The Apology Line

Wondery

If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know…what would you apologize for? For fifteen years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as “Mr. Apology.” As thousands of callers flooded the line, confessing to everything from shoplifting to infidelity, drug dealing to murder, Mr. Apology realized he couldn’t just listen. He had to do something, even if it meant risking everything. From Wondery the makers of Dr. Death and The Shrink Next Door, comes a story about empathy, deception and obsession. Marissa Bridge, who knew Mr. Apology better than anyone, hosts this six episode series.

All episodes are available now. You can binge the series ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

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Our Editor's Take

Marissa Bridge—Allan Bridge's second wife—takes listeners of this podcast along in the series that delves into the intricacies of The Apology Line. It originated as a conceptual art project but listening to people spill their darkest secrets and deepest fears for 15 years took an immense toll on Allan Bridge.

Guilty voices from all walks of life called in to confess their wrongdoings—big and small—to the tape recorder on the other end of the line. Bridge eventually realized that he had to get involved. Many years after a tragic accident took his life, his widow seeks to uncover truths about his involvement with some callers.

A story that could have only taken place in 1980s New York City, The Apology Line takes listeners back to a world before the internet, where a public payphone was the conduit for dark confessions beyond Bridge's wildest expectations.

The social experiment and its events inspired the 1984 novel Mr. Apology written by Campbell Black and the HBO movie Apology, which replaced Bridge's character with a female conceptual artist portrayed by Lesley Ann Warren. Listen to The Apology Line—a Wondery podcast—on Amazon Music.

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Play Trailer

Introducing: The Apology Line

Introducing: The Apology Line

If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know…what would you apologize for? For fifteen years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as “Mr. Apology.” As thousands of callers flooded the line, confessing to everything from shoplifting to infidelity, drug dealing to murder, Mr. Apology realized he couldn’t just listen. He had to do something, even if it meant risking everything. From Wondery the makers of Dr Death and The Shrink Next Door, comes a story about empathy, deception and obsession. Marissa Bridge, who knew Mr. Apology better than anyone, hosts this six episode series.All episodes are available now. You can binge the series ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episodes

Introducing: The Apology Line

Introducing: The Apology Line

If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know…what would you apologize for? For fifteen years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as “Mr. Apology.” As thousands of callers flooded the line, confessing to everything from shoplifting to infidelity, drug dealing to murder, Mr. Apology realized he couldn’t just listen. He had to do something, even if it meant risking everything. From Wondery the makers of Dr Death and The Shrink Next Door, comes a story about empathy, deception and obsession. Marissa Bridge, who knew Mr. Apology better than anyone, hosts this six episode series.All episodes are available now. You can binge the series ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who’s Sorry Now? | 1

Who’s Sorry Now? | 1

Marissa Bridge has only had a premonition twice in her life: one was on the day in 1981 that she met “Mr. Apology.” As posters for the Apology Line appear all over New York City, callers start to leave messages that confess their deepest secrets and darkest fears. Mr Apology quickly realizes he will have to do more than just sit back and listen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Going Public | 2

Going Public | 2

Even as Allan reckons with a frightening threat, he continues to engage with callers in ways he hadn’t previously imagined. A regular cast of characters forms on the Line. From this sea of voices one caller named “Richie” emerges and pulls Allan in even deeper, much to Marissa’s dismay. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your Dungeon or Mine? | 3

Your Dungeon or Mine? | 3

Richie details his murders and answers Allan’s many questions on the Line. Allan wants to keep Richie talking. He wants to use the Apology Line as a space to reform and study violent criminals. But will Allan’s efforts be enough?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To Catch A Serial Killer | 4

To Catch A Serial Killer | 4

Richie is back and Allan is in over his head this time. Help comes in the form of Detective Ray Pierce. Together they devise a plan to find out who Richie really is.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mrs. Apology | 5

Mrs. Apology | 5

With Richie gone from his life, Allan must reinvent himself and the Line. The community around the Line grows, while being married to Mr Apology becomes ever more challenging.If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are some additional resources. For the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline call 1-800-273-8255. For the National Alliance on Mental Illness dial 1-800-950-6264.And for the Crisis Text Line Text HOME, H-O-M-E to 741741.If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence here are some additional resources.For the National Domestic Violence Hotline call 1-800-799-7233.Or visit thehotline.org to chat with someone live at any time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Strawberry Fields Forever | 6

Strawberry Fields Forever | 6

Allan’s death is like an atomic bomb going off in Marissa’s life. She’s left to make sense of his life, and his life’s work. And twenty-five years later, Marissa learns the truth about what happened to Richie.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

And The Calls Live On | 7

And The Calls Live On | 7

Marissa talks to long time callers and listeners about the making of Apology Line then and now and what the making of this series has meant to her.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where to find Episodes 2-7 of The Apology Line

Where to find Episodes 2-7 of The Apology Line

The Apology Line has moved. You can listen to all seven episodes ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app, or you can listen on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership: Wondery.fm/The_Apology_LineSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.