[SHOW THEME – INTRO]
[INT. NANI’S HOUSE – EVENING – PAST]
[THE SOUNDS OF BUBBLING FOOD, FUSSING WITH POTS AND PANS]
NANI
(singing:)
Khoka ghumalo, para juralo
Khoka ghumalo, para juralo
Borgi elo deshe
Bulbuli-te dhan kheyeche
Khajna debo kishe
Dhan phuralo, pan phuralo
Khajnar upay ki!
Aar kota din shobur koro
Roshun bunechi…
(to Siva) Ekhana’o jagrata, paetiya? [Translation: Still awake, small one?]
SIVA
I’m not a baby, Nani. And we’re supposed to speak English at home.
NANI
…One day you’ll look back on days like this and wish you still had your Nani to pamper her “baby” with lullabies.
SIVA
It’s not pampering if you don’t let me do any of the fun parts.
NANI
“Fun parts!” Cooking is cooking, paetiya.
SIVA
If that means I never have to grind rice again.
NANI
Who’s ever heard of such a lazy child!
SIVA
We could buy bread from the market…
NANI
You can eat their bread when you’re in their camp. In my house you eat my food.
SIVA
…Nani? Do you ever wish you were still back in Bengal?
NANI
And now he’s so sick of me, he wants to send me back!
SIVA
No! I just… You don’t talk about it. Do you miss it?
NANI
What’s to miss? I saw as much of opar Bangla as I’ve seen of Kalitivu.
SIVA
You don’t remember it at all?
NANI
Domestic servant to Governor Peters, property of Heer Keijl… they all have marble floors to sweep and silk bedding to clean. Who has the time to make memories? It was green, and gold, and beautiful, and I was just a child. But it hurts, to pine for a place, and for people you can never return to. It is my only hope that you make it through this life without experiencing that, my child.
But sad thoughts will spoil the food. Tell me, did something nice happen to you today?
SIVA
Sergeant Corey came to see me!
NANI
Oh?
SIVA
He said, he’s seen my maps, and he was going to personally hand them to Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw!
NANI
Did he tell you when he’s going to do that?
SIVA
Only that the level of detail in them was a sure way to get myself recognised! He really seemed to think that if this operation they’re planning is successful, they might employ me as a real cartographer!
NANI
And then you ride that glory across the sea to Cambridge, to this Queen’s Museum.
SIVA
That’s what Private Pearson said!
NANI
I see. Khoka… Just be careful. For me.
[INT. SIVA’S LOCKED ROOM – THE PRESENT – DAY]
[SIVA BREATHES, QUIETLY, TRYING TO CONTAIN HIMSELF]
MARY
(outside the room) Are you decent?
[SOUND OF KEYS. THE DOOR OPENS, MARY ENTERS]
MARY (CONT’D)
Hiding, Siva? Really? That’s not very mature of you, I must say.
[BEAT]
Surrender yourself immediately or suffer the consequences, Siva.
[BEAT]
Bollocks.
[MARY LEAVES THE ROOM]
Guards! Quickly! He’s escaped!
SIVA
(quiet) Plan: escape the scary prison room. Step one: hide in the rafters like you’re in the bird’s nest and Captain Alestes is angry at you – complete. Step two: hope Mary leaves the door open, also complete. Step three, carefully… carefully… look in the corridor…
Empty. But not for long.
Shh, Siva. Be quick, be quiet. You can do this.
[EXT. NETAOANSOM – DAY]
INEZ
You’re late! We thought you’d been captured.
NOOR
I’m not used to mountain climbing in this humidity.
INEZ
Did you find anything?
NOOR
I took this from one of the soldiers’ camps, but I can’t read it. You?
INEZ
Just reports about a dread pirate roaming about, kicking doors in and smashing skulls.
NOOR
…Dread pirate? Gammon and Anh?
INEZ
Or Alestes.
What? I’m just saying, she disappeared on us to do who knows what, and two days later, an angry stranger is beating up locals.
BAKER
Can I see that page you took, Noor?
[NOOR HANDS IT OVER]
BAKER (CONT’D)
More food, more ammo.
INEZ
Didn’t you say –
BAKER
Food, ammo, supplies, aye, that’s what the soldiers on the other side of the island were lugging too.
NOOR
A lot of supplies for a supposedly empty house.
BAKER
Seems like something’s happening at this Governor Peters’s house.
INEZ
…We really need to get out of here.
NOOR
We need to find Siva and Alestes, and the only place we’ve yet to check is the Governor’s house.
INEZ
What’s to say they’re still here? They might have been carted off to some other island. Hell, Siva might be half-way to England by now.
NOOR
Siva wouldn’t leave, Inez. Not without saying goodbye. …He wouldn’t abandon you, if you were the one missing.
INEZ
Fine. But we get in, we do one look around the place, and then we’re sailing away from this whole mess.
[INT. GRAHAM’S HIDEAWAY – CORRIDOR – DAY]
SIVA
Left or right. Left or right. Come on, Siva, it’s an easy question! Left or right!
[IN THE DISTANCE, GUARDS MAKE A RUCKUS, RAISING THE ALARM]
SIVA (CONT’D)
Come on, come on… Up the stairs, around the way and then… the window off the port bow. Port, starboard… Left! Zigzag, just like Alestes. Zigzag as you run… And hide. Zigzag. Run… And hide. Run…
[WE HEAR MARY’S SHOES APPROACHING]
[SIVA DIVES INTO A ROOM]
SIVA (CONT’D)
Hide hide hide hide hide –
[MARY STOPS]
MARY
Did you hear that?
[SILENCE AS MARY AND THE GUARD LISTEN]
GUARD
It’s just a matter of time until we find him, Lady Peters. He can’t have gone far.
MARY
Shh!
[MARY LISTENS AGAIN]
Don’t just stand there, come on.
GUARD
Yes, Ma’am.
[SIVA EXHALES IN RELIEF]
[INT. NETAOANSOM – GALLEY – DAY]
[BAKER PUTS A PISTOL ON THE WOODEN TABLE]
BAKER
I’ve only got the one gun, and it’s not recently used. I don’t know if it’ll shoot proper, but it might be good to have, in case.
INEZ
Great, add it to the weapon bag.
BAKER
The – what?
INEZ
The weapon bag.
[INEZ HEFTS A HEAVY BAG ONTO THE COUNTERTOP]
BAKER
What – what is all this?
INEZ
Weapons. Poisons, toxins, armour plating – all bio-natural, of course. Nothing complete, yet.
BAKER
I thought you were a naturalist.
INEZ
I am.
BAKER
Is this –
INEZ
An improvised explosive I’ve been tinkering with.
BAKER
You’ve been making explosives on our ship?! A ship is made of wood. It’s flammable. Where did you even get gunpowder?
INEZ
Siva found it while we were making more room for the aquarium. Some of it was a bit damp, but most of it lights properly.
BAKER
You –
NOOR
Now is not the time.
BAKER
…We’re going to have a serious conversation about this when we get back.
INEZ
Yes, “dad.” You carry the pack, Noor. That gives me and the old man easier access.
[NOOR HEFTS IT ONTO THEIR BACK]
NOOR
Ready?
INEZ & BAKER
Ready.
[EXT. GRAHAM’S HIDEAWAY – LAVISH LAWN – DAY]
[A LAWN. THE PEACOCK CRIES. A GROUP OF SOLDIERS (WHITE, BRITISH) ARE PLAYING CRICKET.]
L.C. SHAW
– show up out of nowhere to ply my men with food and cricket –
GOVERNOR GRAHAM PETERS
Just one step to the left, Shaw, you’re blocking my view.
[THE GOVERNOR’S VOICE IS FAMILIAR. VERY FAMILIAR.]
[HE SOUNDS LIKE… GAMMON?]
L.C. SHAW
– and masquerading as a generous Governor will not make up for years of unequivocal incompetence followed by unexplained absence!
GAMMON
I think I’m being plenty generous, considering you ransacked my house.
L.C. SHAW
There was a rat infestation. We exterminated it. I am sorry that your walls now sport some bullet holes, but a gracious “thank you” would go a long way.
GAMMON
And? Did you catch who you were looking for, Lieutenant-Colonel?
L.C. SHAW
The needs of the crown come before any of its servants. A real governor would understand that.
GAMMON
A “real governor”… So, in short, your brutish soldiers tore up my house and did not catch the rebel scum apparently occupying my estate. Sounds to me like you’re in need of a governor like me.
[THE BALL HITS THE BAT AND IT GOES SAILING ACROSS THE LAWN. THERE ARE CHEERS]
GAMMON (CONT’D)
That’s right, Georgie! You show those bastards how it’s done! (to Shaw) I’m done with you. You’re dismissed.
L.C. SHAW
You don’t have the power to dismiss me, Graham.
GAMMON
This is still my property, is it not, Shaw?
L.C. SHAW
For now.
[L.C. SHAW LEAVES]
[GAMMON GOES TO DRINK FROM HIS TEACUP, BUT IT IS EMPTY. HE SIGHS – HIS LIFE IS SO HARD… BUT SPOTS A BOY ACROSS THE LAWN.]
GAMMON
Here! You! Boy! You! Yes, you!
[SIVA ARRIVES AT A RUN]
SIVA
How, uhm, can I help, sir?
GAMMON
Pour the tea. And it’s the full title when you address me.
SIVA
…Sorry, sir –
GAMMON
Governor Peters, or Your Lordship.
SIVA
Yes, your Lordship.
[SIVA POURS HIM A CUP OF TEA]
GAMMON
New blood?
SIVA
Er, yes, your Lordship. But, ah, my grandmother, she used to work for you.
GAMMON
Keeping it in the family, eh.
SIVA
Did you know her, sir? Her name was –
[ACROSS THE LAWN, THE CRICKETER HITS ANOTHER 6]
GAMMON
THAT’S IT, right over their heads! You enjoy the cricket, my boy?
SIVA
…Yes, your Lordship.
GAMMON
Friendly match, a single innings each, 20 overs max… I sure you haven’t the foggiest what I’m saying, eh?
SIVA
I grasp the basics, your Lordship.
[THE BOWLER HITS THE WICKET – GAMMON GROANS]
GAMMON
That’s Lieutenant George out. Struggling a bit out here, poor fellow. I’m told he lost a limb in some dreadful attack by a pack of rabid pirates.
SIVA
A pack of – (realisation) Oh.
GAMMON
You needn’t turn away like that, it’s not as if he’s grown a second bloody head! Look at the wind-up on that fellow. What I wouldn’t give for arms like his. I suppose that’s what you get being a soldier, eh?
SIVA
My apologies, your Lordship, I have duties elsewhere…
GAMMON
Nonsense. You’re my boy, I tell you what your duties are. I used to be quite the batsman myself. Can’t fathom playing out here, though, in this dismal heat. The boys must be sweating through their whites. Christ, I’m sitting in a puddle of the stuff and I’m just watching!
But we can’t complain, can we. Not when we’re just moments away from taking it all back. And then in just a few short weeks, we’ll be back in the damp and the drizzle, reminiscing about the blasted sun!
[HE LAUGHS.]
SIVA
Very good, Governor Peters. Will that be all, or…
GAMMON
You’re a very good listener, my boy. I like you.
SIVA
Thank you, your Lordship –
GAMMON
AND THERE SHE IS, woman of the hour!
ALESTES
…I see you’ve got a new boy.
GAMMON
Come now, dear child, a “hello” won’t do you any harm.
ALESTES
This is private, dismiss the servant.
GAMMON
No, no, I like him. He’s my new confidante.
ALESTES
Didn’t you hear me? I said, go.
SIVA
Uh, yes –
GAMMON
Whatever I hear, he hears.
ALESTES
None of the locals wanted to talk.
GAMMON
That’s your confidential information? That you’ve gone soft?
ALESTES
Whoever she is, she’s got them all scared silent.
GAMMON
My Alestes would have had this matter wrapped up in hours, not days.
ALESTES
I am not and have never been “your” anything.
SIVA
You know Governor Peters?
ALESTES
“Governor Peters”? Jumping the gun, aren’t we, Gammon?
SIVA
Gammon?
[HE IS SUMMARILY IGNORED]
GAMMON
“Gammon,” Alestes, really? It’s not a kind nickname. You should know better than to hurt my feelings like that.
ALESTES
Once your “Governorship” is reinstated, you can force me to call you whatever you want.
GAMMON
We both know I’ve never been able to force you to do anything, my dear.
SIVA
But if you’re – Gammon is the Governor?
ALESTES
Not for a long time.
GAMMON
No need to be so snide about it.
SIVA
And you – you’re just sitting here – drinking tea, and… watching the cricket.
ALESTES
Your servant asks a lot of questions. He should know when to keep his mouth shut.
SIVA
Yes – miss.
GAMMON
Tea and cricket on the lawn is exactly where I should be. The rest is all necessity; a way to earn the life I deserve.
ALESTES
As if you’ve ever gotten your own hands dirty.
GAMMON
Come, Alestes! Let’s not fight when we’ve barely seen one another in so long. Tell me. The turtles, how did they fare? Oh, don’t look at me like that. Imagine my delight to hear you’d actually gone digging! I couldn’t have asked for a better going-away present.
[ALESTES STARTS TO DRAW HER SWORD]
GAMMON (CONT’D)
Ah-ah! You’re surrounded by soldiers, my sweet girl. What a boring way to go.
ALESTES
I’ve taken them before, I’ll take them again.
GAMMON
So much hurt pride over a harmless little prank.
ALESTES
I’m going to kill you.
GAMMON
No. You’re not.
[GAMMON PICKS UP A PLATE FROM THE TABLE. ALESTES’S PLATE.]
GAMMON (CONT’D)
It looks like tat to me, but it must be important to you, to sell it for a slice of the quiet life. I’ll return the plate, and I’ll reinstate free trade in every port you’re blacklisted in. All you have to do is tell me what you really found about this Johana woman.
SIVA
Johana?
[A BEAT. HE REALISES HIS MISTAKE.]
Sorry. I-I’m needed in the kitchen now –
GAMMON
Don’t move. Tell me. You know who Johana is?
SIVA
I, uh….
GAMMON
Don’t look at her, look at me.
ALESTES
I’ll take him inside and interrogate him.
GAMMON
I don’t have time for your tactics, Alestes. If you’re going to make him talk, do it here.
SIVA
Will you… will you really clear the Captain’s name if I tell you?
ALESTES
Han ji. [Translation: Potato/useless person]
GAMMON
…You don’t work here, do you.
SIVA
Promise me you’ll give the Captain her, er, plate back, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know about Johana.
ALESTES
Think about what you’re saying –
MARY
There you are.
GAMMON
Not now, Mary.
MARY
This is the one I was telling you about, Graham. With the maps.
GAMMON
This is the cartographer?
MARY
It is.
GAMMON
…And why, pray tell, is the person upon whom our future hinges pouring my tea, Mary?
MARY
He – decided to go for a walk.
GAMMON
“He decided to go for a…” Incapable of locking a bloody door now, are we?
MARY
I did lock it, he –
GAMMON
Enough. I don’t want to hear it.
MARY
Don’t you dare “enough” me. You may be able to silence your little pirate buddies, but you will not speak to me like that.
GAMMON
I will speak to you however I wish, sister dearest –
And where the hell do you think you two are going?
ALESTES
Sounded like you were in the middle of something.
SIVA
Privacy is important when communicating –
GAMMON
Quiet.
You know, boy, I’ve been looking for you for a while, now. Your maps really are splendid. The level of detail in them – and the quaint little personal touches! Doodles in the corners, grubby little curried fingerprints… so charming. And when I asked who made the map that nearly destroyed years of hard work, colour me shocked to find it was some schoolboy apprentice! The look on his useless face when Annie separated him from his precious moneymakers –
SIVA
Private Pearson – no –!
GAMMON
But now here you are, the real man of the match, another boy’s fingers cleaved in vain! A shame, hm, stolen valour and all that.
SIVA
I – but – why? It’s just a map!
GAMMON
Oh my dear boy, “just a map”? A map that shows every tactical retreat, every curve, every hill, every place to hide on my island? Thank God I was sleeping in my cabin on the other side of the world!
SIVA
(realising) They used my map to organise the raid.
GAMMON
Well, of course! You did make it under the command of the Lieutenant-Colonel.
SIVA
Not so they could – I just like making maps!
GAMMON
You created a tool of war and you’re surprised it was fit for purpose? Tell me – you honestly didn’t know that Graham Peters and Captain Gammon were the same man? You didn’t organise the raid to poison my name with the British?
SIVA
No –
GAMMON
Do you work for Johana?
SIVA
No –
GAMMON
But you do know her, and she hasn’t told you. Which means either she doesn’t know herself, or you’re not high up in command.
See? Now we’re in better territory. You’re an excellent cartographer, and I’m not so egotistic that I’d kill a man of your talent without an offer first. Tell me what you know of Johana, and you can be my personal –
ALESTES
She was a servant.
GAMMON
I’m trying to talk to the boy, Alestes.
ALESTES
There was no grand plot to take you down, just some old, childless, busybody servant with nothing to do with her time but spy.
GAMMON
…Go on.
ALESTES
She created the Fly Fishers to seem bigger than herself. The locals say she died in the raid with the others. They weren’t scared to talk, they just didn’t care about what she was trying to do.
(to Siva) They said that her rebellion died in this house along with her memory, and that it should stay that way.
GAMMON
…It’s a very convenient story if it’s the truth.
ALESTES
It is.
GAMMON
And you know I’ll be able to find you if it turns out you’re playing games. Anything else?
ALESTES
That’s it.
GAMMON
What an anti-climax. Here I was, hoping to choke the woman to death myself.
SIVA
How can you say those things about –
ALESTES
Siva.
SIVA
She wasn’t just some –
ALESTES
Siva –
SIVA
No!
ALESTES
We don’t have time for this. Get your ass over here, we’re leaving.
SIVA
I… don’t want to go with you.
ALESTES
Siva, look at me. Come, now, or I’m leaving without you.
[SIVA TAKES A DEEP, SHIVERING BREATH – AND STARTS TO CRY]
GAMMON
Oh now, there’s a precious fellow, has the scary woman made you cry?
ALESTES
For crying out loud –
SIVA
I – I need – I need to think, I need –
GAMMON
I know exactly what you need. Some space and a nice cup of tea with someone who listens to you. Isn’t that right, son. Take him inside, Mary.
SIVA
…
[SIVA IS LED BACK INSIDE BY MARY]
ALESTES
Siva. Siva, you take one more step and I’m not coming to save you again!
GAMMON
It’s always nice to find someone reasonable in this blasted place. They’re gone.
ALESTES
That pathetic, pissant tadpole!
GAMMON
Enough entertainment for the day, I think!
ALESTES
Go and die, Gammon.
GAMMON
Oh, I nearly forgot! Your plate!
[GAMMON PICKS IT UP, THEN SMASHES IT ON THE TABLE]
ALESTES
No –
GAMMON
I don’t like punishing you, Miss Alestes, but you really do have to realise that your actions lead to consequences. Don’t threaten me again. I’ll be seeing you.
[EXT. OUTSIDE GAMMON’S HIDEAWAY – LATE AFTERNOON]
[IN THE FOREST – HOT, SWEATY, INSECTS BUZZING]
NOOR
Isn’t that –
BAKER
Alestes!
[BAKER EMBRACES HER IN A TIGHT BEAR-HUG]
ALESTES
Get off, Baker.
BAKER
We’ve been looking all over for you. You look ashen, are you injured?
ALESTES
I’m fine.
INEZ
You escaped?
ALESTES
Something like that.
NOOR
Did you see Siva in there?
ALESTES
I’ll tell you on the ship.
NOOR
If he’s in there, shouldn’t we –
ALESTES
I said, let’s go.
BAKER
Let’s all calm down, hey? Alestes, take a deep breath –
INEZ
…What did you do?
ALESTES
Don’t take that tone with me.
NOOR
You left him there?
INEZ
What did they want him for? More maps, or just another boy for their collection –
BAKER
Inez.
INEZ
How much was he worth, huh? Gold? A private island?
ALESTES
I didn’t sell him. He chose to stay.
BAKER
He… “chose” to stay?
ALESTES
Do you have cloth for ears? Yes. He chose them. End of story.
INEZ
Hah! Likely story!
ALESTES
You shouldn’t run your mouth about things you don’t understand –
NOOR
We understand Siva, and he wouldn’t abandon you for gold.
ALESTES
Listen carefully. I’ve had a long day. Either you shut your mouths and sail away in silence, or you stay here making accusations, and we never see one another again.
INEZ
…We’re going to get Siva.
ALESTES
Do whatever you want. Rush in there, ask him why he chose them over us. Ask him if he’s the innocent little soul he’s been pretending to be, and how long he thinks he can keep playing us.
BAKER
“Playing us”? Alestes, what are you talking about?
INEZ
She’s just saying whatever makes her feel like less of an asshole –
ALESTES
Don’t come running to me when you find out the truth, because my ship will be long gone.
INEZ
You can’t just – All our stuff’s on the ship!
ALESTES
I’m the Captain. I can do whatever I want.
INEZ
A Captain respects their crew.
ALESTES
I don’t have a crew.
[SILENCE]
INEZ
Let’s go.
ALESTES
Where are you going, Noor? You still owe me five months’ worth of labour.
NOOR
The next time we meet, you may call that debt upon me.
ALESTES
…Baker?
BAKER
As you say, Alestes, you don’t have a crew.
…But I do. If Siva’s in trouble… then that’s where I’m needed.
[THREE PAIRS OF FOOTSTEPS FADE INTO THE DISTANCE]
ALESTES
(calling after them) Fine! Get shot and die, all of you! See if I care! See if I –
[SHE CUTS HERSELF OFF – SUDDENLY WRACKED WITH PAIN. HITS HER CHEST.]
ALESTES (CONT’D)
No. Not now.
[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 by Nemo Martin and edited by Nico Vettese, Katharine Seaton and Catherine Rinella.
Trice Forgotten features: Rebecca Brough, Vic Zander, Shahan Hamza, Gigi Zahir, Ashley Goh, Tim Meredith, Lowri Ann Davies, Ben Meredith, Helen Gould. Trice Forgotten is produced by Lowri Ann Davies, Ian Geers 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.