Car Troubles

One January evening, the phone rings.

“Hello, Dominion of Movies.”

“Hi, this is Harry Dresden. I was in yesterday and rented some movies. I won't be able to return them because my car won't start. I was wondering if I could have them for no charge for another night.”

“Um--”

“I really wanted to get them back tonight, but my car just won't start,” the man interrupts, apparently holding the belief that repetition equals force in argumentation.

“As I was about to say,” Fernando says, “these things happen. Life gets in the way. That's why the first night's late fee is the extra-night rental instead of the full shebang. Let's see here...you had out four movies, so it'd come to $5 altogether.”

“Well, I don't think that's fair. I can't get out there. I would return them if I could.”

“You realize, right, that if I gave you free rentals this time because of your car troubles—which, by the way, I am not contesting in any way—that there would be precedent set for other people to claim 'car troubles' as a legitimate reason to avoid returning my property?”

“I--”

“That would be a bad precedent to set, wouldn't you agree? But it would also be dumb of me to ruthlessly punish people for the things that pop up unexpectedly in life. So the first night's late fee is actually just the difference that would have been paid on a two-night rental to begin with.”

“So no free rental?”

“No, no free rental.”