Delay_on_Route

Cloak and Dagger is an NBC radio series, a foreign intrigue adventure adapted from the book Cloak and Dagger by Corey Ford and Alistair McBain. Ford also was host of the series. Cloak and Dagger was broadcast from May 7 to October 22, 1950, as part of "a mystery block with several other shows of far inferior quality". The program was sustaining for all 22 episodes

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Are you willing to undertake a dangerousmission behind the enemy lines, knowing that
you may never return alive. Whatyou have just heard is the question asked
during the War of agents of theOS. S. Ordinary citizens to this

(00:23):
question answered yes. This is cloakand dagger, black warfare, espionage,

(00:49):
international intrigue. These are the weaponsof the OSS. Today's adventure delay our
route. The story of an AmericanOSS agent who found himself between two and
fascists held Italy is suggested by actualincidents recorded in the Washington files of the
Office of Strategic Services, a storythat can now be told. That was

(01:14):
a big night in Sturtzer. Weliberated the town that morning, and everybody
was drunk, but not on veno. Those Italian partisans were drunk on something
they hadn't tasted since Mussolini's Black Shirtsmarched on Roman Freedom. There were only
three Fascist officials left in town,and all of them were down on the

(01:36):
village square hanging from a scaffold.I should have been celebrating too, after
all, that was why the OSShad sent me into Italy to help Guido
Gordoni and his partisans wipe out fascists. But sitting there in the tavern that

(01:59):
night with Rosa widow's sister. Mymind was several thousand miles away. So
Robert, you're going to leave ustomorrow? Eh? Oh what Rosa?
The pity boat comes for you tomorrownight, the night after tomorrow night,
Rosa, just forty eight hours it'sgoing to pick me up below Savona.

(02:21):
And you are glad? Was thereever a guy who wasn't glad to go
home home to America? You mean, how can that be? The war
is not over. I've got afurlough coming up, a delay en route
to my next oss assignment. Isee it is nice in America, a

(02:44):
Robert. Yeah, yeah, it'snice, Rosa. It'll be all dumn
when I get back to Vermont.The trees will just be turning. I
would like to see Vermont. Maybeyou Willson then you know what I mean,
Roberto, I would like to seeit with you. Oh sorry,

(03:07):
Rosa. Guido wo over here,Roberto. If Mordino wait, well,
where you been? Wait on?Looking for a fat fascist pig? Alberto

(03:28):
Pelizzo Plitzo, the big shipyard owner. Why would he be in Sturt.
He's got a summer village just abovetown. Thought he might be hiding out
there. I took some of theboys up at the place was empty.
I gotta find him tonight. Whytonight, Roberto, didn't you notice there's
still room for one more on thescaffold in the square. Oh that's right,

(03:51):
I forgot. You haven't been tothe square, have you, Roberto?
No, I haven't. You don'tlike executions. Executions are all right,
it's clinchings. I don't like.Those men were civilians, Guido,
they were FASCISTI. Nevertheless, theywere entitled to a trial. Trial.
If they had caught you, Roberto, would they have given you a trial?

(04:16):
That was the difference between Guido Gordoniand me. He and his partisans
caught fire with fire. They'd neverheard of the democratic process, but I
had, and I believed in it. That was why Guido and I could
fight side by side and respect eachother as soldiers, and yet never become

(04:38):
friends. You've not lived under theFASCISTI, Roberto. You've not had a
wife and child murdered as I have. With the men you hung in the
square. Responsible for that. Everyblack shirt is responsible the men in the
square. Alberto pilats all of them. When Guido gordon He finds them they
pay for their crime. They shouldpay, of course, But but but

(04:59):
but what what what? Roberto?I don't like men who say yes,
but I don't think they can betrusted. Guido, you've no right to
say that to Roberto. Forget it, Rosin. I am leaving all of
you. Soon. You won't haveto trust me much longer. I got

(05:21):
up then, and pushed my waythrough the crowd to the door of the
tavern. I stepped outside. Thenight was beautiful, but not as beautiful
I thought as an autumn night infor month eh. She touched my arm

(05:44):
as she said it. She'd beenstanding very close to me in the shadows
of the tavern wall. I'd neverseen her before, but she was lovely.
You are Signor Mercer. Yes Iam. I wish to talk to
you. Signor. Will you bekind enough to come with me? I

(06:08):
didn't say no. It would havebeen hard to say no under any circumstances.
Besides, her quick, frightened eyestold me it was something important.
Still, I kept my hand closedaround my revolver as she let me down
several dark, deserted streets. Thisis the house, Signor, you will
please go down the steps to thebasement. Oh, you go first,

(06:34):
there is someone inside, but pleasecome in. Do not be alarmed.
I'm not alarmed. Go ahead whenI say. The man who rose to
greet me wasn't armed, and helooked too old and too tired to be

(06:55):
dangerous. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alberto Pilizo. Belisso
young. Lady who brought you hereis my daughter, Maria. It was
good of you to come with hersignor, but it wasn't very wise,
I've heard. Bring me why becauseyou might turn us over to the partisan?
Because I will turn you over tothe partisans? I think not,

(07:17):
Senor No. On the contrary,you will be careful to protect us from
the Partisans. You will take usout of Italy alive. You will see
it. With that we arrive safeand sound in America. What makes you
think so? Is your government informssing your mercer of our recent experiments with

(07:38):
radio guided aeral torpedoes. I don'tknow I could inform them. These experiments
are being conducted in my own laboratories. I know more about them than any
other man in Italy. I seealso a new type of submarine capable of
great underwater speed. All right.Also, the long sought electromagnetic pistol for
torpedoes. All right, all right, I get the point, Poalizo,

(08:01):
I thought you would. You'll turnover this information to Allied intelligence if I
get you safely out of Italy preciselywho well, Signor, I'll have to
think about it. Don't think toolong, Signor, and don't discuss it
with your parties and comrades. Iam quite sure that bloodthirsty Guido Gordoni would

(08:24):
not let my usefulness to the Alliesprevent him from hanging me. He was
right about that. Not that GuidoGordoni was bloodthirsty. He was simply an
angry and bitter man. Nothing inthe world would prevent him from hanging Alberto
Polizzo. Ah, I was prettybetter myself as I headed back to my

(08:48):
room above the tavern. I didn'tlike keeping secrets from Guido, and I
didn't like helping fascists. But Iknew already what I had to do.
I knew that when I went aboardthat Tea boat in forty eight hours,
Palizzo and his daughter will be withme. The os S would want it
that way. Hello, Roberto Rosa, you were gone a long time,

(09:13):
Roberto, What are you doing inmy room waiting for you? I uh,
I went for a walk. Yes, I know, I saw you.
What do you mean you saw me? I was watching from the window
when you walked away from the tavern. Oh is she? Roberto? That's

(09:33):
none of your business? Was Iwill make it my business. Is she
the one who is going with youto America? Is that why you cannot
take me? Is it with herthat you will spend the autumn nights in
Vermont? Rosa, You're a fool. No, you are a fool,
Roberto. You cannot conceal her fromme. I will find her before tomorrow
night. And when I do,yes, when you do. Life is

(10:01):
very cheap in Stuartza these days,Roberto. She meant it. She didn't
make idle threats. She was likeher brother that way. It took me
a long time to fall asleep aftershe was gone. Getting Alberto Pollizzo and
his daughter safely out of Italy wasbeginning to look complicated. The next morning,

(10:26):
it looked even more complicated. Rosatold me what you did last night,
Roberto, and was very stupid togo along with this strange woman.
Ha ha ha. But she wasa beautiful woman, Guido, she might
have led you into a trap.You know there is still FASCISTI and Stuzza,
no important ones. I'm sure themayor, the magistrate, and the

(10:48):
Prefect of police are all hanging inthe square. Who else could there be?
Alberto Pilitzo. What makes you think? You said his villow was empty?
It was, But I don't believehe had time to escape. I
think he's hiding out somewhere in town, and I'm going to search every house,
room by room until I find him, and then you'll string him up

(11:11):
to oh oh with pleasure. Hemight make a valuable prisoner of war.
He's a big wheel in the munitionsand shipping industries. He'd have a lot
of information that would be useful tothe allies. And who would trust the
information of a fascist? Not you? Apparently you're right, not me.
His information would not save him.If I find him, Roberto, I'll

(11:35):
kill him. And that's settled that. There was no question from then on
of letting Guido in on my plans, not if I hope to save Palizzo's
neck and I had to save it. Now, the information that Guido scoffedad
could shorten the war by weeks,months, even years. Ten minutes later

(11:58):
I was knocking at the cellar.Door was open immediately, but not by
Palizzo or his daughter. See Signor, who are you, Dominique? Signor
the owner of this building. Therewas a man and his story here last
night. They are still here,Covin Signor, Ah, good morning,

(12:18):
Signor. We have been waiting foryou. We expected you somewhat earlier than
this. Oh so sorry. I'lltry not to disappoint you. After this,
you are ready, I presume totake us out of Italy. I'd
much prefer to turn you over tomy friends. Oh of course, but
unfortunately your preference is not what matters. Unfortunately, when do we leave,

(12:41):
Signor you live stir such a nightItaly tomorrow night, Signor. We are
grateful. We knew you would notfail. I'm not doing this for you,
naturally, we understand that. Don'tbe my dear, yes, father,
still we will reward Senor. No, you in your way and I
mine. Let's cut the talk,shall we. You've got to get out

(13:03):
of here, Get out now,you mean, but you said to no,
you can't stay in this cellar tillthen You'll have to find a new
place to hide? Why because thepartisans are looking for you. They're covering
stirts a house by house. No, they do not know where we are.
They think you might be. They'renot taking any chances on letting you
escape. They want to string youup where you belong? Well, can
we go signor how can we hide? I don't know yet. I thought

(13:24):
maybe that right. We are trappedin here unless there's another way out.
There is no other ways in.Your shut up? Don't let shut up,
Dominic? What's that iron trapped dooron the wall the coal shoots you
open? It looks just big enough. What does it lead to the rear

(13:46):
of the house? All right,all right, let's get going. You
first, marry You want me toclimb and feel the cold? Shoot?
What about my clothes? What aboutyour neck? She scrambled up the chute,
and police so followed her. Iwent last. I didn't see what
happened to Dominic the landlord, andI didn't much care where nose. You've

(14:09):
got to lie low someplace, butthey won't find you before tonight. That
is not such places villa. They'vealready looked there. They won't go back.
Those deeps and murders have sacked ournbeut per villa. Neither thieves nor
murderers. They're loyal patriots. Wehave our name for them your you have
yours, And while we're together.When he was mine, now beat it.

(14:35):
I arranged to meet them at thevilla at dusk. I watched them
trudge off, smeared with coal fromthe chute, looking like the peasants they
despised. At least there wasn't muchchance they'd be recognized. But I wasn't
exactly recognizable either, So I washedoff in a little stream at the edge
of town. Then I went backto my room. Where have you been?

(15:01):
It was widow. He was sittingat the table in the center of
the room, and lying in frontof him was his revolver. Where have
you been, Roberto? Out outwhere? Just out? Oh? Just
art? Huh? All right,Rico, will you mean inside? Here

(15:24):
is a friend, Roberto? Heappeared in the doorway, prodded by Rico's
carbine. He was no friend,only an acquaintance, of very recent acquaintance.
He was the landlord, dominic Youwere hiding a man in the center
of your house, Dominique, Seewho was he? Who was he?

(15:46):
Alberto? Belitzo al Perto Bilitza.And he had a caller this morning.
See who was the caller, thatman senor and I take out the old
men. Rico. Oh, Roberto, well, I want Beelitzo. You

(16:14):
can't have him. Where is he? I won't tell you. You are
protecting a fascist thing. I'm doingmore than protecting him. I'm taking him
out of Italy to America to whyWhy so he can have a pay it
time. No, so he canturn over information information. Yes, you've
seen it. This information is noton paper, it's in his head.

(16:36):
And you believe him, yes,and you believe he's going to give it
up once he's got to America.It's worth the chance? How much?
What? How much is it worth? Roberto? Do you to whold?
Fifty thousand dollars? Fifty thousand dollars? How much he's got sown in the
landing of his overcoat. His landlordtold I didn't know it, lying,
Roberto, Belito. He's paying youwell, and I shall have to deal

(17:00):
with you as I would with anyother traitor. I give you one more
chance, Roberto, where is thatfascist? His hand moved her his revolver
on the table. But my handmoved too. My fingers caught the edge
of the table and fut out,crawling back in his chair. The gun

(17:21):
clattered to the floor and I kickedit out of his kness. My fist
caught him on the point of thechin. His head snapped back and he
slumped to the floor out. Ididn't like to do that, Guido.
Sorry, you should be sorry,Roberto, Rosa. Maybe you will tell

(17:44):
me where the fascist is. Roberto, I'm not telling any one, Rosa.
Then I will do what my brotherdid not have the chance to do.
I don't think you will. Don'tcome near me, Roberto. If
you try to get this gun,I swear at gill you but you won't.
You know, because you don't believeI'm a trader. You and I
were. You wouldn't shoot me becauseyou love me, not anymore? And

(18:07):
why don't you pull the trigger?Give me the gun, Rosa. They
didn't go. I went down tothe street. The car that Guido had

(18:30):
come and did for his use andstood so was parked in front of the
tavern. I went over to thedriver, Antonio, we don't want you.
He is upstairing your mercer. Yes, in my room, hurry it's

(19:00):
I was at Pulico's villa. Twentyminutes later, Maria met me at the
door. The way she was dressed, you'd have thought she was sailing for
America and the Queen Mary Senor.How nice that you have come early.
Where's your father in the library thisway? We were not expecting you on
until tonight. My plans have changed, Palito. Ah, mercy, you

(19:25):
ever rived just in time, intime for what Maria and I have opened
one last bottle of wine from Marcella. We shall be happy to have you
share it with No thanks, Maria, another girl, I said, no
thanks. Now, my dear fellow, we will drink to use in your
our benefactory and then we will drinkto the new world where we are going,

(19:48):
a world where these differences between uscan be forgotten, a world where
we can be friends. There's nosuch world, polito. Oh, but
of course there is. You're glassyor I don't drink with fascists. You
have consorted with rabble too long,Mercer, your manners reflected, My manners

(20:15):
are likely to get worse if Ican sort with your kind much longer.
So let's get going, you said, we will leave to night there's been
a change of plants. Father,that's right. We're starting for the coast
right away. Get your things verywell, and Palitzo, yes, we'll
be driving through fascist held territory mostof the way. You might be tempted
to make a break for it.If you do, I promise I'll bring

(20:38):
you back and personally hang you fromthat scaffold. We left then I drove
the car Pollzo Satin back, butnot Maria. She was beside me,
very close beside me. Her perfumewas heavy and sweet. Your thoughts are

(20:59):
so far, very far. Youdo not like me. You do not
think I am beautiful, not nearlyas beautiful as my thoughts. They are
of another woman. No. Whatthen a place called Vermont. It was

(21:29):
night when we reached the main highwayto Savona. Guido's partisans were far behind
us by then, and I thoughtit would be clear sailing. I was
wrong. What is the matter?Why do you slow down? Look up
ahead? Road? Good block partisans? No, not partisans, this time
it's your friends. Remember, Palizzo, I'm waiting for you to say just
one wrong word. Let me seeyour papers. You're in the back seat

(21:56):
forst here they are you will findthem quite in order. I will be
the judge of that. Alberto Pelitzo, Yes, so you are Alberto Pelitzo,
are you? Yes? I amall right. Proma with me,
all three of you. But whywhat is the better? This man is

(22:17):
lying? Alberto Pelitzo is dead.They led us to a small house down
the road. The one with arifle stayed with us, while the other
one disappeared into a back room.I was still watching Palizzo. I was
still waiting for him to say thatword. Here is the man, Major,

(22:41):
A man who calls himself Alberto Pelito. Let me see him. So
why should they not call himself AlbertoPelitzo. You recognize me, that major.
But of course, Signor, andI am delighted to see you.
Our information was that you had beencaptured by part the sans. I deeply

(23:03):
apologize for the inconvenience we may,of course, no, no, no
apologies are necessary, Major, Andnow may my daughter and I proceed to
some one. Certainly, Senor,and this man who is with you,
Oh, this man, see youwish him to accompany you? Senor?

(23:26):
Well, yes, of course thisman is my chauffeur. I didn't get
it. I didn't understand why hedone it, not until we started toward
the car. The major who hascalled us walk ahead with Maria. I
trot back to have a little privatetalk with Polizza. You could have turned

(23:51):
me over to them, but youdidn't. It was not of the kindness
of your heart. Sure why else, Mercer, you have been kind to
us, We are kind to you. Fascist was ever kind for a reason
like that? Can you think ofanother reason? Maybe you have no way
of leaving Italy without me? Youknow the war was lost. If you're

(24:11):
still hear when the Allies march intoa room, you won't have any way
to save your precious skins. Youwant to get out? Why you can't?
You are no fool singer, Mercer. You can understand my reasoning at
your Sure I can understand it.It's an old story. Rats always desert
a sinking ship for your insa.I was just telling your charming daughter,

(24:36):
Senor Beelitzia, that there is reallyno need for you to go to Savona.
After tomorrow night. You could returnto your realeaede sturt. The Partisans
have taken stored some major and notfor long. Since you're a full division
of our infantry is on its wayfrom Geneva to carry out a surprise attack
on them. We are going todeal with this banded Guido Gardone once and

(24:59):
for all, with him forty eighthours it will be we do GORDONI himself
will be hanging from that scaffold inthe village square. That gave me something
to think about the rest of theway. I kept on thinking about it
all the next day, and Ithought of Vermont too, Yes, I

(25:19):
thought a lot about Vermont and howthose trees were look in the fall to
anybody who was lucky enough to seethem. The roar of the surf against
the lonely stretch of beach below Savonhad drowned the noise of the pt boats
motors. We didn't hear it,but we saw it lying offshore. The
dinghy had put over its side,scraped against the hard sand of the beach.

(25:40):
Yes, Olson's made, Curtis,sir. Do these people go aboard
to Lieutenant? Oh? Yes,yes, here's a letter. Give it
to your skipper. It explains whothey are. But aren't two Cummings sir,
No, senior mercer, you're notgoing with us. I don't understand.
I think I do Marie. Thenoblesenior mercer is going back to warn
his friends in Stuarts of the surpriseattack. That's right, Plizo, no

(26:03):
signor why should you bother with thatrat. They happened to be my ally,
but you said they would kill youif they saw you again. They
will. I am hoping they'll listento my warning anyway, but that is
foolish to risk your life for them. It does not make sense. It
wouldn't to you, Maria, notyet. Maybe after you've been in America
for a while, it will takethem away. Curtis, Yes, sir,

(26:29):
so I didn't go to Vermont.I went back to Sturtze instead.
It was noon the next day whenI walked into the tavern. Guido was
there and Rosa, yes, I'vecome back. Well, great returns.
Maybe you didn't believe me when Isaid I'd kill you. I believed your

(26:52):
Guido, Rico Tink's gun. Thatwon't be necessary, Rico, here's my
gunquet Rossa, you're ready to diegreater as soon as I've given you my
report. There's a full division offascist infantry moving up from Genoa. They're
planning to spring a trap tonight.You'd better get out of Stretcher. I

(27:15):
don't believe you. The fascists aretoo busy at Seilerno to send the division
here. All right, I'll tellmy best widow. If you don't believe
me, I believe what are youget away from him? Get the way.
I'll tell you I'm going to killhim. You'll have to kill me
too. Very well. We willsee if you're right about him. Rosa
Ricco, we're moving out of Stuartsimmediately passed you order a long Roberto?

(27:41):
What will you do with him?Take Roberto with us. If the fascists
do not attack tonight, there willbe no more room on the scaffold tomorrow.
The fascists did attack that night,but there wasn't a partisan left in
Stuarts. We had evaporated into thehills, Yes, I said we.

(28:03):
I went on working with Guido Gordoni, helping to direct the campaign against the
black Shirts. We were never friends, Guido and I, but we did
have a common enemy. A yearlater I got back to Vermont. That
was a long time to wait,but not as long as I might have
waited if Alberto Palizzo had not giveninformation concerning secret weapons to the OS s

(28:33):
and once again the report of anOSS agent closes with the words mission accomplished.
Listen again next week for another trueadventure from the files of the OSS
on Cloak and Dagger. Heard into Day's Clock and Dager Adventure as Robert

(28:59):
Messer was Grant Richards, Guido Arnoldmaas Alberto Pelitzo Louis van Ruten. Script
was written by Canfield and music wasunder the direction of John Guard. Sound
effects by Max Russell and Al Finelli, engineering Don Abbott. To Day's OSS
Adventure was based on the book Cluckndaggerby Corey Ford and Alistair McBain. His
program was produced by Lewis G.Cowen and Alfred Hollander under the direction and

(29:21):
supervision of Sherman Marx. Three ChimesMean Good Times on NBC Sandaya