EQUITABLE LIFE MEMBERS
Clarity and Parity - Page 9
The fall of Royalty Life continued
Same
day, 3.30 pm.
Scene
- A side street behind the House of Lords. John Tompkins is with a camera
crew.
Tompkins
If we are lucky, they’ll come out just over there. No one else is
covering this door chaps so you could get an exclusive. I’m miked up so
stay out of sight and zoom in on me if I get the chance to wind Dash up.
Crew
Man How will you wind him up?
Tompkins
Easy, hand me that box (he points to a cardboard box that is behind the film crew next to some
bins)
Crew
Man Shit, there he is.
Dash appears from a side
door. He is alone and walking away from Tompkins and the crew. Tompkins
runs after him holding the box. He draws level and grabs Dash by the
elbow.
Tompkins
Bad day at the office Mr Dash. You do remember me don’t you? Only
I thought you might like this empty box to clear your desk into.
Dash
You nasty little fucker.
He grabs Tompkins by the
throat and pins him to the wall. The camera crew catch it all on film. One
of the crew runs to help release Tompkins. Dash sees the film crew
and scurries away holding his hand up to cover his face.
Various newspaper headlines
are displayed. First is a tabloid with a still shot of Dash holding
Tompkins by the throat. It reads “Dash, Bang Wallop”. The Chronicle
features a succession of headlines from the ensuing months as follows,
“No Buyer For Royalty Yet”, “Black Hole Too Big Say Scottish Diamond
As They Pull Out Of Royalty Talks”, “£2bn Was Only The Tip Of The
Iceberg Say City Analysts”, “Regulator Denies Negligence In Allowing
Royalty To Continue Trading So Long”, “We Never Backed The Royalty Say
Institute Of Actuaries”, “Royalty To Sue Ernest Anderton”,
“Carliss and Co Wins IFA Of The Year Award”
and “Customer Exodus Threatens To Make Royalty Insolvent”.
Final headline reads “John Tompkins Lands Scoop of The Year Award”.
Music through this montage is “You’re Wondering Now” by The
Specials.
Date:
21st August 1999, 12.30 pm
Scene
– Briggs is in a sporty German three door. He is listening to
“You’re Wondering Now” by the Specials. The sky is a glorious blue
colour and the sun burns high in the sky. His phone rings.
Briggs
Hello, John Briggs, Sunflower Assurance.
Alan
It’s me.
Briggs
Hi dad, how are you?
Alan
Very well. Just got round in 89. Do you know I haven’t even
broken 100 for weeks and now I break 90. I love this game. How’s the new
job?
Briggs
Great. And do you know what I love most? I don’t have to spend
the first half an hour of each call explaining the latest court case or
handling a complaint or just sitting there while a client shouts at me.
And one of my old pals from the branch actually got punched by a client.
Alan
Crikey, that’s a bit off. But I’m glad for you. There’s
actually a spark of enthusiasm in your voice now. That seems to have been
missing in the past few months.
Briggs
I just had to get out. It wasn’t right for me.
Alan
You didn’t fancy being a rep for the new Mersey Bank Advisory
Service?
Briggs
NO WAY.
Alan
Was it the money?
Briggs
No. The money is still great I’m told. Those that stayed have all
got guaranteed earnings. And they are not even selling anything.
Alan
That’s a bit rich isn’t it? Policyholders like me have their
funds plundered while the advisers still get loads of money chucked at
them?
Briggs
Loads MORE don’t you mean? Each rep got a loyalty bonus to stay.
And it was a big bonus. But they couldn’t even get that right. They were
so sure they would get a top buyer and a top price that they guaranteed it
to everyone and it became contractual. Then all the buyers dropped out and
they ended up as part of a scabby ex building society that has upgraded
itself to a bank. Honestly dad, bank and life insurance companies don’t
go together. Anyway, even I got a bonus and the next day I left.
Alan
Good for you.
Briggs
It worked out at about fifty grand a head on average.
Alan
Christ. If the policyholders knew there’d be a mutiny.
Briggs
They realised that and made everyone sign a legal document hushing
us up for a number of years. (He pauses. His voice alters.) Look dad, I
was thinking about giving you some of mine.
Alan
Nonsense.
Briggs
Hear me out. I feel terrible about your policy. And you did it just
before the Lords things as well.
Alan
Look, you did exactly what your company told you to. That was good
advice you gave me. I like the With Profits Bond. You weren’t to know
your senior employees were hiding stuff from the sales force. I will
pursue my own argument with your head office. You owe me nothing.
Briggs
But dad…
Alan
No buts. That’s the end of it. Look I’m ok. You’ve got a
young family and your whole lives ahead of you. Spend it well and enjoy it
while you can.
Briggs
Will you at least let me buy you lunch in town?
Alan
You’re on. (Faint sound of doorbell in the background) I don’t
have my diary right now so I’ll call you later. I’d better go,
that’s the front door.
Briggs
Speak to you soon. Bye dad.
Same
day, 1.15 pm.
Scene – An attractive
cottage overlooking Swanage bay. Briggs’s car pulls into the drive.
Grant is in the front garden wearing shorts and holding a bug gun.
Briggs
Nice legs. Hello sailor!
Grant
You cheeky bugger.
Briggs jumps out and they
shake hands warmly. Grant leads him into the house and through it on to
the patio. They sit under a very expensive looking shade at a large
sun-bleached wooden table.
Briggs
Nice place.
Grant
Too quiet almost sometimes.
Briggs
Is there really such a thing as too quiet?
Grant
I suppose not.
Briggs
Alone today?
Grant
Anne’s at Bestrose. Wouldn’t have moved here if there wasn’t
a Bestrose and a Barks and Sparks within a fifteen minute drive. She’ll
be back by three.
Briggs
I’m sorry I’ll miss her. I’m seeing a client at three. You
will say hi from me won’t you?
Grant
Sure will.
Briggs
holds out a bottle with a very Eastern European looking label. Grant
squints as he tries to read it.
What’s this then?
Briggs
Some more of that Mastersons Reisling that you like.(Hands
over the bottle)
Grant
And it’s nice and warm too. Never could beat a bit of warm white
wine on a hot day. Thanks mate.
Briggs
Pleasure.
Grant
I’ve made a ham baguette. I thought we could have half each. (They
both laugh.)
Briggs
I spoke to Andrea yesterday.
Grant
Me too. She must be missing us.
Briggs
I can’t believe she stayed.
Grant
She’s an insurance tart. She’ll do anything for a quick buck.
You wait. They’ll reduce the bonuses soon and then she’ll be off. (He
pauses). It was good before it all went wrong wasn’t it? And do you
know, I’ve heard that they are converting loads of old policies with the
Royalty to this new Mersey Bank Advisory Service and getting commission on
it all over again. And they’ve all swapped client banks around so they
don’t come across anyone who they’ve been shouted at before. Some of
the customers can spot it, but most haven’t made the link. They are
lambs to the slaughter. (He stops
again). I’ve also heard that the new CEO is suing Dash. (He
pauses for a couple of seconds). I couldn’t have stayed though…
The voice fades. The scene
gets smaller as it moves further away. Soon the whole view is filled with
an aerial view of Swanage bay. The focus swings to the Western end of the
bay and settles on a small cottage by the sea front. Donald Nash is
polishing his car. He stops and looks out across the sea. After a long
pause he breathes in deeply and lets out a long sigh. His face is consumed
by an enormous smile.
THE END