 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 Layer Star Miss Agnes Moorhead in Sorry Wrong Number, a suspense play produced, 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 at 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 than 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. Always 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 terror and with the performance of Miss Agnes Moorhead, Roma Wines hope indeed to keep you in suspense. 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? Hello? Hello? 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. Phone booth. Don't worry. Everything's okay. Very well. You know the address. I know, I know. At 11 o'clock, the private patrolman goes around to the bar on Second 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. Our client tells me that an 1115 train crosses the bridge. It makes a noise in case our window is open and she should scream. Oh, hello. What number is this, please? Okay. The 1115, the train. Yes. Do you remember everything else, George? Yes. I'll make it quick. His little blood is possible. Our client does not wish to make us suffer as long. That's right. You'll use a knife? Yes, a knife will be okay. Remove the rings and bracelets and the jewelry and the bureau drawer. It'll look like simple robbery. Don't worry. Everything's okay. I never... Oh, how unfeasibly thoughtful. 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 put in the wrong number and I... I've 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? I know it was a wrong number and I had no business listening, but these two men, they were cold-blooded teens 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? 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? 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. Thank you. Murray Hill 40098. Operator. Operator. Operator. You're calling me. You didn't try to get that wrong number at all. I asked you explicitly and all you did was dial correctly. I'm 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. This is the Chief Operator. Oh, 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. That terrible cold-butted murder of a poor innocent woman tonight at 11.15. I see. Well, can you trace it for me? Can you track down those men? I'm not certain. It depends. It depends on what? It depends on whether the call is still going on. Well, I... 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, well, of course they must have stopped talking to each other by now. Well, I can try tracing it. May I have your name, please? Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Albert Stevenson. But listen now... And don't tell us our number, please. Plaza 32098. But if you go... Why would you want this call traced, 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... 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... I can... And I'd 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? Well, 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 that. No, you have to go. Please. The police department. Get me the police department, please. Thank you. Ringing the police department. Oh, dear, do you have to die? Oh, why can't you ring them direct? Oh, this... This is 43 Sergeant Mark speaking. Police department. This is Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Elbert Smiles 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 11.15 tonight. She lived in a house near a bridge. Are you listening to me? Uh-oh. Yes, ma'am. And there was a private patrolman on the street. He was going to go around for a beer on 2nd 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 he was a nice... Well, it's unnerving, dreadfully, and I'm not well. I'm very nervous. I see. And when was all this, ma'am? Well, about eight minutes ago. Then 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 Queensborough Bridge, you know, and we have a private patrolman on our street in 2nd Avenue. 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. I have. And personally, I feel you ought to do something far more immediate and drastic than just check the call. What good is checking the call if they stop talking? By the time you're dragging 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 called 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 2nd Avenue, and I know I'd feel a whole lot better if you sent around a radio car 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. The coincidence is so horrible. 2nd Avenue is a patrolman, a bridge? Well, look, you see, 2nd Avenue is a very long street, ma'am. Well, I know that. You know how many bridges there are in the city of New York alone? Not to mention, look, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx. And how do you know that there isn't some little house on Staten Island, on some little 2nd Avenue? You never heard about it. 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. Oh, I... Well, telephones are a funny thing. But I did... Now, look, baby, look. Why don't you look at it? There's a pattern broken in on that telephone call. Suppose you've 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 cold-blooded. A lot of men is a plotter 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. Well, it ain't much more used to us than no clue at all. Surely, you cannot... Unless, of course, you have some reason for thinking this call was a phony and that someone may be planning to... 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, Elbert. He's crazy about me. He just adores me. Yes, ma'am. He was throwing me handed footies. Carefully left my side since I took six, twelve years ago. Uh-huh. Well, then, then there's nothing for you to worry about, ma'am. 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 eleven now. We'll take care of it. Well, 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. Now, why did I hang up the phone like that? No, it's a guy I am a fool. Oh, why doesn't Albert come home? Why doesn't he? 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 it doesn't... Didn't hear it. You don't have to tell me. I know it's busy. Bed for a little while. The wind doesn't see the street. I don't know what's the matter with this telephone at night, 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 when I 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 at once. I'm afraid I cannot do that. You can't and why? Why may I ask? The dial system is automatic. 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, I'm 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 it. That's all anybody can do. Oh, what for you for talking to you? You are so stupid. Oh, my God. I'm only impending. How dare she speak to me like that? How dare she speak to me like that? Why did they do 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. It's never been my privilege. Give me the business office at once. You may dial that number direct. Dial it direct now. 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? Dear. Oh, what happened? Say I'm going out of my mind. Stop ringing me. Do you hear me? Answer me. Who is this? Do you realize you're driving me crazy? You're calling me. I'm going to call the police. Do you hear me? Go on ringing it. The trick is I'm gone. I won't answer it. I won't even if it goes on ringing all night. Stop ringing all of a sudden. That's 11. They've decided something. They're sure I'm home. They've heard my voice. Answer 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? Well, you just know. Why didn't you answer it once? Give me the police department. I'm 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. Fightful, aren't you? You don't care, do you? What happens to me? I can die in you when you can. Oh, stop it. Stop it. Will you stop? Well, is this Plaza 32099? Yes. Yes. Yes, I'm sorry. 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 Southern Place, New York, New York. Darling, terribly sorry. Try to get your poor 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. No. No, I don't believe it. I don't believe it. He couldn't do it. I'll be all alone. It's something. It's something. I'm finished. Operator, try that Murray Hill 409. Make number for me just once more, please. You may dial that number direct. Telephone number of Hensley Hospital. Hensley Hospital. Do you have the street address? No. No. It's somewhere in the 70s. Very small, private and exclusive hospital, where I had my appendix out two years ago. Hensley, H-E-N-C. One moment, please. Oh, please, hurry and please. What is the time? You may find out the time by dialing Meridian 71212. Oh, for God's sake, I've no time to be dialing. The number of Hensley Hospital is Butterfield 89970. Nurses registry. Who was it you wished to speak to, please? I want the nurses 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 didn't recommend to us by any doctor in particular, madam. No, but I really don't see why all this cataclysm 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 us 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 I train. Because, 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 Ms. Phillips as soon as she comes in. Ms. Phillips. And what is your name, madam? Ms. Phillips, when do you expect her in? I really couldn't say. She went out to step her at 11 o'clock. I clicked just now on 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... But I did. There's someone in this house. Someone downstairs in the kitchen and listening to me now. If they hear me, I'll be quiet. And they'll think, call someone now while they're still down there. There'll be no time. Operator, I'm in desperate trouble. I am sorry. I cannot hear you. Please speak louder. I don't dare. 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 him. There he is. Look down the extension phone. He's coming up. He's coming up upstairs. Give me the police department. The police department. One moment, please. I will connect you. I can hear him. Please, hurry. Please, hurry. Police department? Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. Must have got the wrong number. Don't worry. Everything's okay. 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 pecancy 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 Morehead. 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. Speer tells me will present the premiere of Lucille Plutch's very new assistant play. It is called The Furnished Floor, and in it you will hear Mildred Natwick and Don DeFore. Agnes Morehead appeared through the courtesy of Metro Golden Mayor 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 DeFore as stars of Suspense, radio's outstanding theatre of thrills. Resented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. K-M-X, Columbia.