House of Gods

If I'm elected tonight,

it will be because the honourable clergy in Iraq have chosen me.

This is for your Instagram story?

Oh, you're such a charmer! Oh.

We are talking about a leader committing and condoning a sin.

Has this kiss cost you your election tonight?

The votes are sealed, son.

They'll get unsealed as soon as word gets back to Iraq.

Why the sudden appetite to dine with the wolves?

The guy with the votes is in town,

but Dad won't meet with him.

You really want to be Baba's VP?

I want Dad to win!

Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hamedi!

Hey, what's your problem?

Oi. Oi. Oi.

Cuz, you're parole risk. You're paroled.

Relax, alright? (EXCLAIMS)

Sheikhna, what an honour to have you with us.

We thank you for entrusting us with this mission

to represent our community in the most beautiful game.

Your backing makes our hearts fly in joy, and so humble.

Your financial support to the squad is most generous.

He prioritises football. With mosque money, no less.

Eight, nine shots in, you know,

things are getting a bit "how are you going?"

I look over, I see this someone in this bloke's face,

getting aggressive.

Straightaway I go over, grab him, right hand to the face.

So by the time I look back, he's run off. I don't know what to do.

As he's stumbling, he grabs me, pulls me aside.

Holding me back. Holding me back. "Cuz, you're parole,"

and then I just get...

Salaam alaikum. Alaikum salaam.

Mirwan, I want to make a transfer for this account.

All this to Iraq? Yeah, to charity, actually.

Brother Isa, that's very honourable,

but that's a lot to send in one payment.

Is there, like, a way for you to run multiple transactions?

Since it's for charity, I can make three transfers today.

I'll make one under your name,

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

I'll do the same over the next few days.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

For the son of our beloved Sheikh.

Come on, bro!

Yes!

I got in.

To what? Design school.

Muslim girl, lefty college - you were always going to get in.

Be happy for me. I am happy.

I'm truly happy for you.

Oh. Ah, what a team!

So good you founded the team, Dad.

Gives us all something to gather around.

The mosque is where we gather.

Indeed.

However, the field is a place to keep the body and mind fit

to best serve Allah.

The team? It's a good idea.

Especially for those men who might not usually come to mosque.

I'm hearing concerns.

It's more the people who gain from this are men.

Women also can enjoy football.

A few will enjoy watching, but it's the men.

They will coach and cheer and play.

And... Yeah.

...if you are to reshape the community, Baba, you need women.

They should more naturally be your base anyway.

Uh-huh. Teach a woman, teach a nation.

Good.

You have been always able to see the whole field,

not only the next play.

Perhaps I'll offer my services to Coach Jabbar.

That would be great if that will keep you here.

Maybe. When are you due to leave?

A week.

So soon?

Salaam alaikum.

Alaikum salaam.

The right hand appears.

Sorry I couldn't make it to training.

I'll apologise to Coach Jabbar.

Baba's VP. You need to be by his side.

So where were you?

He's busy.

He's working two jobs.

I have made him oversee the upgrades at the mosque.

You are all go, son.

Go, go, go! Non-stop.

That's how I was raised.

OK, go. What are you waiting for?

Hey.

Sorry. It's me.

Didn't your mum tell you never to sneak up on girls?

Kitchen's closed.

Oh, nah. Actually...

Does it hurt?

Idiot.

Aren't you on parole?

So what's it like being the first daughter now?

Life-changing? What?

With your dad?

Oh. Yeah.

It's not as glamorous as I thought it would be.

Yeah, but surely it changes things.

I mean, you probably don't need to keep working here.

Everyone just gives you things for free now.

My dad wouldn't let me take advantage of that.

Yeah. Your dad's a righteous man.

What?

I'm reserving judgement until I see how he reacts to me moving out.

Look up for me.

Perfect.

Wallahi I'm good!

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.

Good thing we're the same skin tone.

Don't you sing? No, I don't.

Not to this music.

Babe, so pious now.

Come on, it's just you and me.

Feel the groove.

Oh!

You know, last time I tried to do laps here,

a guy swam up behind me, grabbed my foot,

and told me I was swimming too slow.

You are pitifully slow.

I'll be in Iraq this time next week.

Oh!

What?! Psycho! No!

You're worse than the guy!

110 for the prime movers? Bit steep.

Mate, I'm already giving you the best rates in the state.

Can we settle on 100? 110.

You wanna let a huge contract slip over, what, 10 bucks?

I could say the same to you.

You take us on, that's a big step up for you fellas.

I'm investing in a new crew.

I've got a couple of new machines coming in from the States.

Expanding, eh?

Who's backing ya? Financially.

So where do you want this, Dad?

How can you be the... (SPEAKS ARABIC)

...if a book desk defeats you, huh?

Defeat's not part of my vocab.

But this is a bit too much for this room, no?

Yeah, I think so.

Hey, the... um, speakers are coming in today.

It's a sweet sound system. Bass. Boom.

Gives your sermons an extra kick. You'd love it.

Oh, good. Good.

Dad...

You know with the transformations -

the games room, the soccer team, your school...

The community school. Yeah. All that. We, the community.

It takes money, a lot of it.

What's more important than money is control of the committee.

That's where things are decided.

Yeah, but with you as president, me as your right hand,

Uncle Samir to your left,

that's three out of five votes in the committee.

The majority's ours, Dad. Mm.

You're still thinking of asking Uncle Samir, right?

Yeah, sure. Yeah.

See, with that kind of power,

Sheikh Shaaker and that old geezer Abu Zuhayr,

they won't even dare whisper against you.

OK...

There.

Bookcase.

There. Yeah, perfect.

More people will see it out here anyway.

It's like a reminder for people that, uh,

faith and knowledge can work alongside each other.

Yes. Dad...

...I support everything you're doing,

but I don't want your dreams to crash to earth

because of a lack of cash.

We need to plan. Turn donations into a steady stream of income.

I spoke to a guy.

Mosque cannot make profits. No, it's not profits.

It's haram. There's no interest.

You've got a radical vision. So do I.

Think of it as

you're offering help to businesses, and then they donate the money back.

It's win/win, and I'll manage it as your VP.

Otherwise...

Huh?

Please, at least think about it.