Lucille Fletcher: Sorry Wrong Number

On May 25th 1943 a great radio play was performed on suspense and carried on CBS radio that now a famous radio play has been transferred to other media as well. Television motion pictures recordings and the stage. The title was sorry wrong number and it was written by Lucille Fletcher and originally starred Agnes Morehead. We revive that radio classic now with the same star of 17 years ago. Listen then to Agnes Moorehead in a wrong number which begins in one minute. Remember how much racket automobiles used to make. Time was you practically had to bellow to make yourself heard above the chatter and roar of the engine the howl of the wind rushing by and the rattling rough road gave your poor old buggy and brains. Well nowadays with vastly improved automotive engineering and magnificent new super highways you're literally Purnell along the road. Now this is a vast improvement. But one that can offer danger. If you're not alert you're sitting behind the wheel with a miles of highway and rolling smoothly before you suddenly a sharp curve jumps in front

of you and you find you have to use the skill of a professional racer to navigate the curve without getting into real big trouble. Your car was so quiet that your speed had crept up stealth during those long miles of straight away you were burning along without realizing it. The point here a simple one is this. Your speedometer was put there for a purpose a purpose you can't afford to forget. Keep alert Take care and get there. Sorry wrong number starring Miss Agnes Moore Teo well-calculated. Operator operator I've been dying for five nine nine now over the last three quarters of an hour and the line is always busy I don't see how it could be busy that long you tried for me

like that. Try that for one moment. You see 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 I am ringing merry hell far 0 5 9. 0 0 0 0 as Mr Stevenson there 0 0 0 0 0 0 March last past starts. What number is this please. I walk far. I have an example. When asked to arch your sap. What number is this please. I am. No more everything's OK. Wow. Sure I got on our case and I live in a car. Private patrolmen goes around to a bar on 2nd every. 11:15 a train across. The Bridge. Makes a noise in case your window is open. Remember George make it

quick. Our client doesn't or she heard or saw how I felt very well and remember afterward an impression on the jury and our client which is a simple robbery. I know I'll mourn and I'm up for a job like this. Everything's OK I never. Once. Operated Oh I'm sorry. What were you calling when I was supposed to be Mario 4 0 5 9 9 but it wasn't someone as musta got crossed and I was cut into a wrong number and I I just heard the most dreadful things something about a murder and I prayed you'll simply have to trace that call at once what was the number. Well I don't know it was a wrong number and these two men they were cold blooded fiends and they were going to murder somebody some poor innocent woman was all alone in a house near a bridge. And we've got to stop them. We've just got to are you calling. Well that doesn't matter it was a wrong number. It was obviously a case of some little slip of the finger I ask you to get memory 0 4 0 5 9 9

to dial it with your finger must have slipped and I was connecting some other number that I could hear them but they couldn't hear me. Now I simply fail to see why you couldn't make that same mistake again on purpose why you couldn't try to Di Maria 0 4 0 5 9 9 in the same sort of goes when Mario Kart 0 5 and I would try to get it for you all thank you. Oh I'm sorry Arielle far 05 but OPERATOR Yes. You didn't try to get that wrong number. All I ask you explicitly and all you did was document play. I'm sorry I will connect you with us. Well please. This is may I help you. Yes 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 praised because it was about a murder that someone's planning a terrible cold blooded murder of a poor innocent woman.

Tonight at 11:15 eyes. Can you trace it for me can you track down those men. I'm not certain I can try at. It Mrs. Stevenson Mrs. Albert Stevenson. But but listen I telephoned the plaza 3 7 5 9 9 but if you go on wasting all this I don't want this call trace. Why. Well I told you why these men sounded like killers they're dangerous they're going to murder this woman at 11:59 I think the police ought to know that you're a part of this talking point. Well no not yet. You want this car checked you only as a private individual. Well yes but meanwhile I'm just aren't. Stephen I'm afraid we could trust just on your say so as a private but we have to have something. Oh for heaven's sake. Well all right I'll call the police. Thank you. I'm sure that would be the best way to get rid Dick. The second. One minute mate star Stuart Irwin.

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Get fiche dandruff remover shampoo today and. We continue with ACT 2. Sorry wrong number. Starring Miss Agnes Morehead tale well calculated to keep you in. OPERATOR The police department get me the police department please. Thank you I will connect you with the guy's Department. Oh dear you have to doget during the reckoning. I stashed for six point three so much police department. This is Mrs Stevenson Mrs Alberts my Stevenson at 53 no such place. I'm calling up to report a murder. I mean the murder has been committed yet but I just I overheard plans for it over the telephone over a wrong number that the operator gave me as it was a

perfectly definite murder I heard the plans distinctly. The two men were talking and they were going to murder someone at 11:15 tonight. She lived in a house near a bridge. Are you listening to me. And there was a private tournament 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 paid to have this poor woman murdered they were going to take her rings and bracelets and use a knife. Well it's just unheard of me dreadfully and I'm not well. I was only about eight minutes ago and I mean we call it a Mario 4 0 5 9 9. But that wasn't the number I overheard. I mean Mario 5 9 9 is my husband's office he's working late tonight and I was trying to reach and 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 a telephone right beside my bed. Oh I can't tell him I can check. Tell him to check it. I've already taken care of that. Yes yes. And personally I feel you want to do something far more immediate and drastic to just check the call.

I'd say the whole thing calls for a search a complete and thorough search of the whole city I'm very near the bridge and I'm not far from 2nd Avenue and I know I feel a whole lot better if you sent around a radio card in this neighborhood at once and what makes you think the market is going to be committed in your name ma'am. Oh my. Lord I don't know me the confidence is so horrible. Second Avenue of the patrol on the brain. Play watch or look at this way on your hat and on a telephone on your contrast I want you always do. I wouldn't be so upset what I suppose not only it sounds so we humans so cool about it. Last question I asked. Think someone like me. Oh no no I hardly think so a lot. I mean why should anybody. I'm alone all day and night I see nobody except my maid Eloise. 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 says. Crazy about me just adores me. Waits on me hand and foot is scarcely left my side since I took sick 12 years ago I

bought the rest. I just asked why not take care of what you do when it's so late it's nearly 11 now I'll take care of you when you broadcasted all over the city and send out squads and want your radio cars to watch out especially in suspicious neighborhoods like mine. Mark I shan't track. Just got a couple trucks here to require my immediate attention and I am fine thank you. Oh you you. Idiot. Now why did i phone like this. Now I think I am up for oh why doesn't Elbert come home. Why doesn't it show it to the operator it. Operator operator for heaven's sake will you ring that Mario 4 0 0 5 9 9 number again I can't think what's keeping him so long. I would try trying out. I'm sorry.

Far off I'm surprised I can hear if you don't have to tell me I know it's busy. I can only get out of this bed for a little. If I could just get a breath of fresh air or just lean out of the window and see those trees. Hello. Hello. So. What's the matter with this phone homo. 0 0. 1. 0 0 0. 0 0 0 over I haven't seen. This. Oh oh oh oh. What I would try to do they would. Hello operator. I don't know what's the matter with his telephone and I've been as positive a drive me crazy I've never seen such inefficient miserable service. 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 I have to be a trouble free when I do things wrong. I haven't had one bit is that a section out of one call I made this evening. So I want a big margin for all you people care and not my phone keeps ringing and ringing and ringing every five seconds I want to get these over there.

I'm sorry if you were crying I want to test it for you. I don't want you to test it for me I want you to put that call through whoever it is a month. I'm afraid I can't go there if you can't you can't. Then what they wanted me to. That is how Dick. And God got to sit here in my bed suffering every time that phone rings I imagine everything I would try to check. Trouble for you. If you were out of the way that you realize you're driving me crazy. This guy did. Put a stop it stop at that and I say hell. If you don't stop bringing the I'm going to call the police you know yeah I believe. It was Elbert would only go whoa Colella. Go on go on really because I'm not I don't want to as I would go on a. Plate. Movement. Please. Three of.

Those in one minute. At this moment it's beyond mankind's capacity to guess what will occupy the attention of CBS Radio's Bob and Ray tomorrow night. It's possible they may be investigating such matters as the molecular structure of money or giving the recipe for a balkanized bison. Perhaps distinguished correspondent Wally Ballou may take us by the magic of radio to the broom garage of a witch or we may receive a report on our feathered friends from the bird lady whose discourse on the drag tailed blockbuster recently created unparalleled apathy among bird watchers from coast to coast. Actually you may not hear any of these matters if you're courageous though. Take pot luck with the boys. Anything they serve up is full of chuckles. That's Bob and Ray weeknights at this spot on your radio dial. Live along too with Amos n Andy Andy Griffith and Burns and Allen comedy time Monday through Friday.

CBS Radio and now. We continue with three. Sorry wrong number starring Miss Agnes Morehead a tale well calculated to keep you in. What do you want stop bringing all that they just don't have all access pass on 375 my oh yes yes I'm sorry this is Gaza 3 7 9 0. As Western Europe I have a telegram here farmers how much damage. Oh well I miss is to even sit and count I amas harsh on. Carom I start trying to get your heart washed our mind as a leading Hamas 10 11 pm tonight as an. Actor are all afternoon.

Ok happening our side our new issues time are compromisers No no thank you thank you madam and I do not believe it. They. Couldn't do it not when you know they'll be alone. Some pretty team is shit. I'll break. Up or a helper a try that meringue 0 4 0 0 5 9 9 number probably doesn't dial that number to read. How did. He got here. How could you how could.

I get it. I just can't because I'm alone when. I do. I do. The Right Thing expensive. I'm right. Just. Like our mission information I want the telephone number of Hinsley hospital a hospital. Do you have a street address and know you know it but it's somewhere in the 70s. It's a very small private and exclusive hospital where I had my pen digs out two years ago. HENSCHEL e h e. One home plate. Please hurry and please what is the time you may find out the time darling there is one for heaven's sake I've no time to be dialing a hospital. Yes but if you don't 5.9. Oh shucks she ate too much.

It. The nurses registry please what you wish to speak to. I want the nurses registry at once I want to train guys I want to hire immediately for the night. And what is the nature of a case of nerves. I'm very nervous I need soothing and companionship you see MT My husband is away at her and I get to it by any doctor in particular that I know and I think again it asked us to send people out. Oh I am not going to charge. You're good at hiding it. Well absolutely necessary I'm a sick woman I'm I'm I'm very 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 get it once I'm afraid I'll go on about. Life when asked by chemist going to mismanage she can Miss Phillips. And what is your name and what do you expect to read in why I really couldn't say. She went out after eleven o'clock.

I love the clock but it's the latest. Oh my plug has stopped. Oh. What time is it. Just a minute after that. OK what was that like. But read. That kick. Just know in my old telephone as though someone is lifted the receiver off the hook of the extension from downstairs I can't hear it matter now of. This. Simple downstairs in the kitchen of the best thing to me while there. I don't get how I want them to hear me. Be quiet now. I don't call someone while I'm still there they'll be don't get. Caught up. Up. Operator operator I'm in desperate trouble. I'm sorry I cannot hear you. Clark I do I do. Can you hear me now.

I'm sorry. Is there someone in this house someone who's going to murder me. And you've got to get in touch with anything. Did you hear it. Just put it out. He's put that way extension so he's he's coming up. He's he's going up the stairs to get me the police department give me the police department. Yes I was like you know please go get them. Oh. That's. What you wanted. Don't you know I haven't got it you know. No I mean you. Know. At least I haven't. Sorry wrong number.

Everything is OK you just. Saw Spence. In which Miss Agnes Moore had starred in William and robes in the production of. Sorry wrong number written by Lucille Fletcher in a moment. The names of our supporting players and a word about next week's story of suspense. Are you all out of tune because you're irregular. Then help yourself get back into you with Kellogg's All-Bran. Pitch gently to work relieves constipation due to lack of bulk by supplying your system with about forming a whole brand. Yes Kellogg's All-Bran with milk helps put you right back into the natural

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Every week suspense. CBS Radio.