After a glance at the other she signifies, "It must be from
him!" Freeman and child do not observe her expression. She
opens letter and reads:

On screen. Letter--

Dear Miss Freeman,

I am writing this from Winslow--it's as near to your home as
I care to go. But I've got a good position in San Francisco,
and thank God I'm living honestly where nobody knows my past
record. I'd give anything to see you again. Do you think
your father would bring you on a visit?

Gratefully yours,

Stephen Hammond.

Back to scene.

Jess's face lights up gladly. She goes to her father and
gives him letter, which he reads. He looks at her narrowly.
She hangs her head in some confusion. He stands for a moment
in deep thought. Then he takes Jess's hands and, as she
looks straight into his eyes, he nods his head, draws her to
him and kisses her. Norma comes up and puts her arms round
her father as he and Jess stand there. Jess kneels and takes
Norma in her arms.

CHAPTER VI

THE MECHANICAL PREPARATION OF THE SCRIPT

Any successful photoplaywright will testify that the proper
preparation of the photoplay script has much to do with its being
accepted, especially if more than the mere synopsis is offered.

At first this may seem to be an extreme statement, but its truth will
become more and more evident as we proceed. Furthermore, its
importance should be accepted by writers early in the work because
every stage of photoplay writing has its direct bearing upon, and
looks toward, the preparation of the script. For this reason the
present chapter is introduced at this point, though in actual
time-sequence the preparation of the manuscript in its final form will
usually come after all its several parts have been considered, blocked
out, and arranged. It will be highly important, therefore, to review
this chapter after finishing the sections of this volume which deal in
particular with the several parts of the photoplay.

It is to be regretted, let us reiterate, that so much has been said,
by manufacturers and others, to the effect that no literary training
is necessary in order to write salable photoplays, for, as a result,
countless absolutely "impossible" scripts are constantly pouring into
the editors' offices--impossible, in a great many cases, not because
of the lack of idea, for very often the illiterate writer has both a
vivid