The City and the City (2018): Season 1, Episode 2 - Ul Qoma - full transcript

After trying to cross into Ul Qoma Mr Geary is seized by Breach and deported back to America. BorlĂș thinks the nationalist True Citizen's are linked to Mahalia's death. The case is handed over to the Ul Qoma Militsya.

Nowhere

else works like the cities.

Bazel and Ul Qoma.

Since I was a kid, I have
unseen Ul Qoma as my parents

and teachers trained me.

But there are places where
the cities meet, where it's

hard to observe the borders.

Mahalia Geary, 24,
North American.

A few days ago, she
disappeared in Ul Qoma.

And she turns up in Beszel.

And this time, she's
dead in the back



of a stolen Beszel vehicle.

She was always saying that
people were on her back.

Dissidence, Reds--

True Citizens,
they're an extreme right

wing nationalist
group here in Beszel.

Connected to major
party.

They never found her,
did they, your wife?

Last seen in GunterStrasz.

Take one

single illicit step
across the border

and Breach will come for you.

I should know.

I'm a cop.

This area is
in the control of Breach.



All visitors must proceed
directly to the terminals.

Please remain inside.

I take full
responsibility for this.

Yes, you do.

What the hell was he
doing in GunterStrasz?

He went to where they
found his daughter.

What have you
done to my husband?

Where was he
going, Mrs. Geary?

He was going to be to
someone who knew Mahalia.

Where?
In Ul Qoma?

I don't know.

It could've been Ul Qoma.

Well, did he give a name?

Yolanda Stark, David Bowden.

I don't know.

All I know is he was
gonna do something.

Oh my god.

What have you done?

You can't do this to people.

He's a human being.

Listen, you have to tell
me everything you know.

Mahalia
was afraid, Inspector.

Who was she afraid
of, Mrs. Geary?

Who was she afraid of?

Was it the true citizens?

I think the True
Citizens put the fronts

on that van driver, chief.

Yeah?

Well, maybe it's
time to join up.

TC, TC.

We are true.

TC, TC.

We are strong.

TC, TC.

We are one.

TC, TC.

I admire Ul Qoma.

No, no, no.

I do.

Oh, sorry

I admire
their patriotism.

I admire their
unshakable strength.

And I admire their
willingness to do

what is necessary,
a single party

safeguarding a single state.

Mix me a classico.

No imports.

Well, I'll just
have vodka on ice.

Dumping ground.

We need immediate repatriation
of all immigrants.

There is jobs for
Beszel workers.

This is our city.

And we want it back.

Very inspiring
speech, Major Syedr.

I'm not permitted to discuss
Oversight Committee business.

No.

I just wanted to thank
you for your support.

I have people waiting.

I'm busy.

Because the owner
of that van, we

think he was forced to leave
his travel documents inside.

And we think he was
forced by the TCs.

Better speak to the
True Citizens about that.

Yeah, well, there's lots of
them here tonight, isn't there?

Why tell me?

Because whoever stole
that van must have had

a little help or a...

Are you accusing me of
something, Inspector Borlu?

Absolutely not.

Keep your nose
out of politics.

Just do your job.

Oh, I intend to.

Don't worry.

Don't worry about that.

I will.

I'll have another
vodka, thanks.

No.

You won't.

Listen, I came here
for a quiet drink.

Don't make we have to do my job.

Fuck off.

Your boss plays
golf with the Major.

Since Kat went missing,

I appreciated a beating
every now and again.

It's sharpened me up.

Wanker.
INSP.

But this time,

I didn't want to bleed
out in a Beszel gutter.

Mahalia had changed all that.

I had things to do.

You're not gonna press
charges or anything

stupid like that, are you?

I mean, technically,
it was trespassing.

Oh, I'd hate to be
a problem around here.

- Good.
- What's his handicap?

What are you talking about?

Syedr, your golfing buddy.

Don't be facile.

You think I could run this
department if we made an enemy

of Syedr, our next mayor?

The Ul Qoma authorities
are taking over the case.

How did that happen?

They were in touch.

The girl was killed in Ul Qoma.

Ul Qoma crime.

You can't wait you
got rid of her, can you?

It's an Ul
Qoma case, Borlu.

It's done.

I'm gonna
have to go to Ul Qoma.

What?

I can't investigate
it in Beszel.

You can't stop
yourself, can you?

What color is it?

What are you doing?

You can't see it, can you?

I don't know what
you're trying to do.

What color is it?
Say it.

Depends on how I'm
looking at this letter.

Go to Ul Qoma.

Sir?

What?

You're gonna disagree
with me, again?

You could do a two-day
accelerated immersion course,

provided their
authorities agree.

You'll be there in a
strictly advisory capacity.

This isn't Katrynia.

That case went to Breach.

It's over.

It's closed.

Mahalia Geary is...

Get out of my sight.

See how you like the
Ul Qoman Militsya.

Why
did she keep this photograph?

Is she out there somewhere,
living a new life?

Yeah?

- I
- cannot fucking believe this.

Are you dropping me
off the investigation?

Come up.

What the fuck
happened to your face?

Extreme sports.

Playing rough
with those TC boys?

Look, I need to find that girl
who called me, you know, talk

to anyone Mahalia
knew or worked with,

find out who Geary was meeting.

I'm going to Ul Qoma.

Ul Qoma?

Fuck that.

How many fucking hours of tape
do you think I looked through?

How many cameras?

It took me all fucking night
to go through that shit.

Who else is prepared to do that?

Is your new bitch going to?

Christ, there is a
new fucking bitch.

There is no new
effing bitch, OK?

I'm a guest.

I need to work with one of them.

It's that simple.

It's shit.

Yes, it's shit.

Come here.

Now, we need to focus on this.

I thought I'm off the case.

No, not while I'm on it.

I need you to help me.

You stay on Syedr.

Consider it done, chief.

The
immersion course reorients

you in preparation for Ul Qoma.

I've been there once before.

It's a humorless slog
with no surprises.

But not that first time.

- Go go go.
- Breach.

Breach.

Breach.

Breach.

Do they still play that game?

The old games are
very instructive.

Your orientation is a
complete, Ul Qoman immersion

course, designed to
initiate a Beszel citizen

into actually being in Ul Qoma.

Each day, we'll take a different
cross hatched area of the city

and train you to see the
buildings and people that have

been right by your
side all this time

and unsee everything you know.

Let's start with
the heavily cross

hatched area of VulcaStrasser.

The Ul Qoman parts
of this street

are unknown as Ulmedan Avenue.

You are now leaving Beszel
and entering Ul Qoma.

Sorry.

- Should we be seeing this?
- Absolutely.

You're in Ul Qoma.

This woman here, fur hat, pearl
earrings, Beszel or Ul Qoma?

Ul Qoma.

No.

Look at the buildings.

Note the disrepair.

She's in Beszel on a visitor's
pass, crossing VulcaStrasser

now, not in Ul Qoma.

Color will help you
orient yourselves.

If you're seeing something
red, more likely than not,

you're in Ul Qoma.

Yellow is frowned upon.

Katrynia, this gentleman,
next to the hotel?

A Beszel businessman
from his look.

Very good.

Tyador, this vehicle.

That's an Audi
AA Quattro Saloon.

Beszel or Ul Qoma, Mr. Borlu?

Well, automatic gearbox,
sunroof, cruise control.

If it's in Beszel, I'm arresting
owner, because it's smuggled

and it's illegal.

Thank you, Ul Qoma.

You be careful.

She could be undercover.

She's just a primary
school teacher who got lucky.

I won't be in Ul Qoma
to hold your hand.

She's just trying to scare us.

What are you?

Politza?

Extreme Crimes Squad.

OK.

Yeah, Ul Qoma a drug dealer,
she's one of his rivals.

You know, one of the bullets
misses, goes into Beszel,

I have to take the
domestic support

to the Ul Qoma Militsya.

Look, I know a nice
place for lunch, if you--

You do, do you?

Yeah.

Yeah, I do.

Well, that's good.
Yeah.

We'll have two of them.

Nothing to eat?

Well, no, why spoil
a good drink, eh?

Thank you.

So Ul Qoma, what
is it, a hen party?

That's how I come across?

No.

You come across as
out of my league.

Sweet.

I'm into philosophical
anthropology.

Well, there you go.

They've got an incredibly
rich heritage over there.

Yeah, yeah.
I've heard that.

Lots of old stuff.

Well, they've opened up a
new dig in Bolian West Ul Qoma.

They're finding amazing things.

Plus David Bowden's
giving a lecture.

I know that name.

Not unless you read
seditious literature you don't.

Do you?

When I was an undergrad,
I read Bowden's

"Between the City and the
City," put a "Wealth of Nations"

cover on it.

Hey.

So what is he?

Some sort of unificationist?

You've heard of Orciny?

It's a city.

It's free of Ul Qoma
and Beszel laws,

a third city hidden between the
cities, in the dissent maybe.

INSP.

Back then, I

wasn't listening to the words.

I was listening to her voice.

I remember how the more
dangerous the idea,

the more she came alive.

How'd the
reorientation course go?

Fine.
Really well.

So I hope.

Why are you smiling?

- I'm not.
- You are.

You're laughing at me.

I'm not fucking
laughing at you, chief.

You know, fuck you, chief.

Your mum takes Ul
Qoma cock up the ass.

What?

It's a joke.

Chief.

OK.

I miss Besz dumplings.

Sorry?

Means I'm in trouble.

- Oh, you're kidding me.
- No.

I am not kidding.

I am feeling stupid.

Say it.

I miss Besz dumplings
means I'm in trouble.

Good.

Anymore?

That's all we need.

Send me a postcard.

Be safe.

You too, chief.

I see you got your
transport license.

Favor's much appreciated, sir.

Well, it was
nothing to do with me.

Come back soon, sir.

Yeah.

Inspector Tyador Borlu,
priority queue, sir.

Be safe, sir.

Inspector Borlu,
Beszel Extreme Crime Squad.

Senior Detective
Quissima Dhatt.

Welcome to Ul Qoma.

Your Ul Qoman mobile.

Courtesy of the Militsya.

Number on the back.

Buckle up.

Your accent's
good for a Beszel,

just enough to get
you into trouble.

No smoking.

Sorry.

There's vapes in the
compartment if you want.

No thanks.

Here, have a chew
instead, sharpen you up.

First time in Ul Qoma?

No, first time in
a long time though.

Big changes.

You'll see.

We come out on the
famous Umaidin Avenue.

Leads straight into the
heart of Old Ul Qoma.

Here we go.

No open
door policy here then?

No way.

No disenfranchised
extremists for us.

No unions.

No socialist parties.

No fascist parties.

No religious parties.

It's not the same here, Borlu.

We've got things contained.

The UN gives a shit
about our camps.

But the way I look
at it, migrants

can always go to Beszel if
they don't like it here.

You're a bunch of mongrel
and anyhow.

No offense.

There's a
couple of things I need.

There's a van license plate.

I need tracking and I want to
talk to a supervisor and Dave

Bowden.

And I want to pay a
visit to that dig.

You only have
a short stay permit, Borlu.

If we're in contact with
Boolean, we'll let you know.

Tyador, just to get
things out of the way,

this is my investigation.

You don't have police powers.

I'm the officer here.

What?

The other hand.

Well, I'm here to
be any help I can.

And I appreciate that.

Hand over that thing too.

We already talked
to most of Mahalia's

teachers, her classmates.

No one knows anything.

They just thought she'd gone
off for a couple of days.

We checked her computer.

Lots of, hi, mom.

Love you emails.

Nothing much in her cache.

I guess you don't know
about the other one.

The other one?
SEN.

Yolanda Stark.

Mahalia's friend?

Her best friend apparently.

You know her from somewhere?

No one's seen
Yolanda for a while.

No one can reach her.

She might be sick.

She might have
turned her phone off.

But you and I know it might
be more serious than that.

Let's go.

That van you want to track,
your man used to come here.

We've got footage of him.

Clock the Beszel number plates.

Beszel scavengers and day
passers, like your van driver.

If you need a charity store,
go to a rich district.

That junk fetches good
prices back in Beszel.

Don't condemn people for the way
they have to make their living.

Hey.

Don't think I wouldn't
do the same if I had to.

20 years ago, my mother
held down two jobs

and dragged us kids up too.

Times change.

So she's dumped here.

Your Besz friends load
her into the stolen van,

drive over the border,
she's Beszel's problem.

And now, she's mine.

You can leave the
hotel if you have to,

but you're strictly tourist
when you're on your own.

It might be better
if you didn't.

You could breach without
meaning to and then what?

We make a fresh
start in the morning.

Have a good evening.

No smoking on the
asean's premises.

Hello?

It's me, chief.

Good wife.

Miss me already?

What's it like?

What's your contact
like, the Ul Qoma me?

Actually, I think I'm her you.

It's a bit weird to be honest?

I don't know how I'm gonna
be around this last time.

Maybe Atticus dropped
acid in her water supply.

Ah, no.

There's no subversives here.

They had a big clear out
about five years ago.

Yeah, right.

The University you
got rinsed clean of radicals.

You speak
to Mahalia's bestie, Ms. Stark?

Yolanda's gone AWOL.

And nobody's panicking.

Shit.

Well, chief,.

Hello?

Chief?

Hello?

Fuck.

Hello?

Jesus.

Stolen glimpses of Ul Qoma

always fill me with anxiety.

But that other place, Orciny,
the most dangerous idea of all,

it terrified me.

But not Katrynia, not Mahalia.

What is it?

The Arc of Ul Qoma.

Nobody knows what it
is or why it was made.

Bowden says it may
not even be Ul Qoman.

Keep your voice
down if I were you.

They're very sensitive about
their heritage, aren't they?

And
that's David Bowden.

He's a bit heavy on
security, isn't he?

He makes a lot
of people angry.

There's even a bomb threat.

Be safe.

Until recently,
the only written records

that we've found from
their precursor age

were a few poem fragments.

Now, you all know this.

It's become an emblem for
Ul Qoman's National Museum.

You'll see it on mugs and ties
and aprons, the Arc of Ul Qoma.

Truth is, the provenance of
this arc remains a mystery.

It's sublime craftsmanship,
the mathematical perfection

of its lines, the mysterious
alloy that it's made from,

these things speak to us
of a distant golden age.

Now, this symbol is so ancient
that it bears the shadow

of the first
writings from a time

before mankind split
with the natural world.

All over the ancient
world, similar signs

represent a kind of
overture, an invitation.

Is this glyph an invitation
to a hidden continent?

A golden city
without restriction,

without borders, that
lives in true harmony?

I believe the continued
existence of descensi,

those unclaimed places
that exist between the city

and the city, is evidence of
a true living city of Orciny,

a place that exists here, now.

Now, this invitation
it's a rare thing.

There's very few people that
can see it for what it is.

And it will not be refused.

Orciny is insistent.

Orciny will not go away.

Orciny is waiting for us.

Is there any news
about Ms. Yolanda?

Why?

Is she a friend of yours?

I'm just security.

But she's very nice.

Everybody likes Yolanda.

I'm sure she'll turn up.

Professor.

Professor, Inspector H.

Oh.

Inspector Borlu.

Nice to meet you in
person, Professor.

we spoke on the phone.

Oh, yeah.

That's right.
Sorry.

It was a terrible line.

Here.

Come with me.

I need to go look
at today's finds.

We've been finding
strange artifacts,

ceramics, precious metals,
alloys we don't even recognize.

Can you show me these things?

Oh, yes, of course.

But I need to get clearance.

There are protocols, you know.

So Mahalia into
the history of Ul Qoma, right?

Yes, she was.

She was a Bowdenite.

She was what?

David Bowden.

The writer?

He's an agitator.

These days, the authorities
tolerate Dr. Bowden.

The truth is, he's
something of a draw

for the foreign students.

Hence his attachment.

So David Bowden was
Mahalia Geary's supervisor?

Well,
Mahalia wanted him to be,

but he refused.

Who was her supervisor then?

I was.

You didn't
notice anything odd or unusual

about here?

With Mahalia, was usual.

Anyone you could think
of, might know something?

A boyfriend maybe?

No.

What about
that security guard?

He seemed interested.

Akem?

I don't think so.

I mean, the girls encourage
him, but, you know,

she's way out of his league.

Are we done here?

What's through there?

That's
a newly discovered section.

Very unsafe at the moment.

So there's no access.

Hey.

I hope you find Yolanda.

Is she a friend of yours?

A bit.

What about Mahalia?

Do you know her?

Mr. Borlu.

Hey, light me.

You know, that's a hanging
offense in Ul Qoma, isn't it?

I'm gonna have to turn you in.

But you won't.

I can always tell
a fellow fiend.

Mr. Borlu, want to
keep up with the class?

And everything we
find is brought in here.

Are you sure
this is everything?

Some of the more unusual
finds analyzed in here.

No.
You can't go in there.

You need protective
clothing to enter.

I need
to speak to Bowden.

Well, he's almost never here.

Well, we need his contact
details, his home address.

I can't hand over personal
information like that.

Well, you get authorisation.

I beg your pardon?
INSP.

Look, I'm not
interested in archeology

or your rules.

This is a murder investigation.

And I need to talk
to David Bowden, now.

Nice teeth.

Bowden was this guru back
in the day, into Orciny

and all that.

Orciny?
You're kidding me.

No.

For real.

Spouts all this show about
it existing in the descensi.

You know, they warned
me about you, Borlu.

How come you know about
all this bollocks?

You a card carrying member of
the Tuffy Club or something?

What's she saying?

Old number.

Doesn't exist.

You reckon he's in?

No.

Let's go.

Hey, hey, hey.

Speedy, we don't do that here.

I'll get a warrant
issued first thing.

A warrant?

It's called the
law, our quaint ways.

Humor us.

What's the beef, Tufty?

He wasn't even her supervisor.

That's Bowden.

And that's taken in
that flat I reckon.

Seen her anywhere?

Who is she?

So?

What?

Nothing.

It was just a thought.

Well, thanks for
sharing, as they say.

Thanks.

No problem.

What'd he call me?

means
crow or scavenger.

Just like my friends at
the rubbish... eh?

Can
be used fondly too.

I know the Ul Qoman word
for wanker by the way.

That photo you
showed me, what's that?

I said, it's nothing.

Maybe we should revert
to the official protocol.

What do you think?

You stay in your
three-star hotel

and wank yourself
stupid on ethernet porn

until it's time
for you to go home.

Whose Corwi anyhow?

Oh, you tapped my phone.
Well, there's a surprise.

Either you trust me
or you don't trust me,

but you have to share.

Girl called me, from
here, from Ul Qoma.

OK.

That call was a crime.

Do you understand
what I'm saying?

She saw.

She looked across
the border, right?

She didn't tell me her name.

But she said she was a
friend of Mahalia's, you

know her best friend.

Yolanda Stark.

That's what I think.

It means she's alive.

It means she was alive
When she made the call.

Look, she said that
Mahalia died because she

found out the truth.

Truth about what?

Two girls, into
like alternative

weird shit, underground shit.

Both into Orciny.

Into Bowden is my guess.

Bowden is at the center of this.

What?

I just asked you once--

This job, never a
happy ending, is it?

I'm on wife number three.

You?

Do I look married?

You look hungry.

What that Katrynia?

I hope she had her visitor's
badge and everything.

She should not be
going outside wearing

yellow or without a guide.

She could breach or anything.

- I'll go after her.
- OK.

Jesus Christ.

Look where you're
going, will you?

Extreme Crimes squad.

OK.

My fault.

My fault.

Kat.

Come on.
Come on.

Come on, Kat.

Come on.

Kat.

Come on.

That's it.

OK.

We've been here
before, haven't we?

Smoking is not
encouraged in Ul Qoma.

Well, that warms my
Besz heart that you care.

Mr. Borlu, there is a young
lady to see you in the bar,

sir.

Hi.

You running up a tab?

They're free, aren't they?

Nothing's free.

Do you want another one?

Maybe I've had enough.

What?

Can you stand?

Haven't tried.

Hey, do you know how
to make a clasnico?

What?

Clasnico.

Ah, clasnico.

Yeah?

And one of them.

OK.

You heard of Orciny,
yeah, the secret city?

Mahalia believed it exists
now, present time that--

that it runs things.

Well, she was a fan, wasn't
she, a real little Bowdenite?

She loved him.

He was a bit old
for her, wasn't he?

Dead, but not dead.

You know that thing?

She was really bad
when they split.

Bad enough to do
something stupid?

No, not her.

She was too proud.

You know, they let her work
in the closed off section.

They only let the ones they
really like in, foreigners.

They told me it was
unsafe to work there.

They bring stuff out
of there all the time.

What type of stuff?

Amazing things,
things that don't

fit earlier Ul Qoma or Beszel.

You've seen this place?

Once or twice.

I've got my little inside man.

Do you think you
could get me in there?

Security changes
over at midnight.

Text me when you're leaving.

You do know how to
text, don't you?

Hello?

Missing Besz dumplings, chief.

No.

The food here is quite good.
You?

I'm
gonna find a new place.

Anywhere I know?

Your old soldier
friend's fond of it.

They're very big on
national cuisine.

Last time I was there, some
of those traditional dishes

didn't agree with me,
you know what I'm saying?

I'll choose carefully.

I-- OK.

I've got to go.

Mistress
yanking your leash, chief?

Yeah.

Something like that.

You be safe.

How you enjoy
your visit to Ul Qoma?

Best city in the world.

I'm here four years.

One year in camp, three years
study for Ul Qoma citizenship.

You never wanted
to go to Beszel?

What's in Beszel?

Ul Qoma's the best place.

You've got your
usual table, Major.

Fried anjou beef a shot
of Besz...??

You know
me too well, my dear.

We don't get a lot
of American gentlemen in, sir.

I'm surprised.

You're all so welcoming.

The Major's
waiting for you.

Mr. Gorse.

Do you mind?

Could we get a
bottle of sparkling?

Of course.

Maybe I can interest
you gents in a selection

of traditional Besz appetizers
while you're perusing.

We're all right.

Mr. Gorse?

Haven't you got
the wrong room?

No.

Have you?

This is well-known
TC hangout, you know?

TC?

It's fascist to you.

How come they let you in?

I'm the token bitch.

The offers are really nice.

Are you press?

Why?

You and the Major a closet item?

No, no.

We aren't anything at all.

It's a diplomatic meeting.

Are you secret
politzsei or something?

No secrets.

What you see is what you get.

Well, what I see is someone
overstepping the mark.

Just taking an interest.

Major Syedr, leader in our
block, may be our next mayor.

For the record, I meet
all kinds of politicians

in all kinds of countries.

I help inefficient
governments, like yours,

make the right choices, do
the right thing, usually

against their worst instincts.

INSP.

What does it say?

Can you read it?

I'm not great at it.

But something that was not a
dream was appearing, Orciny.

Mahalia said you could go there.

They invite you and you wait.

They find you.

Oh my god.

OK.
I'll handle this.

It's all right.

OK.

I know we're not
supposed to be here.

I'm-- I'm pollice keserai.

I'm a police
officer,...

The unaccountable
city, beyond Breach.

There's a limit on how
much I can protect you.

Well,
my wife's got nothing

to do with this investigation.

Are you sure about that?

There's a price for
speaking the truth.

So am I.

There
are other reasons

for people to disappear.