Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio — Dangerously Yours 44-09-24: 13 Berkeley Square

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Theme: A dramatic radio adaptation of time travel, love, and fate, blending elements of romance, history, and the supernatural in Victor Jory’s starring turn as Peter Standish in "Berkeley Square" (Dangerously Yours series).

Overview

This episode transports listeners into a haunting story of an American, Peter Standish, who finds himself transported from the 20th century to 18th-century London, trading places with his own ancestor. The narrative explores the collision between eras, the mysteries of fate and destiny, and a love that transcends time. This radio drama, scripted with rich language and atmospheric detail, is part of the Golden Age of Radio tradition, offering an immersive, theatrical experience steeped in nostalgia and wonder.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Highlights

1. The Premise and Time Travel Mystery

• Peter Standish inherits an old house in England and becomes obsessed with his ancestor, also named Peter Standish.
• He posits that “to God there is no past, present and future,” and ponders if time as we know it is merely “an idea in the mind.” (02:13)
• While with Marjorie, his fiancée, Peter experiences a mysterious shift: he finds himself dressed in 18th-century clothes, addressed by his ancestor’s relatives, and the portrait above the fireplace is gone. (05:12)

2. Introducing the Pettigrews

• Peter is introduced to the Pettigrew family: Lady Anne, her daughters Kate and Helen, and son Tom, as well as Helen’s suitor, Mr. Throstle.
• The narrative quickly establishes period atmosphere: social customs, attention to manners, and layered relationships. (06:47)

3. Clash of Centuries

• Peter is caught between worlds; his advanced knowledge and odd expressions confuse and even frighten the 18th-century household.
• He inadvertently predicts what’s inside a gift and slips New York slang, arousing suspicion. (07:17)
• Sir Joshua Reynolds, the famed portrait artist, refuses to paint Peter, saying, “There’s something in your face...that’s unreal. Something I would never be able to capture.” (10:03)

4. Romantic Entanglements and Tensions

• Peter is expected to wed Kate but finds himself drawn to Helen. Their growing closeness and mutual attraction transgress social and familial expectations.
• Kate accuses Peter of “knowing what’s going to happen before it happens,” and fears he is not entirely human. (11:14)
• Helen, on the other hand, is sympathetic and open to Peter’s strange explanations, sensing his love and the mystery around him. Their romance builds in secrecy and intensity. (13:09, 16:49)

5. Revelation and Accusation

• As the family grows more suspicious, Kate exposes Peter by consulting the American minister, who denies the authenticity of his modern expressions.
• The family accuses Peter of possessing his ancestor’s body and being “a fiend from hell.” The accusation escalates, with threats of punishment and ruin. (19:03–20:16)
• Peter, in a moment of contempt and agony, rails against the backwardness and cruelty of the 18th century, calling them “savages” and their world a time of “dirt, disease, cruelty.” (19:23)

6. Love Across Time & The Inevitability of Parting

• Helen and Peter confess their mutual love, acknowledging that their connection defies all explanation and eras.
• Helen gently tells him, “We shall be together always, Peter. Not in my time, nor in yours, but in God’s.” (22:19)
• They part in heartbreak, knowing that Peter must return to his own world.

7. Return to the Present and Aftermath

• Peter wakes in his own time, finding himself ill but restored to the modern world. Marjorie greets him, realizing he has changed.
• He ends his engagement to Marjorie, confesses his love for a woman from 140 years ago, and reads Helen’s epitaph:

  “Here lies, in the confident hope of the blessed resurrection and life eternal, Helen Pettigrew, beloved younger daughter of Sir William Pettigrew and Lady Anne Pettigrew, who departed this life June 15, 1787, age 23 years.” (25:38)

• The story closes with Peter affirming that Helen’s presence will remain eternal in the house—and in his heart—beyond both their times.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Nature of Time:
  Peter Standish: “To God, there is no past, present and future. Time as we know it is nothing but an idea in the mind. In the mind of man.” (02:13)

• On Being Out of Place:
  Sir Joshua Reynolds: “There’s something in your face and your eyes that’s unreal. Something I would never be able to capture.” (10:03)

• Love Transcending Time:
  Helen Pettigrew: “We shall be together always, Peter. Not in my time, nor in yours, but in God’s.” (22:19)
  Peter Standish: “Oh, darling. Darling, I love you now. I shall love you in my own time and in whatever time may come.” (23:08)

• Accusation and Judgment:
  Kate Pettigrew: “If they’re used at all, the devils use them in hell.” (18:58)

• Despair and Return:
  Peter Standish: “Oh, my dear. I’ve seen your shadow on the stairs. I’ve seen your hand rest on this desk. I’ve seen you sitting by that window. And you’ll always be close to me in this house. You’ll always be the living, beautiful soul of this house.” (25:59)

Important Timestamps

• 00:31 — Adventure Narrator’s opening on the nature of adventure and time
• 01:19 — Peter Standish hints at his time travel experience
• 05:12 — Peter realizes he has crossed into the 18th century
• 09:45 — Sir Joshua Reynolds refuses to paint Peter
• 13:09, 16:49 — Peter and Helen’s love deepens; Helen asks about the future
• 19:03–20:16 — Family confrontation and accusations against Peter
• 22:19 — The parting promise between Peter and Helen
• 24:00 — Peter wakes in his own time
• 25:38 — Recitation of Helen’s epitaph and Peter’s sorrowful monologue

Tone & Language

The episode is steeped in romantic melancholy, poetic language, and a sense of wistful longing with gothic undertones. The dialogue is formal, rich with period detail and emotional intensity, capturing both the beauty and tragedy of a love story defying the limits of time.

For Listeners

Even if you haven’t heard the episode, this summary provides a full picture of its themes, dramatic turns, and memorable lines. Dangerously Yours: 13 Berkeley Square epitomizes classic radio storytelling—blending supernatural intrigue, historical detail, romance, and existential questions that still resonate today.