28. June 1914 – around 9:30 (Serbia)

A dusty path with small houses on both sides. Voices of people going about their day mix with the sounds of animals and birds. A lone old woman, covered with a large scarf slowly walks the path with a help of a cane. The woman passes near a familiar looking house.

"I'm glad I did this. It's necessary for a kingdom to be in touch with the feelings of its people" the old woman thinks as we look at her wrinkled very life-like mask. She sighs: "Still, I can't shake the feeling that I should..."

"Mama, why is the baby in your belly? Can't you lay eggs like the chickens" a squeaky child's voice is heard.

"You silly" an equally squeaky voice replies. "Mama's baby is too big to fit inside an egg."

A chuckle follows. "Perhaps that's the way it's supposed to be, my love. Different beings bring life in different ways."

"But why?" the boy continuous.

The amused granny moves closer and observes the speakers. A young woman is sitting next to the house with a little girl touching her large stomach. The younger boy is playing with some rocks near the flower garden.

The woman smiles and states: "I carry your brother or sister inside, near my heart and soul, just like I carried the two of you."

Before the boy can speak again the old woman coughs loudly. The family sharply turns in her direction. "Are you alright granny?" the woman says standing up.

"I'm fine my dear. Would you give a weary traveler a glass of water?" she says with a crackling voice.

Next scene: The small table is set. We see a jug filling a glass with water. Next to it is some cottage cheese and bread. A hand covered with the dark scarf takes it and drinks it in one gulp. "May your hands turn to gold" the old woman says to her hostess. The woman smiles and sits down with her. The children are too shy to talk. They quietly play a few steps away.

"So what brings you to this village?" the woman inquires.

"I went to the local monastery and now I'm heading back home. My poor old bones are aching" the old woman says theatrically.

"I see."

"Were you born here?"

"No, I came after I got married..." the woman says and hears the gate open. It is her husband carrying the equipment. Seeing the old woman, he bows his head and stands confused.

The woman turns to her guest. "Please forgive my husband. He isn't very chatty with strangers."

The old woman turns to him and jokes: "I hope I am not too scary for you young man."

The husband smiles nervous and sits at the table. "I was working...I mean, I know it's a holiday but the crops need to be watered...and...and my wife can't do it because of the stomach..." he rambles on with his head down. His wife comforts him by patting his strong back.

"I understand" she says with her granny voice. "You are very lucky to have such a caring husband" she addresses the hostess.

She smiles: "We have to rely on each other. Especially, since his mother died. This will be the first child I will raise without her help. What can we do." The man sighs sad. His wife looks at him with empathy.

After maybe half an hour, the man finally opens up. "My battalion didn't even have enough beds. I usually slept on the floor. We lacked everything and mostly ate cabbage and beans" we hear him tell their guest about his time in the Balkan Wars.

The old woman listens to him carefully. "Perhaps, the government did not have enough money to equip everyone" she says serious.

"They certainly had money for politicians and foreign officials" the woman says. "Not to mention people who come from abroad. They can pick and chose which job they want and a house along with it. Unlike, us...Sadly, that is the country we live in" the woman continues bitter.

The old woman, who you obviously figured is Serbia by now, clutches her cane uneasy. "Yes, that is true" she utters sad.

"Still, it's much better than when my parents were young" the man adds. "No one is raiding our houses or stealing from our fields and we have our own kingdom."

"Yes. Things are changing for the better. Our daughter will start school soon. She will have an opportunity to become somebody when she grows up" the woman says glancing at the little girl.

The old woman smiles. Observing the small family, her heart fills with joy. "I am glad to hear you are optimistic" she concludes.

Then, amid this idyllic scene, a voice in the back of her mind starts echoing "Let it burn" louder and louder. Her heart stops as she finally realizes the severity of the threat.

The two look at her confused. "Are you alright?" the woman asks.

"I'll be going now. I have a long way ahead" she abruptly says and stands up using her cane. The young couple jumps up to help her.

"Do you need someone to take you home granny?" the woman asks. "No, no, my dear. I'll be fine. Goodbye" Serbia replies in her granny voice, obviously in a hurry.

Back on the path, Serbia moves faster and faster until she starts running, leaving a trail of dust behind her. The young couple looks on amazed.

"That is one fast old woman" the man says to which the woman nods with her mouth open.

Next scene: In some bushes, we see Serbia crouching as she tries to get through as quickly as possible. Her clothes are torn, her mask slips from all the sweat and her cane is long gone.

"Good, the boarder patrol seems relaxed. Nothing has happened. Let's hope nothing will" she thinks clearing some branches.

Next scene: 11 am. On the outskirts of Sarajevo, she runs in clothes that now resemble drags and a completely ruined wig. Two shots are heard, making her stop. Women start to scream as the commotion becomes louder. We see her horrified unmasked face. She falls to the ground exhausted. "It happened and I'm too late" she whispers kneeling. The frame fades to black.

"Too late."

28. June 1914 – around 11 am (Sarajevo)

A young man stands near a deli shop. He is 19 years old and sickly looking. Little do others around him know what thoughts occupy his mind.

Flashback: Six young men shoot targets in the middle of the night supervised by a senior military officer. Among them is the young men in question, Gavrilo Princip.*

{BTW the correct pronunciation of his last name is P-R-I-N-C-I-P, like principle without the 'le'}

When they compare their targets, one of the boys remarks snickering: "Your aim is terrible Gavrilo."

"You must be blind as a bat" another adds.

He smiles embarrassed. "It's hard to see in the dark" he says quietly.

Next scene: A few hours later, in some sort of an underground layer, the boys recite a pledge with their hand on their heart with sincerity. Each with their own reason for accepting the dangerous mission.

The very same officer from before, Dragutin Dimitrijević Apis* (Драгутин Димитријевић Апис), then gives them the grenades, guns and cyanide and sends them on their way. He is the founder of their movement, Young Bosnia.

{I didn't write a lot about him, but he is very crucial for Serbia's political life of this time. For this reason, I suggest you research him on your own because, schemy as he was, I really don't have time to flesh out his character. Anyway moving on.}

Next scene: Earlier that day. People have gathered to see the Archduke and his wife. The would-be assassins, along with one more member, have been placed strategically along the planned route. The open-top limo moves passing a few of them but nothing happens. Finally a hand grenade explodes near the car. Screams are heard as the unharmed couple is rushed to safety. Gavrilo Princip hears this and sighs. Their plan has failed. They have failed. Perhaps it would be wise to leave and avoid suspicion.

End of flashback: Looking at him, we cannot really know how he feels. Relieved or disappointed, it doesn't matter. Gavrilo can do nothing now except blend in with the crowd. He sees an old friend and starts chatting. He doesn't think about the gun is still hidden away in his jacket. It begins to feel like another ordinary day.

Suddenly, he hears cheers. The open-top limo turns to that very same narrow street he is in. His eyes open wide. "Could it be? Is this possible?" the young man thinks astounded.

"Is this a sign? What else could it be? Should I act?" he continues his train of thought as things unwind in slow motion. At that very same moment, the car, as if by command, stops right in front of him. The target is within an arms reach. He is so close he can look them straight in the eyes. There is no way he can miss.

We see Princip push a few people in front of him away and fire two shots. The frame turns to white.

Next scene: We watch poor Serbia clenching her knees prompt next to a wall. Her head is bowed low from devastation and partly because she wants to hide her identity. Her destroyed clothes make her look like a beggar and a few sympathetic people even throw a coin or two her way. The narrator speaks over the scene: "And the rest is...well, history. A few days later the ultimatum came and then the war...But for now let's leave our poor protagonist alone. She will need her strength for what is to come."

Well, here it is. Finally! I decided not to put the part about the sandwich because the story is plausible but not confirmed. As you can tell, there are a lot of things I didn't mention. For some, like Serbia-Russian relations, I don't feel the need to because there is a fan-made comic on DevianArt called 1914 that explains it beautifully and in great detail. Of and "worldwewanted" from Livejournal is also pretty good (use Yandex to find it). For other political intrigues, please check other sources. There have been many documentaries on Serbian TV in the past few years. With a little luck, you may find them online.