With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully,...

[first lines] Narrator: With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But, not everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so a tortuous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up - Paris to Marseilles... across the Mediterranean to Oran... then by train, or auto, or foot across the rim of Africa, to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here, the fortunate ones through money, or influence, or luck, might obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon; and from Lisbon, to the New World. But the others wait in Casablanca... and wait... and wait... and wait. French officer: To all officers - two German couriers carrying important official documents murdered on train from Oran. Murderer and possible accomplices headed for Casablanca. Round up all suspicious characters and search them for stolen documents. Important.

With the coming of the Second World War... ...many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately... ...toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But not everybody could get to Lisbon directly. And so a torturous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up. Paris to Marseilles... ...across the Mediterranean to Oran. Then, by train or auto or foot, across the rim of Africa... ...to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here, the fortunate ones, through money or influence or luck... ...might obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon. And from Lisbon to the New World. But the others wait in Casablanca. And wait and wait... ...and wait. To all officers: Two German couriers carrying official documents murdered on train from Oran. Murderer and possible accomplices headed for Casablanca. Round up all suspicious characters and search them for stolen document. Important. May we see your papers? I don't think I have them on me. - In that case, you'll have to come along. - Wait. It's possible that I... Yes. Here they are. These papers expired three weeks ago. You'll have to come along. Halt! Halt!