«ZUGZWANG OF OBER LIEUTENANT BRUNO THEVS» Page #6

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:

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:

(statutory)

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. DARKNESS.

TF-47 garrison helipad. Oberst Jung and Ober-lieutenant Thevs approach the helicopters. Bruno looks at his watch – the hands 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. FLASHES OF DAWN.

TITLE:
KHALAZAI VILLAGE, KUNDUZ PROVINCE.

The special forces descend on the village unexpectedly, acting with lightning speed. 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.

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 Taliban are killed. The shooting stops.

There are hostages among the survivors and wounded.

BRUNO:

(to special forces group)

Specify the losses!

Bruno takes a photo out of his breast pocket with his hands in leather mittens, starts looking for the leader Shamsutdin among the killed Taliban, examines everyone in detail. He understands that Shamsutdin is not among the killed Taliban.

BRUNO:

(hissing with annoyance)

Gone!

SPECIAL FORCES MAN

(to Bruno)

Herr Ober-lieutenant!

We have two dead, three wounded.

"Der Spiegel" reporter Otto Greenberg was wounded.

Bruno gets in touch with Oberst Jung.

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 man)

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.

They are going, Bruno stared 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.

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