TLS: Thursday, December 02, 1920

Provincetown, Mass.
Dec. 2, 1920.

My dear Madden:

I have what I think is a big idea for a screen play. At first I thought of it as a regular spoken drama but it does not fit into that form, while on the other hand its film possibilities seem to me immense. I am rather keen to do it because I believe it offers a big scope for an artistic producer, and because I think the root idea of the story, if projected before the immense public of the pictures, would do no end of good in the world of this special time.

All of which I hope has you interested. And now for two queries I want to put to you. What is the best form for me to put this in writing - say for submission to a producer like Griffith? I mention him because he seems to me the kind of man who would be interested, and because he has been so flattering in his Shadowland interview when he mentions "Beyond" Is there any chance of you being able to get a reading of this script from him in person? This play is one that I would not care to trust to the pilfering temptations of an understrapper. Is there any way of protecting a thing of this kind from theft. I know it can't be copyrighted - or can it?

But the most important thing, and the one I need to be informed about before starting to write, is what form is best. I have heard that an outline story of from five hundred to five thousand words is best. Is that right?

I had a letter from Williams yesterday in which he says that you, Swartz, and he had a meeting on Tuesday and that immediate action would be taken by the F.P. on the overdue royalty matter. I hope this is so. Williams also states that Farnum has returned a negative about "Gold". 'Twas ever thus! Who, in God's name, will he get now?

I also heard from Tyler. He says there is no chance of "The Straw" in the near future - no theatre to be had, etc., but that he will certainly renew his contract on the first - which is not such good news to me as he probably thinks it, for Hopkins, I am sure, would take it up if he let it drop.

You haven't got a rabbit's foot - or a silver bullet - you could loan me, have you? I sure need something to grab me a break in the luck.

With all best wishes,

Sincerely,

Eugene O'Neill.