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Hi, Mac fans.
This is Molly welcoming you back to season two of Mysteries About True Histories.
Get ready for more math, more history, and of course, more mysteries.
Ah, now this is more like it.
Finally, Aunt Em sends us somewhere luxurious.
Ah, Paris.
Yeah, sure.
But in case you hadn't noticed, there's a war going on.
Hey, don't ruin this for me.
Amurgatroyd sends us back to occupied France during World War II, and somehow I'm the one ruining things.
At least you know the good guys win.
Eventually.
I always thought the benefit of living in the future is you can try to keep history from repeating.
Now we've got power-hungry pogs trying to rewrite history.
It's exhausting.
Keep it down, Molly.
Remember, the Nazis occupy Paris.
Right.
And we're working with the underground resistance forces.
Yep.
Just like the Star Wars Rebel Alliance.
Only a lot jazzier.
Did you say jazzier?
I did.
Um, who are we looking for again?
Only one of the most famous problem solvers and famous performers of all time.
Though, for some reason, she isn't included in a lot of history books.
Singer, dancer, actor, spy.
Miss Josephine Baker.
Gotcha.
Now what's wrong?
I get that Miss Baker is glamorous and fabulous, but I hate to break it to you.
So are most Parisians.
I mean, look around.
All these people gathered around the Eiffel Tower all look like they could be famous, too.
How do we spot... Josephine Baker!
Josephine Baker!
It's really her!
Well, that answers the question.
Wow.
She sure knows how to make an entrance.
Come on.
Miss Baker.
Miss Baker.
Excuse me.
Miss Josephine Baker.
We're Max and Molly.
We're here to help you problem solve.
Excuse me, everyone.
I have to help these children with something.
I'm glad you're here.
I love the fans, but...
They can be a little much.
But also, we have work to do.
Wow.
I can't believe we're working with Josephine Baker.
Do you always travel with your own soundtrack?
Always.
Do you always sparkle?
It's the mark of a star, Mon Cherie.
Anyways, let's talk.
Um, shouldn't we go somewhere more private?
After all, this is top secret.
It is, but do you know my little secret, Max?
What?
Hiding in plain sight.
Catch us, they might.
But with stars in their eyes, they won't suspect I'm a spy.
Oh, I get it.
If we hid away to talk, we'd look suspicious.
But staying right here under the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower, we'd look just like old friends catching up.
Exactly.
Not to mention it would be preposterous to think Europe's biggest star moi, would have the time or inclination to gather and share critical information right under the enemy's nose.
Really sneaky, Miss Baker.
But I gotta ask, why are you doing this?
America is my place of birth, darling.
But I abhor, that is, really, really hate discrimination of any kind.
Here in the 1940s, America is still struggling with racial discrimination.
So I have found a new home in Paris, where I'm more free to be me.
And I want to take care of my adopted country.
And thank goodness Paris is relatively safe from destruction.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World's Fair, or Exposition Universelle as it was called in 1889.
It's 1941 now, so how long ago, Max?
Um, let's see.
1941 minus 1889.
Add 11 to 1889 to make 1900.
Plus 41 equals 52 years ago.
Well done.
So she likes history and you like math?
What?
No, you got it backwards.
She's a math whiz.
I'm the history buff.
Oh, you could have fooled me.
We're each trying to get better at the other's strength.
That's what makes us such potent problem solvers.
Potent problem solvers?
I like that.
It's got a nice rhythm to it.
Speaking of problems, we've got one the size of the Eiffel Tower.
And what better way to solve it than by climbing to the top?
Excuse me?
Did you say climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
You're both young and look as strong as the iron used to make this thing.
Come on, it's only 1,665 steps.
Race you to the top.
So much for your luxurious vacation.
Oh, stop being such a baby.
Coming, Miss Baker.
Halfway there.
Hang on.
Let me catch my breath.
I gotta ask.
We're climbing to the top... of this 330 meter tower.
Why exactly?
Well, you did have a point earlier, Max, about this being top secret information.
And while I don't think there are any Axis enemy spies following me, you can never be too careful.
I get it.
If any German, Italian or Japanese spies were trailing us, we'd see and hear them hoofing it up from the stairs behind us.
But how is it... you're not out of breath?
Me?
I dance for a living.
This is nothing.
Clever.
And exhausting.
How many steps did you say there were again?
Just 1,665.
And we're halfway there?
Uh-huh.
Which means... I know, I know.
Um, 832 and a half steps to go.
Trust me, the 360-degree view of Paris will be worth it.
Race you to the top.
Wow.
This view is almost worth it.
Almost.
See that train station off in the distance?
That's the Gare du Nord.
I need you to meet me there.
Um, if we could fly down there from here, that would be one thing.
But I'm not so sure once we're back down on ground level.
What if I told you the angle from Gare du Nord to the top of this tower is 30 degrees?
Well, because this is a straight building that would make the shape formed by the tower, the ground and Gare du Nord a right triangle.
Good.
Go on.
Um, I could tell you that Gerdinor opened in 1846.
Nice to know, but not super helpful right now.
I could tell you, the tangent of our 30 degree angle is equal to the length of the height of the tower, which we know is 330 meters, over the length of the distance from here to the train station, which we don't know yet.
Ooh, you made that sound like silky jazz music.
What else?
My calculator tells me that the tangent or tan of 30 is 0.577.
So 0.577 equals 330 meters divided by X, our unknown distance.
We have to multiply both sides by X so we can isolate it to solve.
Changing our equation to 0.577 X equals 330.
Then divide both sides by 0.577.
Wow, she's good.
Told ya.
330 divided by .577 is...
571.92 meters.
Which is about one-third of a mile.
And based on the position of the sun, I'd say it's due north.
Hey, you two really are potent problem solvers.
Great.
Well, now that you know how to get there, I just need you to safety pin these notes and photographs inside your shirt.
Whoa, wait, what now?
This is very sensitive information I've collected at various embassy parties.
Performing, signing autographs, smiling, laughing, and stealing all their secrets.
All this information I've collected needs to get to Morocco, where the French Resistance Network is working.
Paint it to our clothes?
Backpacks are often subject to search, but rarely will they search what you're wearing, especially when you're traveling in style with me.
I get it.
It's like the dazzle camouflage used by ships in World War I. And to some extent today.
Naval ships were painted with black and white stripes in a number of directions.
Kind of like a zebra.
Interesting.
Go on.
At first glance, it's just confusing.
Is it a naval ship?
A ship for some other purpose?
Which way is it facing?
Which way is it going?
How far away is it?
Kind of like an optical illusion to throw off the enemy.
That's right.
Give him the old razzle-dazzle.
And meet me at Gare du Nord at dusk.
Okay, where are you going?
To pack.
Au revoir.
Wow, she's in sick shape.
She'd be awesome on the soccer team.
Or the track team.
Come on.
Um, was that a monkey?
It is a monkey.
Look!
Oh, and there's Josephine.
Wow, she does not travel light.
Hi, my potent problem solvers.
I just brought the essentials.
28 pieces of luggage, each with 10 costumes.
Two cages of mice with four mice per cage.
My Great Dane.
And my monkey.
I love that 280 costumes, eight mice, a dog, and a monkey are the essentials.
What can I say?
The stylish travel and style.
And when the Germans ask me for my papers, they usually mean autographs.
We're taking the train to Spain.
The train to Spain instead of a plane?
It would be quite insane to take a plane during a war campaign.
Max is right.
And on the train to Spain, we feign that we are merely traveling for fame.
Oh, no, officer.
We have far too much disdain for the war campaign.
Instead, we are taking the train to Spain to entertain.
And since the Axis Powers have your fame on the brain, when we feign taking the train to Spain to entertain, they remain unaware of your resistance campaign, including the information we've attained.
So this spy stuff is a tricky game with everything to lose, but everything to gain.
Got it.
Passing through Spain and on our way to neutral Portugal, where I will slip some sheet music to a waiting friend.
How does sheet music help the Allies?
I don't think it's the sheet music.
Smart boy.
Written on the sheet music in Invisible Ink is information about the movement of German troops.
Plus, some of the music is designed to give numeric information.
That's genius!
Molly reads music.
There are five lines and four spaces on a musical staff.
So nine placements for notes, including above and below the staff, and 12 notes at a chromatic scale.
And of course the different positions on the staff represent lettered notes A through G, So you can pass alphanumeric messages in plain sight.
Exact and more.
Max, this has been our answer all along.
What has?
Hiding in plain sight.
But we are not famous.
We don't have to be.
Plus, we don't have to travel with 28 pieces of luggage 8 mice, a Great Dane and a monkey to find out what the Pogs are up to.
We just have to take a job working with them.
Ooh, we feign that we're part of their campaign despite our disdain.
It won't even require a plane or a train.
We'll just use our brains to gain their trust.
Clever.
Give them the old razzle-dazzle.
Exact-a-mont.
This is where we split.
I, to meet my musical contacts.
You two, to the docks.
To the docks?
How is it we always end up on boats?
Because the farther back we go in time, the fewer effective means of transportation have been invented.
Oh.
That explains it.
Duh.
Just be glad we're not traveling by horse and cart.
That'd be bumpy.
Okay.
Boat it is.
Remember...
You're headed across the Mediterranean Sea to Morocco.
Last stop Casablanca, where we've set up an Allied Transmission Center to share intelligence that can help us defeat the Axis powers.
Good luck and Godspeed.
We're all counting on you.
People who think jet lag is bad should try boat and train and time travel all in one day.
Hang in there, Max.
This is what we signed up for.
Although if we get there sooner than later, I would not complain.
We did it!
They've got the notes and photos.
Time to go home.
Yep, we have our own spy mission to launch.
And thanks to Josephine Baker, we have a new strategy to do so.
Hiding in plain sight.
Hey, where'd you get that cool sequined jacket?
Josephine gave it to me.
Did she give you anything?
No, but I did get to pet her monkey.
Okay, here we go.
Well, that certainly was... extra.
Yep.
And speaking of extra, everyone's staring at your snazzy new coat.
Eh, let them look.
It's all part of Operation Hiding in Plain Sight.
And speaking of, how are we planning to get in with the pogs?
Let's check the job board.
Here's one.
Help wanted.
Special delivery person needed.
Cash upon completion.
Must be comfortable with light time travel.
Look, they put this notice up everywhere.
The Pogs must be really desperate to recruit new workers.
Great.
And we're here to answer their call in style.
This episode of Mysteries About True Histories was written by Libby Ward and voiced by Dexter Danger, Mayo Molly Smith, Kim Davis and Adam Tex Davis.
Original music by Brian Suarez.
Our associate producer is Max Kamaski.
Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn.
Mysteries About True Histories was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert, and is an Atomic Audio production.
