House of Gods (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

SHEIKH MOHAMMAD: Allahu akbar.
MEN: Allahu akbar.
SHEIKH MOHAMMAD: Allahu akbar.
MEN: Allahu akbar.
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(GENTLE MUSIC)
Allahu akbar.
Allahu
akbar.
Allahu akbar.
Allahu
akbar.
SHEIKH MOHAMMAD: Allahu akbar.
MEN: Allahu akbar.
(CONTINUES IN ARABIC)
(MEN SING IN ARABIC)
He is not lost.
He's waiting for me.
With Allah.
And I pray every day
I join him soon.
(WAILS)
(MEN CONTINUE CHANTING)
- (MAN SINGS IN ARABIC)
- (SHEIKH SHAAKER GROANS)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(REPEATS IN ARABIC)
(SHEIKH SHAAKER SPEAKS ARABIC)
(CONTINUES IN ARABIC)
(SHEIKH SHAAKER SIGHS)
(THUMPS TABLE) Isa!
(MAN SIGHS)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
- Huh?
- SHEIKH SHAAKER: Huh?
(METAL SCRAPES)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
30,000.
This much money does not come
from washing trucks.
(WESTERN POP MUSIC
LEAKS THROUGH HEADPHONES)
How did it go
with the architect?
It's ready.
Mmm. 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 would never wake up.
No need to explain yourself
to me.
We all answer to the Almighty.
(WATER BUBBLES)
He paid for the funeral.
How'd 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.
ABU HANY: 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.
(WATER BUBBLES)
The ledger.
We need to get a look at it.
The proof will be in there.
(TENSE MUSIC)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
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
a school budget
without Brother Samir
being present.
(DOOR SQUEAKS)
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.
(ABU ZUHAYR SPEAKS ARABIC)
So I'll need to look at
the mosque accounts ledger.
I-I'll make a list of names.
SAMIR: Sorry. I'm late.
My watch is set on Arab time!
(CHUCKLES)
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, the school.
Your school, the grand school.
Is that where you didn't put
your dance studio, Hammad?
Let's go out.
What?
You don't want my vote now?
(SHEIKH MOHAMMAD SIGHS)
Samir, you are drunk!
Go.
(MEN SPEAK ARABIC)
Samir.
Samir.
Hmm?
(PLAINTIVE MUSIC)
ISA: Salam alaykum.
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(ISA SPEAKS ARABIC)
HIND: We just talked.
Was it love? Is that
why I feel like this?
Or was it just 'cause
he wasn't supposed to die yet
and I'm just being triggered
and indulgent and all that shit?
Oh
- You think I'm crazy.
- No! I
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?
We can't date, so
Hind. (CHUCKLES)
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.
Bro, I'm not four.
I just
I don't know.
Was it love?
I mean, figuring out love
Ya Rabbi. (CHUCKLES)
Everyone struggles with it.
Mmm?
Even those who date every night
and mingle with men.
We're we're all uncertain.
Love is precious.
And terrifying.
You will find love one day.
You will find true love.
I know it.
(HIND SOBS)
(SIGHS)
You've been doing that
for hours.
What are you looking for?
So there he is.
Did you make me proud?
(SIGHS)
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 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?
Why do you always
want to defend him?
SHEIKH SHAAKER: Enough!
(DANCE MUSIC PUMPS)
We've got a problem.
Jasmin Al-Hilou's out.
Why?
I don't know.
Heart trouble or some shit.
And you're only
telling me this now?
Jesus, it's fine. I'll find us a
mule to take the money back, OK?
(MUSIC STOPS)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
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 wired at the Ambassador's?
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 shit?
You started a circus
at our family's expense
and I stood by you.
But don't you dare
joke about my marriage.
(CHOPS FOOD SLOWLY)
(MEN CHATTER AND LAUGH)
Salam alaykum.
Alaykum as-salam.
(MEN CHATTER INDISTINCTLY)
Hanooda.
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.
Aamu, 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.
HIND: 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?
(SIGHS)
I want you to marry Yasmine.
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(BILAL SPEAKS ARABIC)
(BATUL SPEAKS ARABIC)
(BILAL SPEAKS ARABIC)
(BATUL SPEAKS ARABIC)
(SNIFFLES)
(BILAL SPEAKS ARABIC)
(BILAL SPEAKS ARABIC)
(MEN SHOUT INDISTINCTLY)
BATUL: 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.
H-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.
(MUTTERS) Fuck.
You stole Allah's money
and you expect me to believe
you give a damn about us?
- Coach Jabbar. Salam alaykum.
- Wa-alaykum as-salam.
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.
(DARK MUSIC)
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Yusuf, habibi
Can you go see if
the mailman has come?
Daddy's expecting something.
Go with Mama. Thank you.
JAMILA: Come, habibi.
Sheikh Shaaker.
The charity's name
is Baytul Mahaba.
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 Tahera Al-Samawi.
Guess who her son-in-law is.
How else could the sheikh
have won the election
after kissing that woman?
(SIGHS)
The sheikh bought the election?
Sheikh Mohammad?
Isa bought his father
the election
with the mosque's money.
(MURMURS IN ARABIC)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(SIGHS)
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
Jasmin Al-Hilou.
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.
(STIRRING MUSIC)
(ENGINE IDLES)
SHEIKH MOHAMMAD: He has
evidence of the bribes.
BATUL: 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.
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.
(MACHINERY WHIRRS)
ISA: Salam alaykum.
Alaykum as-salam.
Sit down.
(SIGHS)
Put your hand on Allah's book.
Ask me a question, Dad.
I can't put my hand
on the Koran. I'm
I'm not clean.
But it doesn't mean
I won't be honest with you.
I promise. On Mum's soul.
Are you paying Seyyed Modhaffar
to keep me in power?
(SIGHS)
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 but I 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 wanna
hear a lecture about
how we always have
another choice
or how everything's connected
to nature or pages of history.
Because you know what, Dad?
We live in a real world.
And if you're gonna lay bricks
for your dream home,
your hands are gonna get dirty.
Let me tell you
something else, Dad.
If I had my time
all over again
..I'd do the exact same thing.
(THUMPS TABLE)
Allah
..curse the day
I called you my son!
BATUL: 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 fuckin' over, Batul.
It's fuckin' over.
Can what we've done
ever be over?
(SOMBRE MUSIC)
(PHONE BUZZES)
ISA: Jamila?
I need to see you.
Please, can you try?
OK. Yeah, I'll try.
(DISCONNECTION TONE BEEPS)
(SIGHS)
(OM JAMILA SINGS IN ARABIC)
Mum?
What did he say?
Mum?
MAN: As-salamu alaykum,
Sheikh Mohammad.
Alaykum as-salam,
Seyyed Modhaffar.
SEYYED MODHAFFAR: Mm-hm.
(DISCONNECTION TONE DRONES)
(TENDER MUSIC)
(KEYS JANGLE)
You bastard.
- You bastard!
- Stop!
You didn't have the guts
to tell me to my face?
You fucking destroyed Dad!
You should be in jail right now.
Hind
We lost Mum and now
..this is who you are.
This family's fucked.
Hind, you don't understand.
Hind!
(MURMURS IN ARABIC)
Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar.
Samir?
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(POIGNANT MUSIC)
Samir, ayouni
(SOBS)
Samir.
(CAR STARTS OUTSIDE)
HIND: 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.
Pff, I'm an idiot.
I thought it was the Golden
Prince that must have done it.
- But was it you?
- Hind.
Shut the fuck up.
BATUL: We need to talk to Baba.
HIND:
You're an earthquake, Batul.
You have brought nothing
but ruin since you arrived.
My God, like,
you won't wear lipstick
'cause you're too pious.
But tell me, please,
what religion justifies
the fucked-up shit you've done?
Nothing. Yeah, nothing.
That's what I thought.
None of what I've done
was ever for me.
ISA: You blackmailed
Uncle Samir?
(SCOFFS)
No wonder God doesn't
want you to have kids.
(PHONE BUZZES)
Dad.
(ISA SPEAKS ARABIC)
OK.
Yallah.
He wants us to meet him
at the mosque.
(MURMURS IN ARABIC)
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
(TENDER PIANO MUSIC)
(ISA SOBS)
(MEN MURMUR)
(WOMEN MURMUR)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(SIGHS)
(RESPONDS IN ARABIC)
(WORSHIPPERS WHISPER)
(SIGHS)
Brothers and sisters.
Salam alaykum.
WORSHIPPERS:
Wa-alaykum as-salam.
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 clerk,
Sheikh Shaaker,
approached me discreetly
and told me that
a large sum of money
has been taken from our treasury
without approval.
(WORSHIPPERS GASP AND MURMUR)
Of course, this money
has been recovered.
And the person responsible
..was my son, Isa.
- MAN: Isa!
- (MEN GASP AND CHATTER)
WOMAN: Batul! (SPEAKS ARABIC)
(SHEIKH MOHAMMAD
CONTINUES IN ARABIC)
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.
(WORSHIPPERS MURMUR)
He must be banished.
(MEN SHOUT IN ARABIC)
(MEN QUIETEN)
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?
(MEN MURMUR)
Now I'll turn
to start Friday prayers.
If you pray behind me,
that will be a sign
that you still want me
to guide this family.
(MEN MURMUR)
(MEN CHATTER EXCITEDLY)
(WOMEN CHATTER INDISTINCTLY)
(SPEAKS ARABIC)
(SOLEMN MUSIC)
SHEIKH MOHAMMAD: Allahu akbar.
(CONTINUES PRAYER IN ARABIC)
Allahu akbar.
(MOUTHS SILENTLY)
Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar.
WORSHIPPERS: Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar.
Allahu akbar.
(POWERFUL MUSIC)
(MURMURS IN ARABIC)
(DOOR OPENS)
SHEIKH SHAAKER: This stunt may
have cleared your conscience,
but your position is
one of fraud and deceit.
SHEIKH MOHAMMAD:
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 is 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're 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.
(LAUGHS)
You were right.
Blood or not,
like father, like son.
(TENDER PIANO MUSIC)
(MEN SHOUT IN ARABIC)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(CAR DRIVES AWAY)
(GENTLE PIANO MUSIC)
(HEARTFELT MUSIC)