The Trade Winds

KEY WEST. FLORIDA

Dear Terry:

I haven't heard a word from you all except what I see
in the papers and - thank God and you all! - the remittances
which I receive through Audrey.

I hopefully presume you are still interested in what I am doing
on the everlasting "angels". Well, the play now has a new title
and a new character which are the same "THE WOMAN FROM WACO".
Instead of a fire phobia, although this is still kept in the
background, Val is remorselessly pursued in all his wanderings
by this Texas woman who accused him of rape when he broke away
from her some years previous. Her implacable love-hatred (She
mails descriptions of him to jails all over the country) has kept
him moving from place to place. In Act three she finally tracks
him down to Two Rivers and her appearance precipitates the final
crisis. She is a symbol of the relentless sexual hunger which
dogs Val's footsteps in his confused life-pilgrimage.

Act two ends with the revelation of this pursuit to MYRA. Also
a stirring scene in which Val defends a negro against the men of
the town. I think this supplies the dramatic shot in the arm which
the first part of the play needed. I think I have pretty much re-
moved the psycopathic stigma.

It may take some time yet to iron these new elements in and out
out of the play but ultimately the dramaturgic pattern should be
much stronger. There is also a new prologue between Myra and
Sandra, to make them more understandable and sympathetic - may
or may not be necessary. All the action takes place in the store.

I will send you an out-line in a short while.

I have some brilliant society here - Max Eastman, Grant Wood,
Benedict Thielen, Arnold Branch, Doris Lee, Arthur Arent, Mrs.
Kenyoshi, Mrs. Ernest Hemingway the first, Geroge Schreiber,
James T. Farrell and the octogenarian philosopher John Dewey
who wears blue rompers on the beach and looks like a monkey.

On the other hand I have some very good friends at Alice Reid's
cat-house, Sloppy Joe's, and the S tarlight Gambling casino so
my life is quite well-rounded.

Hope things are going better in N.Y..

Affectionately,

O