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Series: Suspense
Show: Sorry, Wrong Number ( A second transcript)
Date: Aug 21 1943
CAST:
THE MAN IN BLACK
MRS. STEVENSON
OPERATOR
1ST MAN
GEORGE
CHIEF OPERATOR
SERGEANT MARTIN
3RD MAN
INFORMATION
WOMAN
ANNOUNCER
MUSIC : BERNARD HERRMANN'S SUSPENSE THEME
THE MAN IN BLACK: "SUSPENSE!" ...
MUSIC : THEME CONTINUES FOR A BIT ... THEN UNDER
THE MAN IN BLACK: This is the Man in Black, here to introduce Columbia's program ... "SUSPENSE." Tonight, as we premiere our new Saturday evening series on the air, Miss Agnes Moorehead returns to our stage to appear in the study in terror by Lucille Fletcher called, "Sorry, Wrong Number." This story of a woman who accidentally overheard a conversation with death, and who strove frantically to prevent murder from claiming an innocent victim, is being repeated by popular request as tonight's tale of ... suspense. If you've been with us before, you will know that "SUSPENSE" is compounded of mystery and suspicion and dangerous adventure. In this series are tales calculated to intrigue you, to stir your nerves, to offer you a precarious situation and then ... withhold the solution ... until the last possible moment. And so it is with the story "Sorry, Wrong Number" and the performance of Miss Agnes Moorehead, we again hope to keep you in ... MUSIC: UP, DRAMATICALLY THE MAN IN BLACK: ... SUSPENSE! MUSIC: OUT SOUND: NUMBER BEING DIALED ON TELEPHONE -- THEN A BUSY SIGNAL MRS. STEVENSON: (A COMPLAINING, DEMANDING, SELF-CENTERED, NERVOUS PERSON) Oh -- dear ...! SOUND: SLAMS DOWN RECEIVER IMPATIENTLY AND DIALS OPERATOR ... RINGS FOUR TIMES OPERATOR: (ON FILTER) Your call, please?
MRS. STEVENSON: Operator, I've been dialing Murray Hill 7-0093 now for the last three quarters of an hour and the line is always busy. I don't see how it could be busy that long. Will you try it for me, please? OPERATOR: (ON FILTER) I will be glad to try that number for you. One moment, please. SOUND: OPERATOR DIALS NUMBER UNDER FOLLOWING MRS. STEVENSON: (RAMBLING, FULL OF SELF-PITY) I don't see how it could be busy all this time. It's my husband's office. He's working late tonight, and I'm all alone here in the house. My health is very poor and I've been feeling so nervous all day. OPERATOR: (ON FILTER) Ringing Murray Hill 7-0093. SOUND: TELEPHONE RINGING ... ALL CLEAR ... MRS. STEVENSON SIGHS IN RELIEF ... RINGS FOUR TIMES ... THE RECEIVER IS PICKED UP AT THE OTHER END MAN'S VOICE: (FILTER) (HEAVY, TOUGH VOICE) Hello? MRS. STEVENSON: Hello...? (A LITTLE PUZZLED) Hello. Is - is Mr. Stevenson there? MAN'S VOICE: (AS THOUGH HE HAD NOT HEARD) Hello? (LOUDER) Hello? 2ND MAN'S VOICE: (FILTER) (ALSO OVER TELEPHONE BUT FARTHER AWAY ... A VERY DISTINCTIVE QUALITY) Hello. 1ST MAN: Hello. George? GEORGE: Yes, sir. This is George speaking. MRS. STEVENSON: (LOUDER AND MORE IMPERIOUS) Hello. Who's this? What number am I calling, please? 1ST MAN: I'm here with our client. GEORGE: (PLEASED) Oh ... good. Is everything okay? Is the coast clear for tonight? 1ST MAN: Yeah, George. He says the coast is clear for tonight. GEORGE: Okay, okay. 1ST MAN: Where are you now? GEORGE: In a phone booth. Don't worry. Everything's okay. 1ST MAN: Very well. You know the address? GEORGE: Yeah, yeah, I know. At eleven o'clock the private patrolman goes around to the bar on Second Avenue for a beer. 1ST MAN: That's right. At eleven o'clock. GEORGE: I will make sure that all the lights downstairs are out. 1ST MAN: There should be only one light, visible from the street.
MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, why are you so stupid? What time is it? Do you mean to tell me you can't find out what that number was just now? OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'll connect you with the Chief Operator. MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, I think it's perfectly shameful. Now, look. Look -- it was obviously a case of some little slip of the finger. I told you to try Murray Hill 7-0093 for me. You dialed it but your finger must have slipped and I was connected with some other number -- and I could hear them, but they couldn't hear me. Now, I - I - I simply fail to see why you couldn't make that same mistake again on purpose -- why you couldn't try to dial Murray Hill 7-0093 in the same sort of careless way -- OPERATOR: (FILTER) Murray Hill 7-0093? MRS. STEVENSON: Yes! OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'll try to get it for you. MRS. STEVENSON: Well, thank you. SOUND: OPERATOR DIALS -- THEN THE BUSY SIGNAL OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'm sorry. Murray Hill 7-0093 is busy. I'll call you in twenty minutes-- MRS. STEVENSON: (FRANTICALLY CLICKING RECEIVER) Operator! Operator! Operator! Operator! OPERATOR: (FILTER) Your call, please? MRS. STEVENSON: You didn't try to get that wrong number at all. I asked you explicitly and all you did was dial correctly. OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'm sorry. What number are you calling? MRS. STEVENSON: Well, can't you, for once, forget what number I'm calling and do something for me? Now I want to trace that call. It's my civic duty and it's your civic duty to trace that call and to apprehend those dangerous killers -- and if you won't... OPERATOR: (FILTER) I will connect you with the Chief Operator. MRS. STEVENSON: Please! SOUND: RINGS FOUR TIMES MRS. STEVENSON: (UNDER HER BREATH) Oh, dear ... SOUND: THE PHONE PICKS UP CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) This is the Chief Operator. MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, uh, Chief Operator. I want you to trace a call, a telephone call, immediately. I don't know where it came from, or who was making it, but it's absolutely necessary that it be tracked down. Because it was about a murder that someone's planning -- a terrible, cold-blooded murder of a poor innocent woman, tonight, at eleven-fifteen.
CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) I see. MRS. STEVENSON: (HIGH-STRUNG, DEMANDING) Well, can you trace it for me? Can you track down those men? CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'm not certain. It depends. MRS. STEVENSON: Depends on what? CHIEF OPERATOR: It depends on whether the call is still going on. If it's a live call, we can trace it on the equipment. If it's been disconnected, we can't. MRS. STEVENSON: Disconnected? CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) If the parties have stopped talking to each other. MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, but of course they must have stopped talking to each other by now. That was at least five minutes ago and they didn't sound like the type who would make a long call. CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) Well -- I can try tracing it. May I have your name, please? MRS. STEVENSON: Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Elbert Stevenson. But, listen -- CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) (INTERRUPTING) And your telephone number, please? MRS. STEVENSON: Plaza 4-2295. But if you go on wasting all this time -- CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) Why do you want this call traced, please? MRS. STEVENSON: Wha--? I-- Well -- no reason. I - I mean, I merely felt very strongly that something ought to be done about it. These men sounded like killers -- they're dangerous, they're going to murder this woman at eleven-fifteen tonight and I thought the police ought to know. CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) Have you reported this to the police? MRS. STEVENSON: Well ... No. Not yet. CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) You want this call checked purely as a private individual? MRS. STEVENSON: Yes, yes. But meanwhile -- CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'm sorry, Mrs. Stevenson, but I'm afraid we couldn't make this check for you and trace the call just on your say-so as a private individual. We'd have to have something more official. MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, for heaven's sake. You mean to tell me I can't report that there's gonna be a murder without getting tied up in all this red tape? Why, it's perfectly idiotic! (BEAT) Well, all right. I'll call the police. CHIEF OPERATOR: (FILTER) Thank you. I'm sure that would be the best way to-- SOUND: SHE SLAMS DOWN THE RECEIVER MRS. STEVENSON: Ridiculous! Perfectly ridiculous! SOUND: SHE DIALS THE OPERATOR ... RINGS FIVE TIMES
MRS. STEVENSON: 53 North Sutton Place. Five-three North Sutton Place. That's near a bridge. The Queensboro Bridge, you know and -- and - and we have a private patrolman on our street... and Second Avenue -- SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) And what was that number you were calling? MRS. STEVENSON: Murray Hill 7-0093. But that wasn't the number I overheard. I mean Murray Hill 7-0093 is my husband's office. He's working late tonight and I was trying to reach him to ask him to come home. I'm an invalid, you know, and it's the maid's night off and I hate to be alone, even though he says I'm perfectly safe as long as I have the telephone right beside my bed. SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) (STOLIDLY) Well, we'll look into it, Mrs. Stevenson, and see if we can check it with the telephone company. MRS. STEVENSON: (GETTING IMPATIENT) But the telephone company said they couldn't check the call if the parties had stopped talking. I've already taken care of that! SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) (A FAINT HINT OF SARCASM) Oh, you have? MRS. STEVENSON: (HIGH-HANDED) Yes. And, personally, I feel you ought to do something far more immediate and drastic than just check the call. What good does checking the call do if they've stopped talking? By the time you tracked it down they'll already have committed the murder. SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) (GIVING HER THE "BRUSH OFF") Well, we'll take care of it. Don't you worry. MRS. STEVENSON: Well, I'd say the whole thing calls for a search, a complete and thorough search of the whole city. Now, I'm very near the bridge and I'm not far from Second Avenue -- and I know I'd feel a whole lot better if you sent around a radio car to this neighborhood at once! SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) And what makes you think the murder's going to be committed in your neighborhood, ma'am? MRS. STEVENSON: Well, I -- Oh, I don't know. Only the coincidence is so horrible. Second Avenue -- the patrolman -- the bridge. SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Second Avenue is a very long street, ma'am. And you know how many bridges there are in the city of New York alone? MRS. STEVENSON: Yes, I know-- SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Not to mention Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx. MRS. STEVENSON: I know that! SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) How do you know there isn't some little house on Staten Island on some little Second Avenue you've never even heard about? How do you know they're even talking about New York at all? MRS. STEVENSON: But I heard the call on the New York dialing system. SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Maybe it was a long-distance call you overheard. MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, don't--
SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Telephones are funny things. Look, lady, why don't you look at it this way? Supposing you hadn't broken in on that telephone call? Supposing you'd got your husband the way you always do. You wouldn't be so upset, would you? MRS. STEVENSON: Well, no, I suppose not. Only it sounded so inhuman -- so cold-blooded. SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) A lot of murders are plotted in this city every day, ma'am. We manage to prevent almost all of 'em. MRS. STEVENSON: But-- SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) But a clue of this kind is so vague -- it isn't much more use to us than no clue at all. MRS. STEVENSON: But, surely, you -- SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Unless, of course, you have some reason for thinking this call was phony and -- that someone may be planning to murder you. MRS. STEVENSON: Me? Oh -- oh, no -- no, I hardly think so. I -- I mean, why should anybody? I'm alone all day and night. I see nobody except my maid, Eloise, and -- she's a big girl, she weighs two hundred pounds -- she's too lazy to bring up my breakfast tray and -- the only other person is my husband, Elbert. He's crazy about me -- he - he just adores me. He waits on me hand and foot. He's scarcely left my side since I took sick, well, twelve years ago.... SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Well, then, there's nothing for you to worry about. Now, if you'll just leave the rest of this to us, we'll take care of it. MRS. STEVENSON: (NOT COMPLETELY MOLLIFIED) But what will you do? It's so late ... it's nearly eleven now! SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) (MORE FIRMLY) We'll take care of it, lady. MRS. STEVENSON: Will you broadcast it all over the city? And send out squads? And warn your radio cars to watch out -- especially in suspicious neighborhoods like mine -- SERGEANT MARTIN: (FILTER) Lady, I said we'd take care of it. Just now I've got a couple of other matters here on my desk that require immediate attention. Good night, ma'am, and thank you. MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, you--! You--! SOUND: SHE SLAMS DOWN THE RECEIVER HARD MRS. STEVENSON: Idiot! Oh, now, why did I hang up the phone like that? He'll think I am a fool! (PAUSE) Oh -- why doesn't Elbert come home? Why doesn't he? Why doesn't he come home? SOUND: SHE SOBS, MUTTERS, AND DIALS THE OPERATOR ... RINGS FIVE TIMES OPERATOR: (FILTER) Your call, please? MRS. STEVENSON: Operator, for heaven's sake, will you ring that Murray Hill 7-0093 number again? I can't think what's keeping him so long!
OPERATOR: (FILTER) The dial system is automatic. MRS. STEVENSON: (GASPS IN EXASPERATION) OPERATOR: (FILTER) If someone is trying to dial your number, there is no way to check it if the call is coming through the system or not -- unless the person who's trying to reach you complains to his particular operator. MRS. STEVENSON: Well, of all the stupid -- and meanwhile I've got to sit here in my bed, suffering every time that phone rings, imagining everything ... OPERATOR: (FILTER) I will try to check the trouble for you. MRS. STEVENSON: Check it! Check it! That's all anybody can do! Oh, what's the use of talking to you? You're so stupid! SOUND: SHE SLAMS DOWN THE RECEIVER. MRS. STEVENSON: (TO HERSELF) Oh, I'll fix her! Of all the impudent ... How dare she speak to me like that? How dare she? SOUND: DIALS OPERATOR MRS. STEVENSON: (TO HERSELF) Call the operator ... SOUND: RINGS FIVE TIMES MRS. STEVENSON: (TO HERSELF, ON THE SECOND RING) Oh, why does it take so long? OPERATOR: (FILTER) Your call, please? MRS. STEVENSON: Young woman, I don't know your name. But there are ways of finding you out. And I'm going to report you to your superiors for the most unpardonable rudeness and insolence it's ever been my privilege-- Give me the business office at once! OPERATOR: (FILTER) You may dial that number direct. MRS. STEVENSON: Dial it direct? I'll do no such thing! I don't even know the number... OPERATOR: (FILTER) The number is in the directory or you may secure it by dialing Information. MRS. STEVENSON: Listen, here, you-- Oh, what's the use! SOUND: SLAMS DOWN THE RECEIVER MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, dear ... SOUND: ALMOST INSTANTLY, THE PHONE RINGS MRS. STEVENSON: Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm going out of my mind! Out of my-- SOUND: SHE PICKS UP THE RECEIVER
MRS. STEVENSON: Hello?! HELLO! Stop ringing me, do you hear? Answer me! Who is this? Do you realize you're driving me crazy? Who's calling me? What are you doing it for? Now stop it! Stop it! Stop it! HELLO! HELLO! I - I - If you don't stop ringing me, I'm going to call the police, do you hear?! THE POLICE! SOUND: SHE SLAMS DOWN THE RECEIVER MRS. STEVENSON: (SOBBING NERVOUSLY) Oh, if Elbert would only come home! SOUND: THE PHONE RINGS SHARPLY, SEVEN TIMES UNDER THE FOLLOWING MRS. STEVENSON: (TO HERSELF) Oh, let it ring. Let it go on ringing. It's a trick of some kind. I won't answer it. I won't. I won't. I won't, even if it goes on ringing all night. Oh, you ring. Go ahead and ring. SOUND: THE PHONE SUDDENLY STOPS -- THEN SILENCE MRS. STEVENSON: (A TERRIFIED NOTE IN HER VOICE) Stopped. Now, now what's the matter? Why did they stop ringing all of a sudden? Oh... (HYSTERICALLY) What time is it? Where did I put that ... clock? Oh, here it is. Five to eleven ... oh, they've decided something. They're sure I'm home. They heard my voice answer them just now. That's why they've been ringing me -- why no one has answered me -- SOUND: SHE PICKS UP THE PHONE MRS. STEVENSON: (TO HERSELF) I'll call the operator again. SOUND: SHE DIALS OPERATOR ... RINGS FIVE TIMES MRS. STEVENSON: (TO HERSELF, ON THE SECOND RING) Oh, where is she? Why doesn't she answer? Why doesn't she answer? OPERATOR: (FILTER) Your call, please? MRS. STEVENSON: Where were you just now? Why didn't you answer at once? Give me the Police Department. SOUND: OPERATOR PUTS CALL THROUGH ... BUSY SIGNAL OPERATOR: (FILTER) I'm sorry. The line is busy. I will call you-- MRS. STEVENSON: Busy? But that's impossible! The Police Department can't be busy. There must be other lines available. OPERATOR: (FILTER) The line is busy. I will try to get them for you later. MRS. STEVENSON: (FRANTIC) No, no! I've got to speak to them now or it may be too late. I've got to talk to someone! OPERATOR: (FILTER) What number do you wish to speak to? MRS. STEVENSON: (DESPERATELY): I don't know! But there must be someone to protect people beside the police department! A - a - a -- detective agency -- a -- OPERATOR: (FILTER) You will find agencies listed in the Classified Directory.
OPERATOR: (FILTER) You may dial that number direct ... SOUND: MRS. STEVENSON HANGS UP MRS. STEVENSON: (WRETCHEDLY) Oh ... SOUND: SHE PICKS UP AND NERVOUSLY DIALS THE NUMBER DIRECT, SOUNDING OUT THE NUMBERS UNDER HER BREATH ... IT GOES THROUGH, RING AFTER LONG RING ... SEVEN TIMES ... NO ANSWER MRS. STEVENSON: Oh ... He's gone. He's gone. Oh, Elbert, how could you? How could you --? SOUND: SHE HANGS UP THE PHONE MRS. STEVENSON: (SOBS, PITYING HERSELF) How could you? I - I can't be alone tonight. I can't. If I'm alone one more second, I'll go mad. I don't care what he says -- or what the expense is -- I'm a sick woman ... I'm entitled ... I'm entitled ... SOUND: SHE DIALS INFORMATION ... RINGS THREE TIMES INFORMATION: (FILTER) Information. May I help you? MRS. STEVENSON: I - I want the telephone number of Henchley Hospital. INFORMATION: (FILTER) Henchley Hospital? Do you have the street address? MRS. STEVENSON: No. No. It's somewhere in the seventies. It's a very small, private, and exclusive hospital where I had my appendix out two years ago. Henchley -- uh, H-E-N-C -- INFORMATION: (FILTER) One moment, please. MRS. STEVENSON: Please hurry. And please -- what is the time? INFORMATION: (FILTER) You may find out the time by dialing Meridian 7-1212. MRS. STEVENSON: (IRRITATED) Oh, for heaven's sake ... I've no time to be dialing ... INFORMATION: (FILTER) The number of Henchley Hospital is Butterfield 7-0105. MRS. STEVENSON: Butterfield 7-0105. SOUND: SHE HANGS UP BEFORE SHE FINISHES SPEAKING, AND DIALS NUMBER EVEN AS SHE SPEAKS ... RINGS FOUR TIMES WOMAN: (FILTER) (SOLID, FIRM, PRACTICAL) Henchley Hospital. Good evening. MRS. STEVENSON: Nurses' registry. WOMAN: (FILTER) Who was it you wished to speak to, please? MRS. STEVENSON: (HIGH-HANDED) I want the nurse's registry, at once. I want a trained nurse. I want to hire her immediately for the night. WOMAN: (FILTER) I see. And what is the nature of the case, madam?
MRS. STEVENSON: Nerves. I'm very nervous. I need soothing -- companionship. You see, my husband is away and I'm-- WOMAN: (FILTER) Have you been recommended to us by any doctor in particular, madam? MRS. STEVENSON: No. But I really don't see why all this catechizing is necessary. I just want a trained nurse. I was a patient in your hospital two years ago. And after all, I do expect to pay this person for attending me. WOMAN: (FILTER) We quite understand that, madam. But these are war times, you know. MRS. STEVENSON: Well-- WOMAN: (FILTER) Registered nurses are very scarce just now -- and our superintendent has asked us to send people out only on cases where the physician in charge feels that it is absolutely necessary. MRS. STEVENSON: (HIGH-HANDED) Well, it is absolutely necessary. I'm a sick woman. I'm - I'm very upset. Very. I'm alone in this house -- and I'm an invalid -- and tonight I overheard a telephone conversation that upset me dreadfully. In fact (BEGINNING TO YELL) if someone doesn't come at once, I'm afraid I'll go out of my mind! WOMAN: (FILTER) (CALMLY) I see. Well -- I'll speak to Miss Phillips as soon as she comes in. And what is your name, madam? MRS. STEVENSON: Miss Phillips? And when do you expect her in? WOMAN: (FILTER) Well, I really couldn't say. She went out to supper at eleven o'clock. MRS. STEVENSON: Eleven o'clock! But it's not eleven yet! (SHE CRIES OUT) Oh -- oh, my clock has stopped. I thought it was running down. What time is it? WOMAN: (FILTER) (PAUSING AS THOUGH GLANCING AT WRIST WATCH) Just fifteen minutes past eleven.... SOUND: TELEPHONE RECEIVER BEING LIFTED ON THE SAME LINE AS MRS. STEVENSON'S MRS. STEVENSON: (CRYING OUT) What - what was that? WOMAN: (FILTER) What was ... what, madam? MRS. STEVENSON: That -- that click -- just now, in my own telephone. As though someone had lifted the receiver off the hook of the extension telephone downstairs. WOMAN: (FILTER) Well, I didn't hear it, madam. Now, about this-- MRS. STEVENSON: (TERRIFIED): But I did. There's someone in this house. Someone downstairs in the kitchen. And they're -- they're listening to me now. They're -- SOUND: MRS. STEVENSON HANGS UP MRS. STEVENSON: (IN A SUFFOCATED VOICE) I won't pick it up. I -- I won't let them hear me. I'll be quiet and they'll think... (WITH GROWING TERROR) Oh, but if I don't call someone now while they're still down there, there'll be no time....
