The Phones Die First

An excellent radio drama with beautiful writing and acting. Harry Bartell portrays a young convict about to be executed in the morning. The story tells of his last day in a way that comes across as a strong plea against the death penalty (without ever mentioning the subject). Bravo!

Suspense is a state of anxiety or excitement caused by mysteriousness, uncertainty, doubt, or undecidedness. In a narrative work, suspense is the audience's excited anticipation about the plot or conflict, particularly as it affects a character for whom the audience feels sympathy. However, suspense is not exclusive to narratives.

Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Updated Jan 30, 2026.