That was actually the entire comedic premise of an I Love Lucy episode. The gang is in Italy and wants to call back to the states so they have to wait for a lon

That was actually the entire comedic premise of an I Love Lucy episode. The gang is in Italy and wants to call back to the states so they have to wait for a long distance operator to call them back with an open line. They, unfortunately, are on a higher floor with no elevator. So every time they have to talk on the phone they have to get 3+ flights of stairs.