Ben, bearing a gift, comes to visit Lucy at her apartment; he wants to propose to her before he leaves on a trip. Despite his attempts to get her attention for sufficient time to ask his question, Lucy is occupied with interminable conversations on the telephone. Between her calls, when Lucy leaves the room, Ben even takes the risk of trying to cut the telephone cord, though his attempt is unsuccessful. Not wanting to miss his train, Ben leaves without asking Lucy for her hand in marriage. But Ben makes one last attempt: He calls Lucy from a telephone booth outside on the street and makes his proposal. She consents, and the two join in a romantic duet over the phone line, at the end of which Lucy makes sure that Ben remembers her phone number.

Film and video

• In 1968 a film of the opera was made for SFB/ORF, in German. Anja Silja and Eberhard Wächter portrayed the young couple. The orchestra was conducted by Wolfgang Rennert, and the production was directed by Otto Schenk
• In 2006 a DVD was licensed by Decca Music Group and released by Video Artists International, with Carole Farley and Russell Smythe in the roles and José Serebrier conducting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. This DVD also includes a performance of Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine, whose story also contains a telephone conversation.