The Reckoning Page #3

With carrots and raisins and jam on top.

Mum knew it was my favorite.

I always got two dollops.

And after..

I would sit in the corner, out of the way.

Enjoyed feeling... warm and heavy inside.

I've never had that feeling since.

Until now..

That's your ten, sir.

Hmm.

Thanks.

A Nancy like our Jack is no good to me.

Two minutes and he's had it!

Not that I've really fancied him for years.

He thinks a woman is someone who pushes

the shopping trolley at the supermarket.

You don't say much, do you?

I wish I could have you regular.

In a proper bed.

Do you?

Change and stamps sir.

Thanks.

Come on then, Mrs Eglington.

Is that him?

Yes.

That was John-Joe.

He never belonged in this place

no more than I do.

He's got a lovely face.

Well, he was a romantic... a singer.

They don't want to know about his

kind of song anymore.

Before I even went to school,

he filled my head full of the Fenians.

And David Wolftone, the Land League,

a socialist Ireland.

The fight was for Ireland, the enemy

the English middle-classes.

He even thought Adolf Hitler had something

to be said for him in that line.

Then when the other wars rolled up.

Kenya, Egypt, Cyprus and Aden.

He knew he was with.

The enemy was always the same.

The song-less ones, the brutalizers.

The English.

You seem to have come round to them.

Not entirely.

If I'd have known that one day, I would

grow up to be an English businessman..

I took my stockings off in the car.

Shall we take the lot off?

God!... Jack would kill me.

He really would.

Undo that. There's a love.

You're married, aren't you?

Not so she'd notice.

Don't be too clever.

The time will come when you'll need a

warm back to push up against.

And a round breast to cuddle in the dark.

You might not think so now, but you'll

come to it, before you're much older.

Is that an offer?

If I was you, I'd be careful.

I might say "yes".

We'd be good... we two.

I feel as if I've gone back twenty years.

Just beginning to feel myself again.

Aren't you going to keep me warm?

That's better.

I was seventeen when I left this room.

I was a trainee Jesuit for six months.

I had problems with chastity.

So I left, and conned my way into the Army.

2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, Captain.

Management Trainee, Junior Executive.

I feel as if I've been play-acting ever

since the minute I left home.

I'm just beginning to feel real again.

I'm real.

Oh, you're the most real thing

I've met in years.

You're an early-bird, Ma.

Sleeping-pill, or no sleeping-pill.

He's alright Ma... he hasn't a care in the world.

You'll take some breakfast?

I'll cook you something.

Well, I'll leave an open cheque,

so that Kath can fix things up.

Only the best, mind.

Here's something for yourself.

Get something to wear.

Oh, you'll be needing that.

What will your wife say?

Will she be up for the funeral,

your Rosemary?

I don't know for sure... I hope not.

Last night, our Phillip,

tells me some story.

Oh I don't know, something about some

lad from Bootle.

Ah, Phillip..

Now, you're to do no such thing.

I don't want any of that.

Okay Ma..

Do you remember the War,

when he was away?

God I do... it was bad enough then.

But now..

You still have me, Ma.

I'm still here.

I'll see you at the... on Saturday, Ma.

Yes.

Come on Theresa, come on. Hurry up.

I'm coming. I'm coming. Okay.

You're here on time Mr Marler. I hope

everything went alright in Liverpool.

It all seems a very long time ago. Get

me a cup of coffee Joan, would you.

Okay.

Mr Hazlitt wants to see you at ten sharp.

They've called a special meeting

for this afternoon.

Joan, I'll be there.

Oh Mr Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell from the personnel

department to see you.

Send him in.

Why are you so worried Joan?

He's gone over your head and recommended

somebody for Grimsby.

Oh, has he? Who?

Somebody called "Hammond".

Mr Marler will see you now.

A degree of extroversion, intelligence,

human relations, marital status.

Motivational pattern, job task record.

What the hell does all this crap add up to?

Hammond?

Well, it means he's a well-adjusted

nice chap with good qualifications.

Public school education,

National Service commission.

Wonderful!

So you're going to send this middle-class

twit from the Home Counties..

To do business in Cleethorpes, Hull,

Scunthorpe, Doncaster and up to Newcastle.

He's one of our best trainees.

Those hard-nuts up there would eat

Mr bloody Hammond for breakfast.

You don't fancy Grimsby

for yourself, do you Mitchell?

Hazlitt agrees with me.

He would. Have you ever been

to Grimsby, Mitchell?

Well, you'd better get up there and

take a look at the younger chaps.

Who already know the job and choose

one of them. Get off your arse Mitchell.

We have our ways of doing things, Marler.

Well, this isn't going to be one of them!

Now, get the hell out of here and take

this bog paper with you.

Alright... there's no need to

get abusive Marler.

I'll get as abusive as I bloody well

like! It's you lot!

You inefficient, stupid, helpless

bunch of twats!

Hazlitt would like you to go up.

Right.

But I can't threaten Benham.

Why not?

Don't be afraid to put the

boot in Mr Hazlitt.

Because if you don't kick their heads

in they'll kick yours.

And Davidson won't bother to

wipe his feet first.

What do you think we should do?

Get Benham in here after lunch, ten minutes

before the meeting and leave it to me.

You come in for the kill.

Don't worry.

I'll nail him.

Would you like a sweet Mr Marler?

Another steak please Mrs Rumbold.

Burnt round edges.

Michael, Mr Benham here is our

senior accountant.

Miss Clanagan had the last word at

this meeting.

Who's side are you on then, Mr Benham?

There's no doubt sales have fallen very

seriously over the last year.

In fact, shareholders are going to be

very concerned indeed, and rightly so.

This could be attributed to your

sales department.

Or you could argue that the decision

not to go into computers by Mr Davidson.

In 1959 is now having it's effect.

At that time Davidson considered the

costs involved were not worth the risks.

He unfortunately misjudged the speed at

which computers have become miniaturized.

Davidson says it's our management. We know

it's his judgment, don't we Mr Benham?

I would emphasize I'm here purely

in an advisory capacity.

You mean you're sitting on the fence. It's

an attitude your profession is noted for.

They're trying to say that our

supervision isn't tight enough.

In other words, we carry the can for them.

Hazlitt is discredited and Davidson

becomes the new managing director.

Then you, Mr Benham won't

want to know us.

I find your comments offensive

and juvenile.

I couldn't give a pennyworth of cold

tea what you feel Mr Benham.

When Hazlitt argues his case, he's going

to need your help.

Because you enjoy a reputation as the

best financial brain in the group.

Are you going to give it?

I have to be impartial. This is a quarrel

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