
The Drop off to Spain
Updated: Sep 13, 2022
Inspired by the “City of Spies”, V. K. Telkepalli narrates a dramatic interpretation of the story where a female spy is assigned to take a package from France safely to home ~ England. “The Drop off to Spain” is the struggle the spy goes through in the journey along with her companion and how she ends up falling in love in this quest.
[Early dawn, a girl of about 29 years enters with a bicycle in a sneaky manner wearing a long floral skirt and a trench coat with a hat]
BLACKOUT
[Scene at a check post where two Nazi army officers are working. While people are passing by in cars, in the background, a girl enters on a bike.]
Officer:
Hey! You! Come here.
[The girl stops with a half breath]
Officer:
Papers, please.
[The girl hands them over with a weak smile]
Officer:
Where are you headed… Ms Laforge?
Lafontaine:
It’s Lafontaine.
Officer:
Yes, yes… so where are you headed?
Lafontaine:
[Shielding her eyes from the sun]
My aunt is ill and she has sent me to collect her son.
Officer:
Where from?
Lafontaine:
Halfway to Caen.
Officer:
Shouldn’t you use a telephone or a telegraph?
Lafontaine:
If he answers or comes to see her regularly.
Officer:
I get it… and you are going there on a bicycle?
Lafontaine:
[Showing her bruised palms]
If it isn’t important, do you really think I’d voluntarily travel? My cousin has a permit for a car. So, he can drive us back.
Officer:
[Throws a smile but is still not convinced]
Have you never heard of a train?
Lafontaine:
I have heard that the British have bombed the line.
Officer:
Again!? Damned Tommies!
[Waves her through]
BLACKOUT
[Scene at the middle of the night at a mansion from which smoke is coming out from the farther side. Lafontaine enters, drops the bike and takes out a luger (pistol) from her waistband, checking for a tail and slowly enters the mansion. Suddenly a hand pulls her in from the door. Two men, one pointing a Walter PPK while the other holding her hand.]
Lafontaine:
Hello, Gestapo.
[Throwing of his arm and pointing a finger towards the other guy]
Lafontaine:
You might hurt someone with it so better put that away.
Man:
Where is he?
Lafontaine:
Who?
Man:
Who do you think?
Lafontaine:
Franc Laronde? If I would really know where he is, why would I enter the house?
Man:
Why are you here?
Lafontaine:
Madame Laronde took care of my mother while I was away. I bought her a thank you gift.
Man:
At this point in time?
Lafontaine:
It’s still before curfew and I’ve just returned.
Man:
Where were you?
Other Man:
[Shouting]
Your papers!
Lafontaine:
Yes, of course.
[Digging her bag but the man snatches it, while the other man checks the chocolates]
Other Man: