The Next of Kin

England serves as the planning ground for a secret commando raid on a German-held village in France. The operation hinges on monitoring both the 95th Infantry and the civilians around them. The planning stage builds the tension for deception, timing, and potential leaks.

A British security officer is selected to observe the 95th Infantry and the civilians they mingle with in England. He tracks signals, movements, and conversations that could reveal the raid's vulnerability. The assignment links intelligence with field surveillance and raises the stakes.

German intelligence dispatches Agents 23 and 16 to England to gather information from pubs, stations, shops, and other public places. They aim to blend into daily life while probing for the Allies' plans. Their presence escalates the spy game in which both sides watch and react.

Agent 16 is captured by English authorities, ending his undercover phase. The loss intensifies the pressure on Agent 23 to complete the mission with fewer resources. The setback heightens the urgency of the remaining covert work.

Agent 23 makes contact with Mr Barratt, a bookseller in Westport, who becomes a key ally. Barratt assigns him the task of infiltrating an ordnance depot to learn what the 95th expects to do. The meeting marks a shift from passive observation to active infiltration.

Barratt formally tasks Agent 23 with infiltrating the ordnance depot, seeking sensitive information about equipment and timings. 23 plans how to slip into the depot under cover of normal commerce and social visits. The assignment increases the operation's intelligence risk.

During a punctured-tire rescue for an ATS driver, Agent 23 is invited to a dance, offering cover to observe the unit's social circle. He learns the unit has top priority for a piece of special equipment. The discovery signals a potentially decisive advantage for whoever controls it.

Barratt presses Beppie Leemans, a Dutch refugee, to uncover the 95th's activities and hints at the looming aerial photographs. Beppie informs Barratt that the unit expects a new set of aerial imagery. Her role becomes a dangerous linchpin in the intelligence game.

Barratt sends Agent 23 to London to obtain the aerial photographs. The mission requires navigating new contacts and the risk of exposure in the capital. Success hinges on secrecy and timing.

Beppie Leemans realizes the danger of her information and stabs Barratt to death. Agent 23 returns, subdues Leemans, and fabricates a murder-suicide to cover up Barratt's death. The murder clears the way for the next phase of espionage.

An agent steals the briefcase containing an aerial negative left unattended at a cafe by a wing commander. The officer believes it was a simple misplacement and is relieved when the case is returned after a photograph is developed. The incident looks minor but becomes a crucial intelligence leak.

The developed photograph is smuggled to German intelligence, who use it to identify the 95th's objective. German mobilization follows as they prepare to ambush the raid. The leak demonstrates how fragile intelligence can be.

Germans mobilize to ambush the 95th's commando raid on the French coast. The raid goes ahead and is deemed successful, though with heavy losses for the attackers. The outcome highlights the high cost of espionage.

Back in England, two careless talkers on a train are monitored by Agent 23, who takes notes on their conversation. The ending emphasizes ongoing vigilance and the fragility of secrets. It leaves the audience with a sense that the spy game continues.