Duyung

For hundreds of years,

humans have believed that the underworld is inhabited

by all kinds of sea creatures.

Such as fish,

squid and other sea creatures.

Hey! Why do I sound like a voice-over in a documentary?

However, there is a very special type of fish,

a creature that is legendary,

the mermaid!

But I don't know whether people believe in it or not.

I don't care if people don't.

I do because when I was a boy, about ten years old, I saw a mermaid.

She was beautiful!

Her hair was long, like a wig.

She had round eyes.

Her body was covered in scales.

She had gills. Well, not really.

She was half fish and half human.

But the thing is, no one believes me except my mom.

My mom is so cool.

She said that if we want to see a mermaid

we must first look after our environment.

Only then will we get the chance.

At least, that's what my mom said.

But look at my surroundings.

How will a mermaid ever appear?

There is trash everywhere.

That's why it has become my responsibility

to pick up all the waste every single day.

ME

This is me, Jimmy, "the sea warrior."

Do I look fierce?

The one behind me is my friend.

Our job is to get together everyday to pick up the marine debris.

Oh, I forgot to introduce him.

This is my friend.

His name is Orix.

What do you think? Does he look like an ape?

He's an ape alright.

The villagers think I'm crazy because I'm friends with an ape.

Am I right, Orix?

Fu-yoh.

That's all he says: "Fu-yoh."

"Fu-yoh" when he's sad and "fu-yoh" when he's happy.

What a pain, now my VO is interrupted.

What are you doing?

Throwing trash everywhere.

Enough!

It's OK. I know where she lives.

What was I saying?

Oh, yes, trash.

Anyway, I'm tired of talking about it.

This is my house, a corner lot.

What do you think? Is it nice?

The one hanging the clothes is my mom.

The tanned man on the boat is my dad. He's very strict.

Onah.

Here, take these things.

Oh, so many fish.

-Where's Jimmy? -Jimmy?

He and Orix have gone out to pick up the trash.

You're home late today, dear?

I dropped by the jetty earlier.

To buy these fruits.

I don't want your two beloved creatures to starve to death.

Then people will accuse me of not feeding my son.

I don't know what will happen to your son.

All he thinks about is trash.

Trash.

He's a nuisance to the community.

And yet he dreams of marrying Wak Pagek's daughter.

What is he going to feed her? Trash?

He refuses to go out to the sea with me.

What's wrong with him picking up trash?

He's cleaning our village.

That's good, don't you think?

We are comfortable, there's no bad stench.

Otherwise you wouldn't even be able to go to sea.

Jimmy says he wants to see a mermaid.

But if the sea is dirty, neither the mermaid nor you

will want to swim in it.

You've been encouraging him.

"Mermaids, mermaids."

Ever since he was a kid

you've brainwashed his mind with mermaid stories.

I'm embarrassed.

People say my son is crazy.

He keeps telling stories about mermaids.

Trash everywhere, nothing but trash.

Not only do they throw trash everywhere, they also pollute the sea.

Look how dirty the water is.

I'll teach them a lesson.

Transform!

You're just jealous.

Enough, you two.

So, you are afraid.

Hey, what are you doing? Go away!

Statistic shows that

detergents can affect the ozone layer.

And sanitary pads can cause miscarriages.

Jimmy is out of his mind.

Disturbing us every single day.

-Go away! Go away! -Hey, stop it.

Where have you been?

Take that!

What's this?

What are you doing? You think I'm a fish?

Your flesh will make a delicious meal.

Even tastier if fried.

We'll grill him alive.

If you disturb these girls again I'll skin you alive.

-Do you hear me? -I'm already skin and bone.

Slowpoke!

Get lost! Go play with your ape.

-Don't mess with the girls. -Serves you right!

The girls are looking at us!

That jerk who looks like a rock star, his name is Kordi.

Kordi or Cordial, who cares? He's the big shot around here.

He thinks I'm afraid of him.

Ignore them, Orix.

Garbage collector.

-Hey, stop teasing! -Hey, I'll cane you!

-Naughty boys! -Run!

That's enough, Orix.

Jimmy, you've collected a lot of today.

That's my sweet heart. Not that one!

That's her mother. The one in front.

The love of my life, Aspalela.

Do you remember our vows

Aspalela

You and I will grow old together

Here, take this trash.

Oh, my God!

Why did you do that, dear?

That's bad, you know?

Wak, do you have any trash left?

For you, I'd be willing to clean your house until the day I die.

I can clean my house myself.

I want to ask you something.

Why do you have to hit on my daughter every day?

Just be friends with the ape and collect trash.

Wak, you seem to know what is on my mind.

Alright, I have a confession to make.

The truth is, ever since we were kids, the whole village knows about it,

that Aspalela is crazy about me.

I feel the same way too.

The only problem is,

I kind of need your blessing.

So she can take me as her husband.

You want to marry her? What are you going to feed her?

Stop dreaming, will you?

Well, I'm the only one who fancies your daughter.

No one is as handsome as this sea warrior.

If I marry Aspalela,

God willing, I'll teach her how to make babies.

Then, I'll teach our children to look after the cleanliness of our island.

And never to eat fish.

Only eat fruits and vegetables.

Vegetarian like me, right?

No wonder he's skinny.

Enough, go back home.

You sound like a lunatic.

Take a look at yourself first.

-Not bad? -You don't even have a job.

And you want to marry my daughter?

Why can't you be like Kordi?

Hardworking.

Handsome, works hard.

Good at fishing.

He's so muscular.

Kordi injected botox, and steroids.

My body is natural.

I've had enough of fishing.

I don't do it anymore.

But I'm willing to do other jobs, if God is willing.

Right, right?

Don't waste my time.

Hey, do you own land? Or a house?

If you want to marry my daughter,

where's your house?

Where's your land?

I don't want my daughter to live like me, on stilts above the water.

I want her to be able to grow crops.

Can you give her that?

I want land.

Just tell me how much land you want.

What type of land? Land with red soil. Mainland.

Clay. "Bundled" land.

Graveyard.

-I'll even give you "Somaliland." -Take this!

-What's wrong with you, Dad? -Wak.

Jokes like these suggest familiarity.

I like that.

Wak, I'm going home now.

Lela…

Stop flirting, go inside.

Bye-bye, my father-in-law. Bye!

Fu-yoh!

You're such a monkey.

Alright.