Escape's "Sire de Maletroit's Door" was based on the short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, which was first published in 1877. The full text is available online at Wikisource.
Escape made minor changes to the beginning, and their presentation is nicely done, but "Sire de Maletroit's Door" is not well-suited for an adventure program. The drama consists of courtly dialogue between two people who must decide whether or not to get married. If you like the story, you will appreciate Escape's presentation. If you don't like the story, their version probably won't change your opinion.
The episode opens in Paris in 1429 on a dark night. Denis de Beaulieu is running from the soldiers on patrol and ducks into an open door to hide until they pass. When he tries to leave...he can't get out.
Denis finds a staircase that leads him to the Sire de Maletroit--who appears to have been waiting for him! He then tries to explain that there must be a misunderstanding, but the Sire de Maletroit doesn't think so. He believes that Denis is the young captain who has been pursuing his niece, Blanche.
The Sire de Maletroit makes the situation clear to Denis: marry his niece or die.
"Sire de Maletroit's Door" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and produced and directed by William N. Robson. Elliott Lewis played Denis de Beaulieu and Peggy Webber played Blanche. Ramsay Hill played the Sire de Maletroit. This episode aired on August 4, 1947.
. Download Escape_1947.08.04_Sire_De_Maletroits_Door
(Image from Robert Louis Stevenson from Wikipedia)
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