In fact, here's the original story by de Maupassant. I was thinking this might be a fun one to ask: "Which is more fun to hear...the adaptation or the original?" I don't want to put down the latter, but I do think the RMT had some occasionally good adaptations. One thing about Martin's version...in retrospect, he gives us a big clue at the beginning to how all this could have happened.

I, too, loved the music. This was one of the scariest RMTs I can remember from my original listening days, and hearing it again, it's that "do-re-mi-fa-so-la-so-fa" in minor chords (done in three separate versions...one a simple one with (I think) some kind of mallet instrument and a harp(?) right after Alexander Scourby's character says he'll have to satisfy his curiosity about Sir John Rowell, one using violins when Sir John is bringing his "gift from America" in to unwrap it, and the full instrumentation one with low piano notes at the beginning, played both when Sir John is facing off with Scourby like a gunslinger, and also when Sir John's prediction has come true). Call me a wimp, but that music gave me chills in my younger days.

This was one of both Scourby's and Guy "Sir John" Sorrells best roles on the RMT, IMHO.