1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,133 HELP EVERYONE EXPLORE NEW WORLDS AND IDEAS. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:03,233 --> 00:00:05,233 SUPPORT YOUR PBS STATION. 4 00:00:06,233 --> 00:00:08,733 Man: CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL THOSE PLACES, 5 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 6 00:00:08,833 --> 00:00:11,833 JUST THE MAGICAL NAMES -- SAMARKAND AND BUKHARA 7 00:00:11,933 --> 00:00:14,767 AND BEIJING AND IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN, AND... 8 00:00:14,867 --> 00:00:16,633 SO I CALLED UP DENIS, 'CAUSE, 9 00:00:16,733 --> 00:00:18,767 YOU KNOW, WHO ELSE WOULD BE CRAZY ENOUGH 10 00:00:18,867 --> 00:00:21,033 TO MAYBE GO ALONG WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, 11 00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:23,200 AND I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU THINK, DUDE?" 12 00:00:27,433 --> 00:00:30,600 WE WOULD SIT THERE AND RETREAT INTO OUR IMAGINATIONS -- 13 00:00:30,700 --> 00:00:33,167 "WHAT WAS THIS LIKE FOR MARCO," YOU KNOW? 14 00:00:33,267 --> 00:00:35,300 "HOW WOULD IT HAVE BEEN FOR HIM?" 15 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,433 WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS WHOLE JOURNEY 16 00:00:38,533 --> 00:00:41,367 LIKE WE WERE LIVING IN MARCO POLO'S WORLD. 17 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,833 [ EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE ] 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,767 [ HEART BEATING ] 19 00:01:01,867 --> 00:01:04,566 Belliveau: "ON THE ROAD TO BALKH THIS MORNING, 20 00:01:04,667 --> 00:01:08,233 "WE DROVE RIGHT SMACK INTO THE MIDDLE OF A FIREFIGHT -- 21 00:01:08,333 --> 00:01:10,900 "PULLED FROM OUR JEEP AND FORCED TO OUR KNEES 22 00:01:11,067 --> 00:01:13,567 "IN THE STREET, THE MUZZLE OF AN AK-47 23 00:01:13,667 --> 00:01:15,967 "SHOVED INTO THE BACK OF MY HEAD. 24 00:01:16,067 --> 00:01:19,067 "I WAS CONVINCED I WAS ABOUT TO BE EXECUTED. 25 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:21,367 "MY FAMILY WOULD NEVER FIND OUT 26 00:01:21,467 --> 00:01:23,900 "WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME OUT HERE. 27 00:01:24,067 --> 00:01:29,067 MY BODY WOULD NEVER BE FOUND, AND ALL FOR WHAT?" 28 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:31,267 [ HEARTBEAT SLOWS ] 29 00:01:33,467 --> 00:01:37,167 [ "VIVA LA VIDA" BY COLDPLAY PLAYS ] 30 00:01:45,667 --> 00:01:49,900 * I USED TO RULE THE WORLD 31 00:01:50,067 --> 00:01:52,733 * SEAS WOULD RISE WHEN I GAVE THE WORD * 32 00:01:52,833 --> 00:01:56,867 * NOW IN THE MORNING I SLEEP ALONE * 33 00:01:56,967 --> 00:02:00,367 * SWEEP THE STREETS I USED TO OWN * 34 00:02:23,667 --> 00:02:26,533 [ HARMONICS RESONATING ] 35 00:02:26,633 --> 00:02:28,567 O'Donnell: YEARS AGO, I WAS TOTALLY BROKE. 36 00:02:28,667 --> 00:02:30,833 I HAD NO MONEY, BUT I HAD A LOT OF POSSESSIONS, 37 00:02:30,933 --> 00:02:33,533 A LOT OF OLD THINGS THAT WERE WORTH MONEY, 38 00:02:33,633 --> 00:02:36,300 AND TALKED TO MYSELF, "I LOVE THESE OBJECTS, 39 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,300 "THEY HAVE SOME SENTIMENTAL VALUE, BUT IT'S JUST, 40 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,367 "REALLY, OPENLY, IT'S JUST TRASH 41 00:02:41,467 --> 00:02:43,733 THAT I'M CARRYING AROUND WITH MYSELF." 42 00:02:43,833 --> 00:02:45,700 SO WHAT I DID WAS I SOLD THEM, 43 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,267 AND I WENT TO GUATEMALA, 44 00:02:47,367 --> 00:02:49,633 AND I STOOD ON TOP OF THE PYRAMIDS, 45 00:02:49,733 --> 00:02:51,867 AND I LOOKED OVER THE RAINFOREST, 46 00:02:51,967 --> 00:02:53,433 AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, 47 00:02:53,533 --> 00:02:56,533 "I WOULD TRADE EVERY POSSESSION I OWN TO TRAVEL." 48 00:03:03,533 --> 00:03:05,933 Narrator: AT THE END OF THE 13th CENTURY, 49 00:03:06,067 --> 00:03:08,733 A BOOK WAS WRITTEN THAT WOULD CHANGE THE COURSE 50 00:03:08,833 --> 00:03:10,833 OF HUMAN HISTORY. 51 00:03:20,067 --> 00:03:23,067 ITS PROLOGUE PROCLAIMED THE AUTHOR TO BE 52 00:03:23,133 --> 00:03:25,267 THE WORLD'S MOST TRAVELED MAN. 53 00:03:25,367 --> 00:03:27,633 IT READ, "EMPERORS AND KINGS, 54 00:03:27,733 --> 00:03:30,167 "DUKES, KNIGHTS, AND TOWNSFOLK, 55 00:03:30,267 --> 00:03:33,067 "AND ALL PEOPLE WHO WISH TO LEARN OF 56 00:03:33,100 --> 00:03:36,733 "THE VARIOUS RACES OF MAN AND REGIONS OF THE WORLD, 57 00:03:36,833 --> 00:03:39,733 "TAKE THIS BOOK, FOR HERE YOU WILL FIND 58 00:03:39,833 --> 00:03:42,700 "ALL THE GREAT WONDERS AND CURIOSITIES 59 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,667 "OF PERSIA AND THE LAND OF THE TARTARS 60 00:03:45,767 --> 00:03:48,700 "AND OF INDIA AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, 61 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,467 "AS RELATED BY MARCO POLO, NOBLE CITIZEN OF VENICE, 62 00:03:52,567 --> 00:03:55,567 WHO HAS SEEN THEM WITH HIS OWN EYES." 63 00:04:00,567 --> 00:04:03,733 EVEN TODAY, SCHOLARS DEBATE POLO'S CLAIMS ABOUT 64 00:04:03,833 --> 00:04:07,267 THE GRAND JOURNEY HE TOOK WITH HIS FATHER AND UNCLE. 65 00:04:07,367 --> 00:04:10,467 DID THE NOBLE CITIZEN OF VENICE REALLY MAKE IT 66 00:04:10,567 --> 00:04:13,600 TO CHINA AND BACK, SPENDING DECADES EXPLORING 67 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:17,399 THE LANDS OF THE GREAT MONGOL EMPEROR KUBLAI KHAN? 68 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:20,567 TWO NOBLE CITIZENS OF QUEENS, NEW YORK, 69 00:04:20,666 --> 00:04:22,300 WANTED TO FIND OUT. 70 00:04:30,433 --> 00:04:35,633 THEY WERE JUST TWO ORDINARY GUYS WHO SET OUT TO DO 71 00:04:35,733 --> 00:04:37,567 AN EXTRAORDINARY THING. 72 00:04:37,667 --> 00:04:39,467 TWO YEARS ON A MISSION, 73 00:04:39,567 --> 00:04:41,767 LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND 74 00:04:41,867 --> 00:04:44,600 WITHOUT ANY IDEA WHAT LAY AHEAD. 75 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:48,367 WE'RE GOING RIGHT THROUGH THAT. 76 00:04:48,467 --> 00:04:52,767 BING, BING, BING, THAT WAY. 77 00:04:52,867 --> 00:04:54,567 Narrator: THEIR NAMES? 78 00:04:54,667 --> 00:04:57,733 DENIS BELLIVEAU AND FRANCIS O'DONNELL. 79 00:04:57,833 --> 00:04:59,733 OW! 80 00:04:59,833 --> 00:05:02,233 THEY WEREN'T SCHOLARS OR HISTORIANS. 81 00:05:02,333 --> 00:05:04,767 THEY WEREN'T CONNECTED TO MAJOR MUSEUMS. 82 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:07,133 THEY WEREN'T ON THE FACULTY ANYWHERE. 83 00:05:07,233 --> 00:05:10,133 THERE WAS NO PROSPECT OF GLORY, 84 00:05:10,233 --> 00:05:13,767 AND THEY SURE WEREN'T GOING TO BE PAID. 85 00:05:13,867 --> 00:05:15,367 IT WAS THE EARLY '90s. 86 00:05:15,467 --> 00:05:17,400 THEY WERE IN THEIR EARLY 30s. 87 00:05:17,500 --> 00:05:21,233 DENIS WAS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, 88 00:05:21,333 --> 00:05:23,900 FRANCIS, A VETERAN OF THE U.S. MARINES. 89 00:05:24,067 --> 00:05:27,933 THEY HAD A FEW SPONSORS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANIES 90 00:05:28,067 --> 00:05:31,667 THAT DONATED CAMERAS, FILM, AND SOME VIDEO EQUIPMENT 91 00:05:31,767 --> 00:05:33,433 THAT'S WAY OUTDATED NOW. 92 00:05:33,533 --> 00:05:36,133 BUT, MOST OF ALL, THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN, 93 00:05:36,233 --> 00:05:38,967 JUST A COUPLE OF BUDDIES WHO TOOK THIS TRIP 94 00:05:39,067 --> 00:05:40,700 BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY LOVED. 95 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,733 THEY LOVED ART, 96 00:05:42,833 --> 00:05:45,733 HISTORY, CULTURE, 97 00:05:45,833 --> 00:05:49,400 AND THEY LOVED ADVENTURE, AND THEY WERE ABOUT TO TRY 98 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:51,367 WHAT NO ONE HAD EVER DONE -- 99 00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:56,067 SUCCESSFULLY RETRACE MARCO POLO'S ENTIRE ROUTE 100 00:05:56,133 --> 00:06:00,200 SOME 25,000 MILES TO CHINA AND BACK... 101 00:06:02,233 --> 00:06:05,067 ACROSS FORBIDDEN MOUNTAIN RANGES, 102 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:07,867 FORLORN DESERTS, WONDROUS CITIES, 103 00:06:07,967 --> 00:06:09,833 AND DANGEROUS WAR ZONES. 104 00:06:09,933 --> 00:06:14,200 THEIR ONLY GUIDE WAS POLO'S OWN ACCOUNT OF HIS TRAVELS, 105 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:18,100 AND THEY MADE A FEW SIMPLE RULES FOR THEMSELVES. 106 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,233 THEY WOULD DOCUMENT EVERY INSTANCE 107 00:06:20,333 --> 00:06:22,800 WHERE THEY FOUND WHAT POLO HAD DESCRIBED. 108 00:06:23,833 --> 00:06:27,367 [ CAMERA SNAPS, WINDS, BEEPS ] 109 00:06:27,467 --> 00:06:30,200 THEY WOULD GO ONLY BY LAND OR SEA. 110 00:06:30,300 --> 00:06:33,833 FLYING WAS UNKNOWN TO POLO, SO FLYING WAS OUT. 111 00:06:33,933 --> 00:06:37,733 AND, NO MATTER WHAT, THEY WOULD NOT TURN BACK. 112 00:06:37,833 --> 00:06:40,533 WE HAD MADE A PACT THAT UNDER ANY CONDITIONS, 113 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:43,067 NO MATTER WHAT, WE WERE ONLY COMING BACK 114 00:06:43,167 --> 00:06:46,567 TO THE UNITED STATES TWO WAYS -- EITHER DEAD OF SUCCESSFUL. 115 00:06:46,667 --> 00:06:51,833 Narrator: IN MARCH, 1993, THEY BEGAN WHERE POLO HAD -- 116 00:06:51,933 --> 00:06:53,267 IN VENICE. 117 00:06:53,367 --> 00:06:56,267 HERE, THEY HOPED TO SET EYES ON THEIR FIRST MARCO MILESTONE 118 00:06:56,367 --> 00:06:59,067 IN THE ARCHIVE OF THE CITY LIBRARY. 119 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:00,800 Belliveau: MARCO POLO'S 120 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:03,333 LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT IS THE ONLY DOCUMENT 121 00:07:03,433 --> 00:07:05,100 WE KNOW HE HAD HIS HANDS ON. 122 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,667 HE ACTUALLY TOUCHED THIS PIECE OF PAPER. 123 00:07:07,767 --> 00:07:10,333 SO, FOR US, THAT WAS KIND OF A HOLY GRAIL. 124 00:07:10,433 --> 00:07:13,067 WE WANTED TO TOUCH IT, WE WANTED TO SEE IT. 125 00:07:13,133 --> 00:07:17,600 AND THEY TURNED US DOWN, AND IT WAS KIND OF DEVASTATING. 126 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:19,800 AND AS WE WERE WALKING DOWN THE STEPS OF THE LIBRARY, 127 00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:21,700 WE SAID, "TWO YEARS LATER, WHEN WE GET BACK, 128 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,867 "THEY'RE GOING TO SERVE US UP THAT MARCO POLO'S WILL 129 00:07:23,967 --> 00:07:25,367 ON A SILVER PLATTER." 130 00:07:43,667 --> 00:07:45,767 MARCO POLO! 131 00:07:53,633 --> 00:07:56,267 Narrator: MODERN ISRAEL, THE HOLY LAND. 132 00:07:56,367 --> 00:07:57,400 THIS WAS THEIR ENTRANCE 133 00:07:57,500 --> 00:07:59,200 INTO POLO'S ACCOUNT OF HIS TRAVELS. 134 00:07:59,300 --> 00:08:01,600 Belliveau: JERUSALEM WAS JUST AMAZING, 135 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:05,500 AND WE JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE. 136 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,200 [ CHANTING ] 137 00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:13,967 [ BELL TOLLS ] 138 00:08:14,067 --> 00:08:16,367 Narrator: ON HIS TRIP HERE, 139 00:08:16,467 --> 00:08:17,967 MARCO POLO HAD OBTAINED HOLY OIL 140 00:08:18,067 --> 00:08:19,767 FROM THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE, 141 00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,933 THE TRADITIONAL SITE OF CHRIST'S BURIAL. 142 00:08:23,067 --> 00:08:25,433 FOR THEIR JOURNEY, 143 00:08:25,533 --> 00:08:28,567 DENIS AND FRANCIS COLLECTED SOME OF THE SAME 144 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:31,100 ON EASTERN ORTHODOX EASTER SUNDAY. 145 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,832 [ CROWD YELLING ] 146 00:08:44,633 --> 00:08:49,867 THE VIVIDNESS OF THE HOLY LAND HAD FIRED THEIR IMAGINATIONS. 147 00:08:49,967 --> 00:08:52,900 THE INSPIRATION REMAINED AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY 148 00:08:53,067 --> 00:08:55,300 UP TOWARD ANATOLIA, TODAY'S TURKEY. 149 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,900 /Belliveau: WE TRIED TO MAKE IT THE 13th CENTURY IN OUR HEADS. 150 00:08:58,067 --> 00:08:59,567 IF THERE WAS A TELEPHONE WIRE THERE, 151 00:08:59,667 --> 00:09:01,133 IT WAS CROPPED OUT OF THE SCENE. 152 00:09:01,233 --> 00:09:03,600 IF THE CAR WENT BY, WE DIDN'T NOTICE IT. 153 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:06,233 ANOTHER TOURIST, FOREIGNER, WE DELETED HIM. 154 00:09:06,333 --> 00:09:09,367 WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS WHOLE JOURNEY 155 00:09:09,467 --> 00:09:12,067 LIKE WE WERE LIVING IN MARCO POLO'S WORLD. 156 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:30,100 FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, WE LANDED IN AYAS. 157 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:31,633 NOW IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, 158 00:09:31,733 --> 00:09:33,267 IT'S JUST A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE, 159 00:09:33,367 --> 00:09:35,067 BUT WHEN WE STOOD THERE, WE WERE LIKE, 160 00:09:35,167 --> 00:09:37,067 "THIS WAS THE NEW YORK HARBOR OF ITS TIME." 161 00:09:37,133 --> 00:09:38,733 EUROPEAN SHIPS WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE 162 00:09:38,833 --> 00:09:40,600 TO GET ALL THESE GOODS COMING FROM ASIA, 163 00:09:40,700 --> 00:09:42,700 DROPPING OFF THEIR CARAVANS TO MAKE THEIR WAY. 164 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,467 IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY BUSTLING PORT. 165 00:09:45,567 --> 00:09:48,667 Narrator: THE JOURNEY WAS GOING ALONG BREEZILY, 166 00:09:48,767 --> 00:09:50,633 JUST TWO GUYS ON A ROAD TRIP. 167 00:09:50,733 --> 00:09:54,167 ONLY THIS TRIP HAPPENED TO BE ON THE FAMED SILK ROAD. 168 00:09:54,267 --> 00:09:55,967 [ CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPPING ] 169 00:09:58,067 --> 00:10:00,967 THEY VISITED CARAVANSERAIS, 170 00:10:01,067 --> 00:10:03,833 THE KIND OF MEDIEVAL ROADSIDE HOTELS 171 00:10:03,933 --> 00:10:06,000 WHERE POLO MUST HAVE STOPPED, 172 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:08,667 PLACES WHERE MERCHANTS COULD SPEND THE NIGHT 173 00:10:08,767 --> 00:10:11,567 SAFE WITH THEIR PACK ANIMALS INSIDE PROTECTIVE WALLS. 174 00:10:11,667 --> 00:10:12,933 Belliveau: AND... 175 00:10:13,033 --> 00:10:15,700 WE STARTED A TRADITION THAT WE DID THROUGHOUT THE TRIP, 176 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,400 WAS TO TRY TO GET OURSELVES IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. 177 00:10:18,500 --> 00:10:20,067 IT'S WRITTEN IN THEIR LANGUAGE, 178 00:10:20,167 --> 00:10:21,867 IT MAKES YOU VERY OFFICIAL. 179 00:10:21,967 --> 00:10:23,533 WE WEREN'T JUST TOURISTS. 180 00:10:23,633 --> 00:10:25,367 PEOPLE WOULD STOP US IN THE STREET, LIKE, 181 00:10:25,467 --> 00:10:27,067 "HEY, MARCO POLO GUYS, MARCO POLO..." 182 00:10:27,167 --> 00:10:29,100 AND IT JUST OPENED UP DOORS. 183 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,033 * 184 00:10:42,967 --> 00:10:45,367 O'Donnell: YOU ALMOST CAN'T SPEND ANY MONEY IN THAT COUNTRY. 185 00:10:45,467 --> 00:10:48,767 I MEAN, YOU CAN ON RUGS AND SOUVENIRS, I SUPPOSE, 186 00:10:48,867 --> 00:10:50,933 BUT THE FRIENDSHIP AND THE HELP THAT YOU GET, 187 00:10:51,033 --> 00:10:52,433 YOU ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND IN TURKEY. 188 00:10:52,533 --> 00:10:52,633 [ MAN SINGING IN TURKISH ] 189 00:11:08,567 --> 00:11:10,800 [ SINGING ] 190 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:12,900 [ SNAPS FINGERS ] 191 00:11:24,567 --> 00:11:26,200 [ LAUGHTER ] 192 00:11:26,300 --> 00:11:28,233 * ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT 193 00:11:31,333 --> 00:11:32,133 * THIS IS THE END 194 00:11:32,233 --> 00:11:35,700 * MY ONLY FRIEND, THE END 195 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,667 * DESPERATELY IN NEED 196 00:11:38,767 --> 00:11:39,500 * OF A STRANGER'S HAND 197 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:44,767 * IN A DESPERATE LAND 198 00:11:44,867 --> 00:11:45,667 * THIS IS THE END 199 00:11:45,767 --> 00:11:50,200 * MY ONLY FRIEND, THE END 200 00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:54,300 [ "THE END" BY THE DOORS PLAYS ] 201 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,133 Narrator: BUT WOULD THE WHOLE JOURNEY BE SUCH A BREEZE? 202 00:11:57,233 --> 00:12:00,133 THE NEXT COUNTRY ON MARCO POLO'S PATH 203 00:12:00,233 --> 00:12:02,367 WAS CALLED PERSIA IN HIS TIME. 204 00:12:02,467 --> 00:12:06,467 WE KNOW IT AS IRAN. 205 00:12:06,567 --> 00:12:10,633 WITH NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE U.S., 206 00:12:10,733 --> 00:12:14,233 THE COUNTRY WAS VIRTUALLY CLOSED TO AMERICANS. 207 00:12:14,333 --> 00:12:16,733 BUT DENIS AND FRANCIS HAD PLANNED AHEAD, 208 00:12:16,833 --> 00:12:19,633 CONTACTING TEHRAN'S U.N. AMBASSADOR IN NEW YORK 209 00:12:19,733 --> 00:12:20,733 BEFORE THEY LEFT. 210 00:12:20,833 --> 00:12:22,900 THEY HAD EXPLAINED THE HISTORICAL 211 00:12:23,067 --> 00:12:25,367 AND NON-POLITICAL NATURE OF THEIR TRIP. 212 00:12:25,467 --> 00:12:28,200 HE WAS VERY PLEASANT, HE WAS VERY WARM TO US, 213 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:30,400 HE LOVED THE IDEA OF THE PROJECT, 214 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:32,733 AND HE TOLD US, "YOUR VISAS WILL BE 215 00:12:32,833 --> 00:12:35,067 WAITING FOR YOU IN ANKARA, TURKEY." 216 00:12:35,133 --> 00:12:36,167 AND WE BELIEVED HIM. 217 00:12:36,267 --> 00:12:38,200 AND WE GOT TO ANKARA, AND WE WENT TO 218 00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:40,400 THE IRANIAN EMBASSY, AND THEY WERE LIKE, 219 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:42,100 "WE NEVER HEARD OF YOU GUYS." 220 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,200 [ "THE END" CONTINUES ] 221 00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:49,367 SO, EVERY SINGLE DAY, 222 00:12:49,467 --> 00:12:51,567 WE WOULD GO INTO THE IRANIAN EMBASSY 223 00:12:51,667 --> 00:12:54,100 AND EVERY DAY, IT WAS, "OH, YEAH, YOU'VE -- 224 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,067 "OH, YES, WE DO KNOW ABOUT YOU, 225 00:12:56,133 --> 00:12:59,067 IT'S STUCK NOW IN THE MINISTRY OF ISLAMIC GUIDANCE," 226 00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:01,300 AND THEY JUST GAVE US THE RUN-AROUND. 227 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,767 AND THEN AFTER SIX AGGRAVATING WEEKS 228 00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:06,600 OF BEING STUCK THERE, THEY FINALLY SAID NO. 229 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:09,333 AND THAT WAS -- I MEAN, THAT WAS DEVASTATING. 230 00:13:09,433 --> 00:13:11,400 THAT WAS IT, THE PROJECT'S OVER. 231 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:13,867 WE MIGHT AS WELL PACK IT UP AND GO HOME. 232 00:13:13,967 --> 00:13:16,833 Jim Morrison: * THIS IS THE END 233 00:13:16,933 --> 00:13:19,567 * MY ONLY FRIEND, THE END 234 00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:21,800 Narrator: IN A CHEAP HOTEL IN ANKARA, 235 00:13:21,900 --> 00:13:24,067 ONLY THREE MONTHS INTO THEIR JOURNEY, 236 00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:26,067 HAVING SEEN ONLY THREE COUNTRIES, 237 00:13:26,133 --> 00:13:29,067 DENIS AND FRANCIS FOUND THEMSELVES 238 00:13:29,167 --> 00:13:31,200 FACE TO FACE WITH FAILURE 239 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:34,233 AND THEN TOOK A LEFT TURN AROUND IT, 240 00:13:34,333 --> 00:13:38,167 INSPIRED BY THE WAY MARCO POLO HAD TOLD HIS STORY, 241 00:13:38,267 --> 00:13:41,700 NOT AS A SET ITINERARY BUT RATHER AS SIMPLY 242 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,867 A DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD. 243 00:13:43,967 --> 00:13:46,633 IN HIS ACCOUNT, POLO TOLD OF HOW 244 00:13:46,733 --> 00:13:49,900 HIS FATHER AND UNCLE HAD VISITED BUKHARA 245 00:13:50,067 --> 00:13:51,267 IN PRESENT-DAY UZBEKISTAN. 246 00:13:51,367 --> 00:13:55,700 DENIS AND FRANCIS WOULD NOW PICK UP THAT TRAIL. 247 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,733 EVENTUALLY, THEY'D FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET INTO IRAN, 248 00:13:58,833 --> 00:14:01,967 BY HOOK OR CROOK, ON THE WAY BACK. 249 00:14:02,067 --> 00:14:04,400 [ TRAIN RUMBLING ] 250 00:14:35,433 --> 00:14:37,067 WE WERE ABLE TO GET THESE TRANSIT VISAS 251 00:14:37,100 --> 00:14:38,633 AND CUT THROUGH GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN, 252 00:14:38,733 --> 00:14:43,567 AND WE MADE IT INTO TURKMENISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA AFTER THAT, 253 00:14:43,667 --> 00:14:44,767 AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING 254 00:14:44,867 --> 00:14:47,067 BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER FOREIGNERS THERE. 255 00:14:47,167 --> 00:14:49,900 [ CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS ] 256 00:14:50,067 --> 00:14:53,533 THOSE REPUBLICS ARE SOME OF THE MOST... 257 00:14:53,633 --> 00:14:56,100 REPRESSIVE AND DIFFICULT COUNTRIES 258 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,400 TO GET INTO IN CENTRAL ASIA. 259 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,167 PEOPLE CAME UP TO US, AND THEY WERE LIKE, 260 00:15:02,267 --> 00:15:04,267 JUST SO HAPPY TO TALK TO A FOREIGNER. 261 00:15:04,367 --> 00:15:06,733 YOU KNOW THAT FOR 70 YEARS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN 262 00:15:06,833 --> 00:15:07,933 ARRESTED BY THE KGB, 263 00:15:08,067 --> 00:15:10,200 AND THEY WOULD COME UP TO US, AND, YOU KNOW, 264 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:11,867 TELL US, "WHERE ARE YOU FROM?" 265 00:15:11,967 --> 00:15:13,967 THEY WERE SO INTERESTED IN US. 266 00:15:15,633 --> 00:15:16,900 AND BUKHARA IN PARTICULAR, 267 00:15:17,067 --> 00:15:20,133 WE DOCUMENTED THE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN STANDING 268 00:15:20,233 --> 00:15:21,333 WHEN POLO WAS THERE, 269 00:15:21,433 --> 00:15:25,133 BUT THE HEIGHT OF BUKHARA HAPPENED UNDER TAMERLANE, 270 00:15:25,233 --> 00:15:28,533 SO THAT MOST OF THE ARCHITECTURE THAT'S THERE 271 00:15:28,633 --> 00:15:32,667 DATES FROM THAT TIME PERIOD, BUT IT'S STILL SPECTACULAR, 272 00:15:32,767 --> 00:15:36,700 THAT PERSIAN BLUE-TILE DOMES AND JUST A REALLY MAGICAL, 273 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,800 BEAUTIFUL SILK ROAD CITY. 274 00:15:46,567 --> 00:15:48,733 Narrator: IN UZBEKISTAN, THE REGIME REQUIRED 275 00:15:48,833 --> 00:15:51,567 A DIFFERENT VISA FOR EVERY CITY THEY VISITED. 276 00:15:51,667 --> 00:15:55,067 THEY DUTIFULLY OBTAINED ONE FOR THE BORDER TOWN OF TERMEZ. 277 00:15:55,167 --> 00:15:57,767 FROM THERE, THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SIMPLE 278 00:15:57,867 --> 00:16:00,400 TO CROSS THE SO-CALLED FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE 279 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:01,567 INTO AFGHANISTAN. 280 00:16:01,667 --> 00:16:03,700 AND WE WENT TO CROSS THE BRIDGE, 281 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,167 AND THE UZBEK BORDER GUARDS WERE LIKE, 282 00:16:06,267 --> 00:16:08,833 "YOU DON'T HAVE A VISA FOR THE BRIDGE." 283 00:16:08,933 --> 00:16:10,467 AND WE WERE LIKE, "WHAT? 284 00:16:10,567 --> 00:16:11,533 "WE HAVE VISAS FOR TERMEZ. 285 00:16:11,633 --> 00:16:14,733 "OUR VISAS ARE GOING TO BE EXPIRING SOON, 286 00:16:14,833 --> 00:16:16,067 YOU KNOW, LET US GO." 287 00:16:16,133 --> 00:16:18,667 AND THEY WERE REALLY GIVING US A HARD TIME. 288 00:16:18,767 --> 00:16:20,967 EVERY SINGLE DAY, A GUY FROM THE FSB, 289 00:16:21,067 --> 00:16:23,733 WHICH IS THE FORMER KBG, WAS INTERROGATING US, 290 00:16:23,833 --> 00:16:26,167 "WHY WERE YOU HERE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, 291 00:16:26,267 --> 00:16:28,533 "WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN, 292 00:16:28,633 --> 00:16:29,700 WHO ARE YOU GUYS?" 293 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,067 SO WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO -- WE THOUGHT ABOUT 294 00:16:32,167 --> 00:16:34,067 SWIMMING ACROSS THE AMU DARYA RIVER, 295 00:16:34,133 --> 00:16:36,600 BUT THERE'S GUARD TOWERS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR 296 00:16:36,700 --> 00:16:38,700 DRUG SMUGGLERS COMING FROM AFGHANISTAN, 297 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,333 SO WE FIGURED WE'D GET SHOT IF WE TRIED TO DO THAT, 298 00:16:41,433 --> 00:16:44,767 AND THEN OUR VISA FOR TERMEZ RAN OUT. 299 00:16:47,433 --> 00:16:49,333 "OCTOBER 11. 300 00:16:49,433 --> 00:16:52,433 "IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME A YEAR AGO THAT I'D BE IN 301 00:16:52,533 --> 00:16:55,833 "A HIGHLY RESTRICTED AREA OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION 302 00:16:55,933 --> 00:16:58,300 "WITH AN INVALID VISA IN MY PASSPORT 303 00:16:58,400 --> 00:16:59,867 "AND PISSED OFF BECAUSE 304 00:17:00,067 --> 00:17:02,733 "WHAT USED TO BE THE KGB WOULDN'T LET ME ENTER 305 00:17:02,833 --> 00:17:05,599 "THE CHAOS AND CIVIL WAR RAGING IN AFGHANISTAN, 306 00:17:05,700 --> 00:17:08,067 "I WOULD HAVE SAID YOU WERE CRAZY. 307 00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:11,500 "NOW I'M QUESTIONING MY OWN SANITY. 308 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:15,067 MARCO POLO NEVER NEEDED TO FORGE A VISA." 309 00:17:38,133 --> 00:17:39,933 Belliveau: AND EVERY DAY, WE'D GO BACK 310 00:17:40,067 --> 00:17:41,767 AND WE'D PRESENT OUR PASSPORTS AGAIN 311 00:17:41,867 --> 00:17:43,533 AND THE SAME MONOTONOUS QUESTIONS, 312 00:17:43,633 --> 00:17:45,633 AND THE FORGERY WAS ABOUT TO RUN OUT AGAIN. 313 00:17:45,733 --> 00:17:47,400 YOU KNOW, FINALLY, AFTER ALL THIS, 314 00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:52,233 FRAN WAS LIKE, "THAT'S IT, I'VE HAD ENOUGH, WE'RE GOING." 315 00:18:14,300 --> 00:18:16,567 THE NEXT TIME WE GOT IN FRONT OF THE KGB GUY, 316 00:18:16,667 --> 00:18:17,667 HE SAID, "LOOK. 317 00:18:17,767 --> 00:18:19,600 "OUR VISAS FOR YOUR COUNTRY HAVE EXPIRED. 318 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:21,967 "WE'RE CROSSING THAT BRIDGE INTO AFGHANISTAN. 319 00:18:22,067 --> 00:18:24,167 "WE'RE AMERICAN CITIZENS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? 320 00:18:24,267 --> 00:18:25,367 "ARE YOU GOING TO SHOOT US? 321 00:18:25,467 --> 00:18:27,400 DO YOU WANT AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT, OR WHAT?" 322 00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:29,767 AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE GUY WAS LIKE, 323 00:18:29,867 --> 00:18:32,433 "OH, UM, BUT THERE'S THE FINE YOU HAVE TO PAY. 324 00:18:32,533 --> 00:18:34,067 "YOU FORGOT TO PAY THE FINE. 325 00:18:34,133 --> 00:18:36,167 IF YOU HAD JUST PAID THIS FINE --" 326 00:18:36,267 --> 00:18:39,067 SO I THINK IT WAS LIKE 100 BUCKS OR SOMETHING. 327 00:18:39,167 --> 00:18:41,267 WE GAVE THE GUY $100, STAMPED US, 328 00:18:41,367 --> 00:18:43,067 AND WE ENTERED AFGHANISTAN. 329 00:18:51,467 --> 00:18:54,067 GOING FROM THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC 330 00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:57,067 WHERE IT HAD PAVED ROADS, ELECTRICITY, CARS, 331 00:18:57,100 --> 00:18:59,733 INTO AFGHANISTAN WAS REALLY LIKE TAKING 332 00:18:59,833 --> 00:19:02,367 A STEP BACK INTO THE 13th CENTURY. 333 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:24,933 [ LAUGHS ] 334 00:19:25,067 --> 00:19:27,467 THERE'S KEBAB HOUSES ALL OVER THE PLACE, 335 00:19:27,567 --> 00:19:28,600 OR ROASTED LAMB. 336 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:30,300 IN FACT, WE JOKED ABOUT IT. 337 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,367 WE ATE EVERY LAMB THING YOU COULD IMAGINE. 338 00:19:33,467 --> 00:19:35,133 LAMB EYEBALLS, 339 00:19:35,233 --> 00:19:36,667 LAMB BRAINS, 340 00:19:36,767 --> 00:19:38,967 LAMB TAIL, LAMB... 341 00:19:39,067 --> 00:19:40,800 INTESTINES. 342 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:42,533 EVERY THING OF A LAMB YOU COULD EAT, 343 00:19:42,633 --> 00:19:43,900 WE DID, FOR MONTHS. 344 00:19:44,067 --> 00:19:46,800 Narrator: BUT AS THEY JOURNEYED DEEPER INTO THE PAST, 345 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:49,667 IT BECAME HARDER AND HARDER 346 00:19:49,767 --> 00:19:52,067 TO CROP THE PRESENT OUT OF THE SCENE. 347 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:56,067 IN 1993, AFGHANISTAN'S WAR WITH RUSSIA WAS OVER, 348 00:19:56,100 --> 00:19:59,433 AND THE TALIBAN HAD YET TO TAKE CONTROL. 349 00:19:59,533 --> 00:20:02,467 ARMED MUJAHIDEEN FACTIONS 350 00:20:02,567 --> 00:20:05,833 RULED THE COUNTRY. 351 00:20:05,933 --> 00:20:07,333 [ CAR HORN BEEPS ] 352 00:20:07,433 --> 00:20:10,267 [ ENGINE ACCELERATES ] 353 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,300 Narrator: FRANCIS AND DENIS HAD CONCOCTED A PLAN 354 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,900 TO GET SAFELY ACROSS THE COUNTRY -- 355 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,467 A PLAN INSPIRED BY MARCO POLO. 356 00:20:57,567 --> 00:21:00,733 ON AN EQUALLY PERILOUS PATH 700 YEARS BEFORE, 357 00:21:00,833 --> 00:21:04,200 THE VENETIAN HAD HAD THE BEST SHIELD AVAILABLE -- 358 00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:06,533 A POWERFUL PATRON. 359 00:21:06,633 --> 00:21:09,900 POLO RECOUNTED THAT KUBLAI KHAN PROVIDED HIS PARTY 360 00:21:10,067 --> 00:21:12,467 A GOLDEN TABLET ON WHICH WAS WRITTEN 361 00:21:12,567 --> 00:21:16,233 THAT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN ALL THE LODGING THEY MIGHT NEED 362 00:21:16,333 --> 00:21:20,433 AND HORSES TO ESCORT THEM FROM ONE LAND TO ANOTHER. 363 00:21:20,533 --> 00:21:23,300 THE TRAVELLERS HAD NO EMPEROR TO SHIELD THEM, 364 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,633 BUT THEY DID HAVE SOME CONNECTIONS. 365 00:21:25,733 --> 00:21:28,567 THEY HAD OBTAINED A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION 366 00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:31,433 FROM A COMRADE OF A LOCAL AFGHAN WARLORD. 367 00:21:31,533 --> 00:21:34,600 Belliveau: WE GOT DROPPED OFF AT THEIR STRONGHOLD, 368 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:35,867 WHICH WAS BASICALLY 369 00:21:35,967 --> 00:21:38,667 A WALLED COMPOUND WITH A SOVIET TANK 370 00:21:38,767 --> 00:21:40,967 PARKED IN FRONT AS THE GATE, 371 00:21:41,067 --> 00:21:44,067 AND WE PULLED UP, WE PRESENTED THE LETTER, 372 00:21:44,167 --> 00:21:47,200 THE GUARD READ, I GUESS, THE OPENING OF IT, 373 00:21:47,300 --> 00:21:50,133 THE TANK MOVED OUT OF THE WAY LIKE A GATE -- 374 00:21:50,233 --> 00:21:52,067 RRRH -- THEY STARTED UP THE TANK, 375 00:21:52,167 --> 00:21:54,500 MOVED UP, AND WE ENTERED INTO THIS COMPOUND, 376 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,733 AND THE TANK CLOSED BEHIND US, AND WE -- 377 00:21:56,833 --> 00:21:59,533 WE KNEW RIGHT THERE AND THEN THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK. 378 00:21:59,633 --> 00:22:01,567 WE WERE NOW IN WITH THE MUJAHIDEEN. 379 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:05,233 HEY, WHERE ARE YOU? 380 00:22:05,333 --> 00:22:08,933 I'M IN OZ. 381 00:22:14,633 --> 00:22:16,900 [ CAR HORN BEEPS ] 382 00:22:20,267 --> 00:22:21,167 Belliveau: SO THEN THEY -- 383 00:22:21,267 --> 00:22:24,067 THEY BROUGHT US UP INTO THE VILLA 384 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:25,900 THAT WAS REALLY A FORTRESS, 385 00:22:26,067 --> 00:22:27,633 AND THEY BROUGHT US INTO A ROOM. 386 00:22:27,733 --> 00:22:31,067 [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ] 387 00:22:33,067 --> 00:22:35,167 ,AND THEN, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE DOOR OPENED UP, 388 00:22:35,267 --> 00:22:37,133 AND COMMANDER ATTA CAME IN. 389 00:22:39,867 --> 00:22:40,767 HE WAS KIND OF MAJESTIC -- 390 00:22:40,867 --> 00:22:43,967 TALL FOR AN AFGHAN, BIG BLACK BEARD, 391 00:22:44,067 --> 00:22:46,400 HAD A PHALANX OF GUARDS BEHIND HIM, 392 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:48,067 AND, "THIS IS IT. 393 00:22:48,167 --> 00:22:50,267 "IF THIS GUY DOESN'T HELP US, WE'RE DONE FOR. 394 00:22:50,367 --> 00:22:52,767 THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN MAKE IT ACROSS AFGHANISTAN." 395 00:22:56,233 --> 00:22:59,067 SO HE READ THE LETTER, AND THEN HE PUT IT DOWN, 396 00:22:59,133 --> 00:23:02,600 AND HE SAID, "THE MAN WHO WROTE THIS LETTER IS MY BROTHER, 397 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:05,933 "AND ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU, IT'S WITHIN YOUR GRASP. 398 00:23:06,067 --> 00:23:07,467 WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?" 399 00:23:07,567 --> 00:23:09,967 SO WE TOOK OUT OUR MAP, AND WE SAID, 400 00:23:10,067 --> 00:23:11,933 "WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE TO HERE 401 00:23:12,067 --> 00:23:14,200 TO HERE TO HERE, THROUGH AFGHANISTAN." 402 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:15,800 HE TURNED TO HIS GENERALS AND THEY TALKED 403 00:23:15,900 --> 00:23:17,633 FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN HE CAME BACK TO US, 404 00:23:17,733 --> 00:23:18,633 AND HE SAID, "LOOK. 405 00:23:18,733 --> 00:23:20,367 "THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY 406 00:23:20,467 --> 00:23:21,800 "IS REALLY DANGEROUS. 407 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:23,633 "I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A HELICOPTER, 408 00:23:23,733 --> 00:23:25,900 "AND WE'RE GOING TO FLY YOU OVER THE SCARY BIT, 409 00:23:26,067 --> 00:23:28,567 AND THEN YOU CAN PICK UP MARCO POLO'S TRAIL AFTER THAT." 410 00:23:28,667 --> 00:23:31,233 SO NOW HERE'S THIS GUY WHO MADE THIS 411 00:23:31,333 --> 00:23:32,800 GENEROUS OFFER TO US, 412 00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:34,100 AND WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, 413 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,233 AND THEN WE KIND OF CAME BACK TO HIM AND SAID, 414 00:23:36,333 --> 00:23:38,133 "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT WE CAN'T FLY." 415 00:23:38,233 --> 00:23:41,167 Narrator: THE AFGHAN WARLORD WAS TAKEN ABACK, 416 00:23:41,267 --> 00:23:44,433 BUT THE LETTER FROM HIS COMRADE HAD ALL THE POWER 417 00:23:44,533 --> 00:23:46,400 OF MARCO POLO'S GOLDEN TABLET. 418 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:49,267 AND HE CAME BACK AND HE SAID, "LOOK, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS. 419 00:23:49,367 --> 00:23:51,200 "I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU 25 BODYGUARDS. 420 00:23:51,300 --> 00:23:55,833 "WE HAVE EIGHT JEEPS FILLED WITH ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES, 421 00:23:55,933 --> 00:23:58,433 "MACHINE GUNS, THE WHOLE THING. 422 00:23:58,533 --> 00:24:00,667 "YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE IN HERE IN THE VILLA WITH US. 423 00:24:00,767 --> 00:24:03,100 "WE NEED TO DRESS YOU AS AFGHANS BECAUSE IT'S SO DANGEROUS. 424 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,233 YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY WEAPONS YOURSELF." 425 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:10,067 JEEZ. 426 00:24:10,133 --> 00:24:12,800 OKAY, THAT'S COOL. 427 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:14,200 NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. 428 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:16,933 YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO. 429 00:24:19,533 --> 00:24:21,067 THAT'S COOL. 430 00:24:21,167 --> 00:24:23,500 I DON'T. 431 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:25,667 I'M NOT INTO GUNS. 432 00:24:25,767 --> 00:24:27,867 WHEN WERE WITH THOSE GUYS, IT WAS ANNOYING 433 00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:28,867 AFTER A WHILE. 434 00:24:28,967 --> 00:24:31,067 I MEAN, YOU'D WANT TO GO AND TAKE A LEAK, 435 00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:33,867 AND THE GUY'S FOLLOWING YOU WITH A MACHINE GUN, AND YOU'RE LIKE, 436 00:24:33,967 --> 00:24:36,067 "PLEASE, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE ALONE RIGHT NOW," 437 00:24:36,133 --> 00:24:37,600 AND HE'S LIKE, "NO, I PROTECT YOU." 438 00:24:37,700 --> 00:24:39,067 YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, "PLEASE." 439 00:24:39,100 --> 00:24:41,133 AT THAT POINT, WE HAD BEEN IN AFGHANISTAN 440 00:24:41,233 --> 00:24:42,133 QUITE A FEW WEEKS, 441 00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:43,400 AND WE HAD LEARNT, 442 00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:46,067 JUST FROM THE SOUND OF MACHINE GUN FIRE, 443 00:24:46,167 --> 00:24:48,300 WHICH WE HEARD EVERY SINGLE DAY, 444 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,600 TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 445 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:54,533 A CELEBRATION, A WEDDING, A CHILD'S BIRTH, 446 00:24:54,633 --> 00:24:56,833 WHEN YOU HEAR -- TKKT-TKKT-TKKT-TKKT, 447 00:24:56,933 --> 00:24:59,067 AND THAT'S JUST A GUY CELEBRATING. 448 00:24:59,100 --> 00:25:00,100 TKKT-TKKT-TKKT-TKKT. 449 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,833 OR, IF YOU HEARD -- "POP, POP, TKKT, 450 00:25:02,933 --> 00:25:05,167 TAT-TAT, POP, POP," THAT'S A FIREFIGHT. 451 00:25:05,267 --> 00:25:07,133 DON'T GO OUT WHEN YOU HEAR THAT. 452 00:25:07,233 --> 00:25:08,967 THIS -- TKKT-TKKT-TKKT-TKKT -- 453 00:25:09,067 --> 00:25:10,867 IT'S OKAY, SOMEBODY GOT MARRIED. 454 00:25:10,967 --> 00:25:13,867 Narrator: DENIS AND FRANCIS HAD JUST A DRIVER 455 00:25:13,967 --> 00:25:16,667 AND TWO BODYGUARDS WHEN THEY SET OUT FROM 456 00:25:16,767 --> 00:25:20,233 THE TOWN OF MAZARI SHARIF FOR A NEARBY MARCO MILESTONE. 457 00:25:20,333 --> 00:25:23,300 POLO HAD DESCRIBED IT AS "A SPLENDID RUIN" -- 458 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,767 THE CITY OF BALKH. 459 00:25:24,867 --> 00:25:28,567 Belliveau: SO WE'RE DRIVING TO THE ANCIENT SITE, AND WE HEAR, 460 00:25:28,667 --> 00:25:30,800 "POP, POP, TKKT, CHICKA, PEW," YOU KNOW, 461 00:25:30,900 --> 00:25:33,067 THERE'S A FIREFIGHT SOMEWHERE CLOSE BY. 462 00:25:33,133 --> 00:25:34,067 WE CAN HEAR IT. 463 00:25:34,133 --> 00:25:35,433 SO WE TURNED DOWN THIS BLOCK, 464 00:25:35,533 --> 00:25:37,700 I'M IN THE FRONT SEAT, FRAN'S IN THE BACK SEAT, 465 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,067 AND THEN, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, 466 00:25:39,133 --> 00:25:41,133 FROM THE CORNER OF MY EYE, 15, 20 FEET AWAY, 467 00:25:41,233 --> 00:25:45,067 A KID COMES OUT OF THE SHADOWS, BAM, HE'S GOT HIS AK 468 00:25:45,100 --> 00:25:46,667 POINTING RIGHT AT ME, 469 00:25:46,767 --> 00:25:48,900 AND I SAID, "THIS IS IT." 470 00:25:49,067 --> 00:25:52,133 O'Donnell: SO THEY PUT US UP AGAINST THE WALL, 471 00:25:52,233 --> 00:25:53,967 THOSE GUYS THAT WERE GUARDING US WITH MACHINE GUNS, 472 00:25:54,067 --> 00:25:55,500 AND THEY TAKE OUR GUYS AND THEY STICK THEM 473 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,100 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, AND A GAUNTLET 474 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:58,767 FORMS AROUND THEM, AND THEY START BEATING THEM 475 00:25:58,867 --> 00:26:00,167 AND PUSHING THEM AND STICKING THEM 476 00:26:00,267 --> 00:26:01,767 WITH THE MACHINE GUNS AND SCREAMING AT THEM, 477 00:26:01,867 --> 00:26:03,567 SO DENIS TURNS TO ME AND HE SAYS, "DUDE, 478 00:26:03,667 --> 00:26:05,967 IF WE GET OUT OF THIS ALIVE, WE'RE OUT OF THIS COUNTRY." 479 00:26:06,067 --> 00:26:07,500 ACTUALLY, WE MADE A PACT BEFORE WE LEFT, 480 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:08,833 AND THAT WAS THAT NO MATTER WHAT, 481 00:26:08,933 --> 00:26:10,300 UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, 482 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,767 THAT WEREN'T GOING TO QUIT OR TURN BACK. 483 00:26:12,867 --> 00:26:14,567 AND THEN WHEN WE WERE AGAINST THE WALL, 484 00:26:14,667 --> 00:26:16,800 WE WERE LIKE, "WE'RE QUITTING, WE'RE TURNING BACK." 485 00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:18,667 Belliveau: THERE WAS ANOTHER GUY 486 00:26:18,767 --> 00:26:21,400 WITH ANOTHER 60-MILLIMETER GUN WHO WAS RIGHT THERE, 487 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:24,967 AND HE HAD THAT KIND OF POINTED AT ME AND FRAN. 488 00:26:25,067 --> 00:26:27,567 I HAD A PACK OF CIGARETTES IN MY POCKET RIGHT HERE. 489 00:26:27,667 --> 00:26:29,900 AND I SAW HIM LOOK AT MY CIGARETTES. 490 00:26:30,067 --> 00:26:30,967 I LOOKED AT HIM, 491 00:26:31,067 --> 00:26:33,967 AND OUR EYES MET, AND I WENT -- 492 00:26:34,067 --> 00:26:35,233 AND HE WENT -- 493 00:26:35,333 --> 00:26:37,533 AND THE MACHINE GUN CAME DOWN, AND I WAS LIKE -- 494 00:26:37,633 --> 00:26:39,600 I COULDN'T WAIT TO HAVE A SMOKE MYSELF. 495 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:41,933 I WENT, "HERE," AND THE TWO OF US -- HE WASN'T SHAKING, 496 00:26:42,067 --> 00:26:43,967 BUT I WAS LIKE -- HE, LIKE, LIT HIS CIGARETTE, 497 00:26:44,067 --> 00:26:45,400 AND, LIKE -- [ EXHALES ] 498 00:26:45,500 --> 00:26:48,067 IT WAS LIKE, "OKAY, HE'S NOT GOING TO SHOOT ME RIGHT NOW." 499 00:26:48,167 --> 00:26:50,967 Narrator: FINALLY, THEIR CAPTORS REALIZE 500 00:26:51,067 --> 00:26:53,600 DENIS, FRANCIS, AND THEIR BODYGUARDS 501 00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:56,900 POSE NO THREAT -- THEY WEREN'T FROM THE FACTION 502 00:26:57,067 --> 00:26:58,900 THAT WAS ATTACKING THEM. 503 00:26:59,067 --> 00:27:01,700 THE SOLDIERS THAT DETAINED THE TRAVELLERS 504 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,233 WERE FROM A TRIBE CALLED THE HAZARAS, 505 00:27:04,333 --> 00:27:07,733 BELIEVED TO BE DESCENDANTS OF MEDIEVAL MONGOL WARRIORS. 506 00:27:07,833 --> 00:27:10,633 SUCH MEN HAD AMBUSHED MARCO POLO AND COMPANY 507 00:27:10,733 --> 00:27:14,533 SOME 700 YEARS BEFORE. 508 00:27:14,633 --> 00:27:18,767 POLO RECALLED THAT ALL BUT SEVEN OF HIS GROUP WERE CAUGHT. 509 00:27:18,867 --> 00:27:22,267 THE REST, HE SAID, WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE AND SOLD 510 00:27:22,367 --> 00:27:23,967 AND SOME PUT TO DEATH. 511 00:27:24,067 --> 00:27:26,433 AS FOR DENIS AND FRANCIS, 512 00:27:26,533 --> 00:27:29,867 THEY MADE IT SAFELY TO THE CITY OF BALKH. 513 00:27:34,867 --> 00:27:37,233 Belliveau: WE RETREATED INTO OUR IMAGINATION 514 00:27:37,333 --> 00:27:39,267 INTO THE 13th CENTURY, AND WE READ 515 00:27:39,367 --> 00:27:41,333 FROM MARCO POLO'S BOOK ABOUT BALKH, 516 00:27:41,433 --> 00:27:44,133 AND WE SAT OVER -- YOU KNOW, WE WATCHED THE SUNSET, 517 00:27:44,233 --> 00:27:45,967 AND, THAT NIGHT, WE WENT BACK, 518 00:27:46,067 --> 00:27:48,733 AND OUR GUARDS TOLD US THAT 38 GUYS DIED IN MAZARI 519 00:27:48,833 --> 00:27:50,500 DURING THAT FIREFIGHT. 520 00:27:57,067 --> 00:27:59,600 BEFORE WE LEFT, WE CHECKED WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT. 521 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:01,833 PRETTY MUCH EVERY COUNTRY WE WERE GOING TO, 522 00:28:01,933 --> 00:28:03,833 THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID, "DON'T GO." 523 00:28:03,933 --> 00:28:06,800 THAT KIND OF VIOLENT DEATH, 524 00:28:06,900 --> 00:28:10,533 IT REALLY BROUGHT HOME TO ME THAT, "WHOA," YOU KNOW? 525 00:28:10,633 --> 00:28:12,800 "I COULD GET KILLED DOING THIS." 526 00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:15,733 Narrator: STILL SHAKEN FROM HIS CAPTURE, 527 00:28:15,833 --> 00:28:18,567 DENIS BELLIVEAU WONDERED WHETHER OR NOT 528 00:28:18,667 --> 00:28:20,067 HE SHOULD TURN BACK. 529 00:28:20,167 --> 00:28:23,633 /EARLIEEARLIER THAT YEAR, HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN RIPPED APART 530 00:28:23,733 --> 00:28:26,733 BY THE DEATH OF HIS BELOVED YOUNGER COUSIN. 531 00:28:26,833 --> 00:28:28,733 HE HAD JUST COME INTO HIS OWN. HE WAS AN ACTOR. 532 00:28:28,833 --> 00:28:31,633 HE WAS GOING TO GO PLACES, YOU KNOW? 533 00:28:31,733 --> 00:28:32,967 HE WAS TALENTED. 534 00:28:33,067 --> 00:28:35,667 AND IT WAS AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, 535 00:28:35,767 --> 00:28:39,367 AND HE HAD JUST COME BACK FROM CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 536 00:28:39,467 --> 00:28:41,467 WITH A FRIEND FROM THE PLAY, 537 00:28:41,567 --> 00:28:44,333 AND AS THEY WERE GETTING OUT OF THEIR CAR, 538 00:28:44,433 --> 00:28:47,700 ALL OF THE SUDDEN, A GROUP OF KIDS COME AROUND HIM. 539 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,267 THEY STARTED TO ROB THEM, 540 00:28:50,367 --> 00:28:53,200 AND THEN ONE OF THEM SAID, "DO HIM." 541 00:28:55,867 --> 00:28:58,133 AND A 14-YEAR-OLD SHOT ROB RIGHT IN THE HEAD. 542 00:28:58,233 --> 00:29:00,067 HE DIED BEFORE HE HIT THE GROUND. 543 00:29:00,133 --> 00:29:05,367 SO...IT JUST WAS... IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE. 544 00:29:05,467 --> 00:29:07,067 IT WAS JUST THE WORST TIME. 545 00:29:07,167 --> 00:29:13,267 IT MADE ME SIT BACK AND REALLY REEVALUATE 546 00:29:13,367 --> 00:29:16,667 WHETHER OR NOT I WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE RISK, 547 00:29:16,767 --> 00:29:20,867 AND I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT IF I DIDN'T DO THIS, 548 00:29:20,967 --> 00:29:23,833 THAT, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A MIDDLE-AGED GUY 549 00:29:23,933 --> 00:29:27,667 WHO LOOKED BACK AND SAID, "I WISH I HAD." 550 00:29:27,767 --> 00:29:30,833 [ "THE SECRET WEDDING" FROM "BRAVEHEART" PLAYS ] 551 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:38,067 [ CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS ] 552 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:40,567 Narrator: CONTINUING EAST, 553 00:29:40,667 --> 00:29:45,067 THE EXPLORERS ENTERED THE PERILOUS NARROW CANYON 554 00:29:45,133 --> 00:29:47,700 AT THE EASTERN EXTREME OF AFGHANISTAN, 555 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,233 A FORGOTTEN PASSAGE TO CHINA SELDOM, IF EVER, 556 00:29:51,333 --> 00:29:56,200 TRAVELED BY WESTERNERS -- THE WAKHAN CORRIDOR. 557 00:29:56,300 --> 00:29:58,167 Belliveau: THE WAKHAN CORRIDOR 558 00:29:58,267 --> 00:30:00,733 WAS ONE OF THOSE TRULY WILD PLACES 559 00:30:00,833 --> 00:30:02,867 WHERE WE KNEW WE WERE REALLY 560 00:30:02,967 --> 00:30:05,633 WALKING IN MARCO POLO'S FOOTSTEPS. 561 00:30:05,733 --> 00:30:07,533 WE WERE TRAVELING THE WAY HE DID, 562 00:30:07,633 --> 00:30:10,233 'CAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO GET THROUGH THOSE MOUNTAINS 563 00:30:10,333 --> 00:30:10,900 IS BY HORSE AND PACK MULE. 564 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:12,733 YOU KNOW, ONE SLIP, 565 00:30:12,833 --> 00:30:14,667 AND THERE'S SOME SNOWY PATHS, 566 00:30:14,767 --> 00:30:18,000 AND THERE'S A 1,000-FOOT DROP DOWN THIS ICY ABYSS, 567 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:20,733 AND EVEN IF ONE OF THE PACK MULES WENT, 568 00:30:20,833 --> 00:30:24,033 CARRYING OUR FOOD, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE. 569 00:30:24,133 --> 00:30:25,467 Narrator: THERE WERE FEW BREAKS 570 00:30:25,567 --> 00:30:27,533 FROM THE SLOW AND ARDUOUS SLOG. 571 00:30:27,633 --> 00:30:30,267 WHEN THEY CAME, FRANCIS AND DENIS WORKED ON 572 00:30:30,367 --> 00:30:32,533 THEIR ON-CAMERA SKILLS FOR THE FILM 573 00:30:32,633 --> 00:30:35,567 THEY SOMEDAY HOPED TO MAKE OF THEIR ADVENTURES. 574 00:30:37,633 --> 00:30:39,333 [ Groaning ] MY ACHING BONES. 575 00:30:39,433 --> 00:30:40,633 THEM BONES, THEM BONES. 576 00:30:40,733 --> 00:30:44,433 YOU SYOU SEE THE LIGHT FLASHING? 577 00:30:44,533 --> 00:30:45,833 YEAH. 578 00:30:45,933 --> 00:30:49,600 WE'RE IN THE WAKHAN CORRIDOR -- 579 00:30:49,700 --> 00:30:51,433 WE'VE TRAVELED THROUGH THE COUNTRY. 580 00:30:51,533 --> 00:30:53,100 THIS IS THE WAKHAN CORRIDOR. 581 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:54,900 MARCO POLO WENT THROUGH THIS WAY 582 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,600 ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE PAMIR, 583 00:30:56,700 --> 00:30:58,900 TAJIKISTAN, TO CHINA. 584 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:00,700 I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOVEMBER. 585 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,200 WE'RE HERE A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN WE'D LIKE TO BE, 586 00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:05,100 BUT IT IS FREEZING. 587 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,133 RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT SO BAD, BUT... 588 00:31:07,233 --> 00:31:08,767 LAST NIGHT WAS BRUTAL. 589 00:31:10,100 --> 00:31:11,900 [ MAN SHOUTS ] 590 00:31:21,467 --> 00:31:23,433 Belliveau: YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE 591 00:31:23,533 --> 00:31:24,933 THAT YOU CAN BE THAT COLD 592 00:31:25,067 --> 00:31:26,800 FOR EVERY SECOND, 24 HOURS A DAY, 593 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:28,067 SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. 594 00:31:28,167 --> 00:31:30,167 IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MANY BLANKETS WE HAD ON, 595 00:31:30,267 --> 00:31:32,600 YOU WERE JUST FROZEN. 596 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:35,100 BUT, FOR ME, IT WAS JUST SO TRANSCENDENT 597 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:36,433 AND SO PRISTINE. 598 00:31:36,533 --> 00:31:39,267 WE WERE IN A PLACE THAT WAS SO REMOTE AND SO RUGGED 599 00:31:39,367 --> 00:31:41,933 AND SO RAW THAT EVERY -- ALL OF YOUR SENSES 600 00:31:42,067 --> 00:31:45,067 WERE JUST, LIKE, TINGLING AND ALIVE. 601 00:31:49,333 --> 00:31:51,067 "IN THIS LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, 602 00:31:51,133 --> 00:31:55,633 "I'M TRULY IMMERSED IN THE 13th CENTURY OF MARCO POLO. 603 00:31:55,733 --> 00:31:57,933 I CAN FEEL HIS PRESENCE HERE." 604 00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:03,600 Narrator: POLO SAID, "THIS PLAIN, 605 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:08,067 "WHOSE NAME IS PAMIR, EXTENDS FULLY 12-DAYS' JOURNEY, 606 00:32:08,100 --> 00:32:09,933 "AND IN ALL OF THESE 12 DAYS, 607 00:32:10,067 --> 00:32:12,467 "THERE IS NO HABITATION OR SHELTER. 608 00:32:12,567 --> 00:32:15,067 THE TRAVELER MUST TAKE PROVISIONS WITH HIM." 609 00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:21,267 THE WAKHAN STARTS AT ABOUT 9,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL 610 00:32:21,367 --> 00:32:22,267 THEN RISES TO ABOUT 25,000 611 00:32:22,367 --> 00:32:26,933 TO WHAT IS CALLED THE BOMI DUNYO -- 612 00:32:27,067 --> 00:32:28,900 THE ROOF OF THE WORLD. 613 00:32:29,067 --> 00:32:30,633 O'Donnell: AND SO, AS IT ASCENDS, 614 00:32:30,733 --> 00:32:32,333 IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY HOSTILE, 615 00:32:32,433 --> 00:32:35,467 AND WE WERE IN THIS FORTRESS IN ISHKASHIM, AT THE BASE -- 616 00:32:35,567 --> 00:32:36,967 Belliveau: AND WE WERE FREEZING, 617 00:32:37,067 --> 00:32:39,333 SLEEPING ON THIS DIRT FLOOR, AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, 618 00:32:39,433 --> 00:32:42,067 HE'S GOT THIS NICE WARM BLANKET OR SOMETHING AROUND HIM, 619 00:32:42,133 --> 00:32:44,067 AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE THINNER, 620 00:32:44,100 --> 00:32:45,633 SO MAYBE IT'S AFFECTING ME MORE, 621 00:32:45,733 --> 00:32:47,667 SO I KIND OF LIKE ROLLED OVER NEXT TO HIM. 622 00:32:47,767 --> 00:32:49,633 I'M, LIKE, TRYING TO GET SOME BODY HEAT. 623 00:32:49,733 --> 00:32:51,967 HE'S LIKE, "GET OFF." I GO, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" 624 00:32:52,067 --> 00:32:54,067 I WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, COME HERE." 625 00:32:54,133 --> 00:32:55,133 [ LAUGHS ] 626 00:32:55,233 --> 00:32:57,600 Narrator: GRINDING THROUGH THE WAKHAN, 627 00:32:57,700 --> 00:32:59,733 THEY FREQUENTLY SAW ROAD MARKERS 628 00:32:59,833 --> 00:33:02,100 JUST AS MARCO POLO HAD DESCRIBED -- 629 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,300 "THE HORNS OF A TREMENDOUS BEAST, 630 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:06,067 A MASTER OF THESE MOUNTAINS." 631 00:33:06,167 --> 00:33:08,733 IT'S BECOME KNOWN AS THE MARCO POLO SHEEP. 632 00:33:08,833 --> 00:33:12,100 NOT ONLY DOES HE DESCRIBE THESE MOUNTAIN SHEEP, 633 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:16,067 BUT HE SAYS THAT THE LOCALS USE THE HORNS TO BUILD CAIRNS 634 00:33:16,133 --> 00:33:19,200 ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS TO POINT TRAVELLERS 635 00:33:19,300 --> 00:33:20,800 THROUGH THE SNOW. 636 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:24,133 Narrator: THESE SIGNPOSTS WOULD EVENTUALLY SHOW THE WAY 637 00:33:24,233 --> 00:33:26,933 OUT OF THE WAKHAN AND TOWARD ANOTHER COUNTRY 638 00:33:27,067 --> 00:33:28,167 MIRED IN CIVIL WAR, 639 00:33:28,267 --> 00:33:30,533 UNTIL RECENTLY, A SOVIET REPUBLIC -- 640 00:33:30,633 --> 00:33:31,867 TAJIKISTAN. 641 00:33:31,967 --> 00:33:35,367 [ MARTIAL BAND PLAYING ] 642 00:33:49,767 --> 00:33:53,733 THE LAST THING THE BORDER GUARDS EXPECTED 643 00:33:53,833 --> 00:33:56,167 WAS A PAIR OF GRIZZLED AMERICANS. 644 00:33:56,267 --> 00:33:58,400 AND WE CAME UP AND, YOU KNOW, GINGERLY PULLED OUT 645 00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:01,433 OUR PASSPORTS -- "AMERIKANSKI, AMERIKANSKI." 646 00:34:01,533 --> 00:34:03,267 AND THE GUY WAS LIKE, "WHAT?" 647 00:34:03,367 --> 00:34:05,500 HE CAME OVER TO US, AND HE WAS LIKE, 648 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,167 "NO FOREIGNERS HAVE EVER CROSSED THIS BORDER BEFORE. 649 00:34:08,266 --> 00:34:09,833 "WHERE ARE YOU GUYS COMING FROM? 650 00:34:09,933 --> 00:34:12,333 WHO ARE YOU, WHAT DO -- HOW DID YOU GET THESE VISAS?" 651 00:34:12,433 --> 00:34:15,199 Narrator: THESE VISAS WEREN'T FORGED. 652 00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:15,400 DENIS AND FRANCIS WERE IN. 653 00:34:59,267 --> 00:35:01,100 Narrator: ALMOST AS SOON AS 654 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,867 THEY HAD ARRIVED IN TAJIKISTAN, THE TRAVELLERS 655 00:35:03,967 --> 00:35:05,367 WERE READY TO LEAVE. 656 00:35:05,467 --> 00:35:08,400 THE QUESTION WAS, HOW? 657 00:35:40,133 --> 00:35:42,567 * LATELY I'VE BEEN RUNNING ON FAITH * 658 00:35:42,667 --> 00:35:45,500 Belliveau: HOLD ON TO MY BAG, WILL YOU? 659 00:35:48,500 --> 00:35:51,367 * ALL OF OUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE * 660 00:35:53,767 --> 00:35:57,933 * AND OUR WORLD WOULD BE RIGHT * 661 00:35:58,067 --> 00:35:58,600 * WHEN LOVE COMES OVER 662 00:35:58,700 --> 00:36:03,133 * ME AND YOU 663 00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:38,533 Belliveau: A MODERN GEOPOLITICAL MAP 664 00:36:38,633 --> 00:36:41,467 WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE CROSSED THE BORDER INTO CHINA, 665 00:36:41,567 --> 00:36:43,567 BUT WE DIDN'T FEEL WE WERE IN CHINA. 666 00:36:43,667 --> 00:36:45,233 WE WERE STILL IN CENTRAL ASIA. 667 00:36:45,333 --> 00:36:46,967 OUR FIRST STOP WAS IN KASHGAR. 668 00:36:56,667 --> 00:36:59,467 Narrator: KASHGAR IS A SILK ROAD OASIS 669 00:36:59,567 --> 00:37:01,233 IN WESTERN CHINA 670 00:37:01,333 --> 00:37:05,133 IN A REGION MARCO POLO CALLED "UYGHURSTAN" -- 671 00:37:05,233 --> 00:37:06,567 LAND OF THE UYGHURS. 672 00:37:06,667 --> 00:37:10,200 TODAY, THE UYGHURS ARE A MUSLIM MINORITY WITHIN CHINA. 673 00:37:10,300 --> 00:37:12,200 SOME ARE SEEKING INDEPENDENCE. 674 00:37:12,300 --> 00:37:15,067 Belliveau: THEY'RE MORE CLOSELY RELATED 675 00:37:15,133 --> 00:37:18,867 TO THE KAZAKHS AND THE UZBEKS THAN THEY ARE THE CHINESE, 676 00:37:18,967 --> 00:37:21,433 WHO CONTROL THEM, BASICALLY. 677 00:37:21,533 --> 00:37:25,400 Narrator: AS MARCO POLO DESCRIBED KASHGAR, 678 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:28,067 "THE INHABITANTS LIVE BY TRADE AND INDUSTRY. 679 00:37:28,133 --> 00:37:30,433 "THIS IS THE STARTING POINT FROM WHICH 680 00:37:30,533 --> 00:37:32,967 "MANY MERCHANTS SET OUT TO MARKET THEIR WARES 681 00:37:33,067 --> 00:37:34,133 ALL OVER THE WORLD." 682 00:37:34,233 --> 00:37:36,233 [ SHOUTING ] 683 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,933 AND, JUST AS TRAVELLERS DID IN POLO'S TIME, 684 00:37:44,067 --> 00:37:47,100 DENIS AND FRANCIS WOULD PREPARE IN KASHGAR 685 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:51,333 FOR THE NEXT LEG OF THEIR JOURNEY. 686 00:38:26,633 --> 00:38:28,533 RAHMET. 687 00:38:28,633 --> 00:38:31,967 Narrator: FRAN'S NEW LOOK INCLUDED 688 00:38:32,067 --> 00:38:33,833 THE WARMEST COAT HE COULD FIND, 689 00:38:33,933 --> 00:38:36,267 BECAUSE THE TRAVELLERS WERE GETTING READY 690 00:38:36,367 --> 00:38:39,067 TO ENTER AN ENORMOUS, FORBIDDINGLY COLD DESERT -- 691 00:38:39,167 --> 00:38:40,433 THE TAKLAMAKAN. 692 00:38:40,533 --> 00:38:43,200 Belliveau: NEXT TO THE SAHARA, IT'S THE SECOND-LARGEST 693 00:38:43,300 --> 00:38:45,367 SAND-SHIFTING DESERT ON THE PLANET. 694 00:38:45,467 --> 00:38:47,667 THE NAME "TAKLAMAKAN" BASICALLY MEANS 695 00:38:47,767 --> 00:38:50,067 "YOU GO IN, BUT YOU DON'T COME OUT." 696 00:38:52,733 --> 00:38:55,833 Narrator: NOT ONLY DID THEY NEED TO CROSS THE TAKLAMAKAN, 697 00:38:55,933 --> 00:38:58,467 THEY WANTED TO DO AT LEAST PART OF THE JOURNEY 698 00:38:58,567 --> 00:39:00,233 AS POLO AND COMPANY MUST HAVE. 699 00:39:00,333 --> 00:39:02,800 SO WE WENT FOR THREE WEEKS TRYING TO BUY CAMELS, 700 00:39:02,900 --> 00:39:04,900 AND THERE WERE NO CAMELS AT MARKET. 701 00:39:13,067 --> 00:39:14,833 OKAY, SO... 702 00:39:17,667 --> 00:39:20,967 [ SPEAKING UYGHUR ] 703 00:39:22,300 --> 00:39:24,633 O'Donnell: THERE WAS A REASON THERE WAS NO CAMELS 704 00:39:24,733 --> 00:39:26,500 BECAUSE NOBODY WAS REALLY USING THEM 705 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:28,600 AT THAT POINT TO TRY TO GO INTO THE DESERT 706 00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:30,167 EXCEPT FOR A VERY FEW PEOPLE. 707 00:39:30,267 --> 00:39:31,267 AND US. 708 00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:42,600 THEY THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY. 709 00:39:42,700 --> 00:39:44,067 IT'S LIKE, MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN 710 00:39:44,167 --> 00:39:45,400 ONLY GO OUT IN THE MIDDAY SUN? 711 00:39:45,500 --> 00:39:47,067 WELL, IT'S LIKE, MAD DOGS AND AMERICANS 712 00:39:47,133 --> 00:39:49,100 ONLY GO INTO THE TAKLAMAKAN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. 713 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,200 [ "KASHMIR" BY LED ZEPPELIN PLAYING ] 714 00:40:07,033 --> 00:40:10,933 Belliveau: WE HAD RIDDEN HORSES THROUGH AFGHANISTAN. 715 00:40:11,033 --> 00:40:12,233 IT WAS ACTUALLY 716 00:40:12,333 --> 00:40:14,433 VERY NICE TO BE ON THE BACK OF A CAMEL 717 00:40:14,533 --> 00:40:17,267 AFTER BEING ON THOSE PONIES, 'CAUSE THE PONIES WERE, 718 00:40:17,367 --> 00:40:19,367 YOU KNOW, IT WAS THIS ALL DAY. 719 00:40:19,467 --> 00:40:22,100 AND THE CAMELS HAD A MORE -- 720 00:40:28,367 --> 00:40:29,467 THEY ARE FUNNY CREATURES. 721 00:40:29,567 --> 00:40:32,467 I MEAN, THEY WOULD REGURGITATE THEIR INNARDS, 722 00:40:32,567 --> 00:40:33,800 AND THEY STINK, AND... 723 00:40:33,900 --> 00:40:35,600 THEY JUST DO THIS WEIRD THING. 724 00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:38,000 THEY JUST GO "BRAAH," AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, 725 00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:41,033 LIKE THIS BIG VEINY RED THING BUBBLES OUT OF THEIR MOUTH, 726 00:40:41,133 --> 00:40:43,400 AND THEN THEY GO -- AND THEY SUCK IT BACK IN, 727 00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:44,567 BUT WHEN YOU'RE RIDING 728 00:40:44,667 --> 00:40:46,333 ON THE BACK OF IT, YOU GET THIS 729 00:40:46,433 --> 00:40:47,900 SMELL COMES RIGHT -- IT HITS YOU. 730 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:49,467 REMEMBER THAT? DID YOURS DO THAT? 731 00:40:49,567 --> 00:40:50,533 MINE WAS DOING IT A LOT. 732 00:40:50,633 --> 00:40:51,567 I THOUGHT THAT WAS YOU. 733 00:40:51,667 --> 00:40:52,700 [ LAUGHS ] 734 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:54,367 Belliveau: WHEN YOU'RE RIDING 735 00:40:54,467 --> 00:40:57,100 FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND IT'S JUST THIS MONOTONY 736 00:40:57,200 --> 00:40:59,767 AND IT'S DAY IN AND DAY OUT, THE SAME THING -- 737 00:40:59,867 --> 00:41:01,833 YOU GO TO SLEEP, YOU BREAK CAMP, 738 00:41:01,933 --> 00:41:04,233 AND IT'S MONOCHROMATIC SAND AND NOTHING, 739 00:41:04,333 --> 00:41:05,900 NOT EVEN BIRDS FLYING AROUND, 740 00:41:06,067 --> 00:41:09,467 YOU CAN IMAGINE YOURSELF ALMOST LOSING IT A LITTLE BIT. 741 00:41:09,567 --> 00:41:15,433 * OH, LET THE SUN BEAT DOWN UPON MY FACE * 742 00:41:15,533 --> 00:41:19,800 * STARS TO FILL MY DREAM 743 00:41:19,900 --> 00:41:24,367 Narrator: MARCO POLO SAID OF THE TAKLAMAKAN, 744 00:41:24,467 --> 00:41:27,867 "WHEN A MAN IS RIDING BY NIGHT THROUGH THIS DESERT, 745 00:41:27,967 --> 00:41:29,067 "HE HEARS SPIRITS TALKING. 746 00:41:29,133 --> 00:41:32,667 "THESE VOICES MAKE HIM STRAY FROM THE PATH 747 00:41:32,767 --> 00:41:34,967 SO HE NEVER FINDS IT AGAIN." 748 00:41:41,167 --> 00:41:44,400 DEEP IN THE DESERT, ENTERING A SMALL UYGHUR VILLAGE, 749 00:41:44,500 --> 00:41:47,200 THE TRAVELLERS RECALLED SOMETHING CURIOUS 750 00:41:47,300 --> 00:41:49,833 THEY HAD READ IN MARCO POLO'S ACCOUNT. 751 00:41:49,933 --> 00:41:52,233 EACH ONE HAS WRITTEN ON HIS DOOR 752 00:41:52,333 --> 00:41:54,833 HIS OWN NAME AND THAT OF HIS WIFE'S 753 00:41:54,933 --> 00:41:57,433 AND ALL THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE. 754 00:41:57,533 --> 00:42:00,833 IF ONE OF THEM DIES, HE HAS THE NAME STRUCK OUT. 755 00:42:00,933 --> 00:42:04,433 IF ONE IS BORN THERE, HIS NAME IS ADDED TO THE LIST. 756 00:42:04,533 --> 00:42:05,900 AND WE WERE INCREDULOUS. 757 00:42:06,067 --> 00:42:08,567 LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, THIS IS STILL GOING ON." 758 00:42:08,667 --> 00:42:11,800 BACK THEN, 700 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A WAY FOR THE KHAN 759 00:42:11,900 --> 00:42:14,800 TO KNOW HIS DOMAINS, WHO TO COLLECT TAXES FROM, 760 00:42:14,900 --> 00:42:17,633 HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVED -- YOU KNOW, A CENSUS. 761 00:42:17,733 --> 00:42:21,700 IN THESE REGIONS, THERE'S A SEPARATIST MOVEMENT. 762 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,500 THE UYGHURS ARE CHAFING UNDER CHINESE RULE, 763 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:27,300 JUST LIKE THE NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH, THE TIBETANS. 764 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:28,533 THERE'S NO LOVE LOST 765 00:42:28,633 --> 00:42:30,767 BETWEEN THE UYGHURS AND THE CHINESE. 766 00:42:30,867 --> 00:42:33,667 AND, FOR THE CHINESE TO CONTROL THE UYGHURS, 767 00:42:33,767 --> 00:42:36,100 THEY MAKE THEM WRITE THIS ON THEIR DOORS. 768 00:42:39,833 --> 00:42:44,100 Narrator: OVER 300 DAYS, OVER 4,000 MILES, 769 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:47,967 NOW ONWARD THROUGH THE DESERT BY BUS 770 00:42:48,067 --> 00:42:53,433 /AND AN ONBOARD ENCOUNTER WITH TWO CHINESE SECURITY OFFICERS. 771 00:42:53,533 --> 00:42:56,533 ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THEY ASKED FOR OUR PASSPORTS, 772 00:42:56,633 --> 00:42:57,767 AND WE SAID, "NO." 773 00:42:57,867 --> 00:43:00,167 AND THE GUY -- AND THEY WERE LIKE, 774 00:43:00,267 --> 00:43:01,467 "GET OFF THE BUS." 775 00:43:01,567 --> 00:43:03,067 AND WE WERE LIKE, "NO." 776 00:43:03,167 --> 00:43:05,700 AND, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW WE WERE BEING SHAKEN DOWN. 777 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:07,400 THEY WANTED MONEY. 778 00:43:07,500 --> 00:43:09,700 THEY WERE LIKE, "YOU HAVE TO PAY, YOU'RE FOREIGNERS. 779 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:11,300 YOU HAVE TO PAY, YOU HAVE TO PAY." 780 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:12,800 WE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY. 781 00:43:12,900 --> 00:43:14,767 SO WE WERE LIKE, "MEI YOU," 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF 782 00:43:14,867 --> 00:43:16,400 THE FIRST THINGS YOU LEARN IN CHINA 783 00:43:16,500 --> 00:43:18,267 IS THE WORD MEI YOU IF YOU'RE A FOREIGNER. 784 00:43:18,367 --> 00:43:20,700 YOU KNOW, TECHNICALLY, MEI YOU DOESN'T MEAN "NO." 785 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:22,967 IT MEANS "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE," 'CAUSE THE CHINESE 786 00:43:23,067 --> 00:43:24,900 ARE VERY AMBIVALENT IN THEIR LANGUAGE. 787 00:43:25,067 --> 00:43:27,900 IT'S LIKE YAO BU YAO? DO YOU WANT OR YOU DON'T WANT? 788 00:43:28,067 --> 00:43:28,900 HAO BU HAO? 789 00:43:29,067 --> 00:43:30,767 ARE YOU GOOD OR YOU'RE NOT GOOD? 790 00:43:30,867 --> 00:43:33,733 SO THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPTION, AND SO OUR OPTION WAS, 791 00:43:33,833 --> 00:43:34,733 MEI YOU. 792 00:43:34,833 --> 00:43:35,967 "PASSPORTS." 793 00:43:36,067 --> 00:43:37,133 "MEI YOU." 794 00:43:37,233 --> 00:43:38,500 "OFF THE BUS!" 795 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:39,667 "MEI YOU." 796 00:43:39,767 --> 00:43:40,967 AND THAT WAS, 797 00:43:41,067 --> 00:43:42,467 YOU KNOW, THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE 798 00:43:42,567 --> 00:43:44,200 THAT SOMEBODY WAS STANDING UP TO THEM, 799 00:43:44,300 --> 00:43:45,933 BECAUSE THE UYGHURS WOULD NEVER DO IT 800 00:43:46,067 --> 00:43:48,200 BECAUSE THEY'D END UP IN SOME CHINESE PRISON 801 00:43:48,300 --> 00:43:49,800 FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. 802 00:43:49,900 --> 00:43:51,100 AND THEY STARTED, YOU KNOW, 803 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:53,067 ONE OF THEM GRABBED ME, SO FRAN GOT UP, 804 00:43:53,167 --> 00:43:55,533 AND ONE OF OUR SPONSORS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT 805 00:43:55,633 --> 00:43:58,133 OF SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT, HAD GIVEN US THESE LETTERS 806 00:43:58,233 --> 00:44:00,333 WITH PROPER LETTERHEADS WRITTEN IN CHINESE 807 00:44:00,433 --> 00:44:03,067 TO ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE PROVINCES WE WERE GOING TO. 808 00:44:03,100 --> 00:44:04,700 Narrator: ALONG WITH THE LETTERS 809 00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:08,900 WAS A PHOTO OF THEIR SPONSOR WITH SOME CHINESE OFFICIALS 810 00:44:09,067 --> 00:44:11,100 UNKNOWN TO DENIS AND FRANCIS. 811 00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:14,167 FRAN SHOWED IT TO THE POLICE OFFICERS. 812 00:44:14,267 --> 00:44:15,833 THEN, A DARING BLUFF. 813 00:44:15,933 --> 00:44:18,433 Belliveau: HE POINTED TO OUR SPONSOR, 814 00:44:18,533 --> 00:44:20,333 AND HE SAID, "THIS IS MY FATHER. 815 00:44:20,433 --> 00:44:22,267 "THIS IS DENG XIAOPING'S SON. 816 00:44:22,367 --> 00:44:23,467 WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" 817 00:44:23,567 --> 00:44:25,467 AND I TOOK OUT A PEN, AND I STARTED WRITING 818 00:44:25,567 --> 00:44:27,200 THE CHINESE GUY'S BADGE NUMBER. 819 00:44:27,300 --> 00:44:28,700 THEY GOT OFF THAT BUS SO FAST. 820 00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:30,067 AND THE UYGHURS WENT CRAZY. 821 00:44:30,167 --> 00:44:32,500 THEY WERE PATTING US ON THE SHOULDERS AND THEY WERE -- 822 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:34,533 ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MELONS WERE BROKEN OUT. 823 00:44:34,633 --> 00:44:36,333 THEY WERE FRIENDLY TO US BEFORE THAT, 824 00:44:36,433 --> 00:44:37,500 BUT NOW WE WERE, LIKE -- 825 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:39,500 WE WERE LIKE SUPERSTARS FOR DEFYING THE CHINESE. 826 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:40,567 THEY LOVED THAT. 827 00:44:40,667 --> 00:44:42,900 Narrator: IF CHINA'S SECURITY BUREAU 828 00:44:43,067 --> 00:44:44,600 HARASSED THEM ON A BUS RIDE, 829 00:44:44,700 --> 00:44:47,200 WHAT WOULD IT DO IF IT FOUND THEM SNEAKING 830 00:44:47,300 --> 00:44:49,467 THROUGH A RESTRICTED MILITARY AREA? 831 00:44:49,567 --> 00:44:52,467 WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO LEAVE MUSLIM AREAS 832 00:44:52,567 --> 00:44:54,233 AND ENTER MIDDLE CHINA. 833 00:44:54,333 --> 00:44:57,167 WE'RE ON A PAVED SECTION OF THE SOUTHERN SILK ROAD 834 00:44:57,267 --> 00:44:58,767 SKIRTING THE DESERT OF LOP. 835 00:44:58,867 --> 00:45:00,667 NOT FAR FROM HERE IS WHERE THE CHINESE 836 00:45:00,767 --> 00:45:01,867 DO THEIR NUCLEAR TESTING. 837 00:45:01,967 --> 00:45:03,967 THAT ROAD DOESN'T EXIST ON THE CHINESE MAP. 838 00:45:04,067 --> 00:45:05,633 THEY DON'T WANT ANYBODY GOING THERE BECAUSE 839 00:45:05,733 --> 00:45:07,333 THAT'S WHERE THEY DO THEIR NUCLEAR TESTING. 840 00:45:07,433 --> 00:45:08,767 WE NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THAT DESERT. 841 00:45:08,867 --> 00:45:12,133 Narrator: WITH THE HELP OF UYGHUR GUIDES AND A JEEP, 842 00:45:12,233 --> 00:45:14,533 DENIS AND FRANCIS WENT UNDERCOVER. 843 00:45:14,633 --> 00:45:16,367 IF WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT, 844 00:45:16,467 --> 00:45:18,300 YOU KNOW, WITH AMERICAN PRESSURE, 845 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:20,400 MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY 846 00:45:20,500 --> 00:45:21,900 AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS. 847 00:45:22,067 --> 00:45:25,067 HOPEFULLY, THEY WOULD HAVE JUST KICKED US OUT OF THE COUNTRY. 848 00:45:25,167 --> 00:45:27,467 THE UYGHURS THAT TOOK US THROUGH THAT PLACE, 849 00:45:27,567 --> 00:45:29,933 WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM? 850 00:45:32,933 --> 00:45:37,467 THEY DROVE US THOUGH AT NIGHT, LIGHTS TURNED OFF. 851 00:45:37,567 --> 00:45:39,833 WE WOULD DRIVE HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS, 852 00:45:39,933 --> 00:45:41,900 AND WHEN THE SUN STARTED COMING UP, 853 00:45:42,067 --> 00:45:44,800 WE'D GO HIDE INTO THE DESERT AND HIDE BEHIND A DUNE, 854 00:45:44,900 --> 00:45:47,733 BECAUSE IF THE MILITARY CAME BY AND SAW US OUT THERE, 855 00:45:47,833 --> 00:45:49,867 THAT WOULD BE THE END OF MARCO POLO. 856 00:45:49,967 --> 00:45:52,067 SO WE DID THAT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, 857 00:45:52,100 --> 00:45:54,133 AND WE EVENTUALLY GOT TO DUNHUANG. 858 00:45:57,233 --> 00:45:58,733 YOU KNOW, WE'D BEEN IN CHINA 859 00:45:58,833 --> 00:46:00,633 FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILES 860 00:46:00,733 --> 00:46:02,833 AND FOR MONTHS ALREADY, BUT WE DIDN'T FEEL 861 00:46:02,933 --> 00:46:04,067 LIKE WE WERE IN CHINA. 862 00:46:04,100 --> 00:46:06,800 THIS WAS CHINA. 863 00:46:06,900 --> 00:46:08,067 Narrator: CHINA -- 864 00:46:08,167 --> 00:46:11,167 THE BIGGEST MARCO MILESTONE SO FAR, 865 00:46:11,267 --> 00:46:13,900 EMBODYING THE REASON FOR THEIR JOURNEY, 866 00:46:14,067 --> 00:46:16,767 FOR THE RISKS THEY HAD TAKEN, 867 00:46:16,867 --> 00:46:20,600 SURVIVING FIERCE COLD AND FIERCE WARRIORS, 868 00:46:20,700 --> 00:46:23,067 DEFYING AUTHORITIES AT EVERY TURN. 869 00:46:23,100 --> 00:46:26,700 IN THE CITY OF DUNHUANG WERE LUXURIES FIT 870 00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:29,067 FOR THE GREAT KHAN HIMSELF, 871 00:46:29,167 --> 00:46:33,067 FOOD THAT SEEMED EXQUISITE AFTER WEEKS IN THE DESERT. 872 00:46:41,700 --> 00:46:43,633 Belliveau: SO, AT DUNHUANG IS WHERE WE HAD 873 00:46:43,733 --> 00:46:45,500 OUR FIRST REAL CHINESE MEAL. 874 00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:46,867 NO MORE SHEEP GUTS. 875 00:46:46,967 --> 00:46:49,367 Narrator: AND EVEN MORE EXQUISITE -- 876 00:46:49,467 --> 00:46:51,833 A HOTEL ROOM WITH A PROPER SHOWER. 877 00:46:56,667 --> 00:46:58,367 Belliveau: AND WE FLIPPED A COIN 878 00:46:58,467 --> 00:47:01,067 AFTER WEEKS AND WEEKS WITHOUT WASHING OURSELVES 879 00:47:01,167 --> 00:47:03,300 WHO WAS GOING TO GET THE SHOWER FIRST. 880 00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:04,300 FRAN WON. 881 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:06,467 SO AFTER SINGING ABOUT 20 OR 30 SONGS 882 00:47:06,567 --> 00:47:08,833 IN THE SHOWER, DENIS FINALLY CONVINCED ME 883 00:47:08,933 --> 00:47:10,500 TO GET OUT, AND, YOU KNOW, 884 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:12,767 WHEN HE STEPPED IN, HE WAS LIKE, "DUDE, 885 00:47:12,867 --> 00:47:15,233 WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME OVER HERE," RIGHT? 886 00:47:15,333 --> 00:47:17,167 'CAUSE THE WATER WAS, LIKE, ALL FILLED UP. 887 00:47:17,267 --> 00:47:19,767 WHEN IT FINALLY DRAINED, THERE WAS A LAYER OF SAND, 888 00:47:19,867 --> 00:47:21,600 JUST FROM MY BODY, THAT HAD TO BE, 889 00:47:21,700 --> 00:47:23,733 I DON'T KNOW, AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH THICK 890 00:47:23,833 --> 00:47:25,367 ACROSS THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF THE -- 891 00:47:25,467 --> 00:47:26,533 BOTTOM OF THE TUB. 892 00:47:26,633 --> 00:47:30,400 Narrator: MARCO POLO HAD CHANGED WORLD HISTORY 893 00:47:30,500 --> 00:47:31,333 WITH HIS ACCOUNT OF A LAND 894 00:47:31,433 --> 00:47:34,800 VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN TO EUROPEANS, 895 00:47:34,900 --> 00:47:36,233 HELPING TO INAUGURATE 896 00:47:36,333 --> 00:47:38,867 AN UNPRECEDENTED ERA ON INTERACTION 897 00:47:38,967 --> 00:47:40,667 BETWEEN DISTANT CULTURES. 898 00:47:40,767 --> 00:47:44,567 NOW DENIS AND FRANCIS WOULD STEP UP THEIR SEARCH 899 00:47:44,667 --> 00:47:47,767 FOR EVIDENCE THAT HIS WORDS WERE TRUE. 900 00:47:47,867 --> 00:47:50,433 POLO NOTED THAT "AMONG THE CHINESE 901 00:47:50,533 --> 00:47:53,300 "ARE WISE PHILOSOPHERS AND PHYSICIANS 902 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:56,267 "WITH A GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE. 903 00:47:56,367 --> 00:48:00,433 "HERE AT EVERY HOUR ARE CROWDS GOING TO AND FRO 904 00:48:00,533 --> 00:48:02,733 "THAT ANYONE SEEING SUCH A MULTITUDE 905 00:48:02,833 --> 00:48:05,133 "WOULD BELIEVE IT STARK IMPOSSIBILITY 906 00:48:05,233 --> 00:48:09,967 "THAT FOOD COULD BE FOUND TO FEED SO MANY MOUTHS. 907 00:48:10,067 --> 00:48:12,967 "MEN AS WELL AS WOMEN ARE FAIR-SKINNED 908 00:48:13,067 --> 00:48:14,400 "AND GOOD-LOOKING. 909 00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:17,067 "MOST OF THEM WEAR SILK ALL OF THE TIME 910 00:48:17,100 --> 00:48:19,800 SINCE IT IS PRODUCED IN GREAT ABUNDANCE." 911 00:48:36,867 --> 00:48:41,067 THERE WERE MANY PLEASURES FOR THE TRAVELLERS IN CHINA, 912 00:48:41,100 --> 00:48:43,800 BUT THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES, TOO, 913 00:48:43,900 --> 00:48:47,600 ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY KNOWN AS CAMBALUC TO MARCO POLO. 914 00:48:47,700 --> 00:48:50,800 TODAY, IT'S CALLED BEIJING. 915 00:48:50,900 --> 00:48:52,267 HERE, POLO TELLS US 916 00:48:52,367 --> 00:48:54,833 HE MADE HIS HOME BASE FOR 17 YEARS 917 00:48:54,933 --> 00:48:58,267 IN THE SERVICE OF THE MONGOL EMPEROR KUBLAI KHAN. 918 00:48:58,367 --> 00:49:01,733 BUT THE MODERN TRAVELERS IN POLO'S FOOTSTEPS 919 00:49:01,833 --> 00:49:03,767 DIDN'T FEEL AT HOME AT ALL. 920 00:49:03,867 --> 00:49:05,067 IT WAS EARLY 1994. 921 00:49:05,167 --> 00:49:07,700 CHINA WAS MUCH LESS OPEN TO THE WORLD 922 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:09,933 AT THAT TIME THAN IT IS TODAY, 923 00:49:10,067 --> 00:49:12,667 WITH MANY FEWER VISITORS FROM THE WEST. 924 00:49:12,767 --> 00:49:16,333 Belliveau: IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT PART OF THE JOURNEY. 925 00:49:16,433 --> 00:49:18,233 THE PROBLEM FOR US WAS WE HAD BEEN 926 00:49:18,333 --> 00:49:19,900 TRAVELING FOR A YEAR ALREADY. 927 00:49:20,067 --> 00:49:21,433 WE WERE TIRED, WE WERE COLD, 928 00:49:21,533 --> 00:49:22,600 WE WERE HOMESICK -- 929 00:49:22,700 --> 00:49:25,167 AND USED TO BEING TREATED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. 930 00:49:25,267 --> 00:49:27,800 AND USED TO BEING INVITED INTO PEOPLES' HOMES, 931 00:49:27,900 --> 00:49:30,500 CALLED "BROTHER," YOU KNOW, THE HOSPITALITY THAT 932 00:49:30,600 --> 00:49:32,600 WE HAD RECEIVED UP UNTIL THAT POINT 933 00:49:32,700 --> 00:49:34,300 WAS AMAZING, SO WHEN WE GOT 934 00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:36,333 TO THE HEART OF CHINA, BEIJING, 935 00:49:36,433 --> 00:49:37,967 WE DEFINITELY FELT A CHANGE. 936 00:49:38,067 --> 00:49:39,100 I MEAN, IF MEI YOU 937 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:42,067 WAS THE FIRST WORD WE LEARNT IN CHINESE, 938 00:49:42,133 --> 00:49:43,633 THEN GWEILO AND LAOWAI 939 00:49:43,733 --> 00:49:46,733 WERE THE SECOND AND THIRD WORDS WE LEARNED. 940 00:49:46,833 --> 00:49:50,800 AND GWEILO IS "FOREIGN DEVIL," AND LAOWAI MEANS "BIG NOSE." 941 00:49:50,900 --> 00:49:53,567 WHETHER THEY WERE AFRAID OF US, 942 00:49:53,667 --> 00:49:57,800 MAYBE OUR APPEARANCE WAS -- WE HAD LET OURSELVES GO 943 00:49:57,900 --> 00:49:59,433 BEING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, 944 00:49:59,533 --> 00:50:01,667 AND WE HAD THIS FIERCE LOOK ABOUT US 945 00:50:01,767 --> 00:50:03,833 AND WE KEPT IT GOING, I DON'T KNOW. 946 00:50:03,933 --> 00:50:05,767 WHEN I WAS THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF TIMES 947 00:50:05,867 --> 00:50:07,300 I WISHED I WASN'T THERE. 948 00:50:07,400 --> 00:50:08,633 "I'M JUST EXHAUSTED. 949 00:50:08,733 --> 00:50:11,000 "I NEVER THOUGHT I'D FEEL THIS WAY, 950 00:50:11,100 --> 00:50:12,633 "BUT THE ENDLESS MOVEMENT 951 00:50:12,733 --> 00:50:15,033 "FROM ONE FLEABAG HOTEL TO THE NEXT, 952 00:50:15,133 --> 00:50:18,100 "SLEEPING WITH ONE EYE OPEN AND WAITING FOR DAYS 953 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:20,367 "FOR A SEAT FOR A BUS OR A TRAIN, 954 00:50:20,467 --> 00:50:22,333 "THE NEVER-ENDING STARES AND ATTENTION 955 00:50:22,433 --> 00:50:25,600 "OF BEING A CURIOSITY. 956 00:50:25,700 --> 00:50:29,367 IT'S REALLY GETTING TO ME." 957 00:50:29,467 --> 00:50:30,967 CHINA. 958 00:50:31,067 --> 00:50:33,700 WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE. 959 00:50:33,800 --> 00:50:35,433 I [ BLEEP ] HATE IT HERE. 960 00:50:35,533 --> 00:50:37,200 I HATE MARCO POLO. 961 00:50:37,300 --> 00:50:40,100 I HATE DENIS. 962 00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:42,200 WATCH OUT WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU MIGHT GET IT. 963 00:50:42,300 --> 00:50:43,200 WE HAD A TOUGH TIME, 964 00:50:43,300 --> 00:50:45,033 BUT CHINA ISN'T AN EASY PLACE. 965 00:50:45,133 --> 00:50:47,933 I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL 966 00:50:48,033 --> 00:50:50,533 AND THAT MUCH MORE ENDEARING, THAT MUCH MORE RICH, 967 00:50:50,633 --> 00:50:51,800 BECAUSE SOMETIMES, 968 00:50:51,900 --> 00:50:54,433 YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'S EASY, YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. 969 00:50:54,533 --> 00:50:56,633 SOMETHING'S DIFFICULT, THAT'S WHAT MADE... 970 00:50:56,733 --> 00:50:59,900 THE EXPERIENCE THAT MUCH SWEETER 971 00:51:00,067 --> 00:51:02,067 AND THAT RICHER. 972 00:51:02,133 --> 00:51:04,167 Narrator: A VISIT TO GANSU PROVINCE 973 00:51:04,267 --> 00:51:06,067 PROVIDED PERHAPS THE SWEETEST, 974 00:51:06,167 --> 00:51:08,167 RICHEST MARCO POLO MOMENT IN CHINA 975 00:51:08,267 --> 00:51:10,500 AND A CRUCIAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE 976 00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:14,367 THAT THE VENETIAN HAD BEEN WHERE HE SAID HE'D BEEN. 977 00:51:14,467 --> 00:51:17,500 MARCO POLO TALKS ABOUT THIS RECLINING BUDDHA IN ZHANGYE, 978 00:51:17,600 --> 00:51:20,567 AND IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PIECES OF ARTWORK 979 00:51:20,667 --> 00:51:22,900 THAT HE DESCRIBES IN HIS BOOK 980 00:51:23,067 --> 00:51:24,700 THAT STILL EXISTS TODAY. 981 00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:27,400 WHEN HE STOOD THERE, IT WAS ALREADY 982 00:51:27,500 --> 00:51:29,500 300 OR 400 YEARS OLD. 983 00:51:34,500 --> 00:51:37,533 Belliveau: AND WE SPENT SO MANY HOURS IN FRONT OF IT 984 00:51:37,633 --> 00:51:39,767 THAT IT BECAME LIKE A MEDITATION ON 985 00:51:39,867 --> 00:51:41,667 NOT THE PAST, BUT THE PRESENT, 986 00:51:41,767 --> 00:51:43,933 AND THAT'S -- I MEAN, THAT'S BUDDHISM. 987 00:51:44,067 --> 00:51:46,067 BUDDHA SAID, YOU KNOW, "IT'S RIGHT HERE, 988 00:51:46,133 --> 00:51:47,400 RIGHT NOW, IN THIS MOMENT." 989 00:51:47,500 --> 00:51:49,433 "DON'T WORRY ABOUT YESTERDAY, IT'S GONE. 990 00:51:49,533 --> 00:51:51,833 "DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, IT HASN'T COME YET. 991 00:51:51,933 --> 00:51:52,967 LIFE IS RIGHT HERE." 992 00:52:18,067 --> 00:52:20,367 [ WOMEN SINGING ] 993 00:52:49,867 --> 00:52:51,800 Belliveau: THE MONGOLS WERE IN CHINA 994 00:52:51,900 --> 00:52:52,933 WHEN HE WAS THERE. 995 00:52:53,067 --> 00:52:55,133 IN FACT, HE WRITES MORE ABOUT MONGOL LIFE 996 00:52:55,233 --> 00:52:56,500 THAN HE DOES THE CHINESE. 997 00:52:56,600 --> 00:52:59,100 WE FELT IT WAS NECESSARY THAT WE HIT THE STEPPES 998 00:52:59,200 --> 00:53:01,933 AND GO OFF TO MONGOLIA. 999 00:53:04,933 --> 00:53:07,933 WE WERE, BOOM, RIGHT BACK INTO THE 13th CENTURY AGAIN. 1000 00:53:08,067 --> 00:53:11,900 Narrator: POLO SAID OF THE MONGOLS, 1001 00:53:12,067 --> 00:53:14,233 "THEY HAVE CIRCULAR HOUSES COVERED WITH FELT, 1002 00:53:14,333 --> 00:53:16,067 "WHICH THEY CARRY ABOUT WITH THEM 1003 00:53:16,167 --> 00:53:19,233 ON WAGONS WHEREVER THEY GO." 1004 00:53:19,333 --> 00:53:20,833 WE WALK UP TO THE TENT AND WE JUST 1005 00:53:20,933 --> 00:53:22,500 INGRATIATE OURSELVES TO THE PEOPLE. 1006 00:53:22,600 --> 00:53:24,167 JUST WALK UP OUT OF NOWHERE AND SAY, 1007 00:53:24,267 --> 00:53:26,100 "HOLD THE DOG," AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE, 1008 00:53:26,200 --> 00:53:27,133 "HELLO, WE'RE HERE." 1009 00:53:27,233 --> 00:53:29,167 Narrator: THE MONGOL FAMILIES HERE 1010 00:53:29,267 --> 00:53:32,067 INVITED THE TRAVELLERS INTO THEIR DAILY WAY OF LIFE. 1011 00:53:32,133 --> 00:53:34,300 THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS WOULD HAVE 1012 00:53:34,400 --> 00:53:36,400 BEEN FAMILIAR TO MARCO POLO. 1013 00:53:40,233 --> 00:53:41,233 [ SHEEP BLEATS ] 1014 00:53:41,333 --> 00:53:43,200 Belliveau: THEY SLAUGHTERED THEIR SHEEP 1015 00:53:43,300 --> 00:53:45,067 EXACTLY LIKE MARCO SAID THEY WOULD. 1016 00:53:45,133 --> 00:53:48,833 THEY WOULD GRAB A SHEEP, TURN IT OVER ON ITS BACK, 1017 00:53:48,933 --> 00:53:51,600 MAKE AN INCISION IN THE CHEST, 1018 00:53:51,700 --> 00:53:54,400 THE SHEEP WOULD JERK AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT, 1019 00:53:54,500 --> 00:53:55,567 AND THEN IT WOULD DIE, 1020 00:53:55,667 --> 00:53:57,733 BUT THE BLOOD WOULD POOL INTO THE CHEST CAVITY. 1021 00:53:57,833 --> 00:53:59,133 THEN THEY WOULD OPEN IT UP, 1022 00:53:59,233 --> 00:54:02,367 /TAKE OUT THE ORGANS AND STUFF, AND COLLECT ALL THAT BLOOD 1023 00:54:02,467 --> 00:54:05,067 AND MAKE BLOOD SAUSAGE OUT OF THE INTESTINES. 1024 00:54:05,167 --> 00:54:09,733 EVERY SINGLE EDIBLE PIECE OF THE ANIMAL WASN'T WASTED, 1025 00:54:09,833 --> 00:54:12,167 AND MARCO NOTICED THIS, TOO. 1026 00:54:12,267 --> 00:54:13,300 IT WAS ENDLESS. 1027 00:54:13,400 --> 00:54:16,067 I MEAN, WE KEPT SEEING QUOTE AFTER QUOTE 1028 00:54:16,133 --> 00:54:18,367 COMING TO LIFE OUT OF HIS BOOK. 1029 00:54:22,767 --> 00:54:24,933 Narrator: POLO SAID OF MONGOL WARRIORS, 1030 00:54:25,067 --> 00:54:26,900 "THEY RELY MAINLY ON THEIR BOWS, 1031 00:54:27,067 --> 00:54:29,633 FOR THEY ARE EXCELLENT ARCHERS." 1032 00:54:29,733 --> 00:54:32,533 AND, OF COURSE, HE SPOKE OF THE MONGOLS' 1033 00:54:32,633 --> 00:54:34,200 FAMED WAY WITH HORSES. 1034 00:54:34,300 --> 00:54:36,333 "THEY SPEND THE WINTER IN THE STEPPES 1035 00:54:36,433 --> 00:54:37,800 "AND WARMER REGIONS 1036 00:54:37,900 --> 00:54:41,733 "WHERE THERE IS GOOD GRAZING AND PASTURAGE FOR THEIR BEASTS. 1037 00:54:41,833 --> 00:54:42,400 "YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY 1038 00:54:42,500 --> 00:54:46,867 DRINK MARE'S MILK." 1039 00:54:46,967 --> 00:54:49,400 Belliveau: THEY DRINK EVERY KIND OF MILK PRODUCT 1040 00:54:49,500 --> 00:54:50,633 THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE. 1041 00:54:50,733 --> 00:54:52,400 I THINK THEY HAVE LIKE 22 DIFFERENT 1042 00:54:52,500 --> 00:54:54,200 MILK PRODUCTS OR CHEESES OR YOGURTS. 1043 00:54:54,300 --> 00:54:56,233 THEY ARE THE MILK-EATING PEOPLE. 1044 00:55:07,067 --> 00:55:08,900 [ BABY LAMB BLEATS ] 1045 00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:19,767 [ SPEAKING MONGOLIAN ] 1046 00:55:19,867 --> 00:55:20,867 [ LAUGHTER ] 1047 00:55:24,733 --> 00:55:26,833 [ SPEAKING MONGOLIAN ] 1048 00:55:29,167 --> 00:55:31,800 Belliveau: AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, TOO, 1049 00:55:31,900 --> 00:55:34,067 JUST THE LIGHT, THE LIGHT IN MONGOLIA 1050 00:55:34,100 --> 00:55:35,100 IS SPECTACULAR. 1051 00:55:47,533 --> 00:55:50,100 IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOURNEY 1052 00:55:50,200 --> 00:55:52,733 AND ONE OF THE PLACES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, 1053 00:55:52,833 --> 00:55:55,067 YOU KNOW, "OF ALL THE COUNTRIES YOU WENT TO, 1054 00:55:55,100 --> 00:55:57,400 WHAT ARE THE ONES THAT YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO?" 1055 00:55:57,500 --> 00:55:59,400 MONGOLIA'S VERY HIGH UP ON THE LIST. 1056 00:56:06,300 --> 00:56:09,067 Narrator: POLO'S CHARGE FROM KUBLAI KHAN 1057 00:56:09,133 --> 00:56:11,567 WAS TO TRAVEL THE WIDTH AND BREADTH 1058 00:56:11,667 --> 00:56:13,400 OF THE GREAT MONGOL EMPIRE, 1059 00:56:13,500 --> 00:56:16,867 VISITING NOT JUST GREAT CITIES AND FORBIDDING DESERTS 1060 00:56:16,967 --> 00:56:19,233 BUT ALSO WHAT, FOR THE TRAVELERS, 1061 00:56:19,333 --> 00:56:21,433 WAS ANOTHER MARCO MILESTONE -- 1062 00:56:21,533 --> 00:56:25,200 MOUNTAINOUS, GLORIOUS TIBET. 1063 00:56:28,433 --> 00:56:31,200 O'Donnell: YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THE DESERT FOR MONTHS. 1064 00:56:31,300 --> 00:56:36,133 SO YOU GOT BEIGE AND BEIGE AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BEIGE. 1065 00:56:36,233 --> 00:56:38,667 AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE IN THIS TOWN WHERE 1066 00:56:38,767 --> 00:56:40,900 THEY'RE, LIKE, IN TECHNICOLOR. 1067 00:56:41,067 --> 00:56:42,733 THEY'RE WEARING REDS AND YELLOW YELLOWS 1068 00:56:42,833 --> 00:56:45,900 AND CORAL NECKLACES AND AMBER DECORATIONS 1069 00:56:46,067 --> 00:56:49,367 AND SILVER AND LEOPARD PELTS, AND THEY'RE WARM 1070 00:56:49,467 --> 00:56:52,433 AND THEY'RE INGRATIATING, AND, YOU KNOW, 1071 00:56:52,533 --> 00:56:54,900 IT'S KIND OF LIKE BEING, LIKE, 1072 00:56:55,067 --> 00:56:57,100 IN "THE WIZARD OF OZ" WHERE DOROTHY, 1073 00:56:57,200 --> 00:56:59,533 YOU KNOW, SHE GOES TO OZ AND IT GOES FROM 1074 00:56:59,633 --> 00:57:02,300 BLACK AND WHITE TO COLOR, IT'S JUST LIKE THAT. 1075 00:57:02,400 --> 00:57:06,267 [ DUNGCHENS PLAY ] 1076 00:57:06,367 --> 00:57:08,900 [ CHANTING, DRUMMING ] 1077 00:57:09,067 --> 00:57:10,967 Narrator: MARCO POLO RECOUNTED, 1078 00:57:11,067 --> 00:57:13,233 "THEY SPEAK A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN 1079 00:57:13,333 --> 00:57:16,500 AND CALL THEMSELVES 'TIBET.'" 1080 00:57:20,967 --> 00:57:24,067 "CORAL FETCHES A HIGH PRICE, FOR IT IS HUNG AROUND 1081 00:57:24,100 --> 00:57:27,433 THE NECKS OF WOMEN AND IDOLS WITH GREAT JOY." 1082 00:57:30,300 --> 00:57:33,567 "THEY MAKE THE MOST MAGNIFICENT FEASTS 1083 00:57:33,667 --> 00:57:36,067 "FOR THEIR IDOLS, WITH THE MOST MAGNIFICENT 1084 00:57:36,167 --> 00:57:39,167 HYMNS AND ILLUMINATIONS THAT WERE EVER SEEN." 1085 00:57:44,400 --> 00:57:45,800 "THEY HAVE HUGE MONASTERIES 1086 00:57:45,900 --> 00:57:51,100 "AND ABBEYS, INHABITED BY 2,000 MONKS 1087 00:57:51,200 --> 00:57:53,100 "WHO ARE BETTER-DRESSED THAN OTHER MEN. 1088 00:57:53,200 --> 00:57:55,833 THEY WEAR THEIR HEADS AND CHINS CLEAN-SHAVEN." 1089 00:58:02,100 --> 00:58:03,067 [ CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS ] 1090 00:58:03,167 --> 00:58:05,500 [ CAR HORNS HONKING ] 1091 00:58:11,967 --> 00:58:13,933 WHEN WE FINALLY REACHED HONG KONG, 1092 00:58:14,067 --> 00:58:15,500 IT WAS JUST A CULTURE SHOCK. 1093 00:58:15,600 --> 00:58:18,100 I MEAN, INITIALLY, I HATED IT, BECAUSE I WAS 1094 00:58:18,200 --> 00:58:20,600 SO USED TO BEING OUT IN REMOTE PLACES WITH, 1095 00:58:20,700 --> 00:58:23,533 YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL PEOPLES AND KIND OF ROUGHING IT. 1096 00:58:23,633 --> 00:58:28,067 AFTER A COUPLE DAYS, IT FELT GOOD. 1097 00:58:28,167 --> 00:58:30,133 SO WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WENT TO PLACES 1098 00:58:30,233 --> 00:58:32,900 THAT WE TRY TO AVOID HERE, LIKE PIZZA HUT AND McDONALD'S 1099 00:58:33,067 --> 00:58:36,467 AND STUFF LIKE THAT. 1100 00:58:36,567 --> 00:58:38,967 Narrator: AUGUST, 1994. 1101 00:58:39,067 --> 00:58:40,567 IN HONG KONG, 1102 00:58:40,667 --> 00:58:43,267 THE TRAVELERS COULDN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE 1103 00:58:43,367 --> 00:58:45,200 THEY WERE IN THE 13th CENTURY. 1104 00:58:45,300 --> 00:58:48,400 THEIR NEXT DESTINATION -- THE ISLAND OF SUMATRA. 1105 00:58:48,500 --> 00:58:51,633 POLO AND COMPANY WERE GIVEN ROYAL PASSAGE 1106 00:58:51,733 --> 00:58:54,700 BY KUBLAI KHAN IN THE LARGEST AND MOST 1107 00:58:54,800 --> 00:58:57,567 SEAWORTHY CARGO SHIPS OF THEIR DAY. 1108 00:58:57,667 --> 00:59:00,267 ACCORDING TO POLO, THEY SET SAIL 1109 00:59:00,367 --> 00:59:03,200 FITTED OUT WITH A FLEET OF 14 SHIPS, 1110 00:59:03,300 --> 00:59:07,633 EACH OF WHICH HAD FOUR MASTS AND AS MANY AS 12 SAILS. 1111 00:59:10,100 --> 00:59:11,233 Belliveau: SO WE FIGURED, 1112 00:59:11,333 --> 00:59:13,967 "LET'S GET ON A BIG CONTAINER SHIP 1113 00:59:14,067 --> 00:59:17,167 AND SAIL LIKE HE DID ON A MERCHANT SHIP." 1114 00:59:17,267 --> 00:59:19,767 AND THEY SAID, "NO, YOU GUYS ARE CRAZY. 1115 00:59:19,867 --> 00:59:21,533 "THE DAYS OF SAILING AROUND THE WORLD 1116 00:59:21,633 --> 00:59:23,133 "ON A STEAMER SHIP ARE LONG GONE. 1117 00:59:23,233 --> 00:59:26,167 "WITH INSURANCE LIABILITIES AND UNIONS, 1118 00:59:26,267 --> 00:59:29,533 WE DON'T JUST LET ANYBODY GET ON THE SHIPS." 1119 00:59:29,633 --> 00:59:30,833 WE DIDN'T ACCEPT THAT. 1120 00:59:30,933 --> 00:59:33,533 WE WERE GOING TO GET ON A SHIP COME HELL OR HIGH WATER. 1121 00:59:33,633 --> 00:59:36,667 Narrator: IT WAS NEITHER HELL NOR HIGH WATER, 1122 00:59:36,767 --> 00:59:40,067 BUT A LITTLE LOCAL PUBLICITY THAT DID THE TRICK. 1123 00:59:40,100 --> 00:59:41,300 Man: WHO'S PAYING FOR THIS? 1124 00:59:41,400 --> 00:59:43,700 WELL, WE GOT SPONSORSHIPS FROM DIFFERENT COMPANIES 1125 00:59:43,800 --> 00:59:45,467 BEFORE WE LEFT, BUT AT THIS POINT, 1126 00:59:45,567 --> 00:59:46,633 WE'RE RUNNING OUT, SO... 1127 00:59:46,733 --> 00:59:48,667 ANYBODY IN HONG KONG WHO'S INTERESTED IN 1128 00:59:48,767 --> 00:59:50,900 A HISTORICAL PROJECT CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US. 1129 00:59:51,067 --> 00:59:53,167 AND AFTER OUR RADIO INTERVIEW, 1130 00:59:53,267 --> 00:59:56,667 WE WENT TO SEE THE LAST BIG SHIPPING COMPANY, 1131 00:59:56,767 --> 00:59:59,067 PandO, AND WE WENT IN AND WE PITCHED THEM, 1132 00:59:59,167 --> 01:00:01,333 AND, FORTUNATELY, THE PERSON WE WERE PITCHING 1133 01:00:01,433 --> 01:00:04,167 HEARD OUR RADIO INTERVIEW AND HE WAS LIKE, "WE'RE GOING TO 1134 01:00:04,267 --> 01:00:05,833 SHIP YOU GUYS ALL THE WAY TO INDIA." 1135 01:00:05,933 --> 01:00:08,000 WE HAD TO SIGN ON AS CREW MEMBERS, 1136 01:00:08,100 --> 01:00:10,700 BUT WE WERE ON A CARGO SHIP, WE WERE SAILING 1137 01:00:10,800 --> 01:00:13,467 FOR FREE FROM CHINA, 1138 01:00:13,567 --> 01:00:15,767 SO WE WERE PRETTY HIGH AT THAT POINT. 1139 01:00:19,267 --> 01:00:22,067 Narrator: PERHAPS THEY DESERVED A LITTLE GOOD LUCK. 1140 01:00:22,167 --> 01:00:24,833 THEY FIGURED THEY HAD MADE THEIR OWN LUCK. 1141 01:00:24,933 --> 01:00:29,500 EITHER WAY, THEY WERE ON A SHIP SAILING SOUTH TO SUMATRA, 1142 01:00:29,600 --> 01:00:34,833 JUST AS MARCO POLO HAD. 1143 01:00:44,800 --> 01:00:46,100 Belliveau: MARCO TELLS US 1144 01:00:46,200 --> 01:00:48,867 THAT HE'S STRANDED THERE FOR FIVE MONTHS 1145 01:00:48,967 --> 01:00:54,800 BECAUSE THE MONSOON WINDS HAVE CHANGED 1146 01:00:54,900 --> 01:00:57,367 HE GOES ON TO DESCRIBE THAT -- 1147 01:00:57,467 --> 01:01:01,067 THE PEOPLE THERE AS SAVAGES, CANNIBALS. 1148 01:01:01,167 --> 01:01:04,200 AND THERE'S EVEN A FAMOUS ILLUMINATION THAT'S IN HIS -- 1149 01:01:04,300 --> 01:01:07,133 ONE OF HIS ORIGINAL BOOKS WHERE, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY, 1150 01:01:07,233 --> 01:01:09,867 BECAUSE IN THE MIDDLE AGES, THEY MADE ALL THESE 1151 01:01:09,967 --> 01:01:12,067 ASIATIC PEOPLE LOOK LIKE EUROPEANS, 1152 01:01:12,133 --> 01:01:14,633 SO THERE'S THESE GUYS WITH WHITE BEARDS AND, 1153 01:01:14,733 --> 01:01:16,533 YOU KNOW, EUROPEAN CLOTHES ON, 1154 01:01:16,633 --> 01:01:18,933 AND THEY'RE, LIKE, EATING ARMS AND LEGS. 1155 01:01:19,067 --> 01:01:21,967 Narrator: CANNIBALISM IS LONG GONE FROM SUMATRA, 1156 01:01:22,067 --> 01:01:24,167 BUT DENIS AND FRANCIS DID DETECT 1157 01:01:24,267 --> 01:01:25,167 TRACES OF THE 13th CENTURY 1158 01:01:25,267 --> 01:01:28,833 ON THE INDONESIAN ISLAND OF SIBERUT, 1159 01:01:28,933 --> 01:01:32,900 WHERE THEY WOULD SOON ENCOUNTER ANOTHER MARCO MILESTONE. 1160 01:01:33,067 --> 01:01:34,533 [ SPEAKING MENTAWAI ] 1161 01:01:34,633 --> 01:01:36,567 Belliveau: I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, 1162 01:01:36,667 --> 01:01:37,900 THE LOST WORLD, YOU KNOW? 1163 01:02:01,333 --> 01:02:04,267 [ SPEAKING MENTAWAI ] 1164 01:02:07,167 --> 01:02:11,067 Narrator: POLO TOLD IN DETAIL OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE'S SKILL 1165 01:02:11,100 --> 01:02:12,800 IN THE ART OF THE TATTOO. 1166 01:02:12,900 --> 01:02:16,333 "MALE AND FEMALE HAVE THEIR FLESH COVERED ALL OVER 1167 01:02:16,433 --> 01:02:18,767 "WITH PICTURES MADE WITH NEEDLES 1168 01:02:18,867 --> 01:02:21,633 "IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE INDELIBLE. 1169 01:02:21,733 --> 01:02:24,067 "THEY MAKE THESE ON THEIR FACES, 1170 01:02:24,167 --> 01:02:26,100 "NECKS, BELLIES, HANDS, LEGS. 1171 01:02:26,200 --> 01:02:29,067 "THE MORE ELABORATE ANYONE IS DECORATED, 1172 01:02:29,133 --> 01:02:32,200 THE GREATER AND HANDSOMER HE IS CONSIDERED." 1173 01:02:32,300 --> 01:02:35,067 O'Donnell: WHEN HE ASKED THEM, "WHY DO THEY DO THAT?" 1174 01:02:35,133 --> 01:02:37,667 THEY SAID, "THAT'S BECAUSE, WITHOUT THE TATTOOS, 1175 01:02:37,767 --> 01:02:39,100 THEY WOULD FEEL NAKED." 1176 01:02:39,200 --> 01:02:41,567 SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THEIR CLOTHING. 1177 01:02:41,667 --> 01:02:43,100 WE HAD BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, 1178 01:02:43,200 --> 01:02:45,200 AND I WAS TRYING TO COAX THEM INTO GIVING ME A TATTOO, 1179 01:02:45,300 --> 01:02:46,667 AND THEY KEPT YESSING ME TO DEATH, 1180 01:02:46,767 --> 01:02:48,700 AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY GET ONE. 1181 01:02:48,800 --> 01:02:51,533 [ SPEAKING MENTAWAI ] 1182 01:02:51,633 --> 01:02:53,933 Belliveau: I'M WATCHING THE GUY GIVE HIM THE TATTOO, 1183 01:02:54,067 --> 01:02:55,733 AND I'M SITTING THERE, AND I'M GOING, 1184 01:02:55,833 --> 01:02:57,933 "MAN, HE'S GOING TO GET HEPATITIS OR SOMETHING. 1185 01:02:58,067 --> 01:02:59,567 HE'S GOING DOWN WITH THIS THING," 1186 01:02:59,667 --> 01:03:03,433 BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY TOOK SOME SORT OF BLACK SOOT, ASH, 1187 01:03:03,533 --> 01:03:06,067 FROM THE FIRE, CHARCOAL OR SOMETHING, 1188 01:03:06,100 --> 01:03:08,067 AND HE MIXED THAT WITH WATER 1189 01:03:08,167 --> 01:03:10,600 AND HE MIGHT HAVE PUT SOME SORT OF OIL FROM A PLANT. 1190 01:03:10,700 --> 01:03:12,900 AND, YOU KNOW, TURNED IT INTO AN INK, 1191 01:03:13,067 --> 01:03:14,067 AND HE HAD THIS -- 1192 01:03:14,133 --> 01:03:15,100 STINGRAY SPINE. 1193 01:03:15,200 --> 01:03:17,533 YEAH, IT WAS SOME SORT OF NATURAL NEEDLE 1194 01:03:17,633 --> 01:03:19,667 THAT HE HAD ON THE END OF A STICK, 1195 01:03:19,767 --> 01:03:23,900 AND HE WOULD DIP THE NEEDLE IN THE INK, 1196 01:03:24,067 --> 01:03:28,300 AND THEN HE HAD ANOTHER STICK THAT HE WOULD WHACK. 1197 01:03:28,400 --> 01:03:31,067 THE NEEDLE WAS KIND OF CANTILEVERED ON THE STICK, 1198 01:03:31,167 --> 01:03:32,967 AND HE WAS, "WHACK, WHACK, WHACK, WHACK," 1199 01:03:33,067 --> 01:03:34,167 AND I'M -- 1200 01:03:34,267 --> 01:03:36,467 AND HE WAS WIPING THE BLOOD WITH THIS DIRTY RAG, 1201 01:03:36,567 --> 01:03:38,200 AND I'M GOING, I'M LOOKING AT HIM, 1202 01:03:38,300 --> 01:03:39,767 I'M LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? 1203 01:03:39,867 --> 01:03:39,967 THIS IS GOING TO BE BAD." 1204 01:03:44,467 --> 01:03:45,900 [ WOMAN LAUGHS ] 1205 01:03:48,800 --> 01:03:50,367 [ MAN SPEAKING MENTAWAI ] 1206 01:03:55,067 --> 01:03:56,600 AFTER I GOT IT, I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, 1207 01:03:56,700 --> 01:03:58,733 WHAT DID I DO TO MYSELF?" IT LOOKED TERRIBLE, I THOUGHT, 1208 01:03:58,833 --> 01:04:00,333 BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FAVORITE ONE, 1209 01:04:00,433 --> 01:04:02,233 BECAUSE, YOU KNOW -- IT'S REAL. 1210 01:04:02,333 --> 01:04:04,533 BECAUSE IT'S REAL, IT'S THE REAL McCOY. 1211 01:04:10,433 --> 01:04:12,967 Narrator: SOON WOULD COME A MODERN MILESTONE 1212 01:04:13,067 --> 01:04:14,200 FOR THE TRAVELERS -- 1213 01:04:14,300 --> 01:04:16,967 A MATTER OF GEOGRAPHY AND THE COMPASS NEEDLE. 1214 01:04:37,433 --> 01:04:41,800 Narrator: HEADING WEST TOWARDS HOME AT LAST 1215 01:04:41,900 --> 01:04:43,600 WAS BITTERSWEET, 1216 01:04:43,700 --> 01:04:46,900 A REMINDER THAT THE ROAD DID NOT GO ON FOREVER. 1217 01:04:47,067 --> 01:04:49,800 NOT ONLY THAT, THEY COULDN'T FORGET 1218 01:04:49,900 --> 01:04:53,200 THAT THEIR ROAD RAN THROUGH PERSIA -- IRAN, 1219 01:04:53,300 --> 01:04:54,400 WHERE, SOON ENOUGH, 1220 01:04:54,500 --> 01:04:56,533 DENIS AND FRANCIS WOULD DETERMINE 1221 01:04:56,633 --> 01:04:58,767 IF THEIR TRIP WAS TO END IN SUCCESS 1222 01:04:58,867 --> 01:05:01,500 OR FAILURE. 1223 01:05:01,600 --> 01:05:03,233 FOR A YEAR AND HALF, WE TRAVELED WITH 1224 01:05:03,333 --> 01:05:05,233 THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES HANGING OVER OUR HEADS, 1225 01:05:05,333 --> 01:05:08,067 NEVER KNOWING WHETHER ALL THE EFFORT 1226 01:05:08,167 --> 01:05:09,567 AND TIME AND ENERGY 1227 01:05:09,667 --> 01:05:12,800 AND HOPES AND DREAMS THAT WE PUT INTO THE PROJECT 1228 01:05:12,900 --> 01:05:15,533 WAS GOING TO BE JUST FOR NAUGHT 1229 01:05:15,633 --> 01:05:17,900 OR WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, 1230 01:05:18,067 --> 01:05:20,333 MAYBE SOMEHOW PULL THIS THING OFF, 1231 01:05:20,433 --> 01:05:22,133 AND IT ALL KIND OF HINGED ON WHETHER 1232 01:05:22,233 --> 01:05:24,067 WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET VISAS FOR IRAN. 1233 01:05:24,133 --> 01:05:26,933 Narrator: BUT BEFORE IRAN LAY INDIA, 1234 01:05:27,067 --> 01:05:30,400 AND AS THEY SAILED TOWARD THE PORT OF MADRAS, 1235 01:05:30,500 --> 01:05:32,467 THEY STOPPED WORRYING ABOUT 1236 01:05:32,567 --> 01:05:35,400 ACCESS TO MARCO'S PERSIA AND STARTED WORRYING 1237 01:05:35,500 --> 01:05:37,867 ABOUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO GET OFF THE SHIP. 1238 01:05:37,967 --> 01:05:39,067 Belliveau: "OCTOBER 20. 1239 01:05:39,100 --> 01:05:40,733 "INDIA'S VISIBLE IN THE DISTANCE. 1240 01:05:40,833 --> 01:05:42,167 "WE'VE DROPPED ANCHOR OUT HERE 1241 01:05:42,267 --> 01:05:44,967 "AS THE CAPTAIN SAYS IT WILL BE THREE OR FOUR DAYS 1242 01:05:45,067 --> 01:05:47,500 UNTIL WE GET A BERTH IN THE PORT OF MADRAS." 1243 01:05:47,600 --> 01:05:48,633 O'Donnell: "OCTOBER 22. 1244 01:05:48,733 --> 01:05:50,433 "WE'VE BEEN HANGING WITH THE CREW 1245 01:05:50,533 --> 01:05:53,100 "AN"AND DRINKING CHEAP BRANDY, FISHING FOR SQUID OFF THE STERN. 1246 01:05:53,200 --> 01:05:54,600 "THE SEA IS AWASH WITH THESE GLOBS 1247 01:05:54,700 --> 01:05:56,867 OF MUSHROOM-LIKE JELLYFISH, HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF THEM. 1248 01:05:56,967 --> 01:05:58,267 Belliveau: "OCTOBER 25. 1249 01:05:58,367 --> 01:06:01,067 "WE WILL BE ANCHORED AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE DAYS. 1250 01:06:01,100 --> 01:06:03,900 "THE LAST TWO HAVE BEEN CONSUMED BY SLEEP AND READING. 1251 01:06:04,067 --> 01:06:05,733 "I FINISHED MY BOOK AND HAVE NOW READ 1252 01:06:05,833 --> 01:06:07,233 "EVERY MAGAZINE ONBOARD THE SHIP 1253 01:06:07,333 --> 01:06:09,067 AND NOW EVEN CONSIDERING THE BIBLE." 1254 01:06:09,133 --> 01:06:10,167 O'Donnell: "OCTOBER 30. 1255 01:06:10,267 --> 01:06:12,533 "I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE STILL ON THIS VESSEL. 1256 01:06:12,633 --> 01:06:15,067 "APPARENTLY THEY'VE NEVER HAD FOREIGN NATIONALS 1257 01:06:15,100 --> 01:06:16,433 "DISEMBARKING AS PASSENGERS 1258 01:06:16,533 --> 01:06:17,800 OFF OF A CARGO SHIP BEFORE." 1259 01:06:17,900 --> 01:06:20,067 Belliveau: "OCTOBER 31 -- WHAT A BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE 1260 01:06:20,167 --> 01:06:21,233 "THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE. 1261 01:06:21,333 --> 01:06:22,733 "THEY'RE NOW GRILLING US 1262 01:06:22,833 --> 01:06:25,100 "OVER OUR ITINERARY AND WANT TO KNOW 1263 01:06:25,200 --> 01:06:27,600 "EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF FILM WE'RE MAKING. 1264 01:06:27,700 --> 01:06:29,300 "WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? 1265 01:06:29,400 --> 01:06:32,667 WE HAVE VALID VISAS, JUST LET US OFF THE BOAT." 1266 01:06:32,767 --> 01:06:33,967 "NOVEMBER 1. 1267 01:06:34,067 --> 01:06:37,833 "FINALLY, THEY'VE ALLOWED US TO SIGN OFF AS CREWMEN 1268 01:06:37,933 --> 01:06:41,800 "ON THE CONDITION WE LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN 72 HOURS. 1269 01:06:41,900 --> 01:06:43,800 "THAT GIVES US THREE-DAY HEAD START 1270 01:06:43,900 --> 01:06:45,767 "TO GET LOST IN THE SUBCONTINENT. 1271 01:06:45,867 --> 01:06:45,967 THEY'LL HAVE TO CATCH US." 1272 01:06:50,067 --> 01:06:51,067 INDIA IS ALIVE. 1273 01:06:51,167 --> 01:06:53,333 YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE 1,000-YEAR-OLD TEMPLES 1274 01:06:53,433 --> 01:06:55,567 AND PEOPLE ARE STILL PRAYING IN THEM. 1275 01:06:55,667 --> 01:06:56,967 IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, 1276 01:06:57,067 --> 01:06:59,667 YOU GO TO EGYPT AND YOU SEE THIS ANCIENT CULTURE 1277 01:06:59,767 --> 01:07:01,333 BUT IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE. 1278 01:07:01,433 --> 01:07:03,300 YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE RUINS. 1279 01:07:03,400 --> 01:07:05,400 YOU GO TO INDIA AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT RUINS 1280 01:07:05,500 --> 01:07:07,400 AND THE PEOPLE ARE STILL PRAYING IN THEM, 1281 01:07:07,500 --> 01:07:08,533 SO IT'S LIKE, "WHOA." 1282 01:07:14,833 --> 01:07:17,067 Narrator: AND EVERYWHERE WERE ECHOES 1283 01:07:17,167 --> 01:07:18,567 OF POLO'S DISTANT WORDS. 1284 01:07:18,667 --> 01:07:21,967 HE SAID THE LOCAL PEOPLE "COULD TRUST NO SAILOR, 1285 01:07:22,067 --> 01:07:23,700 "FOR THEY SAY THAT A MAN 1286 01:07:23,800 --> 01:07:27,233 WHO GOES TO SEA MUST BE A MAN IN DESPAIR." 1287 01:07:36,600 --> 01:07:40,067 HE DESCRIBED THE BRAHMANS WHO "ARE KNOWN BY AN EMBLEM 1288 01:07:40,133 --> 01:07:43,333 "WHICH THEY WEAR, FOR THEY CARRY A CORD OF COTTON 1289 01:07:43,433 --> 01:07:48,133 ON THEIR SHOULDER AND FASTENED ACROSS THE CHEST." 1290 01:07:48,233 --> 01:07:52,067 WE'VE COME ACROSS MORE MARCO POLO DESCRIPTIONS 1291 01:07:52,167 --> 01:07:55,700 FASTER HERE IN INDIA THAN ANY OTHER PLACE. 1292 01:07:55,800 --> 01:07:59,267 Narrator: POLO TOLD AS WELL OF INDIA'S GODS. 1293 01:07:59,367 --> 01:08:02,933 "THEY HAVE IDOLS WITH THE HEADS OF FOUR FACES 1294 01:08:03,067 --> 01:08:06,900 "AND SOME WITH THREE HEADS, ONE IN THE RIGHT PLACE 1295 01:08:07,067 --> 01:08:09,100 "AND ONE ON EITHER SHOULDER. 1296 01:08:09,200 --> 01:08:11,733 "SOME HAVE FOUR HANDS, SOME TEN, 1297 01:08:11,833 --> 01:08:14,867 AND SOME 1,000." 1298 01:08:14,967 --> 01:08:19,233 AND HE DESCRIBED THE HABITS OF THE PEOPLE HE ENCOUNTERED. 1299 01:08:19,332 --> 01:08:22,233 "AS SOON AS A CHILD IS BORN, THE FATHER AND MOTHER 1300 01:08:22,332 --> 01:08:25,100 "HAVE A RECORD MADE IN WRITING OF HIS NATIVITY. 1301 01:08:25,200 --> 01:08:27,767 "THIS THEY DO BECAUSE THEY GUIDE 1302 01:08:27,867 --> 01:08:31,500 "ALL THEIR ACTIONS BY THE COUNCIL OF ASTROLOGERS 1303 01:08:31,600 --> 01:08:34,332 "AND DIVINERS WHO ARE SKILLED 1304 01:08:34,433 --> 01:08:38,067 IN ENCHANTMENT AND MAGIC AND GEOMANCY." 1305 01:08:40,567 --> 01:08:45,466 DENIS BELLIVEAU HAD A DIVINER READ HIS FORTUNE. 1306 01:08:45,567 --> 01:08:47,332 Belliveau: "HE READ MINE AND SAID 1307 01:08:47,433 --> 01:08:49,233 "I WILL DIE WHEN I'M 75 YEARS OLD. 1308 01:08:49,332 --> 01:08:51,899 "MY WIFE WILL BE A STRONG PERSON 1309 01:08:52,067 --> 01:08:53,667 "AND VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ME. 1310 01:08:53,767 --> 01:08:55,899 "SHE WILL MAKE ME A BETTER MAN. 1311 01:08:56,067 --> 01:08:58,433 "WE'LL HAVE TWO KIDS WHO WILL GROW UP 1312 01:08:58,533 --> 01:08:59,466 "STRONG AND WELL-EDUCATED. 1313 01:08:59,567 --> 01:09:02,933 SOUNDS GOOD, CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THEM." 1314 01:09:07,167 --> 01:09:09,500 Narrator: BUT RATHER THAN THE FUTURE, 1315 01:09:09,600 --> 01:09:11,399 IT WAS THE PRESENT THAT CAUGHT UP 1316 01:09:11,500 --> 01:09:13,233 WITH FRANCIS O'DONNELL IN INDIA. 1317 01:09:13,332 --> 01:09:16,600 O'Donnell: "NOVEMBER 30. 1318 01:09:16,700 --> 01:09:20,067 "I JUST CALLED HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS. 1319 01:09:20,167 --> 01:09:22,399 "MY POOR MOTHER. 1320 01:09:22,500 --> 01:09:25,367 "SHE HAD TO TELL ME THAT MY FATHER IS DEAD. 1321 01:09:25,466 --> 01:09:26,733 "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. 1322 01:09:26,832 --> 01:09:29,300 "I'M FULL OF REMORSE AND GUILT FOR NOT BEING THERE 1323 01:09:29,399 --> 01:09:31,167 TO COMFORT MY MOM AND SISTERS." 1324 01:09:41,100 --> 01:09:43,067 MY FATHER USED TO PACK UP THE WHOLE FAMILY 1325 01:09:43,133 --> 01:09:45,533 AND STICK US IN A STATION WAGON AND TRAVEL UP AND DOWN 1326 01:09:45,633 --> 01:09:47,966 THE EASTERN SEABOARD TO ALL, LIKE, THE REVOLUTIONARY 1327 01:09:48,067 --> 01:09:49,667 AND COLONIAL FORTRESSES AND STUFF. 1328 01:09:49,767 --> 01:09:52,966 WE WENT TO FORT WILLIAM HENRY AND TICONDEROGA AND, 1329 01:09:53,067 --> 01:09:55,733 YOU KNOW, WILLIAMSBURG AND VALLEY FORGE, 1330 01:09:55,833 --> 01:09:58,867 AND I BELIEVE MY DAD WAS A FRUSTRATED HISTORIAN, 1331 01:09:58,967 --> 01:10:03,300 AND HE KIND OF PUT THAT LOVE OF HISTORY INTO MY SOUL. 1332 01:10:07,200 --> 01:10:10,333 I WAS KIND OF GUILTY ABOUT HAVING NOT BEEN THERE 1333 01:10:10,433 --> 01:10:13,333 TO BE ABLE TO COMFORT MY MOTHER AND SISTERS, 1334 01:10:13,433 --> 01:10:16,500 SO, YOU KNOW, DENNY SAID TO ME, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?" 1335 01:10:16,600 --> 01:10:19,067 HE KIND OF THOUGHT THAT MAYBE I'D WANT TO GO HOME, 1336 01:10:19,167 --> 01:10:22,267 BUT WHAT I DID WAS REDEDICATE THE WHOLE JOURNEY TO HIS MEMORY 1337 01:10:22,367 --> 01:10:25,467 BECAUSE HE HAD TAUGHT ME TO REALLY LOVE HISTORY, 1338 01:10:25,567 --> 01:10:27,333 AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR HIM, IN A LOT OF RESPECTS, 1339 01:10:27,433 --> 01:10:29,033 I PROBABLY WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ON THIS PATH, 1340 01:10:29,133 --> 01:10:31,300 SO I SWORE THAT WE WOULD GET INTO IRAN NO MATTER WHAT 1341 01:10:31,400 --> 01:10:33,667 JUST SO THIS -- YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T ALL BE IN VAIN. 1342 01:10:43,567 --> 01:10:45,033 O'Donnell: "DECEMBER 19. 1343 01:10:45,133 --> 01:10:48,500 "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ARE TWO VISAS TO IRAN. 1344 01:10:48,600 --> 01:10:51,133 "LIKE DEJA VU, WE'VE BEEN STUCK FOR WEEKS 1345 01:10:51,233 --> 01:10:52,967 AS THE IRANIANS MESS WITH US." 1346 01:10:53,067 --> 01:10:54,867 Belliveau: IF WE DIDN'T GET INTO IRAN, 1347 01:10:54,967 --> 01:10:56,333 WHY ARE WE BUSTING OURSELVES? 1348 01:10:56,433 --> 01:10:58,200 WHY ARE WE GOING THROUGH ALL THIS? 1349 01:10:58,300 --> 01:11:00,533 LET'S JUST GO ON THE BEACH IN GOA AND, LIKE, 1350 01:11:00,633 --> 01:11:02,500 HANG OUT AND, LIKE, CATCH A TAN AND, 1351 01:11:02,600 --> 01:11:03,800 YOU KNOW, MEET GIRLS. 1352 01:11:03,900 --> 01:11:05,433 THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. 1353 01:11:05,533 --> 01:11:07,700 EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN NO JOY IN ANY OF IT. 1354 01:11:23,733 --> 01:11:26,367 Belliveau: "WE'VE REMAINED FAITHFUL TO OUR DREAM 1355 01:11:26,467 --> 01:11:28,833 "AND DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT HAVE DONE OUR JOBS 1356 01:11:28,933 --> 01:11:30,200 "BELIEVING IT WOULDN'T, 1357 01:11:30,300 --> 01:11:32,533 "COULDN'T BE IN VAIN, 1358 01:11:32,633 --> 01:11:36,767 "THAT IF WE PUT OURSELVES LITERALLY ON THE RIGHT PATH, 1359 01:11:36,867 --> 01:11:39,333 "DOORS THAT SEEMED CLOSED WOULD MAGICALLY OPEN. 1360 01:11:39,433 --> 01:11:42,433 "WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO KICK THEM DOWN. 1361 01:11:42,533 --> 01:11:44,233 "WE'VE COME UP WITH A DANGEROUS PLAN. 1362 01:11:44,333 --> 01:11:46,367 "WE'LL GIVE THEM ONE MORE WEEK FOR OUR VISAS, 1363 01:11:46,467 --> 01:11:48,367 "THEN WE'LL CUT THROUGH AFGHANISTAN AGAIN, 1364 01:11:48,467 --> 01:11:51,833 "USE OUR CONTACTS THERE TO SNEAK INTO IRAN, 1365 01:11:51,933 --> 01:11:55,633 "AND THEN INTO THE HANDS OF THE KURDISH UNDERGROUND, 1366 01:11:55,733 --> 01:11:57,933 "WHO WILL THEN SMUGGLE US ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS 1367 01:11:58,067 --> 01:11:59,067 "AND BACK INTO TURKEY. 1368 01:11:59,167 --> 01:12:02,467 "IT'S UTTER INSANITY, SO I'M TRYING 1369 01:12:02,567 --> 01:12:05,900 NOT TO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES IF WE GET CAUGHT." 1370 01:12:08,533 --> 01:12:10,767 Narrator: BUT BEFORE TRYING TO SNEAK INTO IRAN, 1371 01:12:10,867 --> 01:12:15,067 THE AMERICAN TRAVELERS DECIDED TO MAKE ONE LAST-DITCH EFFORT. 1372 01:12:15,167 --> 01:12:18,967 THEY WOULD DIVERT FROM POLO'S ROUTE TO PAKISTAN, 1373 01:12:19,067 --> 01:12:22,700 WHERE THEY MADE A DESPERATE PLEA TO THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR. 1374 01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:24,867 EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS 1375 01:12:24,967 --> 01:12:27,233 WE'D GO TO THE IRANIAN EMBASSY, AND THE GUY 1376 01:12:27,333 --> 01:12:29,833 WORKING BEHIND THE DESK WAS LIKE LAUGHING AT US. 1377 01:12:29,933 --> 01:12:31,533 HE WAS LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY. 1378 01:12:31,633 --> 01:12:33,900 "THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET A VISA. 1379 01:12:34,067 --> 01:12:35,133 IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE." 1380 01:12:35,233 --> 01:12:37,767 AND THEN ONE MORNING, THE PHONE RANG. 1381 01:12:37,867 --> 01:12:40,067 [ TELEPHONE RINGS ] 1382 01:12:40,133 --> 01:12:42,567 HELLO? 1383 01:12:42,667 --> 01:12:44,633 AND HE SAID, "GET TO THE EMBASSY NOW, 1384 01:12:44,733 --> 01:12:46,567 YOUR VISA'S GOING TO BE WAITING FOR YOU." 1385 01:12:56,567 --> 01:12:58,733 HEY, WE'RE IN IRAN. 1386 01:12:58,833 --> 01:13:00,633 SOUTHERN IRAN. 1387 01:13:00,733 --> 01:13:03,600 Belliveau: THEY TOLD US WHEN WE GOT OUR VISAS, 1388 01:13:03,700 --> 01:13:06,467 "YOU'RE BASICALLY THE FIRST AMERICANS 1389 01:13:06,567 --> 01:13:08,533 "ALLOWED IN HERE SINCE 1979. 1390 01:13:08,633 --> 01:13:10,500 "AND WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU A THREE-DAY 1391 01:13:10,600 --> 01:13:12,067 "TOURIST TRANSIT VISA. 1392 01:13:12,133 --> 01:13:13,767 "WE'RE GIVING YOU A FULL MONTH 1393 01:13:13,867 --> 01:13:15,567 TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO." 1394 01:13:17,500 --> 01:13:19,800 Narrator: SEVEN CENTURIES EARLIER, 1395 01:13:19,900 --> 01:13:24,433 MARCO POLO KNEW IRAN AS "A VERY LARGE COUNTRY 1396 01:13:24,533 --> 01:13:25,900 WITH EIGHT KINGDOMS." 1397 01:13:27,400 --> 01:13:30,067 HE DESCRIBED A WONDROUS TECHNOLOGY -- 1398 01:13:30,100 --> 01:13:33,167 "THE CLIMATE IS SO HOT THAT HOUSES ARE FITTED 1399 01:13:33,267 --> 01:13:35,800 "WITH VENTILATORS TO CATCH THE WIND. 1400 01:13:35,900 --> 01:13:38,967 "THE VENTILATORS ARE SET TO FACE THE QUARTER 1401 01:13:39,067 --> 01:13:39,833 "FROM WHICH THE WIND BLOWS 1402 01:13:39,933 --> 01:13:42,633 AND LET IT BLOW INTO THE HOUSE." 1403 01:13:45,933 --> 01:13:50,500 POLO ALSO TOLD OF A MURDEROUS MEDIEVAL SECT. 1404 01:13:50,600 --> 01:13:52,600 [ CLEARS THROAT ] 1405 01:13:55,733 --> 01:13:57,400 [ COUGHS ] 1406 01:13:57,500 --> 01:14:00,433 THIS IS THE VALLEY OF THE ASSASSINS 1407 01:14:00,533 --> 01:14:01,867 IN NORTHERN IRAN 1408 01:14:01,967 --> 01:14:05,300 AND MARCO POLO WRITES ABOUT THIS OLD MAN IN THE MOUNTAIN, 1409 01:14:05,400 --> 01:14:08,400 THIS MYTH ABOUT THIS SECT, AND THE WORD "ASSASSIN" 1410 01:14:08,500 --> 01:14:10,267 BASICALLY COMES FROM THIS SECT. 1411 01:14:10,367 --> 01:14:13,100 THEY WERE THE HASHSHASHINS, OR HASHSHASHIYYINS, 1412 01:14:13,200 --> 01:14:14,167 WHICH MEANS "HASH EATERS." 1413 01:14:14,267 --> 01:14:17,067 YOUNG MEN WERE BROUGHT TO THIS PLACE 1414 01:14:17,100 --> 01:14:18,867 AND THEY GOT HIGH ON HASHISH. 1415 01:14:18,967 --> 01:14:21,067 THEY WERE GIVEN HASHISH AND OPIUM. 1416 01:14:21,133 --> 01:14:23,133 THEY WOULD GO AND THEY WOULD KILL 1417 01:14:23,233 --> 01:14:26,433 WHOEVER THAT THEIR LORD TOLD THEM TO KILL. 1418 01:14:26,533 --> 01:14:28,600 Man: JIHAD! [ CHILDREN YELL IN RESPONSE ] 1419 01:14:28,700 --> 01:14:30,067 ISLAM! [ CHILDREN YELL ] 1420 01:14:30,167 --> 01:14:32,367 Narrator: POLO SAID THAT THE OLD MAN 1421 01:14:32,467 --> 01:14:35,067 WOULD TELL HIS ASSASSINS THAT "HE WAS MINDED 1422 01:14:35,167 --> 01:14:37,067 "TO DISPATCH THEM TO PARADISE. 1423 01:14:37,133 --> 01:14:40,067 "THEY WERE TO KILL SUCH-AND-SUCH A MAN. 1424 01:14:40,100 --> 01:14:41,867 "IF THEY DIED ON THEIR MISSION, 1425 01:14:41,967 --> 01:14:44,167 THEY WOULD GO THERE ALL THE SOONER." 1426 01:14:44,267 --> 01:14:47,067 WHO WOULD EVER THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF TERRORISTS 1427 01:14:47,100 --> 01:14:49,067 WOULD ACTUALLY ORIGINATE HERE IN PERSIA? 1428 01:14:49,133 --> 01:14:50,333 I DIDN'T -- [ LAUGHS ] 1429 01:14:50,433 --> 01:14:52,333 YEAH, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THEY WERE. 1430 01:14:52,433 --> 01:14:54,067 THEY WERE MEDIEVAL TERRORISTS. 1431 01:14:58,267 --> 01:15:01,533 O'Donnell: I THINK, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, 1432 01:15:01,633 --> 01:15:04,333 AS HAVING BEEN IN THE MARINES 1433 01:15:04,433 --> 01:15:07,767 AND JUST GOTTEN OUT RIGHT BEFORE THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION 1434 01:15:07,867 --> 01:15:10,433 AND THE TAKEOVER OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, 1435 01:15:10,533 --> 01:15:14,433 THEY WERE KIND OF LIKE A DEMON TO ME. 1436 01:15:14,533 --> 01:15:16,900 IRAN WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AN EVIL PLACE 1437 01:15:17,067 --> 01:15:21,333 IN MY SUBCONSCIOUS, IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. 1438 01:15:25,433 --> 01:15:26,633 Belliveau: PART OF THE DEAL 1439 01:15:26,733 --> 01:15:29,600 WAS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A CAR AND DRIVER 1440 01:15:29,700 --> 01:15:31,800 MEET US AT THE BORDER AND STAY WITH US 1441 01:15:31,900 --> 01:15:33,933 THE WHOLE TIME. 1442 01:15:34,067 --> 01:15:36,067 WE WERE, LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, ENGAGING PEOPLE, 1443 01:15:36,100 --> 01:15:37,633 TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE STREETS, 1444 01:15:37,733 --> 01:15:39,267 AND THIS -- OUR HANDLER WAS LIKE, 1445 01:15:39,367 --> 01:15:40,867 "YOU MUST NEVER TALK TO PEOPLE!" 1446 01:15:40,967 --> 01:15:42,600 "DON'T TELL THEM YOU'RE AMERICANS." 1447 01:15:42,700 --> 01:15:43,600 "THEY WILL KILL YOU!" 1448 01:15:43,700 --> 01:15:45,367 Belliveau: "FEBRUARY 11. 1449 01:15:45,467 --> 01:15:49,067 "TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION 1450 01:15:49,133 --> 01:15:51,067 "THAT BROUGHT DOWN THE SHAH, 1451 01:15:51,167 --> 01:15:52,867 "INSTALLED KHOMEINI AS LEADER, 1452 01:15:52,967 --> 01:15:55,067 AND STORMED THE AMERICAN EMBASSY." 1453 01:15:55,167 --> 01:15:57,700 WHEN WE WOKE UP THAT MORNING, WE HEARD PEOPLE 1454 01:15:57,800 --> 01:16:00,667 MARCHING PAST OUR HOTEL ON THEIR WAY TO THE SQUARE. 1455 01:16:00,767 --> 01:16:03,467 [ PEOPLE CHANTING ] 1456 01:16:03,567 --> 01:16:05,167 DENIS AND I, WE TRIED TO APPROACH THE CROWD 1457 01:16:05,267 --> 01:16:06,600 AND WE HAD OUR CAMERA BAGS WITH US. 1458 01:16:06,700 --> 01:16:08,767 EVERY CELL IN OUR BODIES WAS TELLING US 1459 01:16:08,867 --> 01:16:11,167 TO GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, BUT WE WERE -- 1460 01:16:11,267 --> 01:16:13,067 WE JUST -- WE WENT WITH IT. 1461 01:16:13,100 --> 01:16:15,133 WE KNEW WE HAD TO GO INTO THAT SQUARE. 1462 01:16:15,233 --> 01:16:17,367 "AS WE WANDERED INTO A SQUARE 1463 01:16:17,467 --> 01:16:21,467 "WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CHANTING 'DEATH TO AMERICA,' 1464 01:16:21,567 --> 01:16:24,200 "BURNING THE FLAG AND AN EFFIGY OF THE PRESIDENT, 1465 01:16:24,300 --> 01:16:25,733 "WE WERE DEFINITELY NOTICED. 1466 01:16:25,833 --> 01:16:27,900 "SOME PEOPLE ASKED WHERE WE WERE FROM 1467 01:16:28,067 --> 01:16:32,133 AND LOOKED BEWILDERED WHEN WE TOLD THEM." 1468 01:16:32,233 --> 01:16:34,667 DENIS WAS TALKING TO A GUY AND HE WAS SAYING TO HIM, 1469 01:16:34,767 --> 01:16:35,967 "WE'RE FROM THE MOST FAMOUS 1470 01:16:36,067 --> 01:16:37,967 ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD." 1471 01:16:38,067 --> 01:16:40,100 AND THE GUY WAS LIKE, "AUSTRALIA?" 1472 01:16:40,200 --> 01:16:42,367 "NO, IT'S BIG AND RICH AND POWERFUL," 1473 01:16:42,467 --> 01:16:44,400 AND HE'S LIKE, "ENGLAND?" 1474 01:16:44,500 --> 01:16:47,067 HE'S LIKE, "WE'RE THE MOST FAMOUS COUNTRY, 1475 01:16:47,100 --> 01:16:48,933 THE MOST FAMOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD." 1476 01:16:49,067 --> 01:16:51,100 "UH, ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD." 1477 01:16:51,200 --> 01:16:52,333 HE'S LIKE, "NEW ZEALAND?" 1478 01:16:52,433 --> 01:16:53,900 "CANADA?" CANADA, YEAH, SO... 1479 01:16:54,067 --> 01:16:55,133 THERE'S NO WAY THEY BELIEVED. 1480 01:16:55,233 --> 01:16:56,867 "AMERICANS CAN'T COME TO THIS COUNTRY." 1481 01:16:56,967 --> 01:17:00,267 Belliveau: "BUT WHAT REALLY GOT OUR ATTENTION TODAY 1482 01:17:00,367 --> 01:17:04,133 "WAS SEEING THE INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN BY THE REGIME -- 1483 01:17:04,233 --> 01:17:07,100 YOUNG MINDS BEING SCHOOLED IN HATRED." 1484 01:17:07,200 --> 01:17:09,300 [ PEOPLE CHANTING ] 1485 01:17:09,400 --> 01:17:12,867 "BUT, IN TRUTH, I NEVER FELT PERSONALLY MENACED. 1486 01:17:12,967 --> 01:17:15,533 "ONCE WE GOT AWAY FROM THE MAIN SQUARE 1487 01:17:15,633 --> 01:17:18,333 "WITH ITS TV CAMERAS AND RANTING CROWDS, 1488 01:17:18,433 --> 01:17:20,333 "IT SEEMED THAT MOST PEOPLE WERE JUST HAPPY 1489 01:17:20,433 --> 01:17:22,567 "TO HAVE THE DAY OFF FROM WORK. 1490 01:17:22,667 --> 01:17:23,567 "IN FACT, 1491 01:17:23,667 --> 01:17:25,100 "THE IRANIAN PEOPLE ARE AMONGST 1492 01:17:25,200 --> 01:17:26,567 "THE NICEST AND MOST HOSPITABLE 1493 01:17:26,667 --> 01:17:27,567 WE HAVE EVER COME ACROSS." 1494 01:17:27,667 --> 01:17:32,067 AS MUCH AS THE TURKS WERE HOSPITABLE, 1495 01:17:32,133 --> 01:17:35,133 THE IRANIANS WERE THAT MUCH MORE. 1496 01:17:42,433 --> 01:17:44,633 Narrator: IT WAS EARLY 1995. 1497 01:17:44,733 --> 01:17:48,400 THEY HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. 1498 01:17:48,500 --> 01:17:51,467 AND, LEAVING IRAN, DENIS AND FRANCIS 1499 01:17:51,567 --> 01:17:55,067 KNEW, FINALLY, THAT THEY HAD DONE IT. 1500 01:17:55,133 --> 01:17:58,100 AGAINST ALL ODDS, THEY HAD BEEN WHERE 1501 01:17:58,200 --> 01:18:01,767 THE VENETIAN HAD BEEN, SEEN WHAT HE HAD SEEN. 1502 01:18:01,867 --> 01:18:04,733 NOT ONLY HAD THEY FOLLOWED THEIR HEARTS, 1503 01:18:04,833 --> 01:18:05,767 THEY HAD MET THEIR GOAL -- 1504 01:18:05,867 --> 01:18:11,267 WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARCO POLO. 1505 01:18:21,833 --> 01:18:24,333 Belliveau: SO WHEN WE CROSSED FROM IRAN INTO TURKEY, 1506 01:18:24,433 --> 01:18:25,667 IT WAS ALMOST TOO OFFICIAL. 1507 01:18:25,767 --> 01:18:28,200 PEOPLE LINED UP ON A ROAD, AND WE'RE SHAKING HANDS 1508 01:18:28,300 --> 01:18:29,633 WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM 1509 01:18:29,733 --> 01:18:31,633 WITH MOUNT ARARAT IN THE BACKGROUND. 1510 01:18:31,733 --> 01:18:34,333 O'Donnell: NOT ONLY DID THEY ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR US, 1511 01:18:34,433 --> 01:18:36,200 BUT IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A MAGIC CARPET. 1512 01:18:36,300 --> 01:18:37,833 THEY KIND OF TOOK US BY THE HAND, 1513 01:18:37,933 --> 01:18:40,200 LED US ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND SHIPPED US TO VENICE, 1514 01:18:40,300 --> 01:18:41,867 WHICH WAS NICE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 1515 01:18:41,967 --> 01:18:44,500 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK. 1516 01:18:44,600 --> 01:18:46,400 WE WERE JUST LIKE STARS, AND THEY PUT US UP 1517 01:18:46,500 --> 01:18:48,300 AT A NICE HOTEL, AND WE GOT TO EAT GOOD FOOD 1518 01:18:48,400 --> 01:18:49,367 AND SLEEP IN A NICE BED. 1519 01:18:49,467 --> 01:18:51,700 Belliveau: AND THEY PUT US ON A SHIP, 1520 01:18:51,800 --> 01:18:52,767 AND WE SAILED INTO VENICE. 1521 01:18:52,867 --> 01:18:55,700 O'Donnell: SO DENIS AND I KIND OF STOOD 1522 01:18:55,800 --> 01:18:58,367 ON THE BOW OF THE SHIP AS VENICE FLOATED BY, 1523 01:18:58,467 --> 01:19:01,633 AND KIND OF HAD THIS LITTLE MOMENT OF, 1524 01:19:01,733 --> 01:19:05,767 YOU KNOW, UNSPOKEN, YOU KNOW, REALIZATION BETWEEN US 1525 01:19:05,867 --> 01:19:07,933 THAT THIS WAS IT, YOU KNOW? 1526 01:19:08,067 --> 01:19:08,933 YEAH. 1527 01:19:09,067 --> 01:19:10,633 AND IT WAS KIND OF MELANCHOLY 1528 01:19:10,733 --> 01:19:12,900 BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE 1529 01:19:13,067 --> 01:19:14,567 AND YOU'RE YEARNING FOR HOME 1530 01:19:14,667 --> 01:19:17,200 AND MAYBE YOU'RE SAYING, "I WISH I WASN'T HERE"... 1531 01:19:17,300 --> 01:19:18,267 IT IS FREEZING. 1532 01:19:18,367 --> 01:19:20,200 RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT SO BAD, 1533 01:19:20,300 --> 01:19:22,100 BUT LAST NIGHT WAS BRUTAL. 1534 01:19:22,200 --> 01:19:24,467 I [ BLEEP ] HATE IT HERE. 1535 01:19:24,567 --> 01:19:26,600 I HAVE A SPLITTING HEADACHE. SO SOMEBODY SEND HIM 1536 01:19:26,700 --> 01:19:27,967 HIS SUNGLASSES AND SOME ASPIRIN. 1537 01:19:28,067 --> 01:19:30,333 YOU NEVER -- ALMOST LIKE YOU NEVER THOUGHT THIS POINT 1538 01:19:30,433 --> 01:19:32,367 WAS EVER GOING TO COME, AND NOW, HERE IT IS, 1539 01:19:32,467 --> 01:19:34,433 AND YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING YOU CAN TO, LIKE, 1540 01:19:34,533 --> 01:19:36,600 TURN AROUND AND GO BACK AND NOT HAVE TO GO HOME. 1541 01:19:36,700 --> 01:19:39,067 I WANTED TO GO BACK OUT THERE BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK 1542 01:19:39,100 --> 01:19:40,967 I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF GO BACK 1543 01:19:41,067 --> 01:19:42,667 TO THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE "REAL WORLD." 1544 01:19:42,767 --> 01:19:44,767 [ LAUGHTER ] 1545 01:19:47,367 --> 01:19:50,533 IT'S ME, MARCO POLO, RETURNED HOME. 1546 01:19:50,633 --> 01:19:52,733 SO WE HAD AN AMAZING RECEPTION. 1547 01:19:52,833 --> 01:19:55,700 THEY GAVE US A ROYAL REGATTA OF GONDOLAS 1548 01:19:55,800 --> 01:19:57,500 DOWN THE GRAND CANAL, TOOK US RIGHT TO 1549 01:19:57,600 --> 01:19:59,067 ST. MARK'S SQUARE AND THE BELLS 1550 01:19:59,167 --> 01:20:01,067 OF ST. MARK'S ITSELF WERE RUNG IN OUR HONOR 1551 01:20:01,167 --> 01:20:02,333 AS WE DISEMBARKED INTO THE SQUARE. 1552 01:20:02,433 --> 01:20:03,867 Belliveau: TOURISTS ARE TAKING OUR PICTURES. 1553 01:20:03,967 --> 01:20:05,600 THEY DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE, BUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN, 1554 01:20:05,700 --> 01:20:07,800 ALL THESE TOURISTS, AND WE HAD A GROUP AROUND US. 1555 01:20:07,900 --> 01:20:09,733 O'Donnell: OUR FAMILIES ARE SURROUNDING US. 1556 01:20:09,833 --> 01:20:11,400 YEAH, MY MOM NEARLY KNOCKED ME OVER 1557 01:20:11,500 --> 01:20:12,500 AND, LIKE, CLUNG ONTO ME 1558 01:20:12,600 --> 01:20:15,833 FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS, AND IT WAS... 1559 01:20:15,933 --> 01:20:16,967 IT WAS GREAT. 1560 01:20:17,067 --> 01:20:18,900 I MEAN, IT WAS GREAT, IT WAS WONDERFUL, 1561 01:20:19,000 --> 01:20:20,333 BUT SAD THAT IT WAS ENDING. 1562 01:20:20,433 --> 01:20:21,667 DIDN'T WANT IT TO END. 1563 01:20:21,767 --> 01:20:24,333 WISH THERE WAS A COUPLE OF MORE COUNTRIES TO GO SEE. 1564 01:20:24,433 --> 01:20:26,433 WE HAD COLLECTED ALL THAT STUFF. 1565 01:20:26,533 --> 01:20:27,667 MARCO POLO -- 1566 01:20:27,767 --> 01:20:29,867 DURING MARCO POLO'S TRIP, DURING HIS JOURNEY, 1567 01:20:29,967 --> 01:20:31,967 HE TALKS ABOUT THINGS THAT HE COLLECTED... 1568 01:20:32,067 --> 01:20:33,467 AND BROUGHT BACK. 1569 01:20:33,567 --> 01:20:34,467 SAGO SEEDS 1570 01:20:34,567 --> 01:20:36,433 FROM THE SAGO PALM IN SUMATRA. 1571 01:20:36,533 --> 01:20:39,300 HE TALKS ABOUT FLY SWATTERS MADE FROM YAK TAILS. 1572 01:20:39,400 --> 01:20:41,400 AND WE COLLECTED THE SAME THINGS. 1573 01:20:41,500 --> 01:20:42,567 PAPER MONEY AS WELL. 1574 01:20:42,667 --> 01:20:43,800 YEAH, PAPER MONEY. 1575 01:20:43,900 --> 01:20:46,533 ALL THE THINGS THAT HE SAYS THAT HE BROUGHT BACK, 1576 01:20:46,633 --> 01:20:48,300 WE TRIED TO BRING BACK TODAY, 1577 01:20:48,400 --> 01:20:51,267 AND WE PRESENTED THESE TO THE MAYOR OF VENICE, 1578 01:20:51,367 --> 01:20:54,467 AND I HAD MY AFGHAN HAT ON AND THE MAYOR WAS LIKE, 1579 01:20:54,567 --> 01:20:56,667 "I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR HAT." 1580 01:20:56,767 --> 01:20:58,900 AND I WAS LIKE, "NO, MEI YOU." 1581 01:20:59,000 --> 01:21:00,100 [ CHUCKLES ] 1582 01:21:00,200 --> 01:21:02,100 SO THAT NIGHT, THEY THREW A -- 1583 01:21:02,200 --> 01:21:04,267 THERE WAS A GALA RECEPTION FOR US 1584 01:21:04,367 --> 01:21:07,467 WITH THE MAYOR AND TOURISM AND OUR PARENTS AND FAMILY, 1585 01:21:07,567 --> 01:21:10,133 AND THE MAYOR GOT UP AND MADE A SPEECH AND, 1586 01:21:10,233 --> 01:21:11,533 YOU KNOW, HE WAS LIKE, 1587 01:21:11,633 --> 01:21:14,733 "WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU, TWO AMERICANS 1588 01:21:14,833 --> 01:21:18,067 WHO HAVE VESTED SO MUCH IN OUR HISTORY?" 1589 01:21:18,167 --> 01:21:20,600 AND WE JUST SAID, "WE ONLY HAVE ONE REQUEST. 1590 01:21:20,700 --> 01:21:22,767 WE WANT TO SEE MARCO POLO'S WILL." 1591 01:21:58,933 --> 01:22:01,167 Narrator: TODAY, 1592 01:22:01,267 --> 01:22:04,600 FRANCIS O'DONNELL IS AN ARTIST LIVING IN QUEENS. 1593 01:22:10,100 --> 01:22:14,067 LIKE DENIS BELLIVEAU, HE'S CONVINCED THAT MARCO POLO 1594 01:22:14,133 --> 01:22:17,200 SAW ALL HE CLAIMED TO SEE OF THE WORLD. 1595 01:22:17,300 --> 01:22:18,433 HIS OWN WORK 1596 01:22:18,533 --> 01:22:22,467 REFLECTS ALL HE HAS SEEN OF IT. 1597 01:22:22,567 --> 01:22:24,700 JAKE, GIVE ME A BIG SLIDE, GO AHEAD! 1598 01:22:24,800 --> 01:22:25,900 AS FOR DENIS, 1599 01:22:26,067 --> 01:22:29,133 THAT INDIAN DIVINER TURNED OUT TO BE RIGHT. 1600 01:22:29,233 --> 01:22:32,067 TODAY, HE HAS A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN 1601 01:22:32,100 --> 01:22:34,067 WHO HE LIVES WITH IN QUEENS. 1602 01:22:34,167 --> 01:22:36,933 HE CONTINUES HIS WORK AS A PHOTOGRAPHER. 1603 01:22:39,200 --> 01:22:40,667 Belliveau: I WOULD SAY THAT... 1604 01:22:40,767 --> 01:22:44,067 MOST OF THE WORLD IS FULL OF GOOD PEOPLE. 1605 01:22:44,100 --> 01:22:47,433 THERE'S A LOT MORE GOOD PEOPLE ON THE PLANET THAN BAD. 1606 01:22:53,167 --> 01:22:55,900 O'Donnell: IT'S EASY TO HATE SOMEONE YOU'VE NEVER MET. 1607 01:22:56,067 --> 01:22:58,300 TRAVEL IS THE ENEMY OF BIGOTRY. 1608 01:23:05,067 --> 01:23:07,933 Belliveau: GET OUT THERE, MEET THEM. 1609 01:23:08,067 --> 01:23:09,100 THEY'RE GOOD. 1610 01:23:09,200 --> 01:23:10,933 DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE. 1611 01:23:11,067 --> 01:23:13,100 DON'T BELIEVE THE STATE DEPARTMENT. 1612 01:23:13,200 --> 01:23:17,133 DON'T BELIEVE THE MEDIA. 1613 01:23:17,233 --> 01:23:20,533 THE FUTURE MAY NEVER COME, SO IT'S JUST RIGHT HERE AND NOW 1614 01:23:20,633 --> 01:23:23,067 AND JUST TO ENJOY THE MOMENT IS, I THINK, 1615 01:23:23,133 --> 01:23:26,233 THE MOST PRECIOUS LESSON THAT I'VE LEARNED, I THINK. 1616 01:23:31,167 --> 01:23:33,900 THERE'S A FEW OBJECTS THAT HAVE SPECIAL MEANING 1617 01:23:34,067 --> 01:23:36,700 THAT I JUST HAD TO HAVE AND HAD TO BRING HOME. 1618 01:23:36,800 --> 01:23:39,900 I BROUGHT BACK MY SADDLE FROM XINJIANG PROVINCE 1619 01:23:40,067 --> 01:23:42,133 WHEN DENIS AND I RODE THE 400 MILES 1620 01:23:42,233 --> 01:23:43,533 FROM KASHGAR TO HOTIAN, 1621 01:23:43,633 --> 01:23:45,067 AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL ART OBJECT. 1622 01:23:45,133 --> 01:23:46,867 IT'S NOT VERY PRACTICAL AS A SADDLE, 1623 01:23:46,967 --> 01:23:48,267 BUT I DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT 1624 01:23:48,367 --> 01:23:50,100 THE HARDSHIP THAT WAS ENDURED ON IT. 1625 01:23:50,200 --> 01:23:52,867 I THINK ABOUT THE MAJESTY OF OUR JOURNEY. 1626 01:23:54,500 --> 01:23:57,100 I REALLY DON'T NEED PICTURES OR ARTWORK 1627 01:23:57,200 --> 01:23:58,733 TO REMEMBER THESE THINGS 1628 01:23:58,833 --> 01:24:01,200 BECAUSE IT'S LOCKED IN MY HEART, 1629 01:24:01,300 --> 01:24:05,333 BUT I DO LIKE TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH BEAUTIFUL THINGS. 1630 01:24:05,433 --> 01:24:07,933 BUT I'LL STILL SELL THEM TO TRAVEL. 1631 01:24:08,067 --> 01:24:10,167 [ LAUGHS ] 1632 01:24:11,267 --> 01:24:14,433 * I HEAR A WIND 1633 01:24:14,533 --> 01:24:18,067 * WHISTLING AIR 1634 01:24:18,100 --> 01:24:21,600 * WHISPERING 1635 01:24:21,700 --> 01:24:25,467 * IN MY EAR 1636 01:24:32,267 --> 01:24:35,067 * BOY MERCURY 1637 01:24:35,167 --> 01:24:39,233 * SHOOTIN' THROUGH EVERY DEGREE * 1638 01:24:39,333 --> 01:24:42,600 * OH, GIRL, DANCIN' DOWN THOSE DIRTY * 1639 01:24:42,700 --> 01:24:43,400 * AND DUSTY TRAILS 1640 01:24:43,500 --> 01:24:47,867 * TAKE IT HIP TO HIP 1641 01:24:47,967 --> 01:24:53,100 * ROCKET THROUGH THE WILDERNESS * 1642 01:24:53,200 --> 01:24:54,067 * AROUND THE WORLD 1643 01:24:54,167 --> 01:25:00,567 * THE TRIP BEGINS WITH A KISS 1644 01:25:00,667 --> 01:25:04,500 * ROAM IF YOU WANT TO 1645 01:25:04,600 --> 01:25:07,967 * ROAM AROUND THE WORLD 1646 01:25:08,067 --> 01:25:11,467 * ROAM IF YOU WANT TO 1647 01:25:11,567 --> 01:25:14,867 * WITHOUT WINGS, WITHOUT WHEELS * 1648 01:25:14,967 --> 01:25:18,400 * ROAM IF YOU WANT TO 1649 01:25:18,500 --> 01:25:22,067 * ROAM AROUND THE WORLD 1650 01:25:22,100 --> 01:25:25,433 * ROAM IF YOU WANT TO 1651 01:25:25,533 --> 01:25:29,367 * WITHOUT ANYTHING BUT THE LOVE WE FEEL * 1652 01:25:29,700 --> 01:25:32,333 Belliveau: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. 1653 01:25:32,433 --> 01:25:33,767 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT? 1654 01:25:33,867 --> 01:25:36,167 O'Donnell: WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. 1655 01:25:36,267 --> 01:25:37,867 WE HAVE A LOT OF PLANS ON THE TABLE. 1656 01:25:37,967 --> 01:25:39,833 WHAT ABOUT GETTING ELEPHANTS AND RETRACING 1657 01:25:39,933 --> 01:25:41,633 THE ROUTE OF HANNIBAL ACROSS THE ALPS? 1658 01:25:41,733 --> 01:25:42,933 THAT WOULD BE GREAT. 1659 01:25:43,067 --> 01:25:45,267 I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I CAN HANDLE THE COLD ANYMORE, 1660 01:25:45,367 --> 01:25:46,700 YOU KNOW?