 Robert Montgomery presents the American Tobacco Theater This is a rather famous old London townhouse. They toasted Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in this drawing room Cabinet ministers, bankers, businessmen, the world famous have been guests here in the past But in 1942 there appeared an unusual group of guests with an even more unusual host To pass the time this host has provided a collection of gramophone records fine books, latest magazines, or a bracing cup of tea, or the opportunity of a stroll in the garden But the host decrees that this is as far as any guest may go But this is one of the most closely guarded projects of the British intelligence during the Second World War 13 years have passed and now it can be told In just one minute the cage written by Paul Manning and Joseph Graham But first a message from the American Tobacco Company about one of their fine products Those who entered this house in London known as the cage were British officers with a special credential from MI5 And those refugees from the continent whose background and stories Necessitated the closest screening by these specialists of British counterintelligence The reasons for such security precautions were simple In London, England in the year 1942 any refugee might well be an enemy agent In this period espionage and counter espionage was a deadly game between British and German spy masters And the pawns were the men and women who infiltrated into each other's ranks Amsterdam that's where you will make contact with the group and then when you have is the Dutch forces in London You will have freedom of movement It is imperative that we know the effect of our U-boat attacks production figures the organization and build-up of the American Army in England From time to time you will receive specific instructions All your information is to be transmitted through your immediate superior Arthur Moorley The Dutch underground Follows the usual pattern Within a week you will sail From London from Amsterdam and busy in two days arrive in London Düsseldorf again There are so many Where would they come from? production figures British production figures on bombers which Factories that is your first design. Why do we wait? There's one more to come who You know better than to ask a question like that. Why not supposed to get stopped without we get walking now If you want the other one caught They'd get it out of us believe me She's right wonderful Let's you know the better It's getting late. The Germans double their patrols between midnight and dawn You seem to know a lot about the way the Germans operate. I do Was a guide and to prove my unit was fixed up but hiding for a week I'm no longer useful years Your husband Three years he's been with the free Dutch forces in England. He's leaving his wife here I Can't wait any longer. It's time to tell you you are leaving by boat. I Will be your guide to the North Sea To your rendezvous point in case there is any trouble if I fire You will escape as quickly as possible through the door Over there in the corner. It leads to the back of the house. We'll give you up for that I'm very much alive my dear I'm very sorry that I'm so late But the streets are full of German soldiers. I Have to ask each of you to help carry petrol For the boat the petrol You're escaping with the same petrol that got you into trouble with the Gestapo You will make yourself as comfortable as possible here This is our son's bedroom your son Where is he my son is with the free Dutch forces in England Perhaps you will meet him Here are clean blanket, but I'm afraid that some of you will have to sleep on the floor Some reading to help pass the time and here is a chart of the North Sea you will want to study it How long are we expected to stay here? I can't answer that everything will be ready tonight, then you must wait Wait for what the weather you will need folk to slip past the German patrol Oh, yes, the radio you can listen to the news it is tuned for the radio orange broadcast of the BBC But you must be careful to keep this knob on the mark. It's the volume It would be dangerous if it should be loud as you turn the set on This is a well-built house the floors are solid So it is perfectly all right to move around and to speak in normal voices And to everyone in this town. This is just a storage room now Your petrol and your provisions are being put aboard your boat It is very small. I Forgot to mention the next house is requisitioned as a German naval barrel. I'm afraid they will play their gramophone at all hours. I Prepared some food and I will bring it now for you 88 kilometers If they could fly It looks like such a short way our problem is not the use of our pet food zigzagging through the minefields or dodging e-bolts Say we have enough That depends Do not see is always rough Wish I had time to bring more. How did you manage to get this much? I was fortunate enough to be working for the ministry. I Have new There is a heavy pork rolling in off the team. You believe in them on Here's the TW X on the Frenchman. Oh, that seems to check him out. Is that the last of this batch? Yes, sir Heavens major what brings you over from whiteboard Jerry's latest toy Who calls you boys some sleepless nights? Oh, what is it? What does it look like? Can well I can see it's a microscopic slide and what do you see on it like a spot of dirt? Have a look at those Well It's round like a dot not that old man. That's Jerry's code for it dot He's put a message on it small enough to fit over the period mark on an ordinary type written letter What is a message that put it on your projector? Let's have a look I'd how we found the first of these One of our lab chaps ran across it. He was treating a letter for some hidden writing Didn't find any writing, but he found this and it was clever enough to put it under a microscope There it is. Yes, I wonder how many of those have slipped through us of all fellows broken it down Oh, yes, it's just one of these standard German codes As a matter of fact the message affects you it translates out the morning care of post office box seven clapper Dutch agent arriving by sea Get in touch with you recognition code act on out and put Signed Zugler Friends who go ahead? Who is this morning? I wish we knew This was just a routine interception of a letter from the Swedish business firm. We haven't caught up with mr. Moly yet He hasn't Tried to find his mail Moly not the moly Come in. This just arrived Colonel five by sea from Holland They've just been cited Due to the routine interception of a coded message in the laboratories of MI five the small group who fled Holland now find themselves Unwilling guests and already the strain seems to be telling on one of them. How long will they keep us here? Who knows? This place is a present They've taken away our clothes and given us uniforms If you can call them that Soldiers at the door Soldiers out there Bob the wire but no Gestapo remember we did come from an occupied country Much as I hate to say it There were traitors in Holland, but three days on an open boat We'll risk our lives to get away from the Germans According to those records all had pretty sound reasons for wanting to leave Holland It'll be interesting to see which one is lying Well, of course the arrival of this group may be coincidental Have the originals of these all be sent over for handwriting analysis. Yes, sir I also sent a bottle labeled medicine which we found in the effects of that band of woodchaps We should be getting an answer from the lab any time now. There are other belongings negative, sir Evans What do our record show what percentage of those leading Holland by boat ever get through about 10% Exactly now looking through these stories Doesn't it strike you as odd that none of this group either cited the enemy or an evil find anything now, sir Have their clothes cleaned and returned to them. Yes If you was to ask me I'd have no trouble picking out the one you wouldn't Like that one in there in with the little moustache. He's got some two ideas Jumpy all the time pulling on his ear. I'll bet you he's your man about five balls You're on the car. We would like to speak to Hilda nod. Yes, and before you take her in give these to let her Invoke you. Yes. Good morning Henry Rosendahl Will you come with me please won't you sit down mr. Rosendahl Would you be kind enough to take a look at those please? Mr. Rosendahl, will you kindly tell me exactly who are these people that you mentioned in your statement? Why? Hilda Nardin Will you follow me please just a moment? Right come in. Oh good morning, Mrs. Nardin. Come in won't you sit down? I Hope you don't find this clothing too uncomfortable your own to being pleased you'll have it back tomorrow I understand now I have your written statement here But I'd be pleased if you just check somebody information for you your full name, please. Here's analysis age 28 place of birth Zandam Holland have you lived there all your life until I was 12. It's just outside Amsterdam. Yes, I know you're married. Oh, yes, my husband He's with a free Dutch process here. Yes, we're getting in touch with him When may I see him very soon? I hope your mother's name? My mother and father are dead their names Elsa and Peter to court Have you any others in your immediate family? I had I Have a brother Peter How old is he? 26 two years younger. Where is he? This is not have you at any time been a member of any political society or you Now will you please tell me in your own words exactly what you did for the underground I was a professor a Guide for those who had to escape We helped many of your ailment See after the Nazis came there was much confusion Fortunately I was able to get away just in time at the time. I didn't think it was possible to escape Everything seemed against it But then I got the help I needed just in time Really not very difficult to understand why my friends thought that I was dead The roller man in my position being haunted by the Gestapo Then disappears would you mind telling me again? Mr. Rosendahl exactly what was your official position? I was a Gementer Ratzman That is you would say Member of the town council wasn't that a rather difficult office to hold without the cooperation of the Germans? Impossible, but I Pretended to cooperate with them Then one day a friend of mine warned me that I was under suspicion She called me at my home at my office and never went home. Where did you go? Who were these friends I I think you can speak freely here Wilhelm North and his wife They have a small hotel in Zandam address 37 Kajschrad How long we were six days They arranged for my escape well, I see it's almost time for dinner. You may go now Nothing else that I can tell you not today. Thank you very much recording all through one two Well, I've just had quite a session with John Lutens. He's an interesting fellow How did you make out evils? Henry Kroesendahl has an outset for everything. Here's a copy of a query. I sent Dutch intelligence Oh these people are supposed to have helped him He was away from all known contacts for almost a week before they left He could have been thoroughly briefed by Zugler in that time. Yes, send him in Well pin him down to streets traveled exact time of day what he ate editing special such as our planes passing over head We can get in touch with the RAF about their activities during that period keep on making them repeat the minor details We'll see if he slips starting terrain again Had a handwriting boys on these all day all sample studies indicate that the subjects lent the handwriting in Dutch schools That bears out our opinion. They're all Dutch nationals. What about the medicine bottle? Oh that Common pepsin compound calm the stomach your professor must have had an ulcer Well, that put a count for it armor says that he's nervous and irritable I say speaking about says you chaps haven't eaten yet. Have you well? I got a great deal to do I miss me back earlier. How about you Evans? Thank you, sir? I'll get my coat good No, of course. This is not what is it my husband is it possible to talk with to him on the telephone? I'm sorry I'll be talking to your husband on the telephone tomorrow. I'll tell him that you're here and well. Thank you very much another day They're all the same three days of this Question after question What do they want of us? I don't know. I'm tired They have to reasons The food is good the food How can I enjoy it my stomach is upset all the time I would say from all these reports we can now eliminate the Nardin woman I think I could say the same about Hans Osterman, sir Well, have another go at him today. I want you to bear down on Rosendahl and Evans the same thing goes for you and Vanderbilt. I'll work on Luton's Henryk Rosendahl Eric Vanderbilt and mr. Rosendahl. You will go with letter in van key. Mr. Vanderbilt You will follow me please now mr. Luton's please. Tell me again. How you obtained your job at the ministry of Ontario I needed work guy. I went to the ministry of labor. They sent me who sent you to ministry of labor, sir Yes, what is his name? I don't remember Whose idea was it to provide petrol for the underground? Well, I bought it to hell Who was your contact with the underground a man called Coonrodt his last name? I never knew when did you first meet him? November 12th last November 12th now, mr. Luton's before you went to the work for the ministry There's a period of three months when you were away from Amsterdam. I was working on my cousin's farm Oh, where's that in your warm of ears north of Amsterdam? Did any of this group know you at that time? No What is the name of your superior? Kurt Zieden. He was replaced by a German officer lieutenant veteran Yes, that's what you've already told me mr. Vandiver, but are you certain about the time? How can you be so sure when it was so long ago? It was eight o'clock. How can you be so certain? I just remember that's all Ludwig told me that the Gestapo were to pick me up that night. How did he know I didn't ask I Just packed a bag and slipped out. I went to Zamban where I had a contract with the underground. What time did you get there? In the morning and the time Maybe a 30. How did you travel? I had a bicycle. What route did you take the canal road? And it took you 12 hours or better. I I had to stop him and get off the road for the German patrols. I Had no travel permit. Who was your contact with the underground a man named raised up. Where did you meet him? I had known him before the war dates places names repetition and attention to the obscure detail British technique of breaking down the enemy agent a trained agent will always remember the obvious but sometimes he will contradict himself on a minor point The question will question to watch as closely for telltale signs that he is scoring in this match of wits the twitch of an eyelid a sudden change in rhythm of breathing The clever agent is an actor So also is the examiner his outward mood may shift from kindness to anger The same repritic rapidity that his questions may shift from the important to the insignificant But always underneath he must remain cool and detached Always searching for the key which will unlock the fabricated story with which the agent has cloaked himself dates places names Dates more places and more names. I told you I don't remember You mean you don't remember the man who gave you a job when you needed it. You can't even remember what he looked like I can't remember You look tired mr. Luton's That will be all for today. I would like to go to the dormitory The rest just mark my words. He's the one What belong before you'll have to shell out five Bob shell out I've already spent your money Well, sir that pretty well eliminates three Yes, the modern woman first a man and with dr. Gordon's report available I can't conceive of Zoogle ascending here an agent with a peptic ulcer nervous irritable He certainly made no effort to ingratiate himself. I've never run across an agent yet We didn't try to make the best impression possible. So that leads to Rosenthal This week before he left I can't finish down the hotel is there We know that but there's no check on the people who he says hit him and he was accepted by the Germans as a member of the Local Town Council and then there's new There are a couple of things that bother me First of all, there's a gap of three months when we have only his word where he was and then his job at the ministry Those who usually reserved for the favored few and yet at the same time both were members of underground units Gentleman here is what you're looking for These are recordings made from conversations picked up from your dormitories at night Conversations of Rosendahl in Jan Lutens and their native tongues an analysis has been made by dr. Lott Former head of the speech department University of the Hague. You were right Professor says you can move five miles in Holland and the dialect changes number two is Rosendahl Professor says speech of subjects show strong characteristics of the general Amsterdam area I have a certain inflection suggest a rural influence of the surrounding area No falling inflections or influence the pattern bullseye is and damn it is approximately 15 kilometers from Amsterdam Well, now the myths have number five you're on Luke Subjects speech confusing characteristics indicate residents in Amsterdam area However, certain pronunciations and inflections would indicate speech influenced by periods spent in South-Western General Rotterdam Hague area who may be on to something there I've probed his life for the last four days and this is the first mention. I've had of Rotterdam over Hague This may give us something to work on tomorrow. Keep thinking maybe he's out there someplace your husband Town City talked to him on the telephone. I feel as We are as far apart when I was still in Holland Who knows it may be today? They've asked every possible question and they must be tired to My mistake. Oh come in miss Luton. Good morning. Sit down. Would you thank you now, miss Luton You said that your last delivery of petrol to the underground was just before a German officer took charge of the depot That is right before you work for the ministry. Where did you say you were I was working on my cousin's farm? Yes, we haven't been able to verify that Perhaps not but my cousin has a farm What was the date of your arrival at the farm the first week in August? Oh, how do you remember that so clearly? I was a shipping clerk. I Lost my position when the Germans closed us down the last of July How could I forget the day before yesterday in answer to the same question? You said that you arrived on the farm sometime after the middle of August. Oh Well, I must have been confused So many questions I meant to say the first now, which was it the first week and when did you return to Amsterdam? I'm November 2. I started to work at the ministry on the fifth. Yes, that checks then for three months You were in Rotterdam No, I was working on my cousin's or was it the Hague? No, or perhaps somewhere in between the cost of German espionage at Zorg Field is three months German Aspen I saw if you didn't intend to say the first week in August because that coincided with the start of your training When your training was over the Germans planted you in the Ministry of the Interior that was on the 5th of November, right? I started I told you to get in touch with the underground offer to provide them with petrol They made it easy for you didn't they that's not true And when you would gain the confidence of the underground your German friends carefully spread the report that you were in trouble with a Gestapo and the underground believe you They got you out of Holland Now mr. Luke just exactly what is your mission in England? I have no mission How can I believe you I have the information right here that you were in Rotterdam Well, I should have known better. I had no idea you could be so turd. I was not a dumb. I know But not like you have said You're no towns and no one likes to admit his mistakes And I made a mistake I was in Rotterdam. Yes Well, I was in prison there prison It's right. I was in prison there Well, perhaps you better tell me all about it when the Germans closed us down. I went to Rotterdam. I Thought surely I could find work there Everything was very upset My money was soon exhausted and then one night I I Broke into the house of an elderly couple Who'd help me they were so good to me. I took whatever money they had I ran out And then the next morning the police I was in Rotterdam. I was in prison there You can understand why did not push to tell you I'm sorry. We all make mistakes. I know I'm so ashamed Yes, I can understand that I hope you will not find it necessary to tell the others. That's so a shame I'll do what I can but if you told me the truth from the start, however To save us both a great deal of time trouble. I'm very sorry for the very side. That's all right All right, you can go You hear it He's run for his cover story sounds vaguely familiar My last fellow to go sent over here was carrying British pow so when we broke him down to his cover story He said that he'd robbed a church and sold the chalice to a black market here How can we prove he's lying find somebody who can testify he wasn't in that Rotterdam prison? Well, we may not have Might be enough to make him think that we have such a person Suppose we were to show him a twx form in code with a decoded copy attached Stating definitely that he never was in the prison signed by a fictitious name. He wouldn't believe it, sir Oh, but suppose he were to see it accidentally Accidentally it might give him a bit of a shock. Yes, it might We'd have to make it look authentic. We should have to make up our own code I wanted printed on a machine to look official and Ask major Sanders to be here at four o'clock tell him to bring along that latest Jerry, you know the dot affair the slide Do this up properly? Mr. Luton, will you follow me, please? Oh, I'm working in here this morning Captain Evans is using my operants for a conference sit down with you. Thank you Now mr. Luton's I'm disappointed in you Why well first of all you tell me that you spent three months on your cousin's farm in the north of Holland Then you contradict this story and say that you were in Rotterdam prison during that time. Isn't that right? Mr. Luton's you're a liar Mr. Luton's you're a liar and I can prove it. I have the proof right here. Yes, Colonel Townsend What oh? Yes, all right, I'll come in Yes Stay here with us. I'll be back in a few moments He's wondering if he dares chousy. He's got to chance it. He must know what's in it and he doesn't dare be caught reading it Now mr. Luton's we were discussing your inability to tell a straightforward story Of course, we couldn't continue the discussion indefinitely, but why should we? He gates mine on front here and see But you understand it and answer it I'm afraid I don't know a hair too nonsense you must have seen him during the last fortnight. No Come with me. Well, I have a surprise for you. Mr. Luton's This is Major Saunders of our military intelligence Tell me again. What was that you were telling me this morning Saunders? Oh about Arthur Molly, you know who Molly is don't you? Well, it may interest you to know the major Saunders men picked him up this morning Please you might show mr. Luton's what else major Saunders found this morning. Yes, sir Over here sit down Right Saunders. Oh, it's one of the standard German codes. It translates Arthur Molly care of first-off his box seven clap up Dutch agent Jan Luton's arriving by sea Get in touch with you Recognition code You admit then that you came here as a German agent Proud of it. I only regret. I accomplished nothing Take him away. Yes, sir. Take this man into custody Sergeant detailed two men as guards. They were a company major Saunders to the home office. Yes, sir By the way, Sarge if you've got a free arm, I'll take my five Bob I'll pay you on Friday. Well, don't you forget it? I didn't forget the last time did I? Wish it were true about our having Arthur Molly rally's name proved useful to generate Evans You might ring up Dutch headquarters and arrange for our friends to go back tonight. Yes, sir All except the Norton woman her husband's waiting for her at the Connell Hotel. You can take her over in my car. Yes, sir Hello Connell towns here Yes wait All right Well, here we go again Another group three of them this time cited in the English Channel They'll be here tonight. This is Sandy Becker the story all names characters and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious No identification with any actual persons living or dead is intended or should be inferred a America's leading manufacturer of cigarettes This has been a Robert Montgomery production