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--

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