Original subtitles

The events shown in this film

as well as the characters portrayed are fictional,

Screenplay inspired by Stephen Crane's novel

"Red Badge of Courage".

Dramaturgy

Producer

Co-producers

Costume Designer

Make-up Artist

Sound Mixer

Production designer

Music

Editor

Director of Photography

Director

Attention! To your tents, at the double!

Some more recruits, Lieutenant.

-Private Lieberman? -Present,

Private Pospichal, Sir!

Orders are that you are assigned to 1st squad of 2nd platoon.

Your commander is Sergeant Borny Corporal Kohak here is his deputy,

Any questions?

Corporal?!

Squad, attention!

To the camp -straight ahead distance fifty metres at the double

advance!

You two! Didn't you hear the dinner call?!

Pospichal - here!

Jew boy - there!

Let's go,

They think we'll eat anything. The food is fucking shit,

You know what that means, gents?

-That you're not forced to eat it, -lt means we're stuck here.

The whole battalion's supposed to moving to the front soon.

They'd be stuffing us with chops if we were.

Very funny,

Well, well, the new boys. Welcome to First Squad, gents.

The best squad from the Euphrates to Benghazi.

-The name's Ruzicka, call me Ruza. -Pospichal. George, -John Lieberman.

Gents,

It was that pock-faced pen-pusher at HQ who told me.

-That's just the usual gossip. -Bollocks.

The pen-pusher at HQ wouldn't know where to look for sand.

I wouldn't be surprised if the war was over

and they'd forgotten to tell us...

Present arms!

First squad, on yourfeet!

Move it, move it, move it!

Got a problem, Lieberman?

On yourfeet!

Private Kutina!

A Czechoslovak soldier will not behave like that! Got me?!

We'll carry him up the hill! Just say the word!

Mind your own business, shitheads!

That's all we needed, fucking Jewboy,

Shut yourfucking gob,

Advance!

What wouldn't I give to be showering

with some wench right now. I'd grab her like this,,,

Do you ever stop thinking about birds, mate?

Can you think of anything better?

What do you reckon, Lieberman? Ever dipped yourwick?

You should have seen me before the war

when I was working in that hotel,

Know how many women I had there?

Bollocks,,,

The bigwigs were at their meetings, and their wifikins were with me,,,

It's hard when a feller's without a woman,,,

First it affects his brain and then his vocal chords,

and then he can't stop talking crap...

Know what? Kiss my arse!

You know what the Arabs say?

That if a sandstorm lasts for more than five days,

you have the right to kill yourwife,

In other words, you've the right to go bonkers,

Good'n, eh?

They're not such arseholes as they look,,,

Prone position!

Load!

Fire!

Maybe you're doing it on purpose, Lieberman,

It's always the way with your people.

Perhaps you'd sooner be sitting at a typewriter!

You're in the front line, you prat!

And in the front line you never remove your helmet!

He came from the Foreign Legion.

Take my advice and, watch out for him, He's a bastard,

The grass is full of flowers blue,

My sweetheart I must leave you,

The hills re-echo with the call,

To the colours we must all.

What's this? Boiled camel's hump?

-At least we've got tomorrow off, -You've forgotten it's sports day?

I've got a leave pass, Sports day can kiss my arse,

I'm on the list too, But I've got no money left from last pay day.

Did you know that if you cop a dose in a private whorehouse,

you have to pay forthe treatment yourself?

-East, West, camp's best, -They should raise our pay.

I'll lend you some cash. You only have to ask,

-Who he'll thrash this time? -Who? -Kohak,

There's boxing tomorrow. He always wipes the floorwith someone.

-He's a bastard. -Listen, you berks...

If anyone brings him down,

I'll clean his boots with my own bare hands,

Give it here,,,

He really went over the top, the fucking bastard,,,

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he hath known my name,

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him.

Human guts are complex material,

When you stick a bayonet into them and twist it round a few times

it makes one awful mess.

Only then do you take it out.

You're yellow.

Yellow nancy boys.

Squad! On my order! Two by two!

Don't bugger it up or there'll be no leave pass tomorrow...

High port!

Charge!

Charge,,,!

Do you reckon he's enjoying himself?

Who, Borny? Buggered if I know, mate.

It just strikes me the fellow was born for the job,

-He was a policeman before the war. - While he's fucking us about here,

his old woman's sleeping around behind his back,

You've no way of knowing that, We don't get any post,

What wouldn't I give for just one single letter.

To know what's going on back home... and suchlike,

Three lads absconded from 3rd platoon yesterday.

Let 'em go, To fucking hell preferably.

Or straight to a court-martial. And then a bullet in the head,

If we get taken prisoner, they'll bump us off too,

Bollocks,

They reckon we're all citizens of their Reich, don't they?

-They think we're all traitors. -You've got a point there.

You can wipe your arse on the Geneva Convention,

You, poorfucker, you think I'll put up with your things?

I made a mistake in Brazil,

I don't wanna know. You'll pay me forthat, you bastard!

Don't try that on me, I won't put up with it,

I don't wanna know, Where are you off to? You won't leave here!

Bitch.

An artful fucking bitch,

Thought he was going to take it out on the whole squad,

Instead the whole day he has us shoving bayonets into sandbags.

Well at least we did a bit of shoving...

When the war's over I'm going to open a bookshop.

With beautiful books. And then a printing house.

We've got a factory, would you believe?

And guess what my Dad does now?

He makes stuff for the Wehrmacht,

Sod him!

The whole country is full of arselicking collaborators anyway.

I'm going for a slash,

I only regret

I didn't say goodbye to Mum,

I just sent her a letter,,,

She'd have never let me go.

Operational order forthe 70th infantry division.

The unit will relocate to Amiriya military camp,

There it will reinforce the main body of the battalion,

which will transfer there from Syria.

The entire battalion will then be transported by sea

from Alexandria to Tobruk,

which is in a state of total siege from Rommel's Afrikakorps

and four ltalian divisions,

-Jesus, what a stench... -Don't complain,

We've could have ended up in the guardhouse.

The battalion is assigned to the Polish independent brigade group

and is to take up position in thirteen bunkers along a 6 km

stretch of the western defensive perimeter...

The bunkers are unequal distances apart.

Each will be defended by an appropriate number of soldiers,

There is nowhere to withdraw to. We'll have only the sea at our back.

I hope everyone can swim,,,

A few more days training and I'd be fucked,

I thought you were fucked a long time ago.

I don't recall us having chops for lunch.

What can you do?

Now, now,,,

Annie, Annie, Annie, Ann

You've been at it all night with a man,

What did he promise after his ride?

That he'd make you his bride,

You thought it was a trance

Your cunt it did a dance

You fucked the night away

And got home at break of day

Annie you're a lovely lass

Every fucker's in your debt

They love your cunt, they love your arse

You're the fuck they don't forget,

Last will and testament.

I, Joseph Kutina, born at...

Keep your nose out!

Jesus, what about me? Who could I leave my mine to?

Silly me! I forgot, I haven't got one!

Know what? The day we reach Berlin,

I'm going stick this bayonet right up Hitler's arse,

Talking of arses, gents,,, The arse is complex material,

When you stick a bayonet up it and twist it round a few times

it makes one awful mess. Only then do you take it out!

That clear, you nancy boys!?

What about you, Johnny? What are you leaving to someone?

Nothing.

I'm not going to die here.

We're to remain here forthe night. Lie down and try to get some kip.

We regroup at the position in the morning. Let's go.

First it's get a move on, and then we're stuck here,

A soldier should only think one hour ahead,

-Or not think at all, -Lend me your mess tin,

Don't prattle and get a move on,

Wait here, kiddies, Uncle Ruza will bring you a nice surprise.

Ruzicka's grocery store, goods of all kinds.

This will be scrumptious! Well? What am l?

-Where did you get that hat? -Nice, eh?

-Wanna buy it now or afterthe war? -Jesus Christ! What's this swill?

Salt water. Those Australians say there's nothing else,

Bugger the water, it's the women I'll be missing,

They'd better have left us a bit of this desert,

Yeah, we'll have to billet somewhere.

They don't let up for one single fucking day,

Do they think they'll put the shits up us, orwhat?

Hey! Go easy with that water.

You okay, lads?

Fine.

All three of us in order, Sergeant,

Halt! Password!

James.

What are you up to here, you chump?

Wait... What are you up to, forfuck's sake!?

Put that cockerel down! Get your hands off it!

Leave go!

They're our eggs!

You think I'm a coward, don't you?

I hope he'll come this way, the stinking copper,,,

I'm going to find a way to get out of here, anyway.

I don't see why I should fight for some bloody sand.

Maybe I'll shoot my toes off,,,

You do that and I'll shoot both your arms off.

Just below the shoulder. Geddit?

Corned beef. We haven't had that before.

Very funny,,,

I don't see why someone has to be a cook just 'cos he's a bit stout!

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:

my flesh also shall rest in hope,

Forthou wilt not leave my soul in hell;

neitherwilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy;

at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end,

Amen.

The Poles will send you an artillery observer.

Stretch some wire across there and build him an observation post.

So he's going to direct the fire from there?

They'll go for him like hornets. And for us too,

Look, lad, it's not my idea.

Just do it, and carry out the order,

How much for an extra barrel of water?

- Second-Lieutenant has arrived, Sir! -Thank you, Sajda.

Dismiss,

Second-Lieutenant Swiezawski.

Sergeant Borny, Take a seat, Second-Lieutenant,

The observation post will be ready in time?

Yes.

A drop of the hard stuff is the best thing for the blues,,,

Death to all Nazis.

Death.

Short three hundred,

Left zero twenty,

Long two hundred,

Right zero twelve.

Listen, lads, they're about to attack.

Don't lose your heads and shoot with care!

Come on, you tenors...

Fuck it, fuck it,,,

You shouldn't do that,,,

-What? -Curse before a battle,

What?

It's bad luck!

-You're barmy,,, -You're barmy!

You're barmy! Shift!

They can share out my things,

Except my diary.., that's for you,

Wait, what are talking about?

Off your rocker, or what?

For God's sake, they're heading straight for us! Five hundred!

Fire! Fire!

Cease fire! Cease fire!

No more! Enough! Don't fire!

Enough! Don't fire!

Fuck it! Fuck it!

I reckon we've got at least a week's respite...

I'm right out of ammo,

Would you believe it?

OK,

I'll go and fetch some.

Johnny!

Get out of it!

I remember you from the training camp,

I said you're one of ours,

aren't you?

Got a ciggie?

That was a proper dust-up, wasn't it?

But we stood our ground,

-We're.., not retreating? -Of course not.

Where are you wounded, mate?

I said where did you get hit?

For Christ's sake, Tony!

Tony, Tony...

Whatever became of you, George? You OK?

I'm here, Tony!

Listen! I'll take care of you!

I swear to God I will!

I swear to God I'll take care of you!

Tony.., what are you doing?

- Where are you going? -He can't stay here.

You should drag him back to the path, mate.

Tony! Come with me...

We've got to go back! Please!

Tony,,,

what's up? What's the matter?

Where did he find all that strength?

I've never seen anything like it in my life,

What are you doing?!

He'll be all right here,

-He'll have a rest from all that, -What are you doing?!

It's all overfor him now, isn't it? He won't be needing it any more,

You bastard!

You bastard,

you bastard...

The main thing is he's back,

I thou ght he was a goner,

Shut it,

I wonderwhere our little lad got to?

He looks dreadful. Give him another drink,

Back to your posts.

All of you,

You too, Lieberman.

What will you put in the report?

That's my business.

I'd like to report, Sir,,,

Shut your bloody trap and get out!

Tomorrow morning it'll feel as if your helmet is ten sizes too small,

Sergeant,,,

I...

Get some sleep first.

That was an order, Pospichal.

Stinking rum, lt'll get you back on yourfeet,

Kohak has put you down for sentry duty.

They've summoned the sergeant to company HQ.

Halt! Password!

Pepper!

Thank you,

You could count us on the fingers of one hand

and you bring in a prisoner?

Just as well he's on our side, isn't it?

Is this the worst you can do to this food?

Get stuffed.

Johnny,,,

you know what happened this morning?

It has to be reported,

When the sergeant gets back.

I don't care.

Those bastards don't deserve anything else!

We must neverforgive them anything.., do you understand?!

When I get home I'll erase the word sand from the dictionary,,,

Yesterday battalion HQ apparently received an order

from our general in Jerusalem,

They say service discipline isn't being observed here,

-He's a silly old prat. - So all the culprits will have to be punished.

He intends to give them a severe reprimand

- in front of the entire battalion! -You're fucking having us on.

You won't make up for it now, laddie,

- Leave him alone. -Sure thing, lkey.

You swine!

You swine!

Off your rocker, or what?

What the hell is going on around here?!

Will someone tell me what's going on?!

Keep your trap shut. Savvy?

OK, have it your way.

-Corporal Kohak! -Present,

Orderfrom HQ. Carry out reconnoitre at elevation point 67.

Command time. 09:15,

Select two men. Departure in 30 minutes, Everything understood?

Everything understood?!

Sure,

Watch out for the mines, Lieberman,

I'd hate to sweep up here after you,

We'll cross this bit and we'll reach the top of that rock,

The ltalian positions are just beyond it.

You go ahead of me.

What's the problem?

Move!

We can't leave him there like that,

We just can't,,,

For God's sake! What are you doing, you madman?!

Keep me covered.

In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial,

Who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands,

And ate of it. I said, "ls it good, friend?"

"lt is bitter -bitter", he answered,

"But I like it Because it is bitter,

And because it is my heart," STEPHEN CRANE

This film is a profound tribute

to the military veterans of World War ll as well

as to all members of the Czech and Slovak resistance at home,

It is dedicated particularly to the 779 soldiers

of the 11th Czechoslovak lnfantry Battalion-East

who, underthe command of Lt-Colonel Karel Klapalek,

successfully defended their positions

nearthe Libyan port of Tobruk in the autumn of 1941.