"HEROIC CHARGE" "The charge of Isbushensky, performed by one of our regiments in Russia on the 24th of August 1942, remains the last in the history of the Italian Cavalry." "That charge has come to represent the touching farewell between MAN and the HORSE, that has loyally served him on all battlefields, until the last." "This is the spirit behind the film, and the reason it was made." "The characters and events seen here are presented as fiction, asidefromthestoryofthelast surviving horse from that charge:" "ALBINO,a horsethat,old and blind, is still today a "guest of honour" in the Italian Cavalry, having been awarded lifetime retirement by the state, an unusual and extreme recognition to this horse, as a symbol representing" "a once generous and romantic world, now perhaps lost forever." "Halt!" "Walk!" "Hello?" " Give me." "Hello?" "Officer on field." "Lieutenant Valli's patrol returning." "I count ten horses and eleven men." "Received." "May I?" " Come in." "News on the patrol?" "Yes sir, it's returning." " Well?" "The lookout reports one horse missing and three wounded men." "Dispose for duties right away." " Yessir." "Well, let's hope they bring good news." " I hope so." " Let's carry on." "Any more cases of bronchitis?" " Five, Colonel." "Another sick horse." " Yessir." "Pneumonia?" " Pneumonia." "There's no hope." "But I'd try another injection anyway." "What do you think?" "Okay." "Welcome back, sir!" "What's wrong with Albino?" " Hi, Fabbri." "Take him to the vet now, the left foreleg needs a good check!" "I'll take care!" " The wounded to the infirmary!" "Unsaddle!" " Yes, Lieutenant." "Well?" " Three men wounded and one horse lost." "A clash in Horofon gully." " And the mission?" " Accomplished." "Commanders to report." " And the Chiefs?" " Yes, call them." "Bugle!" "Call for report!" "You continue, here, I'm going to the report." "I had asked that our regiment be united with that of Novara, and both used in determined war actions." "They have replied "no"." "You may ask me what the motives are." "Just one." "The cavalry is not considered to be useful now." "That's all." "Excuse me sir, but when they sent the two regiments to the Don, they anticipated an extensive use of cavalry, just due to the flat terrain and the long distances." "Yes, but you forget that the strategic command, here, is not of the Italians." "But is it possible not to make change opinion on the cavalry to the Germans?" "It's not easy." "They're the same commands that saw the end of the Polish cavalry by way of their tanks." "So then, colonel, the destiny of this regiment is to lose men and horses, one by one, up to the last one?" "Decimated by the cold." " Massacred by unnecessary patrolling." "I'm able to meet the humanitarian considerations of the chaplain and the medical officer." "And I can also answer to the strange intolerance that the commander of the first squadron shows from some time." "There is news." "And I gathered you for this." "The regiment has received orders to move south." "It will be a long and tiring march, without meeting any settlement." "The snow will disappear, but will appear the terrible mud of the Ukranian plains." "However, with spring, we'll meet good weather." "The front line will be reformed, and the war will resume in full." "We must have faith!" "That will be all." "Officers, at attention!" "Dismissed!" "Lieutenant Valli." " Sir." "How was Albino?" " As the good horse that he is." "Blood will out, between men or between horses." "Giorgio, you're wounded!" " No, just a graze, nothing serious." "Go get medicated!" " But..." " Go!" " Okay." "Hey Albino, what are they doing to you?" "Here you go, dear." "Well, how is he?" "I know, you can't give up mounting him, right?" "But you should be careful." "It's a bad wound and could get worse any time." "Halt!" "Colonel, the village is inhabited only by old men and women." "No sign of troops." "Good, rejoin the ranks." "Onward!" "Captain Franchi." " Yessir." "What do they want?" " In the name of their sons died in war, they beg not to drive them out of their homes." "Okay, okay, tell them to get up." "Do not worry, your rights will be respected." "They thank us, but they warn us that, if we lie, the wrath of God will be upon us." "Have no fear, we share the same faith." "May Providence protect those who, separated by war, are still united by the laws of God." "Walk." "Walk!" "The platoon sent out on patrol in the southeast will tell us how many days of snow we still have ahead of us." "Shouldn't be many." "However, we shall resume our march as soon as the men will return to camp." "How's the morale?" "After the excitement of the departure, remained fatigue and mistrust for this march, of which men can't see neither the end, nor the purpose." "Further news?" "The usual complaints from the officers towards marshal Olivieri." "Sorry for you, having to cope with this." "Well, this time it's me to be sorry for you, Colonel." " Why?" "Well, the officers wish it were you, to say a few words to the marshal." "He's here, I sent for him." "Olivieri!" "At your orders." " Come." "Come forward." "Orderlies are seen as sluggish, slackers, and protected by their officers." "You have, let's say, this bias against them." "For me, today, all soldiers are equal." "They chatter too, and can not tell a horse from a mule." "If the orderlies get punished, it means they deserve it." "Yes, but, dear Olivieri, you forget that life here is a little different from normal life in the barracks." "The regulation, Major, was written for this life, not for that of the barracks." "And you, Olivieri, you never broke the regulation before?" "Well, some time, colonel." "It can happen to all of us." "Thank you, you may go." "Olivieri!" "You're limping!" "What's wrong?" "Nothing, Colonel." "Just rheumatism." "You know that the regulation, Olivieri, forces you to seek medical visit." "I told you just now, Colonel, that sometimes," "I too set aside the regulation." "Come here, hold my horse." " Don Antonio, you're a devil, you know?" "You saw?" "Instead of coming to me so that I entrust you to Providence, entrust yourself rather to your legs, and you'll see you won't fall off the horse!" "Because remember:" "The horse is friend to man!" "Don Anto', by my parts they say:" ""Man on horseback, open burial."" "By Jove!" "Passing by these parts, I heard your voice, soldier Liguni." "Bravo, I am pleased!" "If you can turn a B flat into B thick, you can sing on the radio." "Bravo!" " Thanks." "I present the force, four men." "And they're men, these?" "Soldierboy Carica, did you write to your mom to send some more packs, since there are not enough for everyone?" "And you, to your Mariella, you told her about me?" " Yes." "I told her I got a friend who got water in the brains!" "Hey, you, careful what you do or..." "." "No, calm down!" "Hey there!" "Slackers!" "I bring you great news!" "Just 2 more days of snow, then we'll find towns, cities, and women." "Females?" " The women will come to us in bunches!" "Let's go then!" "At last there are girls!" " As many as you want!" "What do I care?" "I have my Mariella!" "But the charge?" "The horse charge!" " What horse!" "But you know that the horse charge is dangerous?" "You can fall and break your rind!" " The boy isn't silly." "What do you know about?" " Why, have you ever known the charges?" "I let you speak because you're uninitiated on the matter!" "The charge is something difficult!" "All those taking part in the charge..." "Mud, mud and snow, all in the face!" "Forward the first ... second ... fourth!" "Fourth squadron..." "Hey, this is the charge!" "Boys, enemy in sight!" "The marshal!" "Put the helmet on." " What, is the alarm?" "Put the helmet on, I said!" " Yessir." "Done, marshal." "Oh!" "And why, on horseback, you always throw it behind your head?" "Oh, why I wear it like this?" "So that, if I fall off the horse and slam the rind..." "It is said scruff!" " Yes, slam the rindscruff, then I..." "Shut up!" " Yessir." "Cold weapon, marshal" " It is not regulatory." "But, my officer said I could carry it!" " Not in the boot!" " But..." "Close it and put it in your pocket!" "You guys have a long tongue." "It's the guts that you have short!" "This...just to me he talks about guts!" "I'll show him something that..." "Raise the wheels!" "Come on!" "Come on, spineless weaklings you're no other!" "What should I do with the cavalry?" "Major, their officer is here." "Show him in." "Stop, wait a minute." "Now he can come in" "Please." "The commanding Colonel of the 3rd Cavalry Regt.." "asks to stay a few hours in the village." "Commander says has not had any orders from his command." "In fact, it was not expected, but we could not reach our planned post." "Why?" " Plenty of mud." "How many men have?" "20 officers, 700 men and 650 horses." "For sold... for officers, perhaps there is room, but for men and horses,.." "camp out...make your own tents." "The men are too tired to raise tents..." "Very exhausting march!" "March not ordered by German command." "We stopped because we thought to find allies, but evidently is not so." "You tell him!" "Slackers, come on, get up!" "Wake up!" "It's a great day!" "Hurry up, pack the tent and jump on the horse!" "We start for a war action, the order just came!" " What's up?" "Hi, Valli!" "What wind drives you around here?" "Hello, how are you?" " As you see, next to your Albino." "You came to see if you can mount him?" " So I hoped." "With such a day." "I understand, but it would be an imprudence." "Enough!" "I said enough!" "Silence!" "Hey." "At what time is it?" " What?" "The charge!" " You're an ignorant!" "It's a secret they tell us on the march at the last minute!" "Really?" "And how do they tell us, if we're marching!" "They drop a message with a plane!" "Hey, it's here already!" " Halt!" "Thank you." "Return into place." "Bugle, small report." "Comes the charge?" "Has come the order to give way to a column of German tanks, that will carry out the mission of war to which we were destined." "It remains for us thus, than resume our march to the south." "Hey, want to bet that those carts, at the first ditch they find,.." "will stop and won't go further?" "Are you serious?" " I'm telling you!" "No, it's different!" "They stop if they end in the water!" "Really?" " I'm telling you!" "Hey, you're a fortune teller by chance?" " I didn't expect it either!" "The episode of the tanks knocked the morale very low, Colonel,.." "especially among the officers." "I realize that." "They made us swallow many bitter pills in these months." "But that of today was really the most unfair." "All right." "We still have three weeks of travel without meeting any settlement, then, there is SIovsk." "It is a large village, in a relatively quiet area, so let's hope that, with springtime, it provides us rest and comfort." "Let's hope too that after so many months our men find a warm feminine welcome." "And you think this is beneficial to war?" "Well, one should ask those who are 20 years old, colonel." "All right." "Tomorrow at 9 o'clock on the march." "That's all." "Olivieri." " Yessir, colonel." "Last night, the bugler taps were non-regulatory." "He took advantage that I was out of the camp." "He sounds it with much feeling, but must not do it again." "Doesn't do any good here, is reminiscent of distant times, very different from this, understand?" "It must not happen again." " It won't, sir." "Sound the taps." "There is the commander of the 1st squadron, sir." "Let him in." " Come in." "You allow, Colonel?" " Please." "What is it, Marenco?" "I thought about it much, Colonel, but I decided." "What?" "To forward my application." "How many years in the cavalry, you?" "Ten years, colonel." "But, your name is there for 3 generations." "Yes, sir." "And why you want to go in the tanks?" "Because in war, by now, for the cavalry, it's over." "Stop him!" "Give him no room!" "Colonel, it seems that the people fled, but took nothing from the houses." "Well!" "Major Di Bugnano, now I'll send out the patrol." "Inform the column that we'll enter Slovsk after dark, thus, utmost care by all." "Right away, sir." " Give provisions." " Lt. Valli." " Yes sir!" "Meeting point is the small square where are a church and a well." " Good, Sir." "Ahead the patrol!" "Gallop!" "Hey, you guys, wait!" "Don't water the horses, the water could be..." "Quick!" "Take cover in the side streets!" "Take away my horse!" "Quick, clear the square!" "Lt. Righi, keep the bell tower under your fire!" "Let's keep ready!" "They may have run out of ammunition!" "But they may have realized, and prepare a surprise to the lieutenant!" "I ask you if you realize your position of civilian.." "surprised with weapons in hand." "Answer!" "I'll explain in Russian." "The defendant said she knows Italian well, anyway..." "I understood very well!" "So much the better." "Verbalize." "The witness Lt. Valli continue." "But the bursts didn't hit any of my men." "Then, when I reached the tower top, the woman ceased fire and didn't resist." " Yes!" "But because I'd run out of ammunition!" "Sit down, Lt. Valli." "The word to the indictment." "The action of this woman had no serious consequences only because, obviously, the defendant didn't know the use of weapons." "However, I appeal to the laws of war, and I therefore ask the death penalty by firing squad." "The defense." "In the dual role of soldier and minister of God," "I remind this court that, faced to the homeland's ideals, there are neither accusers nor accused." "I ask, therefore, all the clemency." "Take away the defendant." "Capt. Franchi and Lt. Valli may go." "The court remains to deliberate, the others leave the room." "I seem to see the adjutant quite worried." "Yes, Colonel, but..." "not for the sentence." "For what, then?" " For the accommodation of our men." "But they told me the population had left open houses, with beds and everything." "Exactly." "The Major thinks about what would happen if returned the owners." " And it's happening." "It seems the children are back." "Alone?" "Yes, alone, colonel." "Probably their mothers have sent them ahead on reconnaissance." "In this regard, I want to tell you that we need soon to gain the trust and set good relations, since, apparently, will be a long stop here." "Then, if you permit me, sir," "I'd say that, shooting a woman soon as we got here, would make our stay much more difficult." "That's another argument." "In fact, it comes to the safety of our men." "Exactly!" " And, you mean?" "I thought that if instead of executing her, we let free the woman, we could watch her in secret, and find out if she's related with, and if exist, clandestine forces in the area." "Valli, can you lend me a razor blade?" "Yes, come and get it." "Come in!" "The blades are here on the bedside table." "But, you shave now?" "Didn't you hear the adjutant?" "He wants us ready at 6:00 for a check in town." "Right." "Then yours is not a bad idea." "Goodnight." " Goodnight." "Say, have you heard a salvo of gunfire?" "You mean, the firing squad?" "Yes." "You heard anything?" " No, nothing." "Well... 'Night." " Good night." "Sweet dreams, marshal." " Go away, go to sleep!" "Let me take care, I sing them a lullaby!" "But these are Russians, they don't understand your country's lullaby!" "Marshal, lullabies are the same to children the world over!" "So, sing whatever you want!" "Now I sing you a lullaby that my mother sang me when I was a child." "In the evening, when I fell asleep, came along an olive seller, who did:" "She asks if she can bring this goose for mess." " Yes, sure." "Look, Olivieri." " Yes, Major." "Don Antonio proposed to reactivate the kindergarten for children returning home alone." "A holy idea, Major." " Yes, but who will keep them?" "Major, the girl of the tower is just the kindergarten teacher." "And you deem her the most willing to cooperate with us?" "Major, knowing the language, I could try to convince her." "She should prove grateful for our generosity." "What do you think, Don Antonio?" "Should we try with this girl?" "The Lord has many ways to illuminate his creatures!" " Good!" "The girl is still guarded in her room in kindergarten." " We know!" "So, take care of it!" "Wait a minute!" "Don Antonio, will you accompany them?" "Very happy for the honor." "No sentry in front of the school!" "Let's go see." "Wait, Don Antonio." "Go, go ahead." "And good luck!" "Look, it's open also the window of the girl's room!" "She's gone, she ran away!" "But who disposed the security service?" "The adjutant." " Incredible!" "Am I wrong, or you're disappointed for the girl's escape?" "Personally, I don't care!" " Me too." "But someone has to account to the colonel!" "Well, the adjutant will account." "She escaped last night at 3:30, when the sentry faked to leave his post, as instructed." "Where is she now?" " Here, in this area." "But nothing suspicious." "She hasn't met anyone, doesn't seem to have a plan." " What's she doing?" "She vents, swearing at people returning to town." "You were mentioning something?" " Oh, yes." "The news proved accurate." "The girl's parents were killed in a bombing." "Her name is Kalina Iflienov, it seems she's very cultured, her father was a professor." "Well, provided she doesn't reserve us some surprises!" "And how are the relations of our men with the population?" "Well, the preparations for the next Easter feast will help." "However, we're already well advanced." "Well children, rest now." "And you too take a rest, take the children in the garden." "But these don't understand Russian!" "Guys, we gotta go in the garden!" "Oh, see?" "Come on, come on, quick quick..." "Let's go, funny guy." "Come right ahead." "This is your place." "I did not come for my place." "Then why are you here?" "I heard playing." "Music is an expression of good that God has given men to understand each other." "I don't understand church music." "Wo is it?" "Boys!" "Two steps backwards, march!" "I came to see if you've done things rightly." "Oh, so many people checking how we made the teacher's bed!" " You mean?" "There's the captain too!" " Oh, you're here!" "I didn't think..." "Well, I'm of service here, but you?" " I was passing, I heard singing..." "Captain, the soup is ready." " Go then." "Let us finish it!" " Good idea." "Pull on your side." "What're you doing still here?" "I want to see how you do it!" " Scram!" "Get your cap!" "What's this stuff?" " My fiancée." " Come on, clear!" "Scram!" "Isn't it like being back in the school dorms in Pinerolo?" "You who know Russian, you think the girl will return?" "Knowing Russian is different than knowing Russian girls!" "Well, what is it?" " I see her in bed with the imagination." "Her blond head rests over here... her harmonious body stretches out soft..." "You're not there though!" " And who is?" " I, of course!" "She and I, alone." "While all around..." "Maybe she understands Italian better." "We have prepared your room." "If you can, try to take off your jackboots, when you slip in bed." "Oh, Natashenka!" "To Captain Valli!" " Congratulations!" " Speech!" "As senior officer, I must offer my chevrons to the new captain." "And they're ready." " Thanks." "I want to add a few simple words to fellow Valli." "There's no fun in becoming a captain, if the rank doesn't give also the squadron command." "But, for you to obtain command, it takes that one of us commanders loses his hide!" "And the idea, as for me, doesn't excite me at all!" "I should think so!" "So I drink to your squadron, with personal reservation!" "I take this opportunity to congratulate you for the affectionate cordiality established with the local population, and particularly with the female one." "But I must also warn you, recalling you to reality." "This stop at SIovsk represents, a bit for everyone, the first pleasant contact with life, after months of deprivation and isolation." "But this can not allow any of us to forget that we are at war, understand?" "All right." "By the way, the nursery teacher has surrendered?" "No, Colonel." "Is a woman without faith." "At least, I haven't been able to soften her." "But the Lord uses many ways to illuminate his souls!" "If you're here to work, hurry up." "If the candles run out, you're in the dark." "Alright, Don Antonio." " And then the Lord has many ways to light his creatures, right?" "Right." "To be seen if chooses the way of Captain Franchi or of Captain Valli." "What?" " Nothing, a passage in the Gospel of St. Luke." "You can't stop looking at the door!" " And you?" "If I could be 5 minutes alone I'm sure she'd come out of the room." "Calm down!" "Moreover, if you insist, I'm leaving." "Really?" " I've never lain in wait, not even for fun!" " Me neither!" "But here the game is worth the waiting!" "Hey!" "You really mean it?" " Sure!" "Best of luck!" "Thanks, you're a true friend!" "And now that I'm done with the paper chains," "I just need that Don Antonio doesn't return any time soon." "Sorry for you, but he's back already!" "Don Antonio!" "You have played with much grace." "Yes, with the grace of a Cossack corporal!" "No, one moment, wait!" "My fellow didn't want..." "Your fellow always knows what he wants!" "Oh, not always!" "For example, he wanted to make an Easter lamb, and instead has made a sort of kerbstone!" "To Russian people, Easter is a feast of great brotherhood," "Italian soldiers will stay together with Russian men and women." "No, our soldiers will be grouped in the center." "The Colonel and the officers before the altar." "The Russian civilians, men and women, will be in this corner, secluded." "For heaven's sake!" "But the colonel accepts the Russian religious rite, to signify that Christianity unites all peoples?" " Sure." "And, Italian soldiers will respect the Russian rite?" "Certainly." " Good!" "During the Russian mass of Easter, at midnight, at the moment of glory, all have to kiss in church, men and women, without difference." "Alright?" "God help us." "I'm sorry I disturbed you." "You're not disturbing, by going away." "I was referring to the bells." "I guess their sound is unpleasant to you." "You're wrong!" " Maybe." "But I don't understand how you reconcile the two aspects of the thing." "A bell tower, or is seen as a high symbol of peace, or as a position for machine gun." "Goodbye." "But, when is...?" " The charge, right?" "No." "But when is the scene of the kisses?" "You too have changed your mind, huh?" "Look at that!" "Tell me..." "When are we all going to kiss each other like brothers and sisters?" "We will kiss after the priest has blessed the bread and the eggs." "Then, we throw ourselves forward..." "No news?" " No sir." "When were they due back?" " About two hours ago." "How many men were there?" " Twelve." "They knew the area?" " Yessir, had already been on patrol three times." "Clash with regular... troops..." "The others... all ... all ... dead!" "Surround the house!" "You, on the right!" "And you, on the left!" "Go after the fugitives!" "In addition to the violent patrol clashes tonight, another fact confirms that the southern front has awakened from winter stasis:" "the order, just arrived, to disengage, and to reach in battle array the point R3 of the front." "On site are already the Italian division command and the Germanic high command." "Has come also the regiment Lancers of Novara, which has camped at 30 km from the point R3, that we will reach." "Do you think, sir, that we could reunite to the Novara?" "I hope so." "We will leave town at dawn." "But, I intend that each of our men, from this very moment, considers ended and closed every relationship, and of whatever nature, has contracted with the population." "To you the obligation to strictly enforce the order, and to report violations." "That's all." "Come in!" "Are you ready with your luggage?" "It's only two, until departure you could get a nice sleep." "Oh, how's your hand?" "Have you seen KaIina?" "KaIina!" "?" " I said KaIina!" "And when would I've seen her?" "I was on patrol!" "But not you, cause you're the Colonel's godson, right?" "Do you realize...?" " If not yet, it means you're going to meet tonight!" " Tonight?" "Tonight, yes!" "Don't play dumb!" "Enough Franchi!" "Don't you think you're overdoing now?" "Sorry, Valli, but I can't control myself." "I don't know what's with me, I can't explain." "These hours burn me, make me restless." "I don't even know myself..." "Excuse me, goodnight." " Go and rest!" "Come in!" "They saw you come in?" "And by the street, did you meet anyone?" "Soldiers." "How do you say big trouble, in Russian?" "Hide in here, quick!" "And do not move!" "What is it?" " We came to pick up the Command's box, and yours personal." "They're ready, you can take them." "Further orders, Captain?" " No, thank you." " Good." "You have to go away?" "Marshal!" "Go!" "Captain, your horse." "The officers are already all in the square." "Where is captain Valli?" " What do I know?" " Let's go." "I came to the house, Captain, but ..." " Yes, I know." "Franchi, let me explain." "No need to." "It's all clear." "On horseback!" " On horseback!" "Saber in hand!" "Present arms!" "Shoulder arms!" "Walk!" "...let's consider together the difficult situation." "At your orders, General." " Any news, or urgent requests?" " None." "I camped the regiment at point R3 of the front as ordered." " Thanks, and welcome." "I was examining the situation with commanders of armored units." "A good news, the promotion of one of your officers for war merit." "See it later." "Let's resume now." " General Sir!" "The German commanding officer." "The situation has precipitated, the enemy crossed the river." "Our information is that it will attack in strength point R3 tomorrow at 7:00." "Be more precise, please." "If this attack will not be halted, the whole south front is jeopardized." "Germanic command requests that impact be sustained... by Italian armored forces." "But it's not possible!" "Our armored forces were decimated in the fightings..." "You have no other reserves to put in line?" "No, and the German command knows!" "German command insists, and states that Italian forces must prevent, attacking an hour before the enemy, that is at 6:00 exactly." "General, Sir, if you allow me, tomorrow morning at 6 I could attack with my squadrons." "Who is that officer?" " Cavalry commander, sir." "How many men do you have?" " 500." "Five hundred thousand?" "I said 500." "But it could be even a thousand, if you'd order the Novara Lancers regiment to join my regiment during the night." "And in what way you will attack?" "I'll go to the charge." "To the charge?" " Yessir" "Mit...mit... saber?" "Yessir, with sabers!" "Unbelievable!" "That's impossible, typical Italian bragging!" "You have orders, general?" "Do you realize how many men you will be facing?" "Judging from the terrain, not less than 2,000." "Unless you object, general, I rejoin my regiment, awaiting orders." "I start by communicating to captain Gavotti his promotion to major." "I am delighted." "Gentlemen, one moment, please." "Excuse me, Colonel, the promotion means I must leave the command of my squadron?" "By regulation, yes." "Except for special cases, to be examined, of course." "You allow me, Colonel?" "You have something to say?" "I remind you..." " Oh, yes, your transfer request to the tanks was accepted." "However, you must wait until official notification, that will be any time now." "I close this report telling you that we are awaiting orders." "That's all." "Officer gentlemen, at attention!" "At liberty." "You stay, Di Bugnano." " At your command." "I didn't see marshal Olivieri this morning." "He didn't want to, but I had to urgently admit him into the infirmary tent." "What's with him?" " Was to pieces for a rheumatic attack." "And the hand wound of Captain Franchi?" "I think for a few days we can not rely on the 2nd squadron commander." "Listen to me, Di Bugnano." "The situation is this:" "if at sunset no order has arrived, then prevailed the opinion of Germans, who consider us a negligible entity." "But, it may also be that the Italian command has pretended to forget us, to leave us free to act." "You follow me?" " Yes, colonel." "Listen to me carefully now." "If we receive no orders, at just dark, you'll send two couriers with the precise task of reaching the Lancers of Novara at all costs, and report to that command that we're alone, and without possibility of help, against an enemy four times greater." "Then, we'll remove the unserviceable and injured, with excess horses and wagons, avoiding though to betray any sense of gravity in the camp." "During the night the regiment will arrange in square, in defensive position, and at dawn..." "I don't know..." "I dare not even think of it..." "It will be what the fate wants." "But of one thing I'm certain:" "that from me, to the last man, no one will step back!" "Well, these are the orders!" "A messenger, lieutenant." "Where from?" " From the divisional headquarters." "There is no reply." "Good, thanks, you may go." "Returns the patrol of lieutenant Lisi." " How many men do you see?" " Five." "Excuse me, colonel, from division's command." "Personal for the 1st squadron commander." "Deliver." " Yes sir." "Hold well the horse, to hell with this stirrup!" "Captain." "An envelope for you." "Good!" "From tomorrow all this won't concern me more." "You'll deal with the 1st squadron!" "Tank you, captain!" "News?" " From afar it seems there is no movement in the area." "From afar?" "Didn't you reach the thicket?" " No sir." "I feared that they could spot us, and to avoid that..." "To avoid what?" "The patrols also have the task to detect the enemy location with their fire." "I marvel much, lieutenant Lisi." "But I'd rather think of an inadmissible ignorance, than of other serious reasons." "Do you understand?" "Go!" "Here's another officer who didn't benefit from the pleasant stop at Slovsk." "Right." "There is no sign of movement now." "But if tonight they attest in the woods opposite, no doubt that tomorrow they'll attack here." "Well, the day ended." "Now, the decisions belong to us." "Execute the orders." " Yessir." "If you'll be fine, you'll arrive at 1:00am, and you can be here tomorrow at 5:00 with the Novara regiment." "It'll be all right, Major." "Best of luck!" " Thanks." "Come on you guys, quick to mount on the wagons!" "I predicted you that the wound would reopen!" "Hey you!" " Please, don't let him go with the wagons!" "I'm sure he'll recover." "Well, I leave him to you." "But remember that he won't stand on his legs!" "Albino!" "Now you must be happy!" "I managed to let you stay, and..." "Franchi, I must talk to you." "Go on, I'll catch up later." "What do you want?" "Don't you think it's time to clarify?" "I see no time less suited than this." "Come on!" "Quickly, hurry up!" "Who's there?" "Oh, it's you!" "Out of there!" "On the wagon!" "Go with the others!" "Let me stay marshal, for the charge!" " What charge!" "Get on the wagon I said." "And now!" "Go!" "Walk, sluggard!" "And you, disappear inside!" "Vanish, I say!" "You too, Olivieri." "Don't tire." "You worry for my rheumatic attack, but I can still go on horseback, major!" "If it was this..." " I assure you there's no chance of riding a horse." " No?" "The regiment... was placed in square to play four corners?" " Just a security measure." "Come on, Olivieri, you are the elder, give example!" "Get on the wagon and start the column." "Come on!" "Yessir." " Good." "Yeah!" "By now, I'm no longer useful here!" "I regret... to see you leave, Olivieri." " Thank you, major." "Some others regret even more, to the point of not coming to say goodbye to the column." "I understand, major." "It was a necessary departure, you realize it?" "I realize, major." "I'm taking away... wagons full of ballast," "of no use here." "Good luck, Olivieri." " Good luck, major." "Column, forward!" " Column forward!" "The men on ground, weapons at side, arranged on four sides." "Horses, at center." "I am worried about the two couriers." " I too, colonel." "They saw us!" "Let's get over there!" "We're surrounded!" "The camp must look normal." "Sound taps as every evening." "Indeed, call the bugler." "Bugle!" "Yes, colonel." "Tonight you'll sound non-regulation taps." "Non-regulation?" " Yes, and do it right!" "Yessir!" "You sent for captain Valli?" " Yes, let him in." "At your orders." "How is Albino?" "Well, I didn't let him go with the wagons, I lacked the courage!" "Come forward." "Have an idea of why I sent for you?" "I thought I knew, but now, I don't understand." "Can you tell me how you spent the night before departure?" "Seems pointless, since captain Franchi already informed you to perfection." "Franchi didn't open his mouth, and did wrong." "He had a duty to do so." "I saw the girl come out of your house." "But, I wanted your own confirmation." " I've already admitted." "You're the only one, in the whole regiment, to give a damn about my precise order!" "You admit this too?" "Interests you more the discipline or my future?" "I don't understand." " I speak of Kalina." "What you mean?" "That it wasn't simply a night of..." " No!" "Would be enough one single reason to make ridiculous and absurd these your plans for the future." "You are a soldier at war, and that's it!" "Understood?" "Yes, but of my feelings, I am master, nor can you impose on me your ideas." "Just you, who you were forced to borrow an affection from life." "Sorry." "I didn't mean to get to this." "I thought of doing your own good, as I think to have always done ever since the day when..." "I borrowed you from life." "Is I who apologizes." "I had come here believing..." "What?" "to be entrusted a squadron command." "You'd be entitled to." "But you must realize that at such a time, an old squadron commander like Gavotti is more reliable than a newbie like you, you admit it?" "A promotion in war proves you're able to fulfill the duties of the rank earned." "Listen to me, Giorgio." "Now, I'm not speaking to captain Valli, but to the only sake of my life." "Try to understand me." "The 3rd squadron will be the pennant's ultimate defense, the most sacrificed." "Not one will come out alive!" "Understand?" "No, dad." "Good!" "I'll be proud to see you in command of your horsemen!" "Thank you!" "And I'll be proud to say:" "the third squadron has charged, sir!" "Bravo, Captain Valli." "No, stop!" "Be still." "Don't strain." "Get your head down, good." "I bring you good news." "Listen..." "From tomorrow we will lead the third squadron, you know?" "Captain?" "What is it?" " I was in the services, now they passed me to the 3rd squadron." "Well?" "Now, you're the commander, and I would like to ask you..." "You're trembling!" "What's the matter?" "I don't know." "I don't know!" "But I do know!" "You are afraid!" "Yes." "It's true, I'm afraid!" "And that's why I ask you..." " How many months at the front?" "Eleven months." "And it's only now that..." "No." "Is already for some time... from..." "From SIovsk." "Yes, it was there." "There, I thought for the first time, after so many months, that I'm only 20!" "Enough, Lisi!" "All this doesn't concern me!" "You remain at your place." "Alright?" "# Good night, Mom..." "# Good night..." "The enemy is concentrating its forces in the sunflower scrubs in the woods beyond the opposite hills." "As I expected." "And, as weapons?" " Seem light mortars and machine guns." "Thanks, go." "About the Novara now, no more hope." "Gather the squadron commanders!" "Listen." "Likely the enemy will try now, with sampling shots, to get an idea of our forces, but we will not fire a single gunshot." "What is sure is that it will attack." "So we have two choices only:" "either retreat or charge." "It's a desperate action taking us with just swords and hand grenades against machine guns and mortars." "At six o'clock, favored by the hills that hide us, you'll swoop on the thicket, and in three successive waves, so as to give the enemy a sense of continuous pressing of our forces in battle." "I will lead the third squadron, the pennant will always be at my side." "The 4th and the 5th squadron will stay here, ready to intervene with combined action of encirclement of the bush." "Major Gavotti," "I'm very sorry, won't be among us, because transferred." "Now, I will only have to remind you that the pennant of our regiment, in 3 centuries of its glorious history, has never been in the hands of the enemy." "Officer gentlemen, to your posts!" "Captain." "Here, I bring you Morello." "Hopefully will replace with honor Albino." "Yes, but it's definitely not my Albino!" "Albino!" "Squadrons, at attention!" "On horseback!" "On horseback!" "On the ball, Albino!" "Sword in hand!" "Present arms!" "Shoulder arms!" "Squadrons, attention!" "I read you a dispatch just arrived from the Italian Headquarters." ""To you is entrusted the honor of Italian arms."" "Present swords!" "Pennant to the wind!" "Raise swords!" "First Squadron, walk!" "Second Squadron, walk!" "Third Squadron, walk!" "Third Squadron, trot!" "Captain Valli, one more saber at your orders!" "Thanks, major Gavotti!" "Third Squadron, gallop!" "Gallop!" "First Squadron, charge!" "Charge!" "Second Squadron, charge!" "Third Squadron, charge!" "Franchi!" "Franchi!" "Hold me Albino, you!" "Franchi!" "Listen, Franchi!" "What do you have?" "Tell me!" "Take heart, Franchi!" "Nothing..." " What's wrong?" " Tell me, why is there so much fog?" "Yes... there is always, in Milan." "Is raving..." "let's get him to the camp!" "Come here!" "Put him on the saddle!" "Come on!" "Sir, the center gives way, but the wings still hold!" "Call the 4 th and 5 th Squadron!" " Yes, sir!" "Situation?" " The enemy still seems uncertain." "We'd only need another half squadron!" "But there is no more hope in the Novara!" "Look over there, Di Bugnano!" "But is the Novara, Colonel!" " No!" "Is Olivieri with the wounded and the orderlies!" "Watch out, marshal!" "Hey!" "Beautiful the charge, huh?" "The pennant!" "How you doing, sir?" "How you doing?" "The pennant!" " It's safe, it is in our hands!" "It's Albino!" " Yes, it's Albino." "He seeks me!" "He's wounded to the eyes." "Come sir, let us bring you to the camp." "No, it's useless!" "Say to Major Gavotti that I return him the command of his squadron." "To you Zatella, I entrust Albino." "Don't think about it, captain." "Tell the Colonel ..." "Captain!" "Colonel!" "The wings have yielded!" "The enemy abandons weapons and is retreating to the river!" "Give order to captain Valli to..." "Present swords!" "Raise swords!" "The third squadron went to the charge, Colonel." "Good, captain Valli." "Walk...!" "English subs by edam17@KG"