Corruption in the global construction industry is a huge economic burden estimated at $500 billion dollars annually.
It occurs in every country no matter the form of government, level of development, or geographic location.
Imagine the schools, hospitals, water treatment facilities, and roads that could be built for those in the greatest need if corruption were eliminated.
SUPER TITLE OVER SCENE:
This program is entirely fictitious. Any similarities to actual individuals, institutions, companies, projects, incidents, or countries are purely coincidental.
This program contains practices and events designed to stimulate discussion. It does not necessarily reflect positions of sponsors or cooperating agencies.
SUPER TITLE OVER SCENE:
ETHICANA: PART I
GROVE
BARRERE
FRANÇOIS
GROVE
FRANÇOIS
GROVE: Unoco?
UNOCO
BARRERE
UNOCO
BARRERE
UNOCO
GROVE
UNOCO
GROVE
UNOCO
GROVE
UNOCO
BARRERE
FRANÇOIS
UNOCO
GROVE
UNOCO
GROVE
UNOCO
GROVE: Well, we are very close to an agreement to make our governmental processes more transparent and... I have an inside track there too.
Super title over scene:
interior ministry, Republic of Ethicana
MADDIE
GROVE
VICTORIA
GROVE
ViCTORia
Well, that is what we are here for. We look forward to getting started.
Grove
We’re looking forward to putting your generous grant of 20 million dollars to use to enact these governance reforms. When should we expect the funds?
MADDIE
We should be able to release them within 90 days. Maybe sooner.
ViCTORia
Was there something more for us to talk about, Gris... Mr. Minister? Your note alluded to another opportunity for IIEDA.
Grove
I have been approached by the American mining company Behemoth Mining to open up an undeveloped portion of our central mountains for copper and gold mining. They are looking to us to build the infrastructure to support their venture. 20 kilometers of paved roads, a dam, water systems. Behemoth has agreed to build a power plant and sell the excess capacity to the Ethicanian government.
Victoria
How much would you estimate you need?
GrOVE
Well we had CANT Construction perform an initial survey and their estimate was 250 million dollars. Virtually no risk to your backers. This is not a grant, but a loan. Some of my deputies have suggested that it might be beneficial to have an actual project to administer as we adopt the reforms.
VicTORia
When do you need to know?
GroVE
By the end of the year. The others need to get their plans in motion once we can make the commitment.
VICTORIA
I'll take it to Andres.... The board will very likely approve it, if the Chairman does.
Super title over scene:
Minister Grove’s Home, Port Hope, Ethicana
FRANÇOIS
The good governance grant from the IIEDA will not be as lucrative to your personal business interests as we had anticipated.
GroVE
So, in total?
FRANÇOIS
Maybe 2 million.
GroVE
That is a pittance. It’s getting to where it’s almost more effort than it’s worth to divert the funds. Almost. And your estimate on our end of the infrastructure project?
FRANÇOIS
No credible estimate yet. It will be more profitable, but we'll have to be creative.
GrOVE
Well, we have to get CANT to funnel as much money as they can to our loyal supporters on this side... and as little as possible to those on the other side in Henrytown. We have to make sure that our supporters are in a position to contribute to us.
FRANÇOIS
There are clear regulations from IIEDA concerning inclusion of minorities and other political constituencies...
Grove
Handle that. Whatever we can't make money off of, let the other side do.
FRANÇOIS
Now we need to discuss how we’re going to handle the appreciation for our friend at IIEDA.
Grove
A beach house in the Caribbean. Put money into the real estate fund. Then, find out how the title should read.
FRANÇOIS
And the money will come from your account?
Grove
Oh, no, no, no. We'll find it somewhere in the infrastructure project. I see there is still much I need to teach you.
Super title over scene:
BEHEMOTH MINING Company – United states
Rudy
Leave it to you to land the biggest project the company has ever handled.
BARRERE
It’s been a whirlwind lately. All the pressure inside, and the Ethicanians are something else. To them a deal is never done. It’s always a little more here and a lot more there.
RuDY
It’s dirty.
BARRERE
No, it’s been wiped off.
Rudy
No, no. The deal in Ethicana.
BARRERE
I don’t know your definition of dirty, Rudy, you’re a lawyer, but yes it’s dirty. No different, though, from doing business in lots of other parts of the world.
rUDY
I ‘n gonna ask you a question, and the answer to this question is important. And I’m only offering you one of two possible answers. The first answer, both you and the corporation may be in a defendable position. For the other answer, you are not. Specifically, if this is a matter of Behemoth being a victim of extortion, you and the company have a defense. If it’s a matter of Behemoth offering a bribe, you do not. Do you understand what I just said?
BarRERE
Yes.
Rudy
Was it a bribe, or are you and the firm the victim of extortion?
BARRERE
So this isn't about the ethics?
RudY
Heavens no. Look, I am not the company's ethics officer. I am the company's legal counsel. It's the law in which I have an interest.
BARRERE
I understand.
RuDY
So, where are you planning to find the money? If you’re not careful, the independent auditors will spot it and mis-characterize it.
BarRERE
I’d bury it in a special executive bonus account. Once the transfers come to my group, I'd move the money to Grove's account over the first year.
RudY
You know, the telephone people tried that executive bonus gambit in Europe a couple of years ago -- it blew up in their face.
BARRERE
Well, that was Europe, this is Ethicana.
Rudy
Yeah, well there’s plenty of corruption everywhere. And nowhere is it condoned.
BARRERE
They were paying everybody off and their brother. Our money goes to one man.
Rudy
And how much of that’s gonna wind up in your personal account?
BaRRERE
Rudy! You think I’d risk everything to steal from the company?
rUDY
Let me just say, as a lawyer, once the money starts flowing, everybody is suspect. Once we’re in... invested, he could keep squeezing us.
BARRERE
He could. But with the ore deposits in those mountains, we'll make money no matter how much he skims off the top.
RUDY
What about CANT? I just don't believe CANT is giving in to their extortion.
bARRERE
I can't say for sure what CANT’s doing, but François wants everybody to demonstrate their commitment to the project by making the initial "appreciation" before then.
Super title over scene:
Cant constructions corporation, United States
giSELLE
I don't know if I have ever seen a project like this. Right down the line.
DESMOND
I know what you mean. When I saw the risk management report I did a double-take. I thought it could go either way.
GiSELLE
Well, so that’s exactly why we’re here; I mean should we move forward on this Ethicana project?
UnOCO
From a sales and marketing perspective, we've already added the project to the forecast. If we don't move forward, the management committee is going to have some very hard questions.
GisELLE
Yeah, well I'd rather face those questions than have to explain how it all went down the drain when corruption forces IIEDA to pull the plug on the loan. Are you concerned about the default risk that Ethicana presents?
UnoCO
Well I was concerned. And I expressed those concerns before I went down there and when I came back. But IIEDA is funding a 20 million dollar good governance program that will run concurrent with our project. Increased oversight by the financial institution is a good thing for them and us.
Giselle
Well look, maybe everybody else already knows the answer to this, but how exactly did all this start and who are we competing with?
DESMOND
Well I don't know who we’re competing with, Giselle. But whoever it is, is at a disadvantage because of the preliminary work that we've done.
giseLLE
This Grisman Groves has a questionable reputation.
UnOCO
Yes, he does.
gisELLE
So, there were no favors traded, no money under the table to land this deal, correct?
UnoCO
I'd be offended by that, if it wasn't for Grove's reputation.
giselLE
So you would be willing to sign the integrity affidavit?
UnOCO
Absolutely. Myself and all of my team.
GiseLLE
All right. What about Behemoth? I read somewhere this is actually the biggest project they’ve ever done. Your buddy, uh……
UnOCO
Barrere?
GiseLLE
Yeah, Barrere. Anything shady going on?
UnoCO
Well, I wouldn’t classify him as a buddy. I am unaware of any specifics. But... this has the potential to be an extraordinarily profitable deal for him and them.
GiseLLE
All right.
FRANÇOIS
Mr. Minister. I have a meeting with Unoco from Cant Construction. He’s going to inform me that they’re not able to offer you the appreciation due to stringent new ethics rules. The best they can do he says is to approve the Concoro 7 percent agent’s fee, which is more than double their internal guidelines.
GROVE
I don’t care about their ethics rules or internal guidelines. This is our culture. Suggest a surrogate... a middleman.
FRANÇOIS
I have. Cant doesn't think that is viable any more the way the U.S. Government is interpreting the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Grove
They can be replaced.
FRANÇOIS
Not easily. Not now. Without good reason, now that they've been approved, that would be a problem for IIEDA and Behemoth Mining.
GroVE
Well Cant must show their appreciation to me and to Ethicana.
Super title over scene:
Concoro Associates, Port Hope, Ethicana
UNOCO
This is a very interesting country. Twice the size of the United Kingdom with less than the population of London. Those who don't live in Port Hope or on the other side of the central mountains, in Henrytown, live on less than a dollar a day. The lucky ones have gardens and goats. Outside the towns and cities, there’s no running water or electricity. And then, scattered around the mountains, are the five tribes.
FRANÇOIS
And that is where I come in. The five tribes is an antiquated term. Today we talk in terms of political coalitions. Welcome, Unoco. Who is this you have brought with you?
UNOCO
This is Desmond Matthews, he will be our project manager on site here in Ethicana.
FRANÇOIS
Welcome, Desmond. I hope I can be of assistance to you in your time here.
DesMOND
Thank you, I have heard of your country's hospitality.
UnoCO
François, this should come as no surprise to you, we've talked about this for a couple of months now, but...
FRANÇOIS
But the terms are unacceptable because of new corporate emphasis on...
UnOCO
In light of the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Cant cannot make "appreciation" payments to anyone.
FRANÇOIS
But your motto is: Cant never says can't.
UNOCO
Be serious, François. It can't happen.
FRANÇOIS
I am being serious. You make political contributions to mayors in the United States, but not to us?
UnoCO
Those contributions -- to the mayors you mentioned -- those were years ago.
desmOND
And the lessons we learned helped shape our policies, both in the States and around the world.
UnoCO
What I can't understand is how, with the IIEDA down the street implementing good governance reforms, you and Minister Grove are jeopardizing your country's ability to attract foreign aid with the same old games.
FRANÇOIS
These aren't games; this is our culture. The insistence of appreciation to obtain assistance is one of the ways that we use to protect ourselves from outsiders taking advantage of us.
Unoco
That very well may be. How much do you want? I mean, tell me straight.
FRANÇOIS
Ten million dollars, directly into the bank account of Minister Grove.
Unoco
We can't do business like that anymore and neither can... should you.
FRANÇOIS
Behemoth is showing true generosity in their appreciation.
UnoCO
Well, I can imagine, and I don't want to know about that. Despite them being an American company, they don't operate under our constraints. First, they’re not using IIEDA funds which strictly prohibit paying for projects. And second, we have strict new guidelines to avoid questionable business deals; not because we might get caught, but because it is wrong.
FRANÇOIS
You will have my answer tonight at dinner.
DeSMOND
So, did you ever have to do any of the dirty stuff?
UnoCO
I don't know exactly what you mean, but if you mean bribery and payoffs and stuff like that, I wouldn't tell you if I did.
DeSMOND
No offense. I just can't imagine carrying around a briefcase stuffed full of hundred dollar bills in a foreign country to make a payoff. I mean, who would do that?
UnoCO
Barrere!
FRANÇOIS
I spoke with Minister Grove this afternoon, after you left my office.
UNOCO
Yes. And?
FRANÇOIS
And he is not pleased. He feels that Cant is disrespectful of our traditions of our country.
UnOCO
I see.
FRANÇOIS
But he has decided, reluctantly, to sign the agreement with your company tomorrow.
UnOCO
Thank you. We mean no disrespect. Our hands are tied.
FRANÇOIS
I explained that to him. I stuck my neck out in defense of you. The project would suffer if we had to replace your company at this late in the juncture.
UnoCO
I can appreciate that. But we've been clear in our position all along.
FRANÇOIS
You know, there were no competitive bids.
UnoCO
I’d rather not know. Competitive bids are a pre-requisite for IIEDA funds, are they not?
FRANÇOIS
We have a way of handling exceptions with IIEDA. We chose your organization because of your reputation - your history of willingness to show generosity.
UnOCO
Well, the operative word there is history. That is in the past.
FRANÇOIS
So, you are no longer generous.
UNOCO
I wouldn't say that. We help if we can.
FRANÇOIS
Good. My country needs to find a way to train workers to take advantage of the opportunities that this project will afford.
UnoCO
Perhaps, we can assist you with that, you should talk with Desmond.
BARRERE
Where is Desmond? I thought he might join us for this celebration.
unoco
He'll be at the ceremony tomorrow. Right now, he’s picking up our head engineer, Mano Paulo, at the airport.
FRANÇOIS
Paulo?
UnoCO
Mano Paulo. He grew up here and is excited about coming back home. He’s worked all over the world for us. There isn't much he hasn't seen. He is an excellent construction engineer.
GROVE
Paulo? Are you sure it’s Paulo?
FRANÇOIS
Yes, Paulo. As in Martine Paulo, your predecessor, your rival.
GROVE
I can't believe this is happening. Are they doing this on purpose?
FRANÇOIS
To frustrate us? No. It seems to me they think it’s beneficial to us that they have a local engineer on the project.
GROVE
Well this complicates things, doesn't it? I mean it gets harder and harder to steal.
FRANÇOIS
I don't know. It all depends.
Grove
Well, let's not wait to find out. Have CANT get rid of him.
Grove
Please. Please. Thank you.
Unoco
Mr. Minister, I'd like you to meet the chief civil engineer of your project, Mano Paulo.
GROVE
You know I had heard you had brought an Ethicanian in to work with you on this project.
Paulo. Are you related to Martine Paulo?
Mano
Yes. He's my uncle, my father's brother.
GROVE
Welcome, home. How do you find your country, Mano?
MaNO
Well, I just flew in last night, Mr. Minister. But many things have changed and many things have stayed the same.
FRANÇOIS
Mr. Minister. It’s time to start.
Grove
Ladies and gentlemen. This is a historic day in the history of a free Ethicana. The beginning of a new and prosperous era. And right here in Port Hope a new, 6 million dollar modern technical college to be built by Cant Construction…...
MANO
What technical college?
Grove
…..through the generosity and vision….
DESMOND
What technical college?
Grove
…. of the Institution for International Economic Development Assistance....
SUPER TITLE OVER SCENE:
ETHICANA: PART TWO
CORRUPTION ON THE JOB
desmond
So, you got any nasty snakes out here?
MaNO
Oh yea. There are little poisonous vipers that will kill you quick, but the most dangerous snakes are the government bureaucrats in Port Hope. They’re like boa constrictors – they squeeze the life out of you.
The road will need to go another ten kilometers up there to get to where Behemoth wants to mine. These central mountains divide the country into two parts.
Desmond
You know, there’s a phrase that I'm not sure I quite understand... 'On the other side.' I mean, sometimes, I think it refers to the people on the other side of those mountains and sometimes it seems to refer to the opposition.
Mano
Come on, I'll show you
Desmond
Uh…so, where’d you get that hat?
Mano
I found it at my uncle’s house.
Desmond
I don’t know if that’s going to meet our modern specs.
My oh my, look at that. That is pretty. Kind of reminds me of home.
Mano
Which is where….Texas? You can't see it from here, but on the other side of that ridge, down that river is Henrytown, where I grew up. But for the last 15 years, while Grove's coalition has been in office, the other side has been completely ignored.
DeSMOND
So the money for our project isn't going to help the other side at all.
ManO
Well, we may have some say in that.
SUPER TITLE OVER SCENE:
Institute For International Economic Development Assistance - IIEDA - Luxembourg
Maddie
Got a few minutes?
VictoriA
Not really. What is it?
MADDIE
The Ethicana project.
VictoriA
Which one?
MADDIE
The initiative to improve governmental transparency... there are irregularities in their reporting and loopholes they're refusing to close.
VicTOria
What are you telling me?
MADDIE
There is money being siphoned off into private hands of government officials, I think.
VICTORIA
You think?
MadDIE
The audit suggests.
Victoria
What do you recommend we do?
MADDIE
I think we should call for an investigation and nip it in the bud.
ViCTORIA
There is an infrastructure project too?
MADDIE
Yes. Roads and water. And a technical college. We just released the first installment on it.
ViCTORia
So, we start an investigation that stops the infrastructure project dead in its tracks. Right?
MadDIE
Right.
VicTORIA
And all the people who may benefit from the mining jobs, and the road, and the clean water, and the technical college will lose out?
MadDIE
So we should just look the other way?
ViCTORia
You know it’s inevitable that money, even lots of money, can be lost.
MADDIE
But it’s not being lost, it’s being stolen by someone from a grant intended to make their government more honest. Can we really let them get away with that?
DeSMOND
This is outrageous. I won't remove Mano without cause.
FRANÇOIS
Then we need to find cause.
DESMOND
You and Grove...
FRANÇOIS
The minister to you.
DesMOND
Fine. You and the minister are playing political games with this project.
FRANÇOIS
I find that offensive. We are stewards of the public welfare. And remember it was Minister Grove who chose Cant, and it is Minister Grove who relieved you of your appreciation obligation.
DeSMOND
The technical college. Isn't that an appropriate appreciation?
FRANÇOIS
The technical college is a small gift from CANT to the Ethicana people.
DeSMOND
And since it is a gift, we have decided to build it in Henrytown.
FRANÇOIS
That is unacceptable.
DeSMOND
Too bad. If you want the technical college built, it’s going in Henrytown.
FRANÇOIS
We want Mano off the project.
DeSMOND
It’s not happening.
FRANÇOIS
This is Ethicana, Desmond. I can turn every step of your project into a quagmire.
DeSMOND
Like you haven’t already. I'm putting you on notice if you try anything unprofessional I will file a formal protest with IIEDA.
FRANÇOIS
And that would delay the project and worst case, cancel it. I'm sure that would make your management, and Behemoth's lawyers, very unhappy. All we’re asking is that you send Mano away.
DeSMOND
It’s not happening.
ManO
What did François want?
DESMOND
They want you off the job and out of the country.
Mano
Why? What did I do?
DesMOND
I guess you were born to the wrong parents on the wrong side.
MANO
What did you tell them?
DesMOND
I told them in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't remove you. And you should have seen his face when I told him we’re going to put the college on the other side.
ManO
Does Unoco know?
DeSMOND
Not yet. I mean, he knows we're going to build the college, he just doesn't know where yet. I don't want to complicate the matter by involving the home office until I have a better idea of how we’re gonna do it. That’s what we’re gonna figure out now.
ManO
Sounds like a plan
DesMOND
All right.
Lenny
The customs manager says that he doesn't have the manpower to release the equipment for at least two weeks.
RebECCA
It is right there, all loaded ready to go.
Lenny
All the man wants is a little money. That’s how he feeds his family. I mean, the government pays him almost nothing, and that’s never on time.
RebECCA
Don't suppose you can get me a receipt?
Why do they call it Port Hope? Maybe Port Despair…but Port Hope?
Lenny
If hope was money, the Ethicanians would be the richest people on earth cause all they got’s hope. The government officials take for themselves and the people get nothing. You will see. There is thievery and graft everywhere, and they are proud of it.
an official looking sign reads:
One Way
Lenny
Please, Miss Rebecca. Miss Rebecca, let me handle this.
RebECCA
We need to go up that road.
Lenny
I know.
RebECCA
I came through here two days ago and there was no one way sign. No soldiers.
Lenny
That may be, Miss Rebecca, but things change in Ethicana very quickly.
RebECCA
They might look the other way if we offer them an appreciation.
Lenny
Now you are talking like Ethicanian.
RebECCA
20 bucks per truck. tops! And I want a receipt!
Lenny
I doubt he knows how to write. Okay.
giSELLE
What’s going on with Ethicana?
UnocO
What do you mean?
giSELLE
Have you seen the auditor’s report?
UnoCO
Not yet, but I have a feeling you’re about to show it to me.
GiSELLE
There’s a copy of it in your Inbox. Look, there is some very large variation between the estimated budget and fees and permits to various Ethicana government agencies, and they’ve arbitrarily increased the retainage.
unoCO
Have you talked with Desmond?
gisELLE
Uh hum. He says there’s some friction between us and the Ethicana government, and some of these charges may be punitive. Isn't that what we pay this agent for, to help us avoid this?
UnoCO
Well, he may be our agent in name, but let's not forget where his loyalties lie.
giSELLE
Yeah, well, the numbers are starting to add up. We cannot afford both the technical college and these overages.
MaNO
I want to thank you all for attending and I want to thank my uncle for his hospitality. We have two purposes today. First, if you want to do business with Cant here in Ethicana, you MUST sign an integrity agreement. You are committing to fair business practices -- no bribery, no extortion, certification of construction materials and equipment to our specifications and so on.
Rodrigo
Mano, I must ask, will there be open competition for contracts of other jobs? Or will you cut out businesses in Port Hope, like mine, in favor of those in Henrytown?
MaNO
I can appreciate your skepticism, Rodrigo, but we have to change the way we do business here. Be assured, both sides will have an equal chance to participate.
Khan
Behemoth have no such integrity agreement.
ManO
I can't answer for them. They’re investing their own money into their projects. We, on the other hand, Khan, are operating with IIEDA funds and are being held to a different standard.
Rodrigo
What is your other purpose for tonight?
Mano
As you all have heard, the Ministry of Interior has included a college in the project that wasn’t budgeted. CANT has agreed to build the school and to pay the first half - 3 million dollars of the estimated 6 million needed.
Rodrigo
And where will this school be built?
martinE
I have land on the old ridge road that I am willing to sell at market price - much below what Grove is selling his for. So the college will be built on this side.
Rodrigo
What does Grove have to say about that?
Mano
This is our gift to the Ethicanian people. We don't care what Grove has to say.
Khan
So why are we here?
ManO
What I need from you, gentlemen, and your suppliers, are donations: money, materials, and expertise to make this college a reality. I have asked my uncle to head up the fund raising. It’s not just you we’re reaching out to... we plan to solicit funds from every industry and technical business on both sides.
MarTINE
What Mano and I are asking for is your generosity - a small percentage of your overall profits – so that we can raise the 3 million dollars we need.
Barrere
I’ve received reports from Unoco that construction is being held up by logistical and bureaucratic issues with CANT.
Grove
Well, CANT was unwilling to provide us with an appropriate up front appreciation, so we’ve had to extract what we can where we can.
Barrere
Seems counterproductive.
Grove
For whom? Not me. I’m getting my money.
Barrere
But we have a more profitable deal with the mining and the electricity.
Grove
The ore and the power companies will be here long after CANT is gone.
Barrere
What can I do, Grisman, to motivate you to speed up the project?
Grove
Oh, that’s simple. Buy me a jet.
UnoCO
Ethicana?
GisELLE
Yep.
UnoCO
What now?
GisELLE
I just got a call from an auditor over at IIEDA. It seems they suspect some diversion of funds on the Ethicana project and they want to see our records and talk with our people.
unoco
I don't think we can, should, or would want to stop them.
GisELLE
Does Desmond know about this?
UnoCO
Yeah and I think he has a very good idea of where the money is going.
GiSELLE
It's not us, is it?
UNOCO
No, it's Grove, the Interior Minister.
GisELLE
Concerns?
UnocO
Well, first, we aren't completely clean. There’s some questionable permit processing fees, some import grease payments, and some minor payoffs for tolls and tickets to keep things moving.
GiSELLE
I thought Mano was gonna help us navigate those waters.
UnOCO
When corruption is that endemic... there’s only so much he can do. Despite our best efforts, an investigation may taint us.
GiSELLE
Then why should we help?
UnOCO
First, because it’s the right thing to do. And, it might even actually help catch the crooks.
GiSELLE
That’d be a good thing.
UnOCO
Especially since we might be able to recoup some of the money we’ll be spending for this technical college.
ViCTORIA
Well, then very good, Andres, I'll meet you there. The staff is getting the beach house ready for us.
Victoria
Well, very good, Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for the update. You’ll have my group’s slides this afternoon. I'll see when you get back from London. Goodbye. You wanted to see me?
MADDIE
I think you should see this.
VICTORIA
Yes?
MADDIE
I had the auditing department run a review of the Ethicana projects.
ViCTORIA
Hmm. What did you find?
MADDIE
Just in our funds, we estimate that 2 million dollars from the good governance program and another 3 million dollars from the infrastructure project have been lost.
VICTORIA
Could it be mismanagement?
MADDIE
I don't think so. The government also unilaterally upped the withholding toward the retainage on the project.
ViCTORIA
What do you suggest we do?
MADDIE
Withhold any further payments until they reconcile the accounts and revise the retainage.
VICTORIA
That would penalize the Ethicanians who could actually benefit from these projects, and Cant who is fully committed to the work.
MADDIE
Money is being embezzled. CANT is being set-up to take a back-end loss.
VICTORIA
Those are serious charges. How do you know?
MADDIE
We know where some of the money is going...
Martine (off tape recorder)
What Mano and I are asking for is your generosity - a small percentage of your overall profits – so we can raise the 3 million dollars that we need.
GroVE
So did you write him a check?
Rodrigo
Of course I wrote him a check. He offered me a 4 million dollar contract to provide aggregate and asphalt.
FRANÇOIS
For how much?
Rodrigo
For 50,000 dollars. For another 50,000 dollars, he said that they would name the soccer field after my company.
Grove
Don't pay them another cent! And, since you have so much money to throw around, François, see that he pays us 50,000, too. Now get out!
Rodrigo
I'm on your side. I risked my company to get you that recording.
Grove
Get out before I have you arrested for complicity with bribery.
MaNO
What? What is it?
RebECCA
Well, we are having some problems with...
Lenny
...with local suppliers.
MaNO
Like?
Lenny
Well, Khan's equipment is not what we specified. Those pieces are, are in poor repair.
ManO
What do you suggest?
Lenny
We go down to Port Hope and we get the equipment we need to get the job done. Henrytown just doesn't have what it takes.
Mano
We have a contract with Khan.
RebECCA
I know. And I know he is your cousin.
MarTINE
Virtually everybody in Henrytown is a cousin.
MANO
That should have nothing to do with this.
Lenny
Well, good because he is not living up to the agreement. I say we ship down the mountain his junk and bring up Port Hope’s contractors. If not, we'll never make the schedule.
Mano
What else?
Rebecca
Same story, but with Rodrigo. It was good from the start, but his aggregate, his other materials, aren't even close to meeting specs. He keeps sending it up and I keep sending it down.
Mano
You're sure?
rebECCA
Come on, Mano. You know I wouldn't bring this up if I wasn't sure. If we use this stuff, the dump trucks are going to turn this road into dust in a year or two.
MaNO
Okay, I'll take care of this. You know what’s happening here don't you? They’re cutting corners so they can pay their contributions for the college.
MartINE
I doubt Rodrigo and Khan are the only ones doing it. It may not just be us, maybe Grove is squeezing them for money too.
chairman
All right. I don’t want to get in front of these guys and look like an idiot. OK, we’ll finish this later.
MADDIE
Thank you for taking the time, Mr. Chairman.
chairman
I'm leaving on vacation tonight, so this had better be important.
MADDIE
It is sir. I have identified someone within the IIEDA involved in receiving kickbacks from the recipient of our loans and grants.
chairman
That is a very serious charge. Do you have any proof?
MADDIE
This chart follows the money from the Ministry of the Interior in Ethicana to a real estate fund controlled by the Minister Grove himself. That fund then bought a beach house in the Caribbean for Victoria...
chairman
You're dismissed.
MADDIE
Thank you.
Officer #1
Are you Martine Paulo?
Martine
Yes, I am Martine Paulo.
OffiCER #1
Well then you need to come with us.
Martine
But why?
MaNO
Uncle, what is going on?
OfFICER #1
Who is this man?
MarTINE
He is my nephew, he is my guest.
MANO
I am Mano Paulo. What is this all about?
OfFICER #1
Well then you need to come with us too.
Martine
Why?
OfFICER #1
Because you are both being arrested on charges of bribery, extortion, and embezzlement.
Mano
Where are you taking us?
Officer #1
To jail. In Port Hope.
CHAIRMAN
Don't!
victorIA
What is wrong Andres?
chairman
Victoria, you can submit to me your resignation with an explanation as to how you came to possess that beach house in the Caribbean. You will be quite specific as to who gave you the money. You do this and I’ll request that the lawyers not press charges. Anything less, I will see you go to jail for embezzlement.
Unoco
Hello.
DeSMOND
Unoco, it's Desmond.
UnoCO
What's up?
DeSMOND
Its..it's Mano. He’s been arrested.
UnoCO
What? Why?
DeSMOND
For bribery and extortion.
UnoCO
Oh, that's not right. Not Mano.
DeSMOND
I agree.
UnoCO
Well, do what you have to to get him out of jail. Just reassure him we won't leave him hanging.
A front-page headline reads:
IIEDA Chairman Ousted
The sub-headline reads
Inappropriate Relationship Led to Investigation
A pointillist picture of Grove can be seen above a headline:
Ethicanian Officials Implicated in Bribery
A construction sign, fallen off its stanchions reads:
SITE OF THE FUTURE
Grisman Grove Technical College
PORT HOPE, ETHICANA.