
In the play 'Sorry, Wrong Number', Mrs Stevenson calls the hospital in a desperate attempt to find a nurse or attendant to spend the night with her. She is bedridden with an unknown illness and is left alone in the house after giving her nurse the night off. While trying to contact her husband, she accidentally intercepts a phone call between two men, one of whom is later revealed to be her husband, plotting a murder. She becomes convinced that she is the intended victim and, in a panic, reaches out to several people for help, including the operator, the police, and the hospital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for calling | Ask for a nurse or attendant to spend the night with her |
| Reason for needing a nurse | Bedridden with an unknown disease |
| Outcome of call | Hospital unable to provide a nurse |
| Other actions | Reached out to the operator, police, and her husband |
| Reason for panic | Overheard a plot to murder a woman |
| Realization | She was the intended victim |
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What You'll Learn

Mrs Stevenson called the hospital to ask for a nurse
Mrs Stevenson was an imperious invalid who was confined to her bed. She had heart troubles and occasional cardiac episodes, which had left her bedridden. She was also nervous and sick, and her nerves made her feel fearful. She was unable to reach her husband, who was working late, and instead kept getting a busy signal. She was desperate to speak to him as she was worried about her safety. She was also medicated, which made her act irritated and frustrated.
Mrs Stevenson called Henchley Hospital, where she had previously had her appendix removed, asking for a nurse to come and spend the evening with her. However, the hospital was unable to send someone over. While on the phone with the hospital, she heard a click on the line as though someone else had picked up. She realised with terror that there was someone else in her home. This, along with the fact that the victim in the murder plot she had overheard was a woman alone in a house, made her certain that she was the intended victim.
Mrs Stevenson's fear and helplessness are fundamental characteristics of a horror story. She felt helpless because she was stuck in her bed and unable to leave her home. She was also written off by the police, who did not believe that she or anyone else was in any real danger. Her situation is ironic, as she spends almost the entire night speaking with people, yet in reality, she is a lonely, isolated individual with no meaningful human contact.
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She was bedridden with an unknown illness
Mrs Stevenson was bedridden with an unknown illness that had left her feeling weak and fatigued. She had been experiencing a range of debilitating symptoms for several weeks, including severe headaches, nausea, and a persistent fever. Despite her best efforts to manage her symptoms at home with rest and over-the-counter medications, she found that her condition was not improving. In fact, she felt progressively worse with each passing day.
As her condition deteriorated, she became increasingly concerned about her health and decided to seek professional medical help. She knew that her symptoms were unusual and feared that they could be indicative of a serious underlying condition. With no clear explanation for her illness and the severity of her symptoms, she felt it was necessary to call the hospital and seek urgent medical attention.
Mrs Stevenson was worried that her illness could be something serious and potentially life-threatening. She had heard anecdotes from others who had experienced similar symptoms and received diagnoses of debilitating or fatal illnesses. The uncertainty of her own diagnosis and the potential for a grave health threat weighed heavily on her mind. She placed immense value on her health and was determined to do everything possible to safeguard her well-being.
By calling the hospital, she hoped to gain access to advanced medical diagnostics and treatments unavailable to her in a home setting. She trusted that the doctors and specialists at the hospital possessed the expertise and technological resources to identify the elusive cause of her illness and provide her with effective treatment options. She believed that seeking timely medical intervention would optimize her chances of a full recovery and mitigate potential complications.
Mrs Stevenson's decision to call the hospital reflected her understanding of the importance of proactive healthcare. It demonstrated her commitment to taking charge of her health and addressing her concerns head-on. While being bedridden with an unknown illness had initially filled her with anxiety and vulnerability, she found solace in taking decisive action. With the hospital's assistance, she hoped to finally unravel the mystery behind her affliction and embark on a journey toward healing and restoration.
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Mrs Stevenson was in a state of panic
Mrs Stevenson was terrified and immediately tried to call the operator again to trace the call. But the operator was of no help, telling her that she needed to involve someone more official. Frantic, she called the police, but they didn't believe her, refusing to see any real danger. She then called Henchley Hospital, where she had had her appendix removed two years prior, asking for a nurse to come and stay with her for the night. But the hospital couldn't send anyone over. While on the phone with the hospital, she heard a click on the line, as though someone else had picked up. With dawning terror, she realized that someone had broken into her home. It suddenly became clear to her that the murder she had overheard was her own.
In a state of panic, she called the police again, but it was too late. The murderer had reached her and killed her. Mrs Stevenson's fears were well-founded, and her frantic attempts to get help were tragically unsuccessful. Her isolation and helplessness in the face of impending danger are key elements of the horror story.
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She was unable to reach her husband
Mrs Stevenson was unable to reach her husband, Elbert, because there was a busy signal for 45 minutes. She was trying to reach him because she was worried about her safety. Mrs Stevenson was bedridden with an unknown illness and was left alone in the house. She had given her nurse the night off. She was also nervous about an intercepted phone call she had accidentally heard between two men, one of whom was her husband, planning a murder.
Mrs Stevenson was terrified by the phone call and immediately tried to call her husband, but was unable to get through. She then tried to trace the call by ringing the operator, who was of no help. The operator told her she needed something more official, so she called the police, who also dismissed her concerns, refusing to believe that she or anyone else was in any real danger.
Mrs Stevenson was unable to reach her husband because he was working late. She repeatedly tried to contact him throughout the radio play, but her attempts were unsuccessful. Mrs Stevenson's inability to reach her husband contributed to her sense of isolation and desperation as she tried to uncover the truth behind the disturbing phone call she had overheard.
Mrs Stevenson's inability to reach her husband and the dismissive responses she received from the operator and police highlight the themes of fear, helplessness, and suspense in the story. Her situation becomes increasingly frantic and desperate as she struggles to be heard and take action in the face of an imminent threat.
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Mrs Stevenson believed she was in danger
Mrs Stevenson's fears and feelings of helplessness are key elements of the horror story or thriller genre. Her situation is ironic because, despite spending almost the entire night on the phone, she is, in reality, a lonely and isolated individual with little meaningful human contact. Her nerves and sickness further contributed to her sense of danger. She is also portrayed as physically helpless, unable to get help, and paralysed by fear.
Mrs Stevenson's calls to the hospital and the police were unfortunately met with dismissal and disbelief. The police, in particular, wrote off her concerns, refusing to acknowledge that she or anyone else was in any real danger. This lack of support further exacerbated her sense of danger and desperation.
As the story unfolds, Mrs Stevenson's suspicions are confirmed when she realises that she is the intended victim of the murder plot. Her husband, Henry, is revealed to be the mastermind behind the plan. In a frantic attempt to save herself, she calls the police again, but it is too late, and she is killed by the murderer, George.
The play "Sorry, Wrong Number" by Lucille Fletcher, explores the terror, suspense, and mystery surrounding Mrs Stevenson's character and her tragic demise. It highlights the tragic irony of her situation, where her frantic attempts to seek help ultimately fail due to the very people who should have provided assistance.
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Frequently asked questions
Mrs Stevenson called the hospital to ask for a nurse to spend the night with her.
No, she did not. The hospital refused to send a nurse to her home.
Mrs Stevenson was bedridden and alone in the house. She was nervous and afraid for her safety.
After calling the hospital, Mrs Stevenson called the police for help. Unfortunately, it was too late, and she was killed.






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