Daily Rate

A lady comes in and rents four movies. “How much would it cost for me to have these out for another night?”

“It'd be a buck-fifty for the new release, and fifty cents each for the older ones.”

“What about if I kept them for an extra night and brought them back tomorrow?”

“It'd be the same. First night's late fee is the same as what it would have cost to rent for two nights anyway.”

“Okay, I'll do them for one night then, then I can square up with you when I get the others back?”

“Absolutely.” Though it results in Fernando making a tiny bit less guaranteed income, he finds it sensible to grant requests like this because he is not an unabashedly greedy prick.

The next day arrives and Fernando finds two of the movies in the drop box—the new release and one of the older ones. Fernando marks down a $.50 charge on the other two and life goes on.

The day afterwards, the third movie is in the drop box. The fourth is still absent. Since this is a hella-old movie and since the lady had rented four movies and since she expressed initial concern about returning Fernando's things, he only charges her an additional $.50 for the second night as well, rather than the full dollar it ought to have been.

The next day the lady returns with the final movie. She places it on the countertop and says, “I'd like to square up whatever I owe you now.”

“Excellent. It's $1.50 altogether.”

“$1.50? You said it would be fifty cents each!”

“Fifty cents each, per night. You had two out for one night, and this one out for another night beyond that.”

She looks crestfallen. “Oh. I didn't realize."

Fernando has no response to that, so he takes her money and wishes her a good day.