Apostasy Page #3

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Um...

[clears throat]

I just, uh...

I just wondered

if you and your mum

wanted to come

to mine for dinner?

Uh... Yeah, I'd need

to check with her, but yeah.

Great.

- All right, see you in a bit.

- See you.

[indistinct conversation]

- [Man] Alex.

- Hi.

[indistinct conversation

continues]

It's serious, you know,

if you're gonna court Steven.

Marriage is still one of the

few things that are sacred.

It's not like in this world, where

vows are thrown about like rubbish

and all brides are loose women.

I know, Mum.

I think Steven's really nice.

He is.

He's very suitable.

[traffic whooshing distantly]

[dishes clattering]

[taps window]

- You don't need to do that, Ivanna.

- I don't mind.

No. No, it's fine.

Honestly. I can do it.

- Okay.

- All right. Cheers.

[Alex]

I had a nice time.

We could do all right, us.

You know, I've got my window cleaning

job, and you've got your gardening.

I think, between the two of us, I

think we'd do all right, I reckon.

Anyway, I'm working towards

becoming a circuit overseer,

as soon as possible.

Then we won't have to worry

about money.

The Society'll take care of us

until the New System.

I need to tell you, I have a...

I have a condition.

Like, I get anemic.

When I was born,

I had to have a transfusion.

Mum and the elders couldn't do anything

about it, the hospital forced it into me.

We don't talk about it, really.

Are you... Are you okay now?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I mean, they say it might, you know,

get worse, but, you know, I'm fine.

I'm okay.

Have I freaked you out?

[Steven chuckles]

I was reading the literature,

just before,

about the differences

between infatuation and love.

It said one of the first signs of love

is that it can overcome obstacles

where infatuation

would just run a mile.

I know the brothers on

the Hospital Liaison Committee

if you... if you need assistance

with medical stuff.

Yeah.

[Alex praying]

I'm sorry, Jehovah,

if I doubted the kindness

of my brothers and sisters.

[Elder Brian]

Morning, Alex. How are you?

- Steven.

- Hiya. Good to see you.

[Alex praying] It is special to

be part of your organization.

Alex. Take one, love.

[Alex] They look delicious.

[Steven]

Wow.

Steven has a kind heart.

I just pray now that my sister will remember

what it's like to be part of your love.

What's going on?

I've just come

to sort things out.

I've...

I've left Umar.

You know we miss you.

We could help you with the baby.

You should come back here.

And, you know, come to meetings

with us, then it'll all be okay.

You still believe, don't you?

I read things online.

[Ivanna]

Like what?

People say things about us.

People out there are bitter, and they

want to put evil ideas into your head.

You know, we believed Armageddon

was supposed to come in 1975?

Some Brothers even

sold their houses that year,

and they took

their kids out of school.

- What are you talking about?

- They're old truths, Luisa.

Anyway, some brothers misunderstood the

message back then and got carried away.

It's okay to have doubts,

but we have to be humble.

If you don't

understand something,

talk to the elders,

pray to Jehovah.

Deep down,

you know we're God's people.

There's no other religion out there

that is as true to His word.

Mum...

I just came here

to see if we could...

be normal.

Without this.

It don't work like that.

So, this goes on forever then?

- [Ivanna] Where you gonna go now?

- [Luisa] Piss off!

[door slams]

[chopping continues]

[rain pattering]

[hail pattering]

[pattering grows louder]

[loud knocking]

[muffled music playing]

- Hiya!

- Hiya!

Hi, Alex.

- You must be Steven.

- Yeah.

- I'm Linda.

- Hiya.

Come in.

What you doing?

No, put that down, love.

- I want a drink.

- Go wait in the other room. Go on.

Go on. Go on.

Now, we've got spag bol or chili.

What do you fancy?

[Steven]

Chili, please.

[Linda] Oh, for drinks,

we've got cider.

Put your coats over there.

There you go.

All right?

Gonna introduce us?

This is Steven.

- Hi, Steven. Barry.

- Oh, yeah.

- You all right?

- Nice to meet you.

I hear you're a Bethelite?

What's that like, working there?

[Steven]

Yeah, it's good.

[Michelle] Come on, Alex.

We've been waiting for you.

Oh, I'm Michelle, by the way.

- Yeah, hi.

- Do you want to come dance with us?

Um...

[coughs]

- Wash it down with some Scrumpy's.

- Yeah.

[giggles]

Cheers.

Oof.

- Hot?

- Yeah.

It was the week of the school,

and it was my turn to say the dinnertime

prayer, and the Elder Steve says,

"Would you say

the prayer for us?"

And immediately, as I finished,

he says, "That was a bit short."

Quick as a flash, I said to him,

"Jehovah listens to our prayers, it

doesn't matter," and everyone laughed.

[Linda] Okay now, shh.

You'll love this.

- [Man] Yes.

- [Woman] Hi.

Okay, and...

This baby is mine!

I warned her not to roll over in the night.

I said be careful.

Her baby died,

but now she's took mine!

Lies! I told her the same.

What proof do you have?

I know my child.

Jehovah, help me!

I will cut the baby

in two pieces!

But, Solomon,

you can't cut the baby in half.

Let her have him.

But don't kill her! Please!

Yeah, go ahead. Chop it in half.

Am I bothered?

[laughter]

[Solomon] A true mother doesn't

want to see her baby die.

[All]

Aww!

- Well done!

- [applauding, cheering]

[dance music playing]

I got the rhythm to move

I got the rhythm to move

For all we know

the pain has gone away

I got the rhythm to move

I got the rhythm

to move across the world

Gonna move the world

Oh

Alone in the dark

I take a chance on you

Better look me up

and check up on my move

Don't matter the lie

I take a chance on you

When the light goes out

and we'll be on the move

Woo

I took a chance on you

Oh! I got the rhythm to move

I got the rhythm to move

For all we know

the pain has gone away

I got the rhythm to move

Alex?

Alex?

[music continuing]

Alex, love!

- Alex?

- What's going on?

[muffled voices chattering]

[Ivanna] Steven, can you

get some water for her?

[vehicles passing]

[water running]

If you can

just sign there, love,

it takes about a week

for it to be assessed.

Thank you.

Bye.

You okay?

Yeah.

[clock ticking]

[Elder Brian] It's been a while

since I've had to do one of these.

Will her father be coming?

Ivanna, I'm happy to help.

Is it okay if Luisa comes?

[clock ticking]

[Elder Brian]

It's okay...

Of course.

If she wants.

[line ringing]

Luisa?

[quiet chattering]

[Luisa]

I should sit there.

My glasses aren't steaming up

because I'm crying.

It's because it's warm in here.

And that's how you felt

whenever you were with Alex.

She was shy...

but she radiated Jehovah's love.

Ivanna told me recently

that Alex would sometimes worry

about how Jehovah

would judge her.

When I heard that,

I was knocked back.

Here's this sister who has dedicated

her whole youth to Jehovah...

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