Dial Tone Synopsis

Dial Tone Summary

Dial Tone is a corporate thriller set in the mid 1990s. Sam Thompson, recently hired as general Manager of a telephone cooperative in Kentucky, discovers that the cooperative's accountant, John Stanko and, Phil Task a construction contractor, have conspired to embezzle nearly a million dollars from the corporation.

To evade prosecution, Stanko launches a hostile takeover bid to buy the company with its own money before any legal action can be taken. To buy time, Stanko devises a plan to throw the company into chaos. With help from key employees he instigates a unionization drive, and conspires with elements on the board to falsely impugn Thompson to get him to back off prosecution or get him fired.

This drama unfolds in one of the most volatile times in the industry's history. Having lost their monopoly, telephone companies across the country were struggling to transform themselves into competitive businesses, with significant difficulty. As companies struggled to reduce costs and streamline their businesses they became prime targets for unions who could capitalize on the layoffs, pay cuts and benefit reductions to recruit members.

The hostile takeover, union takeover attempt and attempt to assassinate the character of Sam Thompson combine in a tightly wound story of intrigue and conflict as Thompson battles to keep his job and hold the company together.