(02) Escape - Operation Fleur De Lys

Summary

Podcast Summary

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Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: (02) Escape - Operation Fleur De Lys
Date: August 7, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode presents the classic old-time radio show "Escape," featuring the gripping World War II espionage story "Operation Fleur de Lis." The narrative follows two OSS (Office of Strategic Services) agents parachuted into Nazi-occupied France. Their mission: organize the resistance, set up roadblocks to thwart German reinforcements, and ensure the success of the Allied invasion—despite minimal manpower and constant peril. Personal loyalties, security leaks, and tragedy intertwine, culminating in betrayal and painful choices.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Mission Setup and Parachute Drop (01:13–05:51)

• Duke (Lt. Plants) narrates, emphasizing the moral and emotional complexities of wartime actions and personal relationships.
  • "It isn't what I did to Rene that keeps me awake at nights, it's just the memory of her." (02:07)
• The OSS agents receive their orders from Major Alcine Duton at an unremarkable London HQ:
  • Parachute in, block major roads and railways near Gramont, rendezvous with underground contact Alcine Duton. (03:02–03:45)
• The two-man operation is daunting—“all we had to do was organize an underground army, disrupt the supply lines of a half a dozen Nazi divisions...just the two of us?” (03:55)

2. Landing, Resistance Contacts & Initial Setbacks (06:00–09:39)

• Parachute drop goes as planned, rendezvous with Alcine Duton, only to discover the local resistance is just Alcine and two others. (07:06)
• “You said yourself there's at least a division garrison in Gramont.” The agents are shocked by the lack of manpower but must push forward. (08:06)
• Meanwhile, stories of local collaborators and the ever-present threat from the Gestapo become apparent.
• Rene, Alcine's sweetheart, is introduced—her presence raises concern: "No dames. Well, the next day we collected the supplies..." (09:40)

3. Building the Maquis & Early Tensions (09:40–13:03)

• The Americans recruit local farmers into their growing resistance group—food and patriotism are both motivators.
• London’s support is minimal and communication is sparse.
• Alcine’s dangerous nightly trips to the village—for love, not sabotage—raise security concerns.
  • “You're endangering the whole marquis by disobeying my orders?” (11:36)
  • “She's the most wonderful person in the world. She's a real patriot.” (11:51)
• The Americans weigh discipline and reality—the risks of imposing American military discipline on French volunteers.

4. Tragedy and Paranoia: The Cost of Resistance (13:04–16:20)

• Alcine learns the Gestapo has killed his family as reprisal.
  • “Yes, by the Gestapo...my mother, my father, my two sisters. They ran out. The Gestapo shot them.” (14:09)
• Grief turns to rage: "Before, I wanted to fight the bush for my country. Now I want to kill him again and again for them." (14:49)
• Duke probes how Alcine’s letters had been mailed—by Rene, who had also mailed letters for others, unwittingly or not exposing them.

5. German Raid and Security Breach (16:21–19:23)

• The Germans descend on their forest camp. The group executes a textbook withdrawal, but casualties and captures occur.
  • "There’s a convoy of Germans...we’re not going to fight them. You know what our job is—roadblocks." (16:24)
• Back at a safe house, members of the maquis want to quit due to fear for their families—a security leak is clear.
• Duke makes a deal: “Give me a couple of days to work it out...if I haven’t patched up our security by then, you can all quit...” (19:24)

6. Investigating Rene & The Sting Operation (19:57–27:04)

• Duke asks Alcine to introduce him to Rene under an alias, “Jacques Dufranch,” to assess her.
• Private meeting and a drive with Rene—romantic tension; her “star-gathering” metaphor is poignant, but she confesses loving a (now dead) German soldier.
  • “Don’t you think that love is bigger than war or hate or anything?” (25:04 – Rene)
• Plans are made for another meeting; Rene offers to mail Duke’s family letter, confirming suspicions.

7. Unmasking the Collaborator (28:13–30:18)

• Duke and Hill set a trap for Rene using a drugged drink.
  • “She offered to mail a letter to my family.” (27:56)
  • Hill: “Did she give anything away?” Plants: “No information. She’s a funny kid...But I’m sure she’s our Mata Hari.” (27:43–27:52)
• They find a Gestapo letter and identification in her purse, confirming her as the informer. (29:33–29:40)
  • “She’s responsible for the death of six people...She’d have wrecked our Marquis, snafu’d our mission and turned me over to the Gestapo.” (29:47)
• Duke takes responsibility for dispatching her, regretful but decisive.
  • “No, this is my job.” (30:04)

8. Aftermath and Reflection (30:18–31:18)

• Rene’s body is disposed of. The mission succeeds: their sabotage ties up German forces for Patton’s advance.
  • “Sure, the operation was successful when the time came. Our roadblocks tied up three German divisions while Patton rolled on to the east. But I still lie awake at night thinking I should have married that dame. Yeah, the operation was successful, but the patient died.” (31:10)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On war's emotional cost:
  “It isn't what I did to Rene that keeps me awake at nights, it's just the memory of her.” – Duke (02:07)
• On improbability of the mission:
  “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.” – Duke (03:55)
• On the French Resistance’s vulnerability:
  “My family’s been killed…Yes, by the Gestapo…my mother, my father, my two sisters.” – Alcine (14:09)
• On collaboration and betrayal:
  “She’s responsible for the death of six people whose only crime was being born French.” – Duke (29:47)
• Tragic reflection:
  “The operation was successful, but the patient died.” – Duke (31:16)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------| | 01:13 | Episode narrative/OSS mission introduction | | 05:51 | Parachute drop into France | | 09:40 | Rene introduced, first signs of security risk | | 14:09 | Alcine learns of family's murder | | 16:21 | German raid and maquis evacuation | | 19:24 | Resistance morale falters, security breach suspected | | 22:46 | Duke meets and investigates Rene | | 25:04 | Rene’s confession of loving a German | | 28:13 | Sting operation against Rene planned | | 29:33 | Betrayal confirmed—Gestapo evidence | | 30:18 | Aftermath and conclusion |

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Tone and Style

• The language is taut, colloquial, and frequently sardonic, capturing both the gravity and gallows humor of clandestine operations.
• Banter between Duke and Hill is peppered with dry wit and American idioms; the atmosphere is laced with tension, regret, and romantic fatalism.
• French resistance members’ idealism is counterbalanced by the Americans’ pragmatic outlook.

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Conclusion

"Operation Fleur de Lis" is a taut, emotionally charged espionage drama from the golden age of radio. Through terse dialogue, bittersweet romance, and the ever-present shadow of betrayal, it offers a vivid snapshot of clandestine war in occupied France—and the human cost behind historic victories.

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For full immersion, listen to the complete episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, Escape: Operation Fleur de Lis.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Escape.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Escape Tonight to occupied France and the underground.

[Narrator]

The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations presents Escape, a new series of programs of which this the second is Operation Fleur de Lis. Written and directed by William N. Robeson. Today, the 14th of July, the people of a free France celebrate the anniversary of their escape from the tyranny of the kings of Versailles. 158 years ago today, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille and left loose the French Revolution. The torch of liberty set a fire that day never burned more fiercely than during the years when France was occup by the Nazis. We escape tonight to occupied France, from which three years ago there was no escape.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

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 Rene that keeps me awake at nights, it's just the memory of her. There isn't much of bother in my official report on Operation Fleur de Lis. But then it isn't customary to include 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 Fleur de Lis began like all the others, in the grubby, undistinguished house in London, which was the headquarters of the the oss, the Office of Strategic Services. Otherwise Known in various parts of the world as screwballs, cutthroat spies, cloak and dagger boys. And American underground agents.

[Alcine Duton]

Gentlemen, Operation Fleur de Lis is planned to assist the advance of our forces. Once they've secured a beachhead in Normandy.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Is that where we're going in, Major?

[Alcine Duton]

That is one of the possibilities, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yes, sir.

[Alcine Duton]

You will jump over Grandma. In northern France. Here on the map. You have to set up roadblocks on these three state highways. Here, here and here.

[Lieutenant Hill]

There is an underground contact near Grandmont's.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes. Alcine Duton. He's leader of the local marquis expecting him. In addition, you're to block these railroad lines entering and leaving Gramont. These operations are to coincide with the advance of our ground forces.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

If they land in Normandy.

[Alcine Duton]

If they land in Normandy. You will in plane tonight at 2100 hours. And will drop over your objective at, I should think approximately 2230. Any questions?

[Lieutenant Hill]

No, I don't think so, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Well? Yes, sir. I have a question.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, Lieutenant?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

How many of us are going on this mission?

[Alcine Duton]

Just the two of you?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

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

[Narrator]

How do you feel? Fine. Scared.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Of course I'm scared. Aren't you?

[Narrator]

Me? Nah.

[Lieutenant Hill]

This is a walk. You forget how tough it was when we were at paratroop school at Benning.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, that was real rugged.

[Lieutenant Hill]

If the wind wasn't right, you might land in the Chattahoochee and get all wet.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

And it was always the chance that you'd sprain your coming down too hard.

[Lieutenant Hill]

And the sun was so bright on some of those daylight jumps.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Whereas we got none of those things to worry about here. A nice pitch black night over France. No sun to blind us. No Chattahoochee river to fall into.

[Narrator]

Hey, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yes, Sergeant?

[Narrator]

Skipper wants to talk to you on the intercom.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Thanks.

[Narrator]

Here, use my cans.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Thank you, Duke. Here, Lieutenant. And what were your objective? Any signal from the ground?

[Narrator]

Yes, the one arranged.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Four duds, two dashes, green.

[Narrator]

Very well.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You and Lieutenant Hill move into the bomb bay catwalk. I'll open bomb bay doors in 30 seconds. Roger. Good luck. Thanks, Sergeant. Stand by to dump those supplies as soon as we're clear. Yes, sir. Come on, Ed. This, as someone has said, is it so soon.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Just as I was settling down to a good book.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Bombay Dodger opening, sir. Okay, Sergeant. All right, Ed, let's check your harness.

[Lieutenant Hill]

It's a frightful mess. I just can't seem to do a thing with it.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I know, but this is the last party. You'll have to wear it on. Okay. How am I?

[Lieutenant Hill]

Well, don't look now, but your shoot's showing.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Tuck it in. Let's get out on that catwalk. Wow, what a refreshing breeze. And all of France on our feet. You see the signal? That's what I'm looking for.

[Narrator]

There it is.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Over the left. You got it?

[Rene de Cibour]

Got it.

[Narrator]

Let's go.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You kid. Sure, you kid. It helps. But for those 10 seconds while you fall free, nothing helps. You hang on to the ripcord and you count off the seconds. And you try not to count too fast. Your hand on that ripcord 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 chute open? It does, yanking at your armpits, knocking the breath out of you, slowing you down. And you swing there 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 Ed, 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, spilling a little air to guide you toward it. And it's coming towards you awfully fast. And you hope this particular French patriot has 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 the 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 you roll 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 you by. Kiva. Who is it?

[Alcine Duton]

Alcine here.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Fleur.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Delete.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Okay, Alcine, Come on.

[Alcine Duton]

At last you have arrived, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

So it seems.

[Alcine Duton]

You have no idea how long we wish for this moment.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Hold it. That's my partner. Come on.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Hey, Ed.

[Alcine Duton]

Ed.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Over here. Duke.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You okay?

[Lieutenant Hill]

My empennage is slightly damaged. Otherwise okay.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

This is Alcine, our contact. Alcine, Lieutenant Hill.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Hello, Alcine.

[Alcine Duton]

Lieutenant, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. And on behalf of my countryman.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Let's get these chutes buried and blow this place. Where's your transportation, Alcine?

[Alcine Duton]

We haven't any.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What? Where's the safe house?

[Alcine Duton]

You might be able to stay at my aunt's. I don't think she'd talk.

[Lieutenant Hill]

You don't think? Aren't you sure?

[Alcine Duton]

Oh, yes. I'm supremely confident that.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Where are the Germans?

[Alcine Duton]

They're everywhere. That is why I'm so glad you're here. Now we can fight again. With your help, we will kill many Bosch.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Wait a minute. How many are there in your Maquis?

[Alcine Duton]

Myself and two others.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Just three of you?

[Lieutenant Hill]

Oh, my aching back.

[Alcine Duton]

But now that the Americans are here, we can do anything.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Why don't they get these things straight in London? How can we block roads with a three man marquee?

[Lieutenant Hill]

Three men and an aunt who perhaps will not talk.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Well, let's get cracking.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Duke, you're not going through with this madventure, are you?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What would you suggest?

[Lieutenant Hill]

Well, as for me, I'm all for taking the next plane back to London.

[Rene de Cibour]

Another piece of bread, Lieutenant?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

No, thank you, ma'. Am.

[Rene de Cibour]

This bone chicken is delicious. How do you call it?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

K ration supreme.

[Rene de Cibour]

We've had nothing like it since the Bosch came.

[Lieutenant Hill]

You get used to it.

[Alcine Duton]

And cigarettes. Tant Marie. Cigarettes made of real tobacco. You Americans have everything.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Madame Al Sing, you are kind, you are hospitable. But the comforts of K ration will not block roads. We need men. We must form a Marquis.

[Alcine Duton]

But we have a Marquis. I need my.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Look, Al Scedon. 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 the German division.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

And you said yourself there's at least a division garrison in Grammont.

[Alcine Duton]

What must we do?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

First, we must organize a maquis. We need men. Can you get them?

[Alcine Duton]

I can go into the village and talk to my friends.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Should have done that a long time ago, Falsene.

[Rene de Cibour]

That would Be most unwise.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Why?

[Rene de Cibour]

Didn't you know? Alcine is a patriot. He's a deserter from the Vichy army. So he's wanted by the Gestapo.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Oh, great. And there's a Gestapo headquarters. In grammar, of course.

[Rene de Cibour]

Of course. Alcine is not run to run from danger.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Quite the contrary.

[Alcine Duton]

I can get Rene to help.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Who's Rene?

[Rene de Cibour]

Alcine's sweetheart. A lovely girl from Paris. Poor thing. She had to come down to the country because her house was bombed up.

[Narrator]

Let's leave her out of this.

[Alcine Duton]

But, Lieutenant, she would be most happy to help Alcine.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You got a lot to learn about guerrilla warfare. You might as well study your first lesson right now. It's short and to the point. No dames. 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 the 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.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Huh? What do they say?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What do they ever say? Message acknowledged. Carry on.

[Lieutenant Hill]

What about new batteries for the radio? What about extra ammunition for the Buck Rogers guns? When are they gonna get another drop to us?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Why don't you ask them?

[Lieutenant Hill]

Yeah, I know.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

They do the best they can, I guess. After all, we're not the only Boy Scouts in this jamboree. Mm.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Hey, Duke.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah?

[Lieutenant Hill]

There goes Al Scene again, off toward the road.

[Rene de Cibour]

What?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Hey, Al Scene.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Come here a minute.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Where are you going?

[Alcine Duton]

I was just taking a stroll.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You're on night guard.

[Alcine Duton]

Not tonight.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You weren't on night guard last night, were you?

[Alcine Duton]

No, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Or the night before?

[Alcine Duton]

No, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

But you weren't in camp all night, were you?

[Alcine Duton]

No, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What's the matter? Don't you like the camp? Rather sleep at your aunt's. Is it too rugged out here for you?

[Alcine Duton]

No, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Then where were you?

[Alcine Duton]

In the village.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You know the orders. No one is to go into the village.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, Lieutenant, but I only go in at night.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

That makes no difference.

[Alcine Duton]

But it does. You see, Lieutenant, I'm so in love.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Oh, great.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

The girl from Paris.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes. You should see her, Lieutenant. She's the most beautiful, the most charming.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Don't you know you're endangering the whole marquis by disobeying my orders?

[Alcine Duton]

Oh, no, sir. There's no danger with Rene. She hates the bush. Why? She wants to join us.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You've told her about us?

[Alcine Duton]

Oh, yes, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Are you out of your mind? How do you know she's all right?

[Alcine Duton]

I just know, that's all. She's the most wonderful person in the world. She's a real patriot.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I told you, rule number one is no dames.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, but Rene is different.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Yeah, well, you better marry her before you bring her around here, or you'll have to share her with the rest of these wolves.

[Alcine Duton]

Lieutenant, do I understand your thing?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I get it, Al Sing. It's just an American figure speech.

[Alcine Duton]

May I tell Rene she can join us?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Oh, not quite yet. Later, maybe.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, Lieutenant. Is that all?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, that's all.

[Lieutenant Hill]

If you gotta take it, Alcine, take it easy.

[Alcine Duton]

I do not understand.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Just another American idiom. Al Singh. Good night.

[Alcine Duton]

Good night, sir.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Hey, Duke, you gonna let him get away with that?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What are we gonna do, Slap him

[Lieutenant Hill]

into the guard house for 30 days?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Only this isn't the American army. We haven't any guardhouse.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Yeah. Stinks from a security standpoint.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I know. If we try to keep these boys from sneaking off home every now and then, we're not gonna have any Maquis.

[Lieutenant Hill]

He's French. An immoral race.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I don't know about that. Remember Phoenix City, Alabama? Yeah.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Oh, yeah. I see what you mean.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

There wasn't anything we could do. If we'd ordered Alcine 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 ersatz 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 +4, I think it was, I was out in the woods running a squad through concealment drill. Oh, no, no. Hit the dirt. Don't wait, or you're dead. When you see the signal, hit the dirt right now.

[Alcine Duton]

Pardon me, Lieutenant. Huh?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Oh, Alcine. Where have you been all night? As though I didn't know.

[Alcine Duton]

Lieutenant, I've got to talk to you.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Okay. I'll be through here in a half hour. Soon.

[Alcine Duton]

Got to talk to you now.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

All right, Al Sing. Okay, boys. Take five. Come along, Alcine. What's on your mind, Lieutenant?

[Alcine Duton]

My family's been killed.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Oh, no.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, by the Gestapo. He set fire to the house. My mother, my father, my two sisters. They ran out. The Gestapo shot them.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You were sure of this?

[Alcine Duton]

Yes. I heard it this morning from a neighbor who saw it happen.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You poor kid.

[Alcine Duton]

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 for my father, my mother, my two sisters.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, I know. You'll get your chance, Alcine, but not yet. We gotta wait. We're not ready yet.

[Alcine Duton]

I'm ready. Before, I wanted to fight the bush for my country. Now I want to kill him again and again for them.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I know. But you gotta be patient.

[Alcine Duton]

This should happen to me now. Only last night, Renee 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.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

When did you hear from your mother last?

[Alcine Duton]

Not for a month, since we began to work. But I've written her every week.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You have? Who mailed the letters?

[Alcine Duton]

Renee mailed them for me. She's so kind and thoughtful. She offered to mail letters home for the other boys too.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

That was nice of her. Did they take advantage of her offer?

[Alcine Duton]

A couple of them.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Who?

[Alcine Duton]

Paul and Jean. I told them about it. They wrote their families.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

And Rene mailed the letters, huh?

[Alcine Duton]

She's a wonderful person, Lieutenant. You're going to love her.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, I think I am.

[Alcine Duton]

She's all I've got in the world now.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

2 and 2 make 4 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 Rene in the worst way. But I had to postpone the pleasure. Because early that afternoon, one of the outposts broke into camp. Out of breath? Yes, Paul?

[Alcine Duton]

The Boche. They're coming down the road through the forest.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

How many?

[Alcine Duton]

I did not stop to count them. Several truckloads, to be sure.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Pass the word to Lieutenant Hill. Ask him to bring his detail into camp on the devil.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Alcine.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, sir?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Take two men and go down by the road and see what they're up to.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Just reconnoiter. Don't fire at them.

[Alcine Duton]

But this is my chance for revenge.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Listen to me. Don't fire on them. That's a command.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, sir.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

They may not be after us at all. Now get going.

[Alcine Duton]

Immediately.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Lieutenant, what's the order of the day? Duke Plants, Graham?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, it looks like it. All your men here?

[Lieutenant Hill]

President accounted for.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

All right, boys, now gather around, will you? And get this. There's a convoy of Germans coming down the forest road. Now wait a minute. We're not going to fight them. You know what our job is. Roadblocks. We got tanks, artillery and airplanes. It'll be along soon to do the killing. Now look, our security has been pretty good. And those Krauts may be on a routine patrol. Chances are they don't even know we're here.

[Lieutenant Hill]

They do now. Listen.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, well, that doesn't. All right, you men got your weapons? Good. You know the procedure. Get lost before you leave the forest. Bury your weapons, ammunition and equipment. Rendezvous at the home of Alcine Zant at 2200hours tonight. Good luck. Come on, Ed, let's scramble.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Well, he who doesn't fight and runs away lives to fight another day.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Or something like that.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Who tipped them off?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I'm not sure. But I got a pretty good idea.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Who's down there at the road?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Alcine. 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. And 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 Alcine, its self appointed hero. When we arrived at his aunt's house that night for the rendezvous, a half a dozen of the boys were already there.

[Rene de Cibour]

Who is it? Fleur de Lis. Ah, Lieutenant. Come in.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Good evening, Madame.

[Rene de Cibour]

Alcine is already here. I'm so proud of him.

[Alcine Duton]

Ah, Lieutenant. I was just telling Tante Marie and the boys. It was magnificent. I got two of them. I killed two. Bush.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Your orders were not to shoot.

[Alcine Duton]

But Lieutenant, what would you.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What happened to the other boys who were with you?

[Alcine Duton]

Jean was wounded and captured. Antoine became frightened and ran away.

[Lieutenant Hill]

That blows the Marquis. Now get the full particulars from Jean.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

They haven't got him already?

[Alcine Duton]

I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Quiet. Answer it. Madame.

[Rene de Cibour]

Who is it?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Open it. Good evening, Madam. Come in, boys.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Run in any trouble, boys?

[Alcine Duton]

As you see, we are here.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Yeah, but not for long.

[Alcine Duton]

Lieutenant Rahul and I wish to withdraw from the Marquis.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Quit? Why?

[Alcine Duton]

The risk is too great.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You afraid?

[Alcine Duton]

For myself, no.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

But after what happened to John. He was wounded and captured. We all take that risk.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, but last night the Gestapo got John's family like they did Alcines. Stood them up in front of their

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

house and shot them. Who knows will be next?

[Alcine Duton]

My mother, Raul's sister, Alcine's aunt.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I wish to withdraw.

[Alcine Duton]

So do I.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Now, wait a minute. 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.

[Alcine Duton]

But the Germans are everywhere. Spies, perhaps too, are everywhere.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I think I know who's responsible for these murders. I'll make a deal with you. Give me a couple of days to work it out. We'll issue you boys some money. And all you've got to do is to get lost until Saturday night and then meet me back here. If I haven't patched up our security by then, you can all quit the marquee and become collaborators.

[Alcine Duton]

No one wishes to collaborate, but one

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

must think of one's family. Okay, Ed.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Yeah, dude.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Give the boys a thousand francs apiece.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Right. Come and get it, boy.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Alcine.

[Alcine Duton]

Yes, my Lieutenant?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I'm gonna have a little time on my hands for the next couple of days. Do you think you could arrange to introduce me to your girlfriend?

[Alcine Duton]

Oh, but of course, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Maybe if she's okay like you say, we can let her sign up.

[Alcine Duton]

I am desolated with happiness, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

One thing. None of that Lieutenant business around her until I make sure she's all right.

[Alcine Duton]

Very well.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You think my French is good enough to pass as a native?

[Alcine Duton]

But of course, Lieutenant.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

All right, then. Pass me off as a friend of yours. Let's see. I'll need a name. Let's call me Jacques Dufranch.

[Alcine Duton]

Jacques Dufresne. Good. I will make the arrangements immediately.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I thought you'd like an excuse to get into town tonight.

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[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

The next afternoon, Alcine 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.

[Alcine Duton]

Oh, there you are, Jacques.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Hello, Alcine.

[Alcine Duton]

Rene, this is my good friend Jacques Dufresne. He's from Paris too. Jacques, this is Rene de Cibour.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Glad to meet you, mamzel.

[Rene de Cibour]

And I'm honored to meet you, Monsieur. Where do you live?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

In Paris, near the Porte du Lillard. But my home is no longer there. It was bombed out.

[Rene de Cibour]

Alas, so was mine.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

My family remain with friends, but I've come out into the country to fight with the Resistance.

[Alcine Duton]

Jacques has much influence with the commander of our Marquis.

[Rene de Cibour]

I hope you will be able to persuade him to let me join you.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Monsieur, I shall do what I can.

[Rene de Cibour]

It would be a privilege and an honor to work with a patriot like you.

[Alcine Duton]

See, Jacques? I told you Rene was all right.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

You didn't tell me the half of it mademoiselle you understand that we must be cautious. There are questions I must ask of a confidential nature.

[Rene de Cibour]

Why don't we meet again Alone?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Why not?

[Rene de Cibour]

Say tonight? I have a little car. We might take a drive.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Fine.

[Alcine Duton]

But, Rene, you promised me.

[Rene de Cibour]

I can see you some other time, monsieur. Remember, France comes fast.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

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 citron with the top down and the wind blowing her hair like a girl in a magazine ahead. Then we came back about midnight and parked with the bridge. I felt like I was back in high school in Illinois.

[Rene de Cibour]

Look at those stars, Jacques.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah.

[Rene de Cibour]

So many of them. So close you can almost reach out and touch them.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah.

[Rene de Cibour]

I had them all once, Jacques. I reached out and gathered them all in my arms once.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah.

[Rene de Cibour]

I want you to know all about me, Jacques.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I want to.

[Rene de Cibour]

Don't think it's wrong of me, but I've been in love.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

There's nothing wrong in being in love.

[Rene de Cibour]

He was a soldier.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Most everybody is these days.

[Rene de Cibour]

A German soldier.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Oh.

[Rene de Cibour]

Don't you think that love is bigger than war or hate or anything?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Rene de Cibour]

He's dead now.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

That's good. I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm not sorry he's dead.

[Rene de Cibour]

Shuck. I'm so confused. I want to understand things. I want to be intelligent about things. Then everything gets so mixed up. Like now.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Like now?

[Rene de Cibour]

Yes, Jacques. I've never been so happy as I am tonight.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Not even with a german.

[Rene de Cibour]

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?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

I don't know, baby. It's never been done before. But we can try.

[Rene de Cibour]

Yeah?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah. Tomorrow night, same time, same place.

[Alcine Duton]

Forever.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

If you say the word forever.

[Alcine Duton]

Sure.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Why not? Who knows how long forever is in this crazy world? Why not have it together? Why not get married?

[Rene de Cibour]

Why not? My most beloved?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

See you tomorrow night.

[Rene de Cibour]

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.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Drop that rock and grab a sock. Rise and shine, lover boy.

[Narrator]

I brought you a cup of chocolate.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Figured you won't break my.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Oh, thanks.

[Lieutenant Hill]

How'd you make out last night? Okay, details. Let's have the details.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Nothing Much to report. We drove and then we parked for a while and talked.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Did she give anything away?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

No information. She's a funny kid. Her dialogue's as corny as a bobby socks. She knows she's pretty, so she wants to be admired for her mind. But I'm sure she's our Mata Hari.

[Lieutenant Hill]

How come?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

She offered to mail a letter to my family.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Well, that's consistent.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

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.

[Lieutenant Hill]

French juvenile delinquent.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Maybe tonight's the night.

[Lieutenant Hill]

The night you get married?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

No, the night we get her. The boys are meeting us here at midnight, you know.

[Lieutenant Hill]

What's the plan?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Well, I'll take another ride with her. And about midnight we'll be back and parked by 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. And you join me. Here, baby. Have another drink, huh?

[Rene de Cibour]

I shouldn't, Jack. Brandy always makes me sleepy.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Well, what of it? This is a celebration of our engagement.

[Rene de Cibour]

Oh, kiss me shut again and again.

[Alcine Duton]

Sure,

[Rene de Cibour]

Shaq. The stars are nearer. Nearer than they've ever been.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Nearer than you think, baby.

[Rene de Cibour]

I love you, Shark. I do love you. Kiss me again. Do it again and again.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Rene, baby, are you asleep? You collaborationist pig. Can you hear me okay, Ed?

[Lieutenant Hill]

She out?

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Like a red light in an air raid. Here's her purse. Start through it while I untangle myself, will you?

[Lieutenant Hill]

Now take a look at this.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

What is it?

[Lieutenant Hill]

A letter from Gestapo headquarters. Confirming receipt of three addresses.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Let me see that. Well, that one's Alcine's family, and that one's Jeanne's.

[Lieutenant Hill]

And here's a Gestapo identification card.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Flash your light over there. Look at her.

[Alcine Duton]

What a dish.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Look at that kisser. She's responsible for the death of six people whose only crime was being born French. She'd have wrecked our Marquis, snafu'd our mission and turned me over to the Gestapo. With her lipstick still in my collar, that gorgeous hunk of double cross. Now we got the proof. Let's get on with it.

[Lieutenant Hill]

Okay. I guess you'd rather I.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

No, this is my job.

[Alcine Duton]

Geez, she's gorgeous.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Yeah. So long, honey. Thanks.

[Lieutenant Hill]

She ain't so gorgeous now.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Release that handbrake.

[Alcine Duton]

Got it.

[Duke (Lieutenant Plants)]

Come on, shove. Not yet. Keep that steering wheel straight. The river's deepest right at the center of the bridge. Now hard right on the wheel. You know something, Ed? Yeah, I think she finally did gather that armful of stars. Sure, the operation was successful when the time came. Our roadblocks tied up three German divisions while Patton rolled on to the east. But I still lie awake at night thinking, I should have married that dame. Yeah, the operation was successful, but the patient died.

[Narrator]

Operation Fleur de Lis was written, directed and produced by William N. Robeson, with Jack Webb as Duke, Elliot Lewis as Hill, Peggy Weber as Renee, and Harry Bartel as Alcine. Operation Fleur de Lis 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 Fuhr. 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. And so good night until next week, when again it will be time to Escape. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

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