Parking brake cable removal

94 Tarus SW. Anyone know the secret for removing the brake cable housing. After I take the end off of the lever I deadend. I have the new unit and there does not appear to be a nut or anything to use. Looks like it should just pull out. Thanks

My Haynes manuual says to use a set of Channel Lock diagonal pliers to grip the cable and pull it to the point where the cable can be slipped off the hooking mechanism on the plate. After trying this for over half an hour, hoping I did not cut the cable accidentally, I gave up. Fortunately, the shoes were not worn to the point that I had to replace them at that time. I was replacing my wheel cylinders that had started to bind.