4.04 - Feels Like Old Times

with in the pursuit of power. And I would also say to your majesty that if you were an ordinary person, if you were just Manel, daughter of General Kulan, then I would tell you to pick up this glass retort, smash it and cut my throat with it. But you see, you are not just an ordinary person like this, seeing glass a remarkable instrument. You have a purpose. You are Manel, Sultana of Tumanba, and you have a duty to the citizens of tuman Bear to keep them in their cities safe.

What are you talking about the ball Iraq? What am I supposed to be looking at Cadali? What have they done since they've arrived, Yes, taken over the justice system, But what of all the great building projects they talked of. Once again, I ask you, aqueduct They are mending it. Yes, I see workmen, hoists and one of the wonders of Truman Bay. It delivers water from the mountains to the city,

sorely needed. Agreed, But we suspect, do we not, that the Ballaract do not have our best interests at heart? So why such generosity to Monday? Season four, Episode four feels like old times by Mike Walker. The city wakes as the light touches the pink stone of the walls. Human Bay comes alive, and once again it's going to be hotter than yesterday? Is it the fires from the

sky announcing they're coming. As the merchants and shopkeepers, the soldiers, slaves and carpenters go about their lives, so I go about mine again, reconnecting with my old networks, my eyes, my ears, my feelings, and with me. I don't get out enough. Bellow, they're missing her, feezs Acolyte, another man of secrets and lies. Oh I miss them. The stinks of Touman Bay. Think her feet is an old man. You'll need to be looked after. He'll need a supply

of alcohol. Maybe not if he really has stopped drinking. Still frail not lookout horrible beasts, And I'm going to stay sharp on the streets. Do see this coody? To do with the palace? Fatima? The lady? She wants power, ligitimacy. Word has it that she aims at the throne itself? The throne is occupied until it isn't. Why do you hear these things? The invisible people? What the servants? Simple folk? They still believe in the miracles. They come for the

blessing and leave their little donations. They see much, but few see them. Do you think it was Fatima with the her fees when you walked in? How would I know? I only saw a shadow? Was there any scent, expensive perfume, nothing like that? No, it was she was more of a presence than a person. Wait, Butcher's shop? Why are we an old informative? Commander? It's been a while, business son, you know? So, so how is it with you? I'm thinking of investing in things again? There's something on account

My eyes are built, Commander good. That's time was there wasn't a shop or lodging house at temple or brothel where I didn't have eyes and ears and the beggar's guilt to served in the Imperial armies. Coppers for a poor cripple. How about work for a poor cripple, Gabrielle, we've missed you, a commander, or missed my gold? What do you interested in today? Anything odd or strange? You know me lately? All strange in this city, strange days, golds,

gold still good? Huh? Coppers for an old cripple? Would that soul? Journals? Coppers? Thank you, Offending, We're back. I thought I knew every street around the half Palace, but there are always more streets than you know. Go inside, search your records. Anyone in the city. He might have gone to anything unusual. It doesn't matter how small the floor in the marble that only your fingertips feel. Find it, offending, Gregor, you would have come with us? What orders from the palace?

You would have come? Now? What were you doing? Sawing? Uncle? You told us to saw and we're sawing, making slow work of it. Put your backs into it, boys, and I'll give you a sore assist all. Use this sort. It's made for the job. Let it do the work. Now, get to it, or the pair of you are out, nephew or not agree? Promise you know he's right. It's like flying. You let you do the work, and you let the sword do the work. Just go with it.

What they're bringing the women prisoners through for exercise? Wait here? What quick credit? Distraction? A diversion like you dropped liver? Mind? Sorry, don't be god. I hope you haven't damaged the timber twenty minutes outside? Come on, what are you doing? We're here? Why are you going to get you out? You can't. They'll catch you. Work something out. Don't worry why. I love you. Women will save you. Don't get mixed up with this lot. You won't find a wife here. The

blind man is going to be there. You've seen it. Come on, you've seen it, the blind man. I love you. This way of ending. Come I under arrest. The guard refuses to answer any of my questions. Here the throne room? How often have I stood here at the center of everything? And now? When were you going to tell us, Uncle Monel? When were you going to tell us you had returned to the city. It was the Grandmaster's order. You didn't know. I didn't I when I saw you at that place,

I thought I don't know what I thought. The Palace of the Blind. Well, sometimes they see better there than we seem too. Here m you think I don't care. I think there are many things you don't know. Listen, Manell, I know that you are a prisoner of say nothing, within these walls, within the city. That woman you have ah Luke, who has come back to us. I thought you were dead, and I thought you were mad. It seems at least one of us was wrong. I trust

you had an interesting time. I hear the Grandmaster had you brought back. Why. I can't tell you, but the Grand Master summoned you back to life. I'm surprised he cares so much. Perhaps he wants to recruit you to his holy army. Was there something you wanted, Yes, Majestu, Mistress Fatima wished me to show you these papers for your seal, the lone Mistress Adama requested. It has been accepted by the Bank of Pila. There's to be a

formal signing tomorrow evening at a banquet to celebrate. No doubt, our beloved Mother of the Empire will tell you herself sooner or later, greg Or if you will accompany me. I was summoned to see the Sultan. You were summoned by Mistress Fatimah. She wishes to see you. Shall we look forward to spending some time with you, niece. We shall talk about well many things. I to look forward to that. Uncle. Yeah what now? Oh no, no, sent him in zero. I hope I'm not disturbing your, majesty.

It's starting. I'm not happy to put aside for you, Signor, Angel, just Angel, majesty, m What may I do for you? I wanted to thank you for showing me the gardens and the perfumery the other day. It was a great privilege. I brought you the sketch that Master Piero made of you. I thought you might like it. It's beautiful. Well, you are beautiful, majesty Ah. It's a great city, once a great city. I think a city's greatness comes from its people, not from the gleaming of its towers. Our towers have

lost their gleam since the occupation. But you're right, of course, and there beyond everything, the sun on the sea, the port of Two Men Bay. Good to have you back again, Gregor, feels like old times. We can be useful again. You saw her there too. Didn't you saw whom can the traveler? In the cells? You told me I saw nothing. I was insane with fear. In that situation, the mind betrays you.

There is a traitor in your head. You're imagining things, Gregor, if I may advise, lock that thought away in the deepest cell of your heart. That's not what the Grandmaster thinks. What do you mean? I mean nothing because nothing happened? Did it? You saw nothing? You know nothing? Indeed, here we are a slight smile, Gregor, as you requested Mistress last, Why was I kept waiting, Madam? Do not move the sketch is necessar sorry for me to catch The guards

were confused ether they thought the sultana trying not to blink? Madam, you have such intense eyes. What secrets do they hold? Angela need more like? Raise the blinds fully, angel angel Sorry, I was checking the talks the blinds, Razor blinds as you wish, myster, Can we get on? Madam? You can buy a thousand amateurs to simply get on, but to recreate your soul only Piero of course, Master, carry on? Why am I here? I wanted to be sure you are all right? I was so sorry to hear about

your misfortune. I felt it was quite unnecessary, but the Sultana overruled me. But now you are back. Why her feast is missing really well. I wish you luck in finding him. He'll be needed at the celebrations. Celebrations at the end of fasting, a festival of renewal for the city. It would be proper for him to be there. I will need him to He must be their spiritual center. Did you last see him, Madam at the council. You've not been to his palace to discuss this festival of fires.

You're sure, of course, I'm sure. There's nothing wrong with my mind. Forget that old drunk I need you for something else. I want to help you, Gregor. Now, since you've been gone, it's not been easy. The Grandmaster is becoming increasingly erratic. It's impossible to get answers now. These celebrations are important to me, to tuman Bay. I do not want them upset spoiled by the grand Master's plans. If you could just keep your head still and your lips, please,

your beautiful lips. I need to know what he is doing. I need someone to help me, keep me informed and you're going to find out for me, Gregor. You used to be commander of the palace guard. You could be so again, please, so easy. It seems to get back what was lost in my power for those who served me. Well you mean surely served the Sultana Manel. Well please, yes, you see it now? To help your niece. She's been through so much, suffered so much. H cheers. How should

I say, fragile? I think it's better, Gregor, if you don't see her for a while. It only upsets her the past. She needs the love and care of a mother. Such an expressive lips. Thank you, madam. You may relaxed. It is she threatening me, now, would she? Are you concerned for my niece? She needs time to heal, and thank god I'm here as her adopted mother, protect her from those who would use her for their own ends. Do you follow me, Gregor? I think I follow you

extremely well. Fatima, Mistress Fatima, report back to me tomorrow at sunset. On these matters. There's to be a banquet join us, a banquet for the merchants and bankers of the city, one of my many duties, Gregor. They will be an announcement you have secured alone for the city. Are here very good? You listen, if you could just lift the head a little, listen to me as human expression of trial? And will the Grand Master be attending hold that? I imagine you would know more about that

than I would. What do you think? It seems? I'm the servant of two masters. But I owe the Grandmaster of Debt for getting me back here, for proving that she is real, that she has been seen around the city on the eastern wall. This area is forbidden. What is your business, relaxed, soldier. This is the seal of your grandmaster. I have questions. They told me saw her, this woman? Yes, yes, I did. She came up the eastern steps just like you. I challenged her. She turned

and she looked at me, and she smiled. What did she look like? Tall for a woman, middle aged, I think, not not young anyhow, bareheaded? I never saw that before in this city. Hey, cut shot like a man. It's unnatural. She didn't say anything, just raised her finger like like a preacher, and then turned and walked away. Where did she go? That's the thing. She walked into the wall here, this wall, and then she vanished. Every hair on my arms stood up like she had some kind of extreme

heat or cold. I don't know anything else. I think behind her ear, I mean because of her short hair, I could see her neck as if it were crawling a lizard. A lizard, I mean a tattoo of the lizard. For the rest of the day, I follow up all the sightings of this mysterious woman. I know the evidence, correlate the details. What's common to them all? She walks, she smiles, She raises her finger a warning admonition, and the tattoo always the tattoo wall city, then and then

giving in the way out? Was only five last week? Is it there? Are you? M hmm. It's getting hotter, isn't it? And this is good fresh water. I can see things floating in it. Oh if by my children's life, this water is as fresh as the dawn next time it There used to be real fresh water in the fountains in every square in the city. It was supplied by the aqueduct built by Amal the Magnificent over six hundred years ago, destroyed during the occupation. The Ballaka are

repairing it. It seems sorry, sounding like the city guides they used to have under Sultan and Guri. No, I like it. I'm interested in everything, all of it. Don't start, majesty. Well, this used to be one of the biggest slave markets in this city, in the world. I'm sure it will be again. Perhaps it will. But the ballaraka here now, and they don't like slavery. But aren't they guests and you are the sultana, so so why don't you tell them what they can do affairs of state, diplomacy, politics

and not so simple? Of course, majesty, I didn't mean to No, it's good in the palace. You have to be so careful all the time. There are always ears and eyes, and nothing is ever simple. What it is? Well, i'm certainly what I am. How long is it since you were out of that place and so ordinary people doing ordinary things? It seems like forever. It's not easy for me to get away, even wearing a veil like this. It's only because Fatima is busy inspecting her troops this

afternoon and then preparing for her banquet. Banquet. Yes, I'm sure you'll be invited to celebrate the signing of the loan. Actually, of course, it's to celebrate Fatima. She'll certainly want master Pierre or there. I hope the loan is enough to make certainly get paid. I will ensure it well, I'll do my best. That would be a great relief. Piero rarely bothers about the material question. He says, I my dearly suited to that. Why shall we have Refreshment's majesty,

not majesty? Please do your girl manet company her master in the city. My girl, I was a thief. What why Piero put me in charge of the money as a child has stole to live. I was good? Is it too? Until Piero caught me in his studio. He offered me a choice, be as apprentice or go to prison or the galleys. He said, all artists are thieves anyway, so why not take on the real thing. Please come come, We don't see him. Many strangers don't here nowadays. You're

a visitor from Veneka. Across the sea, my companion offered to show me the harbor. It's reputed to be one of the wonders of the world. It was in the old days a thousand masts, I used to say, ships from every corner of the non world. And now look at it your own eyes with all the restrictions now Balck have imposed. No one can get in or out. Lately the city has become a locked casket. Traders have gone elsewhere. My trade has gone elsewhere. Now what can

I get you? My father brought me here whilst when I was a girl, I remember the honeycakes. They were very good. Well, it's a month of fasting. But if you sit inside, who's to know? And Baldrec wouldn't care about that anyway, then honey cakes and jasmine tea inside? Come? Come? Oh? And do you still have lodgings here? M h m hmmm mm hm. Take your clothes off? M h Why do you dress as a man? Are you his lover masked Piero? No, he loves only his paintings, and his

tastes run well the other way. Do you know his work? No? If you did, you would see the young men, how beautiful they are saints fight us, the martyrs. You would see the firmness of the flesh, the richness, the color, the limbs entwined, the grimace of pain or is it pleasure on the martyr's face as the arrows pierce the flesh, the flow of blood. Enough, Just kiss me now, don't start um by lodgings. I go through my notes again

and again, trying to find something that will lead me forward. Amazing, isn't it, my fellow lodger killer, A man who loves to talk the city. And what a view we are from here, the sounds of the rooftops and towers. But am I disturbing you? Well, yes, I've come to see the wonders of tuman Bay. An uncle here died left me his house. It's a very interesting man, actually eaten by goats, wild goats. I would have thought you'd stay in the house, and it must remain empty for his

spirit to wander a whole moon. So this gives me the chance to see the city of al Guri, the lion of lions, sold ton of eagles. Did you ever see him? Offending? I served under him. I'll forgive my lack of respect. You're a part of history, the fall of tuman Bay, Maya's millions, the evil Queen. I've heard that when the time came, her forces simply melted away back into the walls. It's a wonderful story, you know.

I even wondered if those marks painted on the walls you see around what we're part of the lizards and snakes were part of the of the secret history, like in the old tales of of hidden gateways and treasure caves. I've not seen them, and yet I had on the eastern steps on the walls. What does it mean? Could they be from those times? I couldn't say. But excuse me, I have to go somewhere important that I just have to be there. Let me guess the palace. I really can't.

Of course, I understand important matters. Of course, of course. What are you doing drawing you while you're sleeping? You look very peaceful and very beautiful, and very immodest. No, no, never like that. You know, I've never done this before. John a naked woman. No, may Love to the sultana of an empire. I'm just a woman like any other woman. Not to me. Your father was a great general. You must have grown up as a princess. M hm. We were brought up very simply. My father hated all that ceremony.

I knew nothing of the world until I, well, until the world fell apart. What happened. I fell in love with the man one of my father's officers. He was working for Maya. All the time he betrayed me, killed my brother, And what did you do? I killed him? H What are you doing? Looking at you? They say you killed Maya's regents and took the throne. Does that make you hate me? Fear me? No? Thieves hate nothing, fear nothing. When I see something I want, I get it.

Mostly it excites me. Have there been others, other other women that I've killed, that you've loved? In the perfumery you mentioned Alkin? She was very important to me. She was murdered by the man who is now your vizier, and and he walks free. That was Fatima's decision, and you and her. Sometimes it seems to me that she is less mother the empire than lover of the Sultana. I'm sorry, perhaps murdered my father and for that I have not said this to anyone before. But for that,

I promise you she will pay. I have to be careful. I have to bide my time, and you should be careful too. Now, my precious, beautiful angel, loving man? Now is dangerous? Is that? So? Yes? Now? Put that drawing down. Huh. When this is all over and they have their ceremony and their painting, we should go away from here. I can't and it's impossible. My life is entwined with two mundane In this world, nothing is impossible for a thief. M all stand for this Altna and the mother of

the empire. It's the Grandmaster here, No, Mistress, you didn't expect him, did you know? Let's sign this thing offended Peela, if you would please you. I would like to say that my associates and I see this auspicious occasion as marking the beginning of a great partnership between Tuman Bay and our own nation. I fixed the seal of Vinca to the document. And where should I, Mistress, I'm afraid it's the Sultana who needs to sign. Madam Fatima doesn't

like that at all. Minell seal, minell the Sultana or just a figurehead. I look forward to working with a ndy pillar and his associates. You were right, yes, uncle, and you have you found the Harpusia No. I think he's in the city. I'll get word sooner or later. She wants him for her celebrations. Her celebrations, we don't think I want them to. I don't know what to think. Everything here is upside down, isn't that what you thought before when you had to go away? And maybe I

wasn't so mad after all? There you are now, come take your place at the head of the celebration beside me and be nice to the bank Appela. We owe him a lot? And what progress have you made early yet? And these things take time? Gone, do your duty. Don't let me down, Gregor, and stay away from the now. I do not want her upset by your conspiracies. Name m title of the sea. No, thank you, very good. There's something not quite right about that, slave dope, Gregor.

As if time winds back, we are both here at the center of things. Indeed, and have you found the hefist yet? Or is the old fellow still mislaid? I expected better of you. I did not have you. He will be found trust me, i'd sooner trust maya Still. I wish you luck. Where are you staying? I move around? Don't worry Godali, I'll keep in touch. And we need to work together, Gregor, to stop things falling apart. We'll never be friends, but we must be allies. Share what

we now. You're right good, there is something yes, you've spilled crapped on the front of your robes. Oh thank you fairly, petar. You've been taken in by these people I think, not offended. My god, Well, don't count begging at my door when the ship reigns down. You could have been part of the Serene cartel. I offered it to you as a friend, and you decided to shaft me over. This look manly made deal stinks? I know it, you know it. What do you get out of this pillar?

I feel a sense of responsibility to to my day flying fox. What's the deal I went in? I assure you you're up to something. Pillar. Don't take me for a fool, and don't ever think you can put one over on me. You will never take over this city while I'm around. Excuse me, of friend. Enjoy your evening, and I hope you enjoy the site of Mrs Fritch Fatchum pishing away your gold. You get my cloak as you wish. My group of him go on going. I thought you carried yourself well this evening, My dear, you

looked like a sultana. Thank you, m m mother. Mm hmmm, it's been a long day. You look tired. Yes, sleep with me here tonight. Let's be together. I massage your shoulders till you can relax, and if we wake in the night, we can talk and muse one another. Wouldn't you like that? My dear? I just don't feel like it tonight. But we haven't pleasured each other for sudden Jesus is just vulgar. Vulgar I vulgar, I said, I don't feel like it. Your exertions of this afternoon have

tired you. What do you mean? I don't know? You tell me? Well, after I visited my father's grave, I wanted to see the city the port again. The artist's assistant Angel I know his name, he offered to keep me company. As you said yourself, it's not saying. Why are you lying to me about what? Oh, my sweet darling? And now you have no idea how this hurts me? Do you want to hurt me? No? Then why do you lie to me? Do you take me for a fool? Some provincial dim wit? You can manipulate as you will. Oh,

please go before you incriminate yourself any further. Very well, how dare you enter my room? Slay that? M h it's you. I thought you were a servant. I am whoever I wish to be mistress. Why are you here to be paid? You need to do your job first, Tequila. My group was there tonight and in good health. My friend, the banker offended. Pila is getting concerned about it. Indeed,

the group was in should we say, fine fattle. And so he went home and sat with his wife and children and told them how he would destroy the house of Pillar. And so he was when he went to his study to lay his plans with his secretary. And so he was m until the moment his heart failed him, and he died with his family around him in his own safe and secure home. You will no doubt here in the morning. How do you know this? That's why

you employ me? Of course, don't leave the city. I have more work for you, the man, I indicated Gregor. I'm close to him. Good, stay closer here. Gold is that acceptable? Not too vulgar? Mhm? Are these things silks and jewels? Gold? Do you think they're vulgar? Aequila? Mhm? Things in themselves and nothing. It's just fattened gold, silk, swords, power nothing. It all depends on who wields them. Of course,

it depends on where you think. Oh you've gone. We don't get up, Hie often enough, dumpy, I miss it, sky ruts for other Me and Matilla used to fly together, spidering every record girls could fly. He was wrong. So how are we supposed to get all out of there? Tell me you've got a plan. Have you noticed? All around the yard there's off cuts of timber straw, bags of swordust, so it's a building side stuff that will burn,

create a distraction, a panic. On the night they're going to hang them all and we go in and get her, and the ballarak and the waters are just going to let us do it just like that, don't you see? They'll all be looking up at the fires in the sky. How can you be so sure? Because it's the religion. This is what they are here for, it's why they came, it's what they've been waiting for. And because I didn't

dream of her being hanged. I dreamt of her standing in the fountain, standing in the clear blue water, and it's washing everything away and she's happy. So you're still having them? What the dreams? Yes? Have you dreamt about me? No? Not really? What does that mean? Come on? I'll be risk my life in this stupid plan of yours too. I saw a wheel. I mean, like a huge wooden wheel, as tall as a house, just turning and turning and picking people up and grinding them down into the pits

of hell, and the blood ran like water. Thousands and thousands, and only a handful were left. Right right, stop. I'm glad. I don't have to live in your head anyway. Frog, what you said she was going to die at the hands of the blind man. You said that before, And you have these dreams and you say they come true. So why are we even bothering? Because I have to try, Dumpy. Yeah, I failed her once and I can't fail again. I love her and I have to try. Look, you don't

need to come the sky red stick together. I don't even think of doing it alone. All right, then, I've made contact with the warder. He'll make sure that Matilla's shackles are loose on the night so she can slip them off and we can get her away. How much seven gold pieces of the old money, algory, God, where are we going to get that? He'll take us forever? Your mother? You want me to steal from my mother? That's more than she makes in six moons. You're mad, Frog,

completely mad. You're going to get us in a lot of trouble. I have to save her, Dumpy, I have to. I what when I was young, I dreamed about my dad being that he would die, be here, be killed, and I couldn't save him. Dumpy, You're a child, But I have to save her. That's what it means, all of it, from the beginning. I don't know how or why, but it it is. It, it's all. That's the early call. We've been up here all night. You better try and

get some sleep before we go back to work. Come on, frock Skyrats forever, Yeah, sky Rats for season four, Episode four of Tuman Bay Feels Like Old Times, featuring Asia Heart, Rufus Wright, Enzo Chi Lenti, and Kirsty Bushell. Was written by Mike Walker, with music by Sasha Putnam and editing and sound design by Eloise Whitmore. M h m hmmm two. Muanbay is directed by Me, John Scott Dryden, created by Me and Mike Walker, and produced by Emma Hern and

Nadia Khan. For more details, including scripts and a full cast list, visit to Munbay dot com.