Sorry, Wrong Number

- Operator? Operator?

- Your call, please.

I've been ringing Murray Hill 3-5097

for the last half hour.

The line is always busy.

Will you ring it for me, please?

Murray Hill 3-5097.

- One moment, please.

- My husband's office.

He should've been home hours ago.

I can't think what's keeping him...

or why that ridiculous wire

should be busy.

They always close that office

at 6:
00.

Ringing Murray Hill 3-5097.

Thank you.

Hello? Hello?

Hello, Mr. Stevenson, please.

- I want to speak to Mr. Stevenson.

- Hello, George?

- Speaking.

- What number am I calling?

I got your message, George.

Everything okay for tonight?

- Yeah, everything's okay.

- Excuse me.

What's going on here?

I'm using this wire.

- It's still 11:
15, George?

- 11:
15 is right.

- You got it all straight now?

- Yeah, I think so.

At 11:
00, the private patrolman

goes around to the bar...

on 2nd Avenue for a beer.

Then I get in through

the kitchen window at the back.

Then I wait till the train

goes over the bridge...

in case her window is open

and she should scream.

Hello? Who is this?

I forgot to ask you.

Still don't wanna use the gun?

Make it quick. Our client doesn't

wish to make her suffer long.

Okay, George, don't worry.

There won't be any slipup.

And don't forget to take

the rings and bracelets...

and the jewelry

in the bureau drawer.

Our client wishes to make it look

like simple robbery.

Simple robbery.

That's very important.

Okay, okay.

Now, let me just check

the address again.

It's...

Hello?

- Your call, please.

- You've given me a wrong number.

I'm sorry, madam.

What number were you calling?

I was calling Murray Hill 3-5097...

That's my husband's office...

and instead, I was cut into

some other number that you dialed.

The wires must have crossed,

and I heard the most dreadful thing.

- A murder.

- Yes, madam?

And now, I want you to get that

wrong number back for me at once.

I'm sorry, madam.

I do not understand.

You dialed a number for me

just a moment ago...

Murray Hill 3-5097.

It was busy for so long, and

I asked you to get it and you did.

And then those...

those horrible men came on and...

Well, it's unnerved me dreadfully.

I'm an invalid.

I will connect you

with the chief operator.

Please.

- Chief Operator. May I help you?

- I'm an invalid...

and I've just had a dreadful shock

tonight over the telephone...

and I'm very anxious

to trace the call.

It was about a murder...

a terrible, coldblooded murder...

of a poor, innocent woman

tonight at 11:
15.

I was trying to reach

my husband's office.

He should've been home hours ago.

I'm all alone tonight.

My nurse has the night off,

because my husband had promised...

As a matter of fact,

he had sworn he'd be home by 6:00.

I don't know any of the neighbors,

as we live permanently in Chicago.

Well, it so happens that

the couple I have working for me...

had some important date or other.

I don't know.

A movie, I suppose.

They said it was promised them

three weeks ago.

You could've thought they'd have

checked with me before leaving...

had some realization

of my condition.

But I've been ringing and ringing

the bell for nearly an hour...

hoping they'd come back

or something.

- There isn't a sound downstairs.

- Yes, madam.

So when I kept getting the busy

signal in my husband's office...

I naturally dialed the operator

and told her to try it, and she did.

Then, out of a clear sky, I was cut

into this ghastly conversation...

between two killers.

And now, I'd like you

to trace it for me at once.

- Well, madam, that depends.

- Depends on what?

On whether the parties have

stopped talking to each other.

Of course they've stopped talking

to each other by now.

It was just a short call.

They weren't exactly gossiping.

And what is your reason for

having this call traced, madam?

Do I have to have a reason

when I overheard two murderers?

Isn't it obvious?

Now, look here, my good woman.

You probably don't understand,

but a human being, a woman...

is going to be killed somewhere...

somewhere in this very city...

and this murder's going to

take place tonight at 11:15.

Isn't that a good enough reason?

I quite understand, madam,

but I would suggest...

that you turn this information

over to the police.

Oh, for heaven's sakes,

all this idiotic red tape!

You'd just sit there

and let people die!

- Your call, please.

- Give me the police.

Yes, madam.

Ringing the police department.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Listen to the big tick-tock.

Isn't that nice?

That's better.

Say, maybe that's your mom

calling for you.

Precinct 17.

Duffy speaking.

Yes? Oh, yes, Mrs. Stevenson.

I remember you. What?

You what?

A murder?

Yes, go ahead.

But there's lots of people

by the name of George.

And as for the private patrolman

and 2nd Avenue and the bridge...

Do you know how many bridges there

are in the city of New York alone?

Not to mention Brooklyn,

Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx?

Telephones are very funny things.

Look, lady, a lot of murders are

committed in this town every day.

If we could stop them, we would.

But a clue that's so vague...

it's not much more use to us

than no clue at all...

unless you think there's

something phony about this call...

and somebody's planning

to murder you.

Me? Why, of course not.

That would be ridiculous.

I mean, why should anybody?

Well, you see? There's nothing

for you to worry about.

- Now, if you'll excuse me, please.

- Just a minute!

Will you please excuse me, ma'am,

for just one second?

I know, darling.

Why are you crying?

Be a good girl.

Everything's gonna be all right.

I'm sorry, ma'am, but I've got a couple

of other things here on my desk...

that require

my immediate attention.

Good night.

All right! Don't listen!

Who cares?

Henry.

Henry, why do you leave me alone?

- Hello?

- Is this Plaza 5-1098?

I have a person-to-person call

for Mrs. Henry Stevenson.

Chicago is calling.

This is Mrs. Stevenson.

One moment, please.

- Go ahead, sir.

- Hello, Leona?

- Hello, Dad.

- Is that you, sweetie?

- And how's my girl tonight?

- What are you doing, Dad?

- How's that?

- Can you talk?

- If I can talk?

- Can you talk?

Sure, sweetheart.

Go ahead, I can talk.

A murder?

Tonight, 11:
15?

You called the police?

How come? Where's Henry?

Where's your nurse?

Henry told her she could, did he?

Well, then,

why didn't he come home?

Business? What business?

Didn't I tell him time and again

his first consideration is to you?

I'll worry about the business.

Dear, when the guy hasn't another

responsibility in the world...

and just because I'm not around

to check up on him.

Just forget about it.

Maybe just a gag.

Couple of actors, maybe,

on a radio program.

Radio? Radio program?

Sometimes happens.

No need to worry your head

on a hot night like this.

Honey, everybody...

Pardon me.

I wish you'd get the whole thing

over with and come home.

House is like a morgue without you.

Rate this script:4.7 / 3 votes