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Has wanted to write but has had no time. It seems as though his play is 'really coming off'. It will not be finished until early January and rehearsals will start in early February. Saint Subber is producing the play and the Gish sisters will star in it. Virgil Thompson will do the music. Would like Beaton to do the sets and costumes. Discusses details of the sets and scenes. Asks if Beaton would be interested in doing this. They have not settled on a director yet. Jack has sold two stories this week. Has not been worrying about Beaton because has read in the paper that he has been entertaining his 'favourite houseguest'.

Is writing to Beaton from a hospital as he had 'rather a collapse' last week from a combination of a virus and exhaustion. Feels much better now and will be out in the next few days. Is overjoyed that Beaton is going to do the costumes and scenery for "Grass Harp". Thinks that Beaton's "Swan Lake" is lovely. Discusses Juliet. Likes her very much even though she is a bore. Expresses worry over a director for the play. Would like to get Peter Brook, but Irene Selznick has assured him that he can't get him. Will send Beaton the first act of the play on Monday. Asks if Beaton could show it to Brook. A great many directors have asked to do the play, but Capote feels 'wary of anyone who asks to do something'. Likes Beaton's "Ballet" book. The Isherwood-Van Druten play, "I am a Camera", has been a success, though why is 'something of a mystery'. Evelyn Williams sent Capote a picture of himself as Dickens. Wishes something could be done to stop this, 'surely Dickens has some still living relatives to defend him'. Isherwood is sailing to England on 14th December. Hopes he and Beaton see each other.

Beaton will have received a letter from Robert Lewis. Capote feels that it is not what it should be, as Lewis has 'a certain vulgarity'. Is certain that he is the right director. He understands the play and has sensitivity. Agrees that Jean Rusenthal would be best to light the play. Has finished the play and will send it to Beaton as soon as he has typed and corrected it. Discusses the play and alterations. Expresses happiness that Beaton will be working on the play. Thinks he will like the cast. Discusses the cast. Jack is well. Capote liked his story in Januarys "Harper's Bazaar". Saw G.G. the other day looking very beautiful. Hopes that Beaton is finishing his Gainsborough revisions. Constance Collier saw the play in Brighton and liked it very much.

Is writing to Beaton in the middle of a fierce storm. The weather has been good on the whole. Has taken up underwater fishing. Is glad that everything turned out well in Manchester. Hopes Beaton makes lots of money. Discusses Saint and the Wilsons. Just had to go outside and help Jack rescue the terrace furniture and is now drenched. Wishes he could entice Beaton to spend his August holiday in Sicily with them. Asks if Beaton would ask John Heyward to read Jack's book and, if he likes it, to re-send it to the Cresset Press. They turned it down originally, but said they might reconsider it if someone recommended it to them. Thanks Beaton for the photographs, but feels that he looks fat in them. Wonders what Beaton will think of the play. Is delighted with the idea of a May production of Beaton's play.

They were delighted with the pictures. Has intended to write every day, but so little has happened. Someone on a motorcycle ran into the car and partly demolished it, but it is fixed now. Has finished the story, but is not pleased with it. Had a two page cable from 'the Saint' yesterday. He is anxious to visit and thinks he needs a visa. Does not want to see him until he has done more work. Beaton must write and tell them every detail about the play. Is sure that it will be a success. The Vendura set have not arrived yet. The weather is wonderful and even Anna is not complaining. Asks if Beaton saw Hepburn. Wishes to know if Constance Collier is still at the Hotel Connaught.

Discusses Angus Wilson book. The "New York Times" has asked him to review it, but he does not believe in reviewing books. Expresses sadness about Simon's house. Thinks there 'must be a pyromaniac abroad in Wiltshire'. Fulco thinks that Juliet wouldn't let Simon visit Capote. Fulco and his crowd seem to be 'rather a desperate lot: so longing to have a good time, and yet not knowing quite how to go about it'. Thinks Fulco is having an affair with a French boy. Loathes Hamish Erskine and finds him 'profoundly repulsive'. Likes Judy Montague and Sarah Roosevelt. Hansen gave a party and did not invite any of them and they were 'mad as hornets'. So they gave a costume party. Capote went and it was 'terribly tacky'. Saint tried to phone the other day. Wishes he would not come to visit. Has acquired a raven and it is 'very clever and amusing'. It is very hot in the afternoons. Wishes Beaton would visit next week. Will be there until the 20th September and then they are going to Venice. Is sorry that Beaton's mother has not been well. Thanks Beaton for going to John Heyward.

Has decided to spend the winter in Rome and has found a beautiful apartment. Rome is an 'enchanting city if you simply settle back and don't know too many people'. Has nearly finished the first act of the play and has started a novel. Saw most of the reviews for "Quadrille" and was delighted that Beaton came out with 'such flying colours'. Knows that Coward must have been disappointed. The critics write like 'a pack of schoolboy bullies'. Enquires after the Lunts. Saw lots of Thornton Wilder in Venice and he was 'very amusing on the subject of the L's'. Discusses Saint. Jack is working well and all the animals are fine. Asks when Beaton will be in New York.

Expresses sorrow that Beaton's apartment is being taken away. Thinks it is 'just a ruse to get you to decorate another flat free'. Is glad that Beaton is in New York, away from his 'female obligations'. Read in the "New York Times" that Alderich and Myers were happy with the alterations to "The Gainsborough Girls". Was offered a job, but hesitated for so long that they gave it to someone else. Now feels sorry, as it would have ended his 'financial straits, which grow increasingly severe'. But feels he must get on with his work. Hopes that Beaton has an 'easier, at any rate, less neurotic rapport with Greta G. this winter'. Feels that she 'will never be a satisfactory person, because she is dissatisfied with herself, and dissatisfied people can never be emotionally serious'. Is still enjoying Rome. It is a beautiful city, though 'inhabited by a quarrelsome and cynical mass'. Sees a lot of Orson Welles who has 'become somewhat pathetic'. Discusses Saint. Hopes that they can spend Beaton's spring holiday together. Will try to come to England when Beaton returns. Has half finished his play. Jack is fine but the animals are getting worse.

Beaton's letter was a joy, though 'that was stupid' about his cold. But is sure that Beaton is now doing great things while he is 'languishing on this primitive outpost'. Wishes to stay for another month and then spend most of June in Paris. Prefers to imagine Beaton among his roses and cows than in the Plaza. The absence of loved ones can sometimes be a blessing when you are trying to work. Looks as if he is going to be evicted from his New York apartment, as the owners want it for themselves. Discusses Juliet Duff and Little Avedon. Asks if Peter Watson has arrived back in London, and whether he is with Waldeman. Wyston Anden has arrived in Funio 'accompanied by an entourage of rather dismal youngsters' who 'remain grandly aloof'. Has heard that Brian Howard is on his way here, so by the end of May he feels they shall 'leave without regret'. Is working with enthusiasm which makes him feel content, as does Jack. Praises Jack.

Hopes that Beaton is making a fortune on his lecture tours and not having to eat too much cream chicken. Laughed over the clipping about Juliet, but thinks that somebody 'has it in' for that family. Discusses Saint and his personal life. Thinks Saint needs 'a dose of dignity', but is touched when he writes how in love with Beaton he is. Capote only got one good Christmas present, which was a suit that he gave himself. He and Jack have been working quite steadily. Jack has been 'put out' today after reading that Joan is getting married to a dancer called Bob Foss. The Chaplins visited last week. Wants to come to London in March. Jack and the animals would have to stay in Paris because of quarantine.