draining glasses, sitting down. Pause.
RUST
(interrupting the silence)
Well! I have at random, two tickets to the Bolshoi for "Giselle"!
(looks at Masha)
Masha, will you support Bruno in his intention to take you to the theater? It's time to get out, my driver will take you to the place.
Masha is confused, Bruno stands up resolutely, looks at Masha, certifying the offer. Bruno and Masha leave the table. Sereda, Abdullo, Rust stays seated, follow the young with their eyes.
148. EXT. BOLSHOI THEATER — EVENING.
TITLE: MOSCOW. THE BOLSHOI THEATER.
Bruno and Masha enter the Bolshoi Theatre.
149. INT. HALL OF THE BOLSHOI THEATER — EVENING.
The last minutes of the play "Giselle", the performance is over, the artists come out to bow, standing ovation from the audience.
Bruno and Masha get up from their seats and go to the exit.
150. EXT. MOSCOW, RED SQUARE — DAWN.
Moscow, Red Square, deserted. Bruno and Masha pass by Lenin's Mausoleum.
BRUNO
(with a smile)
Again, I am not destined to visit the Mausoleum.
MASHA
(smiles)
You'll have time.
Bruno and Masha leave against the background of Vasilievsky Descent.
151. INT. SLEEPING CAR — DAY.
TITLE: MOSCOW. BELORUSSKY RAILWAY STATION, MOSCOW — ARKHANGELSK TRAIN.
Rust and Bruno enter and sit down in the compartment. The train is moving, picking up speed.
The conductor serves tea. Rust and Bruno are sitting opposite each other at the table, Bruno is staring intently at Rust.
BRUNO
How did the fate of Koster, Sidor and yours turn out after returning from Afghanistan?
RUST
(sadly)
The political events after the collapse of the Soviet Union have greatly complicated our relations. The armed conflict between the president and the parliament has separated Sidor and me on different sides of the barricades. At that time, Koster served in a special unit, whose task was to separate the warring parties.
(pause)
As a result, I was destined to go through the second Afghanistan.
FLASHBACK IN
152. EXT. HOUSE OF SOVIETS — DAY.
TITLE: MOSCOW, HOUSE OF SOVIETS, SEPTEMBER 1993.
Rust with a group of Afghan veterans rushes on an armored personnel carrier BTR-80 along the facade of the House of Soviets. They are subjected to massive shelling, throwing Molotov’s cocktails by the defenders of the House of Soviets.
The BTR-80 catches fire, Rust and his comrades jump off the armored personnel carrier engulfed in flames. The group spreads out, hiding behind the wide trunk of a century-old maple tree.
A sniper lying in the attic is firing at those who are trying to attack the House of Soviets. A bullet fired by a sniper enters Rust's chest from above and flies out of his hip. Rust's knees give way, he falls.
FLASHBACK OUT
153. INT. SLEEPING CAR — DAY.
TITLE: THE TRAIN "MOSCOW — ARKHANGELSK".
Rust, sitting opposite Bruno, stands up.
RUST
Do you mind if I change my clothes?!
RUST
Herat memory, Afghanistan.
(smiles slightly)
I’ve been running around all day, I’m sick of it.
Rust takes a tracksuit out of a large travel bag, puts the stumps of his shins into his pants, takes off his white shirt, and carefully hangs his trousers on hangers. Bruno notices — from Rust's chest to his stomach — a huge, elongated scar. Bruno doesn't take his eyes off Rust's scar.
RUST
Yes, this is already the House of Soviets!
(pause)
I’m not lucky! Again, a serious injury, again hospital routine. The return to peaceful life failed.
(smiles)
BRUNO
(sympathetically, looking intently)
And Koster?
RUST
Koster carried the wounded Sidor out of the House of Soviets.
FLASHBACK IN
154. EXT. HOUSE OF SOVIETS — DAY.
T-80 tanks are hitting the upper floors with precision. The guns of the BMP-2 and BMD-2 armored vehicles and the pounding bursts of BTR-80 anti-aircraft guns join the gun volleys. A fire breaks out on the upper floors.
From different sides, army mobile groups are moving in short dashes towards the House of Soviets, which have entered close fire contact with its defenders.
The fire has temporarily stopped. Defenders of the House of Soviets carry out the wounded and dead from the back of the building.
Koster takes advantage of the moment to enter the building of the House of Soviets.
155. INT. HOUSE OF SOVIETS — DAY.
Koster runs up the stairs, rises from floor to floor, runs through long corridors past offices, looks at the charred, lifeless bodies frozen in various poses, looks for Sidor, but Sidor is not among the dead.
Koster climbs to the next upper floor, sees Sidor’s silhouette through the haze of a smoky corridor. Sidor is sitting alone, leaning back against the wall, with his head down, and an AKS-74 is lying on his outstretched, riddled with shrapnel, bloody thighs.
Sidor regains consciousness, hears approaching footsteps, tries to focus his gaze and aims his weapon at the right person, but he does not have the strength to do so.
KOSTER
(to Sidor)
Stand down! It’s me!
Koster puts the bleeding Sidor on his shoulder, hurriedly goes down the stairs with him.
156. EXT. HOUSE OF SOVIETS — DAY.
Koster takes Sidor out of the building of the House of Soviets, an ambulance briskly rolls up to him, the doctors who quickly pick up Sidor put him on a stretcher. The ambulance with the siren on is briskly moving off.
157. EXT. HOUSE OF SOVIETS — DAY.
The territory is adjacent to the House of Soviets. Koster and his comrades on the BMD-2 armor are heading for the House of Soviets. There is an increasing shooting; Koster sees a woman with a small child hiding behind a telephone booth, asks his comrades to cover him with fire, jumps off the armor himself, takes the woman and child out of the shelled area.
The BMD-2 with Koster resumes running. On the way, Koster sees a wounded soldier lying on the edge of the roadway. Koster jumps off the armor on the move and, grabbing his arm, begins to drag the soldier to the BMD-2 armor. A sniper shoots at Koster from the roof of one of the nearby skyscrapers. The wound is fatal.
FLASHBACK OUT
158. INT. SLEEPING CAR — DAY.
Rust sits opposite Bruno with a serious face, raises both palms to his face, begins to whisper a Muslim prayer — an excerpt of "dua" from the Koran, commemorating the deceased. Finishes.
RUST
The late Koster has a daughter, Masha, whom I introduced you to.
(smiles sadly)
BRUNO
What happened next with Sidor?
RUST
After recovering from the injury received at the House of Soviets, Sidor began to build a diamond business. He has a commercial streak, flair, and adventurism. He was the first in the country to open a Russian-American–Belgian–Dutch joint venture. He imported precious stones — diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Even in the Army, Sidor was not indifferent to them.
(smiling)
And here is a global scale, huge sums. He mastered gemology, became an expert in cutting, cabochon. He spent a lot of time on business trips to Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Madagascar, London, Antwerp, Amsterdam, and other places. In general, over time, Sidor began to be surrounded by specific types. The apogee was the case when Sidor shipped a substantial cargo of diamonds from the Cullinan mine in South Africa to his partners in Antwerp. They were engaged in cutting them for Sidor's company. In return, Sidor's company was to receive a certain number of cut diamonds worth $100 million. But in a short period of time, three misadventures occurred.
FLASHBACK IN
159. INT. OFFICE SPACE — DAY.
TITLE: ANTWERP, BELGIUM. "DIAMOND QUARTER" MAY 1997.
The office is the workshop of a large diamond cutting company. The owner, Shmuel BRANDWEIN, is a bald, pot-bellied man in round glasses, 50 years old, with a black pile on his head, quickly bypassing his workshops, hurrying his master cutters to complete the working day.
BRANDWINE
Gentlemen let's wrap it up. Our families are waiting!
Brandwein takes the raw materials that are being processed from the master’s tables, stores everything in the safe room. He sets the office alarm, closes the thick armored door with a code, and leaves.
RUST'S VOICE (V.O.)
Antwerp, Shabbat is approaching, the owner of the diamond cutting company Shmuel Brandwein, a Soviet emigrant of the 1970s, is rushing home to light the cherished Sabbath candles.
160. EXT. ANTWERP, PELIKAN STRAAT — DAY.
TITLE: ANTWERP, BELGIUM. PELIKAANSTRAAT STREET.
Brandwein walks briskly down a crowded street.
A tall man in his thirties follows behind, trying not to lose sight of him, in a beige raincoat with long brown hair.
The man catches up with Brandwein, pulls out a pistol with a silencer and, calling out to Brandwein — "Shmuel!", shoots him at point-blank range. Brandwein falls to the cobblestones. The man takes a control shot to the head and disappears into the crowd.
RUST'S VOICE (V.O.)
On the way home, the poor fellow was shot dead on the square of the four diamond exchanges, in the very center of Antwerp in front of an astonished audience. It is known for sure that the raw materials were received in Antwerp. However, Brandwein, who usually made shipments of diamonds from Sidor's company to Russia, will not explain anything anymore.
FLASHBACK OUT
161. INT. SLEEPING CAR — DAY.
Rust is sitting across from Bruno; they are having a conversation.
RUST
Sidor's business partner, Nahum Nudel, attracted tens of millions of dollars from large foreign investors into the trade turnover of their joint Russian-American venture.
FLASHBACK IN
162. INT. /EXT. AIRPORT — DAY.
The Sheremetyevo-2 departure hall is sparsely populated. At the check—in desk for the Moscow-New York flight there is a two-meter tall, large red-haired man of Jewish type.
RUST'S VOICE (V.O.)
On the same days, from Sheremetyevo-2 airport, unknown persons in black leather raincoats take away on the black car “Volga” in an unknown direction, an American citizen, a former Soviet citizen, Nahum Nudel, another partner of Sidor, who was going to fly to the United States.
4 men in dark coats with stern faces approach Nudel.
They show official identification cards, take him by the arms, and lead him to the exit.
Nudel is put into the black Gaz-3102 Volga waiting outside. The car leaves the airport with a bang of the doors, quickly taking off from its place.
163. EXT. MOSCOW. THE RIVERBANK -NIGHT.
Powerful floodlights illuminate a section of the Yauza River.
RUST'S VOICE (V.O.)
For a long time, Nahum Nudel's whereabouts were unknown. The family even put Nudel on the wanted list. But three months later, Nahum Nudel's relatives were called to the Police Department.
The day before, the swollen, half-decomposed body of a large man was removed from the bottom of the Yauza.
The relatives recognized Nahum Nudel in the deceased.
A crowd of people. Employees of the city service and criminologists remove the swollen body of a man from a Yauza with a crane.
RUST'S VOICE (V.O.)
Nudel's death was not the last - in the days of his disappearance, a double murder was committed in the Moscow apartment in the Last Lane.
164. INT. ITKIN'S APARTMENT MOSCOW — EVENING.
Three people call the apartment on the top floor of the Stalin house, owned by businessman Yakov Ilyich ITKIN.
Itkin's wife, KIRA Weissman, opens the door, escorts the guests into the hall to Itkin, who is sitting in an armchair watching TV, and herself retires to the kitchen.
The visitors sit down around Itkin and start a conversation.
Kira is carrying a tray with cups of coffee from the kitchen.
Through the open door of the hall, she sees one of the visitors abruptly stand up and shoot Itkin in the forehead with a silenced pistol. Kira is shocked, drops the tray, screams loudly, covers her face with her hands.
At the noise, the visitors turn around, the killer quickly approaches and shoots Kira twice.
RUST'S VOICE (V.O.)
Unknown persons killed Sidor's main partner, Yakov Itkin and his wife. The bodies were found by employees of the company who began to sound the alarm.
FLASHBACK OUT
165. INT. DINING CAR-COMPARTMENT — DAY.
Rust and Bruno are sitting at a table. Rust pours “Tarragon” drink into a glass. Bruno cuts the entrecote on a plate.
RUST
(sadly)
Sidor, unfortunately, visited Itkin's house a few hours before the murder. They discussed the death of Brandwein in Antwerp, the abduction of Nudel in Sheremetyevo-2, the fate of the missing stones and tried to link these events into a logical chain. They were looking for an explanation for everything. But for Sidor, it wasn't all bad news.
FLASHBACK IN
166. INT. SIDOR'S APARTMENT ENTRANCE - EVENING.
TITLE: MOSCOW. BRYUSOV LANE.
Sidor and Nina go up to their floor. Sidor starts to open the door to the apartment.
RUST (V.O.)
That evening, Sidor and his wife Nina were returning home from the theater. Nina was in the last month of pregnancy.
From the upper floor, you can hear a man's footsteps descending the stairs and approaching a married couple — a killer.
Nina arbitrarily obscures Sidor, turns to the noise, sees a pistol with a silencer in the killer's outstretched hand.
Nina and the killer's eyes converge, Nina gets a good look at the killer's face.
The killer stands at the ready, fires the first shot at Nina.
Sidor turns abruptly, picks Nina, who is falling backwards, and slowly lowers her to the floor.
The killer coolly points the gun at Sidor's forehead, Sidor is inactive, the killer pulls the trigger. The gun misfires.
Sidor, without hesitation, rushes to the killer, clings to his neck; unclenches his fingers, the killer is already dead.
Sidor returns to Nina; Nina is no longer breathing.
FLASHBACK OUT
167. INT. INT. SLEEPING CAR — DAY.
Rust and Bruno are sitting at a table opposite each other, having a conversation.
RUST
Sidor was arrested. The investigation was persistently looking for evidence of Sidor's involvement in the murder of Brandwein in Antwerp. During a search of Sidor's office, millions of dollars’ worth of gems undeclared during the passage of Russian customs were seized. Sidor was convicted under the article "for the illegal trafficking of precious stones on a particularly large scale", having appointed an extremely long term. The real killers of the Itkin and Brandwein have not been identified. The stones also disappeared without a trace.
The MOSCOW-ARKHANGELSK train is approaching its destination, private houses and booths of country cottages are visible outside the windows. There is a knock on the door of the compartment.
The conductor enters.
THE CONDUCTOR
Will you order tea or coffee? We arrive in Arkhangelsk in half an hour.
Rust looks at Bruno, both refuses. The door closes behind the conductor.
RUST
How was your trip to the Bolshoi Theatre with Masha? I was getting worried about your long absence. I didn't call you. You're an adult now,
(smiling)
you can't get lost in Moscow.
BRUNO
(enthusiastically)
Wonderful! After the performance, we walked around Moscow all night. My childhood dream came true — to visit Red Square. It's a pity we couldn't get to Lenin.
(smiles)
We went to a restaurant in GUM. During the meal, we sincerely told each other about ourselves.
(pause)
As soon as I saw Masha in the Black Cat, I lost my head.
(pause, embarrassed)
Perhaps you will find me too naive?
RUST
(astonished)
On the contrary, I am extremely happy about this circumstance! Sidor will also be glad to your acquaintance.
The train is slowly stopping. Through the window there is a view of the train station. Outside the window, a 40-year-old man MUNIR waves hello to Rust and Bruno.
168. EXT. RAILWAY STATION PLATFORM — DAY.
TITLE: ARKHANGELSK.
Rust gets out of the train first, followed by Bruno. Munir takes the bag from Rust and leads them along.
In the parking lot of the railway station, Rust and Bruno get into a black oversized jeep, driven by Munir. The jeep starts moving.
169. EXT. THE OUTSKIRTS OF KOTLAS — DAY.
TITLE: THE CITY OF KOTLAS. ARKHANGELSK REGION, A STRICT REGIME COLONY.
A jeep with Rust and Bruno pulls into a parking lot in front of a barbed wire fenced area.
Soldiers armed with machine guns are standing on towers and checkpoints.
A bald-haired man with a trunk in a tracksuit and a leather jacket comes out from behind the gate. This is Sidor. He looks a little confused.
Rust and Bruno get out of the car, go to meet SIDOR.
RUST
(sonorously from a distance)
From start to finish!
SIDOR
(positively, slightly embarrassed)
I've been to the war, and it's clearly fated to go to prison!
Rust and Sidor embrace.
RUST
(with a smile)
Fatalist!
(looking at Bruno)
Does he remind you of anyone?!
Sidor looks at Bruno, wondering.
BRUNO
(with a smile)
I am the son of Konstantin Thevs!
SIDOR
(to Rust, delighted)
But he looks like Kostyan, doesn't he, Rust?!
RUST
(with a smile)
A son, after all, how can he not be like his father?!
(pause)
I introduced Bruno to Masha Kostrova!
SIDOR
(with regret)
It is a pity that their fathers did not live to see this day.
A short silence.
RUST
(to Sidor and Bruno)
Well, shall we get in the car?!
Rust, Sidor and Bruno get into the car and return to Arkhangelsk.
170. EXT. HIGHWAY— DAY.
A black jeep in motion against the background of the forest.
Munir is driving, Rust is in the passenger seat in front. Sidor and Bruno are in the back. They drive in silence, the radio sounds quiet in the cabin.
The wedding cortege, beeping loudly, overtakes the jeep at high speed. Young people wave their hands from the open windows of 4 white executive foreign cars.
The jeep shares the positive of the motorcade. Sidor, Rust, and Bruno are waving back.
171. EXT. RAILWAY CROSSING — DAY.
A jeep with Rust, Sidor, Bruno and Munir approaches the railway crossing on the outskirts of the settlement. The barrier is down.
The wedding cortege is tightly lined up to the barrier.
Two decorative golden rings are fixed on top of the roof of the limousine standing last.
The second one behind the motorcade is a KAMAZ truck that has arrived, filled to the top with bags of concrete sand.
Rust's jeep stands third behind the KAMAZ.
While waiting for the train, festively dressed young people loudly pour out of the cars of the motorcade.
The newlyweds get out of the limousine: a naughty young groom in a black tuxedo with a bow tie and a pretty young bride in a magnificent wedding dress with a veil.
Deafeningly shooting corks up and spraying foam on screaming girls with glasses, the guys open bottles of champagne.
Young people dance to the song "WE WISH YOU HAPPINESS" playing from the car.
172. INT. RUST'S JEEP — DAY.
Rust turns to Sidor, both smiling.
Bruno falls into melancholy, remembers the deceased bride, Seeta Akhmadzai.
FLASHBACK IN
173. EXT. HOSPITAL GARDEN — EVENING. ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING.
Seeta dances in slow motion at a concert at the MSF hospital to the music of the Afghan singer Shafiq Murid, the audience and Bruno cheerfully clap Seeta.
FLASHBACK OUT
174. INT. RUST'S JEEP — DAY.
Rust, patting on the shoulder and not noticing Bruno's sadness.
RUST
Well! Maybe such a significant event will take place on our street too? Really, Bruno?!
Bruno is distracted, smiling slightly.
175. EXT. RAILWAY CROSSING — DAY.
There are still no trains.
The drivers of the wedding motorcade, tired of waiting, are calling passengers to get into their cars with horns. The passengers are getting seated.
The cars of the motorcade, one after another, begin to move, go around the barrier, and move over the railway track.
A brisk attendant in an orange uniform runs out of the booth, shouts, waving a baton.
A passenger train appears in the distance, rushing at high speed.
The second car of the motorcade in the tail of the first overcomes the railway crossing.
All four of Rust's jeep jump out of the car, anxiously watching what is happening.
MUNIR
They're crazy, they're going to get killed!
The rapidly approaching train begins to emit shrill horns.
Following the second car of the motorcade, a third one goes through the railway tracks.
Behind her, a limousine with the newlyweds is moving around the barrier.
As soon as the limo pulls into the wooden deck for the rail track, it stalls and becomes motionless.
The screech of metal on a braking train is heard.
Seeing this, Bruno jumps out of the jeep, rushes to the KAMAZ parked in front, the driver of which smokes near the car, abruptly jumps into the cabin, revs up, rams the car with the newlyweds from the railway track.
The train sliding on the brakes hits the KAMAZ on the side of the body, turns it over.
The train stops. The limousine with rings with a flattened trunk and a KAMAZ truck with a crumpled cabin are visible on the other side of the railway track.
Sidor and Munir run to the scene of the accident.
Rust watches as Sidor and Munir extract the wounded Bruno, who was cut by broken glass, from the KAMAZ.
A limping Bruno is loaded into the SUV.
176. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — DAY.
The emergency room is crowded. In the office behind the screen, the doctor examines Bruno's wounds — there are no serious injuries.
Limping, with a bandaged head, Bruno goes out to Rust and Sidor, who are waiting in the hospital corridor.
Bruno is met by a police officer who submits the "Incident Report" for signature.
177. EXT. EMERGENCY ROOM — DAY.
Bruno, Rust and Sidor come out of the emergency room.
BRUNO
(smiling)
I'll have to empty my holdings for damages.
RUST
(smiling)
Don't worry, we'll figure it out!
Rust, Sidor and Bruno get into Munir's black jeep and continue their way.
178. EXT. MOSCOW COURTYARD — EVENING.
Bruno limps into the archway of the old cozy city courtyard. His face is cut, with red stripes of scratches, and his head is bandaged.
Bruno has a large bouquet of scarlet roses in his hands.
Masha looks at Bruno sympathetically from the balcony of a two-story house. Bruno does not see Masha, enters the entrance.
THE END
Zugzwang of Ober Lieutenant Bruno Thevs. Script
© Copyright: Èëüÿñ Äàóäè, 2021
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