TLS signed “Ray,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, December 30, 1946. Letter to his agent H. N. Swanson, in part: "Since the publisher must publish on or before the stated date, and must pay the second half of the advance on publication, the only point I can see in your objection is to force him to pay the second half of the advance whether he publishes or not. It seems to me that, if this is the objective, it should be so stated in clear language…Obviously, there are all technicalities, but technicalities are what you are dealing with. A man named Ray Crossett, of Universal-International Legal Department, just called me up and asked me if 'Hotel Story' was another title for 'Play Back.' I told him it was just a descriptive phrase which had been used to identify the story in conversation, etc. He asked me if I had told the story to Paramount. I said no, but that it was possible you had shown them an outline of it, and that he could find out by reference to you." At the conclusion, he adds a three-line autograph postscript, signed "R.," in full: "P.S. Am working on book. It is very elegant stuff but a little lacking in fire. Happy New Year!" In fine condition. Chandler's "Playback" screenplay was ultimately rejected, but he reworked the story into a 1958 book of the same title—his last completed novel.
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