All language subtitles for The house on 92nd Street (1945) William Eythe Eng

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Vigilant, tireless, implacable.

The most silent service
of the United States in peace or war...

is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Bureau went to war with Germany
long before hostilities began.

No word or picture
could then make public...

the crucial war service
of the F.B.I...

but now it can be told.

In 1939, with thousands of known
and suspected enemy agents...

invading the Americas...

the F.B.I. started building up its force
of special agents and employees...

from 2,000 to a war peak of 15,000.

Before being sent into the field...

each new agent had to learn all the
modern techniques of crime detection...

such as the use
of a specially treated X-ray mirror...

through which an F.B.I. man
can see without being seen.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation
had to be the world's...

most efficient intelligence
and counterespionage service.

For war is thought,
and thought is information.

And he who knows most
strikes hardest.

By examining the intercepted mail
of unsuspecting Nazi agents...

the F.B.I. uncovered many
secret channels of communication.

Between the lines of
an innocent-appearing letter-

invisibly coded in an obsolete
German shorthand-

were important instructions
for one group of spies.

The Bureau's infinitely
painstaking system...

of sifting and recording every scrap
of potential information...

paid handsome dividends.

The F.B.I. was adding new names to its long
list of Germans known to be dangerous.

And each day, as fresh investigative
reports came in from the field...

F.B.I. officials saw more clearly...

the pattern of German espionage
in the United States.

Nucleus of the Nazi network
in America...

was the German embassy
in Washington...

protected until a declaration
of war by diplomatic immunity.

Long before December 7, 1941...

from a vantage point nearby...

G- Men photograph the actions
of hundreds of suspects.

These are the actual films
taken by the F.B.I.

They gave Director Hoover
and his men...

a daily record and description
of all embassy visitors.

This continuous
photographic surveillance...

provided a permanent record
to be studied intensively...

whenever new developments
took place.

The Bureau soon discovered that
the embassy was being used...

to disburse money for subversive
activity in the United States.

The Bureau also knew that the
embassy had a shortwave radio...

and was in direct communication
with Germany.

No one was watched
more closely by the F.B.I...

than the arrogant
Baron Ulrich von Gienanth.

Although accredited
as an embassy official...

he was actually chief
of the German Gestapo in America.

Equally important were pompous
Vice Admiral Witthoeft-Emden...

and his suave assistant,
Helmut Raeuber-

experts in obtaining information
about ships and cargoes.

Dr. Hans Thompsen,
the German charg� d'affaires...

tried to win
American collaborators.

So did his associate,
General Karl Boeticher.

Parading before hidden F.B.I. cameras
were the embassy secretaries.

These girls spent evenings in the company
of American servicemen.

They were having fun...

but they were also diligently
accumulating information for Germany.

The F.B.I. watched them discretely,
knew all about them.

By relentless surveillance
of embassy officials...

and all those with whom
they associated...

the F.B.I. learned that Germany was recruiting
American Nazis for its espionage service.

- In 1939, Nazi fronts-

like Fritz Kuhn and his German-American
bund- were flourishing.

The Germans said they were
only social gatherings...

but the F.B.I. knew
that these societies...

were part of a well-laid
German plan...

to build up a fifth column
in the United States.

In 1939, on the campus
of a Midwestern university...

not far from Columbus, Ohio...

there was a brilliant
young student.

Born of German-American parents
who were proud of his college record...

he was preparing to become
a diesel engineer.

His name was William Dietrich.

Just before graduation, Dietrich was
approached by German representatives...

who offered him a free trip to Germany
and a well-paying job on arrival.

Dietrich reported the incident
to the F.B.I.

When the meaning of the German
invitation was explained to him...

Dietrich offered his services
to the Bureau.

With money generously
supplied by the Germans...

Dietrich bought passage at the
German Tourist Bureau in New York City.

The Germans felt that Dietrich
was an extremely valuable man.

So did the F.B.I.

Ten days later, Dietrich
was 3,500 miles from New York...

in Germany's great port city
of Hamburg.

On the Klopstockstrasse was a
second-rate hotel- the Pension Klopstock-

which housed the German high command's
notorious school for spies.

Here would train hundreds
of recruits for the Abwehr-

Germany's supersecret
espionage-and-sabotage service.

Like Dietrich,
many of his classmates...

had been recruited
in the United States.

And back to the United States
they would go...

when they were
properly equipped.

Synthesis of the F.B.I. 's counterespionage
offensive in World War II...

is the Christopher case which opened...

as great cases often do, by accident-

a little accident at Bowling Green
in New York City.

Hey! Look out!

Christof.
Christof.

Might as well take it easy, Joe. He's through.

Somewhere in the dark
web of war was Christopher-

the dead man's companion...

the man who had retrieved
his friend's briefcase and vanished.

- Who was he?
- He's got a Spanish passport.

Francisco Ruiez.

Hey, Doc. Look at this.
It's all in German.

Yeah.

Stuff about ships, I think.

And here-
brandkerngeschoss.

That means, uh-

That means
"incendiary bullet."

"Weight: 148 grains.
Load: 46 grains.

DuPont 11-27 powder."

Can you read Spanish too?

Something funny
about this.

We better get his fingerprints
and turn them over to the F.B.I.

Fingerprint him.

To the desk
of F.B.I. Inspector George A. Briggs...

came the report on the death
of Francisco Ruiez.

In the F.B.I.
Identification Division...

are nearly a hundred million
sets of fingerprints...

so organized that it takes
less than five minutes...

to identify a set of fingerprints
with those on file.

No fingerprints were listed
under the name of Francisco Ruiez.

But regardless of name,
once his print was classified...

a search for the individual's
identity was a simple matter.

- There's something coming now.
- Yeah. It's in cipher.

- This stuff is fugitive.
- We'd better get a shot of it before it dissolves.

- You set?
- Okay.

- Sent a copy to Cryptanalysis.
- Yes, sir.

- Is this what you're looking for?
- Well, let's see.

Oh, it certainly is.
Thanks a lot, Quinn.

Here it is,
Mr. Briggs.

Oh, thanks.

That translates: "Mr. Christopher
will concentrate on Process 97."

- What's that?
- Oh, Herr Christof-

Mr. Christopher will concentrate
on Process 97.

- That's all?
- That's all.

Thanks.
Thank you.

Inspector Briggs knew...

that the most important
American military secret in history...

was Process 97.

Set up a conference with military
and naval intelligence immediately.

That's all.

In several remote places,
under strict military protection...

American scientists
were developing Process 97...

the secret ingredient
of the atomic bomb-

an explosive derived
from the metal uranium-

so powerful and devastating
that one relatively small bomb...

gave promise of having
the destructive power...

of 20,000 tons of T.N.T.

A presidential directive
gave the F.B.I. the responsibility...

of coordinating all
counterespionage investigations.

At a series of conferences with army
and naval intelligence officers...

the F.B.I. reviewed the case
of Francisco Ruiez...

from whose effects had come
the startling information...

that foreign agents
had learned about Process 97...

and were actually attempting
to steal the secret.

Plans were formulated to erect
an impenetrable and absolute barrier.

- Have you any other information, Mr. Briggs?
- No, not at this time.

- Mr. Briggs.
- Yes, Admiral.

Who is this Mr. Christopher?

I wish we knew.

Meanwhile,
after six months of intensive training...

Meanwhile,
after six months of intensive training...

Dietrich had completed his course
at the Pension Klopstock...

and was ready for assignment.

For your first needs,
$50,000.

You will make
three contacts only:

Elsa Gebhardt, Colonel Hammersohn
and Adolph Klaen.

- You will keep them in funds.
- Yes, sir.

When you reach New York, go directly
to Elsa Gebhardt on East 92nd Street.

You will establish contact with
Hammersohn and Klaen through her.

- Yes, sir.
- These are your credentials.

They are on microfilm.

You will need these...
draft card...

registration,
classification card...

birth certificate, driver's license-
New York State-

Navy and Army discharge papers...

Social Security card.

No one could tell them
from the originals.

One thing more. There is one person
in the United States...

who can countermand the orders
I have given you.

If you receive instructions
from Mr. Christopher...

abandon whatever
you may be doing...

and place yourself
entirely at his disposal.

- Mr. Christopher.
- Is all of this clear?

Yes, sir.

- Good-bye, Colonel.
- Good-bye.

Within a few days,
Dietrich was in Lisbon, Portugal-

communication center
for international espionage.

He went immediately
to an address given him by the F.B.I.

Say, there's something wrong with
this watch. I wonder if you'd look at it.

- I'll have to examine it.
- Would you, please?

I'm sorry, sir. I won't be able
to repair this watch.

I understand. Thanks.

Thirty-two hours later, a special courier...

coming by transatlantic clipper...

brought Dietrich's credentials
to F.B.I. headquarters in Washington.

Inspector Briggs was given the responsibility
of solving the Christopher case.

Behind him were
all the resources of the F.B.I.

Uh, that translates...

"William Dietrich is
specifically authorized...

to receive all reports
for transmission direct."

Two-

That means, uh, you're instructed
to look to him for all payments.

- Mm-hmm.
- Three-

Uh, that'd mean
he is forbidden...

to have any contact
with agents known to you.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Change that last line.
Change it to read:

He is authorized to contact
all agents known to you.

- Right.
- All right.

- Is that a new watch?
- Yeah.

Did it cost more
than $100?

- I don't remember exactly.
- Do you mind if I take a look at it?

Certainly.

There you are.

Now, what's the value
of this watch?

- Oh, it's about $90.
- Thank you.

- Here's your watch.
- Oh, thanks.

You can get out
that way.

Just off Madison Avenue
in uptown New York...

there was a five-story dwelling.

This was soon to become known
among all F.B.I. men...

as "the house on 92nd Street. "

- May I help you?
- Miss Elsa Gebhardt?

- Yes.
- I'm Bill Dietrich.

- I have a message for you from Felix.
- How is Felix?

You mean Felix Brown
of Miami, of course.

I mean Felix Strassen
of Hamburg.

He asked me
to pay his respects...

to give you these.

- Would you care to sit down?
- Thank you.

The new one has arrived-
Bill Dietrich.

I have his credentials here.

Max, turn off the light.

He's authorized to contact
all agents known to you?

- Everything all right?
- You'll want your credentials back.

Yeah.

I brought you some money.

You know what I'm going
to do over here?

I've been expecting you.

I understand you can help me
make certain contacts.

Yes. We can start right away.
Would you come with me?

This is Bill Dietrich.

- Where'd you come from?
- Germany.

- Where in Germany?
- Hamburg.

Pension Klopstock,
Klopstockstrasse.

- Who gave you instructions to come to America?
- Colonel Strassen.

- How did you get here?
- I came by freighter.

- From Hamburg?
- No. From Lisbon, Portugal.

- When did you leave Lisbon?
- Three weeks ago.

- How long'd you stay there?
- Two days. I had to wait for the freighter.

- You stayed undercover?
- Yeah. At the Grand Hotel.

- Whom did you contact in Lisbon?
- No one.

- You're sure of that?
- I had strict orders not to contact anybody.

When'd you get here?

I don't see why I have to answer
all these questions.

- Didn't you show them my credentials?
- Yeah, we seen 'em.

Maybe he doesn't want to tell us
when he got here.

Is that right, Mr. Dietrich?

- I have no authority-
- You got off of the boat at 10:17 this morning.

You left the pier at 10:50.

You took a cab to the Martinique Hotel
at 32nd and Broad.

You checked in
and stayed there until 12:30.

Then you took a bus
to 42nd Street in Times Square...

and walked to the Silver Dollar
at 46th Street and had a cup of java.

- Then you come here.
- Why didn't you come right here?

- Why did you go to a hotel?
- I wanted to take a bath, and l-

It looks like
you know all about me.

Yeah. We're gonna
keep on knowing'.

Before you arrived, we worked in small
groups unknown to one another.

- I see.
- What's so special about you, Mr. Dietrich...

that you are allowed to know
all our agents?

Those
are the orders.

It looks like we're all
taking a chance on you, mister.

Everybody takes a chance.

Hamburg wants their agents
to be in a position to send information...

direct, through me,
in the event of emergencies.

- Who are these people?
- Max Corburg. Conrad Arnulf.

They used to be
with the Eisernewachtbund.

- Johanna Schmedt. She has special duties.
- Gestapo.

- I know about you from Hamburg.
- What do you know?

- The usual things.
- What's your job?

We've gotta get stuff
through faster.

Radio's best, so I'm gonna
set up a shortwave station.

- I'll need some help.
- What kind of help?

Radio parts mostly.

It'd look suspicious
if I bought them all myself.

- What do you want?
- I have a list here.

I'll let you know
where you can send them.

- This stuff is hard to get.
- I know, but Hamburg needs a station here.

Conrad will get them for you.

As soon as I find the right location,
I'm going to open up an office.

People with information
can contact me there.

Send me word as soon
as you are ready to operate.

I'll get it
to the others.

I want to contact
a Colonel Hammersohn.

- I can arrange that.
- I have some money for him.

Well, I wanna get started
as quickly as possible.

Certainly.

So that's the guy
from Hamburg.

What do you think, Elsa?

- He has good credentials, but-
- How do we know?

They look good. So what?

No. No, I don't trust that guy.
He knows too much.

We won't take any chances.

- I'll check with Hamburg for confirmation.
- How?

Hammersohn. He can get a message
through by mail to Brazil.

A courier will take it
by Italian Airlines to Dakar.

It's simple from there.
Max, contact Hammersohn.

Tell him I want
to see him today.

Yeah.

Following a prearranged plan...

for maintaining contact
with Dietrich...

Inspector Briggs set up
a special office in New York City.

- Here's some air raid literature for you to pass out.
- Right.

I want to know who actually lives
in that house and what floors they live on.

- Shall we get a layout of the outside?
- No. We'll get that later.

Okay. We'll get
right up there.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Is the superintendent in?
- No, he isn't.

Can I help you?
I'm his wife.

This is in regard
to air raid precautions.

- Air raid? We're at war?
- Not yet, ma'am. We hope, of course, we won't be.

- But if a war should come, all of us want to be ready.
- Yes, of course.

We're making a survey
of everyone living in this block.

- What is your name, please?
- Kassel. Freda Kassel.

Would you let us know
who's in the apartments here?

Just Miss Gebhardt.
She rents the whole house.

She has a dress store.

- Miss Gebhardt, your husband and yourself.
- That's right.

- Are you here most of the time?
- Yes.

My husband is a pianist.
He goes all over places.

I see. Well,
I guess that's all.

Oh, here's some
air raid literature, if you'd like.

- Be particularly careful about lights.
- Yes, sir.

- Just off Columbus Circle
in New York City...

Bill Dietrich, posing
as a consultant engineer...

rented an office and established
his place of business.

The office looked legitimate.

He was almost ready
to receive callers.

- Good morning.
- Good morning. Are you Mr. Dietrich?

- That's right.
- I believe we have a mutual acquaintance.

- Felix Strassen.
- Come in.

Felix Strassen. Yes, l, uh-
I knew him in Hamburg.

I feel sure he must be
the same man. I'm Colonel Hammersohn.

Glad to know you.
Won't you sit down?

Looking for something,
Colonel?

I'm just naturally cautious.

l, uh, just moved in.

- Things are a little bit upset.
- Yes, I see.

I have something for you.
It's microfilm.

From Felix.

It confirms
you have funds for me.

- And you have something for Hamburg.
- We'll see.

You must
have good sources of information.

I've had
considerable experience.

- You've heard of me, of course?
- Oh, yes.

During the last war,
I worked with Captain Boy-Ed...

Fritz von Papen,
Count von Bernstoff.

This time,
the stakes are higher...

the personal danger
proportionately greater.

With my record,
I'm very careful.

- Have you been here long?
- Not very long, no.

They supplied you
with adequate funds?

I can pay for information.

That's in the credentials.

- It takes a great deal of money, you know.
- We're willing to pay.

I think perhaps Hamburg might be
interested in an entirely new type of gun...

the United States Army is testing.

- It's a wonderful gun. I've seen it.
- Mm?

It projects
an antitank rocket.

Guiding fins are folded
inside the barrel.

Here are complete details
of recent shipments...

of Bell Airacobras and Curtis P-40s
to England and Russia.

This is special information
on the new Lockheed P-38s.

The speed and armament
of this plane is strictly secret.

Or was until I got hold of this.

I'll send these to Hamburg.

Terribly difficult information to get,
but there it is.

I was instructed to give you this.

I was told you could put me in touch
with a- A Mr. Adolph Klaen.

- Adolph Klaen?
- For shipping information.

I have orders
to contact him.

- I'll arrange it.
- Good.

- Cigarette?
- Oh, thanks.

- How can I get in touch with Christopher?
- Why?

Well, he's my boss.
I've never even met him.

- He's my boss too.
- Yeah?

I haven't met him
either.

- You'll, uh, take care of me on Klaen?
- Oh, yes.

- Where will I find him?
- I'll contact him and arrange a meeting.

When will this be?

I'll let you know.

In a secluded cottage less
than an hour's drive from Manhattan...

- Agent Dietrich set up
a shortwave radio transmitter.

Hamburg complimented Dietrich
on the speed and efficiency...

with which he got his reports
through to Germany...

and their instructions
back to the United States.

They did not know that
Dietrich's little shortwave radio...

had a limited range...

and that all his messages
were beamed...

to a secret F.B.I.
long-range radio station not far away.

From this point, the F.B.I.
relayed Dietrich's messages to Germany...

on the wavelength and schedule and in
the code that the Germans had given him.

He, in turn, received all replies and
instructions from Germany the same way-

through the counterespionage
station of the F.B.I.

But all messages
in both directions...

were first Teletyped to Washington
for immediate examination.

All messages to Germany
were held before relaying...

until the army and navy
had rendered them harmless...

or perhaps had skillfully
doctored them...

to mislead and confuse
the German high command.

Besides operating his radio station...

Dietrich extended his contacts
with the German spy ring.

As their payoff man, the enemy's agents
had to come to him.

Some tried to sell information
of no importance.

Others brought
highly secret data.

The F.B.I. 's hidden
movie cameras and microphones...

recorded
all Dietrich's visitors.

Hello.

Suddenly and disastrously,
Japan struck at Pearl Harbor.

On this momentous,
infamous Sunday...

the F.B.I. sprang into action
just as swiftly and effectively...

as the rest of the nation's
armed forces.

Within 24 hours, all known enemy agents
and saboteurs were taken into custody-

with a few purposeful exceptions.

Important agents like Colonel
Hammersohn, Elsa Gebhardt...

Conrad Arnulf and Johanna Schmedt
were left at liberty.

This was to justify the continued
liberty of Bill Dietrich...

and because, watched closely...

they could still help, more than harm,
the American people.

They still knew, or might know...

things and people
not yet known to the F.B.I...

such as Adolph Klaen...
and Mr. Christopher.

- Oh. Colonel Hammersohn.
- Hello, Dietrich.

Isn't it sort of dangerous
for you to be coming here now?

Yes. The war makes everything difficult.

Every day, they're picking up
more of our agents.

- But I've made contact with Adolph Klaen.
- When can I see him?

- Immediately. You'll have to come with me now.
- Good.

- Where are we going?
- I'm not at liberty to say. Come on.

Calling Car 70.
Calling Car 70.

Come in, Car 70.
Over.

Car 70 standing by.
Over.

Mr. H. Going down an elevator
with D.

Mr. H. Going down an elevator
with D.

Follow and advise.
Over.

Okay. Will do.
Off and clear.

Here it is.

- How will I know Klaen?
- There'll be someone there to introduce you.

- Aren't you going in with me?
- No. I shan't see you again for a long time.

We've got to be very careful
from now on.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Good evening.
- Hello.

- Meet Adolph Klaen.
- How are you?

Glad to know you,
Adolph Klaen.

From Felix.

- Is that all?
- Mm-hmm.

Well, it takes money
to operate.

You talk. I'll pay.

The Britannia
sails for England tonight.

A Dutch boat, the Delftdyke,
goes with her.

She'll join convoy...

30 miles due east
of Sandy Hook.

The Delftdyke carries a cargo
of munitions and planes.

May l, uh, have that?

- Who is that?
- It's Gus Huzmann.

- He works for me.
- He's drunk.

He is a good man for information
when he isn't drinking.

- Hello, Gus.
- Shove over, you.

- Who are these people?
- They are friends of mine.

You're the payoff man.
Is that right?

That's right, Gus.
He's gonna take good care of us.

Take care of you.

You know where he gets
his dope on ships, don't you?

I give it to him.
That's where he gets it.

- Who's gonna take care of me?
- Come on, Gus.

- I'll buy you a drink.
- I had a drink.

How would you like to know
the Queen Mary's back again?

She's holding 40,000 drums of oil.

How would you like to know
where she's going?

- Australia. That's where she's going.
- Gus.

And she's full of troops.

How much dough
is that worth, hmm?

I pay Klaen.
He'll take care of you.

Oh, you pay Klaen.

- Who pays me?
- I'm gonna take care of you, Gus.

You'll take care
of nobody.

You gonna pay off?

You'll have to operate
through Klaen.

Okay. Okay.

Let's forget
the whole thing.

I know where I can get
some real dough.

Maybe I'll just spill
the inside story...

- On what's going on around here.
- Shut up!

I don't know who you are, sister...

but tell me again
when I come to see you.

I'll bring you a nail file
to cut through the bars.

Look. She knows
what she is doing.

Hey, bud.
Got a match?

- What?
- You got a match?

You want a light, huh?

Yeah, bud.
How you feeling?

Four hundred.

Four, fifty.
Five.

Five, fifty.

That isn't much money, tovarich.
I've got to pay a lot of people.

You'll be paid well enough.

Have you seen
Mr. Christopher lately?

- Hey, who are you?
- You were told about me. Don't you trust me?

You are fooling around with a lot of stuff
that's none of your business.

- Wait a minute. I thought it was-
- I've gotta be sure...

that my information
is getting through.

- That's my job.
- Maybe.

But I gotta be sure.

I'm gonna send my information
through Mr. Christopher.

- I'm working for Christopher.
- Then what are you asking about him for?

- The war has changed things.
- Only Mr. Christopher can change things.

- If that's the way you want it-
- That's the way it's gonna be.

While you're sticking
your nose in things...

you might take a little trip-
with Gus.

Good night, Klaen.

I don't even know you.

- Where have you been?
- I just came from the office.

Where were you
last night?

The radio station.

- Weren't you supposed to meet Klaen last night?
- Yeah, I met him.

You're to get this to Hamburg just as fast
as you can make the transmission.

What is it?

If we haven't done
anything else...

in all the years
we have been here...

this information will be
more than worth it.

It's up to you now.
This is your chance.

I'll get it through.

- Cigarette?
- Thank you. I don't smoke.

Could I see them?

You're to have these papers
back here tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night? That's a tough order.
I've got to put this in code.

- It'll take time.
- Orders are not to be questioned.

Save time if I could burn them
when I was finished.

This information will also be sent
by mail tomorrow night.

These orders come
from Mr. Christopher.

- Christopher?
- Yes.

They were delivered to me
less than an hour ago.

I just saw
Dietrich leaving.

- Did he tell you about Adolph Klaen?
- No. What about him?

He was picked up last night.
Violation of Selective Service. F.B.I.

- Dietrich was with him.
- When he was picked up?

- That I don't know.
- He didn't tell me.

I wonder if he knew.

We've got to be careful
about Dietrich.

Have you been able to get through
with that confirmation copy yet?

It takes time.

With a war on, there are
a lot of restrictions.

I won't be satisfied
until I have it in my hands.

Have you any reason
to suspect him?

No. There may be nothing
at all to worry about.

But until that confirmation copy comes
from Hamburg, he must be watched.

We are doing our most important
work right now.

Dietrich is a vital part of that work.

If he fails, we all fail.

- Max.
- Yeah?

Get down to the radio station.
Cover Dietrich and keep him covered.

Less than an hour after Dietrich...

received his instructions
from Elsa Gebhardt...

an important envelope
reached Inspector Briggs.

The envelope contained the data
Elsa Gebhardt had given him...

together with an important clue-

the cigarette butt
stained with lipstick...

which Dietrich had found
on Elsa's desk.

The contents of the envelope
were so unusual...

that Inspector Briggs rushed
to F.B.I. headquarters in Washington...

and presently a distinguished
physicist sent for by Briggs...

was flown to Washington.

He was Dr. Arthur C. Appleton, 72-year-old
chief of the central laboratory...

where the final secret experiments
on Process 97 were being conducted.

Gentlemen, these papers
contain data on Process 97.

It is appallingly accurate.

These are details of experiments
which we made barely two days ago.

Hmm.

Dr. Appleton...

we must send this information
on through to Germany.

Now, would it be possible
to change a few details...

in order to set their scientists
off the track...

without arousing
the slightest suspicion?

- Of course it is.
- It would?

We've been thrown hundreds of times
ourselves by the slightest error.

Hmm. We're gonna need your help
to change that data.

Do you think
you can do it tonight?

I can start immediately.

Inspector Briggs
ordered the central laboratory...

placed under strict
and continuous surveillance.

Through an X-ray mirror in the rear
of an ordinary delivery truck...

movies were taken of even
the most trusted individuals...

working on Process 97.

This method of surveillance...

enabled the 400 F.B.I. agents
now assigned to the case...

to become familiar with the faces of every
worker permitted to leave the plant.

This facilitated the F.B.I. 's difficult job...

of tracing all of their activities...

and all of their contacts.

Let's go up
to my office.

The cigarette which Dietrich...

was shrewd enough to take
from Elsa Gebhardt's desk...

was examined
by F.B.I. technicians.

Without a doubt, the woman who had
delivered the data from Mr. Christopher...

was the woman
who had left the cigarette.

It was still the only lead
to her identity.

First, a portion
of the stained cigarette...

was examined
by spectrograph...

to determine
what properties it contained.

The lipstick could then
be identified...

by comparison with all known brands
in the Bureau's files.

That's fine.
Send it along as soon as you can.

Here's the lab report on the lipstick.

The analysis revealed
a particular brand of lipstick...

used by 98 different
beauty parlors in New York City.

By checking the clients and operators
of these establishments...

against the records
of every known suspect...

the F.B.I. narrowed their search
to one particular beauty parlor...

and one particular suspect...
Luise Vadja.

- What was in the envelope to cause so much trouble?
- Don't you know?

I understood family messages
from people in Germany...

to be smuggled underground.

I saw no harm in it.

- Perfectly innocent messages, hmm?
- That's right.

Let's stop this little game
and get down to real, honest facts.

- I've told you the facts.
- We know a great deal about you, Miss Vadja.

You once worked
on a North German Lloyd liner.

You were a hairdresser. You used to
bring across letters from Germany...

- And mail them when you got ashore.
- I never knew what was in them.

They were letters of instructions
to German agents in this country...

and you were working as a courier
for the German secret service.

Right now, you're what we call
a "sleeper agent."

You were planted here
a long time ago by the Nazis.

You lived a normal,
inconspicuous life for years-

making friends, earning a living-

just waiting until you got a call
for the one particular job...

and they saved you for a big one.

But you made one mistake.

You took the trouble
of becoming an American citizen...

and that, Miss Vadja,
makes you a traitor.

I've done nothing since the war began.
Nothing, I swear it.

All right, now let's get back to
this envelope. Where did you take it?

I was told to take it
to a house on 92nd Street.

- And who told you to take it there?
- I don't know.

Could it have been a name
like "Mr. Christopher"?

- I don't know that name.
- Are you sure?

Yes, I know the name, but I don't know
who he is. I've never seen him.

Have you ever delivered messages
any other place?

- Just the house and to a bookstore.
- Bookstore?

If something goes wrong,
I deliver the messages there.

What bookstore?

It's on 59th Street.
l- I think the name is Lange.

- Aren't you sure?
- Yes, it's- It's Lange's bookstore.

You have a friend
who is a scientist.

He's engaged
in very important war work.

- What is his name?
- I have no friend.

Yes, you have, because
he visits you at your home.

There's your friend.

And there is your home.

And the name of your friend
is Charles Ogden Roper.

Keep this young lady
in custody.

I want a surveillance made
of Lange's Book Shop on 59th Street.

Right. We've been through
the Vadja apartment.

- You find anything?
- Yeah, we found the typewriter and the checks.

That's the one that was used
to copy the data.

- Then Roper is the man who's been getting it out.
- Shall we pick him up?

No. We can't pick him up
until we find out how he does it.

We've got a man
under 24-hour surveillance.

He never leaves that laboratory
without being thoroughly searched...

and still he's getting the stuff out.

That's our problem.
That's what we have to solve-

How does he do it?

How does he do it?

The following day...

an unusual
message from Germany...

was picked up by the F.B.I.
monitoring station...

and relayed on to Dietrich.

It was also Teletyped
to Briggs.

Hey! You're in
the wrong lane!

Stop a black coupe-

516, New York, last three numbers.
One-man driver.

Let me see
your driver's license.

- I haven't got it with me.
- Let's see your registration card.

- I haven't got that either.
- Okay, buddy.

You better come down
to the station house with me.

We want to check up on you.

Have you anything to say?

I'd prefer not to say anything
till I talk to my lawyer.

All right. What's your lawyer's
name and telephone number?

Rector-23515.

Ask for Mr. Briggs.

You received that message
from Hamburg today?

That's right.

Have you done anything
about it?

Not yet, Mr. Briggs.

I was about to contact you for advice
when the message came to meet you.

We think that this may be
the lead that we've been looking for.

- It might be.
- What does it mean to you?

"Gedaecktniskuenstler."
It's a familiar word in Hamburg...

- For a very special type of agent.
- Yeah?

It's, uh, the name
of a performer...

who accomplishes
spectacular feats of memory.

Uh, a memory artist.

Memory artist?

Hamburg's always looking for people
with unusual memories.

They take a special course
just to improve their memories further.

Yes, but do you think that a man-

even with a very unusual memory-
could get those formulas out...

all that complicated stuff?

Sounds incredible, but that's
what they're trained to do.

Oh, sure, it is incredible.

Memory artist, eh?

- Photographic mind.
- Mm-hmm.

Little bit at a time.
Well, it-

It may be a lead.
Maybe it's the solution.

What'll I do
about the message?

You just send it
through your regular channels.

- Oh, anything new on Christopher?
- No, not yet.

Mm-hmm. Well, I'll arrange
for your bail and fine.

Oh, when you give the message
to Elsa...

be very sore
at the police, huh?

- Yes, sir.
- Don't overplay it. You know.

- The F.B.I.
had to know every detail...

of Charles Ogden Roper's life.

Yeah, I remember that crazy act,
but I can't remember the name.

Never could remember names.

Does this sound like him?
"Has performed in clubs...

"Sunday school entertainments,
banquets, special parties.

Demonstrates amazing feats
of memory."

Don't pay any attention to that.
They always write their own.

"Performs amazing feats of memory."

What kind of feats?
What's the angle?

You see, people call for things
from the audience.

You know, they want to hear stuff
out of highbrow books.

This guy can keep 14 games of chess
going at the same time.

- Chess?
- Boy, there is a lousy game.

But 14 games going at the same time
would take a remarkable memory.

Sure it does,
but it ain't box office.

I'll take this along.
You'll get it back.

Don't worry, brother.
That act is out of date.

- Mr. Roper?
- Yes?

I'd like to see you
in my office.

Yes, Dr. Appleton.

This is Mr. Briggs
of the F.B.I.

Mr. Roper.
My credentials.

Sit down, won't you?

Do you recognize those?

Those are photostats
of Process 97.

They were stolen
from here.

I understand that you're one of the workers
allowed to leave the institute.

A few evenings each week, yes.

And you always spend those evenings
with a friend in town.

- We play chess.
- Chess?

I never go anywhere else.

She's an old friend of mine.
I've known her a long time.

- How long?
- About three years.

Shortly after
we intercepted this data...

$5,000 was paid
into your bank account.

That money was from
securities I'd sold.

Doctor, what do you
want to know?

This gentleman thinks
that you memorized...

parts of that formula
before you left here.

And when you got to your friend's
house, you set them down.

We know all about you, Roper.

We've traced you back
to the day you were born.

We even know the approximate date
that you're scheduled to die.

You might be interested in this.

That's an intercepted message
direct from Germany.

It'll save a lot of trouble all around
if you'll cooperate with us.

What do you want to know?

You typed the formula
on a typewriter...

owned by your friend
and gave them to her, didn't you?

- Yes.
- What other contacts have you made?

I received several messages
at my friend's house.

- From a man by the name of Hammersohn?
- I don't remember.

You don't remember?

A man who can keep 14 games
of chess going at the same time...

and you don't remember?

You've been playing with a very dangerous
group of German agents.

We know. We've seen them work.

They don't mind murder.

You were the next one
on their list-

as soon as you finished
your job.

Did you ever get a message
from a man by the name of Christopher?

Yes.

Isn't it possible that Christopher
and Hammersohn are one and the same?

I don't know. I've never seen
either of them.

Did you ever deliver Process 97 data...

to any other place
besides Luise Vadja's apartment?

Yes. After she was arrested,
I received instructions...

to take the data
to another address.

I made my last delivery
this morning.

And where was that?

Lange's Book Shop
on 59th Street.

- I put the material in a book.
- What book?

- Spencer's First Principles.
- And what was it you delivered?

What was it, Roper?

I gave them
the latest data...

on our final-

on our final experiments.

Thank you, Doctor.

- Put that man under arrest. I'm gonna call Walker.
- Yes, sir.

For some time, Lange's Book Shop...

on busy 59th Street,
was under constant surveillance.

Every person who entered
or left the store...

was being photographed
by F.B.I. agents...

from an office
directly across the street.

- Can I help you?
- Yes, I believe you can.

Are you looking
for some particular book?

- Yes, but I can't seem to find it.
- What is it?

Have you by any chance
got a copy of Spencer's First Principles?

Spencer's First Principles? No, I haven't
had a copy of that for some time.

I might be able to get it for you.

That's funny. A friend of mine
said he picked up a copy here.

That's very possible, although
it must have been some time ago.

- No. This morning.
- I'm afraid your friend made a mistake.

Excuse me. I have a customer.

I don't think you're going to have
any customers for some time.

I'm from the F.B.I.

We'd like to talk to you
at our office.

- Now?
- Right now.

Johanna, they've got
to get this through today.

- Where's Bill?
- At his radio station.

You and Conrad
take this out there.

Stay there while he puts it into code.

Make sure that he sends it, because everything
depends on you getting that through.

- He'll send it.
- Then bring it back here.

- Has the confirmation copy on Bill come yet?
- No.

We expect it any time now.
The clipper has been delayed.

Do you think we ought to take
this chance on him?

There is nothing else we can do.

He's still our fastest
channel to Hamburg.

- We've got to take a chance.
- Okay, let's go.

- Where have you been?
- I've just seen the courier from the clipper.

- He brought the message.
- Give it to me.

Come on.

"He is forbidden to contact
any agents known to you."

Max!

We have a message for you.

- You got no business to come here.
- We were ordered to come.

This kind of thing's dangerous.

We weren't followed.

This is from Elsa.
You are to send it immediately.

This is important.

I have to put this in code.
That takes time.

- Do it right away.
- Wait a minute.

Did you say you can reach
Hamburg with this?

That's what he said.

You are crazy.

Look at the coils.

They're only
two-and-a-half meters.

This wouldn't carry
more than 20 or 30 miles.

This isn't the stuff
we got you.

That's right.
I made a few improvements.

This setup wouldn't carry
across the Atlantic.

How do you know?

- 'Cause I'm going to try.
- Go ahead.

The call signal's A.O.R.

- That's not Bill sending. I know his fist.
- Better answer it.

What's that?

That's not Hamburg.

There is no mush.

It's coming from
somewhere nearby.

Where is it
coming from?

How would I know?
It's not up to me to ask questions.

I follow instructions,
the same as you.

Maybe it's
a relay station...

picking up messages
from a small set like this...

and boosting it across
when conditions are right.

- That's a new one.
- Transmissions across the Atlantic are uncertain.

I can't sit here all day,
waiting to send messages.

I don't believe you,
mister.

Elsa wants to see you.

What for?

- She don't want you to send no messages.
- What's up, Max?

Got a message
from Hamburg.

- Him?
- Yeah.

Elsa wants to see him.
Get going.

What'll that do?

It'll make him talk.

It takes time-
three injections.

In about an hour,
he'll be answering questions.

What'll it do to him?

He'll tell the truth.
Scopolamine.

Drugs part of the brain.

I want to know about
that envelope and his radio...

and a lot of other things.

We've got the picture
of the last pickup at the bookshop.

Lange's identified the man.

Good. Match that with all the film
we've got on the Christopher case-

the Vadja house, Dietrich's office,
the gown shop.

- Everything we've got.
- Right. Call you from the projection room.

That's the man who picked up the book.

Lange's confirmed that.

And that's the match.

There's no question about it.
Freda Kassel's husband is Mr. Christopher-

the third member of that household.

- You mean the man posing as her husband.
- Yeah. Come on.

We're going out
and pick up Mr. Christopher.

Wake up. Wake up and talk!

Come on. We can wait.

You're not going anyplace.
Come on.

We're special agents
of the F.B.I.

You're under arrest.

Where did you send
that information?

- Give him another shot.
- That won't do any good.

He's no good to us
as he is.

What's the range
of your radio?

Eighty miles.

And someone relays
your messages to Hamburg?

- Yes.
- Who?

Who operates
the relay?

You sold the others out, didn't you?
You had them arrested.

Everything looks all right.

See if you can find
a phone downstairs.

If he doesn't tell us what
we want to know, shoot him.

Let's not lose our heads.

Yes?

I'm a special agent of the F.B.I.
The apartment is surrounded.

- What is it?
- We'll give you exactly two minutes.

Women will come out first. The men
will follow, hands above their heads.

It's the F.B.I.

We've got two minutes.

Burn everything.
Put it in the fireplace.

Johanna, give me the papers
on Process 97.

We've already failed once today.
We cannot fail again.

Nothing matters except getting this
information through- Our lives, nothing.

There's one chance left-
to contact the courier from Hamburg.

I've got to get out of here.
You'll have to cover for me.

Delay them all you can. It may mean
the lives of every single one of us...

but this information must be
on its way to Hamburg tonight.

All right, hands up.
Get 'em up.

- Okay, keep 'em up.
- Get going. Get going.

Come on.
Come on.

Thus ended the Christopher case.

Elsa Gebhardt,
alias Mr. Christopher...

was no more successful
than other foreign espionage agents.

Process 97-

the atomic bomb,
America's top war secret-

remains a secret.

After the United States
went to war December 7, 1941...

16,440 enemy agents,
saboteurs...

and dangerous enemy aliens
were arrested.

Six have already been executed.

Thousands were interned.

Others were imprisoned
for a sum total of 1,880 years.

All of the thoroughly laid
enemy plans for a fifth column...

were smashed before
they could be put into operation.

Not one single act
of enemy-directed sabotage...

was perpetrated
within the United States...

nor was one major
war secret stolen.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation
continues to be the implacable foe...

of all enemies of the United States.

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