 Are you willing to undertake a dangerous mission behind the enemy lines? Knowing you may never return alive. What you have 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 and Dagger. Warfare, espionage, international intrigue. These are the weapons of the OSS. Today's story, The People in the Forest, is suggested by actual incidents recorded in the Washington files of the Office of Strategic Services. A story that can now be told. The plane began to slow down. And then it circled slowly. Someone pulled the cover off the jump hold and I got my first view of France. Occupied France. August 1944. Action stations. From the ground to the right, I could see fires like safety matches lit in the moonlight. And I wondered how big they really were, those fires that were out there to guide us in. The dispatcher told me I was to jump second. Ready? And then it happened. The first bad break of that mission only didn't happen to me, it happened to Chris Fowler. See you in France, Capela! Okay, Fowler. Number one. Good luck. Come on! Now I'm watching him go. And then my heart started to pound all over me. My breath caught, my nearly choked on it. Chris fell and fell and fell. The shoot didn't work. It came out of the bag and streamed unopened behind him. Paratroopers call that a Roman candle. Tough break. Want to turn back, Scorpila? Huh? No. No, I'll jump it. Okay then. Ready number two? Number two. Ready? Ready? The wind came up and hit me in a rush. I thought myself falling. I think I died a few times until I heard the crack of the shoot. Beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful. The most beautiful sight in the whole world, that big white umbrella over me. The little safety matches on the ground got bigger and bigger. I realized they were torches. And then I saw a figure of a man waving. He started to get bigger too. And then the torches were put out. I was about to get my first introduction to the French underground. Are you all right? Yeah, I'm all right. I saw what happened to your friend. It was too bad. You had courage to jump after that. Maybe if I had stopped to think about it, I never would have. Maybe I was afraid I'd never jump again if I didn't then. Anyway, here I am. My name is Captain Robert Scarpella. Captain Robert Scarpella. American. Welcome. Welcome to France. I'm ecstatic to make you acquaintance, Captain. The little guy threw his arms around me and kissed me. When I was 12, I'd said next to kiss him. My father good night because it embarrassed me. And here was this little Frenchman with the beret and baggy pads and farmer's shoes with his arms around him. Hey, cut it out. I'm just so happy to see you, Baron. Well, I'm the fox. The Germans themselves gave me that name. Look at this head. Would you believe there is a price on it? Oh, are you the leader? Yes, of one of our little bands. They pretty straightly alerted us about your coming. Well, there's a good reason for my coming, Captain Fox. You may call me simply Fox. Okay. Fox. Now let's pick up supplies that were brought to you. As for your mission, Captain, there will be time enough to talk about it when we get deeper into the forest to our hideaway. Uh, is it very far from here? Unfortunately, there's a little walk. We were forced to move our headquarters last night after another German raid. What do you mean, another? Our positions have been raided three times the past month. Almost as if the Bosch were given a map of where we were in the forest. Sounds to 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. Well, that's a deal. Oh, here we are. Oh. That's nice. Very, very, very nice. This carbon rifle, beautiful. There are shoes in those packages, too, and food and grenades. Oh, what a beautiful rifle. I was to tell you to expect a heavy supply drop in a few weeks. Oh, what a beautiful rifle. We're still using fuel pieces from the Franco-Prussian war. But this is a beauty. Now, gather up your things, Captain Scarpella. I'll be back in a few minutes. I'll be back. The fox disappeared into the woods. The whole thing seemed like a crazy nightmare. The whole forest surrounded by Germans. And yet here I was passing the time of day just like nothing at all with a Frenchman who had a price on his head. We were out there where he drifted. Chris was a dead heap under a lot of parachute silk. I grabbed a gun and I waited for trouble. I didn't know whether to go after the fox and take a chance on being ambushed to stay where I was. Someone was coming. I ducked behind a tree. The only thing I could figure was the Germans had seen the plane, seen me land. I took aim carefully, slowly. Where am I? What happened? What were those shots? I just wanted to get the feel of your gun. So I simply tried it on a couple of Germans over the edge of the hill. It sites very well. Crying out loud. This little dinner party is your honor, Captain Scarpella. I regret we have nothing better than wild rabbits. Well, it's a swell. Quite a welcome. Headquarters didn't tell me to expect anything like this. Lucette, more wine for the captain. But of course. Here, I will refill your glass. Oh, thank you. Oh, mais non. In France, we say thank you. This way. Hey. You mind my kissing you? Oh, no, no, not at all. I love Americans. All Americans. Come help me. I need your help. Lucette, let's go. Marie's calling you. She's a very pretty girl, that, uh... Lucette, Lucette, Lucette. And very young. Only 17. Already she has seen so much. Hiding like this in the forest, sneaking back into the German-held village. Into the village? Oui, monsieur. Many of our group work in the village, right under the noses of the enemy. And the Germans do not know that they are members of the Maquis. Oh, but they know you're here. Oh, they know. They know that we're here, but they do not dare come near the forest, except in big raiding fires. Uh-huh. They know very well that to one dead of ours, there will be 12 dead of theirs. Well, Captain, now about your mission. Its purpose? Tell me more, please. Well, I was sent here to find out the German defense plans for the Port of San Nazare and the entire coastal area around here. Ah. Now, I know those plans are in German headquarters in the village. And you request our help? I've got to have those plans, and in a matter of days. I've got to deliver them personally to 8th Corps headquarters. Now, put your mind at ease, Captain Scarpella. The facts will help you. Now, the first thing I will do is put you in contact with... Attention! Attention! Captain Scarpella, I'm Marie. Ah. She's the mother cat of that little kitten who kissed you before. Oh, happy to meet you. And we are all enchanted to meet you, American. In your honor, we have a special surprise. Listen. Attention. One, two, three. Take me out to the ball again. Well, for crying out loud. You're pleased, Captain Scarpella. Well, this is something to write home about. Write home about? Yeah. A nice cozy evening with friends. You'd never know there was a war going on. Libos! Libos! Where's the lookout? That was Captain Scarpella about a kilometer from here, Captain Fox. I see. I see. What else? That two divisions are at least of Captain Scarpella surrounding us. Oh, I see. Captain Scarpella, I regret very much to have interrupted your welcome party in this manner. René? Oui, Le Fox. René? Oui. The new machine our American friend brought with him. Oui. Now, what is it called, Captain Scarpella? A bazooka. Oh, yes, this bazooka. Now, take it to an advantageous position. You understand? Oui, Le Fox. Yes. Now, my friend, my friend. Now is the best time for him and some of the others to learn how to use it. Oh, for crying out loud. If I thought it seemed like a nightmare before, it was nothing to what happened now. It's so mixed up in my mind I can't remember it clearly. It wasn't anything like the patrols I'd been trained for in the Army. Captain Scarpella? Follow me, please. All right? These Germans are becoming very annoying. Uh, would you mind pointing that the other way, Fox? Yes, excuse me. These bazookas are beauty. Just a little beauty. From out of nowhere, a German soldier fell forward on his face. And then the Fox and I moved on. I remember thinking of Cripes. This is like kids playing cops and robbers. French boys still in their teens ran by with a cross of Lorraine sewn on their coats. I saw Marie take aim behind a tree. And all the time the Fox kept smiling. He never stopped smiling. I feel selfish, Captain Scarpella. Give me that gun. I will let you borrow yours a while. They are about 50 yards ahead. There is a juicy rabbit in German uniform. Please, get him. Captain LaFox was right. The rifle did sight well. And then all of a sudden there were less Frenchmen around and more Germans all around us. In a case like this, my friend, the best course is to run. Well, let us run. As far as just like a jigsaw puzzle to me, you know it backwards. It is from necessity, of course. I regret exceedingly that I must ask you to join me here in this swamp. We will stay here till it is safe to leave. LaFox, under the water. Leave only your nose above it to breathe. How can one fight what one cannot see? We will find out from our informant later how good a job we have done this time. Yeah. I'm going off my hands. Do you like to hear us, God? No. It is not necessary. There is nothing here. Come back up with me. I have posted a guard here. It would have been the most inconvenient, Captain Scalpalla. Are you very wet? What do you think? They will be clean clothes for you at our hideout. Come. It is time for us to go there. This has been a very annoying evening, LaFox. LaFox, did you hear what they said about... Uninformant. I heard. I heard. Captain Scalpalla, Marie is employed as a charwoman in German headquarters in the village. She is the contact of whom I spoke. 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 of the office where you work, Marie? Very good, I would say. Marie, tell me, what are my chances of getting into those files? Also very good. The door of the Hauptmann's office is left open for me, so I may wash the floors. I see. It will be easy to enter. As for the files, I have a key. A key? Wait. I will give it to you. Well, this is better than I hoped for. When can we go 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, Captain Scalpalla, for crying out loud. Less than an hour later, we were in the village. It was five o'clock in the morning. There was no one around. The village slept. Captain Scalpalla, listen to me. That is the German headquarters across the street. I will leave you and go inside to get my mop and bucket. You will watch through the window. Right. When I distract the guard, go quickly to the side door. It is open. The Hauptmann's office is the third door from the end. The third, huh? You have the key to the files, huh? Yes, yes, yes, I have it. Well, I go now. Remember the signal I gave you in case of danger. I watched her go into the building. And then I took up my position at the open window. There was a guard at the front desk. No one else around. I pressed myself into the shadows. And after a while, Marie came to the front desk and began to mop the floor. What are you doing here so early? I'm not that early, Sergeant. And the sooner I finish, the sooner I am through. Now go about your business, sir. I knew that soon she'd do something to distract her. You're disturbing me. These two must be war snow. I will be true presently. Now. I'm so sorry. It was not deliberate. The side door was open and she said it would be... One, two, three. The third door from the end. I made it. The German captain's office. And in a corner where the files, the key in my hand was hot and sticky. It fit, the key fit. I knew it would, but somehow it went slid in and turned. I took a breath of relief. I didn't have much time. I knew it didn't have much time. I had to find those plans, but where? The papers. Where were they? And I heard Marie's signal. And I froze. But I couldn't stop searching now. Almost as if God had put it into my hand at the right moment. I found the photostatic copies of the defense plans. Now if she could only pull them off until I get out of the place. Let's see now. Let's see. A window, that's it. It was only a short drop to the ground and still no one in sight. I had a feeling Marie could take care of herself and I started back for the forest. The plans in my pocket. Now, see here, Captain Scarfella. I'm the man. You see? You come out of the forest three miles north at this point. Right. Is that a clear road, Fox? You will have no difficulty, Captain. There has never been any reason for the Bosch to post guards at this exit. Now pay attention, Captain. I must talk to you. Both of you. Marie, what are you doing back at the farmhouse? Why are you not in the village? Marie, was there trouble after I left with that window? Do they know about the papers? They know, because they were told. Told by a dirty little spy from our own ranks. What? No, please, quiet. This is my business, Captain. Speak, Marie. I overheard the spy. One of us. I blushed with shame to think of it. The spy was telling the Bosch Captain about the papers and the Americans' mission. Fortunately for you, Captain Scarfella, the spy was not able to warn him early enough. Go on. Go on, Marie. Go on. The road is blocked, however. You are trapped here, American. You may have the plans, but there is no way for you to leave and deliver them. The road knows this, warming with red ants of Germans. His name. Give me his name, Marie. I will do better. I will give you the traitor. Rene, bring her in here. Throw her on the floor. On the floor. I said, throw her on the floor. Listen to yourself. My own daughter, torn from my own flesh. My daughter. Not for what is going to be done to you, but for what you have done, spy traitor. This girl, my daughter. I spit on her. I did not know. I did not know. I waited for her outside. After I hurt her with her captain, her German captain, I waited for her and blacked her back here. Fox, do what you want with her. No, no. No, no. No, no. Was it you? You who gave away our positions each time? I have known two wars. Would I turn on my own? I'm glad your father is dead. So he does not see this. They promised me some information. Small bits of information? Except what is lost about the Americans. You call giving away or hide out small loser? Your excuse disgust me. Say the word, Fox. Let me throw her to the rest. Your mother no longer. Do not call me that. Now wait a minute. Listen to me. Fox, this may be your affair, but I've got a stake in it. What do you wish to say, Captain? There's only one way out of this forest. It's blocked right now. Thanks to her. Now let's forget that. All that matters to me is that I get through with these plans. Now, Luzette. Luzette, do you want a chance to prove yourself? Oh, we, we, I would do anything. Do not listen to her captain. Mary, Mary. Now a German headquarters before Marie distracted the guard because she knew him. Now who knows the Germans at the exit to the forest to distract them? I will let me, please. They trust me. I will give you a chance to slip by. It is too great a risk, my friend. I have no choice. I can't stay trapped here. The plans are no good in my pocket. Very well. On one condition, I will go alone. And if she does not do as she says, that Fox will shoot her through the heart. You have my permission. There are many clouds out tonight to hide the moon. I'll talk to the better. Luzette, there are your friends at the foot of the hill. Go to them. We will hide here among these piles of firewood. We, we, I will go. And remember, Luzette, this gun is aimed at you. Go. We hid behind towering cords of tree trunks and branches. Piled in the wood-light for the village's firewood. We watched. A few minutes later, we saw them. The soldiers and the girl silhouetted against the moon. We couldn't hear what they were saying, but every once in a while, we heard them laugh. They swarmed about her like bees about a flower. Come this way. We will sneak past them and into the brush. He's doing a good job trying to redeem herself. You're a sly one, Luzette. You're a good, good, good. It's time for me to help, but it doesn't take a mistake with you. The advantage is to being an officer. Hey! My sword! Oh, a cart. This way. Into the brush. I covered my shoulder and saw Luzette crumple into a heap on the road. I knew she was dead. Do not grieve for her, my friend. It is best this way. It is easier than living the person how do we get out of this we're surrounded Surrender what means that way? Trying to burn us out. We come out will be shut down by the machine guns. I have an idea. Yeah Stand here when you hear a loud crash, and I call out you run through the fire. It is not bad yet, my friend He ran like the fox of his nickname to the tallest pile of firewood In the dark night I saw him struggle with the log at the base of the pile and then the huge tower of wood came tumbling down I punched through the fire and found the past And a few minutes later Sly fox miraculously joined me You can make it from here alone to the American lines captain's carpet. What about you Fox? Don't worry about the Fox. I'll get back. All right Perhaps we shall meet again one day captain. Who knows? Well, all right, then Goodbye, I never look back and I never saw him again, but when I think of him now, I think of him not with the beret But with a green hat and feather a little like Robin Hood Captain Scarfella delivered the plans personally to the assistant g2 at eight core headquarters And he was recommended for the distinguished service cross for the American lives He had saved at the port of San Jose Thus the exploits of another OSS agent closes with the words mission accomplished a further adventure in black warfare is next week Cloak and dagger heard in today's cloak and dagger adventure were Joseph Bula off Lily Darvas Larry Haines Nancy Franklin Barry Kroger Raymond Edward Johnson Carl Weber Boris Applin and Jerry Gerrit Script for cloak and dagger was written by Winnerford wolf and the music was under the direction of John Gart Today's true OSS adventure was based on the book cloak and dagger by Corey Ford and Alistair McBain This has been a Lewis G. Cowan production in association with Alfred Hollander. It was under the direction and supervision of Sherman marks Robert Warren speaking Stay tuned now for the up-to-the-minute news on the open golf championship