Apostasy Page #2

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Oh, what's that?

It's what some

Jehovah's Witnesses do.

You guys are Jehovah's Witnesses?

No way!

You never said.

That's cool. One of my

neighbors is a Jehovah.

[Alex] You know, the

Greek word "stauros"

is what they used

when writing the Bible.

But the word "stauros"

doesn't actually mean "cross,"

it means "upright stake"

or "pole."

It was only in the fourth

century, when Christianity came,

that the word changed meaning.

So, you see, Jesus wasn't

actually nailed to a cross,

he was nailed

to an upright stake.

The cross is a pagan symbol

used by false religions.

She don't wanna know all that.

- I just thought you should know.

- Well, it's a bit disrespectful.

[Chloe]

It's okay.

[Umar] So, what do you

guys believe in then?

Going to heaven or what?

Come on, I'm serious.

I wanna know.

God is gonna restore Earth

back to paradise,

how he intended it to be.

Like in Genesis,

that's where we'll live.

[scoffs] Right. So, what about

everyone who ain't a Jehovah's?

God'll decide

what's in their hearts,

but if they refuse to listen,

then they'll be removed.

Well, so what's so wrong

with this world?

It says in the Bible,

that this whole world

is in the power

of the wicked one, Satan.

- I don't know about all that. It's mad.

- [Chloe] Yeah.

[Luisa] Yeah, well, you have to admit,

things happen that aren't right.

You know,

all these wars all the time.

And cruelty

to animals and that.

Do you know, in Africa, they

kill thousands of rhinos a year,

and they'll become extinct soon just because

of how greedy mankind is at the moment.

Aw.

Sad, isn't it?

I love rhinos.

- [bell rings]

- Uh-oh.

Get yourself wrapped up.

[birds chirping]

[paper rustling]

Look.

I haven't told anyone else.

- Mum...

- Shush.

Who's the father?

Is he a brother?

It's...

It's a guy from college.

Were you even going to tell us

if this didn't happen

that you were messing

with a worldly boy?

You should have told us.

Look what's happened. You've

let college go to your head.

I need you to start

bringing him to meetings.

You have to start

bringing him to meetings.

It's not gonna happen.

Do you love him?

Then you need to marry him and

start bringing him to meetings.

I can't, Mum.

[Ivanna]

It's the only way.

Have you even talked to him

about the truth?

He don't care.

I...

So, you've just decided

to forget everything?

[Alex praying] I know she still

has you in her heart, Jehovah.

Maybe just not as strong.

I did pray the elders

would see that.

[Elder Brian]

I'm sorry, Ivanna.

How could they

disfellowship her?

[Ivanna] But she still wants

to be in God's organization.

She's shown

little sign of repentance.

I don't understand.

[Elder Alan]

Maybe you haven't noticed,

but we can see, at this point, she's

really lost her relationship with Jehovah.

[Elder Brian] We hope she works

on that, really builds it back.

If you'd told us she was falling

away, maybe we could have helped.

- What should I do?

- Jehovah's direction

is clear about avoiding

any contact with wrongdoers.

[Ivanna] But she needs

help and support now.

[Elder Brian]

We realize it's tough.

You must keep any necessary

contact to a bare minimum.

[Brother Jatin]

It's true, Ivanna.

The less contact, the more it'll help

Luisa realize her error quicker.

- [footsteps shuffle]

- [zipper rasps]

[water running]

Alex.

[sighing deeply]

[engine starts]

[car leaving]

She'll be back.

[Elder Alan] Sixty pounds

for gas and electricity.

Water was twenty pounds.

And the hall cleaning

will be handled

by the Drakefield street group

this month.

One more announcement this week.

Luisa Whitling is no longer

one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Thank you.

[indistinct murmuring]

[Alex] Sorry.

- What's that about?

- It was probably fornication.

Who'd have thought?

[clock ticking]

[car approaching]

[rain pattering]

Alex.

I've just come

to get some bits, okay.

[rain pattering]

[Umar and Luisa

speaking indistinctly]

[footsteps descending]

[footsteps ascending]

[footsteps descending]

[Luisa]

Alex...

[rain pattering]

You're not gonna say anything?

Do you think

this is easy for me?

[Alex praying]

Maybe I...

Maybe I did think

it was easy for her.

She always just did

as she pleased.

If it's hard for her,

then maybe...

maybe she'll come back.

Maybe she does need

your guidance.

[car door slams]

Let's go.

Come on.

You got everything?

[Luisa sighs]

[door slams]

Mum asked me what I said,

but I told her don't worry.

I knew I hadn't broke any rules.

[clock ticking]

[engine starts]

[car leaving]

[clock ticking]

[indistinct chattering]

[pop music playing quietly]

What do you think?

Mum?

Is it too revealing?

I can see your knicker line.

With an underskirt,

it will be all right.

Okay.

[meditative music

playing softly]

[indistinct chattering]

- Hello there.

- Hello.

- I'm Steven.

- Oh.

I'm a new elder here.

I transferred here this week.

Nice to meet you.

- What's your names?

- I'm Ivanna. This is Alex.

Alex is a member

of our Urdu congregation.

I can speak myself, Mum.

Urdu? That's fantastic.

Serving where the need is great.

Thank you.

Well, I just wanted

to say hi, so... hi.

[all chuckle]

I'll see you around, Sisters.

Hi. Steve.

[clock ticking]

- [Ivanna] Alex.

- [Steven] I don't want to disturb.

I thought Steven was doing a shepherding

call, but he's just here to...

Well...

- Do you want a brew?

- No, thanks.

I'll wait in the sitting room.

I didn't mean

to just drop in uninvited.

No, that's okay.

I live close by.

Are you sure you don't want

a drink or something?

- Maybe just a water.

- Yeah, sure.

- I'll just, um...

- Yeah, of course.

[Alex] Where abouts do you live?

Just up the road.

Near the precinct.

The flats there, they're

not as bad as they look.

[both chuckle]

Do you live on your own?

Yeah, my parents are down south.

I just go wherever

I need to go, really.

[Alex]

Your parents are in the truth?

Mm. Yeah, they...

They both grew up in it.

I like your accent.

[clears throat]

Um...

I wanted to speak with you...

'cause I'd like

to get to know you.

- Sorry. Was that too on the nose?

- No, it's all right.

I just, I don't...

I don't know if you'd like me

if you really got to know me.

- What... What do you mean?

- Nothing, sorry.

You've got a nice house.

So just you

and your mum live here?

Uh, yeah. Well, I've

got my sister as well,

but she was disfellowshipped.

Yeah, I heard actually.

Will she come back,

do you think?

Hopefully.

[Steven] I'll pray for her.

Mum's keeping guard.

[chuckles]

[paper rustles]

[Ivanna]

Thank you for calling, Steven.

- Yeah, see you.

- Bye-bye.

- [telephone ringing]

- Oh.

- Bye.

- Don't work too hard.

[both chuckle]

[Ivanna]

You know how I feel.

You can either continue to play

house with this boy or you repent.

[clock ticking]

Your sister's having a girl.

[indistinct chattering]

Hey.

- Hi.

- Sorry, I know you gotta go in.

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