[Bruno and Friedrich sit on wooden boxes in a trench. Bruno looks up to the stars. Friedrich loads bullets into an empty clip guide]

Bruno: “Have you seen the stars tonight?”
Friedrich: “No, we should prepare for tomorrow.”
Bruno: “Must be really nice up there, looking down on us with nothing to worry about.”
Friedrich: “You should get some sleep.”
Bruno: “Oh lighten up. There will be plenty of time for that after tomorrow.”
Friedrich: “I hope you mean when the war is over.”
[Smiles] Bruno: “We both know I won’t make it tomorrow with this leg.”
[Takes another empty clip guide and begins to load it] Friedrich: “You will make it. I will protect you.”
[Turns to face Friedrich] Bruno: “No, you won’t.”
Friedrich: “That is not for you to decide.”
Bruno: “I will slow you down.”
Friedrich: “That does not matter to me.”
Bruno: “The enemy will not be so thoughtful.”
[Take a deep breath, takes another empty clip guide and begins to load it] Friedrich: “I do not need for them to be so thoughtful.”

[Silence. Bruno turns his head back up to the stars. Friedrich continues to load bullets into the clip guide]

Bruno: “I am at peace with it Friedrich.”
[Stop loading] Friedrich: “I know you are, but I am not.”
Bruno: “This war, it took everything away from me, except you. How would I feel if you were killed because of me?”
[Turns to face Bruno]Friedrich: “If you die then what would become of me?”
Bruno: “Your brother. The one you were separated from when you were young, before your father adopted you. Go find him and be happy together.”
Friedrich: “I’ve spent long enough trying to find him. I cannot lose what I’ve never known.”
Bruno: “But you did know him. You just got separated when you were young that is all. There is still something to live for in this!”
Friedrich: “And you don’t?”
Bruno: “What do I have to live for? Everyone I loved is dead. Even if I survive this war, with this leg, I would only be able to get work as a beggar on the street.”
[Turns up to look at the stars] Friedrich: “You can figure that out when you survive. Besides, I need you, my family is dead too.”

[Long silence]

Bruno: “Give me your sidearm.”
[Turns to face Bruno] Friedrich: “What? Why?”
Bruno: “Just give it to me!”
[Gives Bruno his pistol] Friedrich: “Why?”
[Gives Friedrich his Stg 44] Bruno: “I want you to have this. They give it to some of the most well-trained and best veterans in the armed forces. I don’t have any ammunition for it, so you’ll have to pick some up along the way.”
Friedrich: “I don’t need this.”
Bruno: “You will when fights turn into close-quarters combat. It fires a good number of rounds per second and it is pretty accurate too.”
[Looks at the Stg 44. Speaks silently] Friedrich: “Are you sure?”
Bruno: “More sure than anything in my life.”

[Long silence]

Bruno: “You need to find your brother Friedrich. I know you won’t be happy until you do.”
Friedrich: “I doubt I’ll survive this war too, you know…”
Bruno: “Then desert. Life is what you make of it.”
[Looks around] Friedrich: “What? Quiet! Are you crazy? You want to be shot?”
Bruno: “Ha ha! It doesn’t matter for me anymore. But this should be your life goal from now… I think.”
[Turns to face Bruno] Friedrich: “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
[Turns to face Friedrich] Bruno: “If I don’t make it tomorrow. You should pack whatever you can find and leave.”
Friedrich: “And where will I go? What will I do?”
Bruno: “Anywhere! Find your brother!”
Friedrich: “You are mad! I don’t even know if he’s still alive.”
Bruno: “But it is worth finding out.”

[Both men look at each other in silence]

Bruno: “There is a small hole under a tree in sector 3. You remember that tree where we saw Hermann fall over yesterday?”
Friedrich: “Yes.”
Bruno: “Good. I packed a week worth of food and water with a Panzershrek under that tree. You head over there right away if anything happens to me.”
Friedrich: “I won’t leave you!”
Bruno: “You will! You must! I will not forgive myself if you did anything else! You joined this war to make sure I was safe, how could I live on if anything happened to you?”
Friedrich: “But…”
Bruno: “Will you do this? For me?”
[Short pause] Friedrich: “Yes.”
Bruno: “Good. Very good…”

[Both men turn their heads towards the stars]

Bruno: “Have you seen the stars tonight?”
Friedrich: “There are so many…”
Bruno: “One more to join them tomorrow.”