Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tired of the every day grind, ever dream of a
life of romantic adventure, want to get away from it all.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We offer you.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Escape, Escape designed to free you from the four walls
of today for a half hour of high adventure.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
You are standing in the bedroom of an English in
the sound of revelry coming faintly up the stairs, while
in the shadows across the room from you, the gun
in his hand already aimed at you. He is an
enemy agent whose success depends upon your death.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Listen now, as Escape brings you. Ben Wright story affair
at Mandrake, this town.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
This speech might have been wonderful in peacetime, I don't know.
I never saw it before. But in war in nineteen
forty it was held and on the map that I
held in my shaking hands. At Red Dunkirk, I stood
by a burnt out truck, weaving with fatigue, watching what
was left of my battalion, luch like sleepwalkers onto the
shell swept dunes to await their turn on the little
(01:42):
ships that were struggling so desperately to get them away
and back to England. Hid the baker of a here
some major behind the can.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Why these board It's a him in the old Battalion
Order group, all of them. Yes, air a run bloody shell, nasty,
very nasty. You want to look over the prisoner's No, sir.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I suppose a brigade still once unit identification. That's why
he's all right.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I left him with the large corporal of D Company.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Here you are, sir, this bomb all here?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
All right?
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Okay you nord excuse a man up on your bloody feet.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I get him lined up? Who's nice? That man at
the end, Holloway? Get him turned around.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
You Whi's the officer you aren't talking to.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
That's more like it. Now we can thirty thirty shots,
bitter Ham are your thirty shuts? What in the world
a your? It can kind English rotasting? Don't understand English
when you were born in England? Bitter Ham, are your Holloway?
Shoot that man?
Speaker 6 (02:59):
Shoot him?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Knows then, by Heaven I will know you can't.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Toby Kurch, you know it's against King's regulations to say
the prison you know it is major.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Sir, he's a traitor. I'll prove it to you to
get a service book. Yes, sir, he says, thirty shuts
born London, England doesn't.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It says zer will prid door born Braymens door.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
He could have sworn door will print door. Yes, sir,
all right, Halloway must have been mistaken. Give him back
his book.
Speaker 7 (03:36):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I want the prisoners placed nearer the sea, less chance
of them making a volt for it. That way, then
I want you to I wanted to see that all
of the ranks are fully e quit. But they don't
have already. They can pick up off the beach.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Yes, corporal, get them prisoners down nearer to the sea.
All right, John Maker, come along all the way.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Give me major, But who do you think that prisoner was?
Just now? My best friend, Halloway, My best friends, gentleman, Yes,
blasted Halloway, my best friend. How is it? That's all right, Halloway.
I'm tired, We all are. I made a mistake, that's all.
I wasn't really going to shoot him, you know, No,
(04:23):
he's a baker. Say maybe it's just taking of for
us to embark, all right, tecknowledge, yes, sir, but I didn't.
We'll move off by companies a company leading single file
five yard inter deliver that order to contus. Yes, sir,
you were married, Halloway.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Not afswer ten years now and three nippers. They'd be
glad to assume, I should say.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
So.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
You know, I've always thought of the old troubling strive
talking too much. But after this little larch you'll seem
like a blinking deaf. Let's get off this flaming beat.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
We left Dunkirk blazing behind us, and the Navy took over.
Then England again, and finally the blessed release of two
weeks leave. But it was a short lived happiness. From
the sixth day I was ordered to report to the
War Office, General Ballaster.
Speaker 7 (05:23):
Son Ah Baker. Yes, of course I sent for you,
didn't I no, Baker, congratulations, A bigger pardon on your
military cross. I haven't got it yet, eh. Well, and
it'll be along. It was a good show in France, Baker,
A fine rey guard and a properly equipped itttalion when
you came ashore. Deserve your MC Thank you so thank
me rubbish, deserve it.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Now?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What do you know about rockets, Baker? Well, Sir, I
was interested in the pre war as a possible method
for postal delivery.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
Ah, that's right, I haven't here in your record. Ah
attended experimental meetings in Germany.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Sir, my best friend and I have it interested me.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
We come here.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
I have a look at this map, sir, A man
Drake Forest full of rockets, our rockets, AKAC and anti personnel.
Now the Germans think they're very clever with a sort
of nonsense.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
We think we're a bit brighter Man Drake Forest. I
see make up.
Speaker 7 (06:24):
I want you to command the group at Mandrake and
carry out field tests. Can't give you more than a
battalion for the job either. I'm giving you the job
because of your record and because you know about rockets.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
Now, what's your main problem?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Security? Exactly, security.
Speaker 7 (06:39):
The enemy knows we're up to something and he'll do
his best to find out what it is. It'll be
quite a job, sir with only a battalion, or you
get with your Colonelcy of course take it, of course, sir.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thank you. Oh one thing, sir, may I have my
old regimentals had Major with me. Holloway knows the way
I work and he'd be very good value range that immediately,
That all I think, so, sir.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
Oh that's it then, except for a word of warning, sir,
from now on, Mandrake will be a number one target
for enemy agents and Drake and you, Yes, sir, your
life and more important still, our chances of winning this
war depend on how well you do at Mandrake.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I had already thought of that, sir.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
I'm sure you had.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
Well.
Speaker 7 (07:20):
Then I suggest you spend the last of your leave
by having a look around that district, make your appreciation
and so on it. Oh, yes, and dying with Barbara
and me tonight, Hey, guy, I'd love to sac splendid
eight thirty then it's permitting.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Oh and do me a favor, will you? Of course, sir,
don't mention rockets.
Speaker 7 (07:38):
A barber's all right really, but pung goes awfully touch Pungo, Yes,
the bloody dog, right.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Right, sir, and thank you. The dinner was excellent, as
was the was y. So it was well after midnight
before I said good night to the balusters and made
my way slowly towards my flat in Panda mus The
(08:09):
darkness was absolute, no search lights, no raid, an almost
irritating hush. And then as I turned into the mews,
I saw it a chink of light coming from my
own window. I moved quietly, yet as quickly as possible,
off the steps, then stopped suddenly my door had been forced.
(08:34):
I eased it open wider and stepped through. There was
a ribbon of light from the study. Then, as I
slowly edged closer, I came to where I had fallen
(08:58):
in the hall, head pounding. I got to my feet
and opened the study door. The room was in kios,
chairs ripped open, and papers littering the carpet, bookshelves, empty,
pictures pushed aside. Quickly I pried open a tightly thicker
false bottom of the bureau drawer. My most secret documents
and books were untouched, the film of chop dust with
(09:21):
which I had sprayed them unmarked. If it had been
a burglar, he got what he came for. If it
had been the enemy and they had not discovered what
my mission was.
Speaker 7 (09:38):
Hello guy, Sorry to disturb your baluster here.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Oh yes, General got another brister for you. I'm afraid
in what way, sir, I'll Just.
Speaker 7 (09:46):
After you left, I got a toll call from Pick
Spooner Cat's commanding a prisoner of war camp just outside
your new area. Yes, sir, Yes, thought I ought to
tell you. Pick was livid, he said the two days
ago six of his POWs made a bolt for it.
His patrols have brought in five of them, but one
is still swarming about scott Free.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Bloody well vanished got a description of himself.
Speaker 7 (10:06):
Why I rang up writers about the thirty two medium bill,
but poor pale faced, black eyes and hair.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
I have keep my eyes open zone anything else?
Speaker 7 (10:15):
Yes, they thinks he must speak fluent English and know
the country. Well, Oh, yes, the fellow's name is Wilfrid Dorf.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I left London the next night, and as the train
crawled towards Mandrake, under the nightly blanket of shell fire
and bummers, I thought of my new command of the rockets,
and how they could change the whole face of the
war properly used and in the right hands. And I
(10:55):
thought too of Wilfrid Dorf, whom we'd captured at Dunkirk,
the man i'd mistaken for my oldest friend, thirty shot
thirty's parents had been German suddenly, but he was a
British citizen until he had gone to Berlin in thirty
seven to finish his studies there. And if Dorff was forty,
why had he refused to recognize me that day? Shame fear?
(11:16):
Why why change his name in any case? I'd soon
find out were somewhere in the forest of Mandrake. He
was loose. And then much later I was stepping off
the train into a driving, stinging rain at Mandrake Halt,
(11:37):
where Sergeant Holloway met me with a staff car, and
in a matter of minutes we were driving away from
the station toward the little town of Mandrake.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
The adjudants sent these apologies for not being here, sir,
But the camp's are mess, and he couldn't get away.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Thanks Holloway. Well they posted you quickly enough to Truther,
hardly had time to give me pack off. Camp's are mess, sir, Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
The adjudent suggests the Red Lion pub in the village
for you, sir, till we get settled a bit, He's
warned them, sir.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Cheer up all away. It's not as bad as all that, no, sir.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
At least we're home, yes, sir, but if you'll forgive
me saying so, it ain't much better than the beach
of Dunkirk. I was your wife followway talk, he said,
very talk. Well this is it, said the Red Bloody Lion.
The camp's number is men dreake four or five. If
you want the staff car for reconnaissance.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
And thanks for meeting me, Holloway, I want to drink
before you go back.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
I'm very good of your servant. Besides, mess managed to
get a couple of barrels of cocktail last night.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
They only have better here. Right off you go, Good night,
Colonel Kennel Baker, isn't it? That's right?
Speaker 8 (13:05):
I'm alfre Bingo. I've been expecting you, sir. Your adjutant
gave us a burs and we have the best room
put by for you. Number six on the second floor
has to eating out yet.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, I did have dinner in London, but.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
There's still a bit peckition, are I?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yes? Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.
Speaker 8 (13:22):
Don't you worry? So I told the old lady to
put my off of blood putting in some green gages
for the afters, just in case.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
It sounds five.
Speaker 8 (13:30):
I'll take your lease up for yourself and the bottle
of Jamieson's iris the adjutants and along you just stop
into it by a parlor. It's missus servian there right,
Thank you, NL. I do hope you won't put us
out of bounds to your chap just because your top secret.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Now where did you hear that?
Speaker 8 (13:51):
Well, sort of gossip is a sort of gossip line.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Let's talk about it some other time in the meantime.
How about the four of course?
Speaker 8 (14:02):
Right away?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Right away? The bar parlor was warm and crowded, and
Dingles food far better than I had hoped for. After
ide eat and I sat for a while over a
couple of glasses of port, I was tired off of
the journey north. Dingle's remark about being tough secrets irritated
me so that when the singing began, I started up
(14:25):
to my room. Hello guy, thirty shots. Sorry about this artillery,
(14:47):
but we have to talk. And I remember your little
outburst at Dunkirk. It seemed wiser to take no chances,
and you were Wilfred Dorf. That's right, the sort of
melodramatic thing one it's forced to do early in wartime.
Thank hen, Now you listen to me. Please don't get
yourself in an uproar. Po are a couple of brinks,
like a good chap with you, and then we'll talk
that you probably have a service revolver in your belie,
(15:09):
and I'd rather you wouldn't try to get it.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Hey, drink so well an you what thanks? Ah?
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Hi, it's more like it, eh, Yes. And I can't
tell you how grateful I was when you didn't positively
identify me a Dunkirk. Guy, I'll bet you when you
see it was essential that I get to England with
Germans and as a German. What else are you captured?
You myself? Didn't I knew a British subject in the
German uniform. Now that you've escaped, you've come to me
to make a favor. How long do you think you
(15:51):
can trade on old friendship? You're an escape prisoner of war. Guy,
Let me explain, then explain. You have the gun all right. Firstly,
we are very well aware of the importance of your
new command. We O O the Germans, Germans my foot,
British military intelligence, British military you with M I five.
(16:14):
That's right, guy, Guy, Do you remember my farewell party
at the Dorchester in thirty seven when I was leaving
for Germany to finish my education. I remember what about
this intelligence New war was coming then sooner or later,
and because of my German parenting, they sent me there
as a plant. But guy, I'm not an escaped prisoner.
That was arranged by courtesy of military intelligence. I expect
(16:37):
the commandant of the camp is furious. But then sometimes
you can't let the left hand know what as I did,
believe you, what are you doing here? We feel sure
that one of the top German agents is now or
will be in this area target Mandrake's new rocket command
and of course it's commander you. Who is this agent?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
We don't know yet.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
I see do you know what he looks like?
Speaker 6 (17:03):
We don't have that either.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
You know very little for someone that supposedly works for
military intelligence. Ah, I see all right here, Yeah, this
is the only identification I carry. Look doesn't mean a thing. Guy,
you don't think I don't think thirty. I know those
credentials are forged, forged? Are you out of your mind? Credulous?
Do you think I am thirty? Listen, guy, I need
(17:26):
your our friendships finished done. You see you're on one side.
I'm on the other. You better go while you still
have that gun, because the next time I find you,
I'll kill you die. You always were pigheaded, all right?
Then a drink for the road, one for our friendship.
That was as I poured his drink came toward me.
(17:50):
Smiling his gun in one hand. Then as he reached
for it, I flung the raw whiskey straight into his eyes,
and as he spun away from me half plight. Did
I let catch him? You who was trying to bring
the gun down on me? I brought my heel down
hard on his hand, and the gun skidded away how
to reach under the wardrobe. Then his left hand chumped
me hard across the throat through a choking haze. I
(18:14):
reached the bed and clawed open my release, swung my
revolver towards him as he came towards me that I fired.
You how you I hit him? But even so he
was able to wrench the gun from my hands, raised
for the door, and slammer chut behind him. By the
time I got to my feet, had the door open.
Thirdy had a good lead. I took the stairs as
(18:36):
fast as I could, but down in the parlor I
saw on me bingle open mouthed, and a blur of
excited faces to the blackout curtains at the front door
were half a jar, and thirdy shuts was gone.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
And as you know, Colonel, three days later thirty shots
was dead.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Hen Harper, I suppose for you, chaps and m I
five this is the run of the mill. But for
me the whole thing has been a nightmare, tragedy of errors.
Killing one's best friend is well, not too pleasant.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
As I quite understand, Colonel.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
In time of war, friendships are set aside when one's
country is being attacked. And I thought thirty shots was
doing just then, Now that I know he was working
for M I five, Well, I.
Speaker 9 (19:39):
Didn't he tell you that military intelligence has said about
the Mandarin? Yes, didn'ty Shower's credentials. He did, but at
that time I felt sure they were forged. I see, look,
Captain Harper on the beach at Dunkirk. I capture this man.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Later I am told by a General Banister that he
has escaped the pow camp. And still later I find
him in my room, holding me at the point of
a gunner.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
And what did he tell you he was doing?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
There? Is said he'd come to Mandrake because an enemy
agent was supposedly in the area. He wanted my help
in turning up something. It's all easy enough to understand now,
But don't you see, Captain Harper, At the time, I
thought I was doing my duty. I had no I
have of knowing for sure that he was a British agent.
The whole thing. It's been a frightful tragedy.
Speaker 9 (20:25):
Oh yes, it is tragic most of all because those
shots got to one of them, and before he died
he never knew he'd found the evidence he wanted.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I don't understand Captain Harper.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Colonel you were able only to fire once.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
That's correct, before he grabbed my gun and ran.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
As and lost himself in the black art.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
That's right. I never saw him again.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Or couldn't find him. Is this your gun?
Speaker 2 (20:57):
It could be.
Speaker 9 (20:58):
I rather imagined this gl shots gave it to us
before he died. Well, you fired only one shot from
your revolver, the shot.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
That killed Ferdie.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yes, that's true.
Speaker 9 (21:14):
And during a regulation ballistics check we found the remaining
five rounds of your revolver held not part of it,
rather microfilms with a complete German code necessary for your
activities here at Mandrake.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Colonel Baker, you're under military arrest.
Speaker 9 (21:28):
Is a Nazi agent and for espionage against His Majesty's government.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Shall we go.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Under the direction of Norman McDonald. Escape has brought you
a fair at Mandrake by Ben Wright, starring John Dayner.
Featured in the cast where Ben Wright, Richard Peel, Parley Bear,
Joseph Kerns, Gary Montgomery, and Lawrence Topkin. You're announcer George Walsh.
The special music for Escape is composed and conducted by
Leith Stevens.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Next week, you are groping your way through the belly
of a sunken ship of fortune and pearls secured to
your belt, while above on the ship that tends you
working the pump that sends here to you is an
adversary whose plans include the taking of your pearls and
(22:28):
your life.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
So listen next week when Escape brings you John Russell's
story the Adversary. Today, Radio station WDNC in Durham, North
(22:53):
Carolina celebrates its twentieth birthday and its twentieth anniversary as
a CBS Radio affiliate as well.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Happy Day Station WD and C.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
And many more Happy listening Birthdays to all the listeners
in the Greater Durham region from more than two hundred
CBS radio affiliates from coast to coast. Mister Keene, tracer
of Lost Persons, has heard Friday nights on the CBS
Radio network
Tired of the every day grind, ever dream of a
life of romantic adventure, want to get away from it all.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We offer you.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Escape, Escape designed to free you from the four walls
of today for a half hour of high adventure.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
You are standing in the bedroom of an English in
the sound of revelry coming faintly up the stairs, while
in the shadows across the room from you, the gun
in his hand already aimed at you. He is an
enemy agent whose success depends upon your death.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Listen now, as Escape brings you. Ben Wright story affair
at Mandrake, this town.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
This speech might have been wonderful in peacetime, I don't know.
I never saw it before. But in war in nineteen
forty it was held and on the map that I
held in my shaking hands. At Red Dunkirk, I stood
by a burnt out truck, weaving with fatigue, watching what
was left of my battalion, luch like sleepwalkers onto the
shell swept dunes to await their turn on the little
(01:42):
ships that were struggling so desperately to get them away
and back to England. Hid the baker of a here
some major behind the can.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Why these board It's a him in the old Battalion
Order group, all of them. Yes, air a run bloody shell, nasty,
very nasty. You want to look over the prisoner's No, sir.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I suppose a brigade still once unit identification. That's why
he's all right.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I left him with the large corporal of D Company.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Here you are, sir, this bomb all here?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
All right?
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Okay you nord excuse a man up on your bloody feet.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I get him lined up? Who's nice? That man at
the end, Holloway? Get him turned around.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
You Whi's the officer you aren't talking to.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
That's more like it. Now we can thirty thirty shots,
bitter Ham are your thirty shuts? What in the world
a your? It can kind English rotasting? Don't understand English
when you were born in England? Bitter Ham, are your Holloway?
Shoot that man?
Speaker 6 (02:59):
Shoot him?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Knows then, by Heaven I will know you can't.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Toby Kurch, you know it's against King's regulations to say
the prison you know it is major.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Sir, he's a traitor. I'll prove it to you to
get a service book. Yes, sir, he says, thirty shuts
born London, England doesn't.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It says zer will prid door born Braymens door.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
He could have sworn door will print door. Yes, sir,
all right, Halloway must have been mistaken. Give him back
his book.
Speaker 7 (03:36):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I want the prisoners placed nearer the sea, less chance
of them making a volt for it. That way, then
I want you to I wanted to see that all
of the ranks are fully e quit. But they don't
have already. They can pick up off the beach.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Yes, corporal, get them prisoners down nearer to the sea.
All right, John Maker, come along all the way.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Give me major, But who do you think that prisoner was?
Just now? My best friend, Halloway, My best friends, gentleman, Yes,
blasted Halloway, my best friend. How is it? That's all right, Halloway.
I'm tired, We all are. I made a mistake, that's all.
I wasn't really going to shoot him, you know, No,
(04:23):
he's a baker. Say maybe it's just taking of for
us to embark, all right, tecknowledge, yes, sir, but I didn't.
We'll move off by companies a company leading single file
five yard inter deliver that order to contus. Yes, sir,
you were married, Halloway.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Not afswer ten years now and three nippers. They'd be
glad to assume, I should say.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
So.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
You know, I've always thought of the old troubling strive
talking too much. But after this little larch you'll seem
like a blinking deaf. Let's get off this flaming beat.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
We left Dunkirk blazing behind us, and the Navy took over.
Then England again, and finally the blessed release of two
weeks leave. But it was a short lived happiness. From
the sixth day I was ordered to report to the
War Office, General Ballaster.
Speaker 7 (05:23):
Son Ah Baker. Yes, of course I sent for you,
didn't I no, Baker, congratulations, A bigger pardon on your
military cross. I haven't got it yet, eh. Well, and
it'll be along. It was a good show in France, Baker,
A fine rey guard and a properly equipped itttalion when
you came ashore. Deserve your MC Thank you so thank
me rubbish, deserve it.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Now?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What do you know about rockets, Baker? Well, Sir, I
was interested in the pre war as a possible method
for postal delivery.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
Ah, that's right, I haven't here in your record. Ah
attended experimental meetings in Germany.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Sir, my best friend and I have it interested me.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
We come here.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
I have a look at this map, sir, A man
Drake Forest full of rockets, our rockets, AKAC and anti personnel.
Now the Germans think they're very clever with a sort
of nonsense.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
We think we're a bit brighter Man Drake Forest. I
see make up.
Speaker 7 (06:24):
I want you to command the group at Mandrake and
carry out field tests. Can't give you more than a
battalion for the job either. I'm giving you the job
because of your record and because you know about rockets.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
Now, what's your main problem?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Security? Exactly, security.
Speaker 7 (06:39):
The enemy knows we're up to something and he'll do
his best to find out what it is. It'll be
quite a job, sir with only a battalion, or you
get with your Colonelcy of course take it, of course, sir.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thank you. Oh one thing, sir, may I have my
old regimentals had Major with me. Holloway knows the way
I work and he'd be very good value range that immediately,
That all I think, so, sir.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
Oh that's it then, except for a word of warning, sir,
from now on, Mandrake will be a number one target
for enemy agents and Drake and you, Yes, sir, your
life and more important still, our chances of winning this
war depend on how well you do at Mandrake.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I had already thought of that, sir.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
I'm sure you had.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
Well.
Speaker 7 (07:20):
Then I suggest you spend the last of your leave
by having a look around that district, make your appreciation
and so on it. Oh, yes, and dying with Barbara
and me tonight, Hey, guy, I'd love to sac splendid
eight thirty then it's permitting.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Oh and do me a favor, will you? Of course, sir,
don't mention rockets.
Speaker 7 (07:38):
A barber's all right really, but pung goes awfully touch Pungo, Yes,
the bloody dog, right.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Right, sir, and thank you. The dinner was excellent, as
was the was y. So it was well after midnight
before I said good night to the balusters and made
my way slowly towards my flat in Panda mus The
(08:09):
darkness was absolute, no search lights, no raid, an almost
irritating hush. And then as I turned into the mews,
I saw it a chink of light coming from my
own window. I moved quietly, yet as quickly as possible,
off the steps, then stopped suddenly my door had been forced.
(08:34):
I eased it open wider and stepped through. There was
a ribbon of light from the study. Then, as I
slowly edged closer, I came to where I had fallen
(08:58):
in the hall, head pounding. I got to my feet
and opened the study door. The room was in kios,
chairs ripped open, and papers littering the carpet, bookshelves, empty,
pictures pushed aside. Quickly I pried open a tightly thicker
false bottom of the bureau drawer. My most secret documents
and books were untouched, the film of chop dust with
(09:21):
which I had sprayed them unmarked. If it had been
a burglar, he got what he came for. If it
had been the enemy and they had not discovered what
my mission was.
Speaker 7 (09:38):
Hello guy, Sorry to disturb your baluster here.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Oh yes, General got another brister for you. I'm afraid
in what way, sir, I'll Just.
Speaker 7 (09:46):
After you left, I got a toll call from Pick
Spooner Cat's commanding a prisoner of war camp just outside
your new area. Yes, sir, Yes, thought I ought to
tell you. Pick was livid, he said the two days
ago six of his POWs made a bolt for it.
His patrols have brought in five of them, but one
is still swarming about scott Free.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Bloody well vanished got a description of himself.
Speaker 7 (10:06):
Why I rang up writers about the thirty two medium bill,
but poor pale faced, black eyes and hair.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
I have keep my eyes open zone anything else?
Speaker 7 (10:15):
Yes, they thinks he must speak fluent English and know
the country. Well, Oh, yes, the fellow's name is Wilfrid Dorf.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I left London the next night, and as the train
crawled towards Mandrake, under the nightly blanket of shell fire
and bummers, I thought of my new command of the rockets,
and how they could change the whole face of the
war properly used and in the right hands. And I
(10:55):
thought too of Wilfrid Dorf, whom we'd captured at Dunkirk,
the man i'd mistaken for my oldest friend, thirty shot
thirty's parents had been German suddenly, but he was a
British citizen until he had gone to Berlin in thirty
seven to finish his studies there. And if Dorff was forty,
why had he refused to recognize me that day? Shame fear?
(11:16):
Why why change his name in any case? I'd soon
find out were somewhere in the forest of Mandrake. He
was loose. And then much later I was stepping off
the train into a driving, stinging rain at Mandrake Halt,
(11:37):
where Sergeant Holloway met me with a staff car, and
in a matter of minutes we were driving away from
the station toward the little town of Mandrake.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
The adjudants sent these apologies for not being here, sir,
But the camp's are mess, and he couldn't get away.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Thanks Holloway. Well they posted you quickly enough to Truther,
hardly had time to give me pack off. Camp's are mess, sir, Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
The adjudent suggests the Red Lion pub in the village
for you, sir, till we get settled a bit, He's
warned them, sir.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Cheer up all away. It's not as bad as all that, no, sir.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
At least we're home, yes, sir, but if you'll forgive
me saying so, it ain't much better than the beach
of Dunkirk. I was your wife followway talk, he said,
very talk. Well this is it, said the Red Bloody Lion.
The camp's number is men dreake four or five. If
you want the staff car for reconnaissance.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
And thanks for meeting me, Holloway, I want to drink
before you go back.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
I'm very good of your servant. Besides, mess managed to
get a couple of barrels of cocktail last night.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
They only have better here. Right off you go, Good night,
Colonel Kennel Baker, isn't it? That's right?
Speaker 8 (13:05):
I'm alfre Bingo. I've been expecting you, sir. Your adjutant
gave us a burs and we have the best room
put by for you. Number six on the second floor
has to eating out yet.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, I did have dinner in London, but.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
There's still a bit peckition, are I?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yes? Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.
Speaker 8 (13:22):
Don't you worry? So I told the old lady to
put my off of blood putting in some green gages
for the afters, just in case.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
It sounds five.
Speaker 8 (13:30):
I'll take your lease up for yourself and the bottle
of Jamieson's iris the adjutants and along you just stop
into it by a parlor. It's missus servian there right,
Thank you, NL. I do hope you won't put us
out of bounds to your chap just because your top secret.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Now where did you hear that?
Speaker 8 (13:51):
Well, sort of gossip is a sort of gossip line.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Let's talk about it some other time in the meantime.
How about the four of course?
Speaker 8 (14:02):
Right away?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Right away? The bar parlor was warm and crowded, and
Dingles food far better than I had hoped for. After
ide eat and I sat for a while over a
couple of glasses of port, I was tired off of
the journey north. Dingle's remark about being tough secrets irritated
me so that when the singing began, I started up
(14:25):
to my room. Hello guy, thirty shots. Sorry about this artillery,
(14:47):
but we have to talk. And I remember your little
outburst at Dunkirk. It seemed wiser to take no chances,
and you were Wilfred Dorf. That's right, the sort of
melodramatic thing one it's forced to do early in wartime.
Thank hen, Now you listen to me. Please don't get
yourself in an uproar. Po are a couple of brinks,
like a good chap with you, and then we'll talk
that you probably have a service revolver in your belie,
(15:09):
and I'd rather you wouldn't try to get it.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Hey, drink so well an you what thanks? Ah?
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Hi, it's more like it, eh, Yes. And I can't
tell you how grateful I was when you didn't positively
identify me a Dunkirk. Guy, I'll bet you when you
see it was essential that I get to England with
Germans and as a German. What else are you captured?
You myself? Didn't I knew a British subject in the
German uniform. Now that you've escaped, you've come to me
to make a favor. How long do you think you
(15:51):
can trade on old friendship? You're an escape prisoner of war. Guy,
Let me explain, then explain. You have the gun all right. Firstly,
we are very well aware of the importance of your
new command. We O O the Germans, Germans my foot,
British military intelligence, British military you with M I five.
(16:14):
That's right, guy, Guy, Do you remember my farewell party
at the Dorchester in thirty seven when I was leaving
for Germany to finish my education. I remember what about
this intelligence New war was coming then sooner or later,
and because of my German parenting, they sent me there
as a plant. But guy, I'm not an escaped prisoner.
That was arranged by courtesy of military intelligence. I expect
(16:37):
the commandant of the camp is furious. But then sometimes
you can't let the left hand know what as I did,
believe you, what are you doing here? We feel sure
that one of the top German agents is now or
will be in this area target Mandrake's new rocket command
and of course it's commander you. Who is this agent?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
We don't know yet.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
I see do you know what he looks like?
Speaker 6 (17:03):
We don't have that either.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
You know very little for someone that supposedly works for
military intelligence. Ah, I see all right here, Yeah, this
is the only identification I carry. Look doesn't mean a thing. Guy,
you don't think I don't think thirty. I know those
credentials are forged, forged? Are you out of your mind? Credulous?
Do you think I am thirty? Listen, guy, I need
(17:26):
your our friendships finished done. You see you're on one side.
I'm on the other. You better go while you still
have that gun, because the next time I find you,
I'll kill you die. You always were pigheaded, all right?
Then a drink for the road, one for our friendship.
That was as I poured his drink came toward me.
(17:50):
Smiling his gun in one hand. Then as he reached
for it, I flung the raw whiskey straight into his eyes,
and as he spun away from me half plight. Did
I let catch him? You who was trying to bring
the gun down on me? I brought my heel down
hard on his hand, and the gun skidded away how
to reach under the wardrobe. Then his left hand chumped
me hard across the throat through a choking haze. I
(18:14):
reached the bed and clawed open my release, swung my
revolver towards him as he came towards me that I fired.
You how you I hit him? But even so he
was able to wrench the gun from my hands, raised
for the door, and slammer chut behind him. By the
time I got to my feet, had the door open.
Thirdy had a good lead. I took the stairs as
(18:36):
fast as I could, but down in the parlor I
saw on me bingle open mouthed, and a blur of
excited faces to the blackout curtains at the front door
were half a jar, and thirdy shuts was gone.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
And as you know, Colonel, three days later thirty shots
was dead.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Hen Harper, I suppose for you, chaps and m I
five this is the run of the mill. But for
me the whole thing has been a nightmare, tragedy of errors.
Killing one's best friend is well, not too pleasant.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
As I quite understand, Colonel.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
In time of war, friendships are set aside when one's
country is being attacked. And I thought thirty shots was
doing just then, Now that I know he was working
for M I five, Well, I.
Speaker 9 (19:39):
Didn't he tell you that military intelligence has said about
the Mandarin? Yes, didn'ty Shower's credentials. He did, but at
that time I felt sure they were forged. I see, look,
Captain Harper on the beach at Dunkirk. I capture this man.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Later I am told by a General Banister that he
has escaped the pow camp. And still later I find
him in my room, holding me at the point of
a gunner.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
And what did he tell you he was doing?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
There? Is said he'd come to Mandrake because an enemy
agent was supposedly in the area. He wanted my help
in turning up something. It's all easy enough to understand now,
But don't you see, Captain Harper, At the time, I
thought I was doing my duty. I had no I
have of knowing for sure that he was a British agent.
The whole thing. It's been a frightful tragedy.
Speaker 9 (20:25):
Oh yes, it is tragic most of all because those
shots got to one of them, and before he died
he never knew he'd found the evidence he wanted.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I don't understand Captain Harper.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Colonel you were able only to fire once.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
That's correct, before he grabbed my gun and ran.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
As and lost himself in the black art.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
That's right. I never saw him again.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Or couldn't find him. Is this your gun?
Speaker 2 (20:57):
It could be.
Speaker 9 (20:58):
I rather imagined this gl shots gave it to us
before he died. Well, you fired only one shot from
your revolver, the shot.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
That killed Ferdie.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yes, that's true.
Speaker 9 (21:14):
And during a regulation ballistics check we found the remaining
five rounds of your revolver held not part of it,
rather microfilms with a complete German code necessary for your
activities here at Mandrake.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Colonel Baker, you're under military arrest.
Speaker 9 (21:28):
Is a Nazi agent and for espionage against His Majesty's government.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Shall we go.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Under the direction of Norman McDonald. Escape has brought you
a fair at Mandrake by Ben Wright, starring John Dayner.
Featured in the cast where Ben Wright, Richard Peel, Parley Bear,
Joseph Kerns, Gary Montgomery, and Lawrence Topkin. You're announcer George Walsh.
The special music for Escape is composed and conducted by
Leith Stevens.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Next week, you are groping your way through the belly
of a sunken ship of fortune and pearls secured to
your belt, while above on the ship that tends you
working the pump that sends here to you is an
adversary whose plans include the taking of your pearls and
(22:28):
your life.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
So listen next week when Escape brings you John Russell's
story the Adversary. Today, Radio station WDNC in Durham, North
(22:53):
Carolina celebrates its twentieth birthday and its twentieth anniversary as
a CBS Radio affiliate as well.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Happy Day Station WD and C.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
And many more Happy listening Birthdays to all the listeners
in the Greater Durham region from more than two hundred
CBS radio affiliates from coast to coast. Mister Keene, tracer
of Lost Persons, has heard Friday nights on the CBS
Radio network
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