Seasons & episodes

S2 · E8The Big One 1978-11-15＋

Kessler is enjoying his developing relationship with Madeleine, but begins to feel that his feelings for her may cloud his judgement while Brandt is once more approached about joining the military plot to assassinate Hitler. The British co-ordinate a massive air raid attack on Berlin, but bombs are dropped on civilian targets in error – with tragic repercussions for Brandt. Monique and Alain try but fail to help a bomb aimer shot down on his way back to England. Having captured the man, Brandt finds himself face to face with the enemy and this time, it’s personal.

S2 · E9Little Old Lady 1978-11-22＋

A British Wing Commander is badly burned after he has been shot down over Belgium. London wants him back urgently, but his facial injuries make it difficult for him to go down the line. He manages to get to Paris with Natalie as his guide, but Monique decides that if he is to avoid detection he must disguise himself as a woman for the rest of the journey. Meanwhile, Madeleine is ostracised for her relationship with Kessler, but finds a new friend in Monique. The Candide and its staff are targeted by terrorists for being collaborators, and Natalie and Max fear the worst when the Gestapo arrest Albert.

S2 · E10Guests at God's Table 1978-11-29＋

Christmas is approaching, and Lifeline finds itself having to play Saint Nicholas when a wounded Group Captain is discovered by a group of abandoned children fending for themselves, who are prepared to sell the officer in turn for food and presents. However, Albert fears that it could all be an elaborate trap set up by the Germans. Meanwhile, Brandt finds his loyalties to Germany divided after recent events and confides his worries to Kessler.

S2 · E11A Matter of Life and Death 1978-12-06＋

The Germans are out to capture a group of evaders, believing them to be responsible for the murder of an officer. One pair of evaders manages to contact Lifeline, while the other two throw their lot in with the Communists. Francois is determined to prove his worth as a Lifeline guide to Albert and Natalie, and decides to co-ordinate the journey down the line for all the evaders, approaching the Communists to take responsibility for the airmen against Albert’s advice. Whilst visiting the Communists’ hideout, Francois meets Max, whose true loyalties have begun to emerge in force.

S2 · E12Prisoner of War 1978-12-13＋

Kessler tries to help Brandt as he tries to cope by heavy drinking and flirting with Monique at the Candide. Alain is forced to hide two evaders on his farm when a neighbour finds a wounded German fighter pilot on his property. It transpires that the pilot is a decorated flying ace and his plane is on the German secret list, and London asks for Lifeline’s assistance in getting him to England as a prisoner of war. Meanwhile, as Max prepares to bring his plans for Lifeline into fruition, Natalie demands that Albert take action.

S2 · E13Day of Wrath 1978-12-20＋

Andre De Beers, a Belgian fighter pilot, is taken prisoner by the Gestapo and forced to watch his brother being tortured to death. De Beers overpowers his guard and escapes from Gestapo headquarters, seeking refuge with his old friend Alain. Determined to exact vengeance, he begins a campaign of killing German soldiers. After Kessler orders the capture and shooting of twenty innocent people in retaliation, Albert orders Alain to kill De Beers to stop any more bloodshed, however Monique and Natalie come up with an alternative solution. Albert is forced to stamp his authority on the others to preserve Lifeline’s safety when he learns that they have taken matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, as Kessler begins to launch an innovative new scheme to police Brussels, a communiqué from Berlin has shocking news for Brandt while sudden German radio silence indicates that a significant turn in the war is about to occur. The date is 6 June 1944.

At Gestapo headquarters, Kessler takes an instant dislike to the newly arrived Luftwaffe Major Hans Dietrich Reinhardt, who has joined him in a final concerted attempt to crush the evasion lines. As the Allies continue to advance from the invasion beaches, Lifeline must continue their efforts in getting airmen back to Britain, but when Natalie attempts to guide two evaders down to Spain, it becomes clear that their work may at last be over.

Lifeline’s original function is now over – the Allied advance has severed the evasion lines and it is now a matter of keeping evaders safely hidden until the war is over. Despite Kessler’s irritation at Reinhardt’s manner and methods, his efforts pay dividends when he discovers a Lifeline safehouse. Two of his new prisoners commit suicide rather than talk, but Reinhardt is determined that the third prisoner will give information under torture. Albert and Monique receive a tip-off that the middle-aged Chantal sisters, who are based in Senlis and often shelter airmen for Lifeline, are in imminent danger.

An assassination attempt has been made on Hitler, and Kessler believes that Reinhardt is involved in the conspiracy. He begins to gather information that he hopes will provide his colleague’s guilt. Meanwhile, Albert becomes aware that the Communists are once more out to get Lifeline, and that he is their target.

Albert is imprisoned on trumped-up charges as part of a Communist revenge plot, and Monique is left to take charge of both Lifeline and the Candide. Alain discovers the existence of a false escape line set up by Reinhardt to flush them out and that one of their evaders, “Mad” Mike Miller, had previously been shot down and helped by Lifeline. Monique must make a difficult decision if she is to maintain Lifeline’s safety.

Still languishing in prison, Albert learns that he was set up by the Communist leader Paul Vercors. Meanwhile, Dr. Keldermans makes a shocking discovery when examining an evader at a safehouse – the man is dying of bubonic plague. Lifeline’s personnel face the horrifying possibility of being wiped out by the deadly disease.

Major Nick Bradley returns to Brussels to co-ordinate resistance activities whilst waiting for the Allies’ final push, and clashes with Monique over leadership of Lifeline. A tense time is in store for Lifeline when Alain is arrested, and Bradley decides to make a deal with a German officer to try to get him out of Gestapo headquarters. However, the officer demands one million francs in exchange for Alain’s freedom.

Bradley travels to the Ardennes to continue recruiting his own private army of former airmen to engage in sabotage activities – the target is V2 testing sites. Bradley’s first objective, however, is to hijack a convoy of weapons and he asks Monique for assistance in recruiting men and resources. Lifeline, previously an evasion network, is now a fully-fledged guerrilla operation

As Bradley’s army remains in hiding along the Dutch border, he and Natalie become closer as they work together planning the raid on the V2 site. To increase his chances of success, Bradley must try to obtain the rocket delivery schedule and plans to get the information by dining with Kessler at the Candide…. Meanwhile, Reinhardt is rapidly closing in on Lifeline, with Natalie as his chief suspect.

The Allied advance continues as they at last enter Belgium, and the Germans begin to plan a strategic withdrawal from Brussels. Albert is petitioning for his release from prison, while Bradley endeavours to forge links with other resistance groups. The people of Brussels are now left to their own devices, and recriminations are brewing for collaborators and black marketeers. Kessler comes to help Madeleine, while Alain offers Monique and Natalie a place to hide. Meanwhile, Reinhardt at last obtains proof that the Candide is Lifeline’s base of operations, and prepares to strike.

Albert is finally released from prison and reunited with Monique. The Lifeline personnel continue to be in danger of reprisals from their own people and the Communists for alleged collaboration with the Germans, but Albert refuses to leave the Candide. The Allies are still making their way towards Brussels, and Natalie and Alain join the offensive. As Kessler and his men leave the city, Reinhardt stays behind to complete his investigation into Lifeline and pays one last visit to the Candide, just as Paul Vercors emerges to take ultimate revenge on Albert.

Vercors has taken Albert, Monique and Reinhardt prisoner, and plans to hang Albert as a collaborator and a murderer. Only the Allies, helped by Natalie, can save him but they have only just entered Brussels. Meanwhile, Kessler and Madeleine are trekking on foot towards Germany through the Belgian countryside. To evade capture by the Allies, Kessler decides to take on a new identity.

The Allied liberation of Brussels paradoxically brings terror for the former Lifeline workers. About to face savage punishment after being falsely accused of collaboration, Monique is rescued thanks to Natalie and a British officer, Captain Stephen Durnford. She moves in with Natalie, where Durnford visits her and the two become close. Natalie tries to persuade Albert to declare his feelings for Monique, but he remains convinced that she will come back to him and the Candide. Meanwhile, Hans Van Broecken has to deal with two German deserters who have stowed away aboard his barge.

Kessler, still posing under an alias, and Reinhardt find themselves interned in the same prison camp for German officers. Kessler learns that Reinhardt surrendered himself to Albert at the Candide and is determined to dispose of him with a trumped-up court martial. Madeleine is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever. In Brussels, Albert and the others learn they are to be decorated for their selfless contribution to the war effort and Albert is given full ownership of the Candide as a reward for his bravery. However, it is a bittersweet victory for Albert as he has lost Monique, who is about to marry Captain Durnford and leave for a new life in England. The Second World War is over.

1969. Albert, Monique, Natalie and Alain are invited to take part in a British TV documentary “In Our Time” commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Allied liberation of Brussels. Also participating is Kessler, now known as Manfred Dorf. The former Lifeline personnel reunite at the Candide, and discuss their lives during the war. NB: The episode was never broadcast due to quality issues and the feeling that the content ran contrary to the main dramatic themes of the overall series.