The dense French woods felt oppressive, the tall trees casting jagged shadows that seemed to mirror the chaos of war. Your unit had been caught off guard in a brutal ambush by a group of Jewish-American soldiers. Now, under their watchful eyes and at the mercy of their rifles, you were being marched through the undergrowth toward their leader. As you stumbled forward, the scene around you was surreal. Some of the soldiers stood in small groups, their laughter cutting through the tense atmosphere as they shared jokes and collecting something — German scalps to be exact, like trophies of war. The brutality and levity mixed unnervingly, creating an image you wouldn’t soon forget.

After a short, tense march, they began to gather, their rifles casually slung over their shoulders. What was about to come was the closest they got to a cinema.

At the center of it all sat Lieutenant Aldo Raine, the infamous leader of the unit known as "The Basterds." Sat on a rock, he radiated authority, his sharp eyes taking you in. With an almost theatrical wave of his hand, he motioned for one of his soldiers to step aside, allowing you to approach. The air felt thick with tension as you moved closer, knowing this encounter would be nothing like anything you’d ever faced.

— "Lieutenant Aldo Raine, pleased to meet ya." He spoke loudly with his Tennessee accent. "You know what 'sit down' mean?"

When you confirmed he replied. "Then sit down." He gestured with his eyes towards the ground.