A short film Written Azeez Ayodeji Babatunde
INT. SIMI/AJIBADE’S HOUSE – DAY
AJIBADE (42) rushes downstairs with a suitcase in his right
hand. His wife SIMI (38), a civil servant, and 2 months pregnant
mother of 3 children, blocks his path. She immediately hugs
him and refuses to let go.
SIMI
I will miss you. Lonely nights. No
one to share the house chores with.
AJIBADE
I am only going for a week. I will
miss you too honey, but you know I
have to support your earnings. Even
though I earn less.
She releases him and holds his hands affectionately
SIMI
I will also be having a very busy
week because we are on another
supervision work. A big one.
AJIBADE
Your work is so demanding! I will
make sure I get back on time so
that I can take care of the kids.
SIMI
Anyway, I and your unborn child
want a kiss before you go.
AJIBADE gives his wife a goode kiss and pecks her on the
tummy.
AJIBADE
e, honey.
AJIBADE rushes to the garage, starts his car and the engine
revs for a second then goes down. He remembers the petrol in
it is too little. He gets a Jerry can and matches to a near
filling station.
EXT. JOKOVIC FILLING STATION – DAY
AJIBADE enters the filling station and joins the queue.
A man named MUSA(45) from nowhere jumps the queue and stays
in front of AJIBADE.
Everyone challenges him, they tell the man to go back.
AJIBADE
Sir, please respect yourself, these
are the things we do that menaces
our justification to question
corrupt leaders.
OFFICER MUSA
Hey! Watch your tongue young man!
Do You know who I am?
Everybody shouts Musa down. They chorus condemnations at his
attitude.
AJIBADE
Who are you? Are you bigger than
the Nigerian constitution? You can
be a General, for all I care!
That’s more reason why you should
lay a good example for others in
public. Our Leaders are
irresponsible. Yet, the change we
are talking about should start from
them.
OFFICER MUSA
Shut up or I will ask my boys to
discipline you. If I tell you who I
am, you won’t have the audacity to
challenge me.
PETROL ATTENDANT
Sir, I won’t sell to you until you
get back to your initial position.
OFFICER MUSA
You are mad!
PETROL ATTENDANT
Shoooooo!, who Is this man? Who do
you think you are?
MUSA dips his hand into his pocket and brings out his
identity card.
OFFICER MUSA
I am Officer Musa, Superintendent
of Police and I want to see your
certificate, which serves as
evidence that your fuel
dispenser is well-calibrated.
Everyone becomes silent and confused. Is he here on duty?
PETROL ATTENDANT
Please see my Boss inside. I can’t
say if we have it or not.
OFFICER MUSA
No problem, Do you think you are
stubborn? I will deal with you.
MUSA moves towards the office of the petrol station.
Before he gets there the petrol attendant calls him back.
PETROL ATTENDANT
Oga, please come back.
MUSA walks back slowly to him.
OFFICER MUSA
(in Pidgin English)
No!, Let Me go na. Sebi You
stubborn wella. Nobody Needs to
tell me that your one Litre is not
more than 80 centilitres. I for
alert my people for SON(standard
organization of Nigeria). You know
how much you go use bribe them
before they comot. Ten times your
salary! Your Oga go pursue u comot
with koboko ni. (in Pidgin English)
Everyone starts murmuring, but no one dares to
confront MUSA. Knowing who he is.
MUSA buys gasoline fuel immediately and disappears.
The mumbling becomes a roar, everyone condemns the state of
the nation in terms of transparency, accountability, and
corruption.
AJIBADE
I am sick and tired of this
country. Our Policemen have no
shame. Filing stations using a
false measure and our policemen
know this, yet they do nothing but
even brag about collecting
kickbacks. Nonsense!
PETROL ATTENDANT
Sir, please be calm. Don’t make
such a fuss about this.
AJIBADE
What do you mean? You sell with a
false measure and you are proud of
it. I will report you people and
your Police Godfathers.
PETROL ATTENDANT
To who? Is this new in Nigeria?
Why didn’t you attack the officer
after he showed his card? You know
many people have died arguing with
policemen with no case raised. How
much do you want to buy?
AJIBADE
1000 Naira worth of Petrol.
PETROL ATTENDANT
That’s 1050 Naira.
AJIBADE
Why?
PETROL ATTENDANT
Charges for using a Jerry can.
AJIBADE
How many senators do we have in
this country? Who made it official
that you guys should charge extra
if someone wants to buy with a
Jerry can? You Idiots shout change,
isn’t the change supposed to start
with you?
PETROL ATTENDANT
The Politicians are making billions
up there and you shout over the 50
Naira we make per Jerry can,
despite our small salary. If you
can’t buy then leave.
AJIBADE angrily leaves the filling station and decides to
travel public transport.