Letter from James Ivory, Los Angeles, California, to Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, 1974 January 28 : typescript signed.

Confirming that "I'm still here [California]" but that Merchant has gone back to New York, having done everything he planned to do; describing the "at least two dozen beautiful actresses" he's met with, all of whom said their most recent roles were postitutes and dope addicts"-- "Sign of the times, I guess"; telling her about "Bobbie [sic] Bedelia ... [who] has one of the most beatiful profiles I ever saw" and the art director they hired for the film, Harry Horner; explaining that he is working on a treatment, but is still concerned as to what extent Walter Marks will take part in the writing of a new script; describing in detail their encounter with Truman Capote; relating how, after meeting Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy at the Swopes', a plan was hatched for Merchant to produce an adaptation of Isherwood's "A Meeting by the River," with Jim Bridges and John Calley attached as director and producer.