Now, the Romo Wine Company of Fresno, California presents...
Suspense.
Tonight, in response to requests from many thousands of listeners, Romo Wines bring you
the Metro Golden Mayor star, Miss Agnes Moorhead, in Sorry Wrong Number, a suspense play produced
and edited and directed for Romo Wines by William Spear.
Suspense.
Radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Romo Wines.
That's R-O-M-A, Romo Wines.
Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live,
to your happiness and entertaining guests, to your enjoyment of everyday meals.
Before we bring you Agnes Moorhead and our suspense play, here's a message from Romo
Wines.
Today, big transports were warped into piers on both sides of the continent.
Thousands of Americans came home, home for good.
If you are waiting for someone to come running up your steps, you must have filled your pantry
with good things to enjoy.
One of the good things to enjoy is Roma California Sherry, as first called a dinner or later
in the evening.
In the words of famed hostess Elsa Maxwell, there is nothing friendlier, nothing more
heartwarming than delicious Roma Sherry.
A good and happy wine, gold and amber with a rich nut-like taste.
Serve cool.
Roma Sherry, like all famous Roma wines, is made from carefully selected grapes from California's
choicest vineyards.
Grapes gathered at the peak of their flavor goodness when every grape is hanging firm
and full on the vine, quickly but gently pressed, then by a process as slow as time, brought
to delicious liquid perfection and bottled in Roma's famed wineries.
Is unvaryingly good, yet Roma wines cost only pennies a glass.
Remember because of uniformly fine quality at reasonable cost, more Americans enjoy Roma
than any other wine.
R-O-M-A, Roma wines.
Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant as Roma wines bring you a remarkable
tale of suspense.
And with sorry wrong number, Lucille Fletcher's incomparable study in Terra and with the performance
of Miss Agnes Moorhead, Roma wines hope indeed to keep you in suspense.
Oh dear.
Your call please.
Operator I've been dialing Murray Hill 40098 now for the last few 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?
I will be glad to try that number for you.
One moment please.
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.
Ringing Murray Hill 40098.
Hello?
Is Mr. Stevenson there?
Hello?
George?
Yes sir, this is George speaking.
Hello, who's this?
What number am I calling please?
I'm here with our client.
Oh, good.
Is everything okay?
Is the coast clear for tonight?
Yes George, he says the coast is clear for tonight.
Okay, okay.
Where are you now?
In a phone booth.
Don't worry, everything's okay.
Very well.
You know the address.
I know, I know.
At 11 o'clock the police are coming.
I'll be there in a minute.
Very well, you know the address.
I know, I know.
At 11 o'clock the private patrolman goes around to the bar on 2nd Avenue for a beer.
That's right, 11 o'clock.
Okay.
Be sure that all the lights downstairs are out.
There should be only one light visible from the street.
Okay, okay.
What's that?
Just a minute George.
Oh, our client tells me that at 11.15 a train crosses a bridge.
It makes a noise in case a window is open and she should scream.
Oh, hello, what number is this please?
Okay, I understand.
What?
That's 11.15 the train.
Yes.
Do you remember everything else George?
Yes.
I'll make it quick, as little blood as possible.
Because our client does not wish to make her suffer as long.
That's right.
You'll use a knife?
Yes, a knife will be okay.
Then afterwards I'll remove the rings and bracelets and the jewelry in the bureau drawer.
Because our client wishes it to look like simple robbery.
Don't worry, everything's okay.
I never...
Oh, how awful, how unfeasibly awful.
I never...
Your call please.
Operator, I've just been cut off.
I'm sorry, what number were you calling?
Why, it was supposed to be Murray Hill 40098, but it wasn't, some wires must have got crossed.
I was caught in the wrong number and I just heard the most dreadful thing, something about a murder.
Operator, you'll simply have to retrace that call at once.
I beg your pardon, I don't quite... may I help you?
Well, I know it was a wrong number and I had no business listening, but these two men,
they were cold-blooded fiends and they were going to murder somebody.
Some poor innocent woman who was all alone in a house near a bridge.
We've got to stop them, we just got to.
What number are you calling, please?
Well, that doesn't matter.
This was a wrong number and you dialed it for me and we've got to find out what it was immediately.
What number did you call?
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?
I'll connect you with the chief, Operator.
Oh, I think it's perfectly shameful.
Now look, it was obviously a case of some little slip of the finger.
I told you to try Murray Hill 40098 for me and 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 simply failed to see why you couldn't make that same mistake again on purpose
why you couldn't try to dial Murray Hill 40098 in the same sort of careless way.
Murray Hill 40098, I will try to get it for you.
Oh, thank you.
I am sorry, Murray Hill 40098 is busy.
I will call you as soon as I get it.
Operator, Operator, Operator.
You're currently...
You didn't try to get that wrong number at all.
I asked you explicitly and all you did was dial correctly.
I am sorry, what number are you calling?
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 apprehend those dangerous killers and if you won't...
I will connect you with the Chief Operator.
Well, please.
Talk.
Is anyone here speaking?
This is the Chief Operator.
Oh, a 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-butted murder of a poor innocent woman tonight at 1115.
I see.
Well, can you trace it for me? Can you track down those men?
I'm not certain. It depends.
Depends on what?
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.
Disconnected?
If the parties have stopped talking to each other.
Oh, well, 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 pilot would make a long call.
Well, I can try tracing it. May I have your name, please?
Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Albert Stevenson.
But listen...
And your telephone number, please.
Plaza 32098.
But if you go all the way...
Why do you want to try trace, please?
Why? Oh, well, no reason.
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 11.15 tonight,
and I thought the police ought to know.
Have you reported this to the police?
Well, no, no, not yet.
You want this call checked purely as a private individual?
Yes, yes, but meanwhile...
Well, 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.
But I...
We can't have something more official.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
You mean to tell me I can't report that there's going to be a murder
without getting tied up in all this red tape?
Why, it's perfectly idiotic.
Well, all right, all right. I'll call the police.
Thank you. I'm sure that'll be the best way to...
Ridiculous. I never heard of this.
The police department?
Do we have to go...
Your call, please.
The police department. Get me the police department, please.
Thank you. Ringing, the police department.
Oh, dear, do you have to die? Why can't you ring them direct?
Oh, it's...
Wait.
Police station, precinct 43, Sergeant Martin speaking.
Police department, this is Mrs. Stevenson.
Mrs. Elbert Smy Stevenson of 53 North Sutton Place.
I'm calling up to report a murder.
I mean, the murder hasn't been committed yet,
but I just overheard plans for it over the telephone
over a wrong number that the operator gave me,
and I've been trying to trace down the call myself,
but everybody is so stupid, and I guess in the end
you're the only people who could do anything.
Yes, ma'am.
Well, it was a perfectly definite murder.
I heard their plans distinctly.
Two men were talking, and they were going to murder
some woman at 1115 tonight.
She lived in a house near a bridge.
Are you listening to me?
Huh? Oh, yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am.
And there was a private patrolman on the street.
He was going to go around for a beer on Second Avenue,
and there was some third man, a client,
who was paying to have this poor woman murdered.
They were going to take her rings and bracelets
and use a knife.
Well, it's unnerving me dreadfully,
and I'm not well. I'm very nervous.
I see, I see, and when was all this, ma'am?
Well, about eight minutes ago.
You can do something. You do understand.
What is your name, ma'am?
Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Elbert Stevenson.
Uh-huh. And your address?
5353 North Sutton Place.
That's near a bridge, the Queensboro Bridge, you know,
and we have a private patrolman on our street,
and Second Avenue is the next street.
And what was the number you were calling, please?
Murray Hill 40098.
But that wasn't the number I overheard.
I mean, Murray Hill 40098 is my husband's office.
Well, I...
Well, 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 midnight 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.
Well, we'll look into it, Mrs. Stevenson,
and see if we can check it with the telephone company.
But the telephone company said they couldn't check the call
if the parties had stopped talking.
I've already taken care of that.
Oh, you have?
Yes, I have, and personally,
I feel you ought to do something far more immediate and drastic
than just check the call.
Whatever you see...
What good is checking the call if they stop talking?
By the time you track it down,
they'll already have committed the murder.
Well, we'll take care of it now, don't you worry.
I'd say the whole thing calls for a search,
a complete and thorough search of the whole city.
Yes, but...
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 card to this neighborhood at once.
And what makes you think the murder's going to be committed
in your neighborhood, ma'am?
Well, I... I don't know.
Only, you know, the coincidence is so horrible.
Second Avenue is a patrolman, the bridge...
Uh-huh. Well, look, you see,
Second Avenue is very long street, ma'am.
Well, I know that.
You know how many bridges there are in the city of New York alone.
Yes.
Not to mention Brookwood, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx.
And how do you know that there isn't some little house on Staten Island
on some little Second Avenue you never heard about?
How do you know they were even talking about New York at all?
But I heard the call on the New York dialing system.
Well, maybe it was a long-distance call you overheard.
Oh, I...
You know, telephone's a funny thing.
But I did...
Now, look, lady, look.
Why don't you look at it this way?
Now, supposing you hadn't broken in on that telephone call,
suppose you got your husband the way you always do.
Now, you wouldn't be so upset, would you?
Well, I... No, I suppose not.
Only it sounded so inhuman, so...
A lot of murders are plotted in this city every day, ma'am,
and we manage to prevent almost all of them.
But a clue of this kind is so vague, ma'am,
that it ain't much more used to us than no clue at all.
Well, surely you can und...
Unless, of course, you have some reason for thinking this call was a phony
and that someone may be planning to murder you.
Me?
Oh, no, no, I hardly think so.
I mean, why should anybody?
Well, you...
I'm alone all day and night.
I see nobody except my maid, Eloise.
She's a big girl. She weighs 200 pounds.
Uh-huh.
She's too lazy to bring up my breakfast tray.
And the only other person is my husband, Albert.
He's crazy about me. He just adores me.
He waits on me hand and footies.
He hardly left my side since I took sick 12 years ago.
Uh-huh. Well, then, then there's nothing for you to worry about, is there, huh?
Now, if you'll just leave the rest to us, we'll take care of it.
But what will you do? It's so late. It's nearly 11 now.
We'll take care of it.
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?
Lady, lady, I said we would take care of it.
Now, 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.
Oh, you, you idiot!
Oh, now, why did I hang up the phone like that?
Now he'll think I am a fool.
Oh, why doesn't Albert come home? Why doesn't he?
Why does...
How are you?
Why doesn't he?
Your call, please.
Operator, operator, for heaven's sake,
will you ring that Murray Hill 40098 number again?
I can't think what's keeping him so long.
I will try it for you.
Well, try, try. I don't see why he doesn't answer.
I'm sorry, Murray Hill 40098 is busy. I will call you.
I can hear it. You don't have to tell me. I know it's busy.
Oh, if I could only get out of this bed for a little while.
If I could get a breath of fresh air,
or just lean out the window and see the street.
Hello, Albert? Hello? Hello? Hello?
Hello? Oh, what's the matter with this phone? Hello? Hello?
Hello? Hello? Oh, for heaven's sake, who is this? Hello? Hello? Hello?
Why is he trying to call me?
Why is he doing this to me?
Your call, please.
Hello, operator. I don't know what's the matter with this telephone tonight,
but it's positively driving me crazy.
I've never seen such inefficient, miserable service.
Now, look. Look, I'm an invalid, and I'm very nervous,
and I'm not supposed to be annoyed.
But if this keeps on much longer...
What seems to be the trouble, please?
Well, everything's wrong.
I haven't had one bit of satisfaction out of one call I've made this evening.
The whole world could be murdered for all you people care,
and now my phone keeps ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing
every five seconds or so, and I'm going to pick it up. There's no one there.
I am sorry. If you will hang up, I will test it for you.
I don't want you to test it for me. I want you to put that call through whatever it is and what.
I'm afraid I cannot do that.
You can't? And why? Why, may I ask?
The dial system is automatic.
If someone is trying to dial your number, there's no way to check
whether the call is coming through the system or not,
unless the person who is trying to reach you complains to his particular operator.
Oh, well, how all this stupid.
And meanwhile, I've got to sit here in my bed suffering every time that phone rings, imagining everything.
I will try to check the trouble for you.
Check it! Check if that's all anybody can do.
Oh, what for you for talking to you? You are so stupid!
Oh, God, it's her.
I'm only impotent and...
How dare she speak to me like that? How dare she speak to me like that?
Oh, why did it take so long?
Your call, please.
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
that's ever been my privilege.
Give me the business office at once.
You may dial that number direct.
Dial it direct? I'll do no such thing. I don't even know the number.
The number is in the directory, or you may secure it by dialing information.
Listen here, you... Oh, what's the use?
Oh, dear.
Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm going out of my mind.
Hello! Hello, stop ringing me. Do you hear? Answer me. Who is this?
You realize you're driving me crazy? You're calling me. What are you doing it for?
Now, stop it, stop it, stop it, I say.
Hello, hello, you don't stop ringing me. I'm going to call the police. Do you hear? The police!
Oh, if... if Albert would only come home...
Oh, let it ring. Let it ring. Let it go on ringing. Get the trick of some kind.
Get the trick of some kind. I won't answer. I won't, even if it goes on ringing all night. I won't.
I won't answer. Yes. Now what's the matter?
Why did they stop ringing all of a sudden?
What time is it? Where's my clock? Oh, why did I put it?
It's five to eleven. They've decided something. They're sure I'm home.
They've heard my voice. I answered them just now. That's why they've been ringing me.
Why no one has answered me?
Oh, where is she? Where is she? Why doesn't she answer?
Oh, Anne. Anne?
Your call, please. Where were you just now? Why didn't you answer it once?
Give me the police department.
Oh.
I'm sorry. The line is busy. I will call you...
Busy? But that's impossible. The police department can't be busy. There must be other lines available.
The line is busy. I will try to get them for you later.
No, no. I've got to speak to them now. It may be too late. I've got to talk to someone.
What number do you wish to speak to, please?
I don't know, but there must be someone to protect people inside the police department.
A detective agency. You will find agencies listed in the classified directory.
But I don't have a classified. I mean, I'm too nervous to look it up, and I don't know how to use the directory.
I will connect you with information. Perhaps they will be able to help you.
No, no, no.
Oh, you're being spiteful, aren't you? You don't care, do you, what happens to me? I could die in you when you can.
Oh, stop it! Stop it! I can't stand it anymore!
Hello, what do you want? Stop ringing, will you? Stop it!
Hello? Is this Plaza 32099?
Yes. Yes. Yes, I'm sorry. This is... This is Plaza 32099.
This is Western Union. I have a telegram here for Mrs. Albert Stevenson. Is there anyone there to receive the message?
Hello? I'm Mrs. Stevenson.
The telegram is as follows. Mrs. Albert Stevenson, 53 North Sutton Place, New York, New York.
Darling, terribly sorry. Tried to get you for last hour, but lying busy.
Leaving for Boston 11 p.m. tonight on urgent business. Back tomorrow afternoon. Keep happy. Love. Signed, Albert.
Oh, no.
Do you wish us to deliver a copy of the message?
No. No, thank you.
Thank you, madam. Good night.
Good night.
Oh, no! No, I don't believe it. I don't believe it. He couldn't do it.
He couldn't do it! Not when he knows I'll be on the Lord. It's something... It's something... something...
Something...
Your call, please.
Operator, try that Murray Hill 4-0 die-in-mate number for me just once more, please.
You may dial that number direct.
Oh.
Oh, no.
He's gone. Oh, Albert, how could you? How could you?
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 as I'm getting sick of rages.
This is information. May I help you?
I want the telephone number of Henschli Hospital.
Henschli Hospital? Do you have the street address?
No, no. It's somewhere in the 70s. It's a very small, private and exclusive hospital where I had my appendix out two years ago. Henschli H-E-N-C.
One moment, please.
Well, please hurry and please. What is the time?
You may find out the time by dialing Meridian 7-1-2-1-2.
Oh, for heaven's sake, I've no time to be dialing.
The number of Henschli Hospital is Butterfield 8-9-9-7-0.
Oh, my God.
Henschli Hospital, good evening.
Nurse's registry.
Who was it you wished to speak to, please?
I want the nurse's registry at once. I want a trained nurse. I want to hire her immediately for the night.
I see. And what is the nature of the case, madam?
Nerves. I'm very nervous. I need soothing and companionship. You see, my husband is away and I'm all...
Have you been recommended to us by any doctor in particular, madam?
No, but I really don't see why all this catechizing is necessary. I want a trained nurse. I was a patient in your hospital two years ago, and after all, I do expect a paid-if person for attending me.
We quite understand that, madam, but we're not completely back on a peacetime basis, you know.
I know that.
Registered nurses are very scarce just now, and our superintendent has asked to send people out only on cases where the physician in charge feels it is absolutely necessary.
Well, it is absolutely necessary. I'm a sick woman. 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.
A woman's going to be killed when a train comes. In fact, if someone doesn't come at once, I'm afraid I'll go out of my mind.
I see. Well, I'll speak to Miss Phillips as soon as she comes in.
Miss Phillips.
And what is your name, madam?
Miss Phillips. When do you expect her in?
I really couldn't say. She went out to Stubborn at 11 o'clock.
Eleven o'clock? But it's not 11 yet. Oh, my clock has stopped. I thought it was running now. What time is it?
Just fifteen minutes past eleven.
What was that?
What was what, madam?
That click just now in my own telephone. As though someone has lifted the receiver off the hook off the extension telephone downstairs.
I didn't hear it, madam. Now about the-
But I did! There's someone in this house. Someone downstairs in the kitchen that are listening to me now.
I won't pick it up. I won't let them hear me. I'll be quiet and they'll think, oh, but I don't call from now while they're still down there. There'll be no time.
I've got to get that operator. I've got to get that operator. Operator. Answer me. Answer me. Please. Please. Operator.
Your call, please.
Operator. Operator, I'm in desperate trouble. I-
I am sorry. I cannot hear you. Please speak louder.
I don't dare. I- there's someone listening. Can you hear me now?
I am sorry.
But you've got to hear me. Oh, please. Please, you've got to help me. There's someone in this house. Someone who's going to murder me. And you've got to get in touch with it.
Just hear it. There it is. Just put it down. Just put down the extension phone. He's coming up. He's coming up with this.
Give me the police department. The police department.
One moment, please. I will connect you.
I can hear him. Please hurry. Please hurry. Oh, please hurry. What are you going to do? Oh, don't come near me.
I don't have another chance. I don't have another chance. Please don't. Oh, no. Oh, no.
Police department, please sing 43. Sergeant Martin speaking. Hello.
Hello. Hello. Police department, please sing 43. Sergeant Martin speaking.
Police department?
Yeah.
Oh, I'm sorry. Must have got the wrong number. Don't worry. Everything's OK.
And so closes Sorry Wrong Number, in which Roma Wines have brought you Miss Agnes Moorhead, the star of tonight's study in Suspense.
Suspense is produced, edited, and directed by William Spear.
Before Miss Moorhead returns to the microphone, this is Truman Bradley with a word for Roma Wines, the sponsor of Suspense.
This is the time of year when the air is clear and the hills look as if they had been burnished in gold. At dusk, the color glory of Indian summer paints the countryside, a perfect setting for a simple supper with friends, for a meal brightened by distinguished Roma California Burgundy.
In the words of famed hostess Elsa Maxwell, next time you have friends for dinner, add to their enjoyment of the food and give the occasion a gracious festive touch by serving delightful Roma Burgundy.
My guests especially enjoy the fruity, robust tart piquancy of Roma Burgundy, a simple way to lend enchantment to dining.
Yes, like all Roma wines, you'll enjoy Roma Burgundy, delightful, delicious, distinguished, wine at its best, in uniform fine quality.
And here's a hint on how to make better cocktails. Make them with zestful, full-flavored Roma Vermouth, the Vermouth of almost a hundred rare herbs, made and bottled in the heart of California's famous vineyards.
Yet surprisingly low price. Try Roma Vermouth soon, won't you?
This is Agnes Moorhead. It goes without saying that it has been a major thrill to appear again on Suspense with Sorry Wrong Number.
If you enjoyed it, I'm sure you won't want to miss next Thursday's Suspense Show, which Mr. Spear tells me will present the premiere of Lucille Pletcher's very newest suspense play.
It is called The Furnished Floor, and in it you will hear Mildred Natwick and Don Dufour.
Agnes Moorhead appeared through the courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and is one of the stars in their forthcoming production, Our Vines Have Tender Grapes.
Next Thursday, you will hear Mildred Natwick and Don Dufour as stars of Suspense, Radio's outstanding theater thrill.
This is read by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. AMX Columbia.