 Suspense, here again to introduce Columbia's program, Suspense. Our star tonight is one of the most compelling actresses in America today, Miss Agnes Morehead. Miss Morehead returns to our stage to appear in a new study in terror by Lucille Fletcher called Sorry Wrong Number. The story of a woman who accidentally overheard a conversation with death and who strove frantically to prevent murder from claiming an innocent victim is tonight's tale of suspense. If you have been with us on these Tuesday nights, you will know that suspense is compounded of mystery and suspicion and dangerous adventure. In this series our tales calculated to intrigue you, stir your nerves, to offer you a precarious situation and then withhold a solution until the last possible moment. And so it is with Sorry Wrong Number and the performance of Agnes Morehead. We again hope to keep you in suspense. Operator, I've been dialing Murray Hill 7093 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. Quiet for me, please. 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 7093. Who is Mr. Stevenson there? This is George Bacon. Hello? Who's this? What number am I calling, please? Our coast is clear for tonight. Yes, sir. Private patrolman goes around to the bar on 2nd Avenue for a beer. Be sure that all the lights downstairs are on, eh? There should be only one light visible from the street. At 11.15, a train crosses the bridge. It makes a noise in case her window is open and she should scream. Oh, hello. What number is this, please? OK. Possible, eh? Our client does not wish to make us suffer long. Will a knife be OK, sir? No, a knife will be OK. And, uh, do you remember the auto detail? Yeah, yeah, I know. Remove the rings and bracelets and the jewelry and the bureau drawer. That's right. Our client wishes it to look like simple robbery. Don't worry. Everything is going to be OK. All right, then. Be sure to... Oh, how awesome! How unspeakably awesome! Operator, I've just been cut off. What were you calling? Why, it was supposed to be Murray Hill 7093, but it wasn't. Some wires must have got crossed. I was cut into a wrong number, and 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. May I help you? Oh, 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. And we've got to stop them. We've got to... What number were 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, look, it was obviously a case of some slip of the finger. I told you to try Murray Hill 7093 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 simply failed to see why you couldn't make that same mistake again on purpose, why you couldn't try to dial Murray Hill 7093 in the same sort of careless way. Murray Hill 7093. I will try to get it for you. Thank you. Oh, 9093 is busy. I will call you in 20... Operator. Operator. Operator. Operator, will you answer me? Your call, please. Well, 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. Uh, what number are you calling? Oh, 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. 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. Please. Operator. Chief operator, I want you to trace the 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 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't. Disconnected? If the parties have stopped talking to each other. Oh, but even 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. Well, I can try tracing it. May I have your name, please? Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Albert Stevenson. Now, but listen... And your telephone number, please. Oh, Plaza 42295. But if you go on wasting all this time... Why do you want the call traced, please? Why? Well... Oh, no reason. 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 in your face so it's a private individual. Well, I... We'd have to do 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... It's perfectly idiotic. Well, all right, all right. I'll call the police. Thank you. I'm sure that would be the best way to... That's perfectly ridiculous. Oh. Your call, please. The police department. Get me the police department, please. Thank you. Bringing the police department. Please, Sergeant Martin speaking. The police department. This is Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Albert Smythe 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 on the telephone over a wrong number that the operator gave me. 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? 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 use a knife. Well, it's unnerved me dreadfully, and I'm not well. I see. 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. Albert Stevenson. And your address? 53 North Sutton Place. 53 North Sutton Place. That's near a bridge. The Queensborough Bridge, you know, and we have a private patrolman on our street and 2nd Avenue. And what was the number you were calling? Murray Hill 7093. But that wasn't the number I overheard. I mean Murray Hill 7093 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. Well, we'll look into it, Mrs. Stevenson. And we'll see if we can check it with the telephone company. But the telephone company said they couldn't check the call at the parties that stopped talking. I've already taken care of that. Oh, you have. Yes. And personally, I feel you want to do something far more immediate and drastic than just check the call. What good is checking the call do if they stop talking? By the time you're tracking down, they'll already have committed the murder. Well, we'll take care of it, don't you worry. Well, I'd say the whole thing called 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 2nd Avenue, and I know I'd feel a 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 don't know. It's horrible. 2nd Avenue and Petroman and the bridge? 2nd Avenue is a very long street, ma'am. I know it. And you know how many bridges there are in the city of New York alone. Oh. Not to mention Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx. I know. How do you know there isn't some little house out on Staten Island on some little 2nd Avenue you've never even heard about? Oh. How do you know they're even talking about New York at all? But I heard the call in the New York dialing system. Maybe it was a long distance call you overheard. No. And 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 upset, would you? No, I suppose not. Only it sounded so inhuman, so cold-blooded. Well, a lot of murders are plotted in this city every day, ma'am. We managed to prevent most all of them, but a clue of this kind is so vague isn't much more use to us than no clue at all. But surely you... Unless, of course, you have some reason for thinking this call was phony and that somebody may be planning to murder you. Me? Oh, she was... No, I hardly think so. Well, 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 200 pounds. 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. Wait. On me, hand and foot has scarcely left my side since I took sick 12 years ago. Well, and 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. But what will you do? It's so late. It's nearly 11 now. We'll take care of it, Lady. 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, 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. Oh, you, you idiot. How far did I hang up the phone like that? No, we don't think I am a fool. Elbert, come home. Why doesn't he? Operator for Heaven's sake, will you ring that Murray Hill 7093 number again? I can't think what's keeping him so long. I will try it for you. Well, try, try. I can hear it. You don't have to tell me. I know it's busy. Oh. Oh, if I could only get out of this bed for a little while. If I could, if I could get a breath of fresh air or just lean... What's the matter with this telephone at night but is positively driving me crazy? I've never seen such inefficient miserable service. Now, now, now, 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, now, my phone keeps ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing every five seconds or so and when I pick it up, there's no one there. I'm 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, it won't. I'm afraid I cannot do that. Why may I ask? The dial system is automatic. If someone is trying to dial your number, there is 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. Well, of 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's the use of talking to you? You're stupid. I'll fix her. Of all late impudence. Oh, how dare she speak to me like that? How dare she speak to me like that? 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 influence. Give me the business officer's promise. 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... Now, listen here. You... Oh, what's the use? Answer me. Who is this? Calling me. What are you doing it for? And I'll stop it, stop it, stop it, I say. It's a trick of some kind. What's the matter? All of a sudden, I put that clock. 5 to 11. 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. The police department. It's 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. Or it may be too late. I've got to talk to someone. Oh, but there must be someone to protect people beside the police department. A detective agency and... A classified directory. But I don't have a classified directory. I... I mean, I'm too... Information. Perhaps she will be able to help you. No. Mrs. Albert Stevenson. Yes. Is there anyone there to receive the message? Yes, I'm Mrs. Stevenson. The telegram is as Albert Stevenson, 53 North Sutton Place, New York. I'm terribly sorry. Tried to get you for last hour. 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. At Murray Hill 7093 number for me. Just once more, please. You may double the number of Hensley Hospital. 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. Hensley, H-E-M-C-A. Well, will you please hurry and please, what is the time? You may find out the time by dialing meridians. For heaven's sake, I've no time to be dialing. The number of Hensley Hospital is Butterfield 70105. Butterfield 70105. The nurse's registry. Who was it you was to speak to, please? I want the nurse's registry at once. I want to train nurse. I want to hire immediately for the night. Aye, sir. Nurse, I'm very nervous. I need soothing and companionship. You see, my husband is away, and I'm often... Have you been recommended to us by any doctor in particular, madam? No, but I really don't see why all this cataclysm is necessary. I just want to train nurse. I was a patient in your hospital two years ago, and after all, I do expect to pay this person for attending me. We quite understand that, madam, but these are war times, 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's absolutely necessary. Well, it is absolutely necessary. I'm a sick woman. I'm very much upset. I'm alone in this house, and I'm an invalid, and tonight I overheard a telephone conversation that upset me dreadfully. 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. And what is your name, madam? Miss Phillips? And when do you expect her in? I really couldn't say. She went out to supper at 11 o'clock. But it's not 11 o'clock yet. A hook of the extension telephone downstairs. Police department. I'm sorry. Must have got the wrong number. Police department? Police department. I'm sorry. Must have got the wrong number. Don't worry. Everything's okay. So closes. Sorry, wrong number. Starring Agnes Morehead. Tonight's tale of suspense. This is your narrator, the man in black, who conveys to you Columbia's invitation to spend this half hour in suspense with us again next Tuesday when Mr. Donald Crisp and Mr. John Loder will star in the suspense play called The Extra Guest. The producer of these broadcasts is William Spear, who a Ted Blister director, Lud Gluck and the musical director, and Lucille Fletcher, the author, collaborated on tonight's suspense. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.