 Words at war presents Paris Underground by Etta Scheiber Jacqueline oh Jacqueline. What is it child? I can't start it madam. Cyber. I must get out of here Hush my child the guard I don't care what can be worse than this freezing in this cell huddle together No chance to wash nothing to we It's nothing guard one of my cellmates just had a nightmare. She's asleep now. We'll keep her quiet Madam Scheiber yes, you're clean I Am sorry. Oh, that's all right try to sleep now Yes Yes, I will I have some sleeping medicine. I smuggled in I Guess the Nazis are not so smart as they think Madam Scheiber yes dear hold me tighter Talk to me Then then I won't feel so lonely. Why of course child How how is it that you are in a Nazi prison in France the rest of us I can understand but you An American Offered lying here at night. I doubt that it really happened to me. It was all so strange Would you like to hear the story? Oh, yes. Yes, madam Scheiber tell it to me The national broadcasting company in cooperation with the council on books in wartime Presents another program of words at war which brings to radio important war books Tonight one of the most amazing true stories of this war the story of Paris Underground by Etta Scheiber In a cold miserable prison cell Etta Scheiber is bolstering the courage of her co-prisoner Jacqueline By telling her the story leading to her imprisonment an Experience mrs. Scheiber herself found hard to believe had happened to her You see Jacqueline. I'd always had many friends in Paris My husband was a newspaper man and he'd often taken me there When he died to my best Paris friend Kitty Boripo cabled me to come and live with her True rather settled ladies living in Paris What a happy time we had three years Then the war came as the Nazis marched on Paris. We tried to drive south, but the roads were jammed They were not clear till Nazi dive bombers machine-gun the crowds to clear the way for the German army For a whole day we sat and watched endless columns of stony-faced gray uniformed troops passed by Then we were ordered to return to Paris At a little way side in we stopped and begged for something to eat Madam a million people have been through here in two days. There's nothing left Nothing come kitty. Let's go on. This year a cup of tea is all we ask. I have no tea Nothing at all. I see Thank you One moment This way, please into the back room be seated ladies Every member I have a little tea And the samsalami a little miss you you're very kind And some cheese Also, I think a little sugar for the tea sugar miss you. We don't know what to say. We were starved You are English madam. I was but I'm a French citizen Since I married a Frenchman my friend here is an American then you can do something for me My English it is not good and I have someone here who must leave at once, but he will not listen to me Wait here What's this dear sport an English soldier no doubt if it is he hasn't a chance of escaping they are sure to get him Here is the man Good evening. Good evening. My name is William Gray. I'm a pilot RAF I'm in a bit of a jam got caught at Dunkirk couldn't get away I've been working my way south with Germans have moved faster than I could and now I now you're completely surrounded by them Yes, I don't want to trouble you ladies, but if you will tell this French chapter be patient a while longer I will go as soon as you can get me some civilian clothes I'll be able to take care of myself after that you're wrong pilot gray You haven't a chance in the world of getting away, and if you must be captured then you'd best be in your uniform That way they'll treat you as a prisoner of war In civilian clothes. They'd shoot you as a spy. Oh kitty. No. Yes. It's a they would Looks like my goose is cooked Well Thank you anyway. No, wait a minute. I Have an idea It our car The luggage compartment looks at you crazy where the Nazis have been stopping cars all day They'd pick him up before we'd gone half a mile still if we could get him to Paris. He might have a better chance Mr. Gray yes As my American friend here would say how would you like to join us in the game of cops and robbers? The whole German army will be the cops We three shall be the robbers. I Think it might be rather fun We felt brave and pleasantly adventurous then we didn't know what we were getting into German patrols stopped our car, but none looked in the luggage compartment which opened into the space behind the back seats and So we smuggled Bill Gray into an apartment occupied by three middle-aged women Kitty myself and our Britain made Margo He'd been there two days when Margo simply froze the marrow of our bones the German Gestapo It is searching Paris house by house for hidden soldiers Kitty It's no use that I've been everywhere. I've made guarded inquiries until my tongue is dry But no one can or no one will tell me anything There must be an underground railways Some means some system of getting men to unoccupied territory. Yes, but just try to get in touch with it Where's Bill hidden the bathroom and he heard you at the door He mustn't know it, but the Gestapo is getting closer and closer to our building in their search See suspects as much he wants to give himself up to save us in case they find him here. No, no, he mustn't I Was told today that the Germans are not treating captured British soldiers as prisoners of war any longer They're shooting them as spies The Gestapo and that grew tighter and tighter around us and we waited day by day Waited for that knock on the door that would mean discovery and Then one evening Kitty fairly bounced into the apartment of face one heavenly smile It's fixed our troubles are over. No, what's happened Margo? Bring coffee at once and three cups. We've got to celebrate For what on earth has happened. Do you remember chancel we met him when we worked at that soldier's canteen Oh, of course that big hush kid veteran of the first war. That's the one. Yes Well, chancel is a member of a combine that's getting French soldiers out of the country to fight for the gold No, how do they do it? They have one of their number in the police prefecture here in Paris He gets them all the papers they need to keep the man out of jail in Vichy France Yes, and then it's just a matter of smuggling them across the demarcation line And they have another man who owns an estate right on the line So that's easy you see the estate owner just has to pay 50 francs a head to the German sergeant at the border patrol So the supermen aren't above taking bribes. Why it's too good to be true, but it is true Tomorrow chancel will bring us bills papers We'll apply for gasoline to visit hospitals and prison camps with parcels and we'll use that gasoline to drive bill to the demarcation line Oh, I don't know how to begin to thank you Who's that? Could it be your friend chancel Margot. Yes, madam. I have a copy ready here. Put it down quick. See who it is Yes, madam. Yes, sir quick take Bill into your room. Try to hide him somewhere. Wait a moment. Take this third cup with you Soldiers no civilians. Yes, don't be silly Margot Don't keep the gentleman waiting bring them in here The door opening so we can hear where can I hide in the bathroom under the bed. I can't hear What was that I knocked something off the dresser in the dark. It's my brother's picture of him He died here two years ago. It's such a wonderful brother of him. I'm sorry, Mrs. I know dear. Why am I telling you things like this now? I? Good heavens. I have an idea This gentleman wants to see your room No, it doesn't get undressed quickly Get undressed and get into bed pretend you're very ill. Just leave the trucking to me. Yeah tie this towel around your head Hurry now. I'll give you just 30 seconds. Oh Coming kitty coming coming right now Well, did you call me kitty dear? Yes, sir Gentlemen, this is my very dear American friend, Mrs. Sharper She's been living with me in Paris and finds herself an unwilling victim of the war far from home Like yourself. I'm from the Gestapo madam Sharper Mr. Examine your own web all means you'll have to excuse its appearance. However, my brother's in bed. He's quite ill Very he may have contracted intestinal flu. There's so much of it in town now. I hope you won't disturb him The light please It's all right having just some a fish of business. Don't try to talk to you This is my brother his papers, please. Oh, certainly right here in the drawer His passport Yeah, this picture picture Oh, of course poor oving's been quietly raving all day not being able to shave Don't you worry Irving? I'll get you to a barber tomorrow Sad entity card, please. Here it is And this card is expired. I wasn't renewed. Well, we intended to go back to America because of the war Would have gone long ago if his health had been better Didn't seem worth renewing it under the circumstances. Mm-hmm. I see Your own papers, please Yeah, very very I'm terribly distressed about Irving kitty. Oh, I do hope poor Irving wasn't upset by our visitors Oh, he didn't mind good List of tenants, please You can search get over there. They will come on woman this for yours Chapelle Alexandre lozé a bear I do not find the name of my damn brother on this list. My damn's brother. Oh Tell me woman. There's his name. Goodness. It's no crime to forget a name. Is it? Irving isn't a regular tenant here. He's only been here since he was ill and he needed someone to look after him. All right, madam I'd rest my question to the concierge My woman, I am sorry sir. I forgot to put the gentleman He never asked me for a certificate of domicile. So he is not on my list. I Shall add his name myself then. Are you upset madam borup? Oh, I Mean my heavy breathing Keep your tenants list correct from now on concierge How we shall leave? Next day with chancels help we smuggled William Gray out of occupied France I'll never forget how free from worry. I felt that following day and when kitty returned from doing some work at the canteen I guess my feelings were reflected in my eyes. Well, you do look good at her. I feel fine And so will you after you've had a cup of tea and some rest here. Look here. I expected you home much earlier What took you so long? Oh, I found I had something else to do. Oh, you always have Perhaps I'd better tell you about him about him Kitty what have you been up to? I had to do it. I had to he was walking along the road I could tell he was an escaped soldier from the way his civilian clothes didn't fit him I had to offer to help him and he was a French officer escaped from a prison camp. I Popped him into the luggage carrier. We'll now look at her by tonight He'll be on his way to join general de Gaulle, and then it'll all be over. It's as easy as that Do you realize you risk your life when you do a thing like that? You're quite willing to risk your life to it Well, yes, but oh kitty promise me not to get into another adventure this kind Will you? Oh, all right. I promise Where's the paper over there on the ground? Look at this at the back of this newspaper here this personal advertisement Jonathan Burke is looking for his friends and acquaintances Addressed military hospital do long so what about it? I've seen hundreds like it. You say why But Jonathan Burke That's English Perhaps he's one of the boys from Dunkirk trying to contact friends who could help him escape shitty Yes, Jaclyn is probably guess we helped Jonathan Burke escape from the military hospital in Doulan Brought him clothes and sneak him out and brought a life right into the luggage carrier of our car Then drove him to our own apartment Or rather kitty did all of this. I just went along kept ringing my hands and fear Then two days later kitty took me for a drive This is the way to the Doulan military hospital. Yes, of course Are you crazy? No dear, don't you see by going back to the hospital? We'll be likely to divert suspicion from ourselves Didn't you see the look we got from that French major who's running the hospital? Oh Eta dear you worry, sir As a matter of fact, I have another reason for going back to Doulan another reason. Oh kitty Oh, no, you wouldn't I must dear that poor sick corporal me and he knew we were helping Lieutenant Burke escape the other day He made me promise to come back and help him escape to mother of mercy Kitty how long are we going to walk back and forth through these wards? It's too bad. We didn't have a chance to talk to corporal me and when we were in his ward We just can't back to go back there now without a routing suspicion shit. I won't shush We better get up for that French major seizes. All right. That's all right Yeah, let's make for that door over there. It's the first time you've talked sense in weeks Permit me to introduce myself ladies major Tibo You ladies have honored us with your visit before it is really very kind of you to take such interest in so Small a hospital. Well, you see major. Would you be kind enough to answer one question? Where is lieutenant Jonathan Burke? Why you must be a man reader major We've been through the whole hospital looking for him Our conversation will be shortened if you will be intelligent enough not to deny you have to miss gates I know all about you your nationalities. I can understand your sympathy with these British soldiers who are prisoners However, we are concerned with decrees You have violated the laws established by the high command of the occupying force The penalty for your crime is death You're impressing no one it is my duty to hand you over to the authorities which at this time means the German army I am a soldier. It is my habit to obey But I'm Not only a soldier ladies I'm also a Frenchman That is why I have not yet reported the disappearance of lieutenant Jonathan Burke Major I don't know how to tell you don't try But I warn you such a thing cannot be tolerated again. You must leave this hospital and never come back Thank you major I'm very happy to have met another real Frenchman Good day, sir Come along it you will pardon me ladies if I take the precaution of escorting you to your car That was too close for comfort You see kitty now how right I've been to insist that you stop taking these chances. I know that you're perfectly right It's too bad. Of course that we couldn't help more of the men Some look so tragic. Yes, that's sick car from me and who watched Jonathan Burke escape You know the day looked at us so pathetically We don't have a chance to speak to him and explain that wasn't necessary at all. I slipped him in out when we entered his ward Corporal me and is in the luggage compartment of our car right now Yes, Jacqueline. That was kitty the most amazing woman I've ever known I'm sure that Providence took a personal interest in our work for it went on for months and months The best stopper said all kinds of traps for us, but we were clever enough or lucky enough to evade them We were put in touch with a country parish priest father Christian Ravier We had nearly a thousand British soldiers escaped from Dunkirk hiding in the woods. He became one of us So they would be helpless alone we must send each of them on his way paired with a Frenchman Oh, but father that means more and more people will know what we're doing We'll have to trust so many what you don't realize madam cyber is that all Frenchmen are with us Only a very few serve the Germans Have no fear madam cyber all Francis on our side So we went ahead. We smuggled out one hundred and fifty Britishers and one hundred and fifty Frenchmen pair by pair Then one evening. I was alone in the apartment except for Margot the doorbell rang Margot answered it Who is it Margot no need of introduction Remember us wait You're two of the Frenchmen. We sent out of the country with the Britishers You shouldn't have come here especially when you've been drinking that is all right madam quite all right Why did you come back to occupied France? Why we gave wishy a tried-and-weak conditions are just as bad there No work no jobs nothing work jobs. Is that why you crossed the line? You did not think we were fools enough to join the gold you do Please leave my apartment once not so fast We wasted a lot of time getting those two fellows you sent with us out of the country We demand that we be paid for our time Understand get out of here both of you get out Margot show these men out come on out with you wait Before I go madam. Sheba May I suggest you read this post there out out with you What does it say madam 10,000 francs reward The German High Command will pay 10,000 francs To any person providing names and addresses Those engaged in hiding English soldiers are aiding them to escape my time you you do not think that those two men sell us out 10,000 francs is a lot of money Margot and anyway These boys are no good You're under arrest Where are the others of your gang gang? I don't know what you mean never mind, Mrs. Sheba we'll get them Have you ever noticed that when a string of pearls breaks and one of them drops off the others fallen, huh? It seems we have broken the string Follow they did Jacqueline first myself then the others for the priest Christian raviere Yes for monsieur chancel Five years of hard labor, Mr. Tissier four years at heart labor. Mrs. Etter Sheba Three years at heart labor and for madam Kitty Borrepo Yes, that is the story Jacqueline But for people like you it carries a message a message which reads don't give up Never lose the things that distinguish freedom loving people from those born for slavery When father raviere faced that enemy court, they expected him to beg for mercy instead. He told them You think you have beaten France? Well, France is still at war with Germany The general surrendered to you, but the people did not You will never win the war There are 40 million in France against your two million soldiers. I Do not expect to win justice in a court conducted under the sign of the swastika, but I know at in the end Divine justice will prevail That's what a simple parish priest told the Nazis the so-called conquerors before they sentenced him to death Jacqueline Now you and I must try to have his courage Don't you agree my child? Jacqueline Jacqueline What's going on here? What's the matter? Oh, I see She's dead guy Seem to be healthy enough last night. What is that smell? Oh Poison huh a suicide Well small loss. I will have the body taken to the mug You shiber come with me, but I don't know anything about it. Oh, it's not a suicide. You're going to be released madam shiber Shut up you Come madam shiber No, it wasn't another Nazi trick They did release mrs. Shiber and she is here at our microphone the author of Paris underground in person To tell you just why the Nazis let her out of prison Mrs. Etta Shiber The Nazis released me from prison not to do me a favor But because they wanted to use me as part of a bargain I Was exchanged for the notorious spy Johanna Hoffman For my hairdresser on the line of Bremen When I was told this by an American official, I said what I believe that Germany got the best of the bargain Johanna Hoffman is certainly more valuable to the Germans than I ever could be to the United States My dear mrs. Shiber that official said Suppose the British government in the last war had had a chance to exchange Edith Kavel Well, he was wrong there. I'm certainly no Edith Kavel But but my friend kitty is I Only followed where she led and she is paying very dearly for all she did I Do not know whether or not the Germans have put her to death But I shall go on hoping that the god of justice will continue to remain at her side and Whenever my heart begins to ache with loneliness for her. I have her last words to sustain me The words she spoke before they separated us Don't worry about me. I am not sad. I did what I had to do. I Knew the price and I was willing to pay it. I Have given England 150 lives for the one she's losing now Think of that when you think of me When the war is over go to England and Walk along the embankment of the 10s in the spring where I always used to walk. I Will be with you See if you can find some of the boys we sent to England Tell them that I once helped them now they must help me They must carry on the work. I can no longer do by continuing to be what they have always been enemies to tyranny unwavering defenders of freedom