SCENE 1

INT.LIVING ROOM- DAY

MOTHER and SEM are looking at AH KHAW who is wearing a bajukurung while HASSAN observe them from afar. MOTHER and SEM are laughing loudly.

MOTHERHahaha....AH KHAW, look at you! You looked like one of us. The Japanese wont recognize you in that bajukurung. Im so proud of you!!!

SEMYeah AH KHAW, you can be my brother.

MOTHERHassan, come and look at him. He looks handsome isnt he?

AH KHAWAi yaaaa...sister. Dont say that.Im shy...

HASSANMOTHER, let him wear his singlet.He is not Malay. He is a Chinese rickshaw puller. Why do you want to waste your time convincing him to wear Malay dress?

MOTHERYou dont understand HASSAN. Im scared that he will get caught by the Japanese army if they found out that he is a Chinese.

AH KHAWAi yaaa...but its very hot-lah sister...

MOTHERIts okay. I made another one for you. I bought it in Geylang. (CONTINUED)

Go and try that one.SEM, bring Khaw to my room and try the newbaju kurung.

SEMAlright mother! Come AH KHAW.

SEM drags AH KHAWs hand and brigs him to the room. MOTHER and HASSAN are left in the living room. HASSAN looks at his mother like he has something to say.

HASSANMOTHER, the reason why I brought AHKHAW to stay here is because I want to save him from the Japanese, not to convert him onto Malay.

MOTHERThats enough! Why are you so against him becoming Malay? He has started to eat pork again. I dont like it. What would happen if the Japanese army saw a Malay eating pork? They will definitely find out he is a Chinese!

HASSANCalm down MOTHER....

MOTHERThats enough HASSAN. I will not argue with you about this. But can you please advise AH KHAW to stop eating pork. I dont want him to get into trouble.

HASSAN(Sigh) Alright then I will.

END OF SCENESCENE 2INT.AH KHAWS ROOM-DAY

A bed is present. AH KHAW is laying on it, looking sick.SEM is about to leave to school.

AH KHAW(Weak voice)SEM... SEM...SEM approaches AH KHAW

SEMWhat is it, AH KHAW?

AH KHAWCan you help me?

SEMOf course AH KHAW, I can buy some fruit for you, what would you like?

AH KHAWNo... No. Not fruit. I dont want any fruit.

AH KHAW pulls SEMs hand closer to him.

AH KHAWYouve been to my house in SungaiRoad, remember?

SEM(Confused)Yes... I used to go there many times with you.What is it AH KHAW?

AH KHAWYou know AH CHONG dont you?

SEMThe one who replaces you to pull the rickshaws when youre sick?Yes I know him.

(CONTINUED)AH KHAW(Slowly)Go and see him and ask him for a small favour.

AH KHAW makes a smoking signal, putting his hand near his lips and inhaling.

SEMUnderstood.Ill ask for your pipe and the tobacco too.

SEM leaves for school.

8 HOURS LATER

SEM goes straight to AH KHAW when hes home.

SEM(Slowly)AH KHAW, AH CHONG wasnt there.I tried asking around but no one knew who he was.Some people told me they put him in the lock up because he was supplying that stuff...

AH KHAW(Long sigh)It doesnt matter SEM...Thank you, it doesnt matter

END OF SCENESCENE 3INT.HOUSE. DAYHASSAN hastily follows after MOTHER onto the house. HASSAN shuts the door and looks straight onto MOTHERs eyes. SEM sits at the corner of the house.

MOTHERI told you about this HASSAN, Ahmad is the suitable name for AH KHAW. After all, it is the name of PAK SALLEHs eldest son. Who knows; soon after this he might follow his footsteps and goes to Mecca? Speaking of this, we should all hold a celebration! (Excited) I have to tell PAK SALLEH about this, the villagers. Busy, busy, busy. SEM, help me a bit and go call PAK SALLEH to come to our house tonight, would you?

SEM groans and looks at his MOTHER.

SEMIts just PAK SALLEH right?MOTHERWait, maybe you should call Cik Kiah and Mak Gayah too.HASSANHold it SEM! MOTHER, what have you done?! You know AH KHAW doesnt want to be a Muslim. Why cant you just let it go?

(CONTINUED)MOTHER

But HASSAN, he does want to become a Muslim now. He told us so by himself!HASSANYou are the one who is so bent on making him a Muslim MOTHER. Let him be with his Tua Peh Kong. Whats wrong if his heart is at ease with his own God? If you really want to help him, why dont you find him medicines to cure him of his cravings for opium instead?

MOTHER looks at HASSAN in anger.

MOTHERYou seem to be dead against me converting AH KHAW onto a Muslim!HASSANIts not that, MOTHER. If he really wants to become a Muslim, that would be another matter. The thing is; hes not. His heart still prefers to remain Chinese.MOTHERBut wouldnt it be good for him to become Malay? The Japanese will not bother him again.HASSANListen to yourself now MOTHER, how would the Japanese believe he is Malay when he speaks like a Chinese rickshaw-puller? You know why I brought him here? Have you seen the dragons, tigers, lions, and cats on his chest? Theythe Japanese are hunting after him mother. I just want him to be safe. But you arent making this any easier for him.

(CONTINUED)MOTHER turns her back from HASSAN.

MOTHERYou may say whatever that you want Hassan. But, this is the right thing to do. AH KHAW will be a Muslim. His name would be Ahmad. Youll see Hell convert onto a Muslim.

HASSAN holds his Songkok, rubs his hair and sighs in frustration.HASSANThen, good luck on converting him onto a Muslim mother...

HASSAN walks out of the house and smashes the door in his frustration. MOTHER turns onto SEM in anger.

MOTHERAnd you! I told you to call after PAK SALLEH arent I?!

Startled, SEM looks at his mother.

SEMJust PAK SALLEH? No Cik Kiah or Mak Gayah?

MOTHER glares at SEM.

(CONTINUED)MOTHERSEM

SEMGot it, got it. Just PAK SALLEH Go to his house and tell him to come to our house tonight. Got it Good bye MOTHER.

SEM walks out of the house in rush. The door closes.

END OF SCENESCENE4INT. AH KHAWS ROOM DAYHASSAN stares at Ah Khaws who just woke up from his sleep. HASSANHow are you today, my friend?AH KHAWMy friend, I am getting tired. This pain is getting worst. I wish that it would go away.

Mother came into the room with Sam. Sam leans at the wall.

MOTHERSEM, go take asam jawa with a glass of water. We should try this in Malay traditional way. I saw your grandmother did this when your grandfather was sick.SEMIs it going to work? How about take AH KHAW to see Peh Kong.HASSANMOTHER, I think we should give him Chinese herbs or traditional Chinese medicine.MotherNo! Thats absolutely not going to happen. Besides, I would not tolerate anyone who gives opium to AH KHAW. If I know any of you give opium to him, you will be getting a nice punishment from me.

END OF SCENESCENE 5INT. AT THE HOUSE-NOONThere is a knock on the door and mother opens the door for the guest.MOTHEROh, SALLEH! Why I dont see you lately? Here, come in. I have hot news for you.PAK SALLEHAstaghfirullah SALMAH. I just came back from the mosque. Ustaz Don is having a Kuliah Jumaat. Why are you fussing around SALMAH?MOTHERAH KHAW is getting worse. He is lying in the bed. He lost his appetite and only wants to eat biscuit Ping Pong.PAK SALLEHI think his time is getting nearer.MOTHERSALLEH, I think we have to be quick. I want AH KHAW to be converted to Muslim before he died.

HASSAN came from his room and nods his head in respect to PAK SALLEH.MOTHERHa, HASSAN! Im planning to convert Ah Khaw with the help of PAK SALLEH. What do you think?

(CONTINUED)HASSANIm not sure its a good idea mother. I dont want to force AH KHAW.MOTHERYou are Muslims. You must help him to become Muslim. If he becomes Muslim, he will go to heaven. You will get pahala, HASSAN.HASSAN(Irritated) Leave me out of this MOTHER. I dont want to be involved. If AH KHAW is to be made a Muslim, you arrange it. I had enough of this. AH KHAW is sick. What he needs is medicine or opium, not the circumciser! Perhaps, it is your persistence in forcing him that makes him sick!

HASSAN leaves the room in frustration. MOTHER looks at PAK SALLEH, considering every little word spoken by HASSAN to her.

MOTHER(Worried)Do you think it is because weve been forcing him that he has fallen sick SALLEH? Is it permitted in Islam for us to do this to AH KHAW?PAK SALLEHIt is permitted in Islam SALMAH. So long as the motive behind it was good and sincere. Why do you ask that?

(CONTINUED)

MOTHER(Grumbled) Its just that, HASSAN seems more concerned about him smoking opium than his conversion onto a Muslim. Wait, in Islam, is it allowed to smoke opium?PAK SALLEHSALMAH, SALMAH What a silly question. If it was forbidden, then my smoking of cigarettes too is forbidden. Of course it is permitted! What a silly question

END OF SCENESCENE 6INT. AH KHAWS ROOM - DAYMOTHER invites PAK SALLEH to take a look at AH KHAW. HASSAN follows him onto AH KHAWs room. SAM is there, sitting beside AH KHAWs bed.AH KHAWThank you for visiting me PAK SALLEH.PAK SALLEHDo not worry AH KHAW. Its not troubling me. Do you feel better today?AH KHAWI think my time is coming. MOTHERs eyes become teary and they all feel gloomy and sad after hearing AH KHAWs word.AH KHAWThank you so much everyone for giving me place to call as a home. You are the kindest family that I could have ever had. Before I go, forgive me for all the things while I was staying in your house.MOTHERIm calling Tok Dukun.AH KHAWNo. My time is coming. There will be no doctor or medicine could stop the time of my death. I can sense now that the God of Death is coming to take my life. Thank you so much for everything. I (CONTINUED)

AH KHAW is about to continue his words but he closes his eyes and died. He becomes cold and eventually stops breathing. MOTHERAh Khaw is gone. What should we do?PAK SALLEHWe cannot burry him in Malay funeral. Lets call our villagers.SEMI will call the Chinese people in our village.HASSANLets go together Sam. Ill talk to them and try to arrange the funeral. You stay here mother; Ill make sure that Ah Khaw be buried in the Chinese cemetery nearby. Its the least that we could do.

END OF SCENESCENE 7INT.AT THE HOUSE - NOONMOTHER sits in the middle of the room. PAK SALLEH sits opposite of her.PAK SALLEHBe strong, SALMAH. His time in this world has come to an end.MOTHERThank you, SALLEH. I want to hold a feast for the soul of AH KHAW, would you help me?PAK SALLEHSALMAH You cannot do that. AH KHAW hadnt accepted Islam as his faith while he lived. It would not be in accordance to our teaching SALMAHMOTHERI know SALLEH. I just feel very sad for not being able to turn him into Muslim.PAK SALLEHDo you regret it?MOTHERI have no regrets. Although our wishes werent fulfilled, God may still allow him to enter heaven SALLEH. After all, he died on Holy Friday.PAK SALLEHYes, he died in a holy Friday SALMAH. May God allow him to enter heaven... May AH KHAWgoes to heaven.

END OF SCENE2