ALS: Monday, September 29, 1919

Provincetown, Mass.
Sept. 29, 1919.

My dear Madden:

Your letter of Saturday reached me this morning. I am writing to Tyler to pave the way for "The Straw". He will read anything of mine and read it quick, I believe, if I ask him -- of course I mean if he has the time. A note from him this morning informs me that "Chris" will open the latter part of November.

The more I think of the W-B. Chicago plan, the more I suspect it hides the joker which is usual with Williams' propositions. If I accept the Chicago in lieu of the contract N.Y. production then Williams, by putting it on a few half-weeks, will get a strangle hold on the rights to the play forever. This proceeding on his part, I think, is a scheme to meet my Dec. 1st ultimatum and thus keep his hold on the play without losing his forfeit or being compelled to dig up money for a further extension in case I should be willing to grant one. What do you think? The plain facts are that the Rice play is given the priority and preference over mine. The way the deal is framed everyone with half an eye will see that "Beyond" is intended merely as a secondary matter, an experiment. Once let this idea become general -- the papers will see to that! -- and it spells humiliating failure for "Beyond' as sure as God made little apples! And the public will not be to blame if it takes "Beyond" at Williams' own belittling valuation.

No! I will not stand for it!

To loose Bennett will be severe; but I cannot help thinking that if he had half the enthusiasm for the play he pretends to have, he would go ahead and "carry on" with it alone, stand or fall.

You can tell both of them exactly how I feel about it. I am open to persuasion if they have any fair deal to offer me. If not -- not! They must get it into their heads that I am not so eager to obtain productions that I will snatch at anything. My work demands respectful and considerate treatment for a successful hearing, and I am going to see that it gets it.

I'm sorry all this mess descends on your shoulders, but I know you can appreciate my stand. Let Williams fulfill a contract dictated by him himself -- if not in the letter, at least in the spirit -- and I will be satisfied. That surely is fair enough.

So curse him and not me!

With very best regards,

Very sincerely yours,

Eugene O'Neill.