 the man in black. Here to introduce Columbia's program suspends. Tonight as we premiere our new Saturday evening series on the air, Miss Agnes Morehead 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 drove 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 with 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 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. 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. Murray Hill 7093. Oh, is Mr. Stevenson there? Hello? Hello? Who's this? What number am I calling please? I'm here with our client. Yes, George. He says the coast is clear for the night. That's right, at eleven o'clock. I will make sure that all the lights downstairs are out. There should be only one light visible from the street. And I tell you... 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... I've just heard the most dreadful thing. Something about a murder. Operator, you 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 the 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 officer. 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 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. Yeah. I'll try to get it for you. Oh, thank you. 0093, he is busy. I'll call you in 20 minutes. Operator. Operator. Operator. Operator. Your call, please. 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. Please. 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 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. Well, 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. Disconnect? If the parties have stopped talking to each other. Oh, but if, 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. Now have your name. Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Albert Stevenson. But listen, and your telephone number, please. Plaza 42295. But if you go on wasting all his time, what do you want this call trace, please? 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. I thought the police ought to know. Have you reported this to the police? Well, 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. We'd have to have something more efficient. 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. I'll call the police. Thank you. I'm sure that would be the best way to ridiculous. Perfectly ridiculous. I can't see why you have to go all this trouble. Your call, please. The police department. Get me the police department, please. Thank you. Oh, dear, do you have to dial? Can't you ring them direct? Ringing the police department. Red. Police department. This is Mrs. Stevenson. Mrs. Albert Smive 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. 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 can do anything. Yes, ma'am. 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? 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 a nerve in dreadfully, and I'm not well, and I'm just... Hi, ma'am. When was all this, ma'am? 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 second half... 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 in-village, you know, and it's the main night off, and I hate to be alone even though he says I'm perfectly safe as long as I have a telephone right beside my bed. Well, we'll look into it, Mrs. Stevenson, and see if we can check it with a telephone. 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, 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 do if they stop talking? By the time you've tracked it 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 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. And what makes you think the murder is going to be committed in your neighborhood, ma'am? Well, I... Oh, I don't know. Only the coincidence is so horrible. Second Avenue is the patrolman, the bridge. Second Avenue is a very long street, ma'am, and you know how many bridges there are in the city of New York alone. Yes, I... I know... Not to mention Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx. I know that. How do you know there isn't some little house on Staten Island done, some little Second Avenue you've never even heard about? How do you know they're even talking about New York at all? But I heard the call on the New York dialing system. Maybe it was a long distance call you overheard. Oh, don't... Look, lady, on that telephone call. Supposing you've got your husband the way you always do, Ed, would you? Well, no, I suppose not. Only it sounded so inhuman, so cold-blooded. A lot of murders are plotted in this city every day, ma'am. We managed to prevent almost all of them. But a clue of this kind is so vague, isn't much more used 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 someone may be planning to murder you. Me? Oh, no. I hardly think so. 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. He weighs on me and on foot. He's scarcely left my side since I took sick well 12 years ago. Well, then there's nothing for you to worry about. The rest of this to us, we'll take care of. But what will you do? It's so late. It's nearly 11 now. 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 my desk that would cry our immediate attention. Good night, ma'am. Oh, thank you. Oh, you idiot. Get the phone like that. He'll think I am. Ring that Murray Hill 7093 number again. I can't think what's keeping him so long. I will try try to tell me I know it's busy. But it's positively driving me crazy. I've never seen such inefficient miserable service. 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 seems to be the trouble, please, well, everything's wrong. I haven't had one bit of satisfaction out of one call I made this evening. The whole world can be murdered for all you people care. And now my phone keeps ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing every five seconds is on when I pick it up. There's no one there. I don't want you to test it for me. I want you to put that call through whatever it is at once. I may ask if someone is trying to dial your number. There is no way to check it without the call is coming through the system or not. Unless the person who is trying to reach you complains to a particular operation of all the 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 check it check it. That's all anybody can do. Oh, what's the use of talking to you? You're so stupid. I fix her all the time. Dare she speak to me like that. How dare she call you. 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 has 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 by dialing. Listen here, Oh, what's the use? Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm going out of my mind out of my. I realize you're driving me crazy. I was calling me. What are you doing it for? They 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. Call the operator again. Oh, where is she? Why doesn't she answer? Were you just now? Why didn't you answer it once? Give me the police department. I will call it busy, but that's impossible. A 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. What number do you wish to speak to? I don't know, but there must be someone to protect people beside the police department. I detective agency. You will find agencies listed in the classified director. 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 it. Oh, can she will be able to help you? No, spiteful, aren't you? You don't care to hear what happens to me. I can die and you wouldn't care. Stop it. Stop it. I can't stand anymore. Yes, I'm, I'm sorry. This, this is plaza four two two nine five. Western Union. I have a telegram here for Mrs. Albert Stevenson. Is there anyone there to receive the message? I'm, I'm Mrs. Stevenson. The telegram is as follows. Mrs. Albert Stevenson, 53 North Sutton Place, New York, New York. Darling, terribly sorry. Try to get you for last hour, but line busy. Leaving for Boston. I'll have a liver, a copy of the message. No, no, thank you. Thank you, madam. Good night. Good night. Try that Murray Hill seven. Oh, nine three number for me. Just one more, please. Oh, Elmerd, how could you? How could you? Or what the expense is? I'm a sick woman. I'm in China. I'm in China. May I help you? I, I want the telephone number of Henshle 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. Henshle, H, E, and one moment please. Please hurry. And please what is the time? You may find out the time by dialing meridian seven one two one. Oh, for heaven's sake, I've no time to be dialing the number of Henshle Hospital is Butterfield. Butterfield. Seven one oh five. Oh, nurses registry. I want the nurses registry at once. I want to train nurse. I want to hire immediately for the night. And what is the nature of the case? Nerves, I'm very nervous. I need soothing and companionship. You see my husband is away and I'm have you been recommended. 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, registered nurses are very scarce just now. And our superintendent has asked us to send people out only on cases with a position in charge. 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 and dreads me. In fact, if someone doesn't come at once, I'm afraid I'll go out of my mind. Well, I'll speak to Miss Phillips as soon as she comes in. And what is your name? Miss Phillips. And when do you expect her in? Well, I really couldn't say she went out to supper at 11 o'clock. 11 o'clock? But it's not 11. Yeah. Oh, my clock has stopped. I thought it was running down. What time is it? Just 15 minutes past 11. What? What was that? What was what? That click just now in my own telephone as though someone had lifted the receiver off the hook of the extension telephone downstairs. Well, I didn't hear it now. But I did. There's someone in this house. Someone downstairs in the kitchen. And they're listening to me now. I won't let them hear me. I'm quiet. And they'll think, oh, but if I don't call someone now, well, they're still down there, they'll be no time. Your call, please. Operator. Operator. I'm in desperate trouble. I'm sorry. I cannot hear you. Please be louder. I don't dare. There's someone listening. Can you hear me now? I'm sorry. But you've got to hear me. Oh, 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. Put down the extension phone. He's coming up. He's coming up the stairs. Give me the police department, the police department. The police department. Give it to me. One moment, please. I will connect you. I can, I can hear him. Can you hear her? I hear him. I hear him. Police department? I'm sorry. I've got the wrong number. Don't worry. Everything's okay. And so closes, sorry, wrong number, starring Agnes Moorhead. 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 Saturday, when we'll have another starring Hollywood cast headed by Mr. Laura's Costello with Martin Coslick, Ian Wolf, and George Zuko. The producer of these broadcasters, William Spear, who with Ted Bliss, the director, Lud Gluckin, the musical director, and Lucille Fletcher, the author, collaborated on tonight's suspense. The entire country is waiting in suspense for the answer to this important question. Will the United States Cadet Nurse Corps reach its goal of enrolling 65,000 student nurses before the end of 1943? Or if it doesn't, this country faces the prospect of needless suffering and loss of life at a time when our full health and energy are needed to win the war. What are you girls from 17 or 18 to 35 going to do about it? If you're a high school graduate in good health, you're eligible for a scholarship which will pay you all your expenses while you're learning to be of service to your fellow man. Not only will you receive a personal spending allowance of $15 a month for the first nine months in training, $20 a month for the following 21 months, and then $30 a month until graduation, but you will in addition to this personal allowance, receive allowances for room, board, health and laboratory fees, books and other incidental expenses. This is your chance to do something for yourself while you're doing something big for your country. You're needed now. So right immediately to the US Cadet Nurses Corps, Box 88, New York, or to any nursing school of your choice, and they will furnish you with all the essential information. You are needed now. So act now. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.