The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Cloak and Dagger: "Delay on Route" (A0040)

Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date: October 6, 1950

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode of Cloak and Dagger, titled "Delay on Route", listeners are immersed in a tension-filled World War II drama based on true OSS (Office of Strategic Services) files. The story follows American OSS agent Roberto Mercer, who faces a profound moral dilemma: should he help a notorious Fascist escape Italy in exchange for crucial intelligence that could save lives, despite the vehement opposition from the local partisans he supports? The episode explores complex themes of loyalty, justice, expediency, and the difficult trade-offs of wartime.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

Introduction of Main Conflict (02:33–05:37)

• Setting & Context: Newly liberated Sturza, Italy. The local resistance, led by Guido Gordoni and his sister Rosa, celebrates the downfall of the Fascists.
• Characters Introduced:
  • Roberto Mercer: American OSS agent, longing for home yet bound by duty.
  • Guido Gordoni: Partisan leader, hardened by loss, committed to avenging Fascist crimes.
  • Rosa: Guido’s sister, emotionally entangled with Roberto.

Notable Quote:
“Those Italian partisans were drunk on something they hadn't tasted since Mussolini's black shirts marched on Rome. Freedom.”
— Roberto Mercer (03:45)

Divergent Moral Codes (06:12–07:39)

• Guido’s Justice vs. Roberto’s Ethics:
  • Guido is determined to execute all Fascists without trial.
  • Roberto objects, believing in the right to a fair trial and democracy.

Notable Exchange:

• Guido: “They were Fascisti.”
• Roberto: “Nevertheless, they were entitled to a trial.” (06:35–06:38)

The Asset: Tempting with Intelligence (09:27–11:02)

• Alberto Pelizo (the Fascist shipyard owner) contacts Roberto via his daughter Maria, offering information on advanced weaponry in exchange for safe passage to the Allies.
• Pelizo claims to have knowledge about “radio guided aerial torpedoes” and a new submarine design.

Notable Moment:
Pelizo warns Roberto, “Don’t think too long, senor. And don't discuss it with your partisan comrades. I'm quite sure that bloodthirsty Guido Gordoni would not let my usefulness to the Allies prevent him from hanging me.” (10:46–11:02)

Rising Suspicion and Betrayal (12:39–14:09)

• Rosa grows suspicious of Roberto’s secretive behavior and vows to discover his actions.
• Guido explicitly states he would execute Pelizo if found, dismissing the value of intelligence from a Fascist.
• The moral chasm between Roberto and the partisans grows, isolating him.

The Escape Plan (14:36–17:29)

• Roberto sneaks Pelizo and Maria out of their hiding place using a coal chute, after warning them the partisans are conducting house-to-house searches.
• He arranges to meet them later at Pelizo’s sacked villa.

Confrontation & Allegations (17:29–20:50)

• Guido captures Roberto and accuses him of betrayal, believing he is being bribed ($50,000 rumor) to help Pelizo escape.
• Violent confrontation ensues; Roberto knocks out Guido, refusing to reveal Pelizo's whereabouts.

Notable Quote:
Guido: “The lying Roberto Pelizo is paying you well. And I shall have to deal with you as I would with any other traitor.” (19:21)

Difficult Choices and Cold Loyalties (22:27–23:44)

• At the villa, Roberto refuses to drink wine, stating: "I don't drink with Fascists." (22:35)
• Despite the animosity, he warns Pelizo and Maria not to try escaping during their perilous journey to the coast.

The Roadblock & Duplicity (24:09–26:51)

• The trio is stopped by Fascist forces; initially, Pelizo could turn Roberto over, but chooses to maintain the ruse.
• In a private exchange, Roberto realizes Pelizo’s interest is survival above all.
  “Rats always desert a sinking ship.” — Roberto (26:51)

Looming Threat to the Partisans (27:05–28:50)

• At the Fascist checkpoint, Roberto learns a division is about to attack the partisans in Sturza, putting Guido and Rosa in grave danger.
• Roberto chooses not to leave with Pelizo for America, but to return and warn his partisan allies, risking certain death.

Final Showdown: Loyalty and Sacrifice (29:00–30:26)

• Roberto returns to Sturza, is branded a traitor, and faces execution.
• He delivers the vital intelligence: "There's a full division of Fascist infantry moving up from Genoa. They're planning to spring a trap tonight. You'd better get out of Sturza.” (29:38–29:47)
• Guido ultimately believes him, and the partisans evacuate in time.

Resolution and Reflection (30:26–31:05)

• Roberto continues to fight alongside Guido and the partisans.
• Pelizo’s intelligence helps shorten the war, enabling Roberto to (eventually) return home.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You want me to climb that filthy, coal chute? What about my clothes?"
  — Maria, highlighting the class divide and urgency (16:21)
• “You have consorted with rabble too long, Mercer. Your manners reflect it.”
  — Pelizo, to Roberto, showing disdain (22:40–22:46)
• “Maybe after you've been in America for a while. It will take him away, Curtis."
  — Roberto, on American ideals vs. Fascist opportunism (28:51)
• “So I didn't go to Vermont. I went back to Sturza instead.”
  — Roberto, choosing loyalty and justice over safety (29:00)

Adam Graham's Commentary & Insights (32:32–39:45)

• Episode Significance:

  • Adam Graham lauds the episode’s moral complexity, where the lead agent must act against his friends' wishes for the greater good.
  • He notes the resentment that arises when collaborators seem to benefit (i.e., escaping justice by giving information), but frames this as a real historical dilemma — sacrificing absolute justice to potentially save thousands of lives by hastening the end of war.
  • Adam contextualizes with statistics: “291,000 Americans died in battle, with another 113,000 dying to other causes during the war, such as disease. Cutting months off the length of the war would mean tens of thousands of Americans coming home alive...” (35:25)

• Nuanced Critique:

  • He argues, “Any critique has to take these concerns to mind. ... If you ignore the alternatives, it’s just an ivory tower statement that you can only make from a safe distance, decades away from the actual hard choices that had to be made.” (36:15–36:46)
  • The characterization of Pelizo as an opportunist, not a true believer, speaks to the self-serving nature of many in power under totalitarian regimes.

• Character Study:

  • Adam admires Roberto’s ultimate loyalty and willingness to risk his life for the partisans, noting the show’s realistic portrayal of moral ambiguity amidst wartime.

Notable Reflection:
Cloak and Dagger is probably the best drama that you never heard of, and it’s been great to feature it on the podcast. — Adam Graham (39:10)

Important Timestamps

• OSS agent receives mission: 02:33
• Conflict between Roberto and Guido: 06:12–07:39
• Pelizo’s deal and intelligence: 09:27–11:02
• Roberto helps Pelizo escape: 14:36–17:29
• Guido confronts Roberto about betrayal: 17:29–20:50
• Final negotiation and escape route: 22:27–23:44
• Checkpoint, Pelizo’s duplicity revealed: 24:09–26:51
• Warning of the impending attack: 27:05–28:50
• Roberto returns to warn partisans: 29:00–30:26
• Episode conclusion: 31:05
• Adam Graham’s commentary: 32:32–39:45

Tone & Style

The dialogue and narration maintain a tense, dramatic, and sometimes melancholy tone, reflective of the episode’s life-or-death stakes and ethical ambiguity. Roberto’s inner conflict, Guido’s bitterness, and Pelizo’s cold pragmatism come through with realism and emotional weight.

Summary for New Listeners

This Cloak and Dagger episode plunges you into the fog of war, where right and wrong aren’t always clear and the cost of moral choices can be counted in lives. With taut storytelling, vivid characters, and a thought-provoking core dilemma, “Delay on Route” exemplifies why Old Time Radio’s golden age dramas remain compelling decades later. Adam Graham’s thoughtful commentary frames the episode’s relevance — not just as self-contained fiction, but as a window into the hard choices of history.

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