ITV PLAY OF THE WEEK: THE CARETAKER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of theatrical pieces produced for television. This installment features an adaptation of Harold Pinter's 1960 play of the same name. The story begins in London as quiet bachelor Aston brings a chatty homeless man, Mac Davies, into his flat, having rescued him from a bar fight. Davies voices his dislike of Aston's immigrant neighbors and rambles about his brief, long-ago marriage before launching into a long story about his attempts to secure a solid pair of shoes. Aston invites him to sleep in his home until he has gotten himself "fixed up," admitting that his stove is broken and that he is in the process of constructing a shed in the small backyard of the building. Davies convinces Aston to loan him "a few bob" before explaining that he must travel to the nearby neighborhood of Sidcup to retrieve his legal identification information, revealing that he has been living under the assumed name of Bernard Jenkins for some time. In the morning, Aston informs Davies that he was "jabbering" in his sleep, though Davies takes offense, swearing that he does not dream, and places "them blacks" next door for the noise. Aston mentions an odd story about an encounter with a woman and Davies dodges his questions about his Welsh surname, saying only that he has "been around," and Aston soon departs for the day, leaving the old man alone on his home.
Davies immediately begins snooping around Aston's home, and he is shocked by the appearance of another man, Mick, who confuses him with his rapid-fire questions and informs him that the room – and the bed in which Davies slept – are in fact his. Davies protests that Aston brought him there the previous night out of kindness, but Mick declares that he is simply an "old scoundrel" bent on robbing the place. Aston later returns home and notes that he must fix a leak in the roof with tar, informing Davies that Mick is in fact his brother and that the house is indeed his. Davies uncomfortably notes that Mick is "a real joker," and he is surprised when Aston abruptly asks him to stay on as a caretaker in the building, despite his lack of handyman skills or knowledge. Later, Mick startles Davies in the basement and Davies pulls a knife on him, but Mick tries to smooth things over and admits that he is worried about his brother, who "doesn't like work." Davies agrees that Aston is "a funny bloke," and though Mick seemingly takes offense to this, he too offers Davies the caretaker position, noting that he will need to see Davies' "references" in due course.
One rainy morning, Davies grouses about his as-yet unfulfilled desire for a pair of shoes, and Aston abruptly reveals that he used to have "hallucinations," to the point where his mother took him to a doctor who "did something to his brain" involving a pincer-like instrument and a machine. Aston admits that he "never talks to anyone now" and has trouble assembling his thoughts, but is committed to building his shed. Davies continues complaining to Mick about his foreign neighbors and Aston's lack of "conversation" skills, and the two agree that they could transform the building together and make it into an elegant "palace." Mick tries to convince Davies to "have a chat" with Aston about their plans, though Davies deflects the request, telling Mick that he must deal with his own brother personally. Aston finally brings the long-desired shoes, though Davies complains about the lack of laces – and then the color of the laces. When Aston again tells him that he has been making disruptive noises in his sleep, Davies rages that he will arrange for him to "have the pincers on again," and Aston calmly tells him that he has finally outstayed his welcome, owing in part to his "stink." Outraged, Davies declares that he is the caretaker and takes orders only from Mick, but Mick then declares Davies an "imposter" when he reveals that he somewhat exaggerated his abilities as an "interior decorator."
Davies tries to blame the fib on Aston, who he claims is "halfway gone," but Mick defends his brother and tells the erratic down-and-out that he must leave, admitting that he himself does not care about the rundown building and intends to pursue his dreams elsewhere. Left without options, Davies again tries to appeal to Aston, reminding him of their "friendship" and claiming that an errant draft has caused his poor sleeping habits. He tries to convince Aston to switch beds, promising to be an obedient caretaker after all and to help with the shed, but Aston matter-of-factly states that he makes "too much noise" and cannot remain there. Desperate, Davies protests that he has nowhere to go, and offers to retrieve his papers from Sidcup to legitimize his identity, but Aston seems entirely unmoved.
Details
- NETWORK: ITV (United Kingdom)
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 1:39:29
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:06015
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Theater; Britain
- SERIES RUN: ITV - TV series, 1955-1974
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Willes … Executive Producer
- Marc Miller … Director
- Harold Pinter … Writer, Adapted by
- Roy Dotrice … Cast, Davies
- Ian McShane … Cast, Mick
- John Rees … Cast, Aston