Steve Lipkin

Betrayals Steve Lipkin

They saw the murder of their parents and scores of people from their town. They had to act. They did. 1940. The Nazis occupy Montmarie, the small town where the teenaged Jean-Paul Arnaud and Michelle Kaplan have begun to fall in love. An informer discloses that the town's Jewish families have tried to hide in the Arnaud's barn. Michelle, Jean-Paul, and Jean-Paul's older brother, Charles, witness the round-up and execution of their parents. The three teenagers escape, seek refuge in the woods, and resist the Occupation. Andre, Michelle's son, is born shortly before the Allies land in Normandy. It is possible that Charles may be Andre's father. Still on the run, they entrust Andre to Marie, a friend who can keep him safe on her farm. The three are captured just before the Allies retake France. The war ends. Michelle searches in vain for Andre. Marie learns that Michelle and Jean-Paul have moved to Los Angeles. She writes Michelle to tell her where she and Andre now live. She also sends a picture of Charles with his business partner. Michelle recognizes him as Raucher, the Nazi SS commandant who supervised the massacre of their townspeople. She confronts Jean-Paul with the picture. They fight. Michelle ends up shooting Jean-Paul. Michelle pleads with Robert Parrish, her lawyer's husband, to find Andre. A politically ambitious district attorney accuses Michelle and, by association, Laura Parrish, her lawyer, of Communist affiliations. With the help of Robert and Laura Parrish, Michelle faces a politically-charged murder trial, the need to find and recover her son, and the return of Charles who must prevent anyone from finding Andre at all costs.