35 Nevern Place
S.W.5
7th May 1936
Darlingest,
The film is nearly perfect! The processor describes it as "slightly over-exposed" and "overexposed" and it certainly is in bits, but not, as far as I can see very seriously. Your dress has come out a dazzling white and the white round the dining-room window is rather glaring, & the washing, but I think that with a full size picture it will look all right. All the longer shots look perfect, though one can't tell without projecting. The scene in the consulting-room looks marvellous. There is not sign of the outdoor world in it at all. I should think that with the two ends of the ping-pong tables we might do without interior shots for quite a time.
I was very surprised that the film was over-exposed. I would have bet a pound that it would have been on the under-exposed side. I was particularly afraid of the green ping pong bat. Remembering how black the grass had come out in the scene of Inge rolling over and you pouring out the water jug, I felt sure the board would be too dark. It is just right. I am crazy to see it projected.
I spent this afternoon in the Public Records Office, a fascinating place. One of the books I asked for absolutely floored me: (a) it was a manuscript in old-English writing (b) it was in Latin (c) every other word was abbreviated unrecognisably. I gave it up and concentrated on the stuff that had been translated and printed. One interesting new line of inquiry that I found was that a place called Church Staunton somewhere in the diocese of Salisbury was once called Staunton FitzHugh because the FitzHughs had been lords of the manor.
When I came out I would have come down to Richmond but by the time I had got the film from Selfridge - it was only just ready - it was after five, and as I have to be at a political branch meeting at eight in Chelsea and have dinner I should not have had much time with you.
Tomorrow I am catching the 10a.m. coach from King's Cross arriving at Luton at 11.30, then on to Bedford and Eaton Socon (the parish where Begwary is). In the Victorian History of Bedfordshire the house is described as "a very dilapidated half-timbered structure, the bricks between the framing being laid in herring-bone fashion, while the windows are filled in with double-hung sashes and the walls covered on the outside with plaster. The roof is of slate, and the building is partially surrounded by a moat". It sounds attractive doesn't it. Referring to the "ancient manor" the county History says: "It's site is probably marked by 'Begwary Farm' in existence to the present day".
What is the number of you car? & did your mother come up in it? Oh, no of course she didn't, I remember now! But as I was coming from the Records Office I saw a car the exact double of yours in (I think it was) Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Write to me, dear. I have now one hundred and sixty-seven letters and cards from you, including ¾ of one that you tore up.
I am so sorry that I shall see so little of you this week-end. Can't I come to the Shakespeare Society party? You didn't seem very anxious to have me.
When I rang up your mother to ask if I could borrow a camera, she asked me for the number of this house as a letter had come for me addressed care of her - obviously as a result of the announcement. It arrived to-day marked: "Personal. Please Forward". I was a bit mystified at the stress laid on it, but I wasn't when I opened it. It was from some birth-control people soliciting my custom!
Three people in this house have now congratulated me.
I have got the super reel. Unless you particularly want to be present I will wile away the long Sunday without you by stringing together the odd films.
I wish you all the best for to-morrow morning. I didn't know you were going up so soon. You can tell me how you have got on when I see you at about 8 in the evening I don't think I'll be later than that, but you can understand that after trying so long to get up to Begwary, Eaton Scoton and the other places, when I do I don't want to have come away without seeing anything.
Goodbye till tomorrow, darling.
All my love
Terrick
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