Collection 2 “Sorry, Wrong Number” Pages

Collection 2 “Sorry, Wrong Number” Pages 111-124
By Lucille fletcher

Sorry, Wrong Number Drama by Lucille Fletcher
1. Cast of Characters: What can you predict about the action of the play from the Operator and Information listings?

1. Cast of Characters: What can you predict about the action of the play from the Operator and Information listings? Mrs. Stevenson will talk to several different telephone operators over the course of the drama

Lines 1–15: Which descriptive details in the stage directions tell what is lit and what is in darkness onstage?

Lines 1–15: Which descriptive details in the stage directions tell what is lit and what is in darkness onstage? Mrs. Stevenson in her bed in the center of the stage, lit by a table lamp. The left and right sections of the stage are dark.

3. Lines 28–29: What ideas do you have about Mrs. Stevenson’s character based on the description in these lines?

3. Lines 28–29: What ideas do you have about Mrs. Stevenson’s character based on the description in these lines? She is a “querulous, self-centered neurotic”. That means she is nervous, demanding, and probably not very likable.

4. Lines 80–96: What do the audience and Mrs. Stevenson learn at the same time?

4. Lines 80–96: What do the audience and Mrs. Stevenson learn at the same time? A murder of a woman is being planned by two men, one working for a client and the other named George, the hired killer.

5. Lines 110–125: What details in these lines describe what the audience sees onstage?

5. Lines 110–125: What details in these lines describe what the audience sees onstage? Spotlights go off the two men. Then one spotlight lights the 1st Operator’s switchboard. Mrs. Stevenson, still in bed, is no longer overhearing the men’s phone conversation but is speaking to the Operator.

6. Lines 176–182: Which stage directions reveal how Mrs. Stevenson feels? Why might she feel that way?

6. Lines 176–182: Which stage directions reveal how Mrs. Stevenson feels? Why might she feel that way? As she wipes her forehead with a handkerchief, she is “glancing uneasily for a moment toward the window.” That uneasy glance reveals that she is worried about what might be happening outside.

7. Lines 194–200: Tell about Mrs. Stevenson’s conflict and her attempts to resolve it.

7. Lines 194–200: Tell about Mrs. Stevenson’s conflict and her attempts to resolve it. The conflict is set when Mrs. Stevenson overhears plans for a murder. She is desperate for the operator to trace the call to find the men and apprehend them.

8. Lines 235–266: What ideas do you have about why rising action is a fitting term to describe what is happening in these lines?

8. Lines 235–266: What ideas do you have about why rising action is a fitting term to describe what is happening in these lines? As Mrs. Stevenson tries to explain what she wants to the Chief Operator, her panic starts to rise. The suspense builds for the audience, too, because it’s clear that the call can’t be traced, and precious time is passing.

9. Lines 289–304: What does the audience see as Mrs. Stevenson dials the phone?

9. Lines 289–304: What does the audience see as Mrs. Stevenson dials the phone? The table to the right that was hidden in darkness is now lit with a spotlight, and a new character, 2nd Operator, is seated at it.

10. Lines 337–349: What words show Duffy’s reaction to Mrs. Stevenson’s call? What effect does the dramatist want to create?

10. Lines 337–349: What words show Duffy’s reaction to Mrs. Stevenson’s call? What effect does the dramatist want to create? Duffy “relaxes, sighs, starts taking lunch from bag.” He says “yes, ma’am,” in a voice that shows he’s not impressed. The effect is to build tension, because the audience knows that Mrs. Stevenson is right, but she can’t seem to explain the situation convincingly.

11. Lines 384–405: What is Mrs. Stevenson revealing to the audience as she speaks to Duffy?

11. Lines 384–405: What is Mrs. Stevenson revealing to the audience as she speaks to Duffy? She herself lives in a place like the one described by the murder planners. She is all alone because her husband is not home and it’s the maid’s night off. The woman who is to be murdered is also alone in her house.

12. Line 401: Use the context of surrounding words to determine the meaning of invalid. What does this word suggest about how Mrs. Stevenson perceives herself?

12. Line 401: Use the context of surrounding words to determine the meaning of invalid. What does this word suggest about how Mrs. Stevenson perceives herself? She sees herself as ill, helpless, and always requiring care from others.

13. Lines 415–439: Which words show what Duffy is doing? What do his actions reveal about him?

13. Lines 415–439: Which words show what Duffy is doing? What do his actions reveal about him? Duffy “yawns”; “reaches for a paper cup of coffee”; “he begins to remove the top of the coffee container”; “puts down the phone to work on the cup.” His actions show that he is unconcerned about Mrs. Stevenson’s report and has no intention of getting involved.

14. Lines 487–498: What can you infer about Mrs. Stevenson that she herself doesn’t seem to realize?

14. Lines 487–498: What can you infer about Mrs. Stevenson that she herself doesn’t seem to realize? Mrs. Stevenson says that she can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill her. Yet she goes on to name two people who might have reason to: her maid and her husband.

15. Lines 537–539: What is the sound effect in these lines? What is its significance?

15. Lines 537–539: What is the sound effect in these lines? What is its significance? The “train roaring by in the distance” is a reminder that the murderers are planning to use the sound of a train to muffle the victim’s screams.

16. Lines 535, 557, 562: What does the word whimper suggest about Mrs. Stevenson?

16. Lines 535, 557, 562: What does the word whimper suggest about Mrs. Stevenson? She feels frustrated and can’t cope with setbacks. She’s like a helpless child.

17. Lines 535, 557, 562: What does the word whimper suggest about Mrs. Stevenson?

17. Lines 535, 557, 562: What does the word whimper suggest about Mrs. Stevenson? She feels frustrated and can’t cope with setbacks. She’s like a helpless child.

18. Lines 656–665: What new obstacle is presented in these lines?

18. Lines 656–665: What new obstacle is presented in these lines? Mrs. Stevenson’s husband is not coming home tonight, and she now must deal with being alone.

19. Lines 683–689: Which words convey emotion in these lines?

19. Lines 683–689: Which words convey emotion in these lines? “Panic”, “frenzied,” and “beats with her knuckles on the bed” show that Mrs. Stevenson is out of control with frustration and terror. The “sound of a train roaring by outside” is like a scream that adds to the feeling of terror.

20. Lines 759–795: How does this dialogue build suspense?

20. Lines 759–795: How does this dialogue build suspense? The dialogue creates tension because Mrs. Stevenson’s growing panic is contrasted with the businesslike manner of the Woman. Time is passing, the murder is about to be committed, and Mrs. Stevenson still can’t get anyone to help her. Time is passing, the murder is about to be committed, and Mrs. Stevenson still can’t get anyone to help her.

21. Lines 821–837: How are audiences probably reacting at this point in the play?

21. Lines 821–837: How are audiences probably reacting at this point in the play? People at a live performance of this drama are probably biting their knuckles or shading their eyes because the tension is almost unbearable. They’ve strongly suspected that Mrs. Stevenson is the intended murder victim, and not that someone is downstairs, they know for sure.

22. Lines 850–871: Why is this the climax of the play?

22. Lines 850–871: Why is this the climax of the play? Mrs. Stevenson is desperately trying to overcome the final obstacle-the murderer in her house-by calling the police. Her screams and the shadow rushing in the darkness create an emotional peak. Her silence tells the audience that the conflict has been resolved with her murder.

23. Lines 895–898: What does George say and do at the resolution of the plot? What is ironic about that remark and action?

23. Lines 895–898: What does George say and do at the resolution of the plot? What is ironic about that remark and action? George says, “Sorry, wrong number,” and hangs up. The audience knows that his victim had been trying to use the phone as a lifeline, doing nothing but calling “wrong numbers” – never finding the connection that would prevent her death.

Collection 2 “Sorry, Wrong Number” Pages

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