The_People_in_the_Forest

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 you
may never return alive. What youhave just heard is the question asked during
the war to agents of the OSS, ordinary citizens who, to this question
answered yes, This is cloak anddaggers, black warfare, espionage, international

(00:46):
intrigue. These are the weapons ofthe OSS. Today's story the people in
the Forest is suggested by actual incidentsrecorded in the Washington files of the Office
of Strategic Services, a story thatcan now be told. The plane began

(01:14):
to slow down, and then itcircled slowly. Someone pulled the cover off
a jump hole, and I gotmy first view of France occupied France,
August nineteen forty four action stations onthe ground. To the right, I
could see fires like safety matches litthe moonlight, and I wondered how big

(01:34):
they really were, those fires thatwere out there. The guide's in the
dispatcher told me I was to jumpsecond, running in ready number one.
Ready, And then it happened,the first bad break of admission. Only
it didn't happen to me. Ithappened to Chris Poller. See you France
got pilla Okay, follow up numberone good luck, oh gey. I

(02:00):
just stood there looking down watching himgo, and then my heart started to
pound all over me. My breathcaught and I nearly choked on it.
Chris fell and fell and fell.The shoot didn't work, came out of
the bag and streamed unopened behind him. Barrot troopers called that a rooman candle

(02:23):
outbreak. Wanna turn back? Starbellout? Huh no, no, I'll
jump it, okay. Then readynumber two, number two, ready,
ready up. The wind came upand hit me in a rush. I

(02:45):
felt myself falling. I think Idied a few times until I heard the
crack of the shoot. Beautiful,beautiful, beautiful, the most beautiful sight
in the whole world. Big whiteumbrella over me. The little safety matches
on the ground got bigger and bigger. I realized there were torches, and

(03:08):
then I saw a figure of aman waving. He started to get bigger
too, and then the torches wereput out. I was about to get
my first introduction to the French underground. Are you all right? Yeah?
Yeah, I'm all right. Isaw what happened to your friend. It

(03:31):
was too bad. Yeah, youhad courage to jump off the bed.
Maybe if i'd stopped to think aboutit. I never would have. Maybe
I was afraid I'd never jump againif I didn't. Then, well,
anyway, here I am. Myname is Captain Robert Skirpeller. Captain Robert
Scarpeller, American. Welcome, Welcometo Franz. I am ecstatic to make

(03:53):
your acquaintance. Captain. The littleguy threw his arms around me and kissed
me. When I was twelve,I'd said Nick, saying my father good
night to cousin in Paris. Meand here was this little frenchman with the
beret and baggy pants and farmer's shoeswith his arms around Hey, got I
am just so happy to see you. About it when I'm the Fox.

(04:15):
The Germans themselves gave me that name. Look at his head? Would you
believe there is a price on it? Or are you the leader? Yes,
of one of our little bands.The British radio alerted us about your
coming. Well, that's a gotreason for my coming, Captain Fox.
You may call me simply Fox.Okay, Fox. Now, let's pick
up supplies if we're rusting right.As for your mission, Captain, there

(04:39):
will be time enough to talk aboutit when we get deeper into the forest
to our highway. Is that veryfar from here? Unfortunately there's a little
walk. We were forced to moveour headquarters last night after another German raid.
Oh what do you mean another?Our positions have been rated three times
the past night, almost as ifthe bush were given a map of we

(05:00):
were in the forest. So soundsto me like somebody's dirty work. I
have thought of that, Captain.But if there is a traitor in our
group, I shall find him.We know how to deal with such ill
that you do. Oh yeah,oh that's nice, very very very nice.

(05:23):
This Carmon rifle beautiful. There areshoes on those packages too, and
food and grenades. Oh, whata beautiful rifle. I was to tell
you to expect a heavy supply dropin a few weeks. What a beautiful
rifle. We still are using fewpieces from the frank Oppression war, but
this is a beauty. Not gatherup your things, Captain Scarpella. I'll

(05:43):
be back in a few minutes.I'll be back. The fox disappeared into
the woods. The whole thing seemedlike a crazy nightmare, the whole forest
surrounded by Germans, and yet hereI was passing the time of day,
just like nothing at all with theFrenchman who had a price on his head.

(06:05):
And somewhere out there where he drifted, Chris was a dead heap under
a lot of parachute silk. Igrabbed a gun and I waited for trouble.
I didn't know whether to go afterthe pox and take a chance on
being ambushed, to stay where Iwas. Someone was coming. I duck

(06:26):
behind a tree. The only thingI could figure was the Germans had seen
the plane, seen me land.I took aim carefully, slowly American a
kind of loot. What happened?What were those shots? I just wanted
to get a few of your gun, so I simply tried it on a

(06:49):
couple of Germans over the edge ofthe hills. Excites very well, crying
out lot, this little dinner parties. You're on your captain, Scarpta.

(07:15):
I regret we have nothing better thanwild Rabbit's store. Well it's a swell,
quite a welcome. Headquarters didn't tellme to expect anything like this.
Lose more wine for the captain,but of course, yeah, I will
repel your glass. Oh thank you, Oh no, and plaus we say
thank you this way? You mindmy kissing you? No? No,

(07:39):
not at all. I love Americans. All have helped me. I need
you now. Oh well, she'sa very pretty girl, that lost and
very young, only seventeen already shehas seen so much hiding like this in

(08:03):
the forest, sneaking back into theGerman hill village, into the village wall
miss her. Many of our groupwork in the village right under the noses
of the enemy, and the Germansdo not know that they are members of
the McKee. Oh, but theyknow you're here. Oh, they know,
they know that we're here. Butthey do not there come near the
forest except in big rating fires.They know very well that to one dead

(08:26):
of ours, there will be twelvedead of theirs. Well, captain,
now about your mission, its purpose? Tell me more peace. While I
was sent here to find out theGerman defense plans for the port of Santa's
Are and the entire coastal area aroundAh, I know those plans are in
German headquarters in the village, andyou request our health. I've got to
have those plans and in a matterof days I've got to deliver on personally

(08:48):
the eighth Corps head. Now,put your mind at ease, Captain Scarpella.
The facts will help you. Now. The first thing I will do
is put you in cont don't you, Captain Scarpella. I'm marry Ah.
She's the mother cat of that littlekitten who kissed you before. Happy to
meet you, and we are allenchanted to meet you, American in your

(09:11):
honor. We have a special surprise. Listen at you? What meaner love?
You're please? Captain Falla, well, this is something I write home

(09:35):
about, rite home about. Yeah, nice cozy evening with friends. You
never know there was a walk goingon neighbor neighbors under our head? Where
does the lookout for a premiere?Captain falls I see, I see what
else? True? Division? Atleast don't you have a touch surroundings?

(09:56):
Captain start Color. I regret verymuch to have interrupt you a welcome party
in this small Renner the box Rennethe new machine our American friend brought with
him. Now what is it called, Captain Scarpeller? Oh yes, this
Butzuka, Now take take it toan ENDVI theygo's position. You understand we

(10:16):
find now less now my friend,my friend, Now is the best time
for him and some of the othersto learn how to use a hoof for
crying out loud. If I thoughtit seemed like a nightmare before, it
was nothing to what happened now,but so mixed up in my mind,

(10:37):
I can't remember it clearly. Itwasn't anything like the patrols I've been trained
for in the army. Captain Scarpeller, follow me, please all right,
Ah, these Germans are becoming veryannoying. Uh, what would you mind
pointing out the other way? First? Excuse me THESEI is a beauty,

(11:05):
just a little beauty from out ofnowhere. A German soldier fell forward on
his face, and then the foxand I moved on. I remember thinking,
of cripes, this is like kidsplaying copscribers. French boys still in
their teens ran by with a crossof lorrains on on their coats. I
saw Marie take aim behind a tree, and all the time the fox kept

(11:28):
smiling and never stopped smiling. Ifeel selfish. Captain Skirpella, give me
that gun. I will let youbury yours a while. They're about fifty
yards ahead. There is a juicyrabbit in German uniform. Oh, please
get him, Captain. The foxwas right. The rifle did sight well,

(11:56):
and then all of a sudden theywere less Frenchmen around and more Germans
all around us. In a caselike this, my friend, the best
course is to run. Well,let us run this first. It's like

(12:20):
a chicksaw puzzle to me. Youknow it backs It is from necessity,
of course. I regret exceedingly thatI must ask you to join me here
in this swamp. We will stayhere till it is safe to leave ship
the bosh under the water, leaveonly your knows about it to breathe.

(12:43):
Oh the gold? How can onefight what one cannot see? Think we
have in this time? When theyare scattered and disorganized. This is the
end of our trouble with them retreated. But those well, we will find
out from our informant later. I'llgot the job we have done this time.

(13:05):
Yeah, I'm going on my hands. Shall I stay here as god?
No, we just look necessary.There's nothing here competter with me.
Yeah. If they had posted aguy here, it would have been the

(13:28):
most inconvenient. Chaplaine capella, areyou very wet? What do you think
they will be clean? Close foryou at our ride out come, It
is time for us to go there. Well, this has been a very
annoying givement. Fox, Fox.Did you hear what they said about an

(13:50):
informant? I heard? I heardCaptain Scarpella. Marie is employed as charwoman
and German headwaters in the village.She is the contact of whom I spoke.

(14:13):
What can I do to help you? Just tell me there are plans
for the defense of San Nazar.What do you think the chances are that
they may be in the files ofthe office where you wake, Marie?
Very good, I would say,Marie, Marie, tell me what are
my chances of getting into those files? Also very good? The door of
the Hoffman's office is left open forme, so I may wash the floors.

(14:35):
I see it will be easy toenter. As for the files,
I have a key, A key, wait, I will give it to
you. Else is better than Ihope for? When can we go tomorrow?
Tomorrow? Why not? Now?The Germans are still out searching the
forest and the coast will be clear. Let us leave now. Well,
I'll say it for you, CaptainScarpeller, for crying out loud. Less

(15:13):
than an hour later, we werein the village. It was five o'clock
in the morning and there was noone around the village. Slept Captain Scarpelle.
Listen to me. There is theGerman headquarters across the street. I
will leave you and go inside toget my mup and bucket. You will
watch through the window. When Idistract the guard, go quickly to the

(15:37):
side door. It is opener.The Hawkman's office is the third door from
the end. Third you have thekey to the fire's heads. Yes,
I have it. I go now. Remember the signal I gave you in
case of danger. I watched togo into the pilly, and then I
took up my position at the openwindow. There was a guard at the

(15:58):
front desk, no one else around. I pressed myself into the shadows,
and after a while Marie came tothe front desk and began to mop the
floor. I'm not, and thesooner I finished, the sooner I am
through. I knew that soon she'ddo something to distract us too. Must

(16:23):
be washed, No, I wouldbe too. Pleasantly it was not delivererate
side door was open, and shesaid it would one third door from the
end. I made it the GermanCaptain's office, and in the corner were

(16:48):
the files. The king in myhand was hot and sticky. It fit
it fit. They fit. Iknew it would, but somehow it would
slid in and turned. I tooka breath of relief. I didn't have
much time. I knew I didn'thave much time. I had to find
those plans. But where the papers? Where were they? And I heard

(17:11):
Marie's signal not froze. What abreak. But I couldn't stop searching.
Now, almost as if God hadput it into my hand at the right
moment, I found the photostaddic copiesof the defense plans. No, she

(17:36):
could only pull them off until Iget out of the place. Let's see.
Now, let's see. I wenton that's it was only a short
drop to the ground, and stillknowing in sight, I had a feeling
Marie could take care of herself,and I started back for the forest,
the plans in my pocket. I'llsee here, Captain Scarpella, I'm the

(18:10):
man you see. You come outof the forest three miles north at this
point. Right? Is that aclear road? Fox, You will have
no difficulty. Captain. There hasnever been any reason for the Bosh to
post guards at this accident. Now, pay attention. I must talk to
you, both of you. Marie, what are you doing back at the
farmhouse. Why are you not inthe village, Murie? Was there trouble

(18:33):
after I left with that window?Do they do? They know about the
papers? They know because they weretold, told by a dirty little spy
from our own ranks. What not? Please quiet? This is my business,
captain speak, Marie. I overheardthe spy, one of us.
I blushed with shame to think ofit. The spy was telling the bush
captain about the papers and the Americansmission. Fortunately for you, Captain Scarpella,

(18:56):
the spy was not able to warnhim early enough, and the road
is blocked. However, you aretrapped here, American. You may have
the plans, but there is noway for you to leave and deliver them.
The road Norse is swarming with redance of Germans. Traitor his name,
Give me his name, Marie.I will do better. I will

(19:18):
give you the trait Rennee. Bringher in here, cold on the floor
the roads. Throw her on thefloor. Listen to herself, my own
daughter, torn from my own flesh, My daughter, But for what is

(19:41):
going to be done to you?But for what you have done, spy,
trait of this girl, my daughter. I speak on her. I
have waited for you outside. AfterI heard her with the captain German captain,
I waited for her head and tappedher back. Here, fox,
what you want with you? Knowthat? No? No, lose that?

(20:06):
Look at me? No? No? Was it you you who gave
away our positions each time? Cassa, Yes, yes, I told her.
It has been so hard. Ihave known more for so long now,
all my life since I have knowntwo words. Could I turn on

(20:26):
my own? I am glad youryour father is dead, so he does
not see this. They promised meso much. I did not think it
so bad. I only gave themsmall bits of information, information except what
is lost about the American you callgiving away our hid small loser. We

(20:47):
are so much smarter, and italways gave us a chance to kill so
many of them. Your excuses disgustme say the word fox. Let me
throw her to the rest. Oh, mama, pity, I am your
mother no longer. Do not callme that fox. This may be your
affair, but I've got a stakein it. Now. Whether you wish

(21:08):
to say, captain, there's onlyone way out of this forest. It's
blocked right now thanks to her.Let's forget that. All that matters to
me, is that I get throughwith these plans Asettsette. Do you want
a chance to prove yourself? Ohwell, we all will do anything.
You not listen to her, shehas quiet Go on, captain now a

(21:30):
German headquarters before Marie distracted the guardbecause she knew. Now who knows the
Germans at the exit of the forest. To distract them? I do,
I will let me please, theytrust me. I will give you a
chance to slip by. It istoo great to risk, my friend.
I have no choice. I can'tstay trapped here. The plans are no
good in my pocket. Very well, on one condition, I will go

(21:53):
alone, and if she does notdo what she says, that facts will
shoot her through the heart. Youhave my permission. Ah, there are

(22:21):
many clouds out tonight to hide themoon and talk of the better. Losette.
There are your friends at the footup the hill. Go to them.
We will hide here among these pilesof firewood. Way, I will
go, and remember, Losette,this gun is aimed at you. Go.

(22:47):
We hid behind towering cords of treetrunks and branches piled in a woodlock
for the village's firewood. We watcheda few minutes later we saw them,
the soldiers, the girl silhouetted againstthe moon. We couldn't hear what they
were saying, but every once ina while we heard them laugh. They
swarm about her like bees about theflower. Come on this way, we

(23:14):
will sneak past them and needs tobrush wild now she's doing a good job,
trying to redeem herself. No wayout, Yes, sly on his
head. It was there, decidedto through the help butt it don't make
us with you at all. Abangages to being myself captain. This way

(23:45):
into the brush. I looked backover my shoulder and saw z head crumple

(24:06):
into a heap on the road.I knew she was dead. I do
not grieve for her, my friend. It is best this way. It
is easier than living with herself.How do we get out of this?
We're surrounded? Surrender what means thatway? You know? Yeah? You

(24:26):
have you call it, come outthat this will help him? And Joe
said, I trying to burn usout. If we come out, we'll
be shut down by the machine guns. America. I have an idea.
Yeah, stand here. When youhear a loud crash and I call out,
you run through the fire. Itis not bad yet, my friend.

(24:48):
He ran, like the fox ofhis nickname, to the tallest pile
of firewood in the dark night.I saw him struggle with a log at
the base of the pile, andthen the huge tower of wood came tumbling
down and the scream. I plungedthrough the fire and found the past,
and a few minutes later the slyFox miraculously joined me. You can make

(25:10):
it from here along to the Americanlines. Captains, what about you fox?
Don't worry about the Fox. I'llget back all right. Perhaps we
shall meet again one day, Captainwho knows well? Or why? Then?
Goodbye? I never looked back,and I never saw him again.

(25:41):
But when I think of him now, I think of him not with the
beret, but with a green hatand a feather, a little like Robin
Hood. Captain Scarfeller delivered the planspersonally to the Assistant G two at eighth

(26:02):
Core Headquarters, and he was recommendedfor the Distinguished Service Cross or the American
Lives he had saved at the portof Santa's Air. Thus, the Exploits
of another OSS agent closes with thewords mission accomplished. A further adventure in
Black Warfare is next week Cloak andDagger. Heard in Today's Cloak and Digger

(27:02):
Adventure were Joseph Buloff, Lily Darvass, Larry Haynes, Nancy Franklin, Barry
Kroger, Raymond Edward Johnson, CarlWeber, Boris Aplin and Jerry Jarrett.
Script for Cloak and Dagger was writtenby winterfred Wolf and the music was under

(27:22):
the direction of John Gart. Today'strue Oss Adventure was based on the book
Cloak and Dagger by Corey Ford andAlistair McBain. This has been a Lewis
g Conn production in association with AlfredHollander. It was under the direction and
supervision of Sherman Marx Robert Warren speaking. Stay tuned now for the up to

(27:55):
the minute news on the Open GolfChampionship.