Chapter 9 — The Summer Window Returns
Evelyn had preserved the original handwritten script.
She also had enough records to establish exactly what happened to the later adaptation.
Paul Merritt had died years earlier.
There was no dramatic confrontation left to have.
No reason to turn the story into a public trial.
But Westfield Playhouse still maintained an archive.
Its historical catalog described the later production as Paul Merritt’s original work.
That was corrected.
The archive now explained:
The 1979 adaptation was derived from Evelyn Shaw’s 1978 youth play The Summer Window. Surviving rehearsal recordings and scripts document the earlier work and Margaret Reed’s efforts to preserve Shaw’s authorship.
Daniel liked the wording.
It restored Evelyn’s authorship.
It also restored something about Margaret.
She had not betrayed her friend.
She had defended her.
Then Westfield Playhouse made another offer.
The director wanted to stage the original one-act play again.
Evelyn resisted at first.
“Nobody wants to watch something written by a nineteen-year-old in 1978.”
Daniel smiled.
“You don’t know that.”
Sophie overheard.
“Is it funny?”
Evelyn laughed.
“Parts of it.”
“Does it have a bunny?”
“No.”
Sophie looked disappointed.
“It should.”
The play returned the following spring.
No rewritten ending.
No attempt to modernize it beyond what was necessary.
The program read:
THE SUMMER WINDOW
Written by Evelyn Shaw
Original 1978 production featuring Margaret Reed and Evelyn Shaw
Evelyn sat beside Daniel on opening night.
When the lights dimmed, she reached into her purse.
She pulled out an old photograph.
Young Margaret.
Young Evelyn.
Holding one award between them.
Evelyn placed it on the empty seat beside her.