The Citizen Page #3

No biggie.

Hang on.

Excuse me, I'm looking for a job.

Yeah, just file your application

over at the computer station.

Yeah, I'm back.

No, it'll be great!

Yeah, hold on.

If you can just please help me...

Look, the application is designed to

filter out those who are ineligible.

So if you can't figure

that out on your own,

you're not qualified to work

for a temp agency.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Yeah, I'm back.

Some guy lookin' for a job.

There's always tomorrow.

I've been

fixing cars since I was a kid.

I was fixing my uncle's car,

and when I moved to Kuwait, I did the same.

And this is what I know,

and this is what I want to do.

This is my whole life.

Look, habibi,

I'd love if I could help

a fellow Lebanese,

but in this economy, you think

I can hire somebody else?

I can't.

Economy.

Thank you.

So what'd they say?

You know what?

It's their loss.

I thought the economy

was bad in the Middle East.

Come on.

You know what?

You've been doing everything you can.

Hey, you know what? I'm gonna stop and

grab a drink. Can you chill for a sec?

Chill?

Um... relax.

Okay. Okay.

That'll be 2.50, please.

Hey, don't I know you?

I don't think so.

No, we...

I got it.

We... met on that horrible day. Um...

Oh, yeah, I-I think

I remember you now.

How is your friend,

uh, Ibrahim?

It's funny you should ask.

Hey, you're never gonna believe it.

I got you a job.

What?

Hey, Ibrahim.

Mo.

I thought you owned

the mini-mart?

That's my brother's mini-mart. I cover

for him sometimes. This is my business.

I own this place.

You start tomorrow at

8:
00 a.m. Don't be late.

No way.

Thank you, man.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Morning.

8:
00 a.m. You should be here behind

the counter, not at the door.

I'm sorry.

Okay. Listen to me.

Please, be very careful.

Put the bottles in gently,

one at a time.

But, uh, make sure not to push

too hard because they will break.

Okay, got it.

Ooh! Wow, wow, wow!

Sh*t!

I should be able to contact you at all

times to make sure the shifts are covered.

You will pick up all the little things

with experience, but you should remember...

Just this one?

The most important rule

of all...

He did not pay!

Under no circumstances should you

ever leave the store unsupervised.

See, I need to catch the bus,

and my wallet... my wallet is...

You're not gonna take my money, are you?

What?

You just seen too many movies if you think

every black man you see is gonna rob you.

Hey! What'd I tell you about

disturbing my customers?

He work here! He ain't no customer!

Neither are you. Now, get lost.

By the way, you're late.

Why? You said 8:
00.

It's 7:
45.

Well, I meant 7:
00.

Now hurry up.

The land of...

the free...

and...

the home...

of the brave.

So what does that

mean to you guys?

9.25, sir.

Have a good day.

Hey, Ibrahim, don't leave

the money on the counter.

Listen, you can't let these guys bother you,

otherwise you won't get through the day.

It's just part of the job.

Now, uh, go have lunch.

Okay.

Ibrahim.

Mmm.

Oh, man.

You really hooked me up.

I was starting to feel

light-headed there for a minute.

No problem.

You know what?

During the Gulf War,

I was in Kuwait.

And to escape the violence,

I had to drive to the edge of the country.

I lived out of my car.

No food.

No drink.

For a while, man.

What is this, some kind

of lame-ass hunger contest?

I get it, man.

You've been hungry before too.

Least you up outta that now.

Least you ain't gotta sleep

out here on these streets.

I don't care

what country you from.

These streets,

they'll tear you apart.

What I'm trying to say is,

it's possible to change your life.

You can succeed

anywhere, man.

Just...

You have to decide.

Yeah?

Well, that's great advice coming from

a guy who works at a gas station.

I didn't mean that, man.

I'm sorry.

No problem.

That's just my pride talking.

I used to have a career.

Keeping books.

Yeah?

And what happened?

You know.

Little bit of gambling,

little bit of drinking...

and a whole lot of bad luck.

Pretty much downhill

after that.

I ain't had a place to stay

in years.

Hello. Ibrahim.

- All right, I'm gettin' up.

- Whoa!

- Who the hell are you?

- Diane, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

This is Mickey, my friend. He just needs a

place to stay while he's looking for a job.

I'll be responsible.

I'll be for him to stay here, okay?

Does this look like

a halfway house to you?

I can't have some bum

off the street on my couch.

I'm not a bum.

I've got a name.

It's Mickey.

Nice to meet you.

He's going to find a job.

I will help him. Please. Please.

She's feisty.

I like that.

Shh.

Ibrahim.

Hey, kids.

Oh, how are you?

How are you, Rajiv?

Good. How are you doing?

Fine.

Good, good.

Is my brother ready?

I'll check for you. Okay.

Tip-off's in 15 minutes.

And I can't watch the Knicks

lose without him, okay? Okay.

Okay. Boys, you want some candy?

Yeah.

Okay, come on,

let's get some.

Kids, brother are waiting.

What?

The game is about to start.

No, no. Too much work.

Tell Rajiv to take them without me.

Hey, man, you're working very hard.

Take a day off. I can't, okay?

If I don't get these logs filled or pay the

bills, you and I both will be out of a job.

What's wrong with you?

This is the same brother you

almost lost back in September.

You cried and said,

"I couldn't live without him."

And now you don't

have time for him?

Don't you dare talk to me

about my family.

And you'd better keep your mouth shut if you

want to keep working here. Do you understand?

I just...

wanted you to be happy.

Then leave me alone

so I can finish my work.

Legal. Legality.

Equal. Equality.

Civil. Civility.

Final. Finality.

I think

that's it for tonight.

Please drop off your papers

before you leave.

Excuse me. Do I look like

the teacher of the course?

Then why are you staring

at me the entire class?

Hmm.

I stop looking at you

if it's uncomfortable.

Well, I haven't decided yet.

- It's Baha.

- Ibrahim.

I just started the classes

for my degree, so I've been so busy.

Plus, I miss home.

It's hard being away from my family,

especially when my mother was so sick.

But... she's in remission now.

I understand.

Surely after my first semester

I can visit her again.

Tell me about your parents.

My parents? Um... Yes.

They must miss you so much.

They died in the civil war.

I'm so sorry.

No, it's okay.

This is why it's so important

for me to make a new family.

You know what I mean?

Oh. Look what time it is.

I should be going.

It was nice talking to you.

See you next week. Bye.

Baha.

Hmm?

If you let me

take you to a dinner,

I'll stop looking at you

in the class.

Okay.

Pick me up tomorrow

at 5:
30.

Your number?

Yes.

Okay.

Damn, man!

How much of that stuff you gonna put on?

You got it smellin' like the lobby

of a department store up in here.

Too much, huh?

It's cool. I mean, hey,

whatever works for you.

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