Who Killed Admiral Darlan?

By Jim Pangrazio

It is December 1942. British and American forces have conquered French territories in Northern Africa from Morocco through Algeria. The objective is now to organize French forces that have switched to the allied side and pursue the war in Tunisia and then finally into Europe itself. The American side has chosen Admiral Darlan as the leader of liberated territories, even though he served as a top Vichy collaborator, because he is in the best position to marshal available French forces. The British and De Gaulle were strongly opposed to Darlan's selection but because of the importance of American involvement in the war had to eventually concede their choice. The Vichy regime and those still loyal to it regarded Darlan as an arch traitor. And a number of Americans were also disturbed because of Darlan's collaboration and personal ties to Hitler. They would have preferred General Giraud in Darlan's place -- Giraud being a five star general and free of the stigma of collaboration. Clearly, many in powerful positions wanted Darlan removed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jim Pangrazio
• Release date: May 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311633170

Jim Pangrazio

The general consensus is that change is urgent. Yet those claiming to work toward that end choose illusory paths that serve more as an impediment to the change they profess to seek. It is a closed loop -- a path that follows itself -- a safe at home tour rather than an expedition in search of wherever. My plays attempt to untangle the complex knots created by repeated trips to nowhere by focusing on the fearful simplicity of uncontaminated life where acceptance and rejection meet to hash out what's bothering them.

Book preview

Who Murdered

Admiral Darlan?

Published by Jim Pangrazio at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Jim Pangrazio

ISBN: 9781311633170

(Cast: Ludovic Carstairs, Police Commissionaire; Fernan Bonnier de la Chappelle; Allegra Montmorency; Admiral Darlan; General Giraud; General Patton; Colin Gubbins; Dewavrin; Henri De France, Count of Paris; D'Astier, Police Chief of Algiers)

Algiers – 1942. Police Commissionaire Ludovic Carstairs is seated behind his desk facing sideways, relaxing comfortably while reading a book. There is a knock at door. Carstairs turns facing the desk, deposits the book inside, opens a large records book, and picks up a pen.

CARSTAIRS: Enter.

(Attractive young woman enters. Anxious. breathless. Talks fast.)

ALLEGRA: You must help me...It is a matter of life and death!

(pause as Carstairs carefully considers her words while looking her over )

CARSTAIRS: and death?....shouldn't that be, or death?

(Continuing)

ALLEGRA: You must find the murderer of Admiral Darlan.

(Expressed as if he'd prefer not to be troubled by this crazy woman)

CARSTAIRS: But, Mlle., how can I do that when Darlan still lives?

ALLEGRA: I said, life and death.

CARSTAIRS: No, Mlle., Darlan cannot be both alive and dead at the same moment. He is not a cat.

ALLEGRA: But he and my Fernan Bonnier de la Chappelle may become divided or united in both if we don't hurry and stop them.

(Carstairs rises and walks around desk. He is now rather intrigued by the woman's odd reasoning and word usage. He points to a chair for her to be seated, and returns to his own picking up a pen.)

CARSTAIRS: Mlle....your name?

ALLEGRA: Allegra Montmorency...Fernan is my fiance...We must...

CARSTAIRS:...And I am Ludovic Carstairs, police commissioner by appointment of the armistice commission. Now, you said stop them a moment ago. Did you mean to say stop him, or is Darlan also involved in some way other than as a victim? There is...(pause as he realizes that he should shift responsibility) Before we go any further, the protocol for these matters is that they are first reported to the Algiers police. They will then determine if I should also become involved.

ALLEGRA: No, that's impossible, there's a plot. I came to you because only a higher authority (as she says this she glances at the pictures on the wall and notices one of M. Petain) Why haven't you removed the picture of M. Petain?

CARSTAIRS: That would hardly be appropriate as I hold this post only because the Marechal signed a certain document.

ALLEGRA: Is that the armistice you speak of -- an agreement imposed on France by an occupying army?!.....You are a fascist!?

(Carstairs pauses to consider whether he