TLS: Saturday, November 27, 1920

Provincetown, Mass.
Nov. 27, 1920.

My dear Madden:

Many thanks for the two publication checks which reached me today. I would call your attention, however, to what I fancy is an error on the part of you w.k. bookeeping department - and said error, if I am not mistaken, is all in my favor. They have only deducted a five percent commision, when, as I understand our contract, all other plays saving "Beyond" entitle you to ten. Not that the difference in this present case is so stupendous as to worry you, but you might as well get this matter straight in their heads at the start so that there will be no further errors in the future - when, let us hope, the commision will really be worth while. If I turn out to be correct in this matter, you can have them deduct the difference form the Famous P. check when it comes - which I hope will be soon.

(It's too bad Old Man Diogenes isn't around with that lantern of his now, what?)

As for "The Ole Davil", you may be quite right about it and I may be all wrong. It's just a difference of opinion that we'll have to leave to Father Time to decide. I don't pretend to be infallible - and I wrote this play such a short time ago that I'm too near to it yet to be able to judge it impartially as a whole. But as I have told you, there has been a great difference of opinion among the few people who have read it so far. I wouldn't be in any hurry to give it to Hopkins. I want to send it to George Jean Nathan first and have him read it. His word goes a great way with Hopkins and if he likes it he will give it a boost to Hopkins that would be a great help. I'm sure you'll agree with me in this.

Nathan writes me that Hopkins is very anxious to see "Gold", having heard the gossip that Williams would be unable to produce same. Nathan likes "Gold" very much and had boosted it to the skies to Hopkins.

Isn't it a damn shame that "The Emperor Jones" with all the fuss it created, cannot be turned into an income raising proposition somewhere, somehow! I think I will write to Nathan and ask him if he thinks there is any chance of Hopkins being interested in special matinees of "Jones" and, perhaps, the coming two-act play - or some other of my one-acters like "The Moon Of The Caribbees" which offers great chances for the producer and might appeal to Hoppy for that reason. I honestly believe such an undertaking would more than pay its way in the long run.

Is there any movie possibility in "Jones", do you think? By the way, I had a letter some time ago which I meant to show you in New York from some lady film agent who said she had been commisioned by some feature producer to get plays and stories, and that she had had inquiries regarding the film rights to "Beyond The Horizon" and "The Rope" and "Ile". I seem to have lost her letter or I would send it to you. Perhaps the lady was lying. At any rate, I sure wish something would turn up along that film line. It would be a Godsend.

With all best wishes,

Sincerely,

Eugene O'Neill.