Betrayal by Harold Pinter - Summary

Scene I

The play begins in a pub in the spring of 1977. Emma and Jerry are drinking together. Emma is friendly and tries to get Jerry to be friendly. Jerry opens up when he's had a couple of drinks. They are both married with kids; they had a marital affair for seven years. Jerry is a literary agent and Emma's husband Robert is a publisher. Emma shares that she might separate from her husband, because he has been cheating on her. Robert and Jerry are friends.

They recall when they used to be in love. Jerry had bought a house to which they would sneak off. Jerry brings up Casey, a man with whom Emma is rumored to have been having an affair.

Emma says she told Robert about the affair during a long conversation of the night before. Jerry feels bad because of his friendship with Robert.

Scene II

Robert and Jerry are in Jerry's house. It is still the spring of 1977. Jerry has invited Robert. He has a hard time saying anything and Robert brings up the issue of Emma and Jerry's affair. Jerry admits that he had trouble deciding whether to call him and getting up the courage to do so. Robert says that even though he and Emma did have a long conversation the night before, he had known about the affair for four years. Jerry is surprised because they had seen each other over the past four years and didn't detect a change in Robert. Robert is mostly indifferent to the situation. Jerry feels this has vastly changed their relationship but Robert thinks it hasn’t.

The two gossip about Casey. The conversation turns to books and literature, and easier banter. The scene ends with Jerry saying he is going to the lake district with his family over the summer.

Scene III

Jerry and Emma are in a flat in the winter on 1975 (two years earlier). They discuss how they haven't been using it lately. Emma brings up that in the past they managed to have an active affair because they were determined and excited about it, whereas now neither want it enough. Emma seems to want the affair to work more than Jerry does, but does not say so outright: she makes feeble suggestions to energize their affair but Jerry doesn't join in. Finally she accuses him outright of never considering their life together seriously, of it not meaning so much.

Scene IV

Robert, Emma and Jerry are in Robert and Emma's house in the autumn of 1974 (Robert knows but Jerry doesn't know that). While Emma is putting her boy to bed, Robert and Jerry enter into a discussion about boy babies being more anxious than girl babies, because they cry more, and that this is attributed to the difference between the sexes.

Emma enters. The three talk about Casey's latest work, which they didn't like too much. Robert makes tentative and indefinite plans to play squash with Jerry. Emma wants to come watch but Robert tells her quite roughly that women aren't wanted in the context of sports. There is some tension between Jerry and Emma (perhaps due to being put down in front of her lover; being defended by neither husband nor lover). She cries and Robert kisses and comforts her.

Scene V

It is the summer of 1973. Emma and Robert are in a hotel room in Venice. They discuss going to Torcello, which Emma loved when they were newlyweds, ten years before. After some small talk, Robert proposes that they both meet with Jerry to discuss a book. Emma is reluctant. Emma gets a letter from Jerry. She doesn't disclose anything about it. Robert starts reminiscing about his friendship with Jerry, and Emma is very uncooperative. He pushes and she reveals that Jerry and she are lovers, and have been for five years. He takes it well, and changes the topic.

Scene VI

It is the summer of 1973 "later", and Emma and Robert have returned from Venice. Emma and Jerry are in their flat. They greet one another lovingly. Jerry mentions a meeting he has with Robert and she panics a little. They discuss their affair and reassure each other that they're happy. Emma says they didn't go to Torcello because the speedboats were on strike. They speak a little in small ways that betray their guilt.

Scene VII

Robert and Jerry are at a restaurant. It is still the summer of 1973. Jerry drinks a lot. Robert proposes that they play squash. They order food and Robert orders a bottle of wine. They small talk. They discuss Venice. At this point Jerry doesn't know Robert knows. Robert mentions that he went to Torcello via speedboat.

Robert comments that Jerry and Emma both love modern literature, whereas he hates it. Each time one of them brings Emma up, the other changes the subject. The scene ends with Robert inviting Jerry to dine with him and Emma.

Scene VIII

It is the summer of 1971. Jerry and Emma are in their flat. They talk intimately. Their excitement and affection for one another is evident. Jerry tells Emma how he's jealous of a doctor who's shown fondness of his wife, Judith. Emma asks him if he thinks of leaving her for him (covertly). He says he couldn't, because his wife is happy and loves him – but that he adores Emma. Emma tells him she's pregnant.

Scene IX

It is 1968, which makes it the year they started their affair. Jerry is waiting for Emma on Emma and Robert's bed. There's a party outside. Emma comes in and sees Jerry. He seduces her, telling her she is beautiful and incredible. She points out that he's drunk, and she's her husband's best friend and best man. He repeats again and again that he loves her and she is driving him crazy. He kisses her and she breaks away, twice. Robert comes in. Emma tells Robert Jerry is drunk. The final lines:

JERRY: It is quite right, to… to face up to the facts… and to offer a token, without blush, a token of one’s unalloyed appreciation, no holds barred.

ROBERT: Absolutely.