Ep 3. My Rock, My Fortress

The show Valley of Tears is an Israeli drama that depicts the 1973 Yom Kippur War, chronicling the experiences of young Israeli soldiers who fought in the conflict. Season one episode three, titled "My Rock, My Fortress," follows the story of two soldiers, Yossi and Moti, who are tasked with guarding a vital bridge in the Golan Heights.

As the episode begins, Yossi and Moti are patrolling the bridge when they hear strange noises coming from nearby. They investigate and find an injured Syrian soldier hiding in the bushes. The soldier begs them for water, and after some hesitation, they give him some. Yossi is reluctant to help the enemy, but Moti insists that they have a duty to offer aid to a wounded person, regardless of nationality.

The tension between Yossi and Moti continues to simmer as they settle back into their guard duties. Yossi, who is still grieving the loss of his friends in the previous episode, is on edge and prone to outbursts of anger. Moti, meanwhile, tries to maintain a positive attitude and keep his spirits up. The two men discuss their personal lives and dreams for the future, bonding in spite of their differences.

Throughout the episode, the tension builds as both sides prepare for an imminent attack. The Israelis are low on ammunition and supplies, and morale is starting to falter. Yossi and Moti are forced to make difficult decisions about when and how to use their limited resources. Meanwhile, the Syrian soldier they encountered earlier continues to haunt Yossi, who sees him as a symbol of the enemy's humanity and his own vulnerability.

In the final act of the episode, the war arrives at the bridge in full force. The Syrians launch a fierce assault, using tanks and artillery to try to break through Israeli lines. Yossi and Moti fight bravely, using their training and cunning to hold off the enemy. In the chaos of battle, they realize that they need to work together in order to survive. Moti provides cover fire while Yossi runs to fetch more ammunition. Yossi, in turn, pulls Moti to safety when he's injured. The two men, once divided by their differences, become a united front.

As the battle nears its end, Yossi spots the same Syrian soldier they encountered earlier, now armed and intent on killing him. Yossi is initially paralyzed by fear, but he ultimately finds the strength to overpower his enemy. In a moment of catharsis, Yossi realizes that he and the Syrian soldier are both human beings with families and lives beyond the battlefield. He weeps as he puts the man out of his misery.

The episode ends with Yossi and Moti victorious but emotionally raw from the intensity of the battle. They hug each other tightly, relieved to be alive but aware that their lives will never be the same again. "My Rock, My Fortress" is a poignant and harrowing depiction of the brutal realities of war and the bonds that form between soldiers in the face of adversity.