Delay on Route an episode of Cloak and Dagger radio show

Please enjoy Delay on Route a great episode of the legendaryCloak and Dagger radio show - A Classic Old Time radio Show - OTR

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
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

(00:20):
question answered yes, this is cloakand dagger, black warfare, espionage,

(00:46):
international intrigue. These are the weaponsof the OSS. Today's adventure delay en
route. The story of an AmericanOSS agent who found himself between two fires
and fascist held itly is suggested byacts vitual incidents recorded in the Washington files
of the Office of Strategic Services,a story that can now be told.

(01:10):
That was a big night in Sturtzone. We liberated the town that morning,
and everybody was drunk, but noton Veno. Those Italian partisans were drunk
on something they hadn't tasted since Mussolini'sBlack Shirts marched on Rome. Freedom.
There were only three Fascist officials leftin town, and all of them were

(01:32):
down in the village square, hangingfrom a scaffold. I should have been
celebrating too, after all, thatwas why the OSS had sent me into
Italy to help Guido Gordoni and hispartisans wipe out fascists. But sitting there

(01:53):
in the tavern that night with Rosa, Guido's sister. My mind was several
thousand miles away. Roberto, you'regoing to leave us tomorrow. Huh what
Rosa? Pe both comes for youtomorrow night? You know, the night
after tomorrow night, Rosa, justforty eight hours, it's going to pick

(02:15):
me up below Savona. And youare glad. Was there ever a guy
who wasn't glad to go home hometo America? You mean, how can
that be? The war is notover. I've got a furlough coming up.
I delay en route to my nextOSS assignment. I see it is

(02:37):
nice in America, Roberto. Yeah, yeah, it's nice, Rosa.
It'll be autumn when I get backto Vermont. The trees will just be
turning out. I would like tosee Vermont. Maybe you will someday,
you know what I mean, Roberto, I would like to see it with

(02:59):
you. Oh sorry, Rosie.Guido wo over here, Roberto? If
well, Guido looking for a fatfascist pig, Alberto Pilito, Alito,

(03:23):
the big shipyard owner. Why wouldhe be in sturt It. He's got
a summer village just above a town. I 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
a steel room for one more onthe scaffold and the square. H Oh,

(03:44):
that's right, I forgot. Youhaven't been to the square, have
you, Roberto? No, Ihaven't. You don't like executions. Executions
are all right, it's clenchings.I don't like. Those men were civilians,
Guidow, they were FASCISTI. Nevertheless, they were entitled to a trial.
A trial. If they had caughtyou, Roberto, would they have

(04:04):
given you a child? That wasthe difference between Guido Gordoni and me.
He and his partisans caught fire withfire. They'd never heard of the democratic
process, but I had, andI believed in it. That was why
Guido and I could fight side byside and respect each other as soldiers,

(04:28):
and yet never become friends. You'venot lived under the FASCISTI, Roberto.
You've not had a wife and childmurdered as I have. But the men
you hung in the square responsible forthat. Every black shirt is responsible.
The men in the square, Albertopill eat all of them. When Guido
gordon He finds them, they'd payfor their crime. They should pay,
of course, But what what what? What? What? What? Roberto?

(04:54):
I don't like men who say yes, but I don't think they can
be trusted with Guido. You've noright to say that to Ruberto. Forget
it, Rosin. I am leavingall of you soon. You won't have
to trust me much longer. Igot up then and pushed my way through

(05:15):
the crowd to the door of thetavern. I stepped outside. The night
was beautiful, but not as beautifulI thought as an autumn night in for
months. Huh. She touched myarm as she said. She'd been standing

(05:38):
very close to me in the shadowsof the tavern wall. I've never seen
her before, but she was lovely. You are s Yes, I am.
I wish to talk to you.Signor will you be kind enough to
come with me? I didn't sayno. It would have been hard to

(06:01):
say no under any circumstances. Besides, her quick, frightened eyes told me
it was something important. Still,I kept my hand closed around my revolver
as she let me down several dark, deserted sweets. This is the house
in your you will please go downthe steps to the basement. Oh you
go first, carry someone inside,but please come here. Do not be

(06:29):
alarmed. I'm not alarmed. Goahead when I say this in your The
man who rose to greet me wasn'tarmed, and he looked too old and
too tired to be dangerous. Allowme to introduce myself. My name is
Albert Popilizzo. Beliss him. Young. Lady who brought you here is my

(06:55):
daughter, Marie. It was goodof you to come with her, see
you, but it wasn't very wide. Guys have heard bring me why?
Because you might turn us over tothe partisan? Because I will turn you
over to the partisans. I thinknot, Senor Oh. On the contrary,
you will be careful to protect usfrom the Partisans. You will take
us out of Utery alive. Youwill see it whit that we arrive safe

(07:17):
and sound in America. What makesyou think so? Is your government informs
your mercer of our recent experiments withradio guided aerial torpedoes. I don't know
I could inform them. These experimentsare being conducted in my own laboratories.
I know more about them than anyother man in Etery. I see also

(07:39):
a new type of submarine capable ofgreat underwater speed. All right. Also,
the long sought electromagnetic pistol for torpedo. All right, all right,
I get the point, Toliso.I thought you would. You'll turn over
this information to Allied intelligence if Iget you safely out of itly precisely who

(08:00):
el Signor, I'll have to thinkabout it. Don't think too long,
Signor, and don't discuss it withyour parties and comrades. I am quite
sure that bloodthirsty Guido Gordoni would notlet my usefulness to the Allies prevent him
from hanging me. He was rightabout that. Not that Guido Gordoni was

(08:22):
bloodthirsty. He was simply an angryand bitter man. Nothing in the world
would prevent him from hanging Alberto Poalizo. Ah, I was pretty better myself
as I headed back to my roomabove the tavern. I didn't like keeping
secrets from Guido, and I didn'tlike helping fascists. But I knew already

(08:43):
what I had to do. Iknew that when I went aboard that Pete
boat in forty eight hours, Palizzoand his daughter would be with me.
The os SX would want it thatway. Hello, Rosa, you were
on a long time Roberto, whatare you doing in my room waiting for

(09:03):
you? I uh, I wentfor a walk. Yes, I know,
I saw you. What do youmean you saw me? I was
watching from the window when you walkedaway from the tavern. Oh is she?
Roberto? That's none of your business, version, I will mix it
my business. Is she the onewho is going with you to America?

(09:24):
Is that why you cannot take me? Is it with her that you will
spend the autumn nights in Vermont?You are a fool, Roberto. You
cannot conceal her from me. Iwill find her before tomorrow night. And
when I do, yes, whenyou do. Life is very cheap in

(09:48):
storts these days, Roberto. Sheamended she didn't make idle threats. She
was like her brother that way.It took me a long time to fall
asleep after she was gone. GettingAlberto Poalizzo and his daughter safely out of
Italy was beginning to look complicated.The next morning, it looked even more

(10:13):
complicated. Rosa told me what youdid last night, Roberto. It was
very stupid to go along with thisstrange woman. Ha ha ha. But
she was a beautiful woman, Guido. She might have led you into a
trap. You know there is stillFASCISTI and Stuzza, no important ones.
I'm sure the mayor, the magistrateand the prefect, the police are all

(10:33):
hanging in the square. Who elsecould there be? Alberto Pilito, But
make sure you said his villow wasempty. It was, But I don't
believe he 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

(10:54):
him, and then you'll string himup to oh oh, with pleasure.
He might make a valuable prisoner ofwar. He's a big wheel in the
munitions and shipping industries. He'd havea lot of information that would be useful
to the allies. And who wouldtrust the information of a fascist? Not
you? Apparently you're right, notme. His information would not save him.

(11:16):
If I find him, Roberto,I'll kill him. And that settled
that. There was no question fromthen on of letting Guido in on my
plans, not if I hoped tosave Palizzo's neck, and I have to
save it now. The information thatGuido Scottdad could shorten the war by weeks,
months, even years. Ten minuteslater, I was knocking at the

(11:41):
cellar door who was opened immediately,but not by Palizzo or his daughter.
See signor who are you Dominique Sior, the owner of this building? There
was a man and his daughter herelast night. Hee I still here?
Quo mean signor? Good morning?Signor? We have been waiting for you.

(12:05):
We expected you somewhat earlier than this. Oh so sorry. I'll try
not to disappoint you after this.You already I presume to take us out
of Italy. I'd much prefer toturn you over to my friends, of
course, but unfortunately your preference isnot what matters. Unfortunately, when do
we leave? Signor you leave?Stirs tonight Italy tomorrow night? Signor we

(12:26):
are grateful. We knew you wouldnot fail. I'm not doing this for
you, naturally, we understand that. Don't be may here, Yes,
father, still we will rewards inyour newster. No, you in your
way and I in mine. Let'scut the talk. Share we you've got
to get out of here, Getout now, you meet. But you

(12:48):
said to night you can't stay inthis cellar till then you'll have to find
a new place to hide white,because the partisans are looking for you.
They're covering stirts a house by house. No, they do not know where
we are. They think you mightbe. They're not taking any chances.
Under then you escape. They wantto string you up where you belong?
Can we go, senor how canwe hide? I don't know yet.
I thought maybe the open up there? Right, we are trapped in here

(13:11):
unless there's another way use there's noother waising your don't let it cut up
dominic. What's that iron trapped dooron the wall? The cold? Shoot?
You open? It looks just bigenough. What does it lead to
the rear of the house? Allright, all right, let's get going
your first, Marria, do youwant me to climb a filthy coat?

(13:33):
Shoot? What about my clothes?What about your neck? She scrambled up
the shute and police he followed that. I went last. I didn't see
what happened to dominate the landlord,and I didn't much care. If that's
all I know. Someplace that theywon't find you before tonight is not such

(13:54):
place. Best becial Villa Villa.If already looked there, they won't go
back techt They neither thieves nor murderers. The loyal patriots we have our name
for them. You have yours andwhy we're together? Wa was mine?
Now? Beat it? I arrangedSamita at the villa. At dusk,

(14:20):
I watched them trudge off, smearedwith coal from the chute, looking like
the peasants they despised. At leastthere wasn't much chance they'd be recognized.
But I wasn't exactly recognizable either.So I washed off in a little scream
at the edge of town, andI went back to my room. Where
have you been? It was Wado. He was sitting at the table in

(14:45):
the center of the room, andlying in front of him was his revolver.
Where have you been, Robert too? Out out where? Just out?
Oh? Just talk? Huh?All right? Ri wait in here.

(15:09):
He appeared in the doorway potted byRico's carbine. He was no friend,
only an acquaintance, of very recentacquaintance. He was the landlord,
dominic You were hiding a man inthe center of your house, Dominique,
Who was he? Who was he? Alberto Pelitzo, al Perto Bilizza.

(15:31):
And he had a caller this morning? Who was the caller? That man?
Take out the old man? Rico? Well, I want Pelzzo.

(15:54):
You can't have him. Where ishe. 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 himwhy Why so he can have a fair
time. No, so he canturn over information information. Yes, you've
shitted this information, not on paper, it's in his head. And you

(16:15):
believe it. Yes, and youbelieve he's going to give it up once
he's got to America. It's wortha chance. How much? Watch how
much is it worth for Betho toyou the whole fifty thousand dollars? Thousand
dollars? How much he's got townin the landing of his overcoat, his
land or torn I didn't know it. You're lying, belite. So he's

(16:36):
paying you well, and I shallhave to deal with you as I would
with any other treador. I giveyou one more chance, Roberto, where
is that fascist? His hand movedor his revolver on the table? With
my hand moved too. My thinghas caught the edge of the table,
and falling back in his chair,the gun clad to the floor, and

(17:00):
I kicked it out of my fist, caught him on the point of the
chin. His head snapped back andHe slumped to the floor out. Hi
didn't like to do that, Guidow. Sorry, you should be sorry,
Roberto. Robert, maybe you willtell me where this is, Robert,

(17:23):
I'm not telling anyone, Rosa.Then I will do what my brother did
not have the chance to do.I don't think you will. Don't come
near me, Roberto. If youtry to get this gun, I swear
at you. But you won't,you know, because you don't believe I'm
a trader. You are and Iwere. You wouldn't shoot me because you
love me, not anymore. Ihate you, And why don't you pull

(17:45):
the trigger? Give me the gun, Rosa. They didn't go. I
went down to the street. Thecar that Guido had come and did for

(18:08):
his use in Stirtzo was parked infront of the tavern. I went over
to the driver, Antonio, Guido, watch you he is upstairs to your
vers. Yes, in my room, hurry. I was at Pulico's villa.

(18:37):
Twenty minutes later. Maria met meat the door. The way she
was dressed, you'd have thought shewas sailing for America on the Queen Mary
Senor. How nice that you havecome early. Where's your father? In
the library? Way. We willnot expecting you on until tonight. My
plans have changed also, ever,I'm in time, in time for what

(19:03):
Marie and I have opened one lastbottle of wine from oursell. We shall
be happy to have you share itwith no thanks, Mary, another girl,
I said, no thanks. Comenow, my dear fellow. We
will bring to use in our benefactoryand then we will bring to the new
world where we are going, aworld where these differences between us can be

(19:26):
forgotten, a world where we canbe friends. There's no such world,
Polizo, but of course there isyour glassy god. I don't drink with
fascists. You have consorted with rabbleto long mercer your manners, reflected,

(19:48):
My manners are likely to get worseif I can sort with your kind much
longer. So let's get going.You said we will be tonight. There's
been a change of plans, father, that's right. We're starting for the
coast right away. Get your thingsvery well and flo Yes, we'll be
driving through fascist held territory most ofthe way. You might be tended to
make a break for it. Ifyou do, I promise I'll bring you

(20:14):
back and personally hang you from thatscaffold. We left. Then I drove
the car. Polico sat him back, but not Maria. She was beside
me, very close beside me.Her perfume was heavy and sweet. Your
thoughts that was so fat a racingyour very far. You do not like

(20:37):
me, you do, no,you do nothink I am beautiful, not
nearly as beautiful as my thoughts.They are of another woman. No.
What then a place called Vermont.It was night when we reached the main

(21:03):
highway to Savona. Guido's partisans werefar behind this fie then, and I
thought it would be clear sailing.I was wrong. What is the matter?
Why do you slow down? Lookup ahead road? Good blocks?
No, not partisans this time,it's your friends, Remember, Politzo.
I'm waiting for you to say justone wrong word. Let me see your

(21:26):
papers. You're in the back seat. Force here they are. You will
find them quite in order. Iwill be the judge of that. All
Berto Pelito kay? So you areAlberto Pelitza, are you? Yes?
I am all right? Come withme, all three of you. What's

(21:48):
why? What is this man islying? Alberto Pelito is dead. They
let us a small house down theroad, the one with a rifle.
State was us while the other onedisappeared into a back room. I was
still watching Polizzo. I was stillwaiting for him to say that word.

(22:11):
Here's the man, Major, aman who calls himself Alberto Pelito. Let
me see him, so why shouldthey not call himself Alberto Belitzo. You
recognized me, the Major, butof course Signor, and I am delighted
to see you. Our information wasthat you had been captured by partisans.

(22:34):
I deeply apologize for the inconvenience youwe may have called. No no,
no apologies are necessary. Major,and now me and my daughter and I
proceed to save on certainly Senor andthis man who is with you, Oh,
this man see you wish him toaccompany you? Senor? Well,

(22:57):
yes, of course that is mychauffeur. I didn't get it. I
didn't understand why you've done it,not until we started for the car.
The Major who has carded us walkingahead with Maria. I got back to
have a little private talk with Berluzza. You could have turned me over to

(23:22):
them, but you didn't. Itwas out of the kindness of your heart.
I'm sure why hees nrture you havebeen kind to the world. We
are kind to you. No fascistwas ever kind for a reason like that.
Can you think of an other reason? Maybe you have no way of
leaving Italy without me? You knowthe war was lost. If you're still
here when the Allies march into Rome, you won't have any way to save

(23:45):
your precious skin. You wanted getout while you can. You are no
fools to God mass You can understandmy reasoning. At your shore, I
can understand it. It's an oldstory. Rats always desert the sinking shit.
Why you in watch it? Iwas just telling your charming daughter,

(24:06):
Senor Beligion, that there is reallyno need for you to go to Savona.
After tomorrow night, you could returnto your real Heede. Stuarts departisans
have taken stuts some Asia, andnot for long sincere A full division of
our infantry is on its way fromGenoa to carry out a surprise attack on
them. We are going to dealwith this bandit, Guido Gardone, once

(24:27):
and for all. Within forty eighthours, it will be Widow 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 at the month too, Yes,

(24:49):
I thought a lot about the monthsand how those trees were looking for to
anybody who is lucky enough to seethem. The row of the surf against
a lonely stretch of beach, Pilosavonadown. The noise of the p T
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. Yes, Austin's made.Curtis, sir, do these people go

(25:14):
aboard to Lieutenant Fireah says, here'sa letter, give it to your skipper.
It explains who they are. Butaren't you cumming sir, No,
senior Mercer, you're not going withus. I don't understand. I think
I do, Maria Renoble, Seniormercer is going back to warn his friends
in Stups of these surprise attacks.That's right, Pliza. No, why
should you bother with that wrap.It happened to be my allies. But

(25:37):
you said they would kill you ifthey saw you again. They will.
I am hoping they'll listen to mywarning anyway, But that is cool to
risk your life for them. Itdoes not make sense. It wouldn't to
you, Maria, not yet.Maybe after you've been in America for a
while, it will take them away. Curtis, Yes, sir, so
I didn't go to Vermont. Iwent back to Sturts and it was noon

(26:02):
the next day when I walked intothe cavern. Guido was there and Rosa,
yes, I've come back. Well, great returns. Maybe you didn't
believe me when I said I'd killyou. I believe to Guido Rico,

(26:22):
take me gun. That won't benecessary. Rico, here's my gun.
You're ready to die greater as soonas I've given you my report. There's
a full division of Fascist infantry movingup from Genoa. They're planning to spring
a trap tonight. You would betterget out of structure. I don't believe

(26:44):
you. The fascists are too busyat Shilio to send the division here.
All right, I'll tell my bestGuido. If you don't believe me,
what are you doing? Get awayfrom him? Tell you I'm going to
kill him. You have to killme too, butyway, we will see
if you're right about him, Rosa. Rico. We're moving out of starts.
I needed to re pastor along Roberto. What will you do with him?

(27:08):
Take Roberto with us. If theFascistis do not attack tonight, there
will be no more room on thescaffold tomorrow. The Fascists did attack that
night, but there wasn't a partisanleft in Sturt. We had evaporated into
the hills. Yes, I saidwe. I went on working with Guido

(27:33):
Gordoni, helping to direct the campaignagainst the black Shirts. We were never
friends, Guido and I, butwe did have a common enemy. A
year later I got back to Vermont. That was a long time to wait,
but not as long as I mighthave waited if Alberto Polizzo had not
given information concerning secret weapons to theOSS. And once again the report of

(28:00):
an OSS agent closes with the wordsmission accomplished. Listen again next week for
another true adventure from the files ofthe OSS on Cloak and Dagger. Heard

(28:22):
in today's CLK Dagger adventurer as RobertMesser was Grant Richards, Higo Arnomas,
Alberto Pelizzo, Louis van Rutman.Script was written by ken Field and music
was under the direction of John Guard. Sound effects by Max Russell. And
al Finelli Engineering don Avian. Today'sOSS Adventure was based on the book Clock
and Dagger by Corey Ford and AlistaMcBath. This program was produced by Lewis

(28:45):
G. Cowen and Alfred Hollander underthe direction and supervision of Sherman Mars.
Three Chimes Mean Good Times on MBCSandia the vision of Sherman Mars three Chimes
Mean good Time. I's not NBC. Something