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Flat 114, 24 John Islip Street, London, S.W.1. - Remembers his visit to New England with Sir John [Gielgud] soon after 'that little foolishness by the Cancer Hospital', crossing the border from Canada with his heart beating so loudly he thought the border guard would hear it; lunched with Pinkie [Johnstone?] who told him PS had been burgled; shares theatre news: John Osborne's 'Hotel in Amsterdam' has no progression and a great deal of talk but features a stunning performance by Paul [Scofield], didn't like the [Tom] Stoppard play at all ['The Real Inspector Hound'], Binkie [Beaumont] insisted on running 'I Can't Hear You'[?] which closes Saturday; they are still running the Ustinov play and 'The Importance [of being Earnest]'; is about to do a revival of 'Ring Round the Moon', but can't find a new play; are supposed to do Joe Orton's new play 'What the Butler Saw' but parties need to agree on cast and director; on 17 April he hit Franco, ending a humiliating four years; has decided to found SPCSOQ, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Silly Old Queens. In a postscript he notes it is 10 years since '5 Finger Exercise'.

Signed in his absence by Jacky Chamberlain.

The Lantz Office, 200 West 57th Street, Suite 503, New York, NY 10019 - Is writing late on Wednesday so that it can be sent by International Federal Express as soon as Lawrence [?] types it; was watching the Gala Performance to end the Mostly Mozart Festival on 'Live from Lincoln Center' and it featured a five minute clip from 'Amadeus'; will try and get a videotape so that he and Milos [Forman] can see it; begs him not to be the only enemy his plays have, knows he is distressed about certain critical misstatements, but they come from a minute minority and every masterpiece suffers from them; urges him not to let a few reviews silence him, 'Shrivings' just needs one more look by its creator; no other living playwright has a record like his; Tom Stoppard, whom they both admire, writes self-consciously, 'without the hot pulsing blood that is in the veins of your work'; he will write to Buckingham Palace to have his knighthood removed 'as there is no glory to him and his name that can be bestowed by others'; urges him not to go into a corner but instead start writing again.

Thanks him for his support.

Thanks him for the Nether Stowey Lord Byron, is heading to New York; is reading Richard Holmes' biography of Byron.

Thanks him for writing so generously; Helen Mirren sounds like good news.

Admires his play ["Gift of the Gorgon"], talked about it for a long time after the play with Felicity, was pleased and proud to be part of the audience as his friend and colleague.

Gives the background on a card [he sent Peter?] - from a couple in Zagreb who run the Mala Scena; is rehearsing with Peter W.; Carl has designed, but is not well.

[At top: Tom Stoppard] - Thanks him for his letter, is glad he saw the play.

To a party at home 4 Sept. 1999, with an enclosed card for RSVP.

A letter of sympathy on Tony's death, remembering his "kind and endearing spirit".

Tells Peter not to apologise for [an anecdote he's shared?], doesn't remember it himself; hopes he rests after his surgery; will see Peter in January after he has finished his plays; hasn't read Tony's book yet, but questions the magnifying glass on the front; urges him to put the year behind him, and "remember how lucky we writers are", to look forward "to the wonderful moments when the right word and the right thought come to mind".

[At top: Tom Stoppard] - Thanks him for his "bucking-up" message, thanks him for going to the plays ["The Coast of Utopia" trilogy]; has gone flat, but something will turn up.

Was happy to see him, asks how he got on with Tom [Stoppard], found 'The Hard Problem' very hard indeed.