rtorrent scripting help

rtorrent provides a nice script for moving downloads to a directory based on label or name
i'm trying to configure the script using my local folder ~/files
It tries to use a "work" directory

# Determine target path (adapt this to your needs)
set_target_path() {
    local month=$(date +'%Y-%m')

    # Only move data downloaded into a "work" directory
    if egrep >/dev/null "/work/" /dev/null "~/files/" <<<"${base_path}/"; then
        # Make sure the target directory is on the same drive as "work", else leave it alone
        work_dir=$(sed -re 's~(^.+~/files/).*~\1~' <<<"${base_path}/")
        test $(fs4path "$work_dir") == $(fs4path "$(dirname ${base_path})") || return
    else
        return  # no "work" component in data path (pre-determined path)
    fi

restarted rtorrent and nothing yet