01x03 - Ramadan Sin

[bunniefuu]

I can make three transfers today.

I'll make one under your name

and the other two under
my and my husband's name.

No way your parole officer's
gonna even know there was a bruise.

Trust me,
it's not him I'm worried about.

It's my mum.

You know how we talked about
me moving out?

Later. Later might tell.

Seriously?

I can't stand under the dome
and interfere with faith

when I have none.

You could.

And you will.

The past has a way of resurfacing.

Isa cannot serve you as you need.
I'm your right hand.

I've always been your right hand.

To serve as vice president...

...Mrs Batul Al-Hamedi.

[SHOCKED MURMURS]

Wait, wait.

This is my first Ramadan
as head cleric.

We will model
our Prophet's family

and lead by example.

And what's better
than the holy month of Ramadan

to wash away feelings that we have
towards those who we love the most?

Hmm?

Isa.

Kiss your sister.

Are you serious?
Come on.

Your brother.

Your turn.

Remember -

It's not only food and drink
that break your fast, but also sin.

MAN: Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-llahu.

Ashhadu an la

ilaha illa-llahu.

Asshadu anna Muhammad
al rasulu-llahi.

Asshadu anna Muhammad

al rasulu-llahi.

Asshadu anna Ealyaaan wally-llah.

Asshadu anna Ealyaaan

wally-llah.

Salaam alaykum.

[ALL REPLY]

Allahu akbar.

ALL: Allahu akbar.

[PRAYS IN ARABIC]

[ALL REPEAT PRAYER]

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar.

[ALL PRAY SOFTLY]

Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar.

[ALL PRAY SOFLY]

Inshallah.

When Nadir came home and told me,
I didn't believe him.

I lived to see the day
a woman is in charge.

Who would want to be?

Have you seen the grey hairs
on my father?

[ALL CHUCKLE]
And mine?

Your sister is such an inspiration.

She is.

I'm only here because of my father.

He's the real inspiration.

Sounds like I'm going to be
a yes-woman.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

A wolf is alone in the jungle.

In deep thought.

The wolf looks skyward,

beyond the woods...

...to see an eagle floating above.

The wolf howls.

[HOWLS]
[ALL LAUGH]

To get the eagle's attention.

The eagle flies low
to hover above the wolf.

The wolf shares with the eagle,

"How lucky you are to be able
to fly wherever you want.

"I wish I too
could leave this jungle."

The eagle asks,
"Why can't you leave this jungle?"

The wolf responds,

"I don't know what danger awaits
beyond these woods."

The eagle, sensing the wolf's
feelings trapped in the woods,

says, "Forget about
the jungle around you.

"Can you see
the very next step ahead?"

The wolf was confused.

"Yes, I can."

The eagle responds,

"Well, take the next step then."

Same $3k?

If you don't mind me intruding,

how is it that you're still sending
money when you're not the VP?

When did I give you the impression

that the mosque
was donating to charity?

Isa, I want you to be my customer.

But sending money to the same
account every few weeks...

...from my service.

So?

It may only be $3k,

but patterns
get flagged no matter the amount.

You know the authorities
could start sniffing.

Like I said, it's for charity.

This is unbelievable.

How can our clergy in Iraq
be so silent on this, Sheikh?

Aqil has left a message

with every secretary
of every grand cleric

telling him the Sheikh
has appointed a woman as his VP.

Nothing.

To them,
it seems I am nothing but nothings.

Sheikhna, with all respect,
you are more than nothing.

And besides, it's not like you
to surrender like this, my friend.

Never.

Don't you ever mistake my white
turban for a white flag.

Goal!

Knock or something.

This isn't your office.

Ah.

Alaikum salaam.

Oi, um, dad's been invited by the
Iraqi ambassadors for iftar dinner.

Oh, what night?
Last night of Ramadan.

Night of the eid.

I'll tell him.
Just leave the mail there, please.

Was there something else?

Sorry.

This was meant to be a call
where you pad me up for my meeting.

Good luck, habibti.

Just be yourself.

Mmm.

SAMIR: You are the star
of the sold-out show.

I'm just the cheerleader.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Salaam alaikum.
Alaikum salaam.

Alaikum salaam.

Salaam alaikum.
ALL: Alaikum salaam.

I propose we set an amount
of our catering budget

to send food for homeless shelters
in this holy month.

I'd prefer if the money was sent
to the poor families in Iraq.

But are we not all Allah's creation?

I humbly suggest

we focus on shelters
of homeless women this Ramadan.

Vulnerable women are
the fastest growing demographic

in need in Australia.

Mmm.

Are we all agreed?

Yes.

Yes.
Yes.

Brilliant.

[CHATTER]

Yallah, yallah!

[CHEERING]
Oh!

Still losing, huh?

Nothing's changed.

Well, first of all,
I'm in a dishdashah,

and second of all, um,
We're not keeping score, so...

Yeah, it's definitely
the dishdashah.

How's she going in there?

[SIGHS]

Your sister will make
a heck of a VP, you know.

I know.

Yusuf.
Oh, he's got another one!

[ALL CHEER]

My final agenda item.

Thank you.

Education is our most
precious resource.

What our community needs now
more than ever is a school.

There are other
Shiite schools in Sydney, Sheikhna.

Yes, but they are limited.

Parents have come to me
complaining about long waiting lists.

All this will happen.

The school will have a seminary wing

for those who want to further
their religious education.

It will be the first in the country.

It will also cater to the special
needs of our extraordinary children,

such as your grandson Yusuf.

Sheikh Shaaker?

It's my duty to support
an Islamic school and a seminary.

It's exactly what we need.

Abu Batul,

how can you preach integration,

then build an institution
built on segregation?

Do you want to isolate our children
even further?

My friend,

this school will be unlike
any other school in the country.

How? With a Hawza? A seminary?

Look, we will hire Muslim
and non-Muslim teachers,

males and females,
equal numbers.

Focus on academic results.

Non-Muslims will want
their children to attend.

Integration will be
at its very heart.

It is still a religious school.

But with a modern curriculum.

We will teach the subjects
often frowned upon.

Arts and drama.

Music and dance.

We will celebrate our Iraqi
heritage with pride.

Are you building a school, Sheikhna,
or a nightclub?

Music has been part of our culture
for centuries.

Some scholars argue that music,
when done tastefully...

I am not one of those scholars.

This is all wrong.

You are teaching sinful acts

outside of what we represent
for our children.

Batul, you are quiet.

Not that we don't know already
where your vote will go.

The reality is, Sheikhna,

the majority of Allamah forbid
the use of musical instruments.

Music and dance were intended
just as phrases, weren't they?

Like shorthand for Iraqi culture?

I think it's time to vote now.

Samir.

Yes, but only to the vision
you have proposed.

Sheikha Shaaker?

No. I cannot.

Well, it is settled then.

You will see my friends,
this school will be a great pride,

a lasting legacy of this committee.

But your daughter
hasn't formally said yes.

Yeah.

I cannot vote for a school
that teaches music and dance.

And even the
Islamic schools that do...

...their principals are not
head clerics at a mosque.

Aboya.

I'll walk.

Dad.
I said I will walk.

The sheikh has gone home.

Well...

How did it feel?

The power.

Amu, it's late.

The school, his school.

This is for your mother.

At university, they talked of

keeping culture and song and dance
alive through a school.

That's why he can't
give it up.

He promised her.

That's what your little tantrum
took from him.

Sheikh Mohammad is cunning.

Mmm, so cunning as to
look so stupid, so humiliated.

But why?

Shukran, habibti.

Batul is your friend.

Surely this is a trick
from Sheikh Mohammad.

Why else would he let his daughter
stand up to him like that?

She was raised to speak her mind.

No one tells Batul what to do.

Not even her father.

What are you trying to prove
going against Dad?

Heaven forbid a woman
sticks to what she believes in.

She's got to stick by her family.

Baba raised us
to love Allah first, then family.

Did you forget when we grew up,

you, me, Hind, our friends,
we never belonged.

Hey, don't lump me
in with your generation.

I wasn't screwed up
by September 11 like you guys.

Remember, Batul?

I always had to explain ourselves.

Why we weren't eating during Ramadan,
why youse were in a headscarf,

why we got cut each time someone
mocked our Prophet.

We were stuck.

Half what our religion
wanted us to be

and half what society
thought we were.

I lived it too, Isa.

Yeah, this school could change
all that.

We're all capable of being wrong.

Baba is not the Prophet,
peace be upon him.

And what he proposed...

It isn't what I believe in.

Hey, um, this time last year,
under Seyyed Javad,

the mosque was taking
in a lot more.

Attendance has been up
since Baba's taken over,

so the donations...

Times are tough.
What do you want me to say?

Instead of worrying about
this kind of bullshit,

why don't you do your real job
as Dad's VP and help him?

How is the old sewing machine doing?

It's alright.

I don't know how Mum used to use it.
It's so old.

What's wrong with being old?

Hind...

I'm sorry, I...

It's alright, Dad.

If I really,
really wanted to move out,

no one could stop me.

Cuz, I need you
to do us a solid, yeah?

Yeah, whatever you need.

Ammu. Thank you, Ammu.

Asalaamu.

I'm sending some money to a charity,
but I want to keep it on the DL.

Can you transfer this for me?

But don't use anyone local.

You got to be outside.

Is it a one off
or is there going to be more?

Might be more.

[PHONE BUZZES]

I've got to take this, yeah?

Seyyed?

Isa.

Sheikhna, my daughter is 14.

She loves her religion,
but she has health problems.

Low iron, low blood sugar.

She wants to fast,

but doctors say she needs
to eat through the whole day

or she'll get unwell.

Hmm.

Tell that to your daughter.

She wants to be like her friends.

They're all fasting.

I see.

Would you like me to talk to her?

Yes.
OK, I will.

Allah Almighty has chosen
the right vessel to lead us.

Thank you, Sheikhna.
Thank you.

You've done so much already, Baba.

Starting to redefine the roles
of a woman.

Your plans for the school.

All of it.

Except the music and dance.

It's forbidden.

You are the cleric now, hmm?

You raised me to think.

Perhaps I did too good a job,
or not good enough.

I'm not sure.

I thought we shared a vision.

I'm not saying no to your dream.

We can spread our incredible culture
through Islamic art.

Visual arts, even drama classes.

A school must look
to its students' life.

Isolationism never turns out well.

If the school is to nurture
the new generation of female VPs,

it must be inclusive,
and you know that.

Anything else?

Yes, it's about Isa.

MAN: And up.

Nice, nice. Go down.

Upper form, to your chest.

To the chest.
Push, push, push.

Alright, you got one more.
You got one more.

Let's go.
Push it out.

Push it out.
Down to your chest.

All the way down.
All the way down.

Push, push, push.

Nice.

You good?

Yeah, cuz.
It's just 100 pounds.

Isa, it's pretty stupid
doing this on an empty stomach.

Plus, I don't know about you getting
a pump with those spaghetti arms.

Yeah, well, Chef Shaaker's
invited us for iftar dinner tonight.

I want him to know he's dealing
with a son of a beast.

Yeah, sure.
It's got nothing to do with Jamila.

Cuz, it's f*cking over.
Just let it go.

Yeah, but we got a history.
It doesn't go away.

Stop talking like a soft c*ck.

Keep your feelings locked up
and throw away the keys.

Idiots, working out
while you're fasting?

That's exactly what I said.

Yes?

Dad wants to speak to you.

I'll be up in a sec.

Oi, I'm not stupid.

Cuz, don't make
this about me, alright?

We're talking about your sh*t.

Now, Jamila's dad
will f*cking stone her to death

and do the same to you.

Tonight is the ambassador's dinner.

Your sister has an idea to discuss.

I think you should meet
the ambassador.

He's old-school.

A female VP will cost
Baba too much trouble.

Sheikh Shaaker's...
What?

Of course.

I'd be honoured to be your VP
at the ambassador's.

I'm not going with you.

I'll be at Sheikh Shaaker's
with Batul.

I don't understand.

I asked Sheikh Shaaker to attend
the dinner as our representative.

You think he'll abandon
his own dinner?

He understands the duties.

And that'll make him
vote for your school.

No.

Abu Zuhayr or Abu Hany will talk to
the sheikh on my behalf.

It's your iftar dinner.

Your presence is very important.
Their word is my word.

Can't you see? It's a win-win.

I get to meet the ambassador

and he can raise our issues
to the clergy directly in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammad
will be here answering to us,

exactly where we want him.

Uncle Samir?

Hello?

Yeah?
All good.

Uh, so, did you ask your dad again?

He wants me to stay at home.

I've done enough at home.

Oh, well, at least he's not
hassling you to get married.

Hey, what's wrong
with being married?

Cause then they'll start
hassling you to have kids.

Ugh, thank God
it hasn't come to that.

Uh, and what's
wrong with having kids?

Uh, khalas. We are here to celebrate
Hind getting into design school.

I can't believe the first time

I have the privilege
of being at your house

since the Tribal Council
won't be in your presence.

Well, I will leave you
in the very capable hands

and company of Abu Zuhayr
or Abu Hany.

[SPEAKS ARABIC]

Yusuf, buddy boy,
look what I got you.

Um, Zane the Zebra plays soccer
just like you.

Om Yusuf.

Come here and bring the boy.

Thanks.

[SPEAKS ARABIC]

[QURANIC RECITATION PLAYS]

There you go.
Abdel Basit Abdel Samad,

one of the best reciters
in the world, I think.

Hi.

Uh-uh.

I'm the deputy cleric
of The Messenger mosque.

Sheikhna, everyone
has to go through this.

I am not everyone.

Do you really think
I am carrying a b*mb under this?

This is the Prophet's mantle.
Sheikhna...

Thank you, sir.

ALL: Inshallah.

Break your fast.

This is good.
Yeah?

Yeah, you'll like it.

Not too strong?
Nope.

I put a lot of coals on it, so...

Hind knows the way.

Come on, chicks.
Oh, my God.

That's why we're best friends.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Nice? Yeah.
Yeah, it's good.

[PHONE BUZZES]

[CHATTER]

Where are you going?
What do you mean?

Where are you going?

Well, you'll see.

[LAUGHTER]
Someone's at the door.

Thank you, thank you.

I can help you set these up

because they're a little bit
tricky and sometimes...

Nah, I'm good.

All good.

No invite?

[LAUGHS]

Are you kidding?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Gonna have a good time.

[MOUTHS] Thank you.

[GROANS] What waste.

You invite a hundred guests
and you cook for a thousand.

Ramadan is a month
to think of the needy.

The ambassador loved hearing
your stories, but. Everyone did.

You surviving an ambush by
the Baathis?

What a story.

Oh, Isa, did not the Prophet,
peace be upon him, say,

when you hear those who flatter
others, throw sand in their faces?

Even I can
tell the truth occasionally.

Well, you also had them charmed.

I don't know
what the sheikh was thinking,

appointing your sister to such a role
instead of you.

Sheikh...

If Batul was to step aside
from being VP,

would you consider
voting for the school?

It's a hypothetical, of course.

Hypothetically then, I might.

Yes.
Isa.

We're all brothers here.

f*ck.

Oh, f*ck!

Oh, f*ck!

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYS]
[ALL CHEER]

♪ Don't worry, all OK

♪ Don't worry, all OK

ALL: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

[SPEAKS IN ARABIC]

So good.
Love your hair, by the way.

I know, thanks.
I got it done.

Yeah. [LAUGHS]
It's hot in here, isn't it?

What song should we play next?
[DUDUK MUSIC PLAYS]

Hind, this is like
my grandma's music.

It was my mum's favourite.

She'd dance to it in the kitchen.

She used to dance all the time.

[PHONE BUZZES]

[REPEATS ARABIC PHRASE]

Throw away the keys, cuz.

The whole family was invited,
the whole family should eat.

You shouldn't have.
Thank you.

Thank you for getting
Yusuf that book.

Of course.

I hope my dad didn't give you
too much trouble tonight.

Not at all.

We're actually catching
a movie next week.

[DUDUK MUSIC PLAYS]

Are you in trouble?

I know small businesses
are difficult.

The money was for charity,
and that's the truth.

You must have known
this was going to come.

I thought you were my friend.

She's the best one in her family.

Not that anyone of them would ever
think you are good enough for her.

Allah's message is clear.

Once married,
we are to build a family.

Perhaps I am to serve another way.