 On to our play, Act I of Thirteen Room Adelaide, starring Robert Montgomery as Bob Sharkey, Lloyd Nolan as Gibson, Richard Conte as Bill O'Connell, and Vanessa Brown as Suzanne. Not until Pearl Harbor did the United States fully realize how frighteningly effective had been the espionage machines of Japan and Germany. Shortly after this disaster, we established a secret espionage service, the first in our history. As the man most capable of organizing the United States Intelligence Corps, an attorney from St. Louis was selected, Charles S. Gibson. I accepted the appointment largely because of the men who would be working with me. Men like Robert Emmett Sharkey of St. Paul, Minnesota. Master of five languages, Robert Sharkey was twice captured by the Germans in World War I, escaping each time with a brilliant record of achievement behind enemy lines. Starting in 1942 with Sharkey's help, we trained and sent overseas 76 groups of agents. Then came Group 77, each a member of volunteer for hazardous duties behind enemy lines. In the group were men like Papi Simpson. George T. Simpson, age 47, British Intelligence Office, World War I. Twelve years, Professor of English Literature, Dartmouth College. The majority were much younger, take Jeff Lasseter, for instance. John and Byrne, Switzerland, 1920, Son of the United States Council. Educated at Geneva and Oxford, recruited from officers training school, can speak French law. There were three women in Group 77. One was Suzanne de Beaumont. I am a citizen of France. I found myself stranded in the United States when my country came under the Nazi domination in 1940. My husband is a captain of the artillery in the French Army. I have had no word of him in over four years. There was Bill O'Connell, graduate Rutgers University. Eight years in the Foreign Department, Washington, National Bank. Was in Europe two years prior to Hitler's march in Napoleon. He returned to New York in 1939. Twenty-two of them all told, and their training commenced in one of those secluded country estates not far from Washington. The day they arrived, I got together with Robert Sharkey. Well, they looked all right to me, Gibb. How much time will I have with them? Three months in Dr. Nation. Two weeks practical exercises. I wish I could make it longer, but I can't. I'll be ready. Oh, one of your pupils speaks German. Good. He can speak German because he's a German agent. A German agent? Mm-hmm. Here? You're sure? Yes. Man or woman? Well, I want you to find that out for yourself. Let me know when you think you've spotted them. Is that all? That's all. For now. Thanks. Well, I'll get to work. May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen? You all know why you're here. First, I must remind you that everything you learn, everything you do is secret. Not even your closest relative can know you're an agent of Group 77. Maybe no one will ever know. That's not important. But keeping your mouth shut is important. You'll have a lot to remember and a couple of things to forget. Forget the rules. Forget sportsmanship. No secret agent is a hero or a good sport. That is no living agent. You're going to be taught to kill, to cheat, to lie, and everything you learn is directed toward one objective, just one. The success of your mission. Fair play is out. Years of decency and honest living. Forget all that or get out now because the enemy can forget and has forgotten. I'll be with you every inch of the way. All the way. Good luck to you. All right, sergeants, show them to their quarters. This was a superior group, but only superiority could absorb the intense schedule Sharky put them through. Communications, photography, the use of knives, guns, poisons, map maids, cryptography, judo, sketching, meteorology. You're going to hear some sound effects. Identify the sound and write it down. All right, proceed. A freight train or 155-millimeter shell passing overhead. All right, next, next. Write your answer. A door latch with a cocking of a .45 caliber pistol. Come on, next, next. What was it? A jungle bird or a falling bomb. Part of your training during the past few weeks has been in pairs. It's important to learn which of you can work together best. You're to be sent out now in pairs for practical tests in espionage. The following teams will report to my office in 20 minutes. J.L. Sheffield and Suzanne de Beaumont. Albert Fremont and Harry Gluck. William O'Connell and Jeff Lasseter. Yes? Lasseter and O'Connell are here, sir, for instructions. Send them in. O'Connell and Lasseter, you two have lived together. You ought to be able to work together. I think so, sir. O'Connell here is the best. Thanks, Jeff. That goes for me, too. Well, as long as you're so happy about each other, suppose you tell me what this is. This apparatus on the table. A torpedo detonator? Yeah. Here's your assignment. Go to a plant that makes this detonator. Get jobs there. Find out what its specific advantages are over the old type. Get all secret data possible. That means blueprints, drawings or photographs. Any questions? Yes, sir. I really go to the submarine base at Portsmouth or the one in New London. Take your choice, O'Connell. They're both very well guarded, but that shouldn't pose any great difficulty for a couple of bright boys like you. Uh, how much time will we have, sir? Why me when you've gotten jobs? After that, you'll have 72 hours. 72 hours? You heard me. Get going. Yes? Mr. Sharky to see you, Mr. Gibson. Oh, send them in. I thought I'd let you know that 77's back from their fieldwork. How'd they do? Okay. I had to tear a couple of them out of the arms of the FBI. But the average is good. Well, who gets the gold star? Lasseter and O'Connell. Five beautiful pictures of the torpedo detonator in New London. Yeah. Hey, that's excellent work, Bob. Yeah. Too good. Too good. The man who helped get these pictures is the German agent. William O'Connell. What makes you so sure? Am I right? Yes, you're right. How'd you figure it? Well, he stood at the head of his class all the way. That was the lead. It's simply a case of doing everything perfectly too many times. He's too quick for a beginner. Yesterday at the submarine base, Lasseter went into a torpedo shed between shifts and got these pictures. O'Connell stood watch outside, but there was a guard in the shed and Lasseter got caught. O'Connell saw what had happened and came in. Now an American would have slugged the guard, not O'Connell. Instead, he posed as a security agent and slugged Lasseter and graduated the guard and went off with his prisoner. Ten minutes later, they were on a train. What's all there in the report? O'Connell's real name is Kunsel. Kunsel? Well, when are you going to pick him up? We're not going to pick him up. You must never know he's suspected. He's after something big, Bob, or it wouldn't be Kunsel. Information on our organization? Oh, it's bigger than that. The second front? Yeah. That's my guess. Where and when? Oh, how they'd love to know that. Now, our jobs are ranging for Kunsel to get information. The wrong information. And our plan must also provide a logical way for him to escape with dealing with a very smart operator. And when do we start? Tomorrow. You and I and Group 77 are leaving for London tomorrow. War racked and battle weary, London was still the hub of all Allied intelligence operations. The top secret groups like 77 were billeted in the remote countryside and held in complete isolation while awaiting specific assignments across the channel. Assignments like the one that Robert Sharkey laid in the lap of his star pupil, William O'Connell. There's no doubt about it, Bill. You see, I've checked up on what you've told me. Yes, you know Holland all right. Well, I lived in Holland long enough. All of a sudden, Holland's become a pretty hot spot on our maps. I'm sorry, I'm not right to ask questions. Yes. Yes, I think it may be Holland, except what I think doesn't count. We just obey orders. I need help. You want a job? I didn't go through all that training to become an English country gentleman. Pack your gear, you're going back to London. You're to live and work there in tight security. That security begins now. Clear? Clear. No goodbyes, nothing. And not a word to anyone about what I've mentioned. I understand. I think you'll like it. Anyway, we pull out of here the first thing in the morning. Thank you, sir. So did William O'Connell suddenly drop from sight as far as his fellow members of Group 77 were concerned. From the head of the Dutch intelligence, O'Connell learned every phase of a proposed Allied invasion through Holland. Meanwhile, in another section of London, Robert Scharke has called in two other agents, Jeff Lasseter and Suzanne de Beaumont. You're late, Suzanne. When I say zero, six hundred, I mean zero, six hundred. I stopped by the communication section. Why? They've been trying to help me locate my husband. Your husband's whereabouts are not the slightest concern of Group 77. Do you understand that? Yes. I understand. You know the rules. All right now. Assignments have come through for the two of you here. Take a look at these photographs. Hitler's secret weapon except it's no longer a secret. New kind of bomb? And what a bomb? It's called a V-2. A self-propelled pilotless bomb with a warhead said to contain a ton of explosives. Now look at these pictures. These are launching platforms for the V-2. For months they've been springing up along the French coast. Faster than others than our planes can knock them out. Why haven't the Germans used them yet? We think we know why. The enemy knows there's going to be a second front. They don't know where or when, but they do know the invasion base is in the Southampton area. When they launch V-2, it's going to be a sustained barrage smothering Southampton. When do you think they will stop? As soon as General Eisenhower makes his move. The Nazis know they can't win the war. They're just hoping for a stalemate. And to achieve a stalemate, they've got to prevent an invasion. While our job to try and help the Allied high command gain the preciously needed time to complete the invasion buildup. Lasseter, you're going to France. Yes, sir. You're going with him, Suzanne. You'll be his radio communicator. Yes, sir. Ah, let's get back to this map. The most closely guarded area in all France is right here. This is the main assembly area of V-2. But to destroy this target, we have to know every detail of its construction. Even the French underground has not been able to get this for us, so we're stymied. Thoroughly stymied. Except for one vitally important fleet. Now forget the map and look at this photograph. This face. This name. Marcel Ducroix. A very important man to the Germans. Burn that face into your memory because the destruction of the target is linked to that one man. Marcel Ducroix. And what's Ducroix's connection with V-2? He, a Frenchman, designed and built the bomb depot. We must take Ducroix and take him alive. How about some coffee, Suzanne? No, thank you, Jeff. If I am to be your communicator, I'd better spend some time with the receiving officer. It will help them become familiar with my torch. Yeah, I guess you're right. Someday, maybe we will have time for coffee. Excuse me, please. Mr. Stimson. Oh, a matter of the bomb off. I hate to keep troubling you. No, it's no trouble. There's still no word of your husband. Thank you. However, we have contacted an agent in the Harbour area. He'll be informed as soon as we hear. Mr. Scharke's order. Mr. Scharke? Oh, thank you. Thank you. Good morning, Jeff. Oh, close the door, will you? Yes, sir. I understand you met your friend, Bill O'Connell, this afternoon at the canteen. I was glad to see him. But I didn't know what had happened to him. What'd you talk about, Jeff? Backgammon, mostly. Backgammon? We used to play all the time back in Washington. I owe him $12 million. Oh, I see. Did he mention what he's been working on? No, sir, he didn't. He did say he wished I'd be going with him. How do you feel about that? Well, I wish I were too. You mentioned your assignment to him? No, sir, of course not. I'll take it easy. I'm not accusing you. O'Connell is an agent of the German government. He is? His real name is Kunzel. He's a clever, thoroughly trained German secret agent. But you're kidding. No, I'm not kidding. I can't believe it. Anyway, O'Connell has been assigned to Holland. That's the clincher to all the phony information we have purposely allowed him to obtain. Holland? Yes, the invasion of Holland. That's the lie we're trying to sell to the German high command. And Kunzel, alias O'Connell, is the salesman. Hold on. Where do I come in? Kunzel has asked for you. We're going to send you with him. Well, what about Dukla? That's still your mission. Only you'll go to France by way of Holland. How? You'll be parachuted into Rotterdam along with O'Connell. You'll contact a man there named Wulfer Bachmann in the Department of Public Works. Bachmann will see that you and Suzanne get through safely to France. Suzanne? Yes, you'll be on your way within 48 hours. Now comes the rugged part. Yes, sir. We think O'Connell is sold. If we're right, he'll disappear as soon as you're in Rotterdam and you'll never see him again. Could he know anything about Dukla? I mean, what our real job is? Not unless he gets it from you and Suzanne. He won't. Never, never forget that you're dealing with an extremely clever man. Drop your guard for one minute and we'll have failed and you may be dead. Yes, sir. He thinks fast, Jeff. He's ruthless. That's why we're going to do this his way. His way? What's that? If O'Connell is not sold, if he should in any way suspect that you're on a double mission, he won't disappear. Instead, he'll try to follow you. And you will shoot him. Shoot him? Make sure it's for keeps. That's, uh, that's rough. That's war and that's your mission. O'Connell could do it. Can you? Yeah, I... I can do it. Thanks, Jeff. That's all for now. Did I check your parachute, Suzanne? You too, Jeff. The pilot says we'll be over-rotted there in ten minutes. Okay. Suzanne, I want to tell you how sorry I am about your husband. Thank you. What a rotten break getting that news about him just before we took off. If it had to come, I'm glad it came then. There will not be time to cry about it now. Yeah. Maybe it's just as well you're not going back to France. Philip, you do not mind. I'm sorry. We're approaching the target. It's got about three minutes. Thanks. Well, Jeff, this is what we used to talk about back in Washington. Our first jump into enemy territory. Yeah. You feel like you thought you would? Yeah. You know something? What? I don't believe you. What's the matter with you? Nothing. Sure there is. You've been looking at me like I was in a test tube. Sorry, I guess I'm just a little nervous. Yeah. That's 12 million bucks, you want me, Jeff? I'm wiping it off the books. Your heart's 12 million anyway. I'd never have time to spend it. We're even, Jeff, we'll start from scratch. Running in. Not clear the jump hole. First miss? Yes. I'm first. Lasseter's next and I'm last. Already, miss. Good luck. Thank you. See you below. Jump. The Rotterdam plane to Beaumont and O'Connell dropped over target. Lasseter's parachute failed to open. Static cord deliberately cut. Believe O'Connell responsible. Get me Mr. Gibson on the phone immediately. An act two of 13 room ad... Here's Mr. Keely at the microphone. Act three of 13 room Adelaide starring Robert Montgomery as Bob Scharke, Lloyd Nolan as Gibson, Richard Conte as Colonel Quintzel and Vanessa Brown as Suzanne. City of La Havre. The Gestapo headquarters for the heavily fortified coastal area was located at 13 room Adelaide. That evening, shortly before seven o'clock, a staff car and a truckload of soldiers roared out of 13 room Adelaide and headed down the road for Pont Levec. In the staff car, as we subsequently learned, was Colonel Conte. Meanwhile, in Pont Levec... Look at them, Captain Freighter. That mob out there, they'll kill me. Those fools. Don't you know what this means? I told them time and again they must never assemble. But why haven't your soldiers come? You called them 10 minutes ago. That phone call I made. That was not to the hotel. Not to the hotel. Colonel Conte is on his way here. He's greatly interested in your town, Mayor Gallimard. Listen to them. They blame me because I have tried to help you bring some order to this town. I must be protected. The troops are not to leave the hotel because this is... The people know why that man came here from Vici. That Mr. Chavar. I have already built this town for workmen. You know I have. Where is he now? Chavar. He has disappeared. They've killed him. Just as they've killed me. Here you see. They're throwing rocks at me. Guns. They've got guns. Now we'll do something. Mr. Captain Freighter, get me the hotel model. I will talk to the people. Go back to your houses. You are breaking me long. There will be trouble. You must go back to your houses. Idiot. Where has he gone? I do not know, Captain Freighter. I thought you were the city hall, Captain. Who are you? Me, Captain. The night porter. Where's the desk block? Where's the elevator, Freighter? What are you doing in the elevator? The service was overshadowed a little while ago. It gives me a chance to clean the elevator. Get out of there. But if the clerk is gone, who is going to pay me my wages? I don't know. Come back later. I need my wages. I'm going to pull mine to get out of the elevator. No. I will not leave until you give me my wages. Get up before I... Monsieur. All clear. Monsieur. Pick up your knife. You may need it again. Yes, Monsieur. The desk clerk and the sergeant. I've taken care of them. Who else might be here? The night detail. From the third floor, perhaps, eight of them. Ducroix? I found you, Monsieur. Second floor room details. Marcel Ducroix? What is it? Who are you? Come with me. Who are you? Why do you put a gun at me? The resistance has taken over the town. You'll be better off with me. To the guards. The soldiers have gone to the city hall as a riot. Come on, Ducroix. You're a farming country, Colonel Conso. Very pleasant in the moonlight. There, they've even put the vacant ten minutes. Whatever's going on in that town, Major, is more than a mere outbreak of the French resistance. Somehow it's all tied in with... Stop the car. Colonel Conso, wait a minute. Turn out your headlights. Signal that truck to stop. Yes, Herr Colonel. Major, don't you hear anything? A plane. By one plane, no, I don't think so. It's a flashlight. I look below there in that valley. They're signaling to the plane. That's an 077 landing operation, Major. The plane is either landing someone, which I doubt exceedingly, or picking someone up. Get back in the car and rush for that field. We're coming in, 077. We're coming in. Wind 90 degrees. Velocity two zero. Wind 90 degrees. I'll pick up already. Everything is ready. On the field. There may be troubles. We just spotted two cars on the road in front of us. One may be a full truck. They extinguish their lights. All right? Here we come. Emil, take Guquard, get him out on that field, shove him in that plane the second it lands, then go for cover. Look, a Nazi stop car. Hurry, get him out there. The plane's landing. Where are you going? I'm taking Emil's car. I can block the road for a little while anyway. Blow up your radio, Suzanne, and then get out. Cut across the field. Is this an interrogation? Well, then go faster. Turn on your lights. It doesn't matter now. We'll make it all right. A hand could have been there on the field. Five or six only. I want them all, you understand? Don't slow down. You were knocked out for a moment. The plane got away? Yes, but if there's some way of contacting the house, perhaps they could intercept the plane. Where's the car that crashed into us? We'll find the driver of that car. Look through every foot of this. Look out! Look out! I got him. Over there in the barge. Your life, Colonel. I'm conscious. He must not die. Corporal Gwinterpontlevec can get a doctor at once. Yes, Colonel. It's not a bad wound. He will live. Then all our luck didn't deserve us tonight. This man with persuasion will tell us everything we want to know. This man is Robert Scharke. Scharke? Then who was in that plane? My guess would be Marcel Dupois. We'll soon know. One minute. Tough break, Scharke. Always so sure of yourself. Marcel Dupois was delivered to my office some time after midnight. We were waiting for him. Air corps officers and intelligence. Once Dupois realized he wasn't going to be tortured and killed, he gave us a whole story. Just one more question, Dupois. Look at the map. This area is a grain field. How far is it exactly from the river to the depot? No guess, Dupois. If you don't know, say so. If I don't know, Monsieur, I am an engineer from the river to the depot, 12 kilometers point 27. That's all we need to know, Mr. Gibson. Take him out, Captain. French intelligence wants him upstairs. Well, Gibson, we know now where the V2 depot is. Every detail of its construction. You can be very proud of your organization. I want to thank you for your cooperation. Right. Now, it's our job. Good night. Good night. Good night, Mr. Gibson. Oh, yes, Simpson. Come inside, please. Communications and contact with Susanne de Beaumont. Get Susanne all right. Listen. Have not much time. Sharky taken alive to Gestapo headquarters. The hall. Sharky ordered me out. I could not make it. Soldiers surrounded farmhouse can hear them. Sorry. I will not be taken alive. Question, Sharky. That's all. Just two questions. Where's the invasion coming? When? Sorry, console. I don't know. I'm sorry, too. Sorry you make it necessary to go to these ends. But believe me, we've only started. I believe you. But I can't tell you what I don't know. You do know. We'll continue to use any means we can to make you talk. Show them what I mean, Sergeant. Don't stop, Sergeant. You see, Sharky, we'll make you tell. A man can take so much punishment. Remember what you taught me? Fair play, years of decency. That's out. You've done your job. Now I'll do mine. Where will the invasion take place? Have you got a map? Let him go, Sergeant. Over here, Sharky. Where on the map? Where? Right here. Spike the Colonel, will you? Stop it. You want to kill him? We'll try again later. We didn't know then what was happening to Sharky, but we could imagine. Poor Suzanne. She at least was dead. But Sharky, we planned the one move. The one move that should help. At ease, men. You pilots have been assembled for a more special mission. Your target is there on the wall. One city, the half. One street in that city. One building on that street. Thirteen room eddling. Take a good look. The landmarks are well defined. The bay, surrounding hills. Take a good look and remember it. This has got to be a job of total destruction. Not a wall left standing. No one must escape from that house alive. No one. You're going for squadrons. Two dropping high explosives, followed by two squadrons at minimum intervals to smother the entire target with rockets and machine gun fire. You've been given the route of approach. Time over target, zero three hundred. Bombers will go in at zero feet. I know. I know it's tough. Any questions? Well, Colonel, I think we'd kind of like to know who's in that house. Gary, maybe? Hitler or who? I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to answer that. Well, perhaps in a way I can. Gibson, I know that this is a tough assignment. You'll be risking your life. That house is the headquarters of the German Gestapo in Lahore. Now, that's an important reason for destroying it, but it's not the only reason. There's an American agent in that house. He knows the when and where of our invasion of the counter. Now, if he talks, it may cost the lives of countless soldiers. Right now, he's suffering the cruelest torches that Germans can devise, but he won't talk. Not as long as he can stand punishment. But no human body can stand it too long. Not even this wonderful tough guy from Minnesota. So I'm asking you to kill my friend as soon as you can. If you're ready, man, we'll synchronize our watches. Talk, Sharky. Sharky, are you ready to talk? No. The air raid, sir Colonel. Do you think... Keep beating him. Those planes and bothers here, they'll be heading to the waterfront. The enemy's been hit, sir Colonel. Tonight, sir. Make him talk. Make him talk! You're too late, Colonel. You're too late. Flight commander to Gibson. Flight commander to Gibson. This is Gibson. Go ahead. Target obliterated. Target obliterated. That's all, Simpson. Why don't you go to bed now, sir? You haven't slept at all. Yes. Yes, I think I will. Oh. Take a message to Washington, please. No, no, you don't have to write it down. Just say mission completed. The curtain falls on 13 Room Madeleine and in a moment we'll call our four stars to the footlights for a curtain call. A thrilling play like 13 Room Madeleine is always enhanced by brilliant acting. And that's what we had tonight from Bob Montgomery, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Conte, and Vanessa Brown, who returned to the footlights for a curtain call. Now, since you were last here, you've become a phenomenon in Hollywood. Well, I hope you mean that better than it sounds, Bill. I mean as an actor who directs and stars in his own picture. Well, having acted in the first film that Bob directed, I can say that he's as capable behind the camera as he is in front of it. I've always wondered, just how does an actor direct himself? Well, first of all, you do the best you can in front of the camera. And then you step behind it and bore yourself out. I see you've had experience with directors, Vanessa. Don't you ever talk back to yourself, Bob, on the set that is? Well, when I'm out in front of the camera, I don't dare affront the guy who's fronting for myself behind the camera. But when I move from behind the camera to the front, wait a minute, where am I? Sounds like you were on a merry-go-round. Well, that's more or less so if Bob's talking about his latest universal international picture, Ride a Pink Horse, which takes its title from a carousel. Thanks for getting me out of that confusion, Bill. I trust, Vanessa, there are no such confusing problems in your current picture, Foxes of Harrow. Oh, what kind of foxes are those, Vanessa? 20th century foxes, foxes. Well, Halle Ho, I'll join the hunt for the nearest theater where it's playing. But tell us, Bill, what's coming up for next week? Next Monday night, we bring our audience a fresh, unusual screenplay that's achieved worldwide acclaim. Universal international's delightful drama, Stairway to Heaven, and our stars are Ray Merland, Anne Blythe, and Nigel Bruce. Stairway to Heaven is a tender story of a British pilot in love with a young American girl who fights for the right to live and love against the adverse powers of another world. That was one of the most original screenplays of the season, Bill. Your audience is lucky. Good night, Bill. Good night, and thanks for the visit to Rue Madeline. Leave a brother's company, and the makers of Lux Flakes join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday evening, when the Lux Radio Theater presents Ray Merland, Anne Blythe, and Nigel Bruce in Stairway to Heaven. This is William Keely saying good night to you from Hollywood.