Plot
It is Mr Swindley's birthday and every year a heavy parcel arrives from Great Aunt Ellen - a squashed birthday cake. A quick pay-day whip-round results in enough for the perfect birthday treat for the popular Assistant Manager - a set of Pablo Casals records. Ernest Parbold springs his own anniversary surprise as the day of Swindley's birthday also marks Parbold's twentieth year with the firm and he modestly tells Swindley that he expects a present too. Knowing that he has no chance to get enough money for the unpopular manager for the staff, Swindley's solution is to pretend to Parbold that the records are his gift from the staff. Being more of an Eartha Kitt fan, Parbold 'generously' donates his records back to Swindley, telling him that he's satisfied as it's the thought that counts.
Cast
Regular Cast
- Leonard Swindley - Arthur Lowe
- Ernest Parbold - Paul Dawkins
- Miss Sinclair - Joy Stewart
- Mrs Edgeley - Betty Driver
Guest Cast
- Pam Plummer - Barbara Young
- Gladys Cheesborough - Margery Campi
- Mavis Foster - Holly Doone
Notes
- Comments within the dialogue show that Swindley's service date with Dobson & Hawkes is 2nd June - the date on which the first episode was shown. Swindley's birthday is not given a date but he is stated quite clearly as being a Leo which puts his birthday to between 16th August to 15th September however within the narrative of Coronation Street his date of birth was given as 9th December 1916.