Escape: 002- Operation Fleur De Lys

Escape. Escape tonight to occupied France and the underground. The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations presents, Escape, a new series of programs at which this, the second, is Operation Florida League, written and directed by William Ann Robeson.

Today, the 14th of July, the people of a free France celebrate the anniversary of their escape escape from the tyranny of the kings of Versailles. One hundred and fifty-eight years ago today, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille and let loose the French Revolution.

The torch of liberty set a fire that day never burned more fiercely than during the years when France was occupied by the Nazis. We escaped tonight to occupied France, from which three years ago there was no escape.

You can call me Duke, but don't use my right name. I might want to go back to France someday. And there are a lot of people in the world that wouldn't understand that what I did was justified in a war.

No, I don't have any regrets. Moral ones, that is. It isn't what I did to Renee that keeps me awake at night. It's just a memory of her. There isn't much of bother in my official report on Operation Flirtily, but then it isn't custom-rated.

descriptions of slim sunburned legs and wide deep brown eyes in a military document. And anyway, she was only an incident in the operation, even if she became somewhat more important to me. Operation Florida League began like all the others in the grubby undistinguished house in London, which was the headquarters of the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services. Otherwise known in various

parts of the world as screwballs, cutthroats, spies, cloak and dagger boys, and and American underground agents. Gentlemen, Operation Flour de Lee has planned to assist the advance of our forces once they've secured a beachhead in Normandy.

Is that where we're going in, Major? That is one of the possibilities, Lieutenant. Yes, sir. You will jump over Grandma in Northern France here on the map. You have to set up road blocks on these three state highways.

Here, here, and here. There is an underground contact near Grandma's? Yes, I'll send to Tom. He's leader of the local marquee he's expecting. In addition, you have to block these railroad lines, Entering and leaving Grandma.

These operations are to coincide with the advance of our ground forces. If they land in Normandy. If they land in Normandy. You will in plane tonight at $2,100 and will drop over your objective at, well, I should think approximately 2,230.

Any questions? No, I don't think so, sir. Well, yes, sir, I have a question. Yes, Lieutenant? How many of us are going on this mission? Just the two of you. Just the two of us.

And all we had to do was organize an underground army, Disrupt the supply lines of a half a dozen Nazi divisions and give support to the entire Allied invasion. Just the two of us. But that's the way the OSS works.

Nobody ordered Hill and me into it. We'd volunteer. I don't know why. Maybe for moments like this one. When you get a B24 assigned to you as a personal taxi, there's lots of room to sprawl around after the bomb phase.

How do you feel? Fine. Scared? Of course I'm scared, aren't you? Me? No. This is a walk. You forget how tough it was when we were at paratroop school at Benning. Yeah, that was real rugged.

If the wind wasn't right, you might land in the Chattahoochee and get all wet. And it was always the chance that you'd sprain your ankle coming down too hard. And the sun was so bright on some of those daylight jumps.

Well, we got none of those things to worry about here. A nice pitch black knight over France. No sun to blind us. No Chattahoochee river to fall into. Hey Lieutenant. Yes Sergeant. Skipper wants to talk to you on the intercon.

Thanks. Here, use my cans. I can. Duke here. Lieutenant, we are ejected. Any signal from the ground? Yes, the water range. Four dots, two dashes. Green. Very well. You and Lieutenant Hill move into the bomb baycat for more than 30 seconds.

Roger. Good luck. Thanks. Sergeant, stand by to dump those supplies as those were clear. Yes, sir. Come on, Ed. This is someone as sad as it. So soon, just as I was settling down with good book.

Bomb bay dogs are opening, sir. OK, Sergeant. All right, Ed, let's check your targets. It's a frightful mess. You just can't seem to do a thing with it. I know, over this is the last party you'll have to wear it on.

OK. How am I? Well, don't look now, but you're shoot showing. Tuck it in. Let's get out of that catwalk. Ah! First thing we bring in. You got it? Look for those 10 seconds while you're ball prey.

Nothing helps. You hang onto the rip cord and you count off the seconds and you're trying not to count too fast. Your hand on that rip cord is the only certain thing in the world.

You tumble head over teacups with a wind tearing sound from your ears. And there's only one thought, always the same thought, whether it's your first or your 50th jump. Will the shoot open? It does.

Yanking at your armpits, knocking the breath out of you, slowing it down, and you're swinging like a rag doll, trying to get your bearings. First, you make out the horizon. That's where the black becomes darker black, where the stars stop.

And you wonder about it, but you can't risk calling out. And now that you're located where the stars aren't, you look for the signal light, and there it is, slightly to the left. So you tug at your shroud lines, spelling a little air to guide you toward it, and it's coming towards you awfully fast.

And you hope this particular French patriot picked out a field free of trees and church steeples. And then you try to remember all the things they taught you about hitting the ground and rolling with a wind and collapsing your chute, because it's always like this.

You always feel like you've never hit the silk before. And then you're down, and your roll will just right, and you collapse your chute, and it's second nature to you after all. And then you hear footsteps running towards you.

And you remember another important instruction. You whip out your automatic, and you hope your French is good enough to get your buy. Kiva, who is it? El scene here. Hello. D'Ili. Okay, I'll see you. Come on.

Well, ask your variety of Lieutenant. So it seems... You have no idea how long we wish for this morning. That's my partner. Come on. Hey, Ed. Ed. Over here, Duke. You okay? My aunt and I is just slightly damaged. Otherwise, okay.

This is Aussie. Our content. Aussie, Lieutenant Hill. Aussie, Lieutenant. It is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. And on behalf of my country... Yeah, one. Let's get these chutes buried and blow this place.

Where's your transportation Aussie? We haven't any. What? Where's the safe house? You might be able to stay at my hands. I don't think she'd talk. You don't think, aren't you sure? Oh, yes, I'm supremely confident that I am- Where are the Germans?

They're everywhere. Not as why I'm so glad you're here. Now we can fight again. With your help, we will kill many Bosch. Wait a minute. How many are there in your maki? Myself and two others.

Just three of you? Oh, my aching bag. But now that the Americans are here, we can do anything. Oh, why don't they get these things straight in London? How can we block roads with a three-man maki?

Three men in an aunt who perhaps will not talk. Well, let's get cracking. Duke, you're not going through with this mad venture, are you? What would you suggest? Well, as for me, I'm all for taking the next plane back to London.

But he's a bell attendant. No, thank you, ma'am. This bone chicken is delicious. How do you call it? K-Rashing. Supreme. We've had nothing like it since the Bosch came. No, well, you could use it soon.

And cigarettes talk, Marie. Cigarettes made of real tobacco. Ah, you Americans have everything. Madame, Alcyn, you are kind, you are hospitable, but the comforts of K-Raction will not block roads. We need men, we must form a maki.

But we have a maki, I might... Look Alcyn, there are three of you and two of us. Sure, we've got guns and we've got ammunition and supply chutes somewhere out in that field where we landed.

We've got arms for 50 men, but if we had those men, we still couldn't go to war against German division. And you said yourself is at least a division, Garrison, in Grummo. What must we do?

First, we must organize a maki. We need men. Can you get them? I can go into the village and talk to my French. She'd have done that a long time ago. Faucien, that would be most unwise.

Why? Didn't you know? Alcini's a patriot. He's a deserted from the Vichy army, so he's wanted by the Gestapo. Oh, great. And there's a Gestapo headquarters in Grandma, of course. Of course. Alcini's not run to run from danger.

I'm quite the contrary. I can get Renee to hell. Who's Renee? Alcini's sweetheart, a lovely girl from Paris. Four things she had to come down to the country because her house was bombed out. Let's leave her out of this.

But Lieutenant, she would be most happy to hell. Alsene, you got a lot to learn about guerrilla warfare. You might as well study your first lesson right now. It's shortened to the point. No games.

Well, the next day we collected the supplies which had been dropped with us. And we set up a camp deep in the woods. Hill and I were loaded with French money, so we were able to buy food from our friendly farmers.

Maybe it was the food as much as patriotism that brought us recruits. Anyway, after a week we had nearly 30 men. Our Maquis wasn't big enough for the job we had to do, but it was growing in the right direction.

And then one night as I was winding up a report to London. What do they ever say? Message acknowledged. Carry on. What about new batteries for the radio? What about extra ammunition for the Buck Rogers guns?

What are they going to get another drop to us? Why don't you ask them? Yeah, I know. They do the best they can, I guess. After all, we're not the only boy scouts in this jamboree.

Mm-hmm. Hey, too. Yeah. There goes Al scene again off toward the road. What the? Hey, Al scene. Yes? Come in a minute. Yes, Lieutenant. How are you going? I was just taking a stroll. You're on night guard?

Not tonight. You weren't on night guard last night, were you? No, Lieutenant. Or the night before? No, sir. But you weren't in camp all night, were you? No, sir. What's the matter? Don't you like the camp?

I'd rather sleep at your aunt's. Is it too rugged out here for you? No sir. Then where are you? In the village. You know the orders. No one is to go into the village. Yes, Lieutenant, but I only go in at night.

That makes no difference. But it does. You see, Lieutenant, I'm so in love. Oh, great. The girl from Paris. Yes. You should see her, Lieutenant. She's the most beautiful, the most charming. The most you know you're endangering the whole marquee by disobeying my orders.

Oh, no sir. There's no danger with Rene. She hates the bush. Why, why, she wants to join us. You've told her about us. Oh, yes, sir. Are you out of your mind? How do you know she's all right?

I just know that, sir. She's the most wonderful person in the world. She's a real patriot. I told you, rule number one is no danger. Yes, but Renee is different. Yeah. Well, you better marry her before you bring her on here.

You'll have to share with the rest of these walls. Lieutenant, do I understand your... Forget it, I'll sing. It's just an American figure speech. May I tell Renee she can join us? Well, not quite yet.

Later, maybe. Yes, Lieutenant. Is that all? Yeah, that's all. If you got to take it out, scene, take it easy. I do not understand. Just another American idiot, M.L. scene. Good night. Good night, sir.

Hey, Duke. You gonna let him get away with that? What are we gonna do? Slap him into the guardhouse for 30 days. Only this isn't the American Army. We haven't any guardhouse. Yeah, stinks from a security standpoint.

I know. We try to keep these boys from sneaking off home every now and then we're not gonna have any, Maki. Hmm. Ah, he's French. An immoral race. I don't know about that. Remember Phoenix City, Alabama?

Yeah. Oh, yeah. See what you mean. There wasn't anything we could do. If we'd ordered Al scene to stay in camp, he'd have sneaked off anyway. He had that dreamy far away look that's baffled parents, teachers, and first lieutenants since the beginning of time.

I didn't worry too much about it because our marquee was growing. And Ed Hill and I were breaking our backs, pushing those French kids through an air-sauch basic in three weeks. Headquarters in London didn't tell us much, but we did know from the BBC that the boys had landed at Omaha Beach and it wouldn't be long before they'd be needing our roadblocks.

And then one morning, about D plus four, I think it was, I was out in the woods running a squad through Concealman drill. Oh no, no, hit the dirt, don't wait until you're dead! When you see the signal, hit the dirt right now!

Pardon me, Lieutenant. Huh? Oh, I'll see. Have you been on that as well? I didn't know. Lieutenant, I've got to talk to you. Okay, I'll be through here in a half hour or so. Got to talk to you now, huh?

All right, I'll see. Okay, boys, take five. Come along, I'll see. What's on your mind? Lieutenant, my family's been killed. Yes. By the Gestapo. He set fire to the house. I'm mother, my father, my two sisters.

They ran out that could stop us, shot them. You're sure of this? Yes, I heard it this morning from the neighbor who saw it happen. When can we attack Lieutenant? When can we stop this endless training and fight the bush?

No, I want only to kill and kill and kill until I pay them back from my father, my mother. My two sisters. Yeah, I know. You'll get your chance out soon, but not yet. We got to wait.

We're not ready yet. I'm ready. Before I wanted to fight the bush for my country. How I want to kill him again and again for them. I know, but you got to be patient. It should happen to me now.

Only last night when I said she'd marry me, come to live here with me in the camp. I was so happy. And this morning I learned this news. What did you hear from your mother last?

Not for a month since we began to work, but I've written her every week. You have? Who mailed the letters? My name mailed them for me. She's so kind and thoughtful. She offered to mail letters home for the other boys too.

It was nice of it. Did they take advantage of her offer? A couple of them. Who? Paul and Sean. I told them about it. They wrote their families. And Renee mailed the letters, huh? She's a wonderful person, Lieutenant. You're going to love her.

Yeah, I think I am. She's all I've got in the world now. Two and two make four in occupied France, just the same as anywhere else. And sometimes it's just as hard to prove. But one thing was sure, now I wanted to meet Renee in the worst way.

But I had to postpone the pleasure because early that afternoon, and one of the outposts broke into camp on a breath. What's that? Yes, Paul. The boat. They're coming down the road through the forest.

How many? I did not stop to count them. Several truckloads to be sure. Pass the word to Lieutenant Hill. Ask him to bring his detail into camp on the double. Yes, Lieutenant. Halcyon. Yes, sir.

Take two men and go down to the road and see what they're up to. Yes, sir. Just reconnoiter, don't fire at him. But this is my chance for revenge. Listen to me. Don't fire at him. That's a command.

Yes, sir. I mean, that'd be after us at all. I get going. Immediately, Lieutenant. What's the honor of the day, Duke? Plant Scram? It looks like it. All your men here? President accounted for. All right, boys, now gather around.

Will you then get this? Yes, all y'all. There's a convoy of Germans coming down the forest road. Good. Now, wait a minute. We're not going to fight him. You know what our job is? Roadblocks.

We got tanks, artillery, and airplanes. It'll be a long soon to do the killing. Now, look, our security's been pretty good. And those crowds may be on a routine patrol. The chances are they don't even know we're here.

They do now. Listen. Well, that doesn't. All right, you men got your weapons? Yes, sir. Good. You know the procedure, get lost. Before you leave the forest, bury your weapons, ammunition and equipment. Rondevo at the home of Alsings Ant at $2,200 tonight.

Good luck. Good luck. Come on, Ed, let's scream. Well, he who doesn't fight and runs away lives to fight another day. There's something like that. Who tipped them off? I'm not sure, but I got a pretty good idea.

Who's down here at the road? Alsombe, he's fighting a private war, the poor jerk. The basic rule of three in guerrilla warfare is surprise, kill, vanish. However, when you're surprised, the only rule is vanish than we did.

There were about 50 Germans and a half a dozen dogs to track our scent. They spent the day thrashing through the woods, firing into the underbrush and finding nothing. It was a classic withdrawal. And Hill and I were proud of our little army, with the exception of Al scene, it's self-appointed hurdle.

When we arrived at his aunt's house that night for the rendezvous, half a dozen of the boys were already there. Who is it? Claire. Dilly. All lieutenant, come in. Good evening, Madame. I've seen he's already here. I'm so proud of him.

Oh, Lieutenant, I was just telling Tom Mary and the boys it was magnificent. I got two of them. I killed two boys. Your orders were not to shoot. Lieutenant, what would you? What happened to the other boys who were with you?

Jean was wounded and captured. Antoine became frightened and ran away. That blows the marquee. They'll get the full particulars from Jean. They haven't got him already. I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but... Quiet. Answer it, Madame. Who is it?

Louis. Billy. Open it. Good evening, Madame. Come in, boys. Running any trouble, boys? As you see, we are here. But not for long. Lieutenant, roll and I wish to withdraw from the marquee. Quit? Why?

The risk is too great. You're afraid? For myself, no. But after what happened to John? He was ordered and captured. We all take that risk. Yes, but last night the Gestapo got John's family. Like they did Alsines.

Stood them up in front of their house and shot them. Who knows who will be next? My mother, Raul's sister. Alsines and... I wish to withdraw. I don't blame you for being worried about your families.

But whose families do you think the British and American armies up in Normandy are fighting to liberate their own? No, yours. Now this thing isn't as bad as it looks. There's been a leak in our security.

Somebody's been putting a finger on us. So we lay low until the leaks plug. But the Germans are everywhere. Spies perhaps two are everywhere. I think I know who's responsible for these murders. I'll make a deal with you.

Give me a couple of days and work it out. We'll issue you boys some money. All you've got to do is to get lost until Saturday night. night and then meet me back here. If I haven't patched up our security by then you can all quit the maki and become collaborator.

Well, it is not that, Lieutenant. No one wishes to collaborate. But one must think of one's family. Okay. Bad. Yeah, dude. Give the boys a thousand francs a piece. Right? Come on, get a boy.

Come on. Now, scene. Yes, my Lieutenant? I'm going to have a little time on my hands for the next couple of days. You think you could arrange to introduce me to your girlfriend? Oh, but of course, Lieutenant.

Maybe if she's okay, like you say, we can let her sign up. I'm desolated with happiness, Lieutenant. One thing. None of that lieutenant business around her until I make sure she's alright. Very well? You think my friend she's good enough to pass as a native?

But of course, Lieutenant. Alright, and pass me off as a friend of yours. I'll see you'll need a name. Let's call me Jacques de France. Jacques de France. Good, I will make the arrangements immediately.

I thought you'd like an excuse to get into town tonight. The next afternoon, I'll see you brought the girl out to the woods near his aunt's house. I stood behind a tree to watch and make sure they weren't being followed.

She was all right. Tall, long sunburned legs. Her hair caught in a blue ribbon like a little girl's. I let them walk by and then I step from behind my tree. Hello Elsie. Hello Elsie.

Renee, this is my good friend Jack DeFran. He's from Paris too. Jack, this is Renee DC boy. Glad to meet you, ma'am. And I'm honored to meet you, Missy. Where do you live in Paris?

near the Port Doolilah. But my home is no longer there. It was bombed out. Alas, so was mine. My family remain with friends, but I've come out into the country to fight with the resistance.

Jacques has much influence with the commander of our marquee. I hope you will be able to persuade him to let me join you, Missy. I shall do what I can. It would be a privilege and an honor to work with a patriot like you.

See Jacques, I told you when I was alright. He didn't tell me the half of it. Ma'am, Zell, you understand that we must be cautious. There are questions I must ask of a confidential nature.

Why don't we meet again? Alone. Why not? Say, tonight, I have a little car. We might take a drive. Fine. But, Renee, you promised me that... We can see you some other time, Michelle. Remember, France comes first.

We just drove that night. She was wearing a white ribbon in her hair, and a loose white dress, and no stockings. We just drove around in her little sit-roil and her little sit-around with the top down and the wind blowing her hair like a girl on a magazine ahead.

Then we came back about midnight and parked with a bridge. I felt like I was back in high school in Illinois. Look at those stars, Jack. So many of them. So close you can almost reach out and touch them.

Yeah. I had them all once, Jack. I reached out and gathered them all in my arms once. I want you to know all about me, Jack. I want to. Don't think it's wrong of me, but I've been in love.

There's nothing wrong in being in love. He was a soldier. Most everybody is these days. A German soldier. Oh. Don't you think that love is bigger than war or hate or anything? Yeah, I guess so.

He's dead now. That's good. I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm not sorry he's dead. Chuck, I'm so confused. I want to understand things. I want to be intelligent about things that everything gets so mixed up, like now.

Like now? Yes. Chuck, I've never been so happy as I am tonight. Not even with the German? Not even with him. Why does it have to end? Why do those blessed stars have to go out one by one to make way for another day of war?

Why can't we stop time? You and I gather all the stars together, just for us. I don't know, baby. It's never been done before, or we can try. No, sure, sure. Yeah, yeah.

Tomorrow night. I'll only be half alive until then. Sherry, if you want to write to your family in Paris, give me the letter tomorrow night, and I'll mail it for you. Oh, I know. I know.

I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I dropped that rock and grab a sock, rising shine, love a boy.

I brought you cup of chocolate, figured you want breakfast and bed this morning. How'd you make out last night? Details, let's have the details. Nothing much to report. We drove and then we parked for a while and talked.

Did she give anything away? No information. She's a funny kid. Her dialogue is as corny as a Bobby Saxon. She knows she's pretty, so she wants to be admired for her mind. But I'm sure she's our Mata Hari.

How come? She offered to me a letter to my family. It's consistent. Mm, that's consistent. I asked her to marry me. What? She didn't believe me, but she pretended like she did. I don't know why she's doing what she's doing.

Thrills, maybe. French juvenile delinquent. Maybe. Tonight's the night. The night you get married? No, the night we get her. The boys are meeting us here at midnight, you know. What's the plan? I'll take another ride with her.

And about midnight, we'll be back in the park with the bridge. You'll be there out of sight. I'll have some brandy along, and I'll slug her drink with a capture pill. When she's passed out, I'll give you the come on, you join me. Here baby have another dinner. I shouldn't. Randy always makes me sleep.

Well what of it? This is a celebration of our engagement. Kiss me, Chef. Genden again. Sure. Shaq the stars are nearer, nearer than they've ever been. Narrow than you think, baby. I love you, Sha. I do love you. Kiss me again. Do it again. And again.

Baby, if I just sleep, your collaboration is piggying. Hear me? Okay, Ed. She odd? Like a red light in an air raid. Here's her purging. I'll start to do it while I don't tangle myself with you.

Now take a look at this. What is it? A letter from Gustavo Headquarters confirming receipt of three addresses. Let me see them. Well, I'd ones Elle soon's family and that one's John's. And here's a Gestapo identification card.

I sure lied over there. Look at her. What a dish. Look at that kisser. She's responsible for the death of six people whose only crime was being born French. She'd erect our marquee, snap-out our mission and turn me over to Gestapo where their lipstick's still on my collar.

That gorgeous hunk I double crossed. Now we got the proof. Let's get on with it. Okay, I guess you'd rather I know. This is my job. She's gorgeous. Yeah. So long, honey. Thanks. She ain't so gorgeous now.

Release that handbrake. Got it. Come on, shove. Not yet. Keep that steering wheel straight. The river's deepest right at the center of the bridge. Now, hard ride on the wheel. You know something, Ed? I think she finally did gather that arm full of stars.

Sure, the operation was successful. successful. When the time came our roadblocks tied up three German divisions while Patton rode on to the east. But I still lie awake at night thinking, I should have married that day. Yeah, the operation was successful, but the patient died.

Operation Florida Lee was written, directed, and produced by William N. Robeson with Jack Webb as Duke, Elliot Lewis as Hill, Peggy Weber as Renee, and Harry Bartell as Alsene. The restoration floridaly was based on an incident from the files of the OSS, recorded in Sub-Rosa by Stuart Alsop and Thomas Braden.

The special musical score was conceived and conducted by Cy Fure. Escape is presented by CBS and its affiliated stations each week at this time. Next week we invite you to escape with F. Scott Fitzgerald in his unforgettable story, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz.

So good night, until next week, when again it will be time to escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.