**\[Aleksandr Sokolov\]**

**\[September 20th, 1942\]**

**\[Stalingrad, Soviet Union\]**

*Russian soldiers are in a boat, paddling towards land. Sokolov and* *Durasov* *sit on opposite ends of the boat.*

**Durasov:** Welcome to Stalingrad. You’re about to begin the greatest moment of your life. The Germans have lost hundreds of tanks and planes. Hitler’s brutalized hordes are now advancing towards Stalingrad over mountains of their own dead bodies. Our Bolshevik Party, our nation, our great country, have given us the task not to let the enemy reach the Volga and to defend the city of Stalingrad. Forward against the enemy!

*Artillery falls around the boat, causing waves that rock the boat around.*

**Durasov:** Up into the unremitting battle, comrades, for Stalingrad, for our great country! Not one step back!

*Planes fly around the boat and soldiers jump out. Durasov cocks a pistol.*

**Durasov:** Cowards and traitors will be shot!

*Durasov fires at the fleeing soldiers.*

**Durasov:** Do not count days, do not count miles, count only the number of Germans you have killed. Kill the German – this is your mother’s prayer. Kill the German – this is the cry of your Russian earth. Do not waver! Do not let up! Kill! Death to the German invader!

**Russian Soldiers:** Death to the German invader!

*The boat reaches the dock.*

**Durasov:** Let’s move! Go, go!

*The soldiers inside exit the boat and enter a line-up for weapons. A commissar repeats an announcement over a megaphone.*

**Commissar:** The first man in line gets a rifle. The second, ammunition. When the first is killed, the second takes the rifle and shoots!

*Sokolov gets an ammunition clip from the line-up.*