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American Morning

Art of Eavesdropping

Aired May 28, 2002 - 08:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Your mother undoubtedly told you it's not nice to eavesdrop, but sometimes, hey, it just can't be helped.

For one woman here in New York, it has been particularly trying. For the past 20 years, she has perfected the art of eavesdrop on strangers. So prick up your ears.

CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's easy to overlook how much we overhear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd really like to take you to the prom.

MOOS: Snippets of conversation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my -- oh, my God!

MOOS: Fragments of other people's lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you go around wherever you want to go.

MOOS: But what you're about to hear about being overheard may leave you looking over your shoulder.

(on camera): Do you ever feel sneaky, guilty, shady?

JUDITH HENRY, ARTIST: Guilty, no. Sneaky, yes. Shady, yes, but that's the fun of it.

MOOS (voice-over): Artist Judith Henry more or less makes a living eavesdropping. Check out how she positions herself in front of this unsuspecting couple.

HENRY: It's easier to eavesdrop when the people are behind you, because sound travels forward.

MOOS: Judith has been combining overheard quotes and arty, but unrelated, photos for years. Her latest exhibit was at New York's National Arts Club.

(on camera): Mine's not nearly as classy as yours. Do you know what they were talking about?

HENRY: No, I never know what they're talking about.

MOOS (voice-over): But that hasn't stopped her from putting out four books, "Overheard at the Museum," "Overheard at the Bookstore," "Overheard While Shopping" and "Overheard in Love." I want him to want me, but I don't want him. Among the comments overheard at the bookstore, I asked for a book on The Beatles, and he sent me to the nature section.

HENRY: Most of the things I hear are not significant -- and I think they're significant in their insignificance.

MOOS: The same goes for celebrity utterances. The president of the National Arts Club quotes Pavarotti overheard muttering at a dinner...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wish they'd bring out some more food.

MOOS: Judith's eavesdropping technique is to look busy fiddling with her camera or scribbling on a notepad. Sometimes folks look at her funny, and sometimes she's overaggressive.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think I should...

HENRY: I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What were we talking about?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Expense accounts.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Expense accounts.

MOOS (on camera): Did you notice her?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we did.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I noticed her, and I...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thought she was weird.

MOOS (voice-over): Watch Judith go after the woman with the flowers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So she's listening to people's conversations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard somebody talking about their sex life in the subway one time.

MOOS (on camera): Any good details?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot. And I moved away.

MOOS (voice-over): Too much adamant eavesdropping. One guy Judith shadowed told us he loves being in countries where he doesn't speak the language. That way...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have to listen to other people's inane conversations. Mine is inane, I know.

MOOS: On the day we observed Judith in action, she fearlessly stalked cell phone users and ignored many a dirty look.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But look how -- look how good she is.

MOOS: After "Overheard in the Museum," "The Bookstore," "Shopping," what's left?: "Overheard in the Ladies' Room?"

As for Judith's all-time favorite overhead line...

HENRY: I don't want your fungus in my shower. That was a classic.

MOOS (on camera): That's a classic?

HENRY: Yes.

MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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