TLS: Sunday, September 26, 1920

Provincetown, Mass.
Sept. 26, 1920.

My dear Madden:

Thanks very much for your long letter. It crossed one of mine to Williams in which I told him what I thought about his ignoring us - without mincing matters. From a brief note in reply, received yesterday, I judge that my letter got his goat right and that he and I are now on the outs. Well, it doesn't matter. I had just cause to be sore because he had deliberately lied to me - by implication in the Barrymore matter, and by omission in the split-week thing. In this day of Authors' Leagues, etc. it is pretty out of date to adopt that silly attitude of secrecy which keeps the author and all associated with him completely in the dark about what is being done to the plays. I am writing Williams by this same mail telling him that I am willing to - and eager to - buy back "Gold" at once by repaying the amount of the advance and thus sever all connections with him for good. If he insists on that I-am-the-Infallible-Pope-and-not-to-be-questioned stuff he can sure go to hell as far as I am concerned.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the thing that made him sorest in my letter was my assertion, based on fact, that I knew he had submitted "Gold" to the Fox Film people. Not that I have any stupid, high-brow, Arty aversion to the kind of Movie support that "Beyond" received, but when the contract states that a film sale must be by mutual consent, I certainly think the author ought to be kept in touch with how options on the film rights to his play are being hawked about. I'll bet Williams never mentioned this to you. Yet, as I say, I have the facts right from high up in the Fox itself.

I'm glad to hear how Tyler feels. Yes, I'll write him soon. It will be hard, though, to write a letter with no mention of the rewritten theme of "Chris" in it.

I have now finished this play and am getting the first draft of it typed. I should be able to get it in your hands sometime next month. Present title - and final, I think - is "Clean". What do you think of it?

Brentano's were wrong. The book is temporarily out while going into a second edition, owing to printer's delays, etc.

By the way, have you a copy of my first book of five short plays - "Thirst"? It seems to me they might be more suited for movie expansion than the others. I'll send you a copy if you haven't one.

Stick out for the $250 for split-weeks. It's only fair. And let me hear what the play did in its first full week in Pittsburg just as soon as you hear, will you?

With very kindest regards,

Sincerely,

Eugene O'Neill.