Cloak and Dagger: Delay on Route

Welcome to the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boy Sadah. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Cloak and Dagger. But first I do want to encourage you. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And also today's program is brought you in part by the financial support of our listeners.

Are you willing to undertake a dangerous mission behind the enemy lines knowing that you may never return alive.

What you have just heard is the question asked during the War of agents of the OS s ordinary citizens. So to this question answered yes, This is Cloak and Dagger, black warfare, espionage, international intrigue. These are the weapons of

That was a big night in Sturtzer. We liberated the town that morning, and everybody was drunk, but not on Veno. Those Italian partisans were drunk on something they hadn't tasted since Mussolini's Blackshirts marched on Roman freedom. There were only three fascist officials left in town, and all of them were down on the village square, hanging from a scaffold. I should have been celebrating too, after all, that was why the OSS had sent me into Italy to help

So Robert, you're going to leave us tomorrow?

Huh?

Oh, what rosa boat comes for you tomorrow night, No, the.

Night after tomorrow night, Rosa, just forty eight hours, it's going to pick me up below Savona.

And you are glad?

Was there ever a guy who wasn't glad to go.

Home home to America. You mean, how can that be?

The war is not over.

I've got a furlough coming up, a delay en route to my next oss assignment.

I see.

It is nice in America, Arovert.

Yeah, yeah, it's nice, Rosa. It'll be audun when I get back to Vermont. The trees will just be turning.

I would like to see Vermont.

Maybe you will some day, you know what I.

Mean, Roberto, I would like to see it with you.

Oh sorry, Rosa.

Here's your brother, Guilo Wino over here, Roberto Morvillo, Wake well, wait on looking for a fat fascist pig, Alberto Pelitzo.

Palitzo, the big shipyard owner. Why would he be in Sturcher.

He's got a summer village just above the town though he might be hiding out there. I took some of the boys up at the press was empty.

I gotta find him tonight. Why tonight, Roberto?

Didn't you notice there's still room for one more on the scaffold in the square. Oh that's right, I forgot. You haven't been to the square, have you, Roberto? No, I haven't. You don't like execute.

Executions are all right at clinchings. I don't like those men were civilians, widow, they were FASCISTI. Nevertheless, they were entitled to a trial, a trial. If they had caught you, Roberto, would they have given you a trial?

That was the difference between Guido Gordoni and me. He and his partisans caught fire with fire. They'd never heard of the democratic process, but I had, and I believed in it.

That was why Guido and I could fight side by side and respect each other as soldiers, and yet never become friends.

You've not lived under the FASCISTI, Roberto. You've not had a wife and child murdered as I have. With the men you hung in the square responsible for that. Every black shirt is responsible, the men in the square. Alberto pilats all of them. When Guido gordon He finds them, they pay for their crime.

They should pay, of course. But but but but what what?

What?

Roberto? I don't like men who say yes, but I don't think they can be trusted.

You have no right to say that to Roberto.

Forget it, Rosin, I'm leaving all of you. Soon.

You won't have.

To trust me much longer. I got up then and pushed my way through the crowd to the door of the tavern. I stepped outside. The night was beautiful, but not as beautiful I thought as an autumn night in a month h She touched my arm as she said it. She'd been standing very close to me in the shadows of the tavern wall. I've never seen her before, but she was lovely.

You are, Senor Mercer.

Yes I am.

I wish to talk to you. Signor will you be kind enough to come with me?

I didn't say no. It would have been hard to say no under any circumstances. Besides, her quick, frightened eyes told me it was something important. Still, I kept my hand.

Closed around my revolver as she let me down several dark, deserted streets.

This is the house, signor you will please go down the steps to the basement.

Oh, you go first.

There is someone inside, but please come in. Do not be alarmed.

I'm not alarmed. Go ahead what I say, Senor. The man who rose to greet me wasn't armed, and he looked old and too tired to be dangerous.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alberto Pilizo. Belisso young. Lady who brought you here is my daughter Maria. It was good of you to come with her. Signor, But it wasn't very wise. I've heard to bring me Why because you might turn us over to the partisan Because I will turn you over to the Partisans, I.

Think not, Signor. No.

On the contrary, you will be careful to protect us from the Partisans. It will take us out of Italy alive. You will see it. With that we arrive safe and sound in America.

What makes you think so?

Is your government informs sing your mercer of our recent experiments with radio guided aerial torpedoes. I don't know I could inform them. These experiments are being conducted in my own laboratories. I know more about them than any other man in Italy. I see also a new type of submarine capable of great underwater speed. All right, Also the long sought electromagnetic pistol for torpedoes.

All right, all right, I get the point, Poalizzo, I thought you would. You'll turn over this information to Allied intelligence if I get you safely out of Italy precisely.

Who well, Signor, I'll have to think about it, or to think too long, Signor, and don't discuss it with your parties and comrades. I'm quite sure that bloodthirsty Guido Gordoni would not let my usefulness to the Allies prevent him from hanging me.

He was right about that, Not that Guido Gordoni was blood thirsty. He was simply an angry and bitter man. Nothing in the world would prevent him from hanging Alberto Poalizoh. I was pretty better myself as I headed back to my room above the tavern. I didn't like keeping secrets from Guido, and I didn't like helping fascists. But I knew already what I had to do. I knew that when I went aboard that pet boat in forty eight hours,

Hello, Roberto Rosa, you were gone a long time, Roberto?

What are you doing in my room waiting for you? I? Uh, I went for a walk.

Yes, I know, I saw you.

What do you mean you saw me?

I was watching from the window when you walked away from the tavern?

Boy?

Is she Roberto?

That's none of your business?

Was I will make it my business? Is she the one who is going with you to America? Is that why you cannot take me? Is it with her that you will spend the autumn nights in Vermont.

Rosa, you're a fool.

No, you are a fool, Roberto. You cannot conceal her from me. I will find her before tomorrow night.

And when I do, yes, when you do.

Life is very cheap in Stuartza these days, Roberto.

She meant it, She didn't make idle threats. She was like her brother that way. It took me a long time to fall asleep after she was gone. Getting Alberto Polizzo and his daughter safely out of Italy was beginning to look complicated. The next morning, it looked even more complicated.

Rosa told me what you did last night, Roberto, And it was very stupid to go along with this strange woman.

But she was a beautiful woman, Guido.

She might have led you into a trap. You know there is still FASCISTI in Stuzza.

No important ones. I'm sure the mayor, the magistrate and the prefect of police are all hanging in the square. Who else could there be? Alberto Pilito? What makes you think you said his villow was empty?

It was, but I don't believe he had time to escape. I think he's hiding out somewhere in town. And I'm going to search every house, room by room until I find him.

And then you'll string him up to oh oh, with leisure. He might make a valuable prisoner of war. He's a big wheel in the munitions and shipping industries. He'd have a lot of information that would be useful to the Allies.

And who would trust the information of a fascist? Not you, apparently you're right, not me. His information will not save him. If if I find him, Roberto, I'll kill him.

And that settled that. There was no question from then on of letting Guido in on my plans, not if I hope to save Palizzo's neck and I had to save it now. The information that Guido scoffed at could shorten the war by weeks, months, even years. Ten minutes later I was knocking the cellar door. It was opened immediately, but not by Palizzo or his daughter. See signor, who are you, Dominique?

Signor the owner of this building?

There was a man and his door here last night.

They are still here, covin signor, Oh, good morning, signor.

We have been waiting for you.

We expected you somewhat earlier than this. Oh so sorry, I'll try not to disappoint you after this, you already I presume to take us out of Italy. I'd much prefer to turn you over to my friends.

Oh of course, But unfortunately your preference is not what matters.

Unfortunately, when do we leave, signor you live?

Sir?

Such a night Italy tomorrow night, Signor.

We are grateful. We knew you would not fail.

I'm not doing this for you, naturally, we understand that. Don't be mariar.

Yes, father, still, we will rewards in your No, you in your way and I mine.

Let's cut the talk, shall we. You've got to get.

Out of here, Get out now, you mean, but you said to No.

You can't stay in this cellar till then you'll have to find a new place to hide. Why, because the partisans are looking for you. They're covering stirts a house by house.

No, they do not know where we are.

They think you might be. They're not taking any chances on letting you escape. They want to string you up where you belong.

Well, can we go, signor how can we hide?

I don't know yet?

I thought, maybe right, we are trapped in here unless there's another way out.

There is no other ways in your.

Shut up.

Don't let me shut up, Dominic. What's that iron trapped door on the wall? The shoot? You open? It looks just big enough. What does it lead to the rear of the house? All right, all right, let's get going. You first.

You want me to climb and field the court? Shoot? What about my clothes?

What about your neck? Scramble up the chute and POLICEO followed her. I went last. I didn't see what happened to Dominic the landlord, and I didn't much care where mouse. You've got to lie low, someplace where they won't find you before tonight. That is not such places. Villa Villa. They've already looked there. They won't go back.

Those deeps and murders and sacked down beauty perl Villa.

Neither thieves nor murderers. They're loyal patriots. We have our name for them your you have yours, and while we're together when he was mine, now beat it. I arranged to meet them at the villa at dusk. I watched them trudge off, smeared with coal from the chute, looking like the peasants they despised. At least there wasn't much chance they'd be recognized. But I wasn't exactly recognizable either, So I washed off in a little stream at the edge of town. Then I went back to my room.

Out out where?

Just out o? Just art? Huh? All right, Rico, what do you mean? Inside you?

Here's a friend, Roberto.

He appeared in the doorway, prodded by Rico's carbine. He was no friend, only an acquaintance of very recent acquaintance. He was the landlord, dominic You.

Were hiding a man in the center of your house, Dominique.

Who was he? Who was he?

Alberto Pelitzoto Bilitza And he had a call it this morning?

See who was the caller?

That man?

Singorl take out the old metoryco Oh, Roberto, Well.

I want Belitzo. You can't have him. Where is he? I won't tell you. You are protecting a fascist thing. I'm doing more than protecting him. I'm taking him out of Italy to America.

Why why so he can have a pay it time?

No, so he can turn over information, information yes, you've seen this information is not on paper, it's in his head.

And you believe him, yes, and you believe he's going to give it up once he's got to America.

It's worth the chance. How much?

What?

How much is it worth? Roberto? Do you the whole? Fifty thousand dollars? Fifty thousand dollars? How much he's got sold in the landing of his overcoat.

His landlord told I.

Didn't know it, lying.

Belit, So he's paying you will, and I shall have to deal with you as I would with any other traitor. I give you one more chance, Roberto, where is that fascist?

His hand moved for his revolver on the table, but my hand moved too. My fingers caught the edge of the table and it out, sprawling back in his chair. The gun clattered to the floor, and I kicked it out of his request. My fist caught him on the point of the chin. His head snapped back and he slumped to the floor out. I didn't like to do that, Quido. Sorry, you should be sorry, Roberto, Rosa.

Maybe you will tell me where the fascist is.

Roberto, I'm not telling anyone, Rosa.

Then I will do what my brother did not have the chance to do.

I don't think you will.

Don't come near me, Roberto, if you try to get this gun. I saw ware antinue.

But you won't, you know, because you don't believe I'm a trader. You are and I were. You wouldn't shoot me because you love me, not anymore I hate And why don't you pull the trigger? Give me the gun, Rosa.

They didn't go.

I went down to the street. The car that Guido had come and did for his use and stood so was parked in front of the tavern. I went over to the driver, Antonio, we don't want you. He is upstairsing your mer Yes in my room, hurry, it's I was at Pulico's villa. Twenty minutes later. Maria met me at the door. The way she was dressed, you'd have thought she was sailing for America and the Queen Mary Senior.

Mer How nice that you have come early.

Where's your father in the library?

This way? We will not expecting you on until tonight.

My plans have changed.

Palitzo, Ah, your mercy, you have arrived just in time, in time for what Maria and I have opened one last bottle of wine from Marcella.

We shall be happy to have you share it with No thanks, Marie, another guy, I said, no thanks.

Now, my dear fellow, we will drink to use in your our benefactory and then we will drink to the new world where we are going, a world where these differences between us can be forgotten, a world where we can be friends.

There's no such world, Politzo. There is your glassy or I don't drink with fascists.

You have consorted with rabble to long mercer your manners, reflected, My.

Manners are likely to get worse if I can sort with your kind much longer. So let's get going. You said we will leave tonight.

There's been a change of plants.

Father, that's right. We're starting for the coast right away. Get your things very well, and palzzo. Yes, we'll be driving through fascist held territory most of the way. You might be tempted to make a break for it. If you do, I promise I'll bring you back and personally hang you from that scaffold. We left. Then I drove the car Pulzzo Satin back, but not Maria. She was beside me, very close beside me. Her perfume was heavy and.

Sweet thoughts are so far away in your very far. You do not like me, do you? You do not think I am.

Beautiful, not nearly as beautiful as my thoughts.

They are of another woman?

No? What then a place called Vermont. It was night when we reached the main highway to Savona. Guido's partisans were far behind us. By them, and I thought it would be clear sailing. I was wrong. What is the matter? Why do you slow down? Look up ahead? Road block? Partisan? No, not partisans, this time it's your friends, Remember Polizzo. I'm waiting for you to say just one wrong word.

Let me see your papers. You're in the back seat.

Force here they are. You will find them quite order.

I will be the judge of that. Alberto Pelitzoy. So you are, Alberto Pelitzo?

Are you yes? I am all right?

Proma with me, all three of you.

What's why? What is the better?

This man is lying? Alberto Pelitzo is dead.

They let us to a small house down the road. The one with the rifle stayed with us, while the other one disappeared into a back room. I was still watching Palizzo. I was still waiting for him to say that word.

Here is the man Major, A man who calls himself Alberto Plito.

Let me see him, so why should they not call himself Alberto Pelitzo.

You recognized me that Major, but of course Signor, and I am delighted to say our information was that you had been captured by partsans.

I deeply apologize for the inconvenience.

We may, of course, no, no, no apologies are necessary, Major, And now may my daughter and I proceed to save.

On certainly, Senor. And this man who is with.

You, Oh, this man see you wish him to accompany you?

Senor?

Well, yes, of course this man is my chauffer. I didn't get it. I didn't understand why he done it, not until it started toward the car. The Major who has called us walk ahead with Maria. I turned back to have a little private talk with Berlitza. You could have turned me over to them, but you didn't. It was not of the kindness of your heart. I'm sure why else, Mercer, you have been kind to us. We you no fascist was ever kind for a reason like that.

You want to get out.

What you can't.

You're no fool singer, Mercer. You can understand my reasoning at your shore, I can understand it. It's an old story. Rats always desert a sinking ship.

Were you insa watch it?

I was just telling your charming daughter, Senor Belitio, that there is really no need for you to go to Savona.

After tomorrow night. You could return to your village, Stuart.

The Partisans have taken stored some major.

And not for long since you're A full division of our infantry is on its way from Geneva to carry out a surprise attack on them, and we are going to deal with this banded Guido Gardone once and for all. Within forty eight hours, it will be we do GORDONI himself will be hanging from that scaffold in the village square.

That gave me something to think about the rest of the way.

I kept on thinking about it all the next day, and I thought of Vermont too, Yes, I thought a lot about Vermont and how those trees would look in the fore to anybody who was lucky enough to see them. The row of the surf against the lonely stretch of beach below Savon had drowned the noise of the pet boats motors. We didn't hear it, but we saw it lying offshore. The dinghy had put over its side, scraped against the hard sand of the beach.

Yes, awsin's made, Curtis, sir, Do these people go aboard to Lieutenant?

Oh? Yes, yes, here's a letter. Give it to your skipper. It explains who they are. But aren't you cumming sir?

No, senor Mercer, you're not going with us. I don't understand.

I think I do.

Maria, thenoble s he's going back to warn his friends in Stewarts of the surprise attack.

That's right, Palito.

No sor Why should you bother with that rat.

They happened to be my allies, but you.

Said they would kill you if they saw you again.

They will. I am hoping they'll listen to my warning anyway, But that is foolish.

To risk your life for them. It does not make sense.

It wouldn't to you, Maria, not yet. Maybe after you've been in America. Pro while. It will take them away, Curtis. Yes, sir, so I didn't go to Vermont. I went back to Sturtz instead. It was noon the next day when I walked into the tavern. Guido was there and Rosa, yes, I've come back.

Well, great returns. Maybe you didn't believe me when I said.

I'd kill you. I believe to Guido Rico take his gun. That won't be necessary, Rico, here's my gun.

Robert Rossa, you're ready to die greater as soon as I've given you my report.

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 Strutcher. I don't believe you.

The fascists are too busy at Selno to send the division here.

All right, I'll tell my best widow. If you don't believe it, I believe. What are you doing? Get away from him, Get out of the way.

I'll tell you I'm going to kill him.

You have to kill me too. Very well. We will see if you're right about him, Rosa.

Rico, we're moving out of starts immediately passed you over the long Roberto, what.

Will you do with him?

Take Roberto with us. If the fascists do not attack tonight, there will be no more room on the scaffold tomorrow.

The fascists did attack that night, but there wasn't a partners left and starts out. We had evaporated into the hills, Yes, I said we. I went on working with Guido GORDONI, helping to direct the campaign against the black Shirts. We will never friends, Guido and I, but we did have a common enemy. A year later I got back to Vermont. That was a long time to wait, but not as long as I might have waited if Alberto Palizzo had not given information concerning secret weapons to the OSS.

And once again the report of an OSS agent closes with the.

Words mission accomplished.

Listen again next week for another true adventure from the files of the OSS on.

Cloak and Dagger.

Heard in today's Kulkandiger enter as Robert Messa was Grant, Richards, Hido Arnomas, Alberto Pinzzo, Louis van Rutin. Script was written by Ken Phield and music was under the direction of John Guard. Sound effects by Max Russell and al Finelli engineering Don Evan. Today's OSS adventure was based on the book pluckandegga by Corey Ford and Alistair McBeth. His program is produced by Lewis G. Cowen and Alfred Hollande under the direction and supervision of Shovin Marx.

Three Times Mean Good Times on NBC Sandia Welcome Back.

This is another great episode and really introduces a unique conflict where you have an OSS agent having to rescue a fascist from the Partisans and Grant Richards does a great job portraying the conflict that remains throughout the episode, and it raises some fascinating questions because he had sympathy with the desire of the Partisans, and I think most listeners would. The idea that collaborators went unpunished or even