def read_template_source(filename):
    """Read the source of a RiveScript template, returning the Unicode text."""
 
    try:                    # v0.2.0: Issue #3
        with open(filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
            text = f.read()
    except Exception:       # v0.2.0: Issue #3
        text = ''           # v0.2.0: Issue #3
 
    return text