The historical fiction film script. Based on true events.

Dedicated to all Ukrainians
and all concerned people in this difficult time.

Somewhere in Ukraine, present days

The sun rises over a wheat field. Landscape from a bird's eye view. The camera follows a stork. The bird is circling over the land: over fields, forests, rivers. The stork flies up to the village and sits in its usual nest near the village house. The stork babies are in the nest. The first cocks are crowing.

A small house with smoke coming out of the chimney. There are family photos on the wall in the house. Photo of the great-grandfather from World War II, photo of the dad from archaeological excavations.

The mother started baking bread early in the morning and is now taking it out of the wood-burning oven. The woman is elderly, but she still has a lot of strength to do a lot of things on her own. She prepares a modest breakfast. She calls her son to the table. The Hero, yawning, enters the kitchen, hugs his mother, and sits down at the table. On his neck, there is an ancient amulet. After eating breakfast, the guy looks at the picture of his father.

Hero's voice-over: "My dad was an archaeologist and historian, and he loved his work very much. When I was a kid, in the summer he often took me with him. And one day he brought and gave me an amulet from the excavations of prehistoric times. And he said: "If you don't know the history of your ancestors, what they had to go through for the sake of their children's future, then you won't understand why you were born on this land." Now I wear this amulet in memory of my father and his words. I want to be like him".

The viewer sees an amulet around the Hero's neck: a part of some symbol is visible on it.

The hero goes out into the courtyard and takes on chores. He feeds the animals and chops wood. He works in the vegetable garden.

Hero's voice-over: "As my grandfather used to say, when you give your dear land all you have, it gives you back many times more."

The hero finishes his chores, takes his backpack and book with him, hugs his mother, and walks out the doorway, out into the street. He looks at the nest with storks, smiles, and walks down the road toward the forest. As he walks down the road, he sees other people in the village working. Everyone who notices him smiles at the Hero, says hello to him, and he smiles cheerfully at them, too.

The hero passes a village, walking through a field where cows are herded. The sky is clear, the sun is shining.

Hero's voice-over: "When I was a child, my great-grandma told me many different stories, but one of them I remember the most."

The hero walks into the forest. He listens to the birds sing, the gentle wind rustles the leaves of the trees. He breathes in the clean air and smiles. He sits down under a big tree, takes out a book, and begins to read. There is peace and quiet all around. The sun is shining through the green leaves.

Suddenly a strong wind rises, and the trees begin to bow. A flock of rooks flies by with terrible cries. The weather deteriorates. The Hero shudders with a sudden explosion. All the birds leave the trees and fly away. There is a terrible silence in the forest. The Hero sharply jumps up. He hears an air-raid siren blaring nearby. The Hero throws everything and runs towards the village. He runs out of the woods and stops: he sees a black pillar of smoke far away in the countryside, and dense grey clouds rising from the same direction. He runs on, towards the village.

People gather in the center of the village (the same location as in Great-grandma's story), and they are frightened. Someone calms a crying baby. Someone instinctively hugs children.

One can hear cars driving by. A convoy of military vehicles enters the village. Soldiers jump out of the cars and line up in front of the villagers.

The Russian Captain gets out of the car. He also has a deep scar on his cheek. The Captain appears before a line of villagers.

Russian Captain: "This is the Russia land now, and if you aren't with us, then you're against us, and there's no place for enemies here."

The weather deteriorates even more. The sun is covered by black clouds. Thunder is heard.

Hero's mother steps forward.

Hero's mother: "Come back home, son, and hug your mother".

The Russian Captain grins and says: "My mother is Russia".

The camera shows Russian soldiers. They are very young. One of them can't back tears.

The Russian Captain orders us to raise their weapons.

Russian soldier: "Comrade Captain, they are ordinary people, just like we are. The soldier lowers his weapon".

The Russian Captain walks up to him and looks at him. Takes out his gun and kills him. Then looks at the other soldiers and says to them.

Russian Captain: "Is there anyone else here who wants to make a point?"

He looks at the dead soldier being taken to the car.

Russian Captain: "We'll write off the loss to the fascists."

At this moment, Hero runs up to his mother and stands beside her.

It begins to rain. Lightning flashes somewhere nearby. Thunder rumbles.

The Russian captain takes the place of the killed Russian soldier and commands.

Russian captain: «Fire!»

End of episode 1

Read next