Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Man Who Would Be King

"The Man Who Would Be King" is a classic short story by Rudyard Kipling that was first published in 1888. Escape's version makes a few changes for radio, but for the most part, it stays true to the original. If you want to read Kipling's short story, it is available online at Project Gutenberg. In 1975, "The Man Who Would Be King" was made into a film starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Christopher Plummer.

The episode begins inside a newspaper office on a stifling June night in Delhi. The narrator, Kipling, describes being visited by two men, Peachey Carnehan and Daniel Dravot. At first he doesn't know them, but then they remind him that they had met before. They had been posing as newspaper reporters and he had threatened to expose them to the authorities as frauds.

Now, Peachey and Daniel announce that they have decided to become kings by traveling to Kafiristan in Afghanistan.  Although the narrator doesn't believe their story, he agrees to meet them in the marketplace the next morning. There, Peachey and Daniel show him two camels loaded with weapons. Their plan is to travel to Kafiristan and establish themselves as rulers.

Three years pass, and the narrator suddenly receives another late night visit, but this time Peachey is alone.  Slowly, he recounts the story of how he and Daniel followed their plan to became kings of Kafiristan...

"The Man Who Would Be King," Escape's second episode, was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield. William N. Robson produced and directed. Raymond Lawrence played Peachey, Eric Snowden played Daniel, and Herbert Rawlinson played Kipling.

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Escape presented this story again on August 1, 1948. Ben Wright and Wilms Herbert played Peachy and Daniel. Also appearing were John Dehner, Peggy Webber, and Jack Kruschen.

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(Image of Echo Library edition)

Suspense - The Dead of the Night

In "The Dead of the Night," a brother helps his sister dispose of her dead husband's body.

Jimmy Barton was always close to his kid sister, Helen, but when he went away for a summer job at Lake Arrowhead, his sister made an impetuous decision to get married. 

Now, Jimmy has returned home just in time to find Helen running away from her abusive husband, Phil Armstrong.  She fears for her life and for Jimmy's,too, if he confronts Phil.

Reluctantly, Jimmy agrees to run away, too, but Phil catches up with them. One day, Jimmy comes home and finds Phil dead on the floor. Helen enters the room and starts screaming. Soon, their landlady, Mrs. Gordon is knocking on the door. Can Jimmy and Helen find a way to dispose of Phil so that neither of them will be blamed for his death?

"The Dead of the Night" was written by Mel Dinelli and produced/directed by William Spier. Robert Cummings, in the first of his two appearances on Suspense, starred as Jimmy. Also appearing were Lurene Tuttle, Wally Maher, and Walter Tetley. This episode aired on November 16, 1944.

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This story was presented again on June 19, 1947. William Spier produced/directed. Elliott Reid starred as Jimmy. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis and Wally Maher. (This time it was presented under the title "Dead of Night.")

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(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Escape - Pressure

In "Pressure," a submarine captain plays a cat and mouse game with an enemy destroyer.The story, which doesn't appear to be based on an actual incident, is set in November of 1944.

As the episode opens, the submarine, U.S.S. Amberfish, begins her patrol of the South China Seas. The sub has already been on three other patrols but none involved action. The crew is demoralized by their futile missions, as is their captain, Daniel Hall.

Off the southern coast of Japan, their situation changes. Captain Hall and his crew suddenly find themselves in a battle that strands them 400 feet below the surface. Will the enemy destroyer patrolling the waters above them be victorious, or will Captain Hall bring his crew and ship to safety?

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"Pressure" was written by Richard Chandlee and directed by Antony Ellis. William Conrad played the captain. Larry Thor was the narrator. Featured in the cast were Bob Sweeney, Hy Averback, Herb Ellis, Jerry Hausner, Frank Gerstle, Kurt Martell, and Eddie Firestone. This episode aired on March 22, 1953.

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Suspense - A Guy Gets Lonely

In "A Guy Gets Lonely," Dane Clark stars as a homesick, struggling actor who gets scammed by a con artist.

Eddie Lewis is alone in New York City and feeling bad. As the episode opens, he is haunting a noisy penny arcade on Broadway to pass the time. Loneliness can cause a guy to do things that he wouldn't ordinarily do.

At the arcade, Eddie meets an old man named Horace who understands his problems. Horace convinces Eddie that he needs "a little diversion"...a girl! Eddie agrees, and Horace invites him to come along on a fishing trip the next day. He knows a nice girl he wants to set Eddie up with...

"A Guy Gets Lonely" was written by Don Paul Nathanson. William Spier produced and directed. Dane Clark starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Howard Duff, Wally Maher, and Lurene Tuttle.

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(Image from Wikimedia Commons )

Suspense - The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein

In "The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein," Vincent Price stars as a spy who assumes the identity of a Nazi.

Charles Umberstein holds an important position in the Third Reich, but what his superiors don't suspect is that he is a spy. His mission seems to be going well, but he knows that one person has discovered him. He is being followed by someone...someone who knows.

Could it be his landlady who had reason to doubt him? Could it be that one of the other spies gave him away? Who is following him and why?

"The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein" was written by E. Jack Neuman. William Spier produced and directed. Vincent Price starred. This episode aired on November 23, 1943.

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Escape - Two and Two Make Four

"Two and Two Make Four" is an Escape episode about the Channel Tunnel back when it was still just an idea. The story was fanciful at the time that it aired in 1954, but the tunnel connecting England and France became a reality in 1994. This episode appears to be loosely based on an actual tunnel proprosal that was given to Napolean III in 1856.

As the episode opens, David Parker, an American merchant marine, has suddenly found himself robbed and alone somewhere in the country. He has no idea where he is or how he got there. 

When he meets a young American tourist on the road, he questions her. When she tells him that he is in England, he doesn't believe her. How could she be telling the truth? He was just in Calais!

Slowly, David does begin to accept that he is in England, but he doesn't understand how that is possible. A local eccentric then explains to David that he must have come through by the way of the tunnel...the secret one that no one knows about.

"Two and Two Make Four" was written by three-time Academy Award nominated screenwriter Walter Brown Newman. David Friedkin and Morton Fine produced and directed. Featured in the cast were Shep Menken, Joyce McClusky, Tudor Owen, and Richard Peel. This episode aired on August 21, 1954.

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Suspense - Dream Song

In "Dream Song," a man moves into an apartment building that is plagued by a maniac.

Charles Kenyon is a writer who has just moved into a new apartment. One night, while he is trying to concentrate on his work, he is distracted by the music coming from the apartment next door. His neighbor seems fixed on playing the same record over and over again.

Not long afterwards, the janitor and a police detective visit Charles to tell him that one of his upstairs neighbors has been horribly murdered. Charles was home all night, but he didn't hear anything because he was working. The murder is distressing, but when Charles tries to sleep, the music starts up again from next door.

Soon, another neighbor is murdered, and the police return. Charles then begins to wonder about the mysterious man in the apartment next door. Who is he?  Why must he always play the same record?

"Dream Song" was written by George Bellak and Ben Kerner. William Spier produced and directed.  Henry Morgan, in his only appearance on Suspense, starred as Charles Kenyon. Also appearing were  Joseph Kearns and Wally Maher. This episode aired on November 6, 1947.

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Suspense - Self Defense

In "Self Defense," Marsha Hunt stars as a woman who marries for money but then decides she wants love.

As the episode opens, Barbara Newell runs into Fred Dexter, an old boyfriend that she hasn't seen in six years. Their relationship ended when Barbara dumped him to marry someone with money. Now, she isn't happy in her marriage, but she is happy to see Fred. 

That night, Barbara's husband annouces that he has to take an extended business trip. Barbara is glad to hear it!  She spends the next few weeks with Fred, even though she knows that is wrong. Then, at a party, she meets Alex Maynard. Suddenly, she is love! Will Barbara ever decide what she wants, or will fate decide for her?

"Self Defense" was written by Arthur Julian and Howard Leeds. William Spier produced and directed. Marsha Hunt starred. Also appearing were Wally Maher and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on October 16, 1947.

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(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Escape - Poison

"Poison" is a short story by Roald Dahl that was first published in Collier's Weekly (June 3, 1950). The story, about a terrified man trapped in his bed by a deadly snake, is set in India during the period of British rule. In Escape's version, the two British characters were changed to Americans and original dialogue was added.  Escape's adaptation is to be admired in many respects. "Poison" is one of their finest episodes. 

Arthur Woods ,"Woodsy," and his business partner, Harry Pope, are in Bombay working on a construction job. Woodsy has adapted well to his new surroundings, but Harry doesn't like anyone or anything that isn't American.

One night, Woodsy goes out for the evening, while Harry stays home in bed to read. When Woodsy checks in on him later, he finds Harry trapped. A small krait has slipped into his bed, gone under the sheets, and fallen asleep on his stomach. If Harry moves, the little snake will kill him.

Woodsy calls his friend, Dr. Ganderbai, for help. The doctor goes to painstaking lengths to save his patient, but in the end, the real problem is Harry's venomous racism.

"Poison" was adapted for Escape by James Poe produced/directed by William N. Robson. Jack Webb played Woodsy and William Conrad, in one of his best performances, played Harry. Also appearing were Jay Novello and Charlie Lung. This episode aired on July 28, 1950.

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Suspense - Crisis

In "Crisis," Martha Scott stars as a mother who, while in a sleep-deprived haze, envisions her child's future and sees only the worst.

As the episode opens, a doctor arrives at the home of Mrs. Norquist. Her infant son, Kurt, has pneumonia, and she is caring for him by herself. No nurses are available to help because of a flu epidemic. The doctor tells Mrs. Norquist that she must stay awake all night and continue the baby's steam treatments.

Mrs. Norquist is exhausted, but she must stay awake. As she watches her baby inside of his steam tent, she begins to imagine what his future will be like, and what she imagines frightens her.

"Crisis" was written for Suspense by John Bagni and Gwen Bagni, but it is quite different from the kinds of episodes they wrote for Escape in later years. Anton M. Leader produced and directed. Martha Scott starred as Mrs. Norquist. Also appearing were Frank Lovejoy and Wally Maher. This episode aired on August 19, 1948.

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(Image of Martha Scott) 

Suspense - Will to Power

In "Will to Power," Dan Duryea stars in a drama about a secretary who takes the life, the wife, and the estate of his boss without any trouble...until a blackmailer arrives. 

Charles is the private secretary to Mr. Donovan. He is love with Roseann,  Mr. Donovan's wife, but the only way they can be together is if the old man is out of the way. So, they decide to get the old man out of the way.

Charles murders his boss by poisoning him and then pushing him out the window. Then, he marries the young widow right after the funeral. Then, Charles sends his new wife to prison for her late husband's murder. Fortunately, a blackmailer turns up to slow things down a bit. Can Charles get rid of his blackmailer too?

"Will to Power" was written by Frank Talbuss and produced/directed by William Spier. Dan Duryea starred. Also appearing were Howard Duff, Cathy Lewis, Joseph Kearns, and Wally Maher. This episode aired on January 9, 1947.

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Escape - The Outstation

"The Outstation" was closely adapted from a 1924 short story by W. Somerset Maugham about class conflict in a remote British outpost in Borneo. If you want to read the short story, it is available online here.

As the episode opens, Mr. Warburton is awaiting the arrival of his new assistant, Mr. Alan Cooper. Having been posted in Borneo for many years, Mr. Warburton has become accustomed to his solitary life as an officer among the Malays, and he is apprehensive about the change.

When Mr. Cooper arrives, Mr. Warburton finds him to be undignified and coarse in his manners. Worse still, he is abusive to the Malays. Mr. Warburton warns him that his behaviour is dangerous, but Mr. Cooper doesn't listen.

The two men have little in common in their backgrounds, and as time passes, it becomes impossible for them to adapt to each other.

"The Outstation" was adapted for radio and directed by Antony Ellis. Ben Wright starred as the  narrator, Alistair Duncan as Mr. Warburton and Richard Peel as Mr. Cooper. Also appearing were Dave Young and Terry Kilburn. This episode aired on July 12, 1953.

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Suspense - The Bullet

In "The Bullet," Elliot Lewis plays an ex-con who is insanely jealous of his wife's success, and Ida Lupino stars as his long-suffering wife. 

As the episode opens, Harry Martin is threatening his wife, Ruth, with a gun. Is it loaded? Ruth knows but Harry doesn't...

Then, we flash back to how their problems started. Harry, just recently released from a three year prison stint, came home to find that his wife, Ruth, was a changed woman. She had taken over his business while he was incarcerated and increased company profits drastically. Now they were able to afford a nice home, new car, a cook, etc.

Harry appreciates her efforts but now he wants her to go back to the kitchen. Ruth doesn't like that arrangement and neither does the company. Harry becomes increasingly hostile and violent towards his wife, until he reaches the point of wanting to kill her.

Will the two of them find a way to overcome their differences? (Who knows? This episode concludes with an awkward ending.) 

"The Bullet" was written by Larry Marcus. Produced by William Spier and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Ida Lupino starred as Ruth Martin and Elliot Lewis played Harry. Also appearing were William Conrad, Hans Conried, John Dehner, and Sidney Miller. This episode aired on December 29, 1949.

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Suspense - Account Payable

In "Account Payable," two fathers don't react well to the news that they may soon be in-laws.

Timothy Baker has been a bookeeper for twenty-two years. John Waterbury has been his boss for twenty-two years. Their relationship is a little more than a routine. Mr. Waterbury is mean and condescending, and Mr. Baker puts up with it. When Mr. Baker isn't at the office, his pleasant life revolves around his daughter, Jessie.

The routine changes dramatically when Mr. Waterbury's son and Mr. Baker's daughter meet and fall in love. Mr. Waterbury thinks his son, Bill, is too good for Jessie. Mr. Baker disagrees and wants his daughter to be happy. Will true love win out for Jessie and Bill, or will their fathers ruin it for them?

"Account Payable" was written by Robert Flask. William Spier produced and Norman MacDonnell directed. Edward Arnold starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns and Lurene Tuttle. This episode aired on October 13, 1949.

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(Image of Edward Arnold from Wikipedia)