Sorry, Wrong Number Page #9

house at 20 Dunstan Terrace...

which I purchased

for Mr. Stevenson.

Here, twice a week after work...

I would come from

your father's Bayonne plant.

And here, Mr. Stevenson

would mail me...

or telephone his instructions

from Cicero.

The character of our work

now became more complex...

inasmuch as I was directly

selling the products...

as well as removing them

from the plant.

A little over

three months ago...

Mr. Stevenson arrived in New York

himself to supervise the work.

But unfortunately,

it was at that time...

that the final chapter of

our enterprise was being written.

Pardon me?

Come right in. Good evening.

This is the professor?

- Wally, this is Morano.

- Morano?

Yes, that's right. You didn't

expect me, did you, Professor?

With the assistance of Mr. Evans...

That is the name, isn't it?

- Yes, sir.

- With the assistance of Mr. Evans...

we'll proceed

with our business.

As I was saying, Stevenson,

according to our information...

and we have accurate sources...

since you decided to

disassociate yourself from us...

you've accumulated

quite a stock...

of which you have been able

to dispose of only one-third.

That leaves quite an amount

hanging around loose, doesn't it?

Where is it?

- I don't know anything about it.

- You don't, huh?

How about you, Professor?

As Mr. Stevenson just said,

we don't know, I'm sorry to say.

Well, so am I.

All right, boys.

- Leave him alone or I'll...

- Hold it, fellas.

Or you'll what, Stevenson?

Look, Stevenson. Size doesn't

count in our business.

We all know you're a big, strong

guy. We all know you can fight.

This isn't the way

you'll settle the difference...

our organization has with you.

Now there's one thing

I haven't told you yet.

We had a...

what'll I call it...

a board meeting last Thursday.

And the vote was seven to one

against you. That's pretty bad.

I'm not saying

I didn't argue the point...

but if you insist on being stubborn

there's nothing I can do.

Stop beating about the bush!

What do you want?

Now you're talking.

Now let's just relax for a second.

I'm sure the professor would like

to get a load off his feet.

It's a long way from here

to Bayonne, isn't it?

It's all right. Mr. Stevenson,

give them what they want.

- You can take everything I've got.

- Shut up!

Since you started your own business,

we've suffered quite a loss.

Now if you were to turn back

what you've accumulated...

and pay us, say, $200,000

for our injured feelings...

I might get the board

to reconsider their decision...

provided you both continue working

under our humble supervision.

You know as well as I do

I don't have that kind of money.

But you've got good connections...

a rich father-in-law, a rich wife.

Lot of good that does. Why do you

think I went into this business for?

But I thought I read somewhere about

your wife being sick, even dying.

So what about it?

She's got insurance, hasn't she,

made out in your name?

I'm pretty sure the board

would give you, say, 90 days...

to raise the money

on something like that.

- Why 90 days?

- Isn't that what the doctor said?

Yes, that's what

he said, but...

- What's that?

- Just a IOU to make it legal.

Everything can be straightened

out without any trouble.

Suppose something happened and

she didn't... I mean, if she got...

I wouldn't worry about it,

Stevenson.

You've got a doctor's word for it.

They know their business.

I wouldn't say you had

much of a choice anyhow.

That happened on the evening

of the 23rd of this past April.

I need not describe

Mr. Stevenson's distress...

when four days ago

the IOU came due.

As I understand it,

Mr. Stevenson saw Mr. Morano...

but his request for an extension

was most heartlessly refused.

I have not seen either Mr. Stevenson

or Mr. Morano since.

And now, inasmuch as I have already

given you the final message...

I believe the rest

explains itself quite simply.

Mr. Evans, where's my husband?

Where's Mr. Stevenson now?

I wish I knew, Mrs. Stevenson.

- If you tried the Bowery number.

- The Bowery number?

That I gave you

in the message.

- If you'll check it over with me...

- I can't! I can't!

I'll repeat it for you,

Mrs. Stevenson, once more.

Point one:
The house

at 20 Dunstan Terrace...

was burned down this afternoon

by Mr. Evans.

Point two:

Mr. Evans escaped.

Point three:

Mr. Morano has been arrested...

so it would not be necessary

to raise the money.

Point four:
It was not Mr. Morano

who tipped off the police.

But it doesn't matter.

Just give me the Bowery number.

The one for Mr. Stevenson.

Point five:
Mr. Evans

is at the Manhattan address.

But he's leaving now and

may be found at Bowery 2-1000.

- Bowery 2-1000.

- Yes, after midnight.

Good night, Mrs. Stevenson.

Thank you very much.

Good night.

Bowery 2-1000.

- Is Mr. Stevenson there?

- Mr. Who?

Mr. Stevenson.

Mr. Henry Stevenson.

- I was told to call by a Mr. Evans.

- Just a minute. I'll see.

- Stevenson's the name?

- Yes, that's right.

Hold the phone.

No, he's not here, ma'am.

Mr. Evans said he might be expected.

Could I leave a message?

A message, ma'am? We don't take

no messages here, ma'am.

They wouldn't do no good.

No? Well, what number is this?

What... What am I calling?

Bowery 2-1000, ma'am...

the city morgue.

- Your call, please.

- Operator, give me the police now.

- Ringing the police department.

- No, wait a minute.

Get me a hospital.

I can't be alone, I'm telling you!

- Hurry! Hurry!

- One moment, please.

Operator! Operator,

what about the hospital?

Hello, operator!

Operator! Operator!

- Bellevue.

- Is this the hospital?

- Yes.

- I want the nurse's registry.

- Whom do you wish to speak to?

- I want the nurse's registry.

I want to hire a trained nurse

immediately for the night.

Pardon me just a second.

And what were you saying?

I said I want to hire a trained

nurse. I need her immediately!

We understand that, but in the first

place this is a city hospital.

All I know is that I'm a sick woman

and I'm all alone...

in this horrible empty house!

I overheard a telephone

conversation a while ago...

about... about a murder...

a murder to be

committed at 11:
15.

I don't know what's happened

to my husband.

If something isn't done,

I'm afraid...

- What was that?

- What was what, madam?

That click just now

on my telephone.

Like someone lifted the receiver

from the extension downstairs.

- I didn't hear it, madam.

- Well, I did.

There's someone in this house.

There's someone in the kitchen

and they're listening to me now...

Who is it?

Who's there?

New Haven is calling Mrs. Henry

Stevenson. Is she there?

Yes, but I haven't

any time to talk now.

I have a person-to-person call

from Mr. Henry Stevenson.

Do you not wish

to accept the call, madam?

Did you say Mr. Stevenson from...

from New Haven?

- Do you wish to accept the call?

- Yes, I'll take it.

One moment, please.

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