Cold Blood Kill – outline:

WWII France. A young French women, Élodie, finds herself the sole survivor of a village massacre perpetrated by Nazi S.S. officers. Their leader attempts to rape her, but both he and his men are shot dead by Allied soldiers, when they stumble upon the scene of the crime. Reluctant to trust anyone, Élodie sets off on a journey with the 7 soldiers, who are racing to reach a vital rendezvous point in preparation for the final assault on Germany.

They stop to rest in a forest. Private Sykes is fascinated by Élodie, but Private Carnaby soon quells his enthusiasm, keen to maintain decorum. There is a palpable tension between all the soldiers. They leave the forest and resume their journey, led by Captain Nordgren and the gruff Sergeant Austin. The soldiers discuss their superiors’ love-hate relationship as they trek through the foreign landscape. Sykes reveals he had married young to a rebellious women he could never tame. Back at the site of the village massacre, one of the soldiers – left for dead by the Allies – comes to and discovers the bodies of his fellow officers.

The group enters another forest, where they narrowly escape detection by more Nazi S.S. soldiers. A mistake by Private Felling almost costs them their lives, and Austin, eager to mete out punishment, is furious when Nordgren intervenes. Shortly afterwards, they stumble across the site of another massacre. Austin is brought to tears by the sight of a pile of dead infants, recently torched by S.S. flamethrowers. Private Cifaretto, always protective of Felling, tries to stop him from witnessing the sight, but the callow soldier persists. The sight leaves him a changed man.

They set up camp for the night in a forest clearing. The following morning, Sykes wakes before the others. He tries to forcefully kiss Élodie, when he finds her alone and emotionally vulnerable in a nearby field. She evades his grasp, and makes her escape, terrified for her safety. Guilt-ridden, Sykes can’t bring himself to pursue her as she flees into the distance. Élodie soon has a close encounter with more S.S. soldiers, but is rescued by Nordgren and his men in the nick of time. The group continues on its way with Élodie in tow, whilst Sykes, growing more unstable, struggles to keep his emotions in check. After hearing gunfire, Reynolds dispatches Austin, Sykes, and Felling to investigate the source. The three men are ambushed, and Austin and Sykes are wounded in the skermish. Felling rescues Austin, but Sykes is left at the mercy of the enemy. Nordgren insists they must continue without Sykes, knowing any rescue attempt is likely to prove futile. Austin, unable to walk, is carried by the men as the group resumes its journey.

Sykes is brought before an S.S. Captain, who is accompanied by the surviving officer from the village massacre. After refusing to divulge mission details, Sykes is shot dead, and a search is mounted to find the Allies. Nordgren and company reach the outskirts of a village, where the S.S. are busy rounding up the locals. They are soon spotted, but manage to escape their clutches. However, when they arrive at their rendezvous point, the other Allied troops are nowhere to be found. The S.S. catch up with them and a battle ensues, which soon claims the lives of Nordgren and another soldier. With hope fast evaporating, Felling makes a heroic last stand, and Ciferatto, Carnaby, and Austin, do their best to protect Élodie in the onslaught. Suddenly, the Allied troops arrive and drive back the S.S., and all three are rescued in the nick of time. Austin is left in a daze, lamenting the deaths of his men.

 Pictures by Magnus Hastings, Tull Kidron, Chris Daw & Graham Burke