[Zope] How do I specify a list element?

[asjf11@uaa.alaska.edu]

I have a list (I think) created this way:

(date = '31-DEC-1999')

<dtml-call "REQUEST.set('MyList', _.string.split(date, '-'))">

so now REQUEST['MyList'] should contain 3 elements: 
31 DEC 1999

How, in dtml, do I say "give me the value of the 1st element of MyList" or 
the second or third.

I've tried <dtml-var "REQUEST['MyList'][0]"> but I get this error:

Error Type: TypeError
Error Value: argument 1: expected read-only character buffer, 
Missing found
Now I don't know which part this error is refering to, but anyhow I want 
this functionality.

Thanks for your help,
Jake Feasel