Apostasy

---

[Alex praying]

I'm sorry, Jehovah.

I'm ashamed really.

The doctor went on

about my condition.

She didn't care before.

It's a big deal to her

now I'm turning 18,

'cause it's my decision now,

you see.

She even said...

[indistinct]

[Alex]

She was convinced

that the hospital saved my life

when I was born

and that my congregation

tried to stop it.

But you do realize

that the reason you're alive

is because the hospital gave you

blood when you were first born,

when the priests tried

to stop it from happening.

Elders, not priests.

[Alex praying]

She don't understand.

I mean, can you believe

she tried to do a deal with me?

She was willing to give me another

transfusion if I ever needed one again,

but without telling anyone.

She said it'd be private like,

between me and her.

No one needed to know.

[Doctor]

And I wouldn't tell your mum

or anyone in the community.

She did it well.

You could tell she cared,

in a way.

[Ivanna]

So, you didn't give it to her?

[door opens]

[Ivanna]

That should do it.

Can you put it

on Alex's records?

It's up to date, and we've

had two witnesses sign it.

[Doctor] Do you really

know what this means?

She understands.

Some of these alternatives might

not work if you get really anemic,

which would

put your life at risk.

[Ivanna scoffs]

That's just your opinion.

Come on. You can't

be too careful now.

I'm sorry, Mum.

You're all right.

How do you know, Mum...

if you'll make it

into the New System?

You do your best.

Some elders wonder

if they'll make it.

What I mean is...

no one knows

how God will judge them.

So, you can't ever

be sure, then?

[clock ticking]

Look at this, Alex.

[Alex]

It was the first time I'd seen

all these boys and girls

who had died for Jehovah.

I was such a coward

compared to these lot.

This one girl, Emma,

she was amazing.

She told the judge that

they were abusing her body,

and that she'd rip the needle out

if they tried to give her blood.

So, the hospital

let her go home.

She died in peace,

in her mum's arms.

I wish I'd talked

to my doctor like that,

so brave like.

[Ivanna] It just goes to show,

blood is the life force.

It was so clear now.

[Ivanna] There's no such

thing as "the soul."

Mum made it clearer than ever.

That's for false religions,

like airy-fairy Catholics.

There's the body, and blood,

and it's Jehovah's design.

And to mess with it

is the worst sin.

Not to mention worldly diseases,

like AIDS and... HIV.

Before we knew

what these diseases even were,

God had warned us

about them in the scriptures.

[clock ticking]

I ask for your forgiveness,

Jehovah, for my doubts.

I pray you give me

strength and guidance.

In Jesus' name.

- Morning.

- Morning.

- How you feeling?

- I feel okay.

Let me look at you.

What's that?

- The bank sent it you?

- Mm.

You should send it them back.

I'm gonna squeeze an hour in

on the trollies at lunch.

Can you...?

Thank you.

I've made you some eggs,

they're in the microwave.

- You two take care today, okay?

- Yes.

[Luisa scoffs]

You're gonna get car sick.

So, how you feeling, anyway?

I'm okay.

[Luisa]

I can't believe you're 18 today.

The time's flying.

[chuckles]

What?

I remember when Mum and Aunty

Linda went to one of those.

[laughs] Yeah. They didn't know

at the time,

and then when they got there, they

were told it was a Buddhist practice.

[both laugh]

[Alex]

Imagine Mum's face.

I know.

She was fuming at Aunty Linda.

She swore the Devil

had tricked her into it.

[Brother Jatin]

Good pronunciation.

So, what might be the usual

response to that, in our territory?

Unemployment.

[Brother Jatin] Yeah.

So, you could follow up with...

Isaiah 65:
22 would be

the best example here.

[pages rustling]

Alex, would you like

to give that a go?

[clears throat]

[Brother Jatin]

Good.

Look, it's not easy

learning to teach the Bible

in another language,

but what you're doing

is worth it.

So, let's try enjoy it today,

and keep in mind

the words of Matthew 24:14,

"It's only once everyone has

heard the name Jehovah,

that's when the New System

will arrive."

[knocking on door]

[door creaks open]

- Salaam.

- Salaam.

[Man] Salaam.

[clears throat]

He made that clear

in your book as well as ours.

It don't really matter

which book.

But, uh...

And according to the Bible, you can

choose where you will spend eternity.

And it tells you everything in this

leaflet. So, you can have a look.

[silverware clatters]

[rhythmic chopping]

[cabinet creaks]

My art class has been changed this term.

It's on a Thursday night now.

Is there not another module you

could take on a different day?

Well, you can't miss meetings

just because of college.

I know, I just need to do this one

class, so I can finish the course.

The problem with this world is that

people let things like art or music

take over their lives, and it

becomes a religion to them.

Imagine when Jesus comes back at

Armageddon to destroy this world.

How is he gonna feel

when you're at college

instead of with his

organization at the meetings?

[Michelle] And then, we went

through the main factory

where all the magazines

get printed.

And from there, they go out

all around the world.

Never been to Bethel,

never been to London.

[Michelle]

Oh, you must go.

It's so inspiring like...

to see all those brothers and

sisters living and working there.

How amazing would it be

to dedicate your life like that,

and not have to do secular work?

Have, um...

Have you guys ever heard

of demons tormenting people?

[scoffs]

Why?

Because I... I think

there's one in the attic.

- Are you being daft?

- No.

No, I'm being serious. I can hear it

up there making noises all night.

It's just house noise.

No. No. Look,

demons do it.

I mean, look, they mess...

They mess with brothers and

sisters, right, that...

- That happens.

- [Alex] Right.

And there's not much time left, and

you might think this is a joke,

but I can...

it's like I can physically feel them

trying to pull me away from the truth.

- It's probably just house noise.

- No!

No. 'Cause like, it's...

It's there.

It's just... [growling]

[laughs]

- And then I pray, and it just stops!

- [snaps fingers]

And then the next night,

it's there again.

[Michelle] Are you sure

you're not up to no good?

Yeah. Why would a demon

be in your house?

Don't you have

to summon one first?

I don't know.

I don't...

A previous owner, maybe?

You think I should

call an elder?

They'll think you've gone

mental if you do that.

[chuckles nervously]

Could you pass me the bag?

[leaves rustling]

[shovel scraping dirt]

[indistinct chattering]

[muffled music thumping

over stereo]

[Luisa]

Guys, this is my sister.

Alex, this is Chloe,

and this is Umar.

- [Alex] Hey.

- You all right?

I'm just dropping

these off, okay.

[Chloe]

So, what do you do?

- Uh, I've got... I've got a gardening job.

- Ah.

But we also pioneer.

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