[SHOW THEME - INTRO]
SIVA
Rusty Quill Presents: Trice Forgotten.
Episode Four: Tides Rise.
[THEME FINISHES]
[INT. NETAOANSOM – CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS – MORNING]
[A CALM BUT MUTED SEA OUTSIDE. ALESTES IS AT HER DESK, CHARTING A COURSE. THE COMPASS GOES TOK TOK AGAINST THE MAP, AND SHE USES A QUILL TO SCRATCH SOME NOTES IN HER JOURNAL.]
[DISTANTLY, THUD, THUD, THUD – SOMEONE RUNNING THROUGH THE SHIP. THE CABIN DOOR ROLLS OPEN WITH A CRASH.]
SIVA
Captain!
ALESTES
(sighing) It is polite to knock, Siva.
SIVA
Yes, but…
[SIVA TAKES IN THE LOOK GIVEN TO HIM. HE RETREATS, CLOSES THE DOOR AS SOFTLY AS POSSIBLE, THEN KNOCKS.]
ALESTES
Enter.
[THE DOOR ROLLS OPEN, SIVA ENTERS.]
ALESTES
(faux politely) What can I do for you, Siva?
SIVA
Yes, Captain, er, that map…
ALESTES
The one you failed to sell.
SIVA
Yes.
ALESTES
The only reason I granted you passage on my ship.
SIVA
That’s the one.
ALESTES
You’re here to inform me that you’ve found a way to quintuple the profits you could make from the blasted thing, yes?
SIVA
Er… no.
ALESTES
What’s that? Add three more zeroes to the asking price?
SIVA
Not quite that, either.
ALESTES
Go on then, astound me.
SIVA
It’s. Er. Missing.
ALESTES
Missing?
SIVA
Missing.
ALESTES
Missing a vital measurement? Missing a mountain range? Missing…
SIVA
The map. I don’t know where it is.
ALESTES
And you’ve searched everywhere it could possibly be?
SIVA
Er, yes.
ALESTES
Double-checked?
SIVA
Yes, Captain.
[ALESTES SLAMS THE TABLE]
SIVA
Oh! I, I, I think that potentially, maybe, possibly, the mapmaker may have accidentally given me a blank piece of paper instead of the map…
ALESTES
Your only worth in this godforsaken world, and you let some miserable jiak liau bi [translation: waste of rice] steal it from you?
SIVA
“Steal”?
ALESTES
How have you survived this long, being this naive?
SIVA
Uh – well – I like to believe that –
ALESTES
Rhetorical question. Grab my weapons.
[ALESTES LEAVES]
[EXT. NETAOANSOM – DECK]
[ALESTES WHISTLES TO GRAB BAKER’S ATTENTION]
ALESTES
Baker! We’re going into town, take the watch.
BAKER
Yes, Captain.
ALESTES
Where’s Noor?
BAKER
Said they’d go combing for supplies on the beach.
ALESTES
Fine. When they’re back, tell them to get caulking.
BAKER
Ay, oh, if you’re going into town, buy some food to tide us over to the next port.
[BAKER THROWS OVER A COIN PURSE. ALESTES CATCHES IT, THEN WEIGHS IT.]
ALESTES
This all we have left?
BAKER
Oh, well, someone insisted on gorging themselves with a lavish feast last night.
ALESTES
…Hm. Siva, keep up, shut up, and for the love of all things holy, try to at least look like you know how to use those things.
SIVA
Yes, Captain.
[TRANSITIONAL MUSIC]
[EXT. MARKET]
[A BUSY MARKET. PEOPLE HAWK THEIR WARES. ACROSS THE STREET, LIN YU-YIN IS PLAYING A FAMILIAR SONG ON A HUQIN INSTRUMENT – ZHU ANRAN’S LITTLE CARP TUNE.]
SIVA
– and then he was all “you’d better take your scrap of paper and run along,” so I took a page out of your book, Captain, and…
ALESTES
(distantly) Siva?
SIVA
Yes?
ALESTES
Shut up. Why don’t you go scavenging with Noor?
SIVA
Er… do we not need to go find the map with great haste, Captain?
ALESTES
It can wait.
SIVA
But –
ALESTES
I have something…
(pulling herself together) Be back here in an hour.
SIVA
Er, yes, Captain.
[SIVA SCURRIES OFF. ALESTES APPROACHES LIN YU-YIN’S MARKET STALL. THE MUSIC STOPS.]
LIN YU-YIN
You touch, you buy.
ALESTES
That song you were playing. What’s it called?
LIN YU-YIN
Called? I don’t know.
ALESTES
The lyrics, do they go… “Hey, hey, little carp flying through the river there –”
LIN YU-YIN
Why would beiguan be sung in English?
ALESTES
(slightly desperate) In Hokkien, then. Or Amoy, or Quanzhou. Anything.
LIN YU-YIN
No.
ALESTES
Listen – uh… hey, hey… se… ha mi hu? Poe…. Kang…? [Translation: Little… type of fish? Flying… river?]
LIN YU-YIN
If you’re not buying anything, leave. You’re blocking the way.
ALESTES
…I have money. I’ll pay you to play.
LIN YU-YIN
Do I look like a performing monkey to you? Buy a plate or go away.
ALESTES
I’m not here for plates. Please, I just really need to hear it again –
LIN YU-YIN
Lí kan-na liau wa e thiam sia, lu ki si! [Translation: Then you’re just wasting my time here, piss off!]
ALESTES
(not understanding) I – I don’t –
LIN YU-YIN
I said: piss off.
ALESTES
(petulant child) Fine, I’ll buy one of your junk plates.
[ALESTES GOES THROUGH A STACK OF PLATES.]
LIN YU-YIN
Hey, hey, you touch, you buy.
ALESTES
Buy without checking the maker’s mark?
LIN YU-YIN
Then don’t be so rough or you’ll chip them.
[TRANSITIONAL MUSIC]
[EXT. BEACH – DAY]
[SIVA PICKS HIS WAY ACROSS THE ROCKS ON A LOW TIDE. GENTLE LAPPING OF THE SEA AGAINST THE ROCKS AND THE LAZY CRIES OF CRAB PLOVERS AND GULLS.]
SIVA
Find anything interesting?
NOOR
I’ve not seen one of these before!
SIVA
What a beautiful creature! Hm!
…I don’t believe I’ve ever thought of snails as being beautiful before.
NOOR
Just wait – when its eyes come out – they’ve got the same black and white stripes on them as the shell.
[THEY WAIT FOR A MOMENT.]
SIVA
(delighted noises) Oh look, he’s wearing pinstripes! What a fancy young gentleman!
NOOR
This one – the creature inside is less beautiful, but Mashallah – see the shell in the light.
SIVA
It glows like the moon! I wonder how it knows to grow in such exquisite colours.
Although… I fear we won’t make much money selling them. I think the Captain was hoping you were out here digging for lost treasures.
NOOR
(laughs) Yes. I bet she hopes I’ve found an engagement ring dropped by some poor lady – washed across the ocean from London.
SIVA
We should probably find some source of income. She is in a foul temperament this morning.
NOOR
You managed to annoy her already?
SIVA
It wasn’t – technically – my fault! I can’t help that the world’s apparently full of… cheats and liars!
NOOR
Something happened, akhi?
SIVA
Is it… wrong that I trust people, Noor?
NOOR
I’m grateful that you trusted me.
SIVA
Yes! Exactly! I am too!
NOOR
Ah, but then you were kidnapped, minutes later.
SIVA
I don’t know if I would say I was kidnapped. “Ambushed,” maybe. Or “waylaid”… “abducted”…
NOOR
I am… “Surprised” isn’t the right word. I admire that you’ve come this far in your life without having to need distrust.
SIVA
You think that I’m naive.
NOOR
I think you were lucky to have people who protected you. I’m sorry that we don’t live in a world where I can say that you should trust: without hesitation or question. I wish that we did. Inshallah we might, one day.
SIVA
I don’t want to become bitter. I may not understand the world like you, and Baker, and the Captain, but… I would hate to be as Alestes is, sometimes. That… angry with the whole world.
NOOR
Hm.
SIVA
…I would appreciate it if you didn’t hold back.
NOOR
“If you’re not angry, then you are not paying attention”… is what I stopped myself from saying. But Siva… Fighting for hope takes courage too. Anger is not always a twisted, vengeful thing – it can also mean that you see a future that you are willing to fight for.
SIVA
Is that why the Captain is so angry?
NOOR
I fear the Captain’s case is… more complicated than that.
[EXT. MARKET – DAY]
[BACK IN THE MARKET. ALESTES SEARCHING THROUGH LIN YU-YIN’S PLATES]
ALESTES
Junk, junk, junk… oh!
[ALESTES COMES ACROSS A SPECIAL PLATE – STOPS DEAD.]
ALESTES
(a painful longing) The golden carp swims upriver… Around the rim, climbing, until he sees the rich red ochre…
LIN YU-YIN
Huh, that one. That is a one-of-a-kind from Master Zhu Anran. One of the last in the world.
ALESTES
How much?
LIN YU-YIN
Saved it from a wreckage myself! Aaah, how hard I had it, bringing it up without breaking it!
ALESTES
How much.
LIN YU-YIN
To some pirate who calls my wares junk! No, I’m not selling that to you.
[ALESTES MAKES A FRUSTRATED SOUND]
ALESTES
You see these dots, here? This pattern on the red carp’s face? Zhu Anran painted them in the same pattern as his wife’s tribe.
LIN YU-YIN
Master Zhu wasn’t married…?
ALESTES
The twin carps, the red and the gold, one Fujian, one Xhosa, woven together around their child. That’s Zhu Anran’s signature style. That’s who he was. He loved his family more than anything.
LIN YU-YIN
Hmm. I won’t go lower than eight escudos.
ALESTES
Eight?! I don’t – you can’t be serious.
LIN YU-YIN
You want it, no? Complete some collection you have? Eight escudos.
[TRANSITIONAL MUSIC]
[EXT. BEACH – DAY]
[BACK ON THE BEACH, NOOR AND SIVA ARE GIGGLING TOGETHER AS THEY TOUCH THE SEA ANEMONES AND LIFT ROCKS TO FIND LITTLE CRABS, WHEN WILLIAM APPROACHES.]
NOOR
Do you see how it’s moving like that in the water?
WILLIAM
Er, hello! Er… As-salamu alaykum!
NOOR
Wa alaykum as-salaam.
SIVA
Salaam.
WILLIAM
(halting) Hal tatahadath… English?
SIVA
Yes, we both speak it.
WILLIAM
Wonderful! You’ll have to excuse me, I’m really rather rubbish at Arabic. Try my best, but you know how these things go…
NOOR
Can we help you?
WILLIAM
Just wanted to take a gander at what you folks have been collecting! I’ve been watching you from our rooms up on the beach there, and it seemed like you’ve been finding some magnificent specimens!
NOOR
You’ve been watching us?
WILLIAM
Now look what we have here! Architectonica perspectiva. Shell: Diameter just shy of an inch, with a low spiral, colour a beautiful white, operculum horny and dark brown, almost black. The radula is ptenoglossan, with fourteen pairs of lateral teeth. Typical habitat: fine sand. Poor fellow must have become trapped here with the tide.
SIVA
Architectonica perspectiva?
WILLIAM
Don’t go telling any of the other lads, but they’re trying to get these fellows moved to the Solarium genus. A pretty name, of course, and very much evocative of the sundial pattern, but my gut says the fellow’s to remain as an Architectonica.
SIVA
Who are the “lads”?
WILLIAM
Oh, forgive the informality! My name is William Henry Baker Blair, of the Queen’s Museum in London.
SIVA
The Queen’s Museum?!
WILLIAM
You’ve heard of it!
NOOR
He dreams of it.
SIVA
I’m Siva, this is Noor!
WILLIAM
A pleasure to make your acquaintance.
SIVA
Do you know what this one is, too?
WILLIAM
Now that, my friend, is a Polinices pyriformis. And these larger chaps over here are Cassidae… Phalium glaucum, I believe. See how thick their shells are in comparison? Commonly referred to as “helmet shells,” they protect themselves from predators while gorging themselves on sea urchins!
SIVA
Most fascinating!
WILLIAM
And I say “chaps” but members of this order are largely gonochoric, so we might, of course, be observing some ladies taking a turn in the sea air.
SIVA
Gonochoric – that means – there is a difference between the males and females?
WILLIAM
Hmm, yes. What a lucky day, meeting a fellow mollusc aficionado out in the field!
SIVA
Oh, no, sir! I know nothing of the ways of the natural histories –
WILLIAM
Even better! A young man with a raw appreciation to mold! Here…
[WILLIAM TAKES A BOOK FROM HIS PACK AND HANDS IT OVER]
This is the most recent taxonomical volume of the area.
NOOR
You carry that heavy thing with you everywhere you go?
WILLIAM
I do, miss!
NOOR
Not a “miss.”
WILLIAM
Are you able to read English?
SIVA
Yes, sir. Latin and Greek too.
WILLIAM
Then this tome should be a breeze for you. There are some complicated phrases, terminology, etcetera, but with some critical thinking, I’m sure you’ll decode it. Take, for instance, “radula.”
SIVA
“Little scraper,” sir.
WILLIAM
And what, in anatomical structure, might we compare to a little scraper?
SIVA
Fingernails? Or teeth, perhaps?
WILLIAM
Very good. The radula is the minutely toothed appendage we typically think of as the creature’s “tongue” – the arrangement of the denticles, see, is akin to a radula, combing food from a surface.
SIVA
What an incredible thing! Thank you, Sir, for showing me.
[SIVA CLOSES THE BOOK, HANDS IT OVER]
WILLIAM
No, Siva, that’s for you!
SIVA
For me, Sir? Really? To keep?
WILLIAM
It’s not every day I meet a young man so excited to learn about snails, Siva!
SIVA
But – don’t you need it? For your work?
WILLIAM
I’m sure I can convince the cranks in London to send me another. At considerable cost, mind you, but I’ve sent the old churls enough shells to fill a palace. The least they can do is send me the latest edition.
[THERE’S A WHISTLE BACK FROM THE SHORE]
Oh, that’s me. Trust me, Siva, never sail with soldiers. They grant me minutes for field work and expect me to run back when they whistle, like a damned dog.
SIVA
Yes, sir, I will keep that in mind.
WILLIAM
And look out for me! We’re on the HMS Exchange. William Henry Baker Blair. You ask for me if you see the ship, and I’ll show you my collection.
SIVA
Yes Sir, I would appreciate that greatly!
[WILLIAM STARTS TO LEAVE]
SIVA
Oh! We’re on the Netaoansom!
NOOR
Shh, Siva.
SIVA
(ignoring Noor) N-E-T-A-O-A-N-S-O-M.
WILLIAM
(calling back) The Netaoansom? I’ll be on the lookout! You take care now! You too, ma’am.
NOOR
Not a “ma’am.”
[FOOTSTEPS FADE INTO THE DISTANCE]
NOOR
Siva…
SIVA
Yes?
NOOR
Maybe it would be worth being a touch more aware of…
SIVA
Of?
NOOR
Nevermind.
…It’s very like the British to need a book of incomprehensible words to categorise every thing they touch, is it not.
SIVA
I can teach you the Latin, if you want! It’s quite simple once you sink your teeth into it.
NOOR
…The tide’s rising. We should get you back to the Captain.
[TRANSITIONAL MUSIC]
[EXT. CARTOGRAPHER SHOP – DAY]
[ALESTES IS STOOD IN THE BUSY MARKET]
SIVA
I’m here, I’m here! Apologies for the delay, we got caught…
Are you quite alright, Captain?
ALESTES
(clearly not fine) Fine. Let’s get this over with.
[INT. CARTOGRAPHER SHOP – DAY]
[A POLITE BELL CHIMES AS THE DOOR BANGS OPEN]
MAPSELLER
Welcome –
(seeing who it is) You again.
SIVA
Good day.
ALESTES
My cartographer tells me he came by yesterday with a map.
MAPSELLER
And as I told him, your business isn’t welcome here.
ALESTES
Colour him shocked, then, to discover this morning that his map is no longer in his possession.
MAPSELLER
His carelessness is hardly my concern.
ALESTES
I’m wont to agree with you. Siva isn’t what I would call my most vigilant crewmate.
[ALESTES TAKES OUT A KNIFE AND STABS IT INTO THE COUNTER]
MAPSELLER
Are you kidding me? That counter is mahogany.
ALESTES
But fortunately for Siva, I am a methodical Captain who despises being shortchanged.
MAPSELLER
“Captain”…
You’re her? Alestes.
ALESTES
Return my cartographer his map, and your mahogany countertop will be the only casualty of this exchange.
MAPSELLER
I don’t know where you come from, Captain, but unfounded accusations hold no water in civilised shops like mine.
SIVA
Oh dear.
[ALESTES GRABS THE MAPSELLER]
MAPSELLER
Let go of me, you –
[ALESTES SMASHES THE MAPSELLER’S HEAD INTO THE COUNTER. MAPSELLLER CRIES OUT IN PAIN]
SIVA
It’s not that big of a deal! I’m sure we can find a peaceable solution –
ALESTES
I’ll make this easy for you. You return Siva his map, or next time I slam your head down, mahogany will be the last thing you ever see.
MAPSELLER
I don’t –
ALESTES
Three.
SIVA
Captain?
ALESTES
Two.
MAPSELLER
I can’t –
SIVA
Captain!
[TUSSLING NOISES]
MAPSELLER
He took it! He took it!
ALESTES
Who took it?
MAPSELLER
I can’t – If I tell you…
ALESTES
Gammon?
[THE MAPSELLER WHIMPERS]
Siva, wait outside.
SIVA
But –
ALESTES
I said go.
[SIVA LEAVES. ALESTES LETS THE MAPSELLER GO]
ALESTES
Gammon was here? Personally?
MAPSELLER
…No. He sent a message ‘round, couple months back. Said to look out for maps of Kalitivu, or other islands off Ceylon. I sent it on as soon as your boy left.
ALESTES
Why steal it? You must have known that would only draw attention.
MAPSELLER
…It wasn’t the only message. There’s a blacklist. No sell orders.
ALESTES
Show me.
[THE MAPSELLER OPENS A DRAWER AND REMOVES A NOTEBOOK, FLIPS THROUGH A FEW PAGES, HANDS IT TO ALESTES]
MAPSELLER
Your boy –
ALESTES
His name is Siva.
MAPSELLER
…Siva was gloating about you. I recognised the name – I wouldn’t for the others, some rebels, local names, but that one… it’s right at the top: number one priority.
ALESTES
(to herself) So he owns this area too.
(to him) Did you tell anyone else?
MAPSELLER
No.
ALESTES
If I find out you lied to me…
MAPSELLER
I didn’t! I didn’t even tell them my name when I handed over the map. I don’t want any trouble.
ALESTES
(pause) Thank you for your candour. Now… do yourself a favour and give me all your money.
[EXT. STREET – DAY]
[THE BELL OVER THE DOOR CHIMES AS ALESTES EXITS. SHE HAS A BAG OF COINS]
ALESTES
Two shuangzhu and four real. Not nearly enough.
SIVA
Uhm, Captain?
ALESTES
What?
[SIVA IS TOO SCARED TO TALK]
What, Siva? Spit it out.
[BEAT]
(more gentle) What was it you wanted to tell me?
SIVA
…Thank you. For standing up for me.
ALESTES
You’re welcome. And I am sorry I couldn’t get your map back for you.
SIVA
You tried your best! Even the Great Captain Alestes can’t win them all!
ALESTES
Can you make another?
SIVA
Yes! Or, rather, I have my notes, but I would need supplies – ink, paper, etcetera. Which I would have bought with the money I earned from selling the map…
ALESTES
…Here.
[ALESTES HANDS OVER THE COIN PURSE TO SIVA]
Buy what you need. Don’t forget food.
SIVA
Me, Captain? I’m not sure I should be entrusted with… Where are you going, shouldn’t you –
[ALESTES STALKS OFF]
SIVA
Captain?
[TRANSITIONAL MUSIC]
[EXT. MARKET – EARLY AFTERNOON]
[LATER, AT THE MARKET – BAKER BUMPS INTO SIVA]
BAKER
There you are. Where’s – What’s all that? I said food, not… ink.
SIVA
The Captain told me to buy mapmaking supplies!
BAKER
And she bought them for you?
SIVA
Yes!
BAKER
That’s very nice of her. Did you leave enough for food?
SIVA
Err… of course I did.
[SIVA DROPS A COUPLE OF FLIMSY-SOUNDING COINS INTO BAKER’S HAND]
BAKER
What am I supposed to buy with this, day-old crusts and mouldy offcuts?
SIVA
Oh. Uhm. Well. I… could… maybe return… some of the… less necessary items…
BAKER
(sighs) It’s fine. I’ll make do, like usual.
SIVA
(laughing) Thanks, Baker!
BAKER
And where are you going in a rush?
[SIVA DASHES AWAY]
SIVA
Gotta set up my new equipment in the ship!
BAKER
(to himself) Strange child.
[BAKER MOVES OVER TO A FISH-MARKET]
Afternoon, friend. What can a man buy with this much coin?
FISHSELLER
Local special. Great texture. Very cheap. Give you all this for those coins.
BAKER
A delicacy, are they?
INEZ
I wouldn’t, uncle.
BAKER
Excuse me?
INEZ
This guy’s been trying to run this scam on all the tourists this morning.
BAKER
And who are you?
INEZ
Just a concerned traveller.
BAKER
You know, “concerned traveller,” it’s impolite to judge another culture’s cuisine by its looks.
INEZ
Hey, it’s your stomach, not mine.
BAKER
You’ll learn to appreciate that when you’ve had a few more years on you.
INEZ
Uh-huh. (as they walk away) May your toilet be as strong as your beliefs!
[BAKER TUTS]
BAKER
I’ll take the lot.
[TRANSITIONAL MUSIC]
[EXT. MARKET – LIN’S STALL – EVENING]
[LIN IS PLAYING HER SONG AGAIN]
LIN YU-YIN
Come to get on your knees and beg for forgiveness?
[ALESTES UNSHEATHES HER KNIFE SLOWLY]
ALESTES
I’m sorry. I really am.
[ALESTES STABS LIN YU-YIN, TAKES THE PLATE, AND LEAVES]
[SHOW THEME - OUTRO]
SIVA
Trice Forgotten is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Sharealike 4.0 International License. The series is created by Nemo Martin and directed by Rafaella Marcus. Today’s episode was written and directed by Rafaella Marcus and edited by Nico Vettese, Maddy Searle, Katharine Seaton, and Catherine Rinella.
Trice Forgotten features: Rebecca Brough, Vic Zander, Shahan Hamza, Gigi Zahir, Ashley Goh, and Fay Roberts, with additional voices by Mingyu Lin, Karim Kronfli, and Nemo Martin. Trice Forgotten is produced by Ian Geers, Lowri Ann Davies, and production manager Natasha Johnston, with executive producers Alexander J Newall and April Sumner.
To subscribe, view associated materials, or join our Patreon, visit rustyquill.com. Rate and review us online, tweet us @therustyquill, visit us on Facebook or email us at mail@rustyquill.com. Thanks for listening.