The Catcher Was a Spy

In 1936, Moe Berg is a prominent member of the Boston Red Sox. His coach, Joe Cronin, urges him to retire due to his declining performance, while his teammates suspect he may be hiding his true self, adding strain to his personal and professional life.

During this period, Moe engages in a secret relationship with Estella Huni. Despite their connection, Estella grows increasingly frustrated with Moe's unwillingness to publicly acknowledge their bond, creating tension between them.

While touring Japan, Moe has a sexual liaison with Kawabata. He simultaneously documents Japanese military installations on film, gather valuable intelligence that will later play a role in the war effort.

In December 1941, the United States officially declares war on Japan following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. This event marks a turning point, escalating U.S. involvement in World War II and setting the stage for Moe's transformation from athlete to spy.

Moe approaches OSS Director Bill Donovan with his footage of Japanese installations. Bill recruits Moe despite his evasive nature regarding his sexuality, introducing him to key figures who brief him on the urgent situation regarding the German atomic bomb initiative.

Moe meets scientists Robert Furman and Samuel Goudsmit, who inform him about the German efforts to create an atomic bomb led by Werner Heisenberg. They reveal that the only lead to Heisenberg's location is a professor in Italy, who may provide crucial information.

Moe, Samuel, and Furman travel to Italy to rescue Professor Edoardo Amaldi from German troops. They successfully extract him just before the area falls into enemy hands, learning more about Heisenberg's situation during their escape.

During their discussions, Samuel expresses skepticism about Heisenberg's loyalty despite his scientific prowess. The possibility arises that Heisenberg may not actively pursue the bomb's creation, raising moral dilemmas about Moe's impending mission.

Despite concerns about Heisenberg's intentions, Bill Donovan orders Moe to proceed with the assassination. Moe grapples with the ethical implications of killing a man who might secretly want to help the Allies.

Samuel learns that Heisenberg will attend a conference in Zurich, where Moe is discreetly smuggled in. It is during a party that Heisenberg becomes suspicious of Moe's true agenda, hinting at a deeper understanding between the two men.

On a bridge in Zurich, Heisenberg confronts Moe, suspecting him to be an American operative. In a moment of moral clarity, Moe realizes that Heisenberg may be more complex than he anticipated and ultimately allows him to escape.

After the war, it is confirmed that the anticipated German bomb never existed, reshaping the narrative around the Nazi's atomic ambitions. Moe is offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a testament to his service, which he chooses to decline.

In the aftermath, Heisenberg voluntarily provides the Allies with the locations of Germany's heavy water reserves. This act demonstrates his complex character and the ambiguous moral choices made during the war.

Despite his experiences and wartime achievements, Moe grapples with unresolved feelings towards Estella, who marries in 1945. Meanwhile, Moe remains a bachelor, forever marked by the choices and moral conflicts he faced during a tumultuous time.