4.01 - Palace of the Blind

We're all slaves, but the slaves have slaves. Yeah, thank you. It's not really wine. Obviously sits it. When I was a child, long ago, before the Sultan, before the Sultan, before, before the Sultan, before that, sixty years ago, I think, though I can't be sure, time runs differently in this place. Back then, I lived in the harem with my mother. She was wife of the Sultan, one of many. You wouldn't believe the life. We had. Everything a boy could want.

I had tutors, I had my own horses, and the clothes we wore, the finest silk from the bazaars of Mozart. There was nothing we desired that we couldn't have. We were being trained to rule all of us boys, the sons of the sultan, nineteen or twenty of us. I was the youngest. I remember the date all changed the sultan our father died. Who knows of what he died of death? Lets say, I remember I was with my

mother and we heard screams, cries wailing. You see, it was the second son, young fab, our father's favorite, who had claimed the throne, and according to the custom on becoming sultan, his first act was to order the murder of his brothers and their mothers. The task of murdering me was given to my eunique Nightingale. We had been friends. He had been like a father to me. He used to crawl around, pretending to be an elephant, and I rode on his back, and we captured towns together, and

I was a great warrior. He called us, mother and I into the library. He ordered the tutors and the slaves to leave, and I could see in Nightingale's hand he was holding the silken cord to wind around our necks. My mother wept and held me close and pleaded with him not to carry out his orders. She kept saying, at least save my son, save my mead. He put the cord around her neck, and I looked into his eyes and I saw that he couldn't do it. He led us into a secret passage through the palace, then

out into the city. We lived there for a year or more, and then we were captured. Martingale and my mother were beheaded, but as an act of mercy, the Sultan and knew one. Of course, it didn't take long for someone to snatch par from my brother Faure. The new Sultan decided to show me mercy. The last thing I saw was the death of my mother and Nightingale, and then I was blinded and sent here to the furthest desert, to this, the Palace of the Blind. They

lay the man the dispossessed until you with it. I I'm not deluded. And yet here you are, Commander Gregor, master of the Paris Guard, master of nothing. Here you are to Monday, season four, Episode one, Palace of the Blind by John Scott Dryden. I am exiled from tuman Bay. When tuman Bay needs me most one city, two masters, or rather one master and a mistress. The Grandmaster, Amalric

and his Ballarach knights. Mhm, what do you think, my dear and Fatima, a provincial governor's wife, Mannell, and between them my niece Manell, the sultana in name. At least I asked you what you think? I'm sorry about what? Why do the people hate me? They don't? They do? I see it in the stairs. Look at them coping as we passed by. I sacrificed my dear son for that. I saved them from the ballarach. Why don't they love me? You want the people to love you. I want them

to adorn me. The ballarak is still here. Of course we should think of remarriage. Who for you? Of course, to cement our position. It's too soon. I don't want to dishonor the memory of my husband, My poor dear boy. It was not meant to be for him, but for Asthma. Now you are my daughter. Now I am mother of the empire, and you other sultana. We need something that people need, something to celebrate, a big event, a wedding. Something we need to deal with the ballarak. Why do

you keep going on about the ballarak? They are not a problem. There are annoyance. Oh yeah, tell him to open the gate. Yes do you want? We're here to see the grand Master? Not today? But this is menl Sultana of tuman Bay. She wishes to see the Grand Master. Not today. Your men have been stopping consignments sent to my palace in the provinces. We'll have to ask the grand Master. I can't. I can't and ask the Grandmaster because you don't let me in. Driver, take us back

to the palace. So what are you sending to the provinces? Never mind? Huh? Look, Balarak soldiers are everywhere. They're taking over everything, every office, every institution, every and I have my army, yes, but the Ballara. Can you stop talking about the Ballarak. We will deal with them when we deal with them, but not today. Then when you're making me angry. Man now with all your questions, don't make your mother angry. All right, this isn't the way, driver,

This isn't the way to the palace. The driver knows where he's going. Sit back, my dear, relax, But this is we're going through traitor escape Dan. Where are you? Why don't you come out? I know you're there. Alkin Ah, you have found the only mirror in the Palace of the Blind. We have no use for them here. You will only find yourself there, my friend, there is somebody else. That would be the reflection of me. No, I saw h she's dead, but she came back. Then you saw spirit.

She was as real as you are. I look out there, my friend. You have eyes. Look out at the desert. The desert is real. That's what are we. We are here and gone. Sometimes I can see her if I can look past the surface of the glass. It's like looking through the surface of water, like seeing the river. Bit. I see her there for a moment, and then she's gone. We all have memories. No, I can feel her breathing on my neck, and then I turn and she's not there.

I believe you, I do. I remember after my mother died. I could feel her presence in the room. I could hear her soft voice in my ears. No, you don't understand. No one understands this. It's driving me insane. Been looking for you everywhere you old goat. You're not supposed to be wondering about like this. God, have you pissed yourself again? I am not going to clean that up. You can stay in those till tomorrow. Come on, you filthy pig. Why don't you let me take him back to his room?

You just touched me what you're not allowed to touch the orderlies. Look, I'll take care of him. You can go. Was that an order? No, I'm his friend. I can change him. I can. I'm told you were an official in the Sultan's court. Yes, you look like you're used to ordering people around. Oh, it must be hard for you being here, getting used to all. They don't reach for it. You haven't got a sword anymore. They took

that away from you. You still here, old man. Why don't you leave him alone and leave him with me? It's all right, I just go. Look, stay, we were just talking. We were just talking. Leave him alone here, leave me alone, restrain him. Attacked me? What I didn't do anything risks. Once people were afraid of me, they did what I told them. Now I looked down on myself, the same part of me. That is, I think about what I was, and look at what I've become. I

don't belong here. Why can't others see what I saw? I saw her in the cellars of the palace, the woman Alkin, and she told me something. Why can't I remember it? My cat? I knew it was so important, the most important thing in the world, and I looked for it. I searched for it, and I asked everyone and and they said I was mad, and can't you come back? I need to more tell me more. What's that you are boy? Before you can say, I need to tell you something about the nature of the world,

you know? So what now we wait? Is the judge here, the physician? Mrs They are coming. You know, you know I'm true to you, mother or of my late husband, mother of the empire, and I am the sultana, yes, daughter of Tumin Bay's greatest general, beloved of the people. I am so bored of hearing it. You've lost control, my dear, an empire with two rulers. Well three, let us begin. What do you intend to do your lunch's? I told you your lunch dates, cameran, what's it going?

Oh it's gonna be today, isn't it? Of course it is. Take it away. I love wallet. The old grunts busy, are not hungry. That's the first and the last. M right, it's too bright, it's too bright. Just give me a moment, Give me a moment. I can't not try on. Services are required. No, no, it's just a I haven't seen the light from us. Oh, Sarah, are you here to make my suffering lost courage, my old friend. Coverage coverage stall next, pwerfits there are people here, Mr Fatima de Sultana.

Is this how you want to be remembered? No, come, my friend. You wish to rule the empire, my dear, yes, you want to take back control of tuman Bay. I do then watch, but watch and then uh cadalisous not just you. Do you remember the story I told you of the martyr? Do I remember? They opened up his stomach, pulled out his entrails and nailed them to a steak like this one here, dctor, please give me something, stay doctor, He used to have nothing. The martyr was encouraged to

walk around the stake as his entrails unwound. Now do you remember Kadari how many times he managed to walk around the stake before he finally succumbed. What's going on here? This is official business. Judicial practices fall under the authority of the ballard as well. I know I have a judge here. Everything is as it should be. Has the Grand Master been informed of your intention? Is he the

Sultan of tuman Bay? Now I think not? This is our Sultana Manel, Please thank the Grandmaster for his concern and pass him our good wishes. I hope he recovers soon. Grandmaster is not ill. Oh, I'm sorry. I assumed because he was unable to see us today that he was ill rather than just ill mannered. Now leave us to do the work of duman Bay Well, good early. What the martyr times around the state amazing? How much there is inde do it now with you most, bring forward

the judge. We'll go on. Read Madam. I want to hear the charges against the traitor Cadi rebellion against the city of Truman by treachery against the Sultana Manel murder of the Sultana's Vizier Elkin, and the brutal torture and murder of Prince heard son of the mother of the Empire, Mistress Fatima. Put that first, my son's murder. Put it first in the record if it wasn't him. I never wanted to harm your son. It was a mistake and awful mistake. My flesh and blood. I'll admit my idiot son.

He's already paid the price. Knife Mrs. I never wanted post for myself. I did what I did. Food tub bath, are you ready? Good? Early. Oh yeah, no, no, m hm. And you know I don't talk. I'm thinking Gregor, Gregor, is that you al king? Yes? You don't know. Something is going to happen. You need to be ready. Why me, Because Gregor Or, you are the hinge of history. Look you see the tracks in the sand and the lizard. I can't my eyes come out of the sun. I

can't see you. Show yourself to me. It's all right, it's all right, it's just me. Stop. You haven't forgotten me, have you? I prepared? You are wrong? Remember when you first arrived. Stop, sop, that's right here. Drink. Oh. I wish I could do more to help you, but they will do that thing me again with the spiders. I can't do with the spiders again. Up like you, I have to go. Wait? How how long will they leave me here? You know it's for your own good, don't you.

We're here because we went wrong, Like the lizard, we have to shed our skins. And the sooner you understand that, my friend, the better it will be for you. See the tracks in the sand, What did you say? The tracks in the sand? There the lizard. You need to decide which one to follow. What do you mean, if you follow the wrong one, you will die. But if you follow the right one, who are you? I have to go. They will be looking for me. See the tracks gragel in the sand? Mm hmm, there are no tracks.

There are no wake up and see, wake up, Wake up. The old man told me to help you. Come on, we need to get you cleaned up. You do remember me, don't you. You came to see me in the desert, did I? You were telling me about the tracks in the sand. I don't think so. Now come on, let's get you up. How long have I been sleeping? A day or so? You can see? Oh? Yes, not everyone is blind here. Some of us are just prisoness. Well, officially we are all guests, but we are prisoness. This

that's where you were. They always put the new ones in the Eastern Lynn for the first few moons to settle them in. People usually take a while. We all come from well privileged lives, palaces, great houses, the children of generals and rulers, all destined for greatness. And now we are surplus to requirements through here. Because this the passage of time. That's a joke, because time passes so slowly here. Oh how long have I been here? Well, let's just say a while. This is the grand Hall.

It's not very grand anymore, I'm afraid. Yes, no, your majesty, this is your loyal servant greg God. Just power and walk backwards. Thank you, your majesty. When they built this place they modeled it on the Palace at Thurman Bay, only it's much smaller. Of course, it doesn't have everything the Palace at Touman Bay has. There's no managerie, no all of mirrors, no gardens, just sand. Really, Ah, here's

your room. I left the basin of water there so you can wash yourself, and fresh clothes for you, my friend. Thank you. Look, be careful of the orderlies. They answer to no one. Orderlies, that's what they call themselves. In truth, they are here to guard us, watch out for oh left. You were foolish to get on the wrong side of him. You see, we all have our own thoughts. The tree

is to keep them to yourself. Put them in a box and close the lid and turn the key, and then hide the key in another box, and then close the lid. And I do this all day long. And that, my friend, is the route back to sanity. I'll leave you to rest. Dinner is at sunset in the grand hall. Wait, yes, why are you here me? Oh? Yeah, I ate my sister what it was a long time ago. I would never do anything like that. Now I've put it in a box and locked it away. See you at dinner.

King of Kings, Lion of lions, defenders, so kind, so all, ton of eagles, destroyer of enemy, father of the ship, hip hip, my friendship. Got your food good? You must be hungry, after all you've been proven. No, no, not yet, my friend pe. We have to wait for the stime to eat first. What is rightfully mine? I just see your veal from the mountains of the moon, prepared by my very head. Now we can eat execute h I know one of the cooks, and I've got a honey

cake for you. Thank you? Are you I God clean? Yes, Olive, don't catch his eye, Gregor, don't look up. Oh how are you this evening? Friend? You need to look at me when I'm addressing you. Oh dear, oh dear, this is not good at all. Perhaps another stint in the sun that's better. How are you feeling, grand time? Then say thank you old that I'm feeling better? Do it? Thank you? Olf. I'm feeling better. Good. What did you do friends that made them send you here? I don't

wish to punish you, friend, but I will. What did you do? Look at me when I speak? What did you do? Friend? I can't remember? What use are you? What use to us here? What use? How will you contribute? I am of no use. No, you are nothing, nothing at all? Whoa? Oh there it is, majesty, the Palace of the Blind. Yeah, what's going on? It's on table? What do you wait? Huh hm A sitting here, majesty. It's safer. They can be unpredicted. M hm. How are

your uncle? Are they feeding you? You look thin? I have to get back to two many, back to my work. You know what happened there? It was a bad time. Are you still saying that you saw Alkin? You know how that hurt me? I do, and I'm sorry for it. I saw nothing. I understand that now Alkin is dead, Yes, executed in the Grand Square. We both saw it. We lit her pier and pushed it out to see. Yes. Yes, and I am better. M hmm. They tell me that

you attacked one of your orderlies. He was injured quite badly. That's not true. You need time, uncle, Uncle. The way you were behaving, going around asking impossible questions, having walls knocked down, looking for secret passageways, You're anger. You're lucky to be alive. Mistress Fatma wanted you to be well. It's only because of my loyalty to you, because father trusted you after she killed cool and you allow her to rule the side you. She doesn't rule, Uncle, I rule.

I am the sultana and I am just another madman in the palace of the Blind. You get me out of here now, it's all right, it's all right. I can handle him. You need rest and calm to manbey is a dangerous place, and you, Uncle, you need to get better, says yes. Cadi is now my grand vizier Uncle, and I'm the one in a madhouse. Cadali is a traitor. He tried to overthrow you. I know, Uncle, how can you trust him? I trust him to serve himself. In

these times. We don't need saints. We need a man who is wise to the evil of this world and walks its path like a friend. Whatever has been lost, he knows where it is, all the secrets, all the hidden places. Wait, Uncle, listen to me. I need you. You need to get better. I need you, uncle. Do you understand? Should I allow the men to prepare the horses, majesty? Yes, there's no more to be gained here. We will ride overnight. Hello, is there something I can help you? Stand back? Do

not approach the Sultana. You should probably go back to the women's quarters. Friend, they will be worried. They're probably looking for you already. I don't know what this fellow is saying. Fellow is going to cut off your head if you don't step back. You have a sword? Are you really? They said it was a young woman, the new Sultana, is it? Is it really, your majesty? Yes, it is me. What are you doing here? Sorry? I didn't mean any disrespect. It's just I've never although I

was brought up in a palace. It was forgive me a scene. Do you remind me of someone? Oh? Yes, oh, my sister. We were brought up in a palace, and then we were sent on a journey through the desert. It was very hard, Majesty. We should be going, of course, Please please let me show you the way out. We know exactly where we are going. Of course, you do travel safely, majesty, go full moment, God, I will score my friend here back to his quarters. Come friends. I'm

so sorry about the small misunderstanding. You know, last night at dinner between us and the time before, I hadn't realized well obviously, when the Sultana graced us with are we all right? What do you mean? You must understand? I have my duties? Are we all right? You? And I M good? Thank you? So she came all this way to see you. It's very well. Let's something, Commander, that's something here. We are anything you need anything at all? You just let me know. H m hmm. Should I

bring more hot water? Majesty? No? Where have you been hunting a new falcons all night? I was worried? Why didn't you tell me? I don't know. I didn't think to. These are dangerous times. We can't have the Sultana just disappearing into the desert. I have my God, yes, but I wanted you in my bed last night. I don't like it when you're not there. I miss our little conversations. How we amuse each other when we can't sleep. M don't you love your mother? Of course I do. It's

just you didn't invite me to the desert. I might have enjoyed it. Do you hunt? Have you trained a whole? But I would have enjoyed being with you, sharing your pleasure mother and daughter. I should have thought of us, Yes, yes, you should have thought anyway, It's good that you are finally here. We have a council meeting, so I'm gonnish your bath and slave tender Sultana, no other matters. It seems that an number of caravans heading out of the city have been turned back at the city gates by

who the ball Iraq. They say they are to increase their numbers on the city gates for the protection of tuman Bay. They say they fear certain precious items are being looted from many of the city's great buildings. Ridiculous, outrageous, Quite so, Mistress Phedoma. It's a ploy to increase their

influence over the city. My understanding is, forgive me, mistress, if I speak, I don't need to remind you that you are only here because your skills and connections are of particular value, of course, of course, and I am here to help to put things right between us for tuman Bay. I love tuman Bar Above all else, of course I do well. The only thing holding the Ballorak in check at the moment is my army is doing nothing. It has camped outside the city walls. Is not anyone

appreci shade what I am doing for this city. My army maintains the balance. They don't do it out of the goodness of their hearts. They need gold. I need gold to pay them. We don't have gold. You dari are supposed to be good at getting gold. It's what you promised that you could always find more gold. Well, yes, there are bankers operating in the city from across the Middle Sea, from a Inca, and I imagine they're still here and could help give them the right inducements. I

know them all. Under Sultan Algori, I oversaw so many different arrangements. Good talk to them, prove your worst. Indeed, we will need surety, of course that can be arranged, and we will need to keep the gold away from the ballarat. The grand Master amalrik m grand Master, you seem surprised. Well, you don't normally take the trouble to attend council meetings. You rely on your advisors. Yes, they tell me all I need to know. It's good to

see you in such fine health. What do you want the bell Iraq here to assist the city, to help him to recover from Mayer's occupation. One of the most important things we can do to help to Manday is to enforce the law, because without law, there is nothing. And so to this man Cadi, he was sentenced to death by a court of judges for treats. Indeed he was so what is he doing here? I pardoned him by what authority? Minnell? Why don't you tell him you

are the sultana. You've forgotten, Madam. Only the judiciary can issue a pardon, and the judiciary is under the authority according to our agreement of the Ballara. And since this was done without our authority, I demand you to return the prisoner to me for justice to be carried out. He was a gift, yes, a gift from us to you, A gift that can be revoked. You cannot revoke a gift. If you do not return him, we will take him. I have an army to grand Master. Are you ready

to bring it to that point? Listen to both of you. As a favor to me, grand Master, I would be grateful if you would allow the Vizier cad Ali his continued freedom in the interests of to Membay. After all, we are all here to help to Membay. And what

do I get in return? What do you want? There is to be a celestial occurrence of what my astrologer will explain with your permission, Grandmaster, on the fifth month of the year mere two moons from now, from the quarter of the sky where the dark Star dwells, fires will fall and illuminate the sins of men. It happened before. I saw them once with my parents, indeed, but not like this. This has been foretold in the scriptures. It's going to be a time of miracles and strange signs.

And what do you require from us, the Halfees. You will lend us the Halfees to preside over a ceremony in the Grand Square. This is a moment of great importance for us and for all people. And if the Hafees declines your offer to preside, then you will order him. The Hafez is the direct descendant of the Teacher. He doesn't take orders even from the Sultana. Don't force us, Majesty, to take matters into our own hands. We have been cordial so far the Ballack are doing much to help

this city, and we ask for a little. Well. We will consider your request, and you might consider proclaiming from every temple and market place that the citizens of Tumuan Bay observe this gift from the heavens. They should confess their sins in this moment or face damnation. You would do well to do likewise. I will consider it. Good brother, right, he is completely mad. I couldn't agree more. Majesty m hmm. You know it's not a bad IDEA public celebration. We

can make it our own. It will be an opportunity to show the people of tum and by our strength to show the world. I know we must record it a great Tappit no a painting for the Sultan's old sculpture gallery of you and I, my dear. We must send for an artist. No expense must be spared, but we have nothing old gold. God will find gold. This is not the time to quibble. It's the time to show our glory. We shall be splendid. Good talk to the bankers, arrange loans and the Iraq are not important.

Let them worship the stars for all I care. We will deal with them When the Time Is Right. Season four, episode one of t Muan Bay, Palace of the Blind, featuring Rufus Wright, Anton Lesser, Aisha Hart, and Kirsty Bushell, was written and directed by Me John Scott Dryden, with music by Sasha Putnam and editing and sound designed by Eloise Whitmore. Toman Bay is created by Me and Mike

Walker and produced by Emma Hern and Nadir Khan. For more details, including scripts and a full cast list, visit to mun Bay dot com