The Merchant (play) would make a big profit, but this did not happen. He wrote a book about the play in 1999, "The Birth of Shylock and the Death of Zero Mostel". In this play, Shylock is a good man and Antonio's, the title character in Shakespeare's play, good friend. They bond in their love of knowledge and mutual dislike of the antisemitism in their community. Shylock's demand for a pound of flesh is meant as a jest, but he can not retract it. Both Shylock and Antonio are relieved when the demand is denied in court. Reviewing "The Merchant", critic Michael Billington
The Shakespeare Code screaming youth and apparently rip him to shreds. Meanwhile, the TARDIS lands around Southwark in 1599. The Doctor, who promised to take Martha on one trip, takes her to a performance of "Love's Labour's Lost" at the Globe Theatre. At the end of the play, William Shakespeare announces a forthcoming sequel entitled "Love's Labour's Won". Lilith uses a voodoo doll to influence Shakespeare to declare that the new play will premiere the following evening. The Doctor and Martha go to the inn where Shakespeare is staying. The Doctor introduces himself with his psychic paper but it appears blank to Shakespeare,