Nairobi Half Life Page #2

---

Dude, take him to work for Mama.

Thanks!

Mama Akinyi,

give this guy a job.

- OK.

Here are the dishes,

soap and everything you need.

And hurry up, OK?

Hurry up!

- OK.

The customer wants water.

Bring it to him. - OK.

The two teas

are for that table at the end.

Make sure you finish all of them.

Ah, Oti!

Give me five, my man!

What are you doing?

I told you to talk to Dingo!

Yeah, and he got me this job.

This is like dumpster diving. Let's go.

What about the work?

We live for the day.

Where do you make money here?

- Everywhere, but you have to be smart.

In Gaza

the main moneymaker is spare parts.

But there's also cocaine,

booze and p*ssy.

Whatever makes you happy.

Hey, what's up?

- I'm good.

One of the people who move our stuff.

Merchandise?

- Yeah.

Gaza has owners. Gaza is ours.

I have my own gang.

I'll tell you what,

let's go this way. Cool?

See this place?

This is one of the places

where we sell our stuff.

Where are we going?

It's been a long time

since I saw my woman.

Go away! What kind of man are you?

You can't even pay for a blowj*b!

What? Come where?

The way your game is down

with your tiny snake dick?

You and your small dick can go

and get f***ed elsewhere. Useless git!

Oti!

Hi. You're out?

Am I not a citizen?

Who's this idiot?

- My friend.

Dude, get busy!

What do you want me to say?

- I've missed you. - I've missed you!

Chill...

- Stop that!

Chill. Don't be scared.

What is it? - I don't have money.

- Money is not the issue.

Touching is free.

But if you come, you pay. Cool?

Take it easy. I'm hot 24/7.

- I don't have money. Stop it.

What's her name?

Amina.

Amina?

She's hot!

So where do you live?

We'll go there later.

Hey, Oti! What's up, boss?

How's it kicking, Waf?

- The cops can't hold you.

Hey, Oti, who's this?

My pal Mwas. This is my gang.

I saw you guys working earlier.

There's a lot of work.

By the way, Oti,

there's a job in Ngara. What do you say?

A well paying job or not?

What? Ngara? That's where the cops shot

the hardcore criminals. Look at him!

That's stupid. Do you want to die poor?

We have to live large.

We have to live it up!

Oti's right.

That's the way it is, guys.

Mose, are you buying or am I?

- I'm buying, you order.

Mum, Nr 65 and the soup of the day.

- Same here.

Move aside, mistress.

All you bring is distress.

What are you writing?

- Lyrics.

Are you an artist?

Mose wants to be a star like Kidum.

This is Nairobi. You can't

make it here without connections.

But you can, if you know a few cops.

What are you talking about?

Do you want to get shot by

the side of the road like that Meru guy?

What did he do?

He was an informer.

He ratted on some guy from Majengo.

When the guy got out,

the informer was gunned down.

- God!

Oti's asleep.

I want to sleep, too.

How many people have you robbed

to afford those clothes?

Not as many as you've f***ed.

I know what you're thinking.

What?

Why do I do it?

Because the pay's good.

How much?

500 a day.

I didn't mean that.

How much do you charge?

That depends.

Between 50 and 5,000.

So I can have you for 50?

Never!

So can I ask you what your plans are?

I want to go to school,

become a beautician

and open up my own salon.

- Sounds good.

What about your parents?

My mum has disowned me.

If my dad knew what I was doing,

I'd be dead.

Welcome to the home of rejects!

I have an appointment.

Dude, push the cart. Come on!

What? Me?

We'll walk up front. If the sh*t

hits the fan, we meet at the base.

How are you, officers?

- Young man,

what are you singing?

- It's God's...

Where are you taking all this weed?

Officer, I'm saved.

So if we spray you with bullets,

we'll miss you?

But the choir of angels

will sing for me.

What's this guy talking about?

- I wonder...

Leave him alone. He's mad.

Guys! Man!

B15's again? I told you,

no one is buying these things!

Has the government

given you a tender, or something?

Give us 5,000.

Maybe I'll give you 500, end of story.

- What good is 500?

I'd rather throw the stuff away.

3,000. Final offer.

Oti...

Here, maybe I'll give you 2,000.

Just this once.

- Listen, my man,

I want you to get Corolla parts for me.

Head lights

and side mirrors, OK?

Stop looking so miserable all the time.

- F*** off!

Oti? See you later.

- Smart!

We could've made more in that deal.

- Fine. Next time you negotiate.

I can read body language.

You!

Stop, thief!

Stop, thief!

Give me back my phone.

Sh*t.

Where does she think she is?

Sh*t, sh*t, f***!

Cops!

What?

- Those are the idiots who arrested me.

I thought you were untouchable?

I am, but these guys

are new in the area.

What do you mean?

They want to split 50-50 on what we make.

- And if we don't?

What if we don't give it to them?

What's up?

I'm on my way.

Let's go.

What's up?

- Found the Corollas. One is here,

the other one's over there.

What about the watchman?

- Looks like he's about to take a break.

There he goes.

He's going, guys.

He's gone.

- For now. - Be quick!

Dude, you broke it.

Let's see you sell that to Waya!

It's easy. You hit it

on this side, see? Like this.

And out it pops.

Go on, hit it. Hit it hard!

Hey, what are you doing?

Thief!

- Thief!

What?

"Thief, thief!"

He was scared out of his mind.

He was so scared he was rooted to

the spot, like a car at traffic lights.

The mob wanted to beat him up.

Trouble was brewing...

Big trouble!

Today is Tuesday, or have you forgotten?

- Officer, we need to talk.

Look, we're broke.

We haven't had a job in ages.

So I'm asking you: could you come back

next week? That'd be great.

And what am I going to eat?

- Look, you know

how this business works.

- What are you looking at?

Give me your ID.

- He's cool. He's one of my guys.

You guys need to work hard.

- No problem.

He's my guy.

How much did they swindle?

- 1,000.

So we have 1,000 left

and merchandise worth 2,000.

No, this stuff's worth 8,000.

That's empty talk.

- Let me show you how it's done.

The joy of work is not money,

but blowing the money.

Live today, and tomorrow will

take care of itself. - What do you do,

if you're not out making money?

- This guy doesn't know anything.

Today we need to get laid.

Are these from China?

- China, my arse!

Do you think we're stupid?

- 4,000, maybe.

Waya, don't mess with me!

Give us 10,000,

so each of us can go home with 2,000.

What, am I your provider now?

OK... 5,000.

Don't, Oti!

5,000 can't even buy us all

a whore on River Road.

What's this?

- He's my guy. Let him talk.

Dude, here's the situation...

Have you lost your mind?

- Listen, crazy man,

I'll give you 5,000...

and 500 more, OK?

8,000.

Don't be stupid. 5,500.

Hey, stop being so pigheaded!

Where are you going with my stuff?

6,000.

8,000.

6,500. My final offer. Am I going to pay

for your whores and condoms, too?

Add 500 for fuel.

You're a fool.

Now get your arse over here.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes