What happens
In September 1939, as Germany prepares to invade Poland, Sir Everard Dominey, a baronet who has spent years in Africa, returns to England. Before the trip he had met a German agent, Dr. Schmidt, who arranges for Leopold von Ragastein to take Dominey's place. Ragastein, posing as the real Sir Everard, visits his family estate, Dominey Hall, and tries to convince Lady Dominey, who is unwell, and the local staff that he is her husband. Meanwhile he is drawn into old entanglements, including a former lover, Stephanie Strom. The episode is adapted from E. Phillips Oppenheim's novel The Great Impersonation and was broadcast on the Escape radio series on April 23, 1949, starring Ben Wright.
Tanganyika, Africa and England, 1939
Characters: Sir Everard Dominey, Leopold von Ragastein, Dr. Schmidt, Mr. Mangan, Simon Seaman, Lady Dominey, Mrs. Unthank, Stephanie Strom
Listen for: The moment Ragastein first takes on Dominey's identity and the tension when he is recognised by people who knew Sir Everard.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.