The basement

de Harold Pinter

'The Basement' is about a fussy, spinsterish bachelor whose carefully furnished basement flat is invaded late one night by his former roommate with a young girl in tow. Host is effusive in his welcome to former roommate, that is. Girl and former roommate strip naked and get into bed, as host, terribly rattled, continues to chatter. As the action progresses, the roles of lover and leftover switch back and forth, and the girl tries to set the men against each other and succeeds. 'The Basement' was first presented by BBC Television in February 1967. It was first staged alongside 'Tea Party' at the Duchess Theatre in September 1970.