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.
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.
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.