Today I checked out an interesting little comedy called Gas Station, written and directed by Toronto’s Paul Stark.
No surprise, it’s about a gas station. And a driver who gets stuck there. Pulling over in his truck, Trevor starts to clean up the vehicle and fill his empty tank. After finishing the fill, he goes in to pay, only to realize he doesn’t have his wallet on him or anywhere in his truck. (This film was released in 2003 — with pay-at-the-pump so common today, Trevor might never get that far.)
Trevor tries to explain to the cashier, which is hard with a smug woman standing behind him. After he lets her go ahead, he explains his situation the best he can. The cashier comes up with different suggestions for Trevor but not a single one he an use, as Trevor doesn’t have any ID and is unable to call anyone.
Trevor attempts to find something of value inside his truck, but all he finds is baseball equipment, so he comes up with another idea . . . When the cashier notices Trevor getting money from another customer and confronts him, he realizes this is going to be harder than he expects and tries to come up with another solution.
He asks a dad in a mini-van for help, offering to transfer gas through a syphon hose. The man refuses at first but Trevor finds a way they can compromise. Before long though, the cashier confronts Trevor again and tells him to search his vehicle.
Trevor goes through one more time, digging up some hardware and other items, when finally he discovers one piece of baseball equipment he hasn’t noticed all this time: a bat. Of course, the cashier gets the wrong idea and attempts to call police. Trevor explains to the cashier and shows him all the valuable things he has managed to find. Eventually, Trevor resolves everything with the cashier and that’s the last of his issues. For now.
This movie had its moments and it also showed the occasional daily struggle for a gas attendant as well as a customer. I have to admit, after watching this, I’m glad I don’t have a vehicle of my own.
Available on Indieflix.