Crossword Genius

Write to tell you to cut the actor's speech? (4,1,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

drop a line

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'write' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'tell you to cut the actor's speech?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'cut' could be 'drop' (dropping is a kind of cutting) and 'drop' is found in the answer.
'speech?' could be 'line' (speech is a kind of line) and 'line' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'a' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for drop a line that I've seen is " Write".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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