Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:17):
You're shaking, mother. It's cool, it's not cold. It's hot.
It's very hot. After looking here, you're better. You need
(00:37):
to drink some water, try to rest. I'll go and
fill up the jug m. There's a city far away.
(01:03):
My parents often spoke of it as if it had
always been there and always would be. I'd seen it
in paintings, I read of it in stories, the richest,
most powerful place on earth, the center of everything. It
drew people from every corner of the empire and beyond
two one Bay, a city I always wanted to visit.
(01:27):
Who didn't? But not under these circumstances. On a slave ship,
my mother's sick. Captain, Captain, there's a man overboard. Look,
two men, go back to your canin. But there, I said,
(01:47):
go back now, your men are throwing slaves overboard. Why
better to lose the cargo and their sickness on board?
What sickness? Plague? How do you know? I've been transporting
(02:10):
slaves long enough to know when there's plague on board?
They get the pastumes under the arm pits in the grown.
There's nothing we can do for them. And what if
one of your men had it? There's nothing we could do.
Once the pastures burst, the sickness spreads. I have to
save the ship and those on board, simple as that
(02:32):
are the old sick, just one in the four dead hold.
But we can't take a chance. How is your mother?
She's recovered? I'm just tired. I was concerned. She's fully better?
Good after hold is okay? No sign of it there.
(02:57):
I'm certain it's just the one slave. He probably had
it before boarding. I I have to go back, Yeah, mother, mother,
(03:19):
wake up. M h they're throwing the slaves overboard. Oh
they do that sometimes. I saw them floating away. One
of them was trying to cling to the side of
the ship and he just got sucked under. What do
you care? Why do I care? There are slaves, but
(03:41):
there's still people. Why are you laughing? They don't have
the same feelings that we do. They're born and they're slaves.
They don't love. They don't understand. Then, how is it
into one by mother where they say everyone was a slave?
One that's different? How is it different? You are such
an up still a difficult child. Why are you upsetting
(04:02):
me when I'm so unwell? Is it dead water here?
Who is your father? Were here? He could explain everything.
(04:26):
Did the captain say how long? Soon? He said, so
he will be waiting for us. The flowers would be
dead though, mother. M hmm what flowers? Were you talking about?
Your father? Another wedding day. You have fever. You need
(04:48):
to rest and we'll have a home again. Arcologians around us.
And do you will meet your yancey for the first time? Yes?
Joy m what was that? I came from the cupboard? Yeah,
(05:20):
be careful. What is it right? Please? Not at the rat. No,
it's not a rat. Can you see anything? Yes? Who
are you? What do you want with us? Two mun
(05:45):
by Episode two Ship of the Dead by John Dryden.
I have an appointment with the head unit paper. Wait
(06:07):
over there, it hasn't arrived. I need to bring the
merchandise in. Where's the goods? Entrance? Over there? Down the passage.
Another day at the palace, the slave merchant brings in
his product for sale. Another beginning, M M unusual blue eyes?
(06:31):
Where did you procure them? I have been a slave
merchant all my life, your excellency. I have traveled far
and have contacts in every port. If you haven't answered
my question, I chanced upon them at the slave markets
and I thought of you at once, very considered it.
They are quality. Look look at the teeth and educated?
Are you educated? Do get back? I'm so, your excellency,
(07:01):
get back to back, your excellency. Are you're right? Was
that supposed to hurt me? Those went long ago? I
see you still have yours for now. If you want
to keep them, you better learn to behave so. Sorry
of excellency, but look at his spirits and he's educating.
(07:25):
Oh I can see that I have been buying slaves
for the palace for a long time. I'll take them both. Good.
Take these two down to the cells. My assistant will
show you and we'll do the paperwork. Malick, you're supposed
to come yesterday. The baby, the baby, the baby. I
(07:46):
thought the baby could could be a doll for the princesses.
Oh no, we have no use for the child, but
the princesses. We have enough thrown to the dogs. Come please, no, please, no,
make it's all right. I'll take it's trying to useful it. No, no,
(08:07):
I don't trust you. You have to trust me. It's
all right. I'll take care of it of her. If
she goes down to the cells with you, she will
be taken away from you anyway. This is her chanceful life.
Give it to me. Yeah, she needs me. Okay, wasn't
(08:33):
what all that? Naima what her name is Naima Na?
But here in tumn Bay we are all slaves to
somebody or something, even the Sultan and his advisers. Of course,
(08:54):
your majesty, the well being of your nephew is of
immense importance to us all. And now that his health
is improving, then you smell it. Smell Oh, yes, you're
wearing it. You didn't notice? I did? I did? You
(09:16):
don't like it? Into Munday? Not liking the center of
a perfume can cost you your head. I love it.
The Grand Vizier can always be relied on to say
the right thing. My nephew mother will helped me develop it.
I call it life, quite simply life, very very good,
(09:39):
your majesty, to celebrate his recovery from the clutches of death.
It's similar to the one you created for the King
of us. Yes that one, or the center I made
to celebrate the feast of the schol moon. Yes that
one too, But they are entirely different. Um My ability
(10:04):
to distinguish such subtle differences in smell is far less
developed than yours. Your majesty, it is really quite a
unique and wonderful gift that you have to act anything
you'd be perfected with. Quite so and well. Concerning Mardu,
perhaps we need to start thinking of more activities for
(10:27):
him to practice. What activities? He's no longer a child.
I think perhaps we need to involve him in more
more yea, a sixteen year old boy perhaps needs to
practice with the sword, horsemanship, the art of battle. I
know it's not his natural inclination, but I fear if
(10:50):
we ignore this aspect of his education. Well, what about
a posting with the army? I hope I haven't offended,
your majesty. Good idea, Dolly, I'll talk to his mother.
Thank you, your majesty, A General Kulan, You, majesty, we
(11:13):
were just talking about the Sutan's nephew Mado. I trust
he's making a speedy recover. He is. We want to
arrange a posting in the army if his Majesty commands
the position in keeping with his states. I don't want
him pample. He needs to grow up. He needs to
learn to take orders. Understood, your majesty, I have some news.
We have word from scouts that Maya's forces are gathering
(11:34):
along the borders of Amber Province, near Susan. I don't
want to hear such news, but your majesty will want
to come to me with bad news. Your job is
to deal with it. Why do I have to keep
hearing about this bitch? Who let her get this far? Majesty?
I am ready to deal with Maya good. Teach her
a lesson, yes, but I do not nothing refer to shreds,
(11:57):
Burn them in front of her, make her a weep beg.
Who does she think she has to challenge me? Perhaps, General,
you should get on with your work. Forgive me, majesty,
if I speak openly. Our provincial armies haven't fought in
a long time. How long is it since we've called
on the provincial governors to muster their men. This is
(12:19):
an opportunity. What are you talking about? What the opportunity
to bring them in line in case they have any
thoughts of their own about rebelling, We should call on
them to provide men to help fight Maya. That to
do so would send a signal to the provincial governors
that we are panicky, that the central authorities we know,
but show them that they owe their power to our Sultan.
(12:42):
I need your do need total authority overall provincial governors
and district commissions, Your majesty, if you were to grant
these powers, you would be going back on the treaties
that you yourself side of. Provincial governors have had it
too good for too long. Fat lazy, self obsessed peacocks.
(13:02):
They spent too much time admiring themselves in mirrors. They
are the reason we have left ourselves open to attack.
Go do it. You have my authority, that is the
Prepare the letters for General, call on and bring them
to me to sign. Of course, I will be in
my rooms. Congratulations, General, I'm doing what is best for
(13:29):
two Monday. Of course, I don't doubt it. But you
are an ambitious man. We both are. Perhaps this can
be an opportunity for us. How so mm hmmm, I'll
show you my hand if you show me yours. I
just want what's best for the empire. We all do.
(13:51):
I'm a soldier. There was a slave, a slave soldier.
The army has given me everything, my family, me my status,
my world. I want to serve my shorter. That's all
I want my brother. The general is a very unusual
(14:13):
man into munday. I, on the other hand, I'm rather
more interested in serving another master. Myself is the fat
man in Sir, the head eunuch. Do you have an appointment? No, No,
you can't go in. You have to wait like everyone else.
(14:33):
You have no idea who I am? What? Who are you?
Never mind? Ah? What your excellency, what an honor? Sultan's
(14:55):
first wife, Lady shar Jardan is and you made as
head of the Sultan's household. It's my duty to find
a suitable candidate. I see, I thought, well, she has
the maid. She was a spy. Oh, I need someone clean,
and you someone untainted by all the politics of the palace.
(15:17):
Do you have any candidates? She's been wailing for her
baby ever since she arrived. I was thinking of putting
her in the kitchens. Baby. She arrived here with a baby.
I had no use for it, so the merchant took it. Ah,
(15:40):
she is in here. She's on the north somewhere educated.
Clearly she was once someone when did she arrive a
week or so ago? Blue eyes, good manners, and she's
pleasing to the eye too. But that unfortunately is no
(16:02):
longer something I can act on, but perhaps your excellency
might Hey, yeah, yeah, come forward, all right, there's no
need send it to my quarters. I will indeed, Excellency,
(16:28):
where's the boss? Uh? The boss in the courtyard? Hi? Ah?
Do you see given bay? You said the house had
to be ready for a wedding. And see the fountains
are flowing, the tires are laid. Ah, please do not
(16:50):
step there. The cement is still wet. When was it
you said your wife and daughter were arriving. I need
you to take care of the baby. But what you
said your wife missed having a baby. Here is a baby.
But why are we going there? But he's a stupid, dirty,
(17:17):
unhygienic old man who doesn't cut his fingernails. He's the
half fees and you will show respect. He wasn't showing
much respect in his own country. They kicked him out.
He's nothing, just a just a parasite. Uncle just uses
him for state occasions. If he didn't have you, he
probably wouldn't even eat. Probably he is the direct descendant
(17:41):
of the teacher, a pure line. You need to respect that.
He is called by God's called by the spirit. More
like he's always drunk. What's more, he's our security, he's
our future. Someone else who has only her own interests
at heart. The Sultan's first wife, shad Art and her
(18:03):
useless son Madu. Has anybody ever come here? They would,
of course, but your uncle has forbidden it. It's God
in a box all this. My uncle lets him out
when he wants to say to the world, look at me,
(18:26):
I am God's anointed leader, and then he just shuts
him back up in this his box. It's all pretend
you've come. I'm so glad you came here this way. First,
(18:49):
your holiness a blessing for my son. Mother. Do it? Neil,
my son has been unwell. Oh, I am sorry to
hear that. M m h. The holy water too? Where
is it? Mellow? Bring the holy water? What? Oh? My
(19:12):
lady sha shall welcome? Bring the holy water here? I
don't want it. Give him the cop drink it, true
believers must drink until they are full. I'm full. It
will make you strong. It has been brought here from
this sacred spring. Done good. I do wait outside, But
(19:36):
why should I have? Because I'm telling you too, and
get rid of him. Hello, Yes, I have my prayers
to attend to. How are they treating you all right?
For a prisoner? The food? It could be better. I'll
see what I can do. So why did you call me?
(20:00):
Have been thinking? Yes, I think they should be with
me with respect, with respect, I think perhaps not, but
I should be with them. I am the guardian. I
am nothing without them. But as we agreed when I
(20:22):
agreed to look after your interests, we agreed that I
would be best positioned to keep them safe so no
man could find them, not even the Sultan, that I
would keep them safe. But I am nothing, nothing without this?
(20:47):
What was that all about? Ensuring our future? Talking of which,
isn't it about time I found your wife? Do we
have to keep this cussing this? I'm not ready. Neither
was I when I was chosen back to the palace.
(21:09):
You are my son, It's no secret that you are.
Your uncle has chosen heir. I don't care. Others might
if you prefer the flesh of girls or boys, But
you need to produce an air. A ruler without an
air is vulnerable, not a ruler yet. You know, in
(21:30):
the old days it would have been General Poulan or
Kadali who would have succeeded the sultan because they are
ruthless and they have the experience. Well, that's the old days.
It's not like that anymore. You are of noble birth.
It's your birthright, it's your double birthright. After all, your
dear father, bless her soul, was also the Sultan. No, mother,
(21:54):
I'm a slave from slave stock, and so are you,
and so is everyone else here. Ye, captain, the four
day cold is emptied, now good, and we've washed it
down and burned brimstone in there. All right, keep an
eye on the aft. Hold any signs of sickness and
(22:14):
we'll get them overboard. What about the crew, no sickness,
gather them up on the deck at sunset? We must
give thanks for our deliverance. H captain, Is everything all right,
my lady? How is your mother? Captain blunster boat? There's
(22:37):
no need for that. Everything has been taken care of.
There is no plague. We are out of danger of
monster boat. Now cut off her head, go aft, get help.
Easy to say when you are. No one moves until
the boat is launched. Look listen to me. I can
(22:58):
offer you your free if you let like you off
with my brothers their freedom when you threw them in
the seat. Free you. Let you take the boat. If
you let her go, you have my word. Your word
is worth nothing. This girl is worth everything. Launch the boat,
put food and water in it. Captain, do it? Launch
(23:21):
the boat the come on, he's there now, let her
(23:41):
go only when I'm on the boat. What are you
meant to go? Back? Step back? Get back now? All night,
all night. No one is going to touch you. Please,
I don't want to go down. Let me go here,
Shut up, don't talk. Please, everyone's style are free to go.
You are free to go. Sit there, shut up. Now,
(24:23):
let the gun go. You think of a fool you
would seek me? The girl will be released when I
get the shore. The candidate is loaded. Shall I fire? Captain? No?
Let them go. Aren't we going to chase them? There's
(24:45):
nothing we can do. Keep to your course. We still
have a cargo to sell. What are you going to
do with me? Okay? I when I finish with you,
I'll do what your people did to us. Oh where
(25:17):
is my daughter? What happened? I'm sorry man, there's nothing
we could do. But what do you mean he took
a boat? He took your daughter? Did see? We must
go after them. We must Are you all right, madam oh?
(25:41):
Madam oh, it's bad hm hm. Why don't you sit
(26:05):
down right? Should yourself leave us to talk for a while? M? Sarah,
that usual name. I'm here at least? Where are you
(26:25):
from the north? I understand? This is where I live
in the palace. It's a small apartment. But then I
don't need much. I don't have a family or anything
like that. I live alone. It's necessary for what I do,
not to have any ties, not to love. Love only
(26:48):
makes you weak, especially love for a child. Would you
like some wine? M It's all right. You can drink
here if you like. No one want to arrescue that
they're not me? So you can read? I see? How
(27:10):
did you know? Your eyes? Your lovely blue eyes. I
couldn't resist when I turned my back to poor the wine.
You can resist looking at my ledger? Could you? Do
you see anything interesting about my work? You know what
my work is? To find the spies. You're know what
(27:37):
I've learned in all the years I've been here in
the palace doing this. Everyone wants something, knowing what you want,
striving to get it. It's that that keeps us alive.
What people want can change from day to day. It
doesn't matter. For instance, this evening right now? Do you
(27:59):
know what I want? No? I want a trustworthy pair
of eyes on the Sultan's chief wife Sha. And you
know how I can get that if her new maid
were to report everything that happened to me. And why
would she do that? Because she wants something too? What
(28:23):
does she want? You see? This is how the world works.
People need prices. What is your prize? Your baby might live?
(28:49):
Of course I do have to ensure that the baby
is still around fast. We weren't expecting you back until
this evening? Is still here that some of them are master?
They were just packing up? Is everything all right? Where
is he the boss, the one I gave the baby to. Ah,
(29:11):
he's gone home. Damn, damn? Where does he live? I
mean I forgot to give you the keys? There you are?
Eben Bay has promised our work is almost complete. Never
mind that. Where is it? What the baby? I want
it back? I don't have it. What do you mean
you don't have it? I took it home, but the
(29:31):
wife she said no, and so I sold it to
the butcher. You you the baby you bought from my builder?
I needed back to let What do you mean, you
bostard my wife? She has become so attached to it. Well,
(29:54):
she has better become unattached because it's needed at the palace.
Is that so? It is? What it's going to cost?
You bring the belt with a gold thread, also the
diamond studded one it's hanging there. Mm hmm. I think
(30:18):
I will wear the gold, yes, madam? All right, let
me show you. You loop them around like this? Oh
you know how to do it? Yes, madam? Shall I
bring the ears of your dress? Don't ask, just do.
I will tell you if I'm dissatisfied. I was a
(30:38):
slave too. You know, everyone's a slave. I suppose even
the freemen are slaves, slaves to power, slaves and money
slaves too. This is how it is in Tuman. By
how did we begin this journey? It's through no choice
of our own, and yet it becomes our story, the
(30:59):
story of our lives. And where will the journey end?
You need a thread needle to stitch me in on
the table over there? Yes, madam? So you were taken
by pirates, Gregor told me, yes, madam. And before that
(31:21):
my father was a merchant from small kingdom. In the north.
What kingdom? What's it called Cassock? It's very small. You
want have heard of its? But I have. How is
his excellency Vane cass Yvon cass your king. But but
(31:43):
surely you must know, my lady, that Ivan cars is dead,
killed by son. Oh, yes, yes, to escaped. My memory.
Life is so fragile. We think we are safe, and
yet suddenly he was not so kind to my people
as his father was. We are to leave to find
(32:05):
a new home, and we're kept by pirates. Yes, and
here you are. You must have suffered great hardships. Yes,
but now you are safe. You are my maid and
I will look after you. Right, I must go to
the banquet. Now do you know why you are my maid? No,
(32:30):
my lady, why do you think you have this job?
Why did I allow that man to place you in
my household? Didn't you want to know? Because I had
no choice in the matter. You see, I'm a slave,
just like you. In essence, I have no real power,
(32:52):
not really. I lived my life for the Sultan and you, well,
the only thing I ask of you is total and
complete loyalty, because if you are not loyal, you will suffer.
You think you have suffered already, but believe me, you
(33:14):
know nothing of suffering. Here in human bay, we have
had centuries to perfect the art. Good madam, what is
it for? What? The banquet A wonderful new perfume created
(33:36):
by my husband, the Sultan Mha. It is exquisite, your majesty,
I can smell pomegranate. Congratulation. Thank you, Thank you. You're busy, Yes,
(34:00):
your majesty, where is that we need to start? He's here,
your majesty, I think there was a problem with let
me chuck. Excuse me, just a device? Thank you, thank you?
(34:20):
Oh please help me? What's going on? Dr He's almost ready,
your excellency, your healthiness, how are you feeling? Help me? Please?
You are the only one I done done you. I
want him in and there. I want him souper it
(34:42):
up and ready for the blessing. Do whatever you have
to do, your bliness, Just just sniff this m good evening. General.
If anything, my brother hates Godala even more than I.
And how is the most powerful man in the empire
(35:03):
enjoying the unseasonably cool night air. And I have an
army to build, an empire to defend. Do you think
I should be wasting my time here. Oh dear, Yes,
power is not just about big armies and strong men.
It's about confidence. What are you talking about? There are
spies here. All this will be reported back to Maya,
(35:25):
and she needs to see that Tuman baby is confident
that our glorious Sultan is well, that he is not
running scared. My brother Gregor is dealing with the spies.
Oh no, he's not, he can't. Spies are like cockroaches.
You can kill them all day long, and just when
(35:46):
you think they've all gone, you find one in your
bed sleeping beside you. Are you going in? I suppose
I have to? Why the pained look? This could be
your last chance you enjoy civilized company before your long
march to the provinces. Anyway, all you have to do
is make sure that Sortan sees you compliment him on
(36:08):
his new creation, and then you can be on your way.
That's precisely what I intend to do. They say. The
next few weeks will be unbearably hot the instance of
childhood the mighty human bear, Lady Shaja, may I be
(36:30):
the first to congratulate you your husband's wonderful new creation,
that it will smell like pol's done to me? Then,
I wasn't born here, we are a born I had
you visited the old man the other day. I didn't
(36:50):
know you were close. You too, we're not. I felt
sorry for him. It's very unlike you, madam, a soft heart.
I thought you knew me better. You did want Indeed,
the last was mine. I have commissioned the great composer
(37:12):
Ma soud Shah to compose a special it's celebrating the
creation of life itself. My boy, it's come here. I
want to buy myself. Of course, it's not just you.
You need to look after your son too. Let isn't
that supposed to be your job as head palace security?
(37:42):
It should be here by now. Well you're the harbor master.
Where is it? Why don't you just relax if you
come when it comes? But he said it was supported
passing the golden dawn. Yeah, so why isn't deteriorate? Could
be lots of different reasons. Maybe the wind dropped. What
(38:08):
is your wife going to say? What when she sees
you with baby? How long have you been apart? No? No, no,
she's not mine, she's I'm looking after her foot. It's
he's all right, it's all right. I'm here. No need
to cry. Well, maybe I'm a fool, but I had
no choice. We are going to have to look after
(38:29):
this baby. So the sooner my wife and daughter get
used to having her around, the better. Ah. What is
it that's his? Come around the headland? Now that chip
coming in? We're you gonna do? Will it dock along
the key here? No, it'll have to anchor just out
(38:51):
until the paperwork is complete. In case slaves escape it happens.
Could I go out with you on the skiff as
some allows. Sorry, my wife and thought will be eager
to come ashore. Snot done. Signal to the captain to
give way. They're coming in too fast. You know, when
(39:13):
you're married and your wife isn't around, well, a man
is surrounded by temptation, and it's very easy to get
into by the ways. But I'm proud to say I
have resisted that. When they lower their sails. What there's
something wrong? There's no one on deck. Snow done finding
the one in cannon. What's happening? She's coming in too fast?
(39:35):
Snow done? Give white, give white, slatter, give white? Stop
that give why? Google? Hello? Hello? H Hold my baby careful,
(40:10):
shill up short up short up, start up and take
the ropes hut up. Hell, Hello, hello, hell up, start
talking catch and they keep watching over the slave holes.
(40:32):
Held up. Hello, that's bring head. Hello Hello? Well not
(41:03):
are they hello? Hello? Mm hmm yeah you where's the captain?
M where's the captain? He's dead? All go back, go back? Why?
(41:30):
What your face? Quickly? What what's going on? Star? Start
and then his slaves in the hole. Yes, they are dead, old,
dead dead. The ship is a ship of dead man.
Let's plague. Get off, Get off now, my daughter, I
have said, get oh, push it back out. No, what
(41:58):
are you doing? We have no choice? By no, my wife,
my god, that's top. Excuse me, excuse me, go doughter,
(42:28):
what's my Oh ha ha ah ah Namer, Namer, It's
all right, it's don't I'm here now, I'm here. Episode
(43:00):
two of tuman Bay Ship of the Dead, featuring Rufus Wright,
Olivia Popoca, now Bill, el O Halbi, and Rad Rawi,
was written and directed by Me John Scott Dryden, with
music by Sasha Partnam and editing. A sound designed by
Steve Bond. Tuman Bay is created by Me and Mike
Walker and produced by Emma Herne and Nadia Khan. For
(43:21):
more details, including a castle list, visit tuman Bay dot
com