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.
Credits
This contribution is edited by Sreekar Ayyagari & illustrated by Madhuri Parupudi.
[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: