3. Corruption pitfalls
Video 7 – Shop space saga
Script of the video
Scene 1
Time: | Night |
Location: | Restaurant in five-star hotel |
Character(s): | Jack (bank project manager), his cousin Alex (estate agent) |
(Jack and Alex are having dinner in the luxurious restaurant. Jack takes a sip of the wine and savors it.) | |
Jack: | Great wine. It’s Lafite 2006? |
Alex: | You’re truly a connoisseur. I can’t fool you. |
Jack: | (suspicious) It’s quite expensive. Isn’t it a bit extravagant? |
Alex: | We’re cousins. You’ve treated me many times before. It’s about time that I returned the favor. |
Jack: | (VO) My name is Jack. I’m a project manager of a bank. Alex is my cousin. We practically grew up together. |
Scene 2 (Flashback)
Time: | Day |
Location: | Bank office |
Character(s): | Jack, his boss Richard |
Jack: | (VO) Two months ago, my fastidious boss asked me to find a shop space for a new branch. I contacted numerous estate agents and scouted over fifty locations but my boss rejected every one of them. |
(Jack submits various shop layouts and proposals to Richard. Richard is clearly disappointed with what Jack has presented.) | |
Richard: | (shakes his head) This layout is all wrong. This one is even worse; it’s located right across the street from a shop that sells coffins? Use your head. Try again! |
(Jack’s face darkens. He seems completely helpless.) | |
Jack: | (VO) Then I remembered that my cousin Alex was an estate agent. What’s more, he also specialized in shop space leasing. So I approached him for help. To avoid complicating matters with my finicky boss, I decided not to tell him that I asked my cousin for help. |
Scene 3 (Flashback)
Time: | Dusk |
Location: | Vacant shop space |
Character(s): | Jack, Alex |
(Jack visits a vacant shop space with Alex. He seems to have reservations about the space.) | |
Alex: | We’ve scouted many places. Trust me, this is the best. |
Jack: | This space is okay, but it’s a bit small. It might not get past my boss. |
Alex: | This is a busy location with plenty of traffic. Better yet, there’s no competition from other banks. |
Jack: | Well, umm... |
Alex: | Because we’re cousins, I’ll even convince the landlord to lower the rent! |
Jack: | Alright, I’ll try to sell the idea to my boss. |
Alex: | Enough scouting. Let’s eat first, my treat. |
Scene 4 (continuation of scene 1)
Time: | Night |
Location: | Restaurant in five-star hotel |
Character(s): | Jack, Alex, waiter |
(Alex orders a second bottle of the red wine that they just had for Jack to take home.) | |
Waiter: | Sir, your wine. |
Alex: | Thank you, This bottle is for you. |
Jack: | It’s too much, treating me to the meal and the wine. Keep it for yourself. |
Alex: | We’re related. There’s no need to keep tally. Besides, a good wine deserves someone who can appreciate it and you’re a wine connoisseur. |
(Jack hesitates but he finally accepts the expensive gift.) | |
Alex: | I’ll be waiting for your good news. |
Jack: | I’ll do my best. |
Alex: | Cheers! |
Jack: | Cheers! |
Scene 5
Time: | Day |
Location: | Bank office |
Character(s): | Jack, his boss Richard |
(Jack recommends to his boss the shop space that Alex has introduced. Richard is greatly impressed after seeing the floor plan.) | |
Richard: | This shop space is much better than the ones that you presented earlier. The most important thing is a good location. It’s ideal for both neighborhood residents and corporate customers. Good work. You were even able to reduce the rental price. Are you well acquainted with the estate agent? |
Jack: | (softly) A little... |
Richard: | We should still look at a few more locations before making a decision. |
Jack: | Oh... umm... the agent said that he has quite a few clients interested in this space. He wants an answer from us as soon as possible. |
(Richard picks up the floor plan again and studies it closely.) | |
Jack: | (VO) I never imagined that Richard would like this space so much. Should I reveal to him that Alex is my cousin? What if he reacts badly and makes me start the search all over again. Oh no, I even accepted an expensive bottle of wine from Alex. |
Richard: | Alright. Let’s take it. |