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Compensating Error
2 rival corporate managers are fired on same day after 30 years service. They come up with a scheme to reward themselves at an ungrateful company's expense.
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About the author
R.D. Wingfield
27books139followersRodney David Wingfield was a prolific writer of radio crime plays and comedy scripts, some for the late Kenneth Williams, star of the Carry On films. His crime novels featuring DI Jack Frost have been successfully adapted for television as A Touch of Frost starring David Jason. Wingfield was a modest man, shunning the London publicity scene in favour of a quite life in Basildon, Essex, with his wife of 52 years (died 2004) and only son.
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June 30, 2018
Compensating Error by R.D. Wingfield
Rodney Wingfield was a very talented writer, author of Our West Ladyton Branch – reviewed here: - among other plays.
In Compensating Error, the setting appears similar to the aforementioned West Ladyton Branch, when a new manager arrives at this office and he wants two long serving employs dismissed.
Davenport and Desmond have been working for thirty-five years, the former has a rather unpleasant manner at times, and for instance, when he finds another car in what he sees as his parking place.
Davenport is also patronizing, perhaps a little insulting – with today’s standards we could go as far as to call it abusive – with a man called Jackson, that he calls “Jacko” in spite of his opposition and indication that other staff are beginning to use the same nickname.
All the flaws and mistakes are going to be paid for, perhaps with more than their equal, just measure, when Davenport and Desmond are called to the office and handed each an envelope.
Mr. Jackson has only been working for a few weeks, but he is to be promoted and take over the position of Mr. Davenport, even if he seems to be unable to perform his duties as required.
Furthermore, to add insult to injury, the couple of employees who have started thirty-five years ago, on the same day, but Desmond being late – as usual Davenport likes to highlight – the latter is the senior of the two- they are asked to leave at the end of the following day.
The management wishes to avoid further embarrassment, the two men would be forced to make ends meet with a much smaller pension, they face retirement earlier that it would be normal, in spite of the thirty five years of continuous employment.
As he returns to his rented apartment, Desmond mentions to the property owner that he would have to change his arrangement, seeing as he would be the beneficiary of a much smaller income.
There is a visitor, on the day when the proprietor is preparing kippers that smell all the way to the street, considering the rather depressing surroundings, the guest remarks that for seven pounds rent – a large sum, when we adapt for inflation – the tenant should have benefited from better wallpaper.
At the bar, Davenport orders brandy that he drinks too quickly, instead of sipping, as his companion observes, has a few glasses and the men indulge in a large quantity of alcohol, prompting Desmond to complain about the vicious treatment received.
“They give us the boot after so many years, when we served every day; they could trust us with anything…
They knew we were honest and they would sign any check we gave them…” words to that effect.
Desmond was contemplating some other jobs, considering that the money would be insufficient for the future, all of them rather demeaning, considering the circumstances and he states that he would be ready to do anything…
Davenport has a plan, he is happy to hear his new partner in crime so desperate and ready for Payback, even if this state of anger is changed the following day, after the drinking night and the consequent hangover.
There is a big mistake at the office, a difference of eighteen thousand pounds – which could be about half a million in today’s currency – and Davenport intends to coopt his fired partner in his scheme.
They would use their last day on the job to write a check for that sum, get to the bank after the manager would have signed it, cash the money and retire with a handsome cash pile.
There are some difficulties since “Jacko” wants to take his new responsibilities right away – besides, there is a major surprise right at the end about which nothing will be mentioned here.
That would block the project, but Davenport is very clever and cunning, he manages to get the signatures, he is ready to get to the bank and cash the fortune, when his new comrade is suspicious and hence he is delegated to get the money in a suitcase that he would bring to the office.
Alas, there is trouble at the bank, seeing as the protocol requires that all checks above the limit of one thousand pounds have to be verified with the office, where they know that Jackson is in charge.
A new development helps the creative Davenport, who talks with some reporters who ask about the experience of working for thirty-five years, when his partner in crime calls separate that they will be exposed.
The calm self-regulated mastermind walks to the office of the man he used to dismiss with Jacko and who is now promoted to dear Jackson, asks about his Christian name, answers the call from the bank, pretends to be Percy Jackson and authorizes the transfer of the large pile of cash into the hands of his colleague.
This is not the end of an amusing, entertaining story, which has someone come at the two retired men saying that they have a surprise, they “caught them” and the two retirees think the game is up, Desmond is ready for a collapse…
Rodney Wingfield was a very talented writer, author of Our West Ladyton Branch – reviewed here: - among other plays.
In Compensating Error, the setting appears similar to the aforementioned West Ladyton Branch, when a new manager arrives at this office and he wants two long serving employs dismissed.
Davenport and Desmond have been working for thirty-five years, the former has a rather unpleasant manner at times, and for instance, when he finds another car in what he sees as his parking place.
Davenport is also patronizing, perhaps a little insulting – with today’s standards we could go as far as to call it abusive – with a man called Jackson, that he calls “Jacko” in spite of his opposition and indication that other staff are beginning to use the same nickname.
All the flaws and mistakes are going to be paid for, perhaps with more than their equal, just measure, when Davenport and Desmond are called to the office and handed each an envelope.
Mr. Jackson has only been working for a few weeks, but he is to be promoted and take over the position of Mr. Davenport, even if he seems to be unable to perform his duties as required.
Furthermore, to add insult to injury, the couple of employees who have started thirty-five years ago, on the same day, but Desmond being late – as usual Davenport likes to highlight – the latter is the senior of the two- they are asked to leave at the end of the following day.
The management wishes to avoid further embarrassment, the two men would be forced to make ends meet with a much smaller pension, they face retirement earlier that it would be normal, in spite of the thirty five years of continuous employment.
As he returns to his rented apartment, Desmond mentions to the property owner that he would have to change his arrangement, seeing as he would be the beneficiary of a much smaller income.
There is a visitor, on the day when the proprietor is preparing kippers that smell all the way to the street, considering the rather depressing surroundings, the guest remarks that for seven pounds rent – a large sum, when we adapt for inflation – the tenant should have benefited from better wallpaper.
At the bar, Davenport orders brandy that he drinks too quickly, instead of sipping, as his companion observes, has a few glasses and the men indulge in a large quantity of alcohol, prompting Desmond to complain about the vicious treatment received.
“They give us the boot after so many years, when we served every day; they could trust us with anything…
They knew we were honest and they would sign any check we gave them…” words to that effect.
Desmond was contemplating some other jobs, considering that the money would be insufficient for the future, all of them rather demeaning, considering the circumstances and he states that he would be ready to do anything…
Davenport has a plan, he is happy to hear his new partner in crime so desperate and ready for Payback, even if this state of anger is changed the following day, after the drinking night and the consequent hangover.
There is a big mistake at the office, a difference of eighteen thousand pounds – which could be about half a million in today’s currency – and Davenport intends to coopt his fired partner in his scheme.
They would use their last day on the job to write a check for that sum, get to the bank after the manager would have signed it, cash the money and retire with a handsome cash pile.
There are some difficulties since “Jacko” wants to take his new responsibilities right away – besides, there is a major surprise right at the end about which nothing will be mentioned here.
That would block the project, but Davenport is very clever and cunning, he manages to get the signatures, he is ready to get to the bank and cash the fortune, when his new comrade is suspicious and hence he is delegated to get the money in a suitcase that he would bring to the office.
Alas, there is trouble at the bank, seeing as the protocol requires that all checks above the limit of one thousand pounds have to be verified with the office, where they know that Jackson is in charge.
A new development helps the creative Davenport, who talks with some reporters who ask about the experience of working for thirty-five years, when his partner in crime calls separate that they will be exposed.
The calm self-regulated mastermind walks to the office of the man he used to dismiss with Jacko and who is now promoted to dear Jackson, asks about his Christian name, answers the call from the bank, pretends to be Percy Jackson and authorizes the transfer of the large pile of cash into the hands of his colleague.
This is not the end of an amusing, entertaining story, which has someone come at the two retired men saying that they have a surprise, they “caught them” and the two retirees think the game is up, Desmond is ready for a collapse…
October 5, 2019
Davenport and Desmond are in charge of the accounts department at Webster & Co. They have been warring with each other for thirty-five years, but are shocked when the new boss decides to replace them with a computer genius. With only one day left before they leave the firm, they decide to bury the hatchet and exploit an opportunity to enrich themselves......
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