The Letter

---

I'm not sure I know how it began.

But in the midst of a life

that I now barely remember,

in the midst of those now-forgotten

New York days and nights,

something happened.

I believe it's all true,

but it started with a dream.

There was a woman onstage...

and a piano...

and a man.

As happens in a dream,

I felt that someone was

looking at me.

I knew he was there,

but I couldn't see him.

Someone was looking at me, smiling.

And then I was looking

at a woman onstage.

I think she could hear footsteps.

I could hear her breath.

And then the dream ended, I think,

and I was in a rehearsal.

That was...

- yeah, it was really--

- It was good?

really-- no, it's--

I think that there's--

we can use it

somewhere in the piece.

Maybe...

- someone watching you do it...

- Watching.

...or something, you know?

It's so strange,

intense.

intense.

And then you came.

Tyrone? Hey.

I'm so glad you're here.

- I'm-- I'm Martine.

- Hi.

- Hi, good to meet you.

- It's really great...

And maybe that's where

the story really begins.

- Everyone, this is Tyrone.

- Hi.

- This is Raymond Carlisle...

- Welcome.

- Thanks.

-...Julie Abbott, Anita Ford.

- Hey.

- Tyrone Devlin.

- Hey.

- Hi.

- So... good, really.

- All right.

- I, uh-- I saw you in that--

- Oh, thank you.

--that film.

You know, that one--

that French thing about

the translator, the writer.

No. I don't think so, no.

Oh, I thought--

- really?

- Yeah, that wasn't me.

Well, are you--

you must be super tired.

We're just-- I don't do--

I don't usually do a read-through,

- so we're just gonna do little bits.

- Oh.

- Okay.

- Just hang out or--

- I'd rather not just watch but--

- Oh, okay.

You can't be serious--

you and him?

Of course I'm not serious.

- I'm teasing you.

- Oh.

And then we all had

our first rehearsal together.

Julie was there...

I can't believe that you chose him.

...and Raymond was there.

I can't believe you chose him.

- "Believe that you want him."

- It's...

"Belie-- believe that you--"

I can't believe that you want him.

Well, but I do.

Of course I'm not serious.

I'm teasing you.

Oh. Okay.

So...

Of course I'm not serious.

I was teasing you.

Oh. Okay.

Tyrone enters.

Knock knock.

We were just speaking of you.

Nothing seemed particularly unusual

- in that first rehearsal.

- Well, I'm flattered.

- What did you say?

- She was teasing me.

- That's not very nice.

- Yeah, I know.

She said she was

gonna go away with you.

Did she really?

Yes. Yes, I did. I told him that.

Imagine my surprise.

Imagine.

Well, I imagine it surprised you.

Sorry, maybe get up on

"She said she was

going away with you."

You want to kind of test him,

linger, see if they're

hiding something.

See if he reacts.

So you wanna make it stronger,

challenge him.

Okay.

- She was teasing me.

- Well, that's not nice.

She said

she was gonna go away with you.

Oh, she did?

Never mind that.

No, just stay seated. Sorry.

Okay.

Okay.

You can't be serious--

you and him?

Of course I'm not serious.

- I'm teasing you.

- Oh.

On that first night, of course,

we didn't yet know who you were...

or what you would do to us.

Just teasing, of course.

Of course.

Or what you would do to me.

I'm sorry. So can--

what's...

I don't know.

What's going on between them?

What do you mean?

I don't know.

I just-- I don't get it.

I-- I don't-- it seems like

they're not saying anything.

- Sorry. Never mind.

- No no, say.

I don't-- do they know--

do they have any idea,

- like, what's going on? Do--

- I don't, um--

hmm. What do you--

- what are-- what are your thoughts?

- I think--

- Yeah.

- It's not me. I don't--

I mean, I just--

I don't-- I just don't

really like 'em, I guess.

Oh. Okay.

Let me--

I don't know.

Anita was there too.

There's passion. It's just,

you know,

- not for their spouses.

- Mm-hmm.

Say you're looking at someone

but you're thinking of someone else--

or maybe you're

just thinking of yourself,

or just nothing.

Actually, I think

that's the most common

or the most pleasant thing to think--

just think nothing,

if that's possible.

I think it is.

You know.

Look, there's--

there's something furtive that--

that gives you a thrill

and the play is about that thrill.

- What does furtive mean?

- Hidden.

- Secrets. You all have secrets.

- Yeah.

Um, I'll be right back.

I don't know why, but I've never

been able to do hidden very well.

I guess I'm just not

very good at secrets.

Sure you are.

You don't know her.

Mmm, that's right, I don't,

but I think she's good at secrets.

I don't get it.

Why would you say that?

You know why I would say that.

Mmm, do I-- no.

No, I really--

I really don't.

- I don't get it.

- You don't?

- Hm-mmm.

- I think you do. I think you both do.

S-- sorry, I don't.

Excuse me.

- That was really weird, right?

- Oh my God.

- That's not funny.

- No, I'm sorry.

- It's not funny.

- Was that me? That was weird.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- You okay?

- Yeah, sure. Why?

It's nice to finally meet you.

You too.

- Yeah, I'll see you in a minute.

- See you.

You missed--

- you missed a strange thing.

- What?

- Tell me.

- Tyrone was just--

I don't know.

I think he was just playing around.

Doing something. I don't--

Hmm?

It's nothing. He was just--

I guess he was kidding.

I don't know.

It was-- it was weird. It's fine.

- It's fine.

- He's coming back.

Okay.

- Whoo!

- Hey, everything okay?

Yeah, fine.

I didn't mean to upset you.

Did I?

- Did I upset you, Anita?

- It's-- I don't--

I just really don't know

what you were saying.

- Um...

- What happened?

- I--

- I missed it.

I was teasing Anita and...

I think I was--

I was misunderstood.

I-- I just--

I'm clumsy sometimes.

- I-- I don't mean to be.

- I don't know.

Sometimes it takes me

a little while to get

the gears going and everything.

You all seem like very nice people,

I think.

Gee, thanks.

Yeah.

Well, I'm certainly

glad that

you all are doing this piece.

I have a really good feeling about it

and I just wanted to say cheers

- to all of you.

- Cheers.

Ah. So, Martine,

what did you think

of what you saw today?

What did you think?

well, I was curious why you chose

to focus on these people,

because they don't--

they don't seem very much like you.

You don't know her.

Oh, I- I--

That's true, Anita.

I don't.

That's very--

that's very true.

Well, I-- I think they're interesting.

- Mm-hmm.

- Do you think they're interesting?

Hmm.

Uh, yes, I-- probably, yeah.

They probably are.

I don't get your point, Tyrone.

What-what-- what's your point?

You know what it is?

I'm just tired.

I-- I--

I'm gonna excuse myself.

Really?

Yeah.

- I'll see y'all later.

- See you tomorrow.

He's a load of laughs.

I like him.

It's probably hard for him.

We all know each other,

he's just coming in.

- Yeah.

- I'm sure he's intimidated by me.

I'm sure he was.

I dreamt that I was under a tree.

Oh, Tyrone. Hi.

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