Show Synopsis:
Ella Peterson works for Susanswerphone, a telephone answering service that will anwer the phone for people when they cannot make it to the phone. She likes to fantasize about the people on the other ends of the phone lines and pretend to be different people with different voices on her end. She begins to talk to Jeff, a writer who wants Ella's help with his writer's block, and they start to flirt. Sue, the owner of the service, falls in love with Sandor, who owns a bookmaking company fronting as a record company. They set up shop in Susanwerphone's office and the police begin to moniter them, mostly because they believe Susanswerphone is actually an escort service. Ella meets some of Jeff's friends and worries that she does not fit in with them, because she has not really been herself with Jeff. The police begin to close in on Sandor, who is trying to borrow money from Sue, and three different men Ella suceeded at influencing go to look for her and meet her in person. Jeff and Ella reunite.	

Character:
Ella, a young woman who wants to talk to men more often and loves the anonymity that the phone service provides her.

Song Context:
Ella decides that her best chance at being happy is leaving town for somewhere else far away from Susanswerphone, Jeff, and the other clients she has talked to.	

Fun Facts:
1) The character of Ella and overall plot of the musical was based on Mary Printz, a notable telephone operator who served many major New York businessmen and theatre professionals in the 1950s. 
2) Judy Holliday originated the role of Ella on Broadway and reprised her role for the film adaptation in 1960. She won a Tony Award and Golden Globe Award for playing Ella. 
3) Holliday was praised for her versatility in the role of Ella, showing "brashness and underlying insecurity" during her songs, according to musical theatre historian Ken Bloom and Fred Vlastnik.