Smothered (Legenda Kelam Malin Kundang)

"EVEN ROCKS HAVE MEMORIES." MODERN SCIENCE

I'd recommend that you spend another week here.

Some memories are still fuzzy and they might confuse you.

Like what?

Places, faces, names.

This, for example.

It's clearly not from last week's crash.

That's an old scar.

Do you remember what caused it?

Emir.

Come here, son.

Don't you miss your dad?

How are you feeling?

Physically, I'm okay.

But still disoriented, I guess.

But I'm getting better every day.

What do you remember from the crash?

Only a few moments before the impact.

It was dark and quiet.

I drove really fast.

Do I usually do that?

Not when you're with Emir and me.

What else do you remember?

About us.

I remember meeting you for the first time.

I was sketching on the street 18 years ago.

I was starving.

I was 15.

You and your dad passed by.

He bought me food and let me work in his gallery later.

Soon after, I asked you out.

A few years later, I asked you to marry me.

I remember everything about you.

The first thing on my mind after the crash was you and Emir.

You don't seem happy to see me.

Of course I am.

I'll be more careful from now on.

I don't want to be apart from you guys ever again.

Hey, Emir. Don't do that. It's dangerous.

What happened to my car?

It's still at the workshop.

Is the dashcam intact? I want to see the crash footage.

It's there.

But the memory card is damaged.

It got damaged during the crash.

Do things feel strange?

No.

Are you sleeping with Mom or in the guest room tonight?

I can keep you company if you're sleeping alone.

Did I do something wrong?

Did I hurt you?

We…

We've been growing apart for the past few months.

Why?

It must've been my fault.

I do remember always working until late at night.

I'm sorry.

It's okay if you still need space.

I won't ask you to forget our problems just because I did.

Was my mistake so grave that you couldn't forgive me?

I…

I just need a bit more time.

Is that okay?

Of course.

I understand.

Your phone.

ALIF'S SOLO ART EXHIBITION

SCHEDULE ALERT

PICK UP MOM AT AIRPORT 09:00 FLIGHT FROM PADANG

You did tell me that your mom's visiting.

A couple of days before the crash.

You didn't say when, though.

If you need more rest, you can call it off.

Her flight is tomorrow morning anyway.

Has she ever been here before?

Alif.

This will be the first time I'm meeting your mom.

You haven't seen your mom since you left Padang

since you got to Jakarta 18 years ago.

You were 15 then.

I don't remember.

Well, the doctor warned you about this.

But I don't even remember what she looks like.

How did you contact her then?

I don't remember.

Have you checked your messages?

MOM

I'll PICK YOU UP AT THE AIRPORT.

THANK YOU, SON.

Why aren't you picking up Grandma?

I have to work on my paintings.

The exhibition is in a few weeks.

I still have ten more paintings to finish.

Mom said

you've never visited Grandma since you were 15.

Why?

I can't remember why either.

If I don't see Mom for a day, I start missing her.

Missing someone means that we love that person, right?

I guess, yeah.

Maybe…

You don't love Grandma?

Did I hurt your feelings?

No, it's not that.

Look, I also want to know why.

Maybe when I meet her, I'll remember what happened.

Come in, Mom.

Grandma!

Is this Emir?

Yes, Grandma.

Mom.

My son…

Alif…

Son…

I thought I'd never see you again.

I'm sorry, Mom.

I was in a car accident, so…

There are a lot of things I don't remember.

Nadine told me.

It's okay.

What matters is I'm here with you.

This is Dad's study.

If you ever feel lonely sleeping alone, let me know.

I can keep you company.

I was lonely back in the village.

With this many people here, I think I'm going to be okay.

What's your name, Grandma?

Aminah.

What's on your mind?

I'm still confused.

Some memories are vague, but I remember bits of them.

But I can't remember anything about my childhood.

Not even my mother's face.

That is your mother.

She talked a lot about you on our way home.

Including the scar on your forehead.

She said it was when you were ten.

Your dad beat you up with a piece of metal.

She defended you and fought him.

He took a knife and struck her,

wounding her right arm.

Then she ran away with you.

You never wanted to talk

about your scar whenever I brought it up.

Maybe it was too painful to remember.

Or maybe you've just never been open with me.

You only mentioned that

you left your mom for a better life in Jakarta.

Isn't that so?

It isn't.

She said you left without saying goodbye.

You just took off.

She went on for 18 years.

Every day, she would wake up, hoping you were there

by her side.

Here, Grandma.

If you turn it to the left, the water's hot.

Be careful, it's hot.

Turn it to the right, it's cold.

I usually leave it in the middle,

but a bit to the left, so it's the perfect temperature for me.

I've cleaned everything here.

There's also new shampoo and soap.

It's lemongrass-scented soap.

Hold on.

Right, lemongrass.

Mom…

Please forgive me…

Hey, what's going on?

What's wrong?

Stand up, will you?

I've sinned against you, Mom. I've been ungrateful.

I know. You've made mistakes.

But I have forgiven you.

What's wrong?

I don't know.

It feels so painful and heavy here.

What do you mean?

I can't explain it. It's so strange.

I think I just need to let it all out.

Is it because you finally remember everything?

No, I still can't remember my mother's face and it feels so strange.

I've never seen you cry.

I'm worried about you, Dad.

Don't worry, Emir. I'm okay.

This might be part of the healing process.

Are you making your own breakfast?

Yes, Mom.

We don't have a helper.

Helper?

A housemaid.

Why not?

Alif doesn't like having strangers in the house.

Let me help.

- Sure. - I'll be your helper.

I'm also a helper here, Grandma.

You don't play music around here?

I like to listen to music when I cook.

It makes the food taste even better.

Okay.