by Alexandre Dumas from the version for broadcasting by Patrick Riddell
[Starring] Valentine Dyall and Leon Quartermaine
Produced by Peter Watts
When Edmond Dantes took over the command of the Pharaon on the captain's death at sea, he unwittingly also took over a secret letter from Napoleon on Elba to the Bonapartists in Paris.
Back in port at Marseilles his rival Danglars, who wants the captaincy for himself, induces Fernand Mondego, a fisherman in love with Edmond's betrothed Mercedes, to deliver a note betraying Edmond, who is arrested at his betrothal feast.
Gerard de Villefort, the procureur du roi at Marseilles, is about to release Edmond, but when he learns the name of the Bonapartist to whom the letter was to be given he sends Edmond to the terrible island prison of the Chateau d'lf.