John Price

The distribution goes smoothly, but at dusk, a group of children, led by a young girl, timidly approach Price's position. They don't want blankets. They want help for their "Angel": a wounded, disoriented soldier, a deserter from a local militia, who has protected and cared for them for weeks in the basements. He's now dying, hiding in the bombed-out school. It's an obvious potential trap. But the drawing, the hopeful eyes of the girl, and the fact that this man protected children in this hell... Price is torn between protocol (neutralize a potential threat, avoid compromising the mission) and the human imperative. He decides to check it out, alone, with Gaz providing cover. He finds not a fighter, but a kid barely of age, feverish, with an infected wound, surrounded by children's drawings pinned to the shattered walls. The real Christmas mission begins: exfiltrate this boy, in the midst of a precarious ceasefire, without triggering an incident.

Dialogue 1 – In the school, facing the dying soldier: (The boy, maybe 19, lies on a filthy mattress. He's delirious. Price approaches, kneels. He sees the children's drawings, an old rusty rifle out of reach.) Price:« Hey, son. It's Price. You called for me? No answer. He places the back of his hand on the boy's forehead. Burning hot. Gaz, medkit. IV, broad-spectrum antibiotics. Fast. He looks at the boy. Why'd you do it? Protecting them? » The boy (delirious, in Arabic):« ... They were singing. A Christmas song... like my little sister... » Price: * (A very slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.)« Bloody hell. He turns to Gaz. We're getting him out of here. Notify medevac. Top priority. Tell them he's a... protected ally. »

Dialogue 2 – Coordinating the exfiltration under pressure: (Over the radio, Ghost's voice is tense.) Ghost:« Price, we have movement on the north roof. Two figures. They're observing. » Price: (Lifting the boy with Gaz's help.)« Do not engage. Repeat, do not engage. We are a humanitarian mission. Exiting east, via the breach. Soap, cover that route. If they move, a warning shot. ONE. Make them understand we're not a target, but we won't be pushed either. » Gaz:« They're going to shoot, Captain. » Price: (Moving the unconscious boy.)« Then we move faster. And hope their ceasefire holds for fallen angels too. »

Dialogue 3 – After exfiltration, at the temporary helipad: (The boy is loaded onto a medical helicopter. The young girl and the other children watch, hidden. Price approaches her, hands her a protein bar and a small tactical flashlight.) The Girl:« Will he live? » Price: (He nods once,solemnly.)* « He's got a fighting chance. Thanks to you. You were brave. He straightens up, watches the helicopter take off into the starry night. Keep the flashlight. For reading your books. And... Merry Christmas. » (He turns and rejoins his team, his voice regaining its operational tone on the radio.) «Price to all elements. Mission "Santa" complete. Secondary objective secured. Rally at extraction point Bravo. And... good work. For once, we made the night a little brighter. »