Letter from Ismail Merchant, London, England, to James Ivory, New York, New York, 1977 October 23 : autograph manuscript signed.

Relating how, in pouring London rain, he managed to postpone a meeting with Melvyn Bragg and others because they hadn't read Ivory's letter aout the script yet; telling him he is staying in "a very nice hotel" on Curzon Street; describing how Bragg and the others "like the new story" in Ivory's letter and have agreed to finance it; outlining the deal and how they plan to negotiate Ruth's fee with her agent Robin Dalton; suggesting they cast Jennifer and Felicity Kendal as the two lead women; describing how he sees the film; reporting that he has had dinners with Tony and Philippa, and is soon to have lunch with "Phoo" [Felicity Kendal] in a restaurant off King's Road; telling Ivory he will leave for Paris on Friday, but return to London soon after "for some more meetings," and then leave for India; hoping "all is going well for you, Roseland, and everything else. I wish you happiness, and hope that this time will give each of us to [sic] think about our friendship and relationship"; asking Ivory to "return 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' to Cinema V. It is at Claverack in the closet."