The Servant

STEVEN SODERBERGH: “I’m a huge Joseph Losey fan and the three movies that he made with Harold Pinter were gigantic influences on me. The Servant is something I go back to again and again. This is a really long take. You can tell when he set this thing up and shot it that he didn’t go like, ‘Oh, I had this crazy elaborate shot in mind and I want you guys to hit all these marks.’ No, they rehearsed the scene and he let them go where they needed to go. And he figured out how to pull this off in one shot. It’s not just a gimmick, because of what the scene is about and the tension between these two characters that continues to escalate. It’s just my favourite kind of staging. It’s my favourite kind of directing.”

INT. TONY’S HOUSE — DAY

Barrett (Dirk Bogarde) has just let Susan (Wendy Craig), the girlfriend of his aristocrat employer Tony (James Fox), into the house. Susan does not care for Barrett.

Susan walks into the living room, carrying a vase and flowers. She sets them down as Barrett enters.

SUSAN: Fill this with water.

She walks over to the door as he passes her. A clock chimes.

SUSAN: Where’s the parcel?

BARRETT: It’s in the hall, miss.

SUSAN: Bring it to me.

Barrett goes into the hall, then returns with the parcel. Susan unwraps the flowers. Another clock chimes. Susan opens curtains off-camera. She returns, and moves a chair back to its rightful position next to a desk.

Barrett comes back in with the vase full of water and puts a magazine down on the table, setting the vase on top of it. Susan places the flowers in the vase.

SUSAN: How do you like them, Barrett?

BARRETT: I’m not certain the flowers wouldn’t be better in a different jar, miss.

SUSAN: I thought you’d be uncertain, Barrett. [She scrunches up the paper that held the flowers] Take that away.

She crosses over and unwraps the parcel. It holds cushions.

SUSAN: What do you think of them?

BARRETT: I beg your pardon?

SUSAN: What do you think of the cushions?

BARRETT: It’s difficult to say what I think of them, miss.

SUSAN: Shall I tell you the truth, Barrett?

BARRETT: Yes, miss.

SUSAN: The truth is, I don’t give a tinker’s gob what you think.

She moves on.

SUSAN: I want some lunch. A salad will do. Use the tarragon I bought on Wednesday.

Barrett heads to the kitchen. Susan produces a cigarette.

SUSAN: Light? Put that coat down and give me a light.

Barrett eventually puts down the coat and walks over to light her cigarette. He makes to leave.

SUSAN: Barrett? Come here. [He walks over] Do you use a deodorant? Tell me, do you think you go well with the colour scheme?

BARRETT: I think the master’s satisfied.

He walks off.

SUSAN: What do you want from this house?

In the background, Barrett stops. He buffs the table, then faces her.

BARRETT: Want?

SUSAN: Yes, want.

He comes over to her.

BARRETT: I’m the servant, miss.

SUSAN: Get my lunch.

Barrett smiles, wanly. He leaves. Susan sits down, smoking, angry.