The Convert (Muallaf)

"Going home, going home.

I am going home.

- Here I am..." - Boy, ride your bicycle slowly to school.

Don't worry, Ma. I will.

Why do you say such things, Ma?

Why are you always threatening me like that?

Look. I told you, I cannot come home this weekend...

because I have to give some extra classes.

Now is that so hard to understand?

How am I turning away from God?

So what is it? Is it me?

Am I being overbearing?

Just because I asked you to take a short trip from Ipoh to Penang every Sunday...

so we can go to the church with your uncles and aunts...

Is that too much to ask?

When my friends at school ask me what you do for a living...

I never know what to answer them.

I'm ashamed of it.

Do you know how much money I have to make to pay for the basic necessities...

to pay for your taekwondo lessons.

It's not cheap.

With Mom's money coming in soon, do you really have to do that job?

It's not as if I'm prostituting myself, right?

Look. Tell you what. When Mom's money comes through, I'll quit.

I'll stay home and wait on you hand and foot. Happy?

Happy.

Don't bother coming home this Sunday.

If that's what you want, I can live with that. You tell me if that's what you want...

This will be the last time you'll hear from me.

Get on the bike!

Brian, are you still there?

Yes, I'm still here.

Look, Ma, I really have to drive to work now, okay?

I'll talk to you later.

Call me tonight, okay? I'll be waiting for you.

I don't know who you're trying to impress going this fast.

You're certainly not impressing me.

Just shut up.

When you're working at that place, do you take the occasional sip?

No, of course not.

Why am I responding to that stupid question?

Because you love me and my opinions matter to you.

Not responding.

It's true though.

- Do you find him... - Cute?

No. Familiar?

Yeah, but he looks a bit miserable though.

A bit? He doesn't smile at all in class.

Get off the bike.

Look, I've already told you...

This job is only temporary.

I will quit when I find a new job.

It isn't so much fun working there.

I keep getting scolded by the other girl.

I keep getting scolded by the other girl.

Morning, girls.

- Morning, Brother Anthony. - Morning.

Are you two fighting?

Can you please tell her to stop giving me a hard time?

She calls herself a Muslim but she works nights at a pub.

I already told her it'll just be a short while until I find another job.

And then I'll quit.

"Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."

My word, where did you learn that?

St. Augustine. You should know that.

I do know that.

Santa Augustino, actually.

He was Algerian, not Italian.

Yes, but he studied in Milan.

See what I told you.

Brian, may I have a word with you, please? One moment...

Girls, my mother once told me...

I forgot what she told me.

I'll talk to you girls later.

Do you have money?

That should last you a couple of days.

Thank you. Ride safe.

That was from last night's tips, you wise ass skeleton.

Jezebel!

Is Rohana in trouble again?

A bit worrying. You know the girl quotes from Catholic saints?

Listen. I've something to tell you...

but you must promise to keep it to yourself.

- Think of it as a confession. - Confession?

How long has it been since the last one?

Ten years? Fifteen?

- Promise me? - I promise, I promise.

They live in an abandoned bungalow near my flat.

I think they ran away from home.

The stories I've heard about the place.

Good Lord. How's Ana coping in class?

She's very quiet. Bored, listless.

Mrs Siva is in a tizzy because Ana keeps correcting her pronunciation...

in front of the class.

Mrs Siva says she's that close to giving up on Ana.

I'm not surprised.

Every time Mrs Siva tells her off, she starts chanting some numbers.

Numbers? What numbers?

That's the thing. No one knows. It's just numbers.

Miss, you guys don't seem to have courses on Theology.

What?

Comparative Religions?

How about Sociology of Religion?

Why would anyone want to study that?

Why not?

What for? It's no use.

Our courses prepare our students...

for the life they have ahead.

What about the death that lies ahead?

Prepare for death... for what?

Because it's more certain than life.

It's okay. I'll try somewhere else. Thanks.

No college in this town is stupid enough to teach you about death.

You should try it sometime.

Why should I try the course?

No, not the course.

Death.

She's out of her mind. Talk about death...

Okay, class...

Instability in Perak circa 1848.

Flowers?

Stand up. On the chair!

They tell me your mother passed away about a year ago.

- The time for mourning is over, Ana. - Be quiet.

Blessed are they that mourned, for they shall be comforted.

Your mother's dead. Get over it. We are tired of your nonsense!

The Valley Spirit never dies. It is named the Mysterious Female.

What the hell are you talking about? Are you taking nonsense again?

True words are not fine-sounding. Fine-sounding words are not true.

Stop it, stop it! Stop it, before I do something I'll regret.

It's re- gret, not re-gret.

What do you mean?

105:1

All of you, be quiet!

105:1

Mrs Siva!

The girl is an evil, defiant little monster.

What was she defiant about?

Just for today's art lesson. I asked the class to draw elephants, that's it.

Elephants.

And?

Instead of drawing elephants, despite my specific instructions...

she took it upon herself to paint flowers.

What was happening when you walked past, Mrs Yap?

I saw Ana standing on the chair.

Mrs Siva was caning the back of her body repeatedly.

Ana was shouting out some numbers.

What numbers were they, Mrs Siva?

Who knows...

She's mad. She never got over her mother's death, I think.

So you decided to help her get over the trauma by...

hitting her?

What now, Mrs Yap?

I recognized one of the things she said about true words.

It's from the Tao Te Ching.

And where is Rohana now?

She's in a corner of the class sitting on the floor.

Her whole body is shaking.

Someone needs to take the girl home.

I'll do it.

Aren't you supposed to take over my class, Mr Goh?

I'll take over your class.

Mrs Siva, please stay.

Mr Goh, Mr Goh.

Why are you so generous today?

You never offered a lift to anyone before.

When someone asks, you have always said "No".

I believe you owe me some money, Mrs Yap.

Sorry, I forgot.

Isn't it one hundred and fifty-two?

I don't have small notes.

You still owe me two ringgit.

Such a big deal about two ringgit. These Penang folks are so stingy.

I don't think you have to worry about Mrs Siva for a while.

She'll probably get suspended.

If your sister decides to press charges, she'll be out for good.

108:3

I don't see your sister's bike anywhere.

Do you have keys to the house?

She'll be back before 11.

You sure?

"Danger Mouse" starts at 11.

"Peace be upon the Prophet."

Why are you at home?

Are you okay? What's wrong?

Hi, Rohani. I'm Brian.

Can I have a word with you?

Yes, sure.

Can you please leave your shoes outside?

The latest, sir. They're in Ipoh.

I know where the older one works.

It's all here. The address of the pub where your older daughter works at night,

her motorbike license plate number, and the school she sends her sister to.

She work in a pubs?

That's all you need, I think. Except for where they live.

Just give me a few more days.

There's another girl called Cindy who works in the same pub.

I was there last night...

From the looks of it, Cindy doesn't seem to

approve of your eldest daughter very much.