The Drop off to Spain

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.

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[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

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[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

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[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: