Days of Glory

Here is the true story of a group of free people who lived and loved

and fought to drive the invaders from their native soil.

One of the thousands of guerrilla bands who, hidden in the forests,

lived days of imperishable glory.

Their leader had been left behind by the army to organise them.

Semyon had taught at Oxford.

Yelena was a girl from the factories.

Sasha was an amiable drunk. Fedor was a blacksmith.

Dmitri was a farmer.

Petrov was the silent one.

16-year-old Mitya, a volunteer. His sister Olga, the little mother.

Later, Nina joined the group - a dancer from Moscow, as played by a famous ballerina.

By fall of that first year, Hitler's armies were en route to Moscow.

It was not wise to venture far off the highways.

For there, in the great Russian forests, were the guerrillas.

Now you see, you fool. Why didn't you stay home?

Dmitri comes in the wagon. Petrov comes from the lake.

Oh, good. Very fine.

I have written, "One oil tank blown up, single-handed."

Oh, it was not difficult.

As to your household duties, you will peel the potatoes for supper tonight.

Always the potatoes.

-It only seems as if always.

-Did you write down that I found a derelict in the woods?

-Yes, comrade.

-She looked so little. I slung her over my shoulder like a wounded deer.

You'd better get into the kitchen. The potatoes won't peel themselves.

Petrov, did you succeed?

Yes. Here it is.

How did you get it?

I watched the road where the German courier would come. I stretched a wire across.

-His motorcycle turned over and...

-You shot him?

No, Semyon.

This despatch is better than I'd hoped.

Directly from German headquarters.

It's remarkable you managed to get it.

SASHA SINGS DRUNKENLY

Good evening, comrades.

Good evening, Sasha.

You have two pairs of boots, which means you finished off two fascists.

Yelena shot the boots. I only heard the shots.

I arrived in time to do the dirty job of transport.

-Sasha, you are drunk again.

-Not while on duty, comrade.

-Only on the way home.

-I have to report it.

Oh, don't do that, Semyon. Don't.

Look, I sleep off this tiny bit of drunkenness.

When Vladimir comes, I won't take a drop any more.

-Where the devil do you get a drink?

-The Germans.

-You mean they come up and offer you a drink?

-Well, not exactly.

First we have to lay them down on the ground.

-If the Germans take the trouble of bringing it from their far country...

-Better give it to me.

You should be at look-out. Better rest for a minute.

Sayings are always true.

"He who drinks when he's already drunk plays the part of a wise man."

-What's this? Dmitri was to bring potatoes.

-Books from Tolstoy Museum.

The fascists set fire to the building.

Curator was murdered. God's will.

The treasures of the museum.

-A first edition.

-There are more in the wagon.

Now there is irony.

The Nazis spill their lives over books, and what to them could be more useless?

Well, then, hurry - let's bring them in.

Yelena, you're on household duties.

My congratulations for the deaths of two fascists. Now set the table.

Not enough salt.

-Is supper ready?

-How could it be? The borscht needs more cooking.

I had to do the potatoes myself. This blacksmith came late to help.

-Much good a man in a kitchen does(!)

-I sliced the bread.

-You should have done your duties.

-How?

-I had to make tea and run back and forth.

-Where to?

To the package on Fedor's bed.

He brought in a package - a big coat, and there's somebody in it.

Half dead from... What did the teacher say?

Exposure and no food. Teacher Semyon told me to give the package some hot tea.

-Tea?

-Oh, not the new tea that we've used only twice.

Do you think I'd use it for someone who might die?

-The old tea, that we've used six times.

-Oh.

Here is the good old borscht.

- You mean the same old borscht. - Always grumbling.

FOOTSTEPS ABOVE

Quiet!

FOOTSTEPS STOP

Get your guns. Put out the lights.

-Who is here?

-Vladimir!

-Stand to attention!

-Mitya!

-He said attention.

Why is the entrance unguarded?

-Whose negligence is this?

-I am responsible, Commander.

-I'm very sorry.

-There is nothing wrong, little comrade.

Breathe on me.

You know you could be shot for this.

I am a dirty, stinking pig, my commander. That's the truth. But I swear, never again...

I've never known you to be drunk on duty, or to fail to be a good soldier in a tight spot.

I'll tell you your punishment tomorrow. Get up where you belong.

-Mitya, don't you want to kiss me?

-Don't you see that I am in service?

-Who are you?

-An old peasant.

I know him very well.

-It's ten days since he was with us. I can vouch for him.

-Where is Sergei and Mikhail?

-They died.

Oh.

Vladimir, supper will spoil.

-Now?

-Yes.

-Mitya!

-Little sister!

You must be chilled. I'll fetch the plates.

-Whom did you see at headquarters?

-Whom did you talk to?

-Did you see Comrade Moshenkov?

->

We were as close to him as I am to you now.

Another general patted me on the shoulder and said, "How are you?"

Seriously, we would like to learn a few things.

Mitya here has said it - a general patted us on the shoulder.

-Did you bring the new parts for the field radio?

-Yes, but we're not permitted to use it in future,

especially for the sending of messages.

It's particularly important that the Nazis do not discover us now.

-For any special reason?

-Orders. I'll tell you when I'm permitted.

Olga, I have to report that your brother Mitya behaved excellently,

even though our way back was dangerous.

I cooked the dinner - the kasha, too.

-The kasha is very good!

-Let him tell it.

-The kasha is unusually good.

-I'm hungry.

-Who is this?

-The package woke up!

-How do you feel?

-All right. A little hungry.

-That's easily fixed.

Our lives depend on secrecy. Has this become an open house?

Sit here.

-May I fetch the strange woman a plate for soup?

-Of course. And stop acting like a general.

-Let's go on with supper.

-First you had better tell us your name.

My name? Nina. Nina Ivanova.

Are you partisans?

Thank you.

-I am Mitya.

-Mitya! Come here.

It is SHE who's answering who SHE is!

-How'd you get here?

-Stalin requested a theatrical troupe to go to the front.

We were attacked and we scattered.

I set out to find my uncle in Tula. In the woods I became confused. And this good man found me.

-There's fighting at Tula. Why didn't you take her to safety farther back?

-I was tired, comrade.

Working all last night and all day, I...

-But here...

-Is it too much to ask for a place at your table?

-What can you do? Can you shoot a gun?

-A gun?

-Can you kill?

-Oh, I couldn't kill.

-What's your record, Yelena?

-63.

Well, in the south there is a girl who has killed more than a hundred.

-You can cook?

-Oh, no.

Can't cook? And you're a woman?

-Can you scrub? Mend clothes?

-I never have.

-What CAN you do?

-I'm a dancer. I can dance.

-SEMYON:

-Really? A dancer?

-That's exactly what we need(!)

HE IMITATES MACHINE-GUN FIRE

Sasha, you're a drunken fool.

Much better for all of us if the Comrade Leader had you shot.

- I was sent to relieve you. - How is our happy home underground?

The strange woman woke up. Commander will let her stay a while.

COMRADES SING IN THE DISTANCE

ACCORDION MUSIC

# When we dance you'll see him dancing

# When we sing he shakes the skies

# But at last when comes the parting

# He says nothing, only sighs

# Who knows why he's sighing?

# Oh, why is he sighing?

# Yes, why is he sighing?

# Oh, why is he sighing? #

ACCORDION SOLO

# Till he told my friends he loved me

# And that soon I would be his bride

# Then one day he left the village

# And he ran away to hide

# Who knows why he's hiding?

# Oh, why is he hiding?

# Yes, why is he hiding?

# Oh, why is he hiding? #

ACCORDION SOLO

# Now the postman he is bringing

# Letters strange as they can be

# On the pages there is nothing

# But some dots for me to see

# Who knows what they're saying?

# Oh, what are they saying?

# Yes, what are they saying?

# Oh, what are they saying? #

ACCORDION SOLO

# But one night I found him waiting

# Then at last my lips were kissed

# And I slapped his face for waiting

# One for every kiss I've missed

# Who knows what we're missing?

# Oh, what we've been missing

# Yes, what we've been missing

# Oh, what we've been missing... #

ACCORDION SOLO

"With what attention she pored over a sentimental lover.

"She drank in with what intense enjoyment

"each sweet, seductive fantasy.

"For these figures, life had come, through her dream's happy medium."

She fell in love with the hero of her dreams, who did not reciprocate.

Is a fictitious love story important today?

Yes, in this cruel today when the girls fight alongside the men, we can smile at Pushkin's time.

A young girl is considered audacious for writing a love letter.

-"I write you."

-Yes.

-"If I took an hour I could not make myself more plain.

"And now you have it in your power To punish me with your disdain."

Yes, that's it.

"But if you find you have for me The smallest drop of sympathy

"You will not leave me in such pain."

-Oh, please...

-"Why did you ever come to call?

"For in this far-forgotten spot We never should have met at all

"And though this pain so burning hot I might have missed

"No, there is no other man To whom I could have given my love

"And I am yours by heaven's plan Determined in the courts above

"My life survives from the pledge

"For this sure meeting God would send..."

-Time to sleep.

-Who must sleep?

-We've been on duty over 20 hours.

-What sort of place is this?

-A monastery, once.

This was occupied by Comrade Mikhail, who died - a good soldier. You may use it tonight.

-Thank you for your kindness, comrade.

-You're welcome, I'm sure.

A woman who knows nothing to be a housewife!

When you grow up, you'll admire such a woman.

Stop that confounded cat concert!

Shut up, you dirty blacksmith! You think I'm afraid of your muscles?

I'll punch you in the belly!

-Since when is this going on?

-It never happened before, comrade.

Haven't you enough Germans to fight, you two?

We're gonna have more to do than quarrel like schoolboys.

We'll look these over in the morning.

-And where are you going?

-Oh, I... I just thought...

I would steal into the village to see the old woman.

At first you would think that I'm a German invader!

Good night, all of you.

I don't know what possessed me.

Vladimir?

-I'll relieve Petrov on the watch.

-You must be tired.

We have to be doubly cautious now.

But tonight? You were gone for a long time.

I've some plans to think through before I can rest.

Send her away! She'll spoil everything!

I beg your pardon.

-I'm happy you have returned safely.

-I'm happy to be back.

-Good night, comrade.

-Good night, comrade.

-You go down, Petrov. I'll watch.

-Very well.

ARTILLERY IN DISTANCE

Comrade Commander...

I'd like to ask you that when the end comes, because the end is coming for us...

-What are you talking about?

-I have watched you since you returned. I have seen there is something.

When a man has a load on his heart, he can easily recognise a load on another man's heart.

Listen, one day soon this message will come from the military front -

"Snow will fall."

And then it will really start.

The fate of this line and this whole front may depend on us.

Maybe it will pay,

maybe not.

Will you be afraid?

Comrade Commander, I wanted to ask from you that when the time comes,

put me in a place where I can kill the most of them.

I would like to be a bomb to be thrown among them -

to explode and kill one of them with every little splinter.

That is all.

Go get some sleep, comrade.

Sleep?

Who can sleep?

'For a week, the commander formulated his plan.

'In the stern necessities of war, the beauties of life, music and poetry, were put aside.'

-Mitya, anything in sight?

-Nothing, Commander.

We'll place our artillery in the woods in an arc along the valley,

up to the village, well camouflaged.

I can't bear it any more. For a week now! She can't even make soup.

-Where are you going?

-None of your business.

-Why are you cruel to me?

-Good night, everybody.

-Mitya!

-Take these back.

Mitya!

-Where are you going?

-Can't a man take a stroll?!

-Mitya!

-Were you frightened?

I'm frightened by so many things, it doesn't matter.

Oh, Mitya. I could kill you!

Mitya, if I didn't love you so much, I could kill you.

Tell me about yourself. What's your aim in life? What's your dream?

-I want to be a geologist.

-Oh, a geologist. Very interesting.

I attended the school of agriculture in our village.

I learned of the treasures in the Russian soil.

My father was with me in the same class. We sat side by side.

He was 50, and just starting to learn reading and writing.

He was such a good student.

Then came these beasts of Nazis and destroyed our village, our marvellous school.

The Nazis killed my father. They burned him in a storehouse with the other people.

They took away my mother.

I escaped with little Olga.

One day our commander will lead us to Berlin.

I'll be the one to put fire to the Nazi university. That's my dream.

-I'm so sorry for you, Mitya.

-Don't be. I like this life.

I fight for Mother Russia. It's a great adventure.

Mitya, life owes you something,

something very beautiful.

One day you must receive a great medal - one you will not wear on your coat, but in your heart.

I wish I had something to give you.

Do you like the theatre?

-I never saw any.

-No!

-Our village was very small. No actors ever came there.

If I could only go, just once.

-Suppose a theatre came to you.

-You're joking.

Why? I'm a ballerina from the Moscow theatre - and not a bad one.

Sit down here. I will make a little performance.

You're out there.

And here's the stage... footlights on.

The curtain is not yet up. In my dressing room I'm half crazy with excitement.

Olga, dear. Join us. Sit with Mitya.

-You should have brought it all the way.

-Don't mind her. Continue.

I look in the mirror to see if I'm made up all right.

My bodice - do it up, please.

My tutu - is it fluffy? I want to be at my best.

And now it's almost starting. I'm in the wings and I'm trembling.

Do you know why I'm trembling?

Because you are out front.

You're the most important person in the world, because you are the audience. Are you proud?

Without you there is nothing. No success, no career, no performance.

Now...

Out front the overture begins.

Can you hear the music, Mitya?

MUSIC IS HEARD

It's very beautiful.

Now the curtain is rising...

flooding the stage with light.

I'm standing in the middle of the stage on one point.

It's very difficult, but I can do it for almost one minute.

Mitya...

Halt still.

Halt still.

Drueben bei ihr.

Was ist das?

Was macht ihr hier?

-Wer seid ihr? Und wie seid ihr hergekommen?

-What is he asking?

-Wer seid ihr?

-(What can I tell him?)

It's cold outside and Little Brother and I found shelter.

-He's 15. A boy.

-I'll kill you.

-Mitya!

-He doesn't understand. I'll kill you!

Aha. Und was ist das? Ein Guerillanest?

Und wo sind die anderen?

- Hier drin? - No-one is here.

Ein Guerrillanest, so? Vielleicht gerade das eine was wir sucht.

Das ist eine richtige Entdeckung.

Der Kommander wird das gefallen.

Guerrillas, ja!

-I got them!

-Commander, we've captured a German.

-Good work.

-What's your name?

-Ihr Name.

-Answer when you're spoken to.

-You might hurt your knuckles.

-Your name.

-Ihr Name.

Johann Staub.

-Your regiment.

-Ihr Regiment.

-Infantry Regiment zwei und dreizig.

-32nd Infantry.

-Lie. 45th Mechanised.

-Your commander.

-Ihr Kommandant.

-Don't you know? Von Rundholz.

-Ja.

-Where are you stationed?

-Wo steht ihr?

-Vitvik.

Lie! Yasnaya Polyana.

-How many of you?

-Wie stark? ..5,000.

-Lie! 2,000!

-How many tanks?

-Wie viele Tanks? ..200.

-75! Lies!

-Finish him!

-MITYA: It's my right!

-Don't waste your ammunition. This is much simpler.

-Vladimir!

Does the sight offend you?

Then go where you won't see. This is our affair. You're not one of us.

Don't do it, comrade.

This man is a prisoner of war. He was captured in his uniform.

According to international agreement, he's entitled to a trial.

-International agreement with Nazis?

-Do they have trials before killing thousands of unarmed people?

-We are guerrillas. We hunt and are hunted. What prisoners?

-Listen.

In this world of blood and misery, there must be some place

where the laws of justice and humanity are preserved.

Do as you wish. But I would be very proud if it would be this place.

Tomorrow. Our work in the forest will take all night. Lock him up and stay on guard.

-Mitya, come with us. Stay out of mischief.

-I threw your soup on him!

March.

Dahin.

-I've brought you some hot tea.

-That's very kind of you.

Over here, then.

-Mind your step. Why aren't you asleep?

-I was restless.

-And unhappy?

-A little.

-How did you guess?

-I look at you a good deal - more than you suspect.

-EXPLOSION

-What is that?

-The Germans have brought heavy guns to the village. The front is only six miles away.

-So near.

Is it the war that makes you unhappy?

Why do they make me an outsider?

-He especially. He hardly even looks at me.

-He has grave problems.

And the others? Is it because I can't shoot a gun like Yelena?

Because I'm frightened.

I can't bear the thought of all this murder and killing and death.

You are from a strange world.

A world of music and poetry and dancing. They're afraid of you.

But I want to be one of them.

You are warm to me.

I understand you from what you are.

A person of light, such life,

out of place in this region of death.

DISTANT BOMBING

Come on. You're getting cold.

Thank you again for the tea.

-Thank you. I understand now.

-Bless you.

Ich suche Wasser. Ich bin durstig. Bitte schreien Sie nicht.

Schau meine Finger. Sie bloten.

Kamerad...

Leide Fraulein, lassen Sie mich eine minuten nur ausroden.

Dan gehe ich!

Halt still!

What is it? What's happened?

-SEMYON:

-The German. Somebody shot him.

Who did it, Comrade Nina?

Nina? It must have been Nina.

I...I came to say, in the name of the whole detachment,

please accept appreciation for a courageous action

in a dangerous situation.

I...I know that for you it was especially difficult.

Semyon told you?

No.

One knows and feels a lot of things...

of which it's untimely to speak now.

You must understand that this place with us is no proper place for you,

for your own good and safety.

I hope, however, that for the time being, you will feel that...

you're one of us.

Well... Good night.

Or good morning.

'Constantly the guerrilla bands harassed the enemy,

'emerging from their hiding places, stealing like shadows through the woods.

'Night was their time for action. Tonight, Vladimir's band was astir,

'leaving Fedor on guard at home.'

Here, Fedor. Potato soup and bread. When will you bring me a nice, fat hen?

Hen? What for, Olinka?

I want to make chicken soup. Mitya likes it very much.

Well, the time will come when we will have a fat hen in the pot.

If not now, then soon. We are going to sit around the table again...

in our nice new homes, and we will talk about this war as if about a nightmare.

Everybody will praise the nice chicken soup Big Olga will make.

-In those days, I'll be married to Mitya.

-Married to Mitya?!

Married to your brother? The law doesn't allow that.

That's what Mitya said. Who made such a law?

Who makes all the laws? I don't know.

If he can't marry me, he should marry someone like me.

A good housewife. Certainly not that strange woman.

Why did the Comrade Commander take her with him tonight?

-To teach her, I suppose.

-Well, she did shoot a German.

-Will they blow up the train?

-I hope so.

-Will they kill a lot of Germans?

-Perhaps.

-Good.

Will we hear it here?

Likely they'll hear it in Berlin!

He's set dynamite under the rails.

An armoured train, just as Vladimir thought.

-The light?

-Green. You can trust Comrade Yelena.

We'll stay here.

Let's get back now. The ammunition train won't be far behind.

Stay covered.

-They've set the signal at red.

-Good.

-The guard train has stopped.

-It's coming back.

-They've gotten suspicious.

-There is still time.

Down.

(Petrov! Over here.) >

I'm sorry I cried out. I was frightened.

-When you kiss me...

-So much?

Even more.

-Did I sleep?

-For a long time.

I don't remember.

-Where is Petrov?

-Here, Nina.

-We took turns on guard. The Germans were about all night.

A fine soldier I am.

Dreaming I was somewhere...

I don't know where.

Yes.

-You too?

-Yes.

-Truly?

-Truly.

In the sky, beyond even...

Higher.

A Messerschmitt.

-Really a German?

-Really a German.

He's over the front lines now at Tula.

-It's safe to go home. The roads should be clear by now.

-We'll be along.

They caught him.

Ah!

-They really...

-The look in your eyes.

Please don't be angry with me.

I saw the look when you exploded the train

and when you almost killed the German.

-What look?

-As if to kill something, to destroy something, gave you...

Forgive me. ..Gave you happiness.

Before this war, I was an engineer.

I built things.

Some factories, some bridges.

All my life was spent in building.

I never thought I'd do anything else.

I loved the things I built.

I was at Dnieperstroy. I helped with the great dam.

Out of the imagination of man it was built,

and with the labour of many hands.

The whole nation looked to it and waited breathlessly.

At last, it stood - complete, mighty and beautiful,

bringing light where there'd never been any light before.

and power, that other things might be created.

Poets wrote poems for the great dam. Composers wrote music. Children across the land were named for it.

It was our own creation, and I'd helped build it.

And when the Germans came, I helped destroy it.

Imagine if the professor could tell us what happened to me then.

Semyon Ivanovich would phrase it neatly.

"When you destroy something you greatly loved...

"you learn to love to destroy."

And do you? Does it give you happiness?

Sometimes when I destroy something that's been built...I could weep.

I destroy something else and the feeling goes away.

Let me in your arms. Darling!

Nina, Ninotchka.

Where do you come from?

Your eyes are as wonderful as a forgotten dream.

"The strange woman." That's what little Olga calls you.

Am I all right for you?

-You?

-A woman has to know.

-Am I all right?

-You're perfect.

Never mind perfect. Am I all right?

Yes, you're all right.

There is nothing that I cannot do for you.

You can always tell me why your heart is sore, and I can mend it.

You will never send me away from you now.

Will you?

I am yours. There is no-one else. You can do anything with me.

But you will not send me away. Will you?

I'll never send you away from me.

Until the day I die.

I promise.

This morning, Natassia here and I have figured out

how we can make order in the whole world.

The Germans like to fight. Let them go and fight Japan.

Let them kill each other. And we will have peace in the world.

"I'll get that girl for you.

"How she can dance, how she sings,

"makes beautiful embroidery with golden thread.

"Not even the Turkish shah has a wife like her..."

-Good morning, friends.

-Good morning, comrade.

The train blew nicely. You all did well.

The signals worked perfectly.

-Anything to report?

-Very little. As you ordered, we all rushed home.

We've stayed here. The Nazis kept circling about.

Yes, that's why it wasn't advisable for us to come back before.

-Have you all had breakfast?

-It's been kept warm. I'll bring it.

-Good to be home again.

-Go on with whatever you were doing. Are you reading?

We were in the midst of a most, shall I say, significant tale from Lermontov - The Hero Of Our Time.

-We were at the point when the hero, the magnificent soldier, is about to steal away with Bella.

-Stop it!

-What the devil's the matter?

-I thought we'd do something great.

Just to look on while they dynamite the tracks, then run home and hide - is that my duty?

-Stop raving, you silly boy.

-You call me a silly boy?

-What kind of a commander are you?

-Mitya!

Perhaps reading wasn't a good idea.

If it's action you want, you'll get enough to satisfy even Mitya.

Tonight someone must go through the German lines to carry a message to our military command.

Commander...

My commander, send me.

-No, Mitya.

-Let me know that you forgive me. Please send me.

That's a good spirit, Mitya. But I need every man here.

It must be a woman. She'll have more chance to get through.

Well, commander. There are only two of us here. Which do you say?

I am willing to go.

Which do you say?

This needs an experienced combatant.

A seasoned soldier who must go through. Yelena, I assign you.

KNOCK ON DOOR

I'm ready.

Have you memorised the message?

Red 152. White 3. Yellow 57. Green 1,000. Purple 55.

Good.

That is code to tell the strength of our forces and those of the Germans in Yasnaya Polyana.

You know perfectly your directions?

I ride through the woods, then walk through Nazi land to the camp of guerrilla leader Seminov.

I deliver this message to the commander and bring one back here.

-What troubles you, comrade?

-Nothing.

-Have I offended you?

-No, Commander. There is nothing.

I will deliver this message. Have I ever failed you in my duty?

-You've never failed me in anything.

-Then why are you concerned I will fail this time?

I'm not.

They're all ready at the stable.

-Is it all right that I start, without any more discussion?

-Yes.

-Good luck.

-And to you, Commander.

Mama!

Mamuchka!

Olinka, I'm here. Go back to sleep.

(Wer kann das sein?

(Nicht einer von uns. Die unseren reiten nicht.

(Ich wette ich kann den Reiter abknallen. Ganz nicht. So weit.

(Ich wette zwei Mark.)

-Vladimir.

-What are you doing?

-I can't sleep.

I thought there was...something. Just now I jumped with fright.

-You were dreaming.

-And you? ..Let me.

Restless.

-Is Yelena all right, do you think?

-Why shouldn't she be?

I saw how she looked. She thinks it is because of us that you sent her.

Nonsense. Any commander in my place would have done the same thing. Ridiculous to suppose otherwise.

Well...Sometimes a woman can be ridiculous.

What was Yelena to you?

If you want to tell me.

Yelena? Nothing. We were comrades.

Well...

Yelena...

But I can tell you there was no love as WE understand it.

Not one part of it.

Then my being here has not been a trouble to you?

I'll tell you. I try to remember when I didn't know you, and I can't.

I can only remember an emptiness, hatred, death.

-Waiting...

-For what, I didn't know.

-I always knew, for you.

-To have found you only now...

-Is so wonderful.

-..Is agony.

You've done a dreadful thing to me, Nina.

You've taught me to love life again.

KNOCKING < Sasha!

What is it, Fedor?

I hear something from the forest, as if a horse is running.

Stay here.

HORSE NEIGHS

Fresh blood, Commander.

Now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

May God establish the soul of his servant Yelena Kamarova,

brave soldier and good woman...

She wished so much to see the snow.

In this world, very few of us can choose the time of our entrance or exit.

Here's some bread, a little chocolate.

-Are you sure you want to go?

-Yelena is dead, and I feel responsible.

Yelena is dead because she stopped a German bullet.

-You know the way?

-I know the map you drew, and I have your compass.

-The code?

-Like anything you will ever tell me - learned by heart.

Go to the house of Fedor's wife, near the village.

-Bring the message to me there tomorrow.

-You're going alone?

With Petrov. Lighten your heart.

-You're a soldier now. Be brave and cautious.

-Nothing else, Commander?

Hurry.

-Mitya.

-Yes, Commander.

-Mitya!

-Go with her.

-Very good, Commander.

I assure you, comrade, I will guard with my life the woman we both love.

Nina!

Children!

There's only one thing you must remember - not to get captured.

If you're captured, I can't help you. That's the law of the guerrillas.

-So tell me how NOT to get captured.

-I'll see that you're not.

But if you are captured, you must not talk - not a word to the Germans.

BOMBING IN DISTANCE

I report Nina Ivanova on an important mission.

-Nina Ivanova from Moscow, from the theatre?

-Yes, sir.

-One of our most beloved artists.

Forgive me for not recognising you.

It was clever of Vladimir to send two of you. It is safer. Who will deliver the message?

Red 152. White 3...

SOLDIERS SPEAK GERMAN >

LOUD LAUGHTER

< Tell Fedor not to come home. It is better if he doesn't see this.

His heart would break seeing what these pigs do to us.

MAN: Everlasting fire burns their souls.

But what have you learned? Is the disposal of equipment the same?

Yes. Tanks at the airfield. Trucks and guns in the streets and barracks.

The oil tanks - any new depots?

Yes. Behind the railroad station.

DOOR OPENS

-Well!

-Commander, I report that we've arrived safely.

Up here.

How are you? Was it difficult? Did you bring the message?

We proceeded down the right road, but the Germans tanks came along,

so we went through the marsh.

-So you arrived at the camp.

-Yes, darling.

-The colonel received us.

-He said, "Good work."

-Did you deliver the code?

-Yes, darling.

-Then this other partisan...

-Stop, Mitya.

-What is the message?

-"The snow will fall tomorrow."

-"The snow will fall tomorrow."

Peculiar message. It's been snowing all day.

So...It's tomorrow.

German soldiers!

Get out, quick. Remove the ladder.

What is this? Don't you even say a greeting to German soldiers?

You are to get out of this house at once. Our soldiers need it.

Why are you looking at me?

-Maybe you don't like it.

-We will freeze to death outside.

You still have too much warm clothing. The German army needs it.

Take off this coat.

That sweater's not Russian. Where'd you get it? Who's his wet nurse?

-Show me your ID card.

-I lost it.

-That's a lie. Every man has an ID.

He's just a boy from a neighbouring village.

So? What happens here? Why have you all met here?

Are there more of you?

HE SPITS

You dare to spit on a German officer. For this I will finish you right away! Tell me your name!

-Tell me your name!

-In my country, a hero has no name.

Hauptquartier.

A hero? So? At headquarters you will see about heroes!

Vladimir!

What will happen?

Wohin gehst du?

They'll hang him! They're dragging people to the gallows to watch!

-It's true.

-What are you going to do?

-Do?

-Nothing.

-You can't mean that.

That message was an order. Tomorrow the snow will fall.

-You've done more dangerous things!

-It can't be done.

-He saved your life!

Petrov, you ask him. I can't bear this.

-Comrade...

-We can't save him.

-What can we lose? Only our lives.

-No. Everything.

Do you think I want to sacrifice this boy? He's like a brother to me.

Nina Ivanova...

I forbid you to betray with a single word or gesture that you know him.

That is a command.

Are you able to comply with it?

Yes.

You may go.

TRUMPETER PLAYS A FANFARE

This boy is guilty of activities against us.

He admits to being a partisan, but after intense questioning, he has refused to divulge information.

In spite of this, his life can still be saved,

even at this last moment,

and so can all of you be spared,

if any of you can give me information about the group to which this boy belongs.

Will anyone speak to save this boy's life?

Young lad, I give you one last chance.

Tell me your name, your group, and where the guerrillas can be found.

Name your leader, and tell me your hiding place, or you will hang.

You have five seconds in which to answer.

I will answer. You cannot hang a nation. Death to the German invaders. Kill them!

Burn them! Poison them!

Mitya!

HE SOBS

Mitya!

Mitya! Where's Mitya?

Tell me what happened to him. Why hasn't he come back with you?

You tell me. What happened to him?

The same thing that's happened to a hundred, thousand and million Russian brothers.

I want you to know that very few of us could have faced his fate

with such brave self-sacrifice.

Go with Nina.

Did they really? Mitya!

Comrades, a few instructions.

Petrov, check the field radio. Sasha, meet Duchenko's detachment at the lake.

Fedor, meet Semanov's group at the swamp. Semyon, the map.

-Comrade Commander...

-Yes?

I only want to say...

that I give my poor life freely into your hands.

Oh, my. What a big hero.

Well...at least not such a fat one.

How could he leave me?! Did he say something to you?

Yes, he did. He sent you a message.

What? Did you see him? Were you with him?

Until the last minute.

He looked at me and smiled.

-Smiled?

-Yes, smiled.

So calmly, so beautifully, as only he could smile.

Olinka, I don't know whether you would understand my words.

He was happy.

And in the last minute, his eyes transferred a message. I heard it.

The message he sent to all of us is that we shouldn't weep for him,

for he has given his life bravely,

and you should always remember him the way I'd seen him.

I saw a big, beautiful, shining medal above his heart.

For he's going to be one of our great, great heroes.

In every school of our land, his picture will be on a wall.

All the teachers will make speeches about his bravery.

And all the children on the benches will look at Mitya's picture

and they all will envy him for having given up his life for his country so courageously.

I want you to take her away today, toward the north.

-The women and children of the village are going.

-But I'm staying.

My darling, in a short time we're going to be so terribly busy here

that a little girl, and you too, would be in the way.

I have no more secrets from you.

The moment we've awaited is near. You brought the order to begin it.

I brought your sentence of death!

Tonight the whole Russian front will start to go.

We're going to begin our revenge - for Mitya and Yelena.

You said until the day you die!

Take her. I want to spare the little girl and there's no-one else.

God bless you, for taking her

and for having been with us for a while.

And you?

There's an old saying. "Bullets spare those who are in love."

< Commander.

The radios are checked. Duchenko's detachment are here, asking for you.

Take your things. Nina's taking Olga away with the village people.

LIVELY CHATTER

My comrades of the guerrilla detachments of this section.

This map is not here for a geography lesson.

LAUGHTER

Pay strict attention to it to make clear what I'm going to tell you.

Here is our hideaway.

And here past the valley is the village of Yasnaya Polyana.

Here is the city of Tula, with Nazi positions

and our positions.

Many weeks ago you received an order from the command in Moscow -

not one step further back.

Now the order we've been waiting for has come. Counter-attack!

Tula. By order of the head of divisional staff, by next morning,

there will begin an attack designed to roll back the Nazis,

to roll them back from Tula, and from Moscow.

While our brothers of the Red Army attack, we too have our work to do.

In Yasnaya Polyana is based the bulk of the Nazis' reserve forces.

They must not be there when our army's attack comes through.

It's our privilege to handle them,

to attack these forces, draw them off and retreat before them,

drawing them away from the village, through the forest, to where we now stand.

It's hard for Russians to retreat, but retreat can lead to victory.

I assure you that such is true now.

You will hear the order "retreat".

Your ears will burn just as my throat will gag when I deliver it.

But when I say "retreat", I will be thinking "attack", and so must you.

For our backward movement carries forward the cause of our country.

ARTILLERY FIRE

Two German tanks have appeared! We're not ready yet!

Go tell it to the Germans! Oh, shut up!

They're coming, comrade.

Petrov!

MACHINE-GUN FIRE

His life has stopped them.

RADIO SIGNAL

Guerrilla detachment, Yasni Polyana.

Message from the military front. Proceed.

Leader of the detachment, Comrade Vladimir...commendation for drawing off German reserves...

from Yasnaya Polyana. Our full attack is now commencing.

In no event are you to cease engaging the enemy

till our operations reach a successful conclusion.

-Comrade General Goborev.

-Message received and will be complied with.

-Message received and complied with.

Instruct Comrade Semanov to take charge. Come with me.

Duchenko's people will cover us until the last moment.

If a breakthrough occurs, the enemy will come this way. Dmitri!

-How are things?

-Ready.

We'll have to fire so intensely they'll think a whole troop is here.

Let them send 30 German tanks against three Russian soldiers.

-Nina!

-I came back!

-Nina!

-Don't scold me!

-Welcome!

-I thought you'd be angry.

This must be the most important thing for you. You'll help me.

They're beginning to break through.

Come on!

I'll fix you!

Get away! It's my shot! It's mine!

It's mine! It's mine!

Sasha!

I...guess it's your shot, comrade.

No, comrade. It's OUR shot.

-You're the greatest gift I could receive from life.

-And you're mine.

-Darling, we have forgotten something.

-What?

We've been fighting together.

And I wasn't very bad,

as a companion or a soldier. Let me be really one of you.

Then take the oath. I, Nina Ivanova, a citizen of the Soviet Socialist Republics...

I, Nina Ivanova, a citizen of the Soviet Socialist Republics...

Solemnly swear to be an honest, disciplined and valiant fighter.

Solemnly swear to be an honest, disciplined and valiant fighter.

I swear to my last breath... WORDS DROWNED BY ARTILLERY FIRE

..Swear to my last breath to be faithful to my Soviet motherland.

I swear to defend her courageously, with wisdom, honour and dignity, without sparing my blood or my life.

I swear to defend her courageously, with wisdom, honour and dignity,

without sparing my blood or my life.

-Until final victory over the enemy is attained.

-Until final victory over the enemy is attained.

'Without sparing their blood or their lives,

'multiply this little group by countless thousands.

'Multiply this spirit, and this is why the hordes of Hitler fled back,

'turning their evil faces towards the setting sun of their defeat.'

Subtitles by BBC Broadcast

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