The Ark

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1

(Laughing)...

...(Shouting)...

- We should go back.

- Why?

We were sent to do the fencing.

We've done it.

- There's still half a day left.

- You're such an old woman, Jaff.

Dad'll just find something

else for us to do.

Yeah, we could use our initiative.

Find things to do ourselves.

But that would mean

I'd have to break a solemn promise,

a promise I made as soon as I could talk.

- What's that?

- Never volunteer for anything.

(Laughter).

Shem?

What, he doesn't listen to me

any more than he does you.

Hey, look at that.

- What?

- That.

(Laughter).

Hey, is this what you call a day's work?

I told you.

Oh, we should just get out.

(Rising cry)...

...(Laughter).

So the fence must have been a bigger job

than we thought?

If it took all day.

And your father had to help

for most of the afternoon.

Still. At least you all worked hard.

You should be so proud of them.

They all came home dripping wet.

I can only imagine it was sweat

from working so hard in this heat.

God, we thank you for the food...

...that you put on our table

and the gift of family.

Thank you.

OTHERS:
Thank you.

(Overlapping voices)...

...(Laughs).

So you couldn't just watch,

you had to join in?

It's a boy thing.

Climbing trees, jumping into water.

We can't help ourselves.

Don't you think you're a bit old?

Old?

I can still out-jump,

out-climb and out-swim every one of them.

Maybe they just let you think you can.

What?

When they were children,

you used to play games with them,

you'd let them win to build

their confidence. - So?

So now they're grown,

maybe they're doing the same to you.

(Sniggers)...

- You...

- Ow.

(Chuckles)...

...(Neighing)...

...(Rumble)...

- Do they want grandchildren or not?

- Yeah, course they do.

Then they'll understand.

I know. It's just...

'Just' what?

You know what Dad's like about the family

staying together, and I'm the eldest, so...

Jem...

We've Jaffy and Aris

on the other side of that wall.

Ham and Nahlab that side,

your parents behind us...

...and Kenan above.

We could be quiet.

(Laughs) Quiet?

There are other places.

Where?

The barn?

- You want us to have sex in the barn?

- Ssh.

- With the goats?

- Somewhere else then.

On the roof?

Up a tree?

Either we get our own house

or they don't get grandchildren.

All right. I'll talk to them tomorrow.

You said that yesterday.

And the day before.

And the day before that.

I'm just waiting for the right time.

Well, until you find it, it's not the

only thing you'll be waiting for.

The fishing boat's finished.

I'll deliver it tomorrow.

Good. I'll do you a shopping list.

I thought I'd take Kenan.

Well, it's time he saw the world

with his own eyes, isn't it?

We've told him what it's like.

Isn't that enough?

- Well, the others have been.

- I think they were older.

You can't protect him forever, Emmie.

He's a man now. He has to make up

his own mind about these things...

...just as his brothers have done.

And to do that,

he needs to see it for himself, first.

He's still a baby.

Hardly.

Not to you maybe...

God wants us to see everything

that's open to us, good or bad.

Yeah, well, sometimes I wish God

wasn't quite so needy.

(Laughs).

How can someone be a good man...

...when he only knows

one path, nothing else?

But he's so young.

He's 18.

He's 17 and three quarters.

Do not let him out of your sight.

I won't.

And don't be arguing with everyone.

I don't argue with everyone.

Just deliver the boat,

get the money and come home.

Unless they're wrong.

(Woman begs)

- I don't have anything.

Hey, hey, hey, get away from him.

Come on.

I don't have anything.

Aren't there any laws here?

What laws there are are made by those

who crave power and wealth above all else.

How can laws made by men like that

have any meaning?

But what about God's law?

People don't believe God exists.

And that's wrong?

What do you think?

Well, you teach us to make up

our own minds about things,

so it can't be wrong for someone to

make up their mind that God doesn't exist.

No. It just makes them foolish.

Why?

Look, you can say 'l don't know.'

At least that's honest.

Not everyone has faith.

But only an idiot would

say 'There is no God'

because to say that,

he must first, surely,

understand everything...

...and only an idiot

would think that he did.

The simple truth is that man would rather

live in a world of his own design...

...and this is what it looks like.

Come on, son.

- Where's your money?

- I don't have any.

If you haven't got money,

what have you got?

I don't have anything.

- Liar.

- Dad. Dad.

- I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't, I didn't...

- It's all right.

There's nothing to be sorry about.

Just don't tell your mother.

Come on.

- Noah.

- Oh, Paul.

(Both laugh).

Oh, Paul.

This is Kenan.

You were this high the last time I saw you.

Sabba.

Get Kenan here something to eat and drink.

So what brings you to the city?

Delivering a fishing boat.

One of these days...

...you're going to have

to make up your mind...

...if you're a boat builder who farms

or a farmer who builds boats?

Whatever puts food on the table.

I have a list.

Only a married man brings a list.

How's Emmie?

She's well.

Good.

Wine first,

then we'll get you everything you need.

Can I ask you something?

As long as it doesn't involve me

doing any more work.

It's er... about you and Nahlab.

What about us?

Have you thought about starting a family?

Nahlab wants five boys and three girls.

So, then...

- How do you...?

- You don't know how to do it?

Of course I know how to do it.

It's just, it's more a question of where.

It's impossible in this house

with everyone so close.

We don't do it in the house,

we do it in the barn.

That's what I said, but

Salit won't do that.

So when do you...?

We don't.

(Laughs).

Jaff. Jaff.

Salit won't let Shem get romantic.

It's not that 'She won't let me.'

She doesn't like the idea of doing anything

in the house where everyone can hear.

- So when do you...?

- They don't.

All right.

I wish I hadn't said anything now.

(Laughter).

These are the best of times.

The money-lender lends people money

to spend, which they're happy to do.

Business thrives.

The money-lenders get

rich and lend people...

...even more money to

spend and so it goes on.

So the rich get richer

and everyone else gets more into debt?

As long as I get richer, who cares?

The strong get fat.

It's the same all through nature.

So as long as you have money,

you're happy to be no

better than the animals?

Why not?

As long as I'm the lion.

It's the same the world over.

Well, it's not my world.

Ah, so you're still trusting

in this God of yours?

It's your God too.

An old man with a white beard sitting on...

...a cloud, looking down

on me disapprovingly?

(Laughs).

It's nothing but a story

that my parents used...

...to tell me to frighten

me into doing my chores.

Well, maybe you should have listened.

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