The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Episode: Cloak and Dagger – "The Last Mission"
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date: November 22, 2025
Podcast Release Date: [as above]

Episode Overview

This episode of Cloak and Dagger revisits World War II espionage, delivering a tense and poignant story set in Japanese-occupied Canton, China. Told from the perspective of Tanya Bonilla, an ordinary woman swept into covert resistance against the Japanese, it’s a tale of courage, betrayal, and ultimate sacrifice. The story illustrates both the complexities of wartime loyalties and the often-overlooked roles locals played in OSS operations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting and Context

• The episode is inspired by true accounts from the OSS (the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner to the CIA), specifically focusing on an undercover mission in Canton.
• Listeners are immediately placed in the uncertain and dangerous world of occupied China, where identities are questioned and allegiances blurred.
  [02:29] OSS Announcer:

  “Are you willing to undertake a dangerous mission behind the enemy lines knowing you may never return alive?”

2. Character Introductions and Motivations

• Tanya Bonilla: A Spanish-Russian-Irish woman, now working as a waitress. She is deeply scarred by the Japanese atrocity in Nanking where her family perished, fueling her hatred and determination to resist.
  • Memorable quote [05:01]:

    “How they’d murdered my family in Nanking six years before. My father, my mother, my two sisters. The Japs had killed them all.”

• Charlie (Ian Martin): A seemingly harmless old drunk on the Canton wharves who is later revealed as an American OSS agent operating undercover.
  • “I Am an American. An agent of the OSS.” [13:04]
• Florian: Tanya’s brother, whose moral ambiguity and survival instincts set the stage for family betrayal.

3. Rising Tensions & Espionage Recruitment

• Tanya is recruited by Charlie, who reveals himself as more than the old harbor rat she thought.

  • Insightful exchange [13:27-14:02]:
    Charlie: “I’ve operated alone here for a long time… but now Jap intelligence is tightening up. A lot of things I can’t do alone anymore. That’s why I need you.”
    Tanya: “But I have no experience… I don’t know anything about courage.”
    Charlie: “And you hate the Japanese. That’s worth a lot more than experience.”

• She is asked to gather information via her position at the tavern, using conversation—and sometimes "knockout drops”—to glean shipping details from Japanese sailors.

  • Charlie [15:39]: “You wait on sailors at Lee Chan’s all day. You drink with them…”
  • Tanya: “I’ve never drunk with a Japanese sailor.”
  • Charlie: “But you could.”

4. Espionage and Risk

• Tanya quickly proves adept, passing vital information enabling Allied submarines to sink Japanese ships.

  • Charlie [20:13]:

    “Chalk up another one for Tanya. The scourge of the Jap merchant marine.”

• The narrative is laced with tension. Tanya is aware both of the possibility of being caught and of her fragile alliance with her brother Florian, whose resentment and pragmatic outlook make him a liability.

5. Family Betrayal and Consequences

• Florian ultimately betrays Charlie to the Japanese authorities for financial gain, unwittingly endangering a crucial OSS operation.

  • Tanya [24:43]: “How much did they pay you, Florian?”
  • Florian [24:58]: “Quite a bit. It seems they've known for a long time there was one operating in Canton… They haven't been able to get their hands on him. Until you betrayed him.”

• Tanya, devastated but resolute, is determined to save Charlie.

6. Race Against Time: The Last Mission

• At the climax, Charlie and Tanya must get back to the hidden transmitter, now surrounded by Japanese soldiers, to countermand a message: American fliers are to be transported on a ship targeted for Allied destruction.
  • Charlie [27:09]: “Fifty of them have been brought into Canton. They're being sent to prison camps in Japan. They sail tonight aboard the Takota Maru.”
  • Charlie [27:32]: “They will torpedo our own men then… if I don't countermand the order.”
• A daring rooftop infiltration ensues, with Charlie staying behind to ensure the transmission is sent, sacrificing his own escape.

7. Charlie's Sacrifice and Aftermath

• Realizing time is critical, Charlie tricks Tanya into escaping while he remains.
  • Charlie [29:23]: “Tanya, quick. I’ll throw the trap door and over the roof. Those are orders…”
• Charlie pulls the lever, destroying the transmitter and himself to prevent it falling into Japanese hands, but only after ensuring the essential message is delivered.
  • Tanya [30:52]:

    "Later, a long time later, I learned that the Dakota Maru had passed safely through the submarines with 50 American flyers aboard. Charlie had sent this message in time. He had performed his last service for the OSS. The last but one, I mean—the very last had been to die for it."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tanya's Motivation [16:19]:

  “When I think of my father and mother and sister, it doesn’t scare me at all.”

• Charlie on Trust [16:08]:

  “If you refuse, I won’t worry about what you know. I’ll still trust you.”

• Tanya’s Growing Competence [20:13]:

  “Chalk up another one for Tanya. The scourge of the Jap merchant marine.”

• Family Betrayal [24:43]:

  “There was so much I could have said, but I didn’t waste the time. Only one thing mattered now. Charlie was still free. I swore by the memory of my mother and father that I would keep him free.”

Important Timestamps

• [02:43] – Opening OSS question and premise
• [03:39-06:15] – Tanya’s backstory and emotional fallout from Nanking
• [13:04-14:02] – Charlie reveals his true identity and recruits Tanya
• [20:13] – Tanya’s first successful information gathering
• [24:43-25:32] – Florian’s betrayal
• [27:09-28:45] – Urgency to countermand order to save American fliers
• [29:07-29:39] – The tense radio message and Charlie’s final sacrifice
• [30:52] – Closing narration of Charlie’s legacy

Host Commentary & Reflections (Adam Graham)

Starts at [32:28]

Unique Aspects of the Episode

• Graham highlights the unusual perspective of the narrative—told from a local’s point of view, rather than the OSS agent’s—which “is very earthy for the era” and “really fleshed out this character.”
• Praises Brenda Rayburn’s (Bryna Raven) performance as Tanya:

  "Brenda Rayburn is just great in this. She's a fantastic performer and also a really good narrator and brings the story to life... she is so unique for a viewpoint character. I don't believe I have ever heard a character like her as this again."

• Discusses Ian Martin’s range as an actor for playing both the undercover Charlie and his real identity: “I was a bit stunned when I heard the real voice after having heard the Undercover Charlie voice... I would never have guessed it was the same actor.”

Listener Feedback

• Responds to a previous episode’s debate about the pronunciation of "Himalaya," explaining the complexities and various pronunciations throughout India, showing Graham’s characteristic appreciation for historical and linguistic detail.

Closing & Programming Notes

• Only three episodes of Cloak and Dagger left before a holiday break; the show will then transition to Counterspy.
• Patreon supporter “Douglas” thanked.
• Reminder to listeners to subscribe, rate, review, and send feedback.

Summary

“The Last Mission” captures both the suspense and emotional reality of undercover work in WWII China, blending the intrigue of espionage with the pain of betrayal and the nobility of self-sacrifice. Through Tanya’s eyes, listeners witness transformation, loyalty, and moral complexity, driven by strong performances and taut writing. The episode is both a gripping spy story and a meditation on the real human costs of war.

Recommended listening for fans of classic radio drama, WWII history, and stories of unsung heroes.

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