August 9, 2005
Week 15 - Bad Judgment
Episode 2
Harry sits at his desk. His health and dental insurance brokers, Agent Pace and Agent Bilkey, have just stepped into his office.
"Good day, Mr. Cunningham," says Agent Pace, a small, neat woman. She carries a leather briefcase at her side. "May I sit down?"
"Yeah, sure," Harry says. He waves to Agent Bilkey. "You too."
Agent Bilkey is six foot five inches high and very wide. He stares at Harry, but does not move.
"Agent Bilkey prefers to stand," says Agent Pace. She looks around the office. "This is a fine location you have here, Mr. Cunningham. A fine company..."
Harry shrugs. "Cut the pleasantries. I want to talk about our health insurance premiums!"
Agent Pace smiles. She turns and looks at her partner. "Did you hear that, Agent Bilkey? Mr. Cunningham wants to discuss his premiums!" Agent Bilkey nods and she turns back to Harry. "Well, that's wonderful, Mr. Cunningham, because that's just what we came here for! I'm afraid we're going to have to raise your rates by forty percent."
Harry's jaw drops and his eyes open wide. "Raise them! You raised them thirty five percent last year! I was going to insist you lower them!"
"Lower them!" Agent Pace giggles and turns to her partner. "Oh, Agent Bilkey that's rich, isn't it!" Agent Bilkey grins. "I'm sorry Mr. Cunningham," Agent Pace says, "but that's quite out of the question. A forty percent raise is the very best we can do."
"Well forget it!" Harry pounds his fist. "It's highway robbery and I'm not paying!"
Agent Pace shakes her head. "That would be very unfortunate... Agent Bilkey, I believe Mr. Cunningham would benefit from a small demonstration of the dangers of operating without health insurance."
Agent Bilkey nods and glances around the office. His eyes settle on the display case on the wall. Its shelves are crowded with small toys. He steps toward it and grabs one.
"That's a very nice doll, Mr. Cunningham," Agent Pace says.
"It's not a doll, it's an action figure," Harry answers. "It's Jango Fett, with no battle armor. Be careful with that, it's a collectors item!"
Agent Bilkey looks at Agent Pace, who nods. Agent Bilkey rests the toy in the palm of his hand and displays it. Then he slowly closes his fingers.
The toy snaps in two.