Brief

Based on a true story, a young Belgian woman fights back against Nazi Germany by establishing a secret escape route through the Pyrenees mountains. After helping nearly 800 Allied troops cross safely into British territory, she is discovered and taken to a concentration camp. When the Germans discover her identity, they track her down but she remains able to escape detection, even in the most dire of circumstances. With the help of the rest of the Resistance and some encouragement from an attractive British flier, the woman sacrifices everything in the name of service, dedication and eventual victory.

What We Liked

The script does a great job of highlighting sacrifice, female empowerment and perseverance in a male-dominated war. The story of Deedee de Jongh is one that is largely lost to time, and this account provides a fresh take on some of the contributions of a historical period that is often over-explored and familiar. Her true story is chock full of suspense, is high-stakes and high-tension throughout and provides a satisfying, though not entirely happy ending. A story like this would appeal to history buffs, lovers of female-driven plot lines and those who enjoy WW2 subject matter.

Key points: Based on an untold, true story.
Female-driven.
Historical, but fresh.
Plot-forward but with ample room for character development.
Satisfying, but true to life conclusion.

Synopsis

Above the English Channel, a British crew fire blasts. A shell bursts in front of JACK NEWTON and the plane catches fire. Jack spots a German airfield and they abandon the plane and run from the Germans. Meanwhile, ANDREE DE JONGH (AKA DEEDEE, 23), tends to Allied troops at a Red Cross hospital. She protects a British soldier from the Germans by convincing them that his wound is infected. Deedee tells her father, PAUL (50s), that she wants to help the Allied troops escape and begs her father to help. Paul calls his friend, ARNOLD, and together they begin setting up safe houses.

Deedee helps develop The Comet Line, an escape route across the Pyrenees that Deedee insists on crossing with the men. NEMO (40s) begins to set up forged documents for the charges, but they aren’t convincing enough. MADAM MORELLE (40s) begins work on transferring charges to various safe houses. Deedee sits in a train compartment with five charges, PAULINE (30) and her overstuffed suitcase. She urges Pauline to ditch the suitcase, but Pauline refuses.

After spotting German patrol, Arnold and Deedee lead their charges across a river. When Pauline opens her luggage, Deedee realizes that she’s been holding onto couture dresses. Arnold refuses to escort her any further with the suitcase, and Pauline refuses to continue the journey.

The charges arrive at ELVIRE’S (40s) and Elvire’s husband, FERNAND (40s), informs the group that Arnold and his charges have been arrested. Deedee urges them to deliver any future charges directly to the British. FLORENTINO (30s), the mountain guide, arrives. The group makes it across the Pyrenees and Deedee meets with the British consul. She asks for money to cover the costs of each escapee, is given the code name THE POSTWOMAN, and her charges become known as packages. Meanwhile, Paul nearly perfects the forgery papers.

Deedee continues escorting packages and is eventually meets Jack and his crew. At a café, two German soldiers scrutinize Jack and Deedee places an Alka seltzer tablet in her mouth to fake a seizure. They board the train the following day and are questioned by German soldiers. With her charges unable to speak German, Deedee lies and tells them that Jack is excited beyond words for their engagement. She kisses him passionately, and the German soldiers believe her.

The group arrives at Elvire’s farmhouse to await further instruction. Strong winds prevent Florentino from taking the group into the Pyrenees, and they’re forced to wait it out. Elvire notices an attraction between Jack and Deedee, despite Jack’s engagement.

The group learns that Elvrie’s old neighbors were recently arrested for being Jewish and Jack ponders the idea of never seeing Deedee again. She slides towards him in their shared bed, and they fall asleep together. Florentino arrives to escort the group through the Pyrenees, and Jack is injured when a fellow charge falls on him. When the river is too engorged to cross, Deedee tends to Jack back at Elvire’s.

Jack recalls his time in the safe house, when he emerged outside without permission. There, he encountered a German guard and tackled him before running back inside. Deedee scolds him for being so selfish, and they kiss, knowing that their love doesn’t stand a chance.

Four days later, the group is back in the mountains. They approach a footbridge and sneak over while the guards sleep. Deedee delivers the men to the British but before she leaves, Jack and Deedee exchange ‘I love you's.’ Meanwhile, LT. COLONEL KURT LISCHKA charges his staff with unveiling the Resistance. Two agents torture Paul and his wife for information on Deedee.

Deedee and Florentino are leading packages through the mountains when they are discovered. Deedee is interrogated and lies about her identity. They bring her to a waiting room, where she meets Nemo. She learns that Madame Morelle is on trial and they are to testify against her. Even worse, she learns that her father has been captured. Deedee tells the courtroom her true identity, but nobody believes her. She is put on a train to a concentration camp and on board, she meets Pauline again.

They arrive at Ravensbruck, where they are tortured and abused. Deedee’s Blockova (prisoners in charge of their blocks) leads them to their bunks. During a head count Deedee notices that one of guards is close to bleeding out. She springs into action and is sent to the clinic. There, she meets DR. TREITE (30s).

Deedee notices that her Blockova has an injured back. She provides her with pills and the Blockova softens towards her. Kurt Lischka learns that Deedee was in fact The Comet Line’s leader and sends his officers to retrieve her and to kill Paul. Dr. Treite discreetly tells Deedee that officials are coming for her. That evening, Deedee discovers that Pauline has strangled herself. Her body is accompanied by a note with her prisoner number and an instruction for Deedee to take on her identity. When the officials arrive, Deedee is frail enough to be unrecognizable. The Blockova informs them that Deedee is deceased, and the guards retreat.

Eventually, a red cross van appears, and the women are liberated. She is taken to a camp in Denmark, where she reveals her true identity. Deedee is presented with the George Medal for her service to the British. Jack finds Deedee after the ceremony and introduces her to his pregnant wife, MARY. A post-script tells us that Deedee was honored by the US and French governments and that she was bestowed an honorary rank of Lt. Colonel in the Belgian Army. We learn that she and Jack stayed in touch for the rest of their lives, and that The Comet Line she created helped almost 800 Allied soldiers reach safety.

About The Author

Michael Kenneth Smith has written six historical (and historically accurate) novels. Though most focus on the American Civil War, the Postwoman marks his foray into WW2.