01x06 - When God Speaks

[bunniefuu]

The militia came into my apartment
today in Baghdad.

ISA: The apartment's collateral.

Seyyed Modhaffar.
The man with the votes?

BATUL: You have taken Allah's money.
Dad was going to throw it all away.

You want me to keep quiet?

You sell your truck wash.

There's no negotiation.

We believe it's in
the patient's best interest

to remove life support.

Our religion forbids it.

What right do I have to prolong
the pain of Om Nadir?

You put yourself
above the Almighty Creator.

Thanks for being here.

SHEIKH: Allahu akbar.

GROUP: Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullah.

La ilaha illallah...

He's not lost.

He's waiting for me with Allah.

And I pray every day...

..I join him soon.

(CRIES)

La ilaha illallah,

la ilaha illallah...

(MUSIC PLAYS)

Isa.

Huh?
Huh?

30,000.

This much money
does not come from washing trucks.

(MUSIC PLAYS ON HEADPHONES)

How did it go with the architect?

It's ready.

Our community needs a new point
to focus on.

The decision that I made for the
sake of Om Nadir was not popular,

but the doctors told me
he will never wake up.

No need to explain yourself to me.

We all answer to the Almighty.

He paid for the funeral.

How did he get all this money now?

I know his margins.

Some months he can barely make
payroll for his workers.

Zuhayr's nephew works there.

How can he afford to send
so much money to Iraq every month?

Why are we avoiding saying
the obvious, hmm?

Isa is stealing from the mosque.

Sheikhna, with respect,
why are you waiting, hmm?

You need to go and talk to
Sheikh Mohammad now.

Without proof, he will deny it
to protect his son.

The ledger.

We need to get a look at it.

The proof will be in there.

Of course, this is only a model.

But it will give our community
a sense of our committee's ambition.

I don't think you can discuss
the school budget

without Brother Samir
being present.

While we wait, Sheikhna,
as you are all aware,

Om Nadir is without a breadwinner.

So I propose a fundraiser on behalf
of the Messenger mosque.

I would like to approach
community members

whose businesses have done well.

So I'll need to look at
the mosque accounts ledger.

I...I'll make a list of names.

Sorry I'm late.

My watch is set on Arab time.
(LAUGHS) Sorry.

I promised Om Nadir that I would
oversee this effort myself.

But we just finished Hajj season
and I'm logging in the last entries.

Sheikhna, surely this is not
too much to ask, is it?

Just give him the books, Batul.

Sheikh Shaaker's on the committee.

Oh, a school.

Your school's a grand school.

Is that where you didn't
put your dance studio, Mohammad?

Let's go out.
What?

You don't want my vote now?

Samir, you are drunk!

Go.

Samir.

Samir.

Salaam alaikum.

We just talked.

Was it love?
Is that why I feel like this?

Or was it just because
he wasn't supposed to die yet?

And I'm just being triggered
and indulgent and all that sh*t.

(SIGHS)

You think I'm crazy?
No.

I think you lost someone
you were considering a future with.

But was I, or was he just a nice guy
that happened to be my only option?

But we can't date, so...

Hind, you were excited
to see him, right?

Yeah.

He made you laugh.

Yes.

And he was kind to you,
and you wanted to be kind to him.

Bat, I'm not four.

I just...

I don't know.

Was it love?

I mean, figuring out love?

Ya rabbi. (LAUGHS)

Everyone struggles with it.

Hmm?

Even those who date every night
and mingle with men.

We're all uncertain.

Love is precious.

And terrifying.

You will find love one day.

You will find true love,
I know it.

You've been doing that for hours.

What are you looking for?

So, there he is.

Did you make me proud?

Sheikhna...

..I've combed every page.

The orphan's fingerprints
are not here.

All income received is consistent
with The Messenger's expenditure.

If the musician had told us
who Isa was sending the money to...

You said you would find me proof.

Is this about Isa's charity?

He... Well, you saw him.
We saw him at Om Marwan's.

He said he was sending money
to Iraq, to an orphanage.

That wasn't me.

Well... It's true.

Why are you so quick
to accuse him now?

No, why do you always
want to defend him?

Enough!

We got a problem.

Jasim Al-Hilou is out.

Why?

I don't know,
heart trouble or some sh*t.

And you're only telling me this now?
Jesus, it's fine.

I'll find us some mule
to take the money back, OK?

Sheikh Shaaker took the ledger.

He's probably going through it now.

You think each time I collected alms

I jotted down "$5,000 was taken
to pay for Dad's election"?

What about the $12,000
that you waved at the ambassadors?

What about it?!

I logged it as payment
for an orphanage in Iraq.

Don't worry. The books are
cleaner than your conscience.

My conscience, huh?

What about you and Jamila?
Everyone can see.

Why are you doing this?

Haven't you hurt her enough already?
Just piss off, Batul.

Don't you have to go find your
husband a second wife or some sh*t?

You started a circus
at our family's expense,

and I stood by you.

But don't you dare
joke about my marriage.

Salaam alaikum.

ALL: Alaikum salaam.

Om Nadir.

I'm so happy to see you
back at work.

Is your uncle out back?

My God.

He hasn't been answering my calls.

What's going on, Dad?

I wish I knew.

Tell your uncle to come and see me.

Ammu, you think you're the only
person ever to disappoint my dad?

Just apologise. He knows
you didn't mean to hurt him.

What if I did? Hmm?

I knew I was too drunk to go there.

Unfortunately, your father
has become collateral damage.

I speak Arabic and English.
I don't understand cryptic.

I never wanted
to be on his committee.

But you agreed.

They were not my lips
that said yes to him.

What do you mean by that?
Whose lips?

Did someone force you?

Who? Isa?

I want you to marry Yasmine.

Isa.

Your conscience can rest easy.
I've sold the truck wash.

I'll deposit the first 50k
into The Messenger's account

as soon as the money clears.

I found us a courier.

How? Who?
Bilal.

You told your husband?
Of course.

He's agreed to come to Australia
every two months

and I will visit Iraq
every other month.

He's the only person I trust.

What if he gets busted?
He'll go to jail.

WE get busted. I'm doing it too.

f*ck.

You stole Allah's money,

and you expect me to believe
you give a damn about us?

Coach Jabbar, salaam alaikum.
Wa alaikum salaam.

Compliments of my father.

Compliments of The Messenger mosque.

Thank you.

I was asked to hand you this.

Uh, it's from Isa.
He's at the truck wash.

Said, "Give my regards to Om Marwan.
She'll know what to do."

It's a lot less
than what he usually sends.

Inflation, sister. Times are hard.

Tell Isa it's good
to have his business back.

Thanks.

Yusuf, habibi...

Can you go see
if the mailman has come?

Daddy's expecting something.
Go with Mama.

Thank you.
Come, habibi.

Sheikh Shaaker.

The charity's name is Baital Marhaba.

Isa made a payment from the
mosque's account to them in Ramadan.

I did some digging on their website.

Their co-founder
is Dr Tahira Al-Samawi.

Guess who her son-in-law is.

How else could the Sheikh
have won the election

after kissing that woman?

The Sheikh bought the election?

Al-Sheikh Mohammad?

Isa bought his father the election

with the mosque's money.

I know all about your deal
with Seyyed Modhaffar.

Excuse me, what deal?

I thought if I came to you like this,

you would at least have the decency
to be honest with me.

But of course,
those who deal with the devil...

Sheikhna, I told you, I don't know
what you are talking about.

So please...

..respect our mantle.

Your son.

Mm-hm?

Your adopted son bought your throne.

What?

He has been sending money
to Seyyed Modhaffar

via the musician Jasim Al-Helou.

Aqil has financial records and photos
that link with this crime.

Proof enough if I made it public.

I do not have intentions
to ruin a man of the cloth

and besmirch his name

all for the wrongful actions
of another.

The betrayal and deceit of a son
is enough to bear.

But you will step down,

quietly and honourably.

The announcement of the handover
will take place after Friday prayers.

And as for that
charlatan son of yours,

he will never set foot
in this mosque ever again.

He has evidence of the bribes.

What evidence?

Financial records.

Did Shaaker show any of it to you?

SHEIKH Shaaker.

Sheikh Shaaker.

He's had it in for you from day one.

Before day one, even.

Do you think he would lie?

A man like Sheikh Shaaker?

Baba.

Baba, you know Isa.

You raised him.

You trust an enemy's word
over your own son?

Isa wouldn't do this, Baba.

I swear.

Wait.

We'll talk to him together.

Salaam alaikum.

Alaikum salaam.

Sit down.

Put your hand on Allah's book.

Ask me a question, Dad.

I can't put my hand on the Quran.
I'm, uh...I'm not clean.

But it doesn't mean
I won't be honest with you.

I promise, on Mum's soul.

Were you paying Seyyed Modhaffar
to keep me in power?

Dad...

..there was no other choice.

You were the right man to lead.

You ARE the right man.

It was not your decision.

How were you paying for it?

How were you paying for it?!

Huh?

Baba, please.

Money...

..money from the donations.

But I...

..I promise you,
every dollar is going back.

I even sold my business.

Allah's money?

You were paying him
from Allah's money?!

Go.

Just go!

You know what, Dad?

I wish for once...

..just for once,
you took off your know-it-all hat

and considered
why I did what I did.

Then maybe, just maybe,

you'd accept that that was
the only choice that I had for you,

for us as a family.

And I don't want to hear a lecture

about how we always have
another choice,

or how everything's
connected to nature

or...or pages of history,
because you know what, Dad?

We live in the real world.

And if you're going to lay bricks
for your dream home,

your hands are going to get dirty.

Let me tell you something else, Dad.

If I had my time all over again...

..I'd do the exact same thing.

Allah...

..curse the day I called you my son!

Isa? Isa.

It was Shaaker.

I didn't say anything.

Baba's been told
if he doesn't step down,

the whole community will know.

And Baba and all of us
will be ruined.

Except you. You're fine.

I lied to his face.

I put my hand on the Quran,
and I lied.

I'm disgusting.

It's over.

It's f*cking over, Batul.

It's f*cking over.

Can what we've done ever be over?

(PHONE BUZZES)

Jamila.

I need to see you.

Please, can you try?

OK. Yeah, I'll try.

(HANGS UP)

(SINGING IN ARABIC)

(SINGS IN ARABIC)

Mum?
(STOPS SINGING)

What did he say?

Mum?

Assalamu alaikum, Sheikh Mohammad.

Alaikum salaam, Seyyed Modhaffar.

Mm-hm.

(HANGS UP)

You b*stard.

b*stard!
Stop!

What, you didn't have the guts
to tell me to my face?!

You f*cking destroyed Dad!

You should be in jail right now!

Hind...

We lost Mum, and now...

..this is who you are.

This family's f*cked.
Hind, you don't understand.

Hind!

(PRAYS SOFTLY)

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Samir.

Samir...

Samir.

Did you know?

About the election?

How can I trust
either of you, wallah?

What did you tell Uncle Samir
to get him to change his mind?

Why are we talking about this now?

He told me that he was forced
to join Dad's committee.

(SCOFFS) I'm an idiot.

I thought it was the golden prince
that must have done it.

But was it you?
Hind...

Shut the f*ck up.

We need to talk to Baba.

You're an earthquake, Batul.

You have brought nothing but ruin
since you arrived.

My God, like, you won't wear lipstick
because you're too pious

but tell me, please,
what religion justifies

the f*cked-up sh*t you've done?

Nothing. Yeah, nothing.
That's what I thought.

None of what I have done
was ever for me.

You blackmailed Uncle Samir?

No wonder God doesn't
want you to have kids.

(PHONE BUZZES)

Dad.

OK.

Yalla.

He want us to meet him
at the mosque.

(READS QUIETLY)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Brothers and sisters.

Salaam alaikum.

ALL: Wa alaikum salaam.

Yesterday I received
some disturbing news.

This news has made me reflect
on the importance of family...

..be they blood or not.

My brother and fellow cleric,
Sheikh Shaaker,

approached me discreetly

and told me
approached me discreetly

and told me
that a large sum of money

has been taken from our treasury
without approval.

(SHOCKED MURMURS)

Of course, this money
has been recovered.

And the person responsible...

..was my son, Isa.

(SHOCKED MURMURS)

God is family.

No favours shall be shown.

And today, I must put the needs
of my bigger family,

you, my community,
ahead of my own...

..and take action.

A sinner who commits such an act...

..has no place in Allah's house.

(MURMURS OF APPROVAL)

He must be banished.

(CALLS OF APPROVAL)

Since my appointment...

..you have always trusted
my judgement,

my vision of education,
equality, harmony.

Many of you might say,

if a sin like this
was happening under my very nose,

what does that say
about my judgement?

That's not for me to answer.

Today I leave it to you to decide.

Should I stay

or step down and hand the mantle
to Sheikh Shaaker?

(MURMURING)

Now I will turn to start
Friday prayers.

If you pray behind me,

that will be a sign
that you still want me

to guide this family.

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

Allahu akbar.

(PRAYS IN ARABIC)

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar.

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

This stunt may have cleared
your conscience,

but your position
is one of fraud and deceit.

Enough with the labels.

If you want to put this to bed,
call Seyyed Modhaffar.

He told me there was
no deal with my son.

He's lying, and you know this.

It is YOU that has done this deal.

I offered you a dignified exit,

but once again you chose to listen
to the devil instead.

You wear the Prophet's mantle,

speak of his teachings
in the house of God.

You are nothing but a disgrace
to the garb and the Prophet.

I should tell you...

..Seyyed Modhaffar agreed to join the
board of our school as its director.

(SCOFFS)

You are right.

Blood or not...

..like father, like son.

(CAR DOOR CLOSES, ENGINE STARTS)