Susan arrives and attempts to convince Tony to come back to her. Barrett also insinuates Vera back into the house. Gradually the two reverse roles, with Barrett taking more control and Tony retreating into infantilism. He begs Tony to re-engage him as his manservant, and he agrees. Eventually, Tony encounters Barrett in a pub, who spins a tale about Vera having made fools of them both. He becomes a drunkard, which is exacerbated by Susan's refusal to answer his calls. After Tony dismisses them, Susan departs silently.Īt this point, Tony has become reliant on Barrett and Vera. He and Vera then make it clear that Tony was sleeping with her, to Susan's dismay. Believing that the two are siblings, he flies into a rage at Barrett, who then reveals that they are not related and she is his fiancée. Later, when Tony and Susan return early from a vacation, they find Barrett and Vera sleeping together. When Tony finally agrees, Barrett hires Vera on the pretext that she is his sister. To bring his lover, Vera, into his world, Barrett convinces Tony that the house also needs a maid. She is suspicious of Barrett and asks Tony to dismiss him, but he refuses. Relationships begin shifting, however, when Tony's girlfriend Susan meets Barrett. Barrett appears to take easily to his new job, and he and Tony form a quiet bond, retaining their social roles. Wealthy Londoner Tony, who says he is part of a plan to build cities in Brazil, moves into his new house, and hires Hugo Barrett as his manservant.

The first of Pinter's four film collaborations with Losey, The Servant is a tightly constructed film about the psychological relationships among the four central characters and examines issues relating to social class. It opened at London's Warner Theatre on 14 November 1963. The Servant stars Dirk Bogarde, Sarah Miles, Wendy Craig and James Fox. It was written by Harold Pinter, who adapted Robin Maugham's 1948 novella. The Servant is a 1963 British drama film directed by Joseph Losey.

The Servant by Robin Maugham