The Ark

Whoo-hoo!

We should go back. Why?

We were sent to do the fencing, we've done that.

Yeah, but there's still half a day left.

Oh, you're such an old woman, Jaff.

You know what Dad's like, he'll just find something else for us to do.

Yeah, we could use our initiative.

Find things to do ourselves.

But that would mean I'd have to break a solemn promise.

-Promise I made as soon as I could talk. What's that?

Never volunteer for anything.

Shem?

What? He doesn't listen to me any more than he does you.

Hey, look at that.

What?

-That! -

Hey, is this what you call a day's work?

I told you!

No, we should just get out.

So the fence must've been

a bigger job than we thought?

If it took all day.

And your father had to help for most of the afternoon.

Still. At least you all worked hard.

You should be so proud of them.

They all came home dripping wet.

I can only imagine it was sweat

from working so hard in this heat.

God, we thank you for the food that you put on our table

and the gift of family.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So you couldn't just watch, you had to join in?

Well, it's a boy thing.

Climbing trees, jumping into water. We can't help ourselves.

Don't you think you're a bit old?

Old?

I can still out jump, out climb,

and out swim every one of them.

Maybe they just let you think you can.

What?

Well, when they were children,

you used to play games with them,

-you'd let them win to build their confidence. -So?

So now they're grown,

maybe they're doing the same to you.

You... You!

-Ow. -

Do they want grandchildren or not?

Yeah, of course they do!

Then they'll understand.

I know.

It's just...

Just what?

You know what Dad's like about the family staying together.

And I'm the eldest, so...

Shem!

We've got Jaffy and Aris on the other side of that wall.

Ham and Nahlab that side. Your parents behind us. And Kenan above!

Mmm.

We could be quiet.

Quiet?

-There are other places. -

Where?

The barn?

-You want us to have sex in the barn? -Shh!

With the goats?

Somewhere else then.

On the roof?

Up a tree?

Either we get our own house,

or they don't get grandchildren.

All right. I'll talk to them tomorrow, yeah?

You said that yesterday. And the day before and the day before that.

I'm just waiting for the right time.

Until you find it,

it's not the only thing you'll be waiting for.

The fishing boat's finished. I'll deliver it tomorrow.

Good.

I'll do you a shopping list.

I thought I'd take Kenan.

Well, it's time he saw the world with his own eyes, isn't it?

We've told him what it's like, isn't that enough?

-Well, the others have been. -I think they were older.

You can't protect him forever, Emmie.

He's a man now. He has to make up his own mind about these things,

just as his brothers have done.

And to do that, he needs to see it for himself, first.

Well, he's still a baby.

Hardly.

Not to you maybe.

God wants us to see everything that is open to us, good or bad.

Yeah, well,

sometimes I wish God wasn't quite so needy.

How can someone be a good man

when he only knows one path, nothing else?

But he's so young.

He's 18.

He's 17 and three quarters.

Do not let him out of your sight.

I won't.

And don't be arguing with everyone.

I don't argue with everyone.

Just deliver the boat, get the money, and come home.

Unless they're wrong.

I don't have anything.

Hey, hey, hey, get away from him! Come on!

-Aren't there any laws here? -

What laws there are, are made by those

who crave power and wealth above all else.

How can laws made by men like that have any meaning?

-But what about God's law? -People don't believe God exists.

And that's wrong?

What do you think?

Well, you teach us to make up our own minds about things,

so it can't be wrong for someone to make up their mind that God doesn't exist.

-No. It just makes them foolish. -Why?

Look, you can say "I don't know."

At least that's honest. Not everyone has faith.

But only an idiot would say "There is no God,"

because to say that, he must first surely understand everything.

And only an idiot would think that he did.

The simple truth is that man would rather live in a world of his own design.

And this is what it looks like.

Come on, son.

-Where's your money? -I don't have any!

If you haven't got money, what have you got?

-No, I don't have anything! -Liar!

-Dad, Dad! -Liar!

-I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't... -It's all right.

It's all right.

There's nothing to be sorry about.

Just don't tell your mum.

Come on!

Noah!

Oh, Paul!

Oh, Paul!

This is Kenan.

-You were this high the last time I saw you. -

Sabba! Get Kenan here something to eat and drink.

So what brings you to the city?

-I'm delivering a fishing boat. -You know,

one of these days you're gonna have to make up your mind

if you're a boat builder who farms or a farmer who builds boats?

Whatever puts food on the table. I have a list.

Only a married man brings a list.

How is Emmie?

She's well.

Good.

Wine first, then we'll get you everything you need.

Can I ask you something?

As long as it doesn't involve me doing any more work.

It's, uh... It's about you and Nahlab.

What about us?

Have you thought about starting a family?

Nahlab wants five boys and three girls.

So, then...

-How do you... -You don't know how to do it?

Of course I know how to do it!

It's just it's more a question of where.

And it's impossible in this house with everyone so close.

We don't do it in the house. We do it in the barn.

That's what I said, but Salit won't do that!

So when do you?

We... We don't.

Jaff!

-Hey! -Jaff!

Salit won't let Shem get romantic.

It's not that she won't let me.

It's just she doesn't like the idea of doing anything in the house

where everyone can hear, that's all.

-So when do you? -They don't.

All right!

I wish I hadn't said anything now.

These are the best of times.

The money lender lends people money to spend, which they're happy to do.

Business thrives.

The money lenders get rich,

and lend people even more money to spend and so it goes on.

So the rich get richer and everyone else gets more into debt?

As long as I get richer, who cares?

The strong get fat.

It's the same all through nature!

So as long as you have money, you're happy to be no better than the animals?

Why not?

As long as I'm the lion!

It's the same the world over.

Well, it's not my world.

Ah!

So you're still trusting in this God of yours?