Some months have passed, and Albert and Monique are preparing for the grand opening of the Restaurant Candide on Brussels’ Grand Place, financed by London to allow Lifeline to continue its activities. Lifeline also recruits a new forger, Max Brocard. Alain brings a British agent to the Candide with an urgent request from London: a Brigadier General with information on a major Allied offensive in North Africa (named in the programme as Operation Torch) has been shot down on his way to a top secret meeting and must be rescued at all odds. Natalie has already discovered the Brigadier and prepares to take him down the line. However, disaster strikes when a German soldier is murdered, and in retaliation, Kessler orders that twenty people are to be held hostage and shot if the killer doesn’t give himself up. The Brigadier is one of the hostages.

Christmas is approaching, and Lifeline finds itself having to play Saint Nicholas when a wounded Group Captain is discovered by a group of abandoned children fending for themselves, who are prepared to sell the officer in turn for food and presents. However, Albert fears that it could all be an elaborate trap set up by the Germans. Meanwhile, Brandt finds his loyalties to Germany divided after recent events and confides his worries to Kessler.

Kessler tries to help Brandt as he tries to cope by heavy drinking and flirting with Monique at the Candide. Alain is forced to hide two evaders on his farm when a neighbour finds a wounded German fighter pilot on his property. It transpires that the pilot is a decorated flying ace and his plane is on the German secret list, and London asks for Lifeline’s assistance in getting him to England as a prisoner of war. Meanwhile, as Max prepares to bring his plans for Lifeline into fruition, Natalie demands that Albert take action.