January 31, 2020 • 43 mins
Adrift at sea in a small boat and hostage to an escaped slave, daughter of slave merchant Ibn Bai, must grow up quickly to survive. So too must Madu, pampered nephew of the Sultan, who has been forced to swap palace life for hardships in the army. Tumanbay is created by John Scott Dryden and Mike Walker. Visit tumanbay.com to see full credits and download scripts.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
M are you going to sleep forever? Where are we here?
(00:26):
Where else would we be? What's your name? Look? Run
this boat together with very little water, not much food.
I don't need you. I needed you to get off
the ship. But I don't need you anymore. You can
(00:49):
talk or you can swim. It's up to you. Where
you are heaven, it's heaven. I'm in a boat with heaven.
(01:14):
Stop it, stop it, say always stay back. I need
to go home. I mean my father is a businessman.
He can pay you. There will be a reward. You
just have to take me to a port where there's
someone anyone. There will be an agent. There's someone there.
(01:34):
He can give you money. Look, what's your name? Why
aren't you listening to me? You get money, there will
be a reward. Don't you understand? What is money to me?
I don't want money? Can we eat it? Can we
drink it? Can we make a sale? Catch to win?
(01:57):
What do you mean? Look around you? What do you see?
Nothing that's right? Nothing? You want to help? Sing me
a song? And my name is slave. Give me some water.
My mouth is ray. I can't sing with the drama
(02:23):
h more to never want to view the yeah day
thousand lovers, fool, the knock, the nighteing, young bird, noose
(02:52):
in a rose, boot sleeves, the rose. There's a city
far away. 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,
(03:14):
the richest, most powerful place on earth, the center of everything.
It drew people from every corner of the Empire and beyond.
Tu Mun Bay, a city I always wanted to visit,
but now I never would. Tumun Bay, Episode three, Coming
(03:49):
of Age by Mike Walker mm more Ambergris. Do you
(04:13):
think it's different for boys? Madam? Don't stop love women
sex for boys? I can't say, madam. Is it just hygiene,
tapping off some male excess, something they have to do
(04:33):
before they can do something more important? Mm I remember
being twelve years old riding into Tumin Bay with a
caravan of traders. Someone I can't remember who had traded
me to them for copper, or goats or a I
(05:00):
remember the city walls and beyond them the towers rising
out of the shimmering heat. I remember riding Astrida, camel
blood on my thighs from my first time as a woman,
seeing even then men's eyes following me and thinking, yes, here, here,
(05:24):
I will become myself. And so you have, Madam, you
have become the first wife of the Sultan hum not
bad for a twelve year old hore on a camel eis.
And yet Madam, he is sixteen and no little halls
(05:47):
scuttle around his apartments. You know this, Madam, I know everything.
Never forget that shah Jad is a beautiful woman and
she knows it. Fetch me. I like dress and the
rose veil. She's also entirely untrustworthy, and I know it,
(06:07):
which is why, as master of the palace guard, I
have to take measures even within the forbidden world of
the Hareem. What are you doing here? You can't be here.
She has beautiful gowns, your mistress hostletan spurs, and I
expense in decorating his toys. Someone might hear where were you?
(06:29):
What do you mean? I can't just get away if
she needs me? You're here because I put you here.
You were supposed to report to me. You did not,
so I have come to you. Don't let that happen again,
my baby. Well, I want to see for myself if
(06:50):
we all had what we wanted, what we once thought.
What's ours? I want to see my baby, so you
shall as soon as you perform a task for me.
How do I know I can trust you? A woman's
trust is a fickle thing. I say you are a tool,
(07:12):
an instrument, just as this dagger is. It has a
purpose to cut. For that reason, I keep it sharp,
sharp enough to shave their hairs from your arm without
breaking the skin. The life is no good unless it's
kept sharp. A spy is no good. And as she
(07:34):
believes in her reward, I would assume blunt one as
the other your baby as well. I'm cared for. I
have a task for you. She's say nothing. I am
not used to being kept waiting by my slaves. I'm sorry, madam,
(07:57):
I could not find them. Must I do these things myself?
Forgive me, it will not happen again. Let me you
are your instructions. Let me go bring the information to
me this time. Help you hurry, girl, if you ever
want to see your child again. M my lord, my lord,
(08:38):
God's name, what are you doing here? Are you one
of my mother's maides? No? No, I'm not dressed like that.
My name is SHAMSI, Ah, you're a whore. Did one
of my friends put you up to this? It's not
my birthday? Do my clothes bother you? Is that better?
M It's my mother, isn't it. She sent you. Look,
(09:02):
it's easy enough to just lie back and I'll do everything.
You won't even notice. Stop it, just stop it. It's
my job to prove your manhood. The lady requires it.
And if I do not get out, please, Lord, it's
not my fault. I can only obey, or she will
have my hand. Just go away, lead me alone. I
don't want to die. Please, please, my lord. I won't
(09:28):
let her hurt you. Just she's the first wife, Lord.
She can do anything. I know. She controls my allowance.
And should you not want to please her, Well, that's
the difference between what's your name, Chamsy, that's the difference
between us, Shamsy. You have to please. I don't wait here.
(09:53):
Get out, my Lord, I said, get out? Where's my mother? Yes? Go, madam?
What do you think you're doing? What are you talking about?
You know very well that whore you sent to my rooms.
It's disgusting. You can't do that. My life is my
own business. In Tuman bay, and particularly in this palace.
(10:14):
You know that's not true. I can assure you and
anyone else who might be interested, that if and when
I want to have some girl, I will make my
own choice in my own way, don't you see, my dear.
It's proof that you're a man. Rulers need to have children,
and the people need to know that if, if, what
if we are going to change things, go against custom,
(10:34):
if you are going to be your stepfather's successor you
say this is all about being a man. Yes, yes,
well it's simply not manly to have these things arranged.
When I need to produce an air or any number
of bastards, I can assure you I will, and I
will do so because I wish it, because I have
made the decision, because that is what a man does.
(10:58):
You're absolutely right, my dear. I'm sorry. I shouldn't try
to manipulate you. I can see that you are a
man and that you need to make your own decisions.
Thank you, mother. I'm glad you understand, which is why
General Kulan, at the request of your stepfather the Sultan,
has asked that you join the army, and I have
(11:19):
given my blessing he's expecting you this afternoon. The army
is encamped on the northern Marshes. I I won't go.
It's a man's job. That's what you wanted, isn't it.
You'll work under General Kulan. It will be a good experience.
Are you this is I simply will not, and it
(11:40):
will be useful for us. He has influence, and if
things go on the way they are, he'll soon have more.
You can't make me. I have things I need to
do because I am your mother. Don't for one instant
think I will roll over on this. We are all
of us in a game. Remember what they did the
Sultan Ibrahim third, the one they called the mad Sultan.
(12:02):
They deposed him and built a tower in the swamps,
and at the top of the tower they built a
cell around him, no window or door, and they left
him there for ten years, only a small hole for food. Hi,
I don't understand. You want to make your own decisions,
and that's good. But if you make the wrong decisions
(12:23):
like the mad Sultan, I have a certain position here,
a certain influence, But you, my dear, have only me also,
You could be used against me. You must make allies
of your own Kulan has offered to take you and
train you. You will accept that gift with the grace
I expect of my son. And if I refuse. In
(12:47):
tumm Bay, everything has a use. If it doesn't, it
has thrown away. Madam? Is there anything I may get you?
Like puppies, sometimes you have to use the stick to
(13:09):
train them. Shagyard cares about her son, or at least
cares about what she can use him for. That is
her weakness. My weakness, on the other hand, go away.
(13:29):
This house is in morning. You know who I am.
I'm sorry, mister, someone has come. I told you I'm
not to be disturbed. So the slave trader becomes a nursemaid.
(13:49):
As you commanded, Your excellency, that I have the baby
look after it carefully. Your own well being depends on
it all. Well, yes, I'm so fortunate. I have all
of this, my house, my business, and I have nothing
at all. They were my life, my wife, my daughter,
(14:13):
she was coming to be married, and now my life
is over. It's the plague. It cares nothing for any
one of us. It takes princes and poor men of life.
It's all God's will? Is it God's will that these
damned barbarians from beyond the civilized world should come with
(14:33):
their diseases and could not even bury them. May I
hold it be careful? The slave traders weakness is that
he thinks he's lost everything, but has found a child,
and he loves her. What her name? She's a girl interesting,
(15:01):
blue eyes like her mother. Like her mother and uncle.
They both had blue eyes, unusual, highly prized in the
business business the trade slaves. It is said blue eyes
originally come from the cold lands to the far North,
where they were giants. I'll show you, Sabina. I mean,
(15:26):
I'm sorry about the mess the builders. I was preparing
the house for my but that's all in the past
now here. I even built myself a library. I've always
loved books. M I think they're bulgars from beyond russ
(15:55):
the cold lands of the North. I tried to get
it from them. But what am I doing? This means
nothing to me. I've lost everything, not everything, save you
that tell me about the other one? Other one, the brother.
(16:25):
I sold them both to the palace. What happened to him?
I think he was sold onto the army a waste.
I thought he was educated. I could tell him because
he was. You're a man who still has a reason
to live. For after the fire burns off the land,
new life arises. Must be tended. The child matters to you.
(16:49):
I can see it clearly, So tend her well, hibben Bay.
She is useful to me. How are you? And so
long as that lasts, as long as Maya allows that
(17:11):
to last. Who knows? What I do know is that
preparations for war are going ahead under the command of
my brother, General Kulan, who he's in all glory. Some
of it is ship, and that ship has to go somewhere.
(17:31):
So you dig and dig hard? You, yes, you? What's
the matter? Don't like the stink bloys? Makes no different, Sergeant.
(17:54):
You tell me to shovel, and I shovel, just like
the rest of them, not like the rest of them.
There's something about you I don't trust. What's your name? Daniel? Daniel.
I'll remember you, Daniel. I'll be keeping an eye on
you until I find out exactly what use you are. Understand, Yes,
(18:18):
sergeant good, all of you dig dig Who knows dig
hard enough, work hard enough, fight hard enough, and you
may end up like the general in charge of the army.
I'm looking for General Kolan, And what do you want
with the general? There's hardly any of your business, is it?
(18:39):
Where is he? He's over there in the tent. But
you won't want to be bothered, thank you. I'm moreman
that it is under the seal of the Sultan himself
and the rule powers up. What do you want? I've
come to join you, General what I'm the son of Shajad,
(19:02):
the first wife of who she is. I was not
aware that she had any military command. I agree, General,
I just happened to have been sent by my mother
to assist you in any way you might need assisting.
Why see, you've come to assist me, well, Mado, sent
(19:27):
by my mother. What exactly are you going to do
for me? For me, for the army? What exactly is
your particular skill? Look, General, I don't want to be
here any more than you want me here. Good than
we agree? You may go where back to your mother?
So you're releasing me. Would you care to write an
(19:48):
order to that effect? You're like an order, would you?
It would be helped very well, Sarjeant. Yes, Sir, this
young fellow wants to join the army. Impress him in
the foot regiments. No, that's not right, that it's an order.
Come no, you can't do this to me. You can't
do this. My mother will hear about this. Look, you
(20:10):
don't understand. You clearly don't know who I am. I
have to send a message to my mother. Just let
me go, you blue eyes? What are you doing shoveling shit? Sergeants?
As you told me? Good when it seems like I
found a use for you. After all, here's another lump
of shit for you to look after. What am I
(20:33):
supposed to do with him? Do I look like I
can throw him in the shape pit if you want.
We leave for the provinces in two hours. Get this
lot covered, and remember you are responsible for this third
here back door, Well, what are you waiting for? Pick
up a spade, start digging. H Oh, there's nothing like
(21:08):
a war to bring the blood to the boil, truly, prodigy,
move your head. Look at them as they march by.
Look at the flags, the lances erect My army, my army, Yes,
(21:39):
put some clothes on, boy, let's see. My army needs
to see me. That's my armor? Where did it come from?
This ingratitude? Husband? May I put her there? At least
(22:01):
put her down, mistless husband, what happens? That'll do? Come?
We'll do this again. With her head on a tree.
Right there, she can see me in all my manhood.
I look forward to it. Like ants on the march,
(22:31):
they seem to go on forever. Not yet, but once
the provinces muster their forces, yes, will roll over her,
crush her like a grape, and the blood will run
between our tools. My lord, are you you sound sad?
(22:53):
I hope I do not make you sad moments. There
are moments when I forget, when I am a man
as other men. But then, don't you understand? No one
is safe? Nah, not even within these walls. If my
nephew can be poisoned, I said Madou with General Kulan
(23:16):
he's down there somewhere to keep him safe. It will
be good for him. He'll learn about life, about how
to obey and how to command. General Coulan will be
a fine teacher. And when Madu returns, perhaps, my lord,
you could take him onto your council so he could
you want them to be my successor? Tom to answer,
(23:39):
It isn't a question, Shadjas. This kingdom is full of
people who think they can rule in my place, even Coolan, Okay,
there is leading his men, God leading your armies, even
(24:04):
he that paragon of honor. When power presents itself, he'll
reach out for it. Gregor, he has ambitions, Kadali, all
of them. Nobody is proof against the desire for power.
Power is everything, Power gives everything, and power is worth
(24:26):
risking everything for. Then isn't it safest to keep it
within the family to have a successor? You have trained
who is of your brother's blood? My Lord, you talk
about my brother's blood when I shed it for you,
I'm talking about your brother's son, Matu. He's like you
in so many ways. Name him your successor, and all
(24:48):
the jealousy, the infighting, and plotting will cease. The future
will be sadden. The only thing certain about the future
is that we will all die, and the only questions
are when and how, and the only tactics are survival.
Now Here, this moment, I could have you sent away
for your own safety, to a monastery in the desert,
(25:10):
to spend your days in a sell. Pray God, No,
I am loyal, I'm loyal. You must know that I
loved you when I was your brother's wife, when you
betrayed my brother for love of you, my lord, I
never knew love until I just remember everything you have
and everything you hope for Muddele depends on me. However
(25:35):
clever you are, you will not lost a butterfly's life
if you lose my favor, Sarah, I didn't see you.
Is there anything I may get for you? Madam? Yes?
(25:56):
Have thenm prepare my carriage. Actually no, don't. I will
be fine. You may go. You need to keep up,
or you'll be flogged. They won't flog me. They can't,
They wouldn't dare. Don't flog you any man who doesn't
(26:20):
keep up. I shouldn't be here. Shut up as much.
It's not right. I shouldn't be here. To Mundae a
melting pot of skills. It attracts the best of everything.
Tradesmen and artists come from across the empire and beyond.
(26:40):
Be a part of it. And in one small workshop
that's not right. What's not right? Bust means the thin
silk brush will you well? The heart isn't right? Very thin, medium,
thin or single stran doesn't matter. It's not the same.
Constrando well, it doesn't medium, medium, thin, medium, thick, medium medium,
(27:08):
Are you telling me I don't know how to paint
a hunch. Ah, I'm only saying that Haunch is wrong.
On the whole. Your hauns are satisfactory, but that Haunch
the line. See there, the line is satisfactory to my eye,
I have heard, brother. But across the sea there are
painters who use a circle of glass they call a lens,
(27:31):
to place the image of what they wish to depict
upon a surface, and then paint over it. In this way,
it is said they achieve something so life like that
the observer cannot tell the difference between the real and
the depiction. Hmmm, where did you hear that in your dreams?
(27:54):
This is delicate work. I do the delicate work because
I'm the elder. That's why you do the thing, the gold,
the silver, because that is it. Someone need to collect today,
No one, you're sure, of course, I'm sure, idiot. Well,
(28:14):
how can I be idiot? Because there is someone there?
Well look you look, Oh God, it's her. It's her. Yes, no, yes, no, stop.
(28:37):
We cannot tell her it's almost done. But maybe if
the work is good, surely she would not which how
many times do I have to say it? Once it
is finished? We are finished. We need to get paid
and get away before it's handed over. You know that
you know these people what they're like. Why did we
(28:58):
ever come here for money for ambition? The fools that
we were quick Remember, we have to keep happy, but
not so happy. She thinks a job will be finished tomorrow.
Pray she's alone that this isn't. Oh God, help us, madam,
(29:22):
come in please. I'm not accustomed to standing in the
street waiting, of course, of course, madam, Well, madam, the work, ah,
the work is it finished? Almost almost finished, that is
(29:44):
to say, finished, but not finished. We are awaiting the actualizing.
Yes exactly, madam, almost done. But you will understand that
the actual lie. I neither can nor I'm interested in
this actualizer. Show me what you've done now, now, well
(30:12):
you can see mother here and here what deep blues?
And that is all that remains to be done. And
the box, madam, the lapis lazuli has not yet arrived
from summer. Can't always slow in summer, can't, madam? Dreadful
to the business with It is very fine, isn't it
(30:32):
the finest we have ever had in our shop? It
must be very old, madam, as old as time hm, yes,
very old. You have a week I want to finish
by then. Do you understand full attention? I'm certain summer
can't will happen. Please let me, precious lady, May I
(31:02):
assure you that, brother, we need a plant. We had
a plan, you're a plan. Everyone goes to Mumbane rich.
You didn't have to come. I wish I hadn't. I
wish i'd never seen the place. Well, what now, there's
(31:34):
nothing here? This isn't any better than the sea. Then
go back to the boat. This is stupid. You should
have found a proper part where there's people and there's
food and there's something to drink. It's just it's just stupid.
You already said that. Well what are we going to do?
Where are we going to go? I got you to shore.
You can go wherever you want. But it's so it's
(31:55):
all the same. That's right, it's all the same to me.
Wherever you go, goodbye, Black. You can't just leave. There's
a reward. There will be a reward. My reward will
be not having to hear your voice whining anymore. Go
away where where I told you? I don't need you anymore.
(32:22):
You can't leave me. You won't leave me. There's one
anymore that's not safe. As long as they stay clear
of you, they'll probably be all right. Look, look, you
need me, You need me as much as I need you.
Look at me, What do you see? Sworled brat I
am as far as you're concerned, I'm a princess. I'm
(32:45):
worth something. What are you worth? You're just a slave?
If you go pieces? My father is rich. Can you
understand that you're just stupid? Gold lots of gold. There's
a million of you for sale every day of the
week in every slave market in the world. There's only
one of me, And if you have any sense at all,
you'll make it your business to take me back to
my father and doman big world will be every one.
(33:06):
You understand, Yes, at last, and the answer is still
not come back. Yes, Yes. The mistress wishes you to
(33:33):
go to the market. She wants sweets from the stoles.
She wants you to go. She says, only you choose
the one she likes. My time is better spend eating
my lady's finest angelica. Perhaps you should buy some more
of that so she doesn't notice it's gone. Perhaps you
(33:53):
should think about your fellow servants. Girl, we can make
your life easy or hard, and perhaps you should think
about what will happen if I inform the Lady Charja
that you are stealing from her. You may have lost
your balls. There is a lot of you still to go.
(34:13):
The best the sweets you say, it is what she says, Steward,
I am only trying to help very well. I thank
you for your concern. I will be sure to remember it.
(34:58):
You're the new slave. What are you doing here? This
is the steward's room. Where is master Nrgez gone to
the market for my mistress? And you are writing? I
was checking? You were checking? Yes, and exactly what were
(35:20):
you checking the lists? Why? My mistress, the Lady shah
Jah Yes, at her bath this morning we were low
on ambergris. She wished me to check. So you can
read and write A useful accomplishment in a slave. And
so we have salt, eggs and ngelica, sugar, wheat, flan, lentils.
(35:46):
What is this? I told you, my lord. So the
lady doesn't trust her Steward and sets her highly accomplished
slave to check. Interesting, you'd better add sugar plums the list.
I'm sure the Steward has an appetite for them. My lord,
(36:30):
sit down, you have something for me. The visier to Dolly,
he was there, he saw me. He took some sugar plumps.
Did he see this? Yes, he read it. He profited
from it. I don't understand. It's just a list of things,
(36:54):
ordinary things. But can you get them yourself? He does
have a weakness for sweets here sugar plums. If he
can go into the storeroom, why can't you. You don't
need to understand. What did he say, Kadai when he
wasn't stuffing his face, Only that he was surprised I
(37:16):
could read and write. Tell me that. Well, what I'm
looking for is something that tells me that things aren't
quite right. A flaw in the marble, perhaps almost invisible
to the naked eye, until the delicate sense of touch
tells you there's a crack. Then you look more closely.
(37:41):
Hammied brothers, what's this? I don't know. Unusual name artists.
I believe calligraphers the sortanas had work done by them.
I think, does your lady have a lot of calligraphy done?
She delights in fine work. And don't you all say
(38:01):
that you have the best craftsman in the world into Mumbane.
We do, we do? Now? What does Shadjad have to
do with these two? Right? I don't know, my lord,
of course you don't. Is she commissioning work something for
the Sultan's delight? Perhaps, let's see. I think I shall
(38:22):
need this list once a week. What are you waiting
for my baby? I want to see my baby. You promised, yes,
I did, and I will let you see the child.
But first, no, you promised. I won't do anything else
until I can see my baby. Keep marching, don't look
(38:52):
at the ground, look at the horizon. You'll get through this.
It's all right for you, you just soldier. No one's
just anything in this army. We were all something before,
and some of us will be something again. To do this,
you have to keep much. I can't. I can't. I
(39:14):
hate it. Man down here, sergeant, I'm not blind. Keep moving.
Everyone falls, But if you stay down, you die. Get up.
I can't. I can't get up. Get up, Rest on
(39:42):
my shoulder. Drink something. Man can't walk. Man can't fight.
This army needs fighters. Keep moving, sergeant. He's only a boy,
Well then he'll only be a dead boy. No loss
(40:04):
move gap, move bag. Look at me, Look into my eyes.
I'm going to leave you now. You're going to die here.
Can you see the vultures? Can you hear them? They've
(40:24):
learned to follow armies. They know they will always be stragglers.
They go for the eyes first, leave you blind? Shall
I kill you now to make it easier? Look at me.
You know I'm not lying. I can cut your throat.
(40:51):
It'll be quicker. Close your eyes now. No, no, no, no, please,
damn you. I won't. I'm not going to die. I'm not.
(41:12):
I won't die, Dan, you won't. I won't. I won't. Wait.
Please wait, I don't want to die here. I'm fourteen,
I've got my whole life. Listen to me. I'm worth.
(41:35):
Go to you. Please. Why won't you listen to me?
Why won't you shut up? I'm not leaving you, on thirsty,
I'll die if you don't help me. I'm not leaving you.
You're not leaving me. I'm leaving you. I'll die. Do
you want me to die? Oh? Thank you, thank you,
(41:56):
thank you. Why do you think anyone in this world
would care if you died? But I'm worked the I
could snap your neck like a little bird, Why should
you live a little birder? So many have died that
(42:20):
the look sandstorm, Maybe that's all rid me of you?
At last? Can you see it's it's not sund It's
it's it's stands and animals and as if an Army.
(42:57):
Episode three of Twoman Bay Coming of Age, featuring Rufus Wright,
Olivia Popeka, Matthew Marsh and Nina Yindis, was written by
Mike Walker, with music by Sasha Putnam and editing and
sound design by Steve Bond. Tuman Bay is directed by Me,
John Scott Dryden and created by Me and Mike Walker,
and produced by Emmahan and Nadia Khan. For more details,
(43:19):
including a cast list, visit Toumanbay dot com
M are you going to sleep forever? Where are we here?
(00:26):
Where else would we be? What's your name? Look? Run
this boat together with very little water, not much food.
I don't need you. I needed you to get off
the ship. But I don't need you anymore. You can
(00:49):
talk or you can swim. It's up to you. Where
you are heaven, it's heaven. I'm in a boat with heaven.
(01:14):
Stop it, stop it, say always stay back. I need
to go home. I mean my father is a businessman.
He can pay you. There will be a reward. You
just have to take me to a port where there's
someone anyone. There will be an agent. There's someone there.
(01:34):
He can give you money. Look, what's your name? Why
aren't you listening to me? You get money, there will
be a reward. Don't you understand? What is money to me?
I don't want money? Can we eat it? Can we
drink it? Can we make a sale? Catch to win?
(01:57):
What do you mean? Look around you? What do you see?
Nothing that's right? Nothing? You want to help? Sing me
a song? And my name is slave. Give me some water.
My mouth is ray. I can't sing with the drama
(02:23):
h more to never want to view the yeah day
thousand lovers, fool, the knock, the nighteing, young bird, noose
(02:52):
in a rose, boot sleeves, the rose. There's a city
far away. 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,
(03:14):
the richest, most powerful place on earth, the center of everything.
It drew people from every corner of the Empire and beyond.
Tu Mun Bay, a city I always wanted to visit,
but now I never would. Tumun Bay, Episode three, Coming
(03:49):
of Age by Mike Walker mm more Ambergris. Do you
(04:13):
think it's different for boys? Madam? Don't stop love women
sex for boys? I can't say, madam. Is it just hygiene,
tapping off some male excess, something they have to do
(04:33):
before they can do something more important? Mm I remember
being twelve years old riding into Tumin Bay with a
caravan of traders. Someone I can't remember who had traded
me to them for copper, or goats or a I
(05:00):
remember the city walls and beyond them the towers rising
out of the shimmering heat. I remember riding Astrida, camel
blood on my thighs from my first time as a woman,
seeing even then men's eyes following me and thinking, yes, here, here,
(05:24):
I will become myself. And so you have, Madam, you
have become the first wife of the Sultan hum not
bad for a twelve year old hore on a camel eis.
And yet Madam, he is sixteen and no little halls
(05:47):
scuttle around his apartments. You know this, Madam, I know everything.
Never forget that shah Jad is a beautiful woman and
she knows it. Fetch me. I like dress and the
rose veil. She's also entirely untrustworthy, and I know it,
(06:07):
which is why, as master of the palace guard, I
have to take measures even within the forbidden world of
the Hareem. What are you doing here? You can't be here.
She has beautiful gowns, your mistress hostletan spurs, and I
expense in decorating his toys. Someone might hear where were you?
(06:29):
What do you mean? I can't just get away if
she needs me? You're here because I put you here.
You were supposed to report to me. You did not,
so I have come to you. Don't let that happen again,
my baby. Well, I want to see for myself if
(06:50):
we all had what we wanted, what we once thought.
What's ours? I want to see my baby, so you
shall as soon as you perform a task for me.
How do I know I can trust you? A woman's
trust is a fickle thing. I say you are a tool,
(07:12):
an instrument, just as this dagger is. It has a
purpose to cut. For that reason, I keep it sharp,
sharp enough to shave their hairs from your arm without
breaking the skin. The life is no good unless it's
kept sharp. A spy is no good. And as she
(07:34):
believes in her reward, I would assume blunt one as
the other your baby as well. I'm cared for. I
have a task for you. She's say nothing. I am
not used to being kept waiting by my slaves. I'm sorry, madam,
(07:57):
I could not find them. Must I do these things myself?
Forgive me, it will not happen again. Let me you
are your instructions. Let me go bring the information to
me this time. Help you hurry, girl, if you ever
want to see your child again. M my lord, my lord,
(08:38):
God's name, what are you doing here? Are you one
of my mother's maides? No? No, I'm not dressed like that.
My name is SHAMSI, Ah, you're a whore. Did one
of my friends put you up to this? It's not
my birthday? Do my clothes bother you? Is that better?
M It's my mother, isn't it. She sent you. Look,
(09:02):
it's easy enough to just lie back and I'll do everything.
You won't even notice. Stop it, just stop it. It's
my job to prove your manhood. The lady requires it.
And if I do not get out, please, Lord, it's
not my fault. I can only obey, or she will
have my hand. Just go away, lead me alone. I
don't want to die. Please, please, my lord. I won't
(09:28):
let her hurt you. Just she's the first wife, Lord.
She can do anything. I know. She controls my allowance.
And should you not want to please her, Well, that's
the difference between what's your name, Chamsy, that's the difference
between us, Shamsy. You have to please. I don't wait here.
(09:53):
Get out, my Lord, I said, get out? Where's my mother? Yes? Go, madam?
What do you think you're doing? What are you talking about?
You know very well that whore you sent to my rooms.
It's disgusting. You can't do that. My life is my
own business. In Tuman bay, and particularly in this palace.
(10:14):
You know that's not true. I can assure you and
anyone else who might be interested, that if and when
I want to have some girl, I will make my
own choice in my own way, don't you see, my dear.
It's proof that you're a man. Rulers need to have children,
and the people need to know that if, if, what
if we are going to change things, go against custom,
(10:34):
if you are going to be your stepfather's successor you
say this is all about being a man. Yes, yes,
well it's simply not manly to have these things arranged.
When I need to produce an air or any number
of bastards, I can assure you I will, and I
will do so because I wish it, because I have
made the decision, because that is what a man does.
(10:58):
You're absolutely right, my dear. I'm sorry. I shouldn't try
to manipulate you. I can see that you are a
man and that you need to make your own decisions.
Thank you, mother. I'm glad you understand, which is why
General Kulan, at the request of your stepfather the Sultan,
has asked that you join the army, and I have
(11:19):
given my blessing he's expecting you this afternoon. The army
is encamped on the northern Marshes. I I won't go.
It's a man's job. That's what you wanted, isn't it.
You'll work under General Kulan. It will be a good experience.
Are you this is I simply will not, and it
(11:40):
will be useful for us. He has influence, and if
things go on the way they are, he'll soon have more.
You can't make me. I have things I need to
do because I am your mother. Don't for one instant
think I will roll over on this. We are all
of us in a game. Remember what they did the
Sultan Ibrahim third, the one they called the mad Sultan.
(12:02):
They deposed him and built a tower in the swamps,
and at the top of the tower they built a
cell around him, no window or door, and they left
him there for ten years, only a small hole for food. Hi,
I don't understand. You want to make your own decisions,
and that's good. But if you make the wrong decisions
(12:23):
like the mad Sultan, I have a certain position here,
a certain influence, But you, my dear, have only me also,
You could be used against me. You must make allies
of your own Kulan has offered to take you and
train you. You will accept that gift with the grace
I expect of my son. And if I refuse. In
(12:47):
tumm Bay, everything has a use. If it doesn't, it
has thrown away. Madam? Is there anything I may get you?
Like puppies, sometimes you have to use the stick to
(13:09):
train them. Shagyard cares about her son, or at least
cares about what she can use him for. That is
her weakness. My weakness, on the other hand, go away.
(13:29):
This house is in morning. You know who I am.
I'm sorry, mister, someone has come. I told you I'm
not to be disturbed. So the slave trader becomes a nursemaid.
(13:49):
As you commanded, Your excellency, that I have the baby
look after it carefully. Your own well being depends on
it all. Well, yes, I'm so fortunate. I have all
of this, my house, my business, and I have nothing
at all. They were my life, my wife, my daughter,
(14:13):
she was coming to be married, and now my life
is over. It's the plague. It cares nothing for any
one of us. It takes princes and poor men of life.
It's all God's will? Is it God's will that these
damned barbarians from beyond the civilized world should come with
(14:33):
their diseases and could not even bury them. May I
hold it be careful? The slave traders weakness is that
he thinks he's lost everything, but has found a child,
and he loves her. What her name? She's a girl interesting,
(15:01):
blue eyes like her mother. Like her mother and uncle.
They both had blue eyes, unusual, highly prized in the
business business the trade slaves. It is said blue eyes
originally come from the cold lands to the far North,
where they were giants. I'll show you, Sabina. I mean,
(15:26):
I'm sorry about the mess the builders. I was preparing
the house for my but that's all in the past
now here. I even built myself a library. I've always
loved books. M I think they're bulgars from beyond russ
(15:55):
the cold lands of the North. I tried to get
it from them. But what am I doing? This means
nothing to me. I've lost everything, not everything, save you
that tell me about the other one? Other one, the brother.
(16:25):
I sold them both to the palace. What happened to him?
I think he was sold onto the army a waste.
I thought he was educated. I could tell him because
he was. You're a man who still has a reason
to live. For after the fire burns off the land,
new life arises. Must be tended. The child matters to you.
(16:49):
I can see it clearly, So tend her well, hibben Bay.
She is useful to me. How are you? And so
long as that lasts, as long as Maya allows that
(17:11):
to last. Who knows? What I do know is that
preparations for war are going ahead under the command of
my brother, General Kulan, who he's in all glory. Some
of it is ship, and that ship has to go somewhere.
(17:31):
So you dig and dig hard? You, yes, you? What's
the matter? Don't like the stink bloys? Makes no different, Sergeant.
(17:54):
You tell me to shovel, and I shovel, just like
the rest of them, not like the rest of them.
There's something about you I don't trust. What's your name? Daniel? Daniel.
I'll remember you, Daniel. I'll be keeping an eye on
you until I find out exactly what use you are. Understand, Yes,
(18:18):
sergeant good, all of you dig dig Who knows dig
hard enough, work hard enough, fight hard enough, and you
may end up like the general in charge of the army.
I'm looking for General Kolan, And what do you want
with the general? There's hardly any of your business, is it?
(18:39):
Where is he? He's over there in the tent. But
you won't want to be bothered, thank you. I'm moreman
that it is under the seal of the Sultan himself
and the rule powers up. What do you want? I've
come to join you, General what I'm the son of Shajad,
(19:02):
the first wife of who she is. I was not
aware that she had any military command. I agree, General,
I just happened to have been sent by my mother
to assist you in any way you might need assisting.
Why see, you've come to assist me, well, Mado, sent
(19:27):
by my mother. What exactly are you going to do
for me? For me, for the army? What exactly is
your particular skill? Look, General, I don't want to be
here any more than you want me here. Good than
we agree? You may go where back to your mother?
So you're releasing me. Would you care to write an
(19:48):
order to that effect? You're like an order, would you?
It would be helped very well, Sarjeant. Yes, Sir, this
young fellow wants to join the army. Impress him in
the foot regiments. No, that's not right, that it's an order.
Come no, you can't do this to me. You can't
do this. My mother will hear about this. Look, you
(20:10):
don't understand. You clearly don't know who I am. I
have to send a message to my mother. Just let
me go, you blue eyes? What are you doing shoveling shit? Sergeants?
As you told me? Good when it seems like I
found a use for you. After all, here's another lump
of shit for you to look after. What am I
(20:33):
supposed to do with him? Do I look like I
can throw him in the shape pit if you want.
We leave for the provinces in two hours. Get this
lot covered, and remember you are responsible for this third
here back door, Well, what are you waiting for? Pick
up a spade, start digging. H Oh, there's nothing like
(21:08):
a war to bring the blood to the boil, truly, prodigy,
move your head. Look at them as they march by.
Look at the flags, the lances erect My army, my army, Yes,
(21:39):
put some clothes on, boy, let's see. My army needs
to see me. That's my armor? Where did it come from?
This ingratitude? Husband? May I put her there? At least
(22:01):
put her down, mistless husband, what happens? That'll do? Come?
We'll do this again. With her head on a tree.
Right there, she can see me in all my manhood.
I look forward to it. Like ants on the march,
(22:31):
they seem to go on forever. Not yet, but once
the provinces muster their forces, yes, will roll over her,
crush her like a grape, and the blood will run
between our tools. My lord, are you you sound sad?
(22:53):
I hope I do not make you sad moments. There
are moments when I forget, when I am a man
as other men. But then, don't you understand? No one
is safe? Nah, not even within these walls. If my
nephew can be poisoned, I said Madou with General Kulan
(23:16):
he's down there somewhere to keep him safe. It will
be good for him. He'll learn about life, about how
to obey and how to command. General Coulan will be
a fine teacher. And when Madu returns, perhaps, my lord,
you could take him onto your council so he could
you want them to be my successor? Tom to answer,
(23:39):
It isn't a question, Shadjas. This kingdom is full of
people who think they can rule in my place, even Coolan, Okay,
there is leading his men, God leading your armies, even
(24:04):
he that paragon of honor. When power presents itself, he'll
reach out for it. Gregor, he has ambitions, Kadali, all
of them. Nobody is proof against the desire for power.
Power is everything, Power gives everything, and power is worth
(24:26):
risking everything for. Then isn't it safest to keep it
within the family to have a successor? You have trained
who is of your brother's blood? My Lord, you talk
about my brother's blood when I shed it for you,
I'm talking about your brother's son, Matu. He's like you
in so many ways. Name him your successor, and all
(24:48):
the jealousy, the infighting, and plotting will cease. The future
will be sadden. The only thing certain about the future
is that we will all die, and the only questions
are when and how, and the only tactics are survival.
Now Here, this moment, I could have you sent away
for your own safety, to a monastery in the desert,
(25:10):
to spend your days in a sell. Pray God, No,
I am loyal, I'm loyal. You must know that I
loved you when I was your brother's wife, when you
betrayed my brother for love of you, my lord, I
never knew love until I just remember everything you have
and everything you hope for Muddele depends on me. However
(25:35):
clever you are, you will not lost a butterfly's life
if you lose my favor, Sarah, I didn't see you.
Is there anything I may get for you? Madam? Yes?
(25:56):
Have thenm prepare my carriage. Actually no, don't. I will
be fine. You may go. You need to keep up,
or you'll be flogged. They won't flog me. They can't,
They wouldn't dare. Don't flog you any man who doesn't
(26:20):
keep up. I shouldn't be here. Shut up as much.
It's not right. I shouldn't be here. To Mundae a
melting pot of skills. It attracts the best of everything.
Tradesmen and artists come from across the empire and beyond.
(26:40):
Be a part of it. And in one small workshop
that's not right. What's not right? Bust means the thin
silk brush will you well? The heart isn't right? Very thin, medium,
thin or single stran doesn't matter. It's not the same.
Constrando well, it doesn't medium, medium, thin, medium, thick, medium medium,
(27:08):
Are you telling me I don't know how to paint
a hunch. Ah, I'm only saying that Haunch is wrong.
On the whole. Your hauns are satisfactory, but that Haunch
the line. See there, the line is satisfactory to my eye,
I have heard, brother. But across the sea there are
painters who use a circle of glass they call a lens,
(27:31):
to place the image of what they wish to depict
upon a surface, and then paint over it. In this way,
it is said they achieve something so life like that
the observer cannot tell the difference between the real and
the depiction. Hmmm, where did you hear that in your dreams?
(27:54):
This is delicate work. I do the delicate work because
I'm the elder. That's why you do the thing, the gold,
the silver, because that is it. Someone need to collect today,
No one, you're sure, of course, I'm sure, idiot. Well,
(28:14):
how can I be idiot? Because there is someone there?
Well look you look, Oh God, it's her. It's her. Yes, no, yes, no, stop.
(28:37):
We cannot tell her it's almost done. But maybe if
the work is good, surely she would not which how
many times do I have to say it? Once it
is finished? We are finished. We need to get paid
and get away before it's handed over. You know that
you know these people what they're like. Why did we
(28:58):
ever come here for money for ambition? The fools that
we were quick Remember, we have to keep happy, but
not so happy. She thinks a job will be finished tomorrow.
Pray she's alone that this isn't. Oh God, help us, madam,
(29:22):
come in please. I'm not accustomed to standing in the
street waiting, of course, of course, madam, Well, madam, the work, ah,
the work is it finished? Almost almost finished, that is
(29:44):
to say, finished, but not finished. We are awaiting the actualizing.
Yes exactly, madam, almost done. But you will understand that
the actual lie. I neither can nor I'm interested in
this actualizer. Show me what you've done now, now, well
(30:12):
you can see mother here and here what deep blues?
And that is all that remains to be done. And
the box, madam, the lapis lazuli has not yet arrived
from summer. Can't always slow in summer, can't, madam? Dreadful
to the business with It is very fine, isn't it
(30:32):
the finest we have ever had in our shop? It
must be very old, madam, as old as time hm, yes,
very old. You have a week I want to finish
by then. Do you understand full attention? I'm certain summer
can't will happen. Please let me, precious lady, May I
(31:02):
assure you that, brother, we need a plant. We had
a plan, you're a plan. Everyone goes to Mumbane rich.
You didn't have to come. I wish I hadn't. I
wish i'd never seen the place. Well, what now, there's
(31:34):
nothing here? This isn't any better than the sea. Then
go back to the boat. This is stupid. You should
have found a proper part where there's people and there's
food and there's something to drink. It's just it's just stupid.
You already said that. Well what are we going to do?
Where are we going to go? I got you to shore.
You can go wherever you want. But it's so it's
(31:55):
all the same. That's right, it's all the same to me.
Wherever you go, goodbye, Black. You can't just leave. There's
a reward. There will be a reward. My reward will
be not having to hear your voice whining anymore. Go
away where where I told you? I don't need you anymore.
(32:22):
You can't leave me. You won't leave me. There's one
anymore that's not safe. As long as they stay clear
of you, they'll probably be all right. Look, look, you
need me, You need me as much as I need you.
Look at me, What do you see? Sworled brat I
am as far as you're concerned, I'm a princess. I'm
(32:45):
worth something. What are you worth? You're just a slave?
If you go pieces? My father is rich. Can you
understand that you're just stupid? Gold lots of gold. There's
a million of you for sale every day of the
week in every slave market in the world. There's only
one of me, And if you have any sense at all,
you'll make it your business to take me back to
my father and doman big world will be every one.
(33:06):
You understand, Yes, at last, and the answer is still
not come back. Yes, Yes. The mistress wishes you to
(33:33):
go to the market. She wants sweets from the stoles.
She wants you to go. She says, only you choose
the one she likes. My time is better spend eating
my lady's finest angelica. Perhaps you should buy some more
of that so she doesn't notice it's gone. Perhaps you
(33:53):
should think about your fellow servants. Girl, we can make
your life easy or hard, and perhaps you should think
about what will happen if I inform the Lady Charja
that you are stealing from her. You may have lost
your balls. There is a lot of you still to go.
(34:13):
The best the sweets you say, it is what she says, Steward,
I am only trying to help very well. I thank
you for your concern. I will be sure to remember it.
(34:58):
You're the new slave. What are you doing here? This
is the steward's room. Where is master Nrgez gone to
the market for my mistress? And you are writing? I
was checking? You were checking? Yes, and exactly what were
(35:20):
you checking the lists? Why? My mistress, the Lady shah
Jah Yes, at her bath this morning we were low
on ambergris. She wished me to check. So you can
read and write A useful accomplishment in a slave. And
so we have salt, eggs and ngelica, sugar, wheat, flan, lentils.
(35:46):
What is this? I told you, my lord. So the
lady doesn't trust her Steward and sets her highly accomplished
slave to check. Interesting, you'd better add sugar plums the list.
I'm sure the Steward has an appetite for them. My lord,
(36:30):
sit down, you have something for me. The visier to Dolly,
he was there, he saw me. He took some sugar plumps.
Did he see this? Yes, he read it. He profited
from it. I don't understand. It's just a list of things,
(36:54):
ordinary things. But can you get them yourself? He does
have a weakness for sweets here sugar plums. If he
can go into the storeroom, why can't you. You don't
need to understand. What did he say, Kadai when he
wasn't stuffing his face, Only that he was surprised I
(37:16):
could read and write. Tell me that. Well, what I'm
looking for is something that tells me that things aren't
quite right. A flaw in the marble, perhaps almost invisible
to the naked eye, until the delicate sense of touch
tells you there's a crack. Then you look more closely.
(37:41):
Hammied brothers, what's this? I don't know. Unusual name artists.
I believe calligraphers the sortanas had work done by them.
I think, does your lady have a lot of calligraphy done?
She delights in fine work. And don't you all say
(38:01):
that you have the best craftsman in the world into Mumbane.
We do, we do? Now? What does Shadjad have to
do with these two? Right? I don't know, my lord,
of course you don't. Is she commissioning work something for
the Sultan's delight? Perhaps, let's see. I think I shall
(38:22):
need this list once a week. What are you waiting
for my baby? I want to see my baby. You promised, yes,
I did, and I will let you see the child.
But first, no, you promised. I won't do anything else
until I can see my baby. Keep marching, don't look
(38:52):
at the ground, look at the horizon. You'll get through this.
It's all right for you, you just soldier. No one's
just anything in this army. We were all something before,
and some of us will be something again. To do this,
you have to keep much. I can't. I can't. I
(39:14):
hate it. Man down here, sergeant, I'm not blind. Keep moving.
Everyone falls, But if you stay down, you die. Get up.
I can't. I can't get up. Get up, Rest on
(39:42):
my shoulder. Drink something. Man can't walk. Man can't fight.
This army needs fighters. Keep moving, sergeant. He's only a boy,
Well then he'll only be a dead boy. No loss
(40:04):
move gap, move bag. Look at me, Look into my eyes.
I'm going to leave you now. You're going to die here.
Can you see the vultures? Can you hear them? They've
(40:24):
learned to follow armies. They know they will always be stragglers.
They go for the eyes first, leave you blind? Shall
I kill you now to make it easier? Look at me.
You know I'm not lying. I can cut your throat.
(40:51):
It'll be quicker. Close your eyes now. No, no, no, no, please,
damn you. I won't. I'm not going to die. I'm not.
(41:12):
I won't die, Dan, you won't. I won't. I won't. Wait.
Please wait, I don't want to die here. I'm fourteen,
I've got my whole life. Listen to me. I'm worth.
(41:35):
Go to you. Please. Why won't you listen to me?
Why won't you shut up? I'm not leaving you, on thirsty,
I'll die if you don't help me. I'm not leaving you.
You're not leaving me. I'm leaving you. I'll die. Do
you want me to die? Oh? Thank you, thank you,
(41:56):
thank you. Why do you think anyone in this world
would care if you died? But I'm worked the I
could snap your neck like a little bird, Why should
you live a little birder? So many have died that
(42:20):
the look sandstorm, Maybe that's all rid me of you?
At last? Can you see it's it's not sund It's
it's it's stands and animals and as if an Army.
(42:57):
Episode three of Twoman Bay Coming of Age, featuring Rufus Wright,
Olivia Popeka, Matthew Marsh and Nina Yindis, was written by
Mike Walker, with music by Sasha Putnam and editing and
sound design by Steve Bond. Tuman Bay is directed by Me,
John Scott Dryden and created by Me and Mike Walker,
and produced by Emmahan and Nadia Khan. For more details,
(43:19):
including a cast list, visit Toumanbay dot com
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