Rere Shapiro 10: you are such a goddamn President, Mr President

Hello everybody, I am 24 today hurrayyyy and to celebrate today, I will be posting four days story. So please enjoy.

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Remember the deal we made?


INT. RERE’S OFFICE- EVENING

(At around 4’0 clock in the evening, Rere and Roti were in Rere’s office watching a reporter give the news on the television)

Reporter: about 10 minutes ago, the senate approved the omega’s work bill to the surprise of many Nigerians who never expected the bill to become an act

Roti: (turning to Rere smiling) you did it

Rere: (smiling) no, we did it. I never could have gotten anywhere without your help

Roti: I just did my job

Rere: remember the deal we made?

Roti: I do, we are working for the president

Rere: I am sorry. I know you must have work hard to get Ameberu’s approval

Roti: yeah, I did but I only decided to work for Ameberu because I thought the president was not going to make it and since you showed me that there is still a way, we should go along with the original plan

Rere: I … (Esosa comes in suddenly)

Roti: what is it?


Esosa: (picks the TV remote and changes the channel) you guys should see this? (The channel shows many people in front of Aso Rock protesting with plank board with different slogans. Some say bring them back while some say, you can’t let them die. Some women and children were crying)

Rere: (with an upset look) what is this?
A reporter (Television): behind me are the grieving families of the scientists who were arrested by Congo’s government for carrying out unauthorised research in Congo begging the Federal Government to bring their loved ones’ home. According to one of the grieving wife of one of the scientist, she said that the mission was authorised by the Federal Government and if this is the case why is Congo government saying it is not authorised? And will our amicable president be able to get this scientist home to their families when he himself couldn’t get the senate to pass his bill of more than four months? Stay tuned for more information about this issue, this is Pamela Okonkwo reporting (the families were shouting and crying)

Rere:  this is not happening (in anger)

Roti: (he signals to Esosa to leave and she leaves) Rere, this is bad

Rere: (in anger, she scowls) I know it is (pause) can you imagine this is happening right after I got his bill passed

Roti: this could ruin any chances of him going for second term if this matter is not resolved fast

Rere: I can’t do anything if I don’t know the full story

Roti: then ask him yourself

Rere: like he would tell me

Roti: even after getting his bill passed

Rere: yes, and I need to find out the full and true story. I really want him to see me as the best

Roti: am on it (he walks out of the office)

Rere: damn (in annoyance)


Are we backing the right person, Rere?


INT. RERE’S OFFICE- NIGHT
(Inside Rere’s office, she is watching the television as reporter Pamela is giving her report. Roti comes into the office)

Rere: what did you find out?

Roti: it is bad Rere

Rere: tell me

Roti: the research is not official

Rere: if the president does not know about the research, then he is safe. How is that bad?

Roti: I didn’t say he does not know about the research

Rere: he knows?

Roti: there is Ebola virus breakout in Congo, a mutated Ebola virus different from the one Nigeria experienced

Rere: so?

Roti: Gexon, the pharmaceutical company involve in the scandal decided to send scientists to find a drug that will cure the virus in case it comes to Nigeria and the president knows about this

Rere: (stands up) am still not getting your point, a good company decides to send some scientist to find cure to treat a virus. How is that bad?

Roti: Rere, you are smart, think. The research is off the books and the president knows, what does that tell you?

Rere: that they are good people

Roti: (looking serious) seriously?

Rere: I am sorry (pacing) a research off the books and the president’s involvement means there is a deal

Roti: and what kind of deal can be between a big pharmaceutical company and a president that is going for second term without his party’s support?

Rere: funds

Roti: you are on the track

Rere: should the virus breakout in Nigeria, that pharmaceutical company will be the only one with the cure (closes her eyes with frustration) they are planning to split the profit

Roti: Bingo!

Rere: you have got to be kidding me

Roti: are we backing the right person, Rere?

Rere: there is no right person, Roti. They are all the same

Roti: so what are we going to do?

Rere: how did you find out?

Roti: I have sources, sources in the right place

Rere: since I am finding out from you, that means no one knows except for the people involve

Roti: yes, but not for long

Rere: I need a smoke

Roti: has he called you maybe to tell you that you have the job?

Rere: no and now that I think about it, I didn’t give him a contact

Roti: give me an hour, I will get you into his office

Rere: that will be appreciated


you are such a goddamn president, Mr President


INT- PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. NIGHT
(Inside the president’s office, Nate is speaking to someone on the phone looking angry. About five seconds later he throws the phone on the chair in anger and his secretary comes into his office)

Secretary: Mr President, there is someone….

Nate: (cut in sharply) I am in no mood to see anyone

Rere: (comes into the office) I am sure you will see me (Nate looks surprise as he sees Rere)

Secretary: (turns to Rere and scowl) I thought I asked you to wait outside

Nate: Sophie, don’t worry, go back to work

Secretary: yes, sir (she left)

Nate: I don’t think you are on my schedule; how did you get here?

Rere: (smiling) I was able to get your bill passed in two days, getting into your office is a small issue

Nate: why are you here?

Rere: you know why I am here, Mr President

Nate: no. I don’t

Rere: well, let me remind. The job you promised me

Nate: I didn’t promise you any job

Rere: (in an upset loud voice) are you kidding me Mr President, you promised me that you will make me your campaign manager

Nate: no I didn’t, what I said was I would consider it

Rere: (scoff) you are such a goddamn president, Mr President (pause) so have you considered it?

Nate: (he sits down) yes I did and I don’t think you are the right person for the job

Rere: the right person for the job? (In an upset low voice) I am not the person for the job but I (in a loud angry) got your fucking bill passed

Nate: yes I know and for that, I thank you

Rere: I don’t need your thanks, I want the fucking job

Nate: well you can’t have it

Rere: I am not letting this go, Mr President

Nate: what are you going to do?  Our deal is not even on a paper

Rere: (chuckles) you got me there Mr President. (Moves to his front with a very angry look) I got your impossible bill passed, I am not an enemy you can afford to have (she turns towards the door to leave)

Nate: fine (Rere stops and turns to him) find a solution to the Congo scandal

Rere: (looking confuse) I am sorry, what did you say?

Nate: bring the scientists home and you have the job

Rere: (move back to him) are you on booze Mr President?

Nate: no and why are you asking me that?

Rere: because you are asking me to do something only a drunk will ask me to do

Nate: well I am not drunk (he sits down on his chair) if you want the job, you will fix the Congo problem

Rere: (in a loud voice) what you are asking me to solve is a diplomatic problem that needs a diplomatic solution, there is nothing I can do about that

Nate: you said you like challenges, well that is a challenge for you

Rere: I am not talking about this kind of chall….

Nate: unless you are scare and you are not who you told me that you are

Rere: I am not scared

Nate: then find me a solution

Rere: you are asking too much from me

Nate: you want to be my campaign manager? Then bring back those scientists

Rere: fine, I will fix the problem

Nate: fine and like before, we never had this 
conversation

Rere: (smiling softly) of course (bends over his table and she looks at him with a scowl) when I fix problem and I will, if you try to screw me over again, I will show you the stuff I am made up of

Nate: fix the problem and you have the job

Rere: I am glad we are on the same page. (She turns and leaves the office)


………you drive me crazy sometimes Rere


INT. RERE’S HOUSE- NIGHT
(Inside Rere’s house, she walks to the door with a cigarette in her hand and opens the door. Roti comes in and Rere walks back to the sitting with Roti walking behind her)

Roti: you don’t have the job, do you?

Rere: no

Roti: I thought he promised to give you the job if you pass his bill

Rere: yes, but the promise is that, he will consider it

Roti: after what you did for him, are you kidding me?

Rere: I wish I was

Roti: so did he consider you?

Rere: yes and he said, I am not fit for the job

Roti: he is such a bastard (pause) so should I call Senator Ameberu

Rere: he said he will reconsider it if I do one last job for him

Roti: and what is the job?

Rere: bring the Congo scientists back

Roti: excuse me?

Rere: you heard me Roti

Roti: how on earth does he expect you to find solution to a diplomatic problem?

Rere: I have no idea

Roti: and I hope you told him no (sees the confirmative look on her face) please tell me you didn’t tell him yes

Rere: we are doing the job Roti

Roti: no

Rere: we can do this all day Roti and we are still going to do the job

Roti: it is impossible

Rere: I told you that in our line of work, nothing is impossible

Roti: this one surely is

Rere: you sound so sure

Roti: my source told me that the Congo President is not even willing to see our president

Rere: not even to negotiate terms?

Roti: not at all

Rere: why is that?

Roti: according to my source, at the first ECOWAS meeting that the Congo President attended, Ehosa refused to acknowledged him and since then he has been out for the President’s blood

Rere: so this is not just a diplomatic problem, it is personal

Roti: that is why I said it is impossible

Rere: we are still doing it

Roti: you drive me crazy sometimes Rere

Rere: I have no other choice than to fix the Congo problem, if I want the job

Roti: there are other politician we can work for, for example Senator Ameberu

Rere: it has to be Nate Ehosa

Roti: (sighs deeply) so what is the plan?

Rere: for starters (pointing to the television) I want this reporter gone

Roti: (looking at the Television) Pam?

Rere: I don’t care if she is Slippers, she is making the matter worse.

Roti: she is just doing her job Rere

Rere: and so am I, I can’t do my job well if she is blowing the whole issue out of proportion

Roti: she is the worst of all reporters

Rere: I don’t care if she is the devil herself, I want her gone (Roti looks confuse) is that hesitation I see on you Roti?

Roti: no

Rere: what is the problem Roti?

Roti: Pam and I had a little clash in the past

Rere: what kind of clash?

Roti: I needed information from her and I had to play her a little. Sh…

Rere: (cut in sharply) I don’t want to know, all I care is if you can handle her

Roti: I will

Rere: I need to be in Congo like yesterday

Roti: I don’t see that happening

Rere: what do you mean?

Roti: Congo government placed a ban on Nigerians entering Congo

Rere: well the good thing is that I am an American citizen

Roti: you are an American citizen?

Rere: (looks up with a pale face for like 2 seconds and smiled) joking, you should see your face Roti

Roti: (smiling) because you don’t even have an accent but I will try not to be surprise if you are really an American.

Rere: well I am not so let get to business. The Congo Ambassador can grant me passage

Roti: I highly doubt that

Rere: why?

Roti: because Dunbu Tanya is a highly disciplined woman that sticks to the rules, she is a hard nut to crack

Rere: a woman?

Roti: yes, and she will never bend the rule for anything or anyone

Rere: there has to be something to blackmail her with

Roti: check her out and she will come out clean

Rere: then I will have to ask her nicely

Roti: when has had ever worked?

Rere: well I have to try something. She is a woman, maybe if I appeal to her motherly part, maybe she will crack

Roti: alright, I will arrange a meeting (Roti starts to move towards the door)

Rere: Roti (he turns to her) for a man like you to build that place that I call mine, it means you don’t hesitate. Can you take care of Pam?

Roti: I have got this (he leaves)

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