Letter from Ismail Merchant, London, England, to Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, 1979 March 4 : typescript signed.

Describing all the work involved in finishing and selling "The Europeans"; assuring her she will be happy with Dick Robbins' music; telling her "Jim has returned with the two coats-- yours and Jhab's" which he's sure they'll need in England; reporting on Ivory's recent trip to California, and Shashi and Jennifer's many screenings of "Junoon" for "various exhibitors and friends" like John Schlesinger, Phoo [Felicity Kendal], and Cary and Edith Welch; reporting on seeing Ava and "Mrs. Prawer"; telling her he has also seen Catherine, who is concerned about her son Tom, and has been "seeing Mrs. Leeston regularly"; pointing out that he will be showing "The Europeans" to the Cannes Committee in mid-March and will be "sort[ing] things out with INA regarding Roseland"; noting that since his success in "The Deer Hunter," Christopher Walken "is now demanding £125,000 for a film"; reporting that Melvyn Bragg [of LWT] feels the budget for "Jane Austen" is too high for his company, and that Julie Christie is supporting Ivory [with the studios] to direct "Heat and Dust."