The Cast

Joining the Dots

An opera in an unknown number of parts

Author: Anon.

Cast of Characters:

Major Characters

The Chief Executive starts as a small but perfectly formed male from Liverpool. Sophisticated and smooth, he develops increasing paranoid tendencies. The only candidate for “Hero” at the start of the story, there are doubts about his ability to maintain his unique brand of heroics in the face of reality as the rest of the world understands it.

The Corporate Director is even smaller, and not quite so perfectly formed. He has the advantage of starting with the prefix “Acting”, ideal in the context of theatre. He has no hope of being The Hero, or indeed, any kind of hero.

The Project Director is a Lady. Her dimensions are not known to the author, but are presumed to be in order. With no interest in being The Hero(ine), she conforms to the old adage – when the going gets tough, those with any sense move on.

The Councillor is a Dark Horse. We know very little about him at the start of the story, but this may change by the end. He could end up being The Hero.


Minor Characters

The Project Manager used to be a Lady, but may have fallen from grace, if certain sources are to be believed.

The Colleague is known to all of the above, but not to the Author, so cannot be described.

Unknown Attractive Female (1) plays a small, but essential part. Although she doesn’t actually get a chance to say anything, the story would not have happened without her (although another story would probably have been stirred up by one of the main characters).

Unknown Attractive Female (2) unwittingly helped Unknown Attractive Female (1), and also doesn’t have to say anything. However if you like you can pretend she flutters her eyelashes, and swoons, and stuff like that.

“Mac” is a shady American character – you know the type: narrow eyes, crew-cut, mobile ‘phone stuck in each ear. Mac is the only member of the cast who smokes (so far as the author knows, that is), and chews gum ferociously to hide the smell.

“Busby” works for a large British Company, and is in competition with Mac for the favours of the Council. In fact, they are both tendering for the same contract. He is the oldest member of the cast, and rather old fashioned, displaying an outward charm. But underneath this, Busby is a sly, unsavoury and extremely complex character, who would have been interesting to work on. Unfortunately, even though originally expected to scoop the pot, he ended up with only a minor role in this opera.

Music by: Wagner / Queen / The Wurzels (delete as appropriate)

Coincidence?

Just noticed something weird - Jonesy is now claiming that the IBM deal will provide £140,000,000 in "procurement savings".

Source : http://www.lgcplus.com/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/chief_threatens_legal_action_over_fake_blog.html

Now, b*gger me if I've got a suspicious mind, and tell me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the same as 1,000 x £140,000?

Relevance :
http://rogerkershawconfesses.blogspot.com/

Surely the two can't be connected, can they? "Coming clean" (and ending this blog) will now require a bit of detail on what exactly Jonesy means by "procurement".

As for the "joining the dots" project - it is progressing. The cast of characters has been drawn up, and some of the scenes set ... on the magic bus ... Roger's monologue ... a late night at the bar ...

Blog 2 - Why?

This blog may or may not progress. It is a work of fiction inspired by dealings between Somerset County Council & IBM - the untold story. The progress of the blog will depend on how long the story remains untold. There is a choice: either they tell us, or we make it up!

Ordinarily very few people would give a damn. Like they said on West Eye View, "nothing new" (the Council working with the private sector that is).

However, ordinarily we would not expect to hear journalists saying things like " ... delicate stage in the negotiations ... meeting occurred which is so sensitive ... we can't talk about it for legal reasons ..." We would also not expect to hear that even people who have been sworn to secrecy have been fobbed off with half the story. Especially members of the Council.

There are bits of information floating around the internet, and hints of hackers and leakers and all the rest. The source material is available. So this blog depends on "them". If they come clean and tell us what it is all about, and what REALLY happened, then we'll just blog off.

Otherwise we will have to join the dots for ourselves. And even if it sounds terribly serious, I'm sure we can have a little fun doing it!