Kalashnikov

By

Robert Sloan

Robert Sloan
4317 Winderlakes Drive
Orlando, FL 32835
robcsloan@gmail.com
INT. SOVIET ENGINEERING OFFICE - DAY - 1949
A Soviet Officer COLONEL BLAGONRAVOV, fifties, and a
Propaganda Reporter SERGEY NIKITIN, mid-thirties, walk
briskly through a Soviet Military Engineering office.
Sergey’s photographer, PAVEL, early-twenties, struggles to
keep pace as he fiddles with his camera. They move across
the building to the far end of the room, where MIKHAIL
KALASHNIKOV, thirty, stands at his drafting table.
SERGEY NIKITIN
Keep up.
PAVEL
I’m trying. Camera’s being-
Pavel stops himself as he realizes Sergey wasn’t looking for
an excuse. The trio stops when they reach Mikhail’s desk. A
disassembled AK-47 is at rest on top.
COLONEL BLAGONRAVOV
Comrade Kalashnikov.

Mikhail turns from his table, stands at attention, and

salutes.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Sir.

COLONEL BLAGONRAVOV
At ease, Comrade.
As Mikhail relaxes, he looks past the General to see the two
new faces. The General takes notice.

COLONEL BLAGONRAVOV
From the paper, The Red Star, this
is Sergey Nikitin and his
associate-

PAVEL
Pavel, sir.
COLONEL BLAGONRAVOV
They would like to ask you some
questions.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Absolutely, sir.
Sergey takes his cue and eagerly steps forward with a
notepad in hand. Colonel Blagonravov watches on, curiously.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

SERGEY NIKITIN
Comrade Kalashnikov, we want to
thank you for your dedication to
the Motherland. The article we want
to publish is going to be used to
inspire others; to use your example
and show everyone that we are a
strong country.
Sergey’s passion impresses Mikhail.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
I’m honored. What is it you would
like to know?
Sergey pauses briefly, examining his query before asking.

SERGEY NIKITIN
What was your inspiration for the
design of the Avtomat Kalashnikova
model 1947? Your design that has
changed the stance of our country’s
military might.

Mikhail is taken back for a moment, sitting back down on his

stool. He glances over to Colonel Blagonravov for approval
before giving his answer. As he speaks, Mikhail reassembles
the parts of the AK that are on his desk.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
A lot of soldiers ask me how one
can become a constructor, and how
new weaponry is designed. These are
very difficult questions. Each
designer seems to have his own
path, his successes and failures.
But one thing is clear: before
attempting to create something new,
it is vital to have a good
appreciation of everything that
already exists in this field.

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - DAY - OCT. 1941

Mikhail leans back in a small wooden chair smoking a
cigarette outside a cafe that has been converted into a
makeshift barracks.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)
I, myself, have had many
experiences confirming this to be
so.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

IVAN, late teens, darts across the cratered square with a

paper held out in front of him. Mikhail slowly rises as Ivan
closes in on him. Ivan reaches Mikhail, out of breath.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)
It started in Bryansk, where I was
temporarily stationed after the
Battle of Brody.
IVAN
Sergeant Kalashnikov.

Ivan hands over the folded papers.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Ivan, I’m your tank commander, not
a general. You can use my first
name.
Mikhail quickly reads over the correspondence, throws down
his cigarette, and marches over to DMITRI DEMIDOV, twenties,
who is also smoking a cigarette, on a T-34 tank.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Dmitri! Start her up, we’ve got
orders.
Dmitri sits still. Ivan follows behind Mikhail.

DMITRI DEMIDOV
Why always so strict, Mikhail? It’s
never "Dmitri, please start up the
tank," or "Dmitri, please stop
smoking all my cigarettes." You
could be nicer, you know.
Dmitri hops down from the tank.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
You’re smoking my cigarettes again?

IVAN
He offered me one, but I said no.
Mikhail turns to Ivan, chuckles, then hits Dmitri.

DMITRI DEMIDOV
Ouch.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Get in there.
 4.

INT. KALASHNIKOV’S T-34 TANK - DAY

Mikhail’s T-34, though rugged, is in good order. There is
clear evidence of custom modifications to some of the
instrumentation. There are a few small pictures of the
crew’s family members stuck to the hull, but nothing around
the scope, Mikhail’s post. Dmitri leans back into his canvas
seat as Mikhail comes down from the top hatch.
DMITRI DEMIDOV
So, where to boss?

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Desna River. We’re meeting up with
Lieutenant-General Yeremenko at the
dock.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)

I was ordered to rendezvous with
the commander of the 50th Army, and
therefore the commander of the
entire Bryansk Front. No details
were given, just go and assist.

CUT TO:

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - DAY

Mikhail’s T-34 tank drives off toward the river.

EXT. DESNA RIVER SHORE - DAY

The Desna shore is crawling with Russian Soldiers. The dock
has freshly delivered supplies, but the supply crates are
dilapidated and disheveled. Soldiers are also coming up from
the shoreline carrying crates of weapons that are dripping
wet or covered in mud.

Mikhail’s T-34 rolls to a stop a short distance from the

dock. Mikhail comes out of the top hatch, jumps down from
the tank, and steps over to where LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
YEREMENKO, late-fourties, is talking to another soldier.
Mikhail plants his feet and salutes.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Senior-Sergeant Kalashnikov, 24th
Tank Regiment, 12th Division, 8th
Mechanized Corps, reporting, sir.
General Yeremenko looks up at Mikhail.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Thank you Sergeant, you may stand
at-ease.
General Yeremenko finishes his brief conversation as Mikhail
relaxes. Once finished, Yeremenko turns back to Mikhail.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Comrade Kalashnikov, was it?
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Yes sir.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Yes, I need you to provide an
armored escort back to Bryansk.
Damn Nazis pushed us across the
Desna, and without enough boats,
some soldiers had to swim across.
We’ve lost a considerable number of
weapons, an unaccounted for number
of men, and even those that have
made it across are too weak to put
up much of a fight.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Do you have an idea about where are
the Germans are heading?

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Oh they’re coming to Bryansk, but
since they have to ferry across the
river, they won’t be able to attack
in full force until midday
tomorrow. But in case a small
element rushes across to attack us
while we are reorganizing, I need
you to protect the convoy. I’ll
brief you more tonight. For now,
let’s get everyone safely to the
city.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Yes sir.
Mikhail salutes the General and goes back to his T-34.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)

A final count showed that nearly
fifty percent of the weaponry had
been lost in the river, or was too
damaged to function. And about a
third of those that left the far
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.) (cont’d)

shore, didn’t survive the long swim
across.

INT. BRYANSK CAFE/BARRACKS - NIGHT

The dimly lit Bryansk Cafe has been converted to a makeshift

barracks and military headquarters. Lieutenant-General
Yeremenko, Mikhail, MAJOR ALEXANDROV, late-thirties, and a
number of other officers huddle at a table with a map of the
city on it.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Scouts reporting in say that the
Nazi forces will be completely
across the river by morning. I’d
bet that they make their assault by
noon.
Yeremenko drags his finger down a street on the map.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Bombing debris and roadblocks will
force tank divisions down this
road. If we cut them off there,
they will have to travel around the
city to get into the fight. This
puts us at an advantage early on.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Sir, the 8th Corps stationed ten
T-34s and thirty-one KV-1 units
here after Brody.
Yeremenko nods in approval.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
Excellent. We need to put the KV-1s
around the edge of the city to take
on the German’s diverted cavalry.
Their heavy armor will stand up
much better. T-34s will stay inside
the city as infantry support.
MAJOR ALEXANDROV
General, what about our infantry?
We have two-thirds the men the
Germans do, and we can only arm
half of that.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
We’ll double them up. Two soldiers
to a rifle.

Major Alexandrov is appalled.

MAJOR ALEXANDROV
They’ll be slaughtered against the
Nazi’s assault rifles!

Yeremenko takes offense to his orders being contested.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO
When one falls, the other can pick
up their comrade’s rifle and keep
fighting! They will proudly die for
the Motherland.
Yeremenko and Alexandrov continue to argue with each other.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)
Even if General Yeremenko were to
know how many men he would lose, I
doubt his strategy could have
changed anyway.

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - 10:43AM

A thin layer of fog rests atop the snowy square. Pairs of
Russian soldiers wait, anxiously, in small craters. Another
pair rushes across the square past Mikhail’s T-34.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)

We were positioned in the center of
Bryansk, the eye of the storm. The
uneasy tranquility there made the
impending chaos unbearable for
some.

INT. KALASHNIKOV’S T-34 TANK - 10:44AM

Dmitri and Mikhail are calmly waiting in there positions,
peering out of the viewport and scope to spot any German
movement. Ivan fidgets, uneasily as the radio alerts them to
the German’s advance.
IVAN
Good thing were inside a tank.

Ivan laughs briefly to himself. He looks to Mikhail, who

hasn’t moved. As he turns back, Dmitri is looking right at
him.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

DMITRI DEMIDOV
Calm yourself, Ivan. Victories are
only determined at the end of the
battle.

Dmitri turns back around as the radio comes to life.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO (V.O)
(over the radio)
A small group of infantry has
broken through the front lines.
They were spotted heading south
through the city.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Let me know, Dmitri.

Dmitri moves closer to the viewport to get a better look.

DMITRI DEMIDOV
You got it.
Ivan has stopped fidgeting, and is positioned to load a
munitions shell.

EXT. BRYANSK CITY STREET - 10:45AM

Six Nazis run down a street, armed with StG44s, the
automatic rifle of the Germans.

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - 10:45AM

The German soldiers appear from the corner, already aiming
their rifles in the direction of the Russian line. Shortly
after breaching the clearing, they open fire.
The Russian pairs fire back, as one Russian soldier is
quickly killed.

INT. KALASHNIKOV’S T-34 TANK - 10:45AM

Mikhail spots the Nazi force as they enter the square.

DMITRI DEMIDOV
Boss!
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
I see them. Ivan, load. Dmitri,
thirty-six degrees right, mark four
above the horizon.
 9.

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - 10:45AM

The tank’s turret rotates to meet the target as the
automatic fire barrage kills a second Russian soldier.

INT. KALASHNIKOV’S T-34 TANK - 10:46AM

Ivan locks the firing mechanism and moves his hand to the
trigger.

IVAN
Loaded.
DMITRI DEMIDOV
Set.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Fire!

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - 10:46AM

The tank’s barrel erupts with fire as the squad across the
square takes a direct hit. The snowy earth blasts upward,
revealing all of the Germans to be dead as it settles.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL YEREMENKO (V.O)
(over the radio)
German units have broken through.
In the opposite corner another group of Nazis come out
shooting, catching the entrenched Russians off guard. Two
are quickly dispatched.

INT. KALASHNIKOV’S T-34 TANK - 10:46AM

Mikhail spots the new threat.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Reload! Dmitri, seventy-six to the
left, mark two below the horizon.
The crew responds to the orders, and the turret rotates back
around to take out the Nazi forces.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Fire!
 10.

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - 10:46AM

As the second squad of Germans is annihilated, a German
anti-tank squad spins around the corner the first Nazi group
occupied with a Nazi Panzerschrek. Its target, Mikhail’s
T-34. Once braced, the soldier fires.

EXT. BRYANSK TOWN SQUARE - 10:52AM

Mikhail rests against a wall on the side of the town square,

his right shoulder is drenched in his crimson blood. Ivan
stoops next to him, yelling. He sees Dmitri rush through the
smoke of the burning tank, carrying two rifles. As he
reaches Mikhail, he lays one on Mikhail’s lap. Dmitri grabs
Ivan by the shirt and yanks him close. He points at Mikhail
and shouts at Ivan. He then quickly runs off to join the
fight. Mikhail blacks out.
FADE TO BLACK

INT. FIELD HOSPITAL - DAY - NOV. 1941

The field hospital is a large open room, with formerly-white
drapery separating patients. Mikhail lies in a hospital bed
with his shoulder wrapped in gauze. His wound still oozes,
as blood is seeping through his bandages. A NURSE, twenties,
notices his discomfort, and makes her way to his side.
NURSE
You need to relax, soldier.

She touches the bandage to test its saturation.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Junior Sergeant Dmitiri Demidov.
Did he make it?

NURSE
I’m sorry, I don’t know. I’m going
to go get you fresh bandages.
As the Nurse leaves, a voice from behind the curtain speaks.

IVAN (O.S.)
No, Dmitri didn’t make it. He died
in Bryansk.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
Ivan?
Ivan pulls back the curtain separating them.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

IVAN
Yeah. I got a bullet in my thigh
hauling you out. Lucky me, right?
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
You made it though. What happened
to Dmitri?
IVAN
The rifle he had as I was hauling
you across the square wouldn’t
fire. It either jammed, or was
damaged, or something. He never had
a chance.
Ivan lets go of the curtain between the two, separating them
again. Mikhail simply stares at the ceiling.

INT. FIELD HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Mikhail moves around attempting to sleep.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)

I couldn’t sleep for days. Every
time I closed my eyes there were
faces of other soldiers that died
that day. They called out for help,
and I could do nothing.

INT. FIELD HOSPITAL - DAY

Mikhail is sitting up in his bed, drawing on scraps of
paper.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)

Eventually I found what I needed to
do. Design an assault rifle,
rugged, yet functional.

INT. SOVIET ENGINEERING OFFICE - DAY - JAN. 1944 (SERIES OF

SHOTS)
A) Mikhail stands at his desk, intently drawing his design,
erasing bits, and redrawing.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)
I transferred to the Kalinin
Artillery Military Academy and
began drafting my first design.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

B) Mikhail handles various weapons; the German StG44, the M1

Garand, and the M1 Carbine.
C) Mikhail works with the chamber mechanism, but gets
frustrated and tosses the rifle to the table.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (V.O.)

I tried a dozen different models
that were all rejected. But they
all served as a path to the final
design.

D) Mikhail looks at a loaded round for the AK-47, a 7.62 x

39mm shell.
Mikhail stands, holding a version of the AK, in front of two
high-ranking officers, one being Colonel Blagonravov. He
demonstrates the receiver of the rifle, and hands it over
for them to try for themselves.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
The design is relatively simple.
The large parts move easily, and
don’t trap dirt or mud, so jamming
is no longer a major concern.
Proper balance makes it more
comfortable to shoot with, and
allows for better accuracy. It is
so easy to use a child could shoot
one-
Colonel Blagonravov looks up startled.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
-were one so inclined.

Colonel Blagonravov handles the weapon a little more, then

hands it off to his associate.
COLONEL BLAGONRAVOV
I’m proud of you Comrade
Kalashnikov. And you should be
proud too.

INT. SOVIET ENGINEERING OFFICE - DAY - 1949

Mikhail stares at his drawing and runs his fingers across

the paper, as if to feel the edges of the weapon.
MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV
I wanted to invent an engine that
could run forever. I could have
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV (cont’d)

developed a new train, had I stayed
in the railway. It would have
looked like the AK-47, though.
Sergey, Pavel, and the Colonel chuckle.

SERGEY NIKITIN
That is great, Comrade. Now, lets
get a picture of you at your desk.
Pavel?
Sergey turns to Pavel, who steps forward and lifts his
camera.
PAVEL
Ready.

Mikhail stands at his desk, his hand still on his drawing.

PAVEL
A little more towards your desk.
Perfect.

Pavel’s camera flashes.

A single, black and white photograph is seen of Mikhail in
the same pose in 1949. Beneath it reads a quote:
"My work is my life, and my life is my work. I invented this
assault rifle to defend my country. Today, I am proud that
it has become, for many, synonymous with liberty."
FADE OUT:
THE END