Escape

American Mark Preysing is in Nazi Germany looking for his German national mother, Emmy Ritter, a renowned stage actress. All he is able to learn is that she has been imprisoned somewhere in the country for treason against the German state for harboring German fugitives while she lived in the United States. A non-political but nonetheless outspoken person, she views her actions as humanitarian ones of helping German refugees in their time of need. What Mark does not know is that she is slated for execution at the end of the week. During his search for her, Mark meets some people who seem to know what is going on with his mother but won't tell him and won't help him for fear for their own safety from the Nazis. These include Fritz Keller an old friend from the United States, Dr. Berthold Ditten and Countess Ruby von Treck. The widowed Countess is a born and bred American who married into her title and has decided to stay in her adopted home country following the death of her German husband. The Countess has managed to live outside of the political fray of the Nazis, despite her somewhat romantic friendship with General Kurt von Kolb, who, despite not being in the army, is privy to the goings-on of the party. Mark has to convince these in the know to help him, all the while keep the truth behind his actions from the Nazis.