"NICOLO:" "gold, ivory." "See the craftsmanship." "jewels, precious stones." "Look at them." "Feast your eyes on such treasure as you never dreamed of before." "Where did it all come from, NicoIo polo?" "From the end of the world." "A Persian trader brought it." "But they have nothing like this in Persia." "Beyond Persia." "India?" "Beyond even India." "A thousand leagues beyond." "These, gentlemen, are treasures from China." "As far as that?" "Mightiest empire on Earth, and the richest." "If we could establish trade with China, we could buy such stuff as this for nothing." "And I need not tell you what we could sell it for." "How far is it to China?" "Farther than you can go, my anemic cousin." "You would have to cross the seven seas, vast, scalding deserts, mountains of ice." "Then what good is all of this to us, if we can't get at it?" "I think there is one man in Venice strong enough and clever enough to make this perilous journey and to do the work for us." "Who?" "My son, Marco polo." "Marco?" "But he knows nothing of business." "Perhaps not." "But in him, the spirit of adventure and romance burns like a sacred flame." "He possesses the luck of a fool." "And the goddess of fortune seems always to be on his side." "That's because she's a woman." "AII women seem to favor Marco polo." "You forget, Giuseppe, there are women in China, too." "Marco polo!" "Marco polo!" "Marco polo!" "Margarita !" "Have you seen Marco polo?" "No." "Not this evening." "Marco polo!" "Marco polo!" "Josephina." "Is Marco polo in there?" "No." "Marco polo!" "angelina." "angelina !" "Is Marco polo in there?" "Yes." "He's here." "But he cannot be disturbed." "well, disturb him." "His father wants to see him immediately." "Marco." "I've never seen such luck in my Iife." "He's too lucky for me." "Extraordinary." "Marco, my love, there's someone here to see you." "BINGUCCIO:" "Marco, I'm here." "I thought I knew that squeaky voice." "gentlemen, pardon me." "well?" "Your father summons you from..." "From whatever you're doing." "Goodbye, my dear." "On what journey am I about to be sent now?" "Your father mentioned China." "China?" "Yes." "It's a dangerous journey." "You may never return." "really?" "Don't enjoy that idea so openly." "well, I am not a deceiver, I am not a liar." "I can no Ionger hide the truth." "frankly, I am tired of chasing you through the back canals of Venice." "I shall be glad not to see you again for a few years." "Very glad." "Very, very glad." "The OrientaIs are a curious people." "They do not trade as we do." "I expect you back with agreements that will enable us to send our ships into the China seas." "Get your things ready." "You're going with him." "Who, me?" "You." "As protector for my son." "But, Master, it's impossible." "My feet have been in bad condition." "I'II be glad to have you with me." "Very, very glad." "I have two things for you." "One, a letter to KubIai Khan, the mightiest emperor on Earth." "That is where your journey ends, in his incomparable city of Peking." "The other is more valuable." "Once, I went away." "My father gave this to me." "He said, and I say to you," ""fill it with what you see on your way."" "But that will hold nothing but the smallest things." "Giuseppe, the smallest things have changed the world." "Marco is my son." "He understands." "Here is your route." "You sail first to the port of Acre..." "Look." "Get your horse down and flatten out!" "Look, Binguccio, China." "Peking." "We're here." "Have we come to the gate yet?" "We've passed through it." "Then I've kept my bargain." "This shall be my grave." "Binguccio, don't die here." "Beg your feet to escort us as far as the palace." "No, Marco, they said they'd only go as far as the gate." "Come on." "It's no use." "I can't go another step." "My feet are great, swollen masses of agony." "Leave me to die in misery." "My father says you're to watch over me and to keep me from straying from the path of duty." "Come on." "(ALL GIGGLING)" "Look to your right, Binguccio." "But remember, I'm not your mother." "CHEN TSU: "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." ""blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth." ""blessed are the merciful..." -"For they shall obtain mercy." ""blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." ""And blessed are the peacemakers," ""for they shall be called the children of God."" "You know those words?" "Why, yes, I know them." "Are you a Christian?" "No." "But I want my children to know the trueness of all the philosophers." "It's more important for them to Iearn to be on time for their meals." "Your dinner is ready." "You will forgive the abrupt departure." "It's the same in my country." "Food comes before philosophy." "You are a stranger here?" "As you can see." "Then, perhaps..." "My home is humble, but perhaps you will consent to share our inadequate meal." "Did he mention food?" "We're delighted to accept your gracious offer." "No, no, no, children." "No, no." "God sees all and he will know that, while our means are poor, our spirit is good." "Now." "You have never seen food like this before?" "No." "What is it?" "Snakes?" "No, no." "It has been eaten by the poor people in China for many generations." "We call it "spaghet."" "Now, Iet me show you how to convey it to your stomach." "You grasp the chopstick thus." "So." "You see?" "You grasp the strands thus," "lifting the arm heavenward thus, and then..." "inhale?" "(LAUGHING) InhaIe, yes." "I see." "inhale, Binguccio." "(ALL LAUGHING)" "You seem interested." "I am." "Let me show you some of the strands before it is put into the water and boiled." "Here." ""Spaghet"?" "Spaghet." "would you allow me?" "Of course." "For my little bag of treasures." "It's been pitifully neglected." "This may be a good beginning." "A present for my father in Venice." "I envy you men of the Western world." "You do?" "Why?" "You have been given the golden rule of Iife." ""Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."" "Yes." "We've been given it and we obey it." "When convenient." "We Venetians get along well with our neighbors in Genoa and florence, until they interfere with our trade." "Then we go to war with them." "MAN:" "clear the way!" "Get back!" "clear the road!" "I advise you to be very careful, Marco polo." "The emperor must be a hard man." "No." "KubIai Khan is a good man, a just man, but he is dominated by an advisor who has little respect" "for the sanctity of human life." "Who?" "There is a Saracen named Ahmed, a foreigner." "The emperor's minister of state." "Watch out for him if you're here for any favors." "I see." "Make every effort to convince him that you are no more than a friendly gentleman who is anxious to see the world without treading on anyone's toes." "In other words, this Ahmed's toes are particularly sensitive." "We have a proverb here:" "Too much gossip is the surest form of suicide." "(SNORING)" "(FIRECRACKER BURSTS )" "(LAUGHING)" "The saints of heaven preserve this good Christian from the powers of Satan that are thundering with great, evil roars." "DutifuI son, is this the way you welcome your father's guests?" "Have you learned nothing of all I have told you of the laws of hospitality?" "Away with you." "That's all right, Chen Tsu." "Nobody's been hurt." "What is this strange invention?" "It is nothing but a toy." "But how does it make so much noise?" "If you're interested, come into my workshop and I'II show you." "Those children." "I am, in my humble way, a sort of a chemist." "Here is fire powder, a combination of carbon, sulfur, and saltpeter." "Touch flame to it, and it goes up in a puff, harmlessly." "Like that." "But when it is enclosed in a case and the vapors cannot readily escape, it will burst with great violence." "Now, watch." "(EXPLODES )" "You see?" "I see." "Is this used only for toys?" "Yes." "Oh, and for illuminations on holidays and festivals." "I should think this might be a valuable weapon in war." "Oh, no, no, no." "That would be too horrible." "Too deadly." "would you allow me, again for my father?" "Why, well, of course." "although I prefer spaghet." "Take all you wish." "There are plenty." "Thank you." "(BINGUCCIO SNORING)" "Binguccio, wake up!" "We're going to the palace." "halt." "What is your business in the palace of KubIai Khan?" "I have a letter." "Here it is." "This is a writing I cannot read." "What is your name?" "Marco polo of Venice." "Marco polo." "Oh, yes." "We have heard of your remarkable progress." "I am well known here already?" "Our messenger brings us immediate news of any stranger who sets foot on our soil, from the China Sea to the river Danube." "Look." "There's one of our messengers, up there." "What a wonderful country." "Yes." "It is a country where no one is too unimportant not to be watched." "constantly." "What is that on your back?" "Why, that's my bookkeeper." "See?" "He has a book." "Yen Li, escort Marco polo and his burden to the quarters prepared for them." "Thank you very much." "AII I need is a bath." "And all my friend needs is a place to lie down." "I trust your master, Marco polo, has had a pleasant bath?" "Oh, yes." "Very pleasant." "I'm having a pleasant bath also." "I have conveyed news of his arrival." "His Majesty KubIai Khan," "Lord of the Dragon, Brother of the Sun and Moon, is ready to receive him." "(GONGING)" "Dignitaries of the court of KubIai Khan, gaze upon your emperor." "I have summoned you to inform you that my armies of the south have, at last, joined with my armies of the north and center." "In a short time, therefore, it is my will that I place myself at the head of these armies and proceed to the conquest of the islands of Japan." "It is my further will that you of my court, with some exceptions, shall accompany me on this expedition." "The great Khan has spoken." "KHAN:" "Ahmed." "Your imperial Majesty." "Ahmed, I am still worried over conditions in the west." "I presume Your Majesty is referring to the banded forces under the leadership of Kaidu the Tartar?" "Kaidu won't cause us any troubles if he's busy with troubles of his own." "I want you to fill Kaidu's camp with spies." "I should be unworthy of your long confidence in me, Your Majesty, if this command of yours came to me as a surprise." "You've already sent spies to Kaidu?" "Many spies, Your Majesty, for many moons." "You have no need to worry about Kaidu the Tartar." "There you are, Your Majesty, that's what I mean." "We have one million soldiers and 10,000 ships." "With you leading them, the conquest of Japan will be finished in a few weeks." "But wait, Ahmed." "You're removing our army from the west." "We need them for the rebellion in Kaidu's province." "No." "The greatest weapon we can use with him is deception." "subtle poison, Your Majesty." "subtle poison." "I know I can count on you for that." "Your Majesty." "Yes, chamberlain, who wants to see us today?" "There are the young women, Your Majesty." "Oh, yes." "And the Persian ambassador." "Ambassadors make me weary." "They always carry complaints." "Who else?" "A stranger, sire, from the city of Venice in the empire of Rome." "He calls himself Marco polo." "Marco polo." "Our dispatches by eagles warned us of his approach." "A Roman." "I seem to remember that once they ruled the Earth." "Perhaps he comes to demand tribute to Caesar." "He comes to demand something." "We can be sure of that." "I'II see them all." "His excellency, the Persian ambassador." "Most gracious imperial Majesty." "Most excellent emissary of the most esteemed sovereign of a most noble nation, what's the complaint today?" "His royal Majesty, my master, bids me present his compliments and wishes to know when you will dispatch to him the lady of his choice." "His affianced bride, his future queen, your beauteous daughter, the Princess Kukachin." "My daughter?" "The time has come when she must fulfill the marriage contract negotiated..." "Yes, yes." "I know all about the terms of the marriage contract." "Your excellency may send word to your royal master that the Princess Kukachin will embark for Persia at the seventh moon." "The great Khan has spoken." "I hadn't noticed the passage of years that she'd ceased to be a child." "She is a woman, Your Majesty, a woman of great charm." "Fit to be a queen and the mother of kings." "A mother of kings?" "tell me, Visakha." "Yes, Your Highness?" "Do you suppose that the King of Persia is a little man" "Iike his ambassador?" "I hope not, Your Highness." "Of course, I do not question the wisdom of my honorable father." "But it wouId be nice if he were a little tail." "WouIdn't it, Visakha?" "TaII?" "Like Ahmed, Your Highness?" "Not at all like Ahmed, in any way." "shall I get more flowers?" "Oh, yes, do." "I have special prayers today." "I have great hope for my beautiful life, Goddess, and that my father is sending me to Persia where I shall be a queen." "I am grateful for that, O Goddess, and I know that the King of Persia is a mighty monarch and that I shall love him." "But if he should happen to be tall and handsome..." "I hope I haven't interrupted any divine worship." "I was just wandering around here and" "I couldn't help being attracted by the remarkable beauty of the flowers." "Who are you?" "Just an ordinary traveler named Marco polo." "Marco polo?" "Marco polo." "I've never heard it sound as well as that before." "It is a strange name." "There's nothing unusual about it where I come from." "And where is that, Marco polo?" "It's a city named Venice." "partly on the sea and partly in it." "It's a Iong, long way from here." "And why did you come to Peking?" "Because I was told that if I traveled far, over hot deserts and cold mountains," "I would see what no man of my world has ever seen before." "Now I know that what I was told was the truth." "You are from a strange world." "You do not even look like other people." "Has any man ever looked at you as I'm looking now?" "Why, no." "Then the men of this country don't appreciate their own treasures." "I don't know what you are saying, Marco polo." "I'm saying that you are lovely." "You're exquisite." "I never dreamed that anyone could be so..." "What I'm trying to say is, that the journey here was terrible and you've made me forget it." "I wish you'd tell me who you are." "Forgive me." "The presence of this gentleman is commanded by the great Khan." "Then I imagine I had better go." "I hope I shall see you again." "Visakha, did you see him?" "And he was tall, too." "And his name is Marco polo." "humble yourself, Marco polo, before the majesty of the Emperor KubIai Khan." "Your Majesty, I humble myself." "That's all the ceremony that's necessary." "This is Ahmed, my minister of state." "Ahmed is a Saracen, a descendent of the great kings of babylon." "He is invaluable to me in his diplomatic skill and his uncanny ability to collect taxes." "Whatever it is you've come to China for, Marco polo, it is Ahmed's duty to see that you do not get it." "But I come for nothing, Your Majesty." "This is merely a trip for educational purposes." "Having heard of the wonders of your country, I wanted to see them." "well, my country is spread before you." "You will observe that it is very large and very well fortified." "Good day, Ahmed." "Daughter of Heaven." "Marco polo, this is my daughter, the Princess Kukachin." "Princess?" "Princess, I am honored." "KHAN:" "Master polo comes to us from Venice." "Yes." "I know all about Marco polo." "He has told me everything." "Oh, he has, eh?" "Master polo, you've already started to see the wonders of our empire." "The young women await Your Majesty's pleasure." "KHAN:" "Let them approach." "Come here, Marco polo." "I think this will entertain you." "Each year, my commissioners select the most beautiful maidens of our empire." "They are candidates for the privilege of serving as attendants at court." "You'II be able to observe them better from here." "KHAN:" "How do our girls compare with your young maidens of Venice, Master polo?" "Very favorably, Your Majesty." "This expedition is becoming more educational every minute." "KHAN:" "They're so ravishing they tire my eyes." "I cannot choose between them." "MARCO:" "Yes." "It is quite a wide choice." "Master polo seems to have a keen eye, Your Majesty." "Perhaps he might assist in the selection." "Me?" "By all means." "Have you any suggestions?" "I'm sorry, Your Majesty." "They're all perfect in face and form, but might I be allowed to test them?" "Test them?" "I mean purely in a psychological way." "Yeah." "Go right ahead." "I'd Iike to ask each one of them a question." "would you mind coming over here, please?" "Right." "will you stand right there?" "would you mind coming here, please?" "AII right." "will you stand there?" "would you mind stepping over here?" "Very well, Your Majesty." "The test is finished." "What did you say to them?" "I asked each one of them the same question." "Which is, "How many teeth has a snapping turtle?"" "Now, the girls in this group all gave a definite number." "Some said 100 teeth, some said 12." "They were all guessing." "I should discard them." "You're right." "I don't like guesses." "Send them home." "My apologies, girls." "Now, this group contains the girls who gave the correct answer, which is a snapping turtle has no teeth at all." "Then I shall select them." "I should not." "These girls know too much." "KHAN:" "Right you are." "Group two, dismissed." "I'm sorry, girls." "Now, the remaining girls are recommended to Your Majesty's attention." "In answer to my question, they all replied, "I don't know."" "Proving they are both honest and reasonable." "Marco, my friend, accept my thanks and congratulations." "Those girls are chosen." "You know, you barbarians fascinate me." "Barbarians, Majesty?" "Yes, you unciviIized men from the West." "Now here, in the East, we have years of experience behind us." "Thousands of years." "So, we take forever to reach every decision." "Whereas you impetuousIy jump to the point." "In this case, Your Majesty, the point justifies the jump." "Yes, that's what I mean." "If you should see any young lady of my court who catches your fancy..." "Your Majesty is most generous." "KHAN:" "well, Ahmed, I'II leave Marco polo in your care." "Make his visit interesting, and admit him to my presence whenever he so wishes." "Your Majesty." "If you will follow me, Marco polo." "Don't mention it, girls." "Marco, His Majesty, the Lord of the Sun and the Son of the Moon, wants to see you." "As usual, Binguccio, you're late." "I've seen him." "Lord Ahmed, this is..." "Yes, I know, your bookkeeper." "would you care to join us?" "I'm about to show your master the pleasures of our palace." "Thank you." "We're now approaching my private quarters." "(GASPS )" "(GONGING)" "You see, I have a tower of my own, a sort of fortress within a fortress." "Cozy, isn't it?" "Not a conspicuously cheerful place, but useful for certain purposes." "Dear little fellows." "Your favorite birds, I presume." "These vultures here I find particularly interesting, especially when I have guests." "We're backward in the art of conversation." "I merely place the guests in here to relax." "I see, anticipation Ioosens the tongue." "You're very observant, Marco polo." "That's an admirable quality." "It should save you from the danger of casting your eyes in the wrong direction." "And just what does that refer to?" "I leave all to your intelligence, Master polo." "Marco polo, these are my two faithful assistants," "Bayan and Toctai." "Toctai's face is unfortunately disfigured due to an argument he once had with one of the vultures." "But he's my most skillful executioner." "AHMED:" "This miserable object was an officer in the army of Kaidu, the rebel." "He made the mistake of entering the palace as a spy." "He was caught." "That was the worst mistake." "exactly." "This is your last chance to speak." "(INAUDIBLE)" "Oh, what a shame." "He appears to have lost his tongue." "Very well, Toctai, you may mercifully end his misery." "(SCREAMING)" "(LIONS ROARING)" "You came here to be educated, Marco polo." "This is your first lesson." "Thank you." "I'II remember it." "(FIRECRACKER BURSTS )" "MARCO:" "wonderful." "wonderful." "I suppose you know that we've been here for seven days, and all you've done is to make eyes at the princess and light those toys." "I've been educating myself." "You know, Binguccio, with enough of these one man could shake the Earth." "I don't doubt it, but don't you think we ought to shake ourselves home?" "You should study the Chinese philosophy about time." "What is a day?" "One three hundred and sixty-fifth of a year." "And what is a year?" "One hundred part of a century." "We got all the time in the world." "Don't rush, Binguccio." "Don't rush." "I'II be back immediately." "Marco, where are you going?" "To learn a little bit more about Chinese philosophy." "Chinese philosophy." "(BURSTS )" "Do you mind if I ask a personal question?" "Is it the one about the snapping turtle?" "No, no." "I would Iike to know, do princesses in this country" "ever marry ordinary people?" "Sometimes." "Good." "Then you will love and marry the man you choose for yourself." "I shall marry a king." "A real king, or just someone who acts like one?" "When I was in my cradle," "I became engaged to be married to the King of Persia." "Have you ever seen him?" "No, but he is a great man." "Do you think you'II be happy with him?" "Why not?" "I shall be the Queen of Persia." "naturally." "And when does the happy event take place?" "I shall start on my journey westward at the seventh moon." "If I were the King of Persia," "I should be very impatient." "So you're going to marry the King of Persia?" "You don't love him." "I do." "He will put love in my heart and it will grow like a single tree." "And it will belong to him forever." "And now, perhaps I should say goodbye." "Goodbye." "Yes, Princess, I've made up my mind." "I'm going." "The reason I'm going is..." "well..." "There are warnings of danger sounding in my heart." "I've heard such warnings before, but never so strongly." "You see, you may be a princess, but when I Iook into your eyes," "I see deep beauty." "And when I touch you, I feel warm life." "But before I go, I wonder if you would grant me one small favor." "You want some token?" "My scarf or kerchief to take with you for remembrance?" "No." "Scarves and kerchiefs become old and threadbare too quickly." "I'd Iike to be allowed to kiss you goodbye." "Kiss me?" "What is that?" "It's a custom we have in the Western world." "I don't know how it is done." "well, I'II show you." "You see..." "First, I place one hand here" "and the other hand there." "But isn't that rather familiar?" "Yes." "Yes, that's the whole point." "But what do I do?" "well, you'II decide that for yourself, later." "Now I draw you close to me." "I lower my face to yours until our lips are touching." "But why should our lips..." "please." "please, you mustn't talk." "Do all men observe that custom in the Western world?" "Oh, yes." "Yes, every man to the best of his ability." "could I do it?" "Why, yes." "Yes, it's very simple." "You just pull in your lips as if you were tasting something, Iike this." "Try it." "That's very good." "And is this right, with my arms?" "I think you're fine." "The rebellion in Kaidu's province is getting dangerous." "We must put a stop to it before the emperor learns the truth about the taxes we..." "We borrowed from those barbarians." "And this time, I don't want failure." "Disguise yourselves as Tartar tribesmen and join Kaidu's army." "And..." "And kill him?" "First you will spread discontent in his army, make them believe that he is the one who is stealing their tax money." "And when you have the chance, perform your specialty." "And what of KubIai Khan?" "I'II attend to him, Toctai." "You start for the west at once." "If all goes well, when you return I shall be your emperor and you shall be a nobleman." "AHMED:" "And, Bayan, what's the news with you?" "Lord Ahmed, they met again in the garden, and she said she was going to marry the King of Persia." "What did he do?" "They went into the shrine of the moon goddess." "He took hold of her and then they put their mouths together and they did something like, Iike this..." "They..." "Like what?" "Like..." "I'II show you, excellency." "well..." "well, that's what he did." "I don't know what it was." "But I do." "Bayan, get my gowns!" "You sent for me, Your Majesty." "Just a minute." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "Now." "You sent for me?" "Yes." "You have an adventurous spirit, my friend, and I think I can provide exercise for it." "I want you to go to Kaidu's camp in the west." "You'II enter it as an ordinary traveler, cooperate with my secret agents, and help them spy upon this rebel enemy, and I want him killed." "But I have had no experience in murder, sire." "That is not necessary." "We only wish to make use of your remarkable gifts for intrigue." "But, Your Majesty, I'm just a traveler, a visitor." "When you were only 20 leagues outside of Venice, Marco polo, we knew your errand." "To put it in your blunt Western fashion, if you'II do us this favor it's possible that, upon your return, you may be that much nearer to your own coveted trade agreements." "well, when would I start?" "At once." "You will be escorted by some of our most reliable men." "KHAN:" "Goodbye, Marco polo." "I hope you have a pleasant journey." "And come back to us before many moons have waned." "farewell, my friend." "Your Majesty." "There's no cause for alarm, I assure you." "We shall take every precaution to guarantee your safety." "Out of bed, Binguccio." "Pack up, we're going." "Going?" "Where?" "To the west." "Home?" "No, into trouble." "Marco." "Marco polo." "Marco." "Marco..." "Kukachin." "Marco, why are they sending you to the west to Kaidu's province?" "well, you see..." "Oh, you must not go." "Why not?" "Are you in danger?" "No." "But Ahmed is trying to get rid of you." "He'II never let you come back alive." "But why am I so important to Ahmed?" "He's afraid of you because you are strong here and here and here." "I'm so afraid." "You don't know Ahmed." "No one will ever know what became of you." "He could do it here as easily as anywhere else." "But if I go on this expedition, I can be of some value to the Emperor." "Then..." "Then?" "Then what, Marco?" "Then perhaps the moon goddess might tell you that you don't have to travel all the way to Persia to find your husband." "She doesn't have to tell me." "I know." "AHMED:" "My humble apologies, Daughter of Heaven, for this intrusion, but I come to tell Marco polo that horses are ready, and it's advisable for him to start out with all possible speed." "Your Highness." "We may never meet again, and I beg leave to say farewell in the fashion of my native land." "Send word of you daily." "Goodbye, Marco polo." "Goodbye, Princess." "Mercy!" "Lord Kaidu, mercy!" "Mercy for a spy?" "Kaidu will show you mercy." "(MAN GROANS )" "Men, every day that siIk-wearing Saracen, Ahmed, sends more spies into this camp, and more spies." "Now I want those spies captured before they get into camp, not after." "Capture them in the mountains and then bring them to me." "Now go on, get out, and bring me in some spies." "Report to your commanders!" "(MEN YELLING)" "Beyond this bridge lies the territory of Kaidu." "From here on you must go alone." "Thank you." "Thank you very, very much." "well, goodbye." "And goodbye to you, Master Marco polo." "Not goodbye, Bayan." "You'II see me again." "BAYAN:" "Yes?" "Yes." "Goodbye." "My compliments to your master." "Food supply is faiIing and there's treason everywhere." "That's enough." "That's the work of Ahmed's agents." "Why in the name of 17 devils don't you ever catch any of them?" "Get out!" "And don't come back until you bring me some prisoners!" "well..." "well, you're a nice little thing." "Quiet, timid, respectful." "That's the way a woman ought to be." "Thank you, Lord Kaidu." "Suppose you had a man of your own and you loved him, would you expect him to pay attention to you and only you" "every minute of the day and night?" "No." "I'd only be grateful for whatever favors my lord and master might care to give me." "You're a smart girl." "When a man was tired, you would soothe him and give him the kind of love he needs, the kind of love that's sweet and kind and soft." "A black curse on this goat's milk!" "It's sour again!" "Take this out and tell them to give the goat that gave that to the dogs!" "Now, get out!" "Get out!" "Get out!" "Nazama, love of my Iife." "Just in time for breakfast." "Where did that come from?" "What?" "That." "Oh, her?" "I don't know." "I never saw her before." "marvelous fruit they have in this part of the country." "What there is of it." "Have one, my dear." "excellent for you." "Nothing like a bit of fruit in the morning." "Have you so much as seen me look at another man since we've been married?" "No, love of my Iife." "I must admit I haven't." "Then don't let me catch you casting sheep's eyes at any other woman." "That, love of my Iife, I will never do." "Lord Kaidu." "Who's first?" "Kaisi Sun Cheng, captain of the second corps." "What's the charge?" "MAN 1 :" "That he willfully and brutally put to death eight of his men without giving them benefit of trial." "KAIDU:" "Who are the witnesses?" "These men are Sun Cheng's command." "MAN 2:" "AII these men that he killed were good soldiers, willing to give up their lives fighting for you." "We know we'II get justice from you, Lord Kaidu." "boil him in oil." "AII right, Lord Kaidu." "Put me to death." "How can you expect men to obey an officer who kills good soldiers when they're willing to fight and give their lives for..." "Who's this?" "MAN 1 :" "Our patrol has captured these two spies of KubIai Khan at the pass of Ningpo." "My name is Marco polo, Lord Kaidu, representative of polo Brothers, honorable merchants." "And this is my bookkeeper." "well, what have you to say for yourself?" "We're only commercial travelers, Lord Kaidu, from Venice." "Venice?" "Never heard of it." "Where is it?" "Across vast deserts and many lands to the west." "Then why were you coming through the Ningpo pass, which has always been east of here?" "Torture them a little and maybe by that time he'II be coming from the south." "No, wait a moment." "What for?" "Where did you say you came from?" "From Venice, my lady." "A beautiful city, sometimes known as the home of romance." "Far, far away in the west." "What is your occupation?" "My occupation is looking." "Looking for..." "KAIDU:" "Information." "Some people call it spying." "well, that may be, my lord, but not in the political sense." "I've been wandering over the face of the Earth," "looking for the greatest of God's creations, a truly lovely woman." "Have you found her?" "I am your prisoner, my lady." "And, under the circumstances, if I told you the truth I'd be accused of hypocrisy." "NAZAMA:" "You speak curiously." "What is your name?" "Marco polo, my lady." "Just a humble gentleman with an appreciative pair of eyes." "obviously, my love, this humble gentleman is not a spy." "Oh, obviously, my love." "obviously." "Leave me." "Not you, Marco polo." "Sit down." "Have a drink." "I want you to enjoy the best I have to offer." "Thank you." "I think you'II like this wine." "It's made from the fruits that grow in the green valleys of Kashmir." "Very refreshing." "And now, Lord Kaidu, may I be on my way?" "Not for quite a while, I'm afraid." "You mean, I'm still a prisoner?" "In a way, yes, by that I mean should you attempt to escape or shirk your duties, you and your bookkeeper will be put to death." "Duties?" "What duties?" "My friend, for years I have been searching for a man who could divert my wife's attentions, and you seem to be the one who can do it." "So you will go to her and be charming." "And you will continue to be charming until I tell you to stop." "well, what if my charm gives out?" "We'II keep the oil boiling." "Father, I wish you weren't going to this war against the Japanese." "well, I don't so very much like to go myself, my daughter." "please, make this a short war." "I'II do my best, my dear." "Because, you know, on the seventh moon you have said" "I must go to Persia." "It is necessary, of course, that I go to Persia?" "It is ordained, my daughter." "Yes." "It is ordained." "You are worried I will not return?" "You must return, my Father." "I need you." "I Iove you." "You make an emperor very proud, my dearest one." "And you make a father very happy." "Now, goodbye." "Goodbye, Father." "I shall return before the seventh moon." "When that mighty army finishes with the Japanese, there won't be one of them left living." "If that mighty army ever reaches Japan." "The China Sea is a powerful adversary." "One typhoon might end the glorious reign of KubIai Khan." "What news, Bayan?" "ExceIIency, Marco polo is dead." "accidentally, I hope?" "I killed him myself." "well done, Bayan." "This is indeed a day of good fortune." "(MEN SINGING)" "Oh, what's the trouble?" "Now, sit down and cheer up." "I'm in awful fear, my lord." "Don't be afraid." "It's fear of your wife, my lord." "She might come here at any moment." "My wife?" "She won't come here." "I've made wonderful arrangements for her." "You must have had a marvelous life, Marco polo." "well, it's no credit to me, my lady." "Things just happen to me, that's all." "You've made them happen." "I can see that." "Marco." "Why aren't other men like you?" "well, I suppose some of them are." "A few of them." "But you don't run away from happiness." "You just reach out and take it." "well, I always just ask myself, why not?" "well, Marco, I hope you are pleased with yourself." "Made another conquest, haven't you?" "You know, I couId've got a piece of jade as big as that." "Jade?" "I took this instead." "What?" "Are you crazy?" "Why that's nothing but a dirty piece of stone." "But it burns." "They call it coal." "And you took that instead of a piece of jade?" "Fine presents for your father." "A dried-up, white snake, child's toy, and some dirt that burns." "It would be better if you put aside these foolish things and tried to think of some way for us to escape from here." "Now listen to me, Binguccio." "I'm not staying here because I want to." "But the instant that lady becomes bored, you and I will be popped into a big kettle of boiling oil." "So you'd better be grateful to me for keeping your miserable body and soul together." "Try to be patient until I can think of some way to get back to Peking, alive." "ExceIIency, a message has just been received." "The emperor's army has been destroyed." "Your exalted ExceIIency is a most welcome visitor." "His majesty, the King of Persia, bids me remind the minister of state that the night is but a week hence when the seventh moon will shine in all its mellow magnificence." "I'm sure we need no reminder of the happy event which will strengthen the bonds that bind our great nations together." "In expression of my master's impatient affection for his future bride, he bids me present this token." "A most gracious gesture." "Permit me to escort you to Her Highness." "No, Your excellency, this way if you please." "What?" "What are you doing?" "Let me go." "Ahmed!" "Ahmed!" "This is only a hint of the devotion of your most humble servant." "Take it and yourself away." "I'm grateful for your superb hostility." "It will make it all the more pleasant to see that cold indifference gradually yield to the growing warmth of love in your heart." "My father will punish you for your impudence." "Your father was a great emperor in his day." "people will always remember him with affection." "What do you mean?" "I've melancholy news for you, Princess." "Disaster has overtaken your father and his army." "No." "No." "Where is he?" "Oh, perhaps in Japan." "Perhaps on the sea, perhaps under it." "But I have consolation for you, Princess." "You will not have to undertake the Iong and tiresome journey to Persia." "For I've decided that on the seventh moon, you will be my wife." "Sharing my throne and my glorious sovereign of the greatest empire the world has ever known." "You don't, at the moment, think me qualified to be your husband, but time will convince you of your error." "Visakha." "Visakha." "Yes, Your Highness?" "I want you to take a message secretly to the tower of eagles." "It must be sent at once." "Sent where, Your Highness?" "To the west." "To Marco polo." "Yes, Kaidu?" "Marco polo, my good friend, read this." "There's the mark of an arrow." "That's the mark of the Princess Kukachin." "Then she must be in danger." "Kaidu, you must let me go back." "She's in danger." "She must be desperate." "Not as desperate as another I couId name." "No, my friend, you stay with us for a while." "Kaidu, you must listen to me!" "We will see you at dinner." "I give you friendly warning." "Don't try to escape." "Your excellency, the emperor is returning." "With his whole army?" "No." "only his bodyguards." "Just a few hundred men." "We could kill them all before they reach the palace gates." "No, Iet them come in." "Yes, but..." "Do as I tell you." "And bring the Princess here at once." "(GONGING)" "welcome, Your Majesty." "We thank all the benevolent spirits of land and water for your safe return." "Yes." "well, the benevolent spirits of land and water did not prevent disaster to our army on the China seas." "Thousands of them were swallowed up by typhoons." "The pitiful remnants that reached Japan must have been massacred." "That little nation is not easy to conquer." "However, I am here." "Don't you think these decorations are a little gay, under the circumstances?" "But you misinterpret the circumstances, Your Majesty." "These decorations are for a wedding festival." "Wedding?" "Whose wedding?" "The Princess Kukachin has decided not to make the perilous journey to Persia." "What?" "And under these conditions, it is necessary that you sign this at once." "It's merely formal acknowledgment that when I'm married to your daughter and you are dead, I'm recognized as the rightful heir to your throne." "You bIack-Iivered traitor!" "Where are my guards?" "Bayan, Guma Khan, there's rebellion here, treachery!" "Come here!" "I command you!" "It is better that you sign the order, KubIai Khan, and trust me to carry on the eternal majesty." "I will not sign that lie." "You will sign first and then witness the marriage." "I want there to be no question of doubt as to my right of succession." "KHAN:" "I will not sign that lie." "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but you force me to use rather discreditabIe means of persuasion." "Bayan." "Kukachin." "If you will study the sensitive faces of these birds, you will see that they are in a very bad mood." "That's because they haven't been fed for days." "And when a vulture is ravenously hungry..." "Don't force me to release them, Your Majesty." "Bring me that paper." "Bring it to me quickly." "Take her out of there." "Take her out of there!" "I'II sign." "I'II sign." "Marco, his wife still likes you, doesn't she?" "Come on." "Because I've just been looking at that boiling oil." "And believe me..." "We've got to get out of here." "I've got to get to Peking." "Yeah, that's all very well to say, but how?" "How can we get out?" "Toctai." "hello, Toctai." "Remember me?" "Why are you here?" "Ahmed sent me." "You want to kill Kaidu?" "well, Ahmed said he must die." "Yes, but you won't kill him." "That's my privilege." "Of course." "But I just got word from Ahmed." "Yes?" "He says the Princess is a prisoner." "(SCOFFING) well, I know that." "They'II probably be married in a few days." "And when he takes the throne, we'II all be great noblemen." "What else did he say?" "He said we must strike now." "Today." "I'm ready to strike." "I finally bribed my way to the position of night guard in Kaidu's tent." "And if he's there tonight..." "He'II be there." "I'II keep him there for you." "Good." "TOCTAI:" "Then we'II escape by the north pass." "I'd better go now." "Marco, you're going to kill Kaidu?" "No." "Toctai is going to kill him." "Or die in the attempt." "(SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)" "Nazama, if you don't mind, I think I'II go and get a little fresh air." "Why, yes, darling, a little air is excellent for you." "No, don't go, Kaidu." "You've entertained me with your beautiful native music." "Now, I'd Iike you to hear some of the music of my land." "Oh, but I'm sure the fresh air would do me more good." "You are making a mistake, Kaidu." "He's really a very beautiful singer." "Sit down." "I'm sure you'II enjoy it." "Now, Binguccio, sing your most beautiful song." "What?" "well, you know I can't sing." "Sing, Binguccio!" "And now you're gonna hear something." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "beautiful, isn't it?" "Your native music is magnificent, Marco polo, but I'm one who dislikes all music." "But with this goes a game and that I must show you." "KAIDU:" "I can think of more important things to do besides playing games." "Kaidu, it's just a minute and then you go." "Now, this is a game that proves that the hand is quicker than the eye." "(HUMMING)" "(NAZAMA SCREAMS )" "MAN 1 :" "Who was that?" "MAN 2:" "I don't know!" "It came from in there." "Kaidu's tent." "Come on." "He's one of Ahmed's men." "Seize that guard." "Take him away." "No!" "No!" "You saved my Iife." "There's nothing personal, Lord Kaidu, it's just that I..." "I'd do anything to annoy Ahmed." "nevertheless, I'm not lying on the floor with a javelin in my back." "And I thank you, Marco polo." "Leave us alone, Nazama." "I'II be waiting." "Yes." "Sit down." "How did you know that man was going to kill me?" "I've been doing a little spying myself." "Now let me ask you something." "Why are you in revolt against the emperor?" "Because my people are taxed to the point of starvation." "I don't mind paying proper tribute to KubIai Khan, but I refuse to pay Ahmed for his private treasury." "I don't blame you." "Why don't you do something about it?" "What?" "Take your army to Peking, storm the palace." "My army against all the forces of KubIai Khan?" "KubIai Khan and his forces have gone to war against Japan." "And with the emperor away, Ahmed is in command of the palace." "Ahmed?" "Don't you see, Kaidu?" "That's what the message from the Princess meant." "Ahmed is going to marry her and make himself emperor." "Ahmed, Emperor of China?" "Better the black plague." "You're the only one to prevent it." "How?" "The road to Peking is open to you." "No one can stop you." "What about the walls of Peking?" "What about the palace walls?" "How will I get through them?" "You'II have to leave it to me to get you through the walls." "well, what makes you think you can do it?" "I've been right so far, haven't I?" "Yes." "But there's a limit to everything." "nevertheless, you saved my Iife and that is a debt which must be paid." "So, you can name three wishes, which I'II grant you if it's within my power." "What are they?" "First, Iet me have your swiftest horse." "And second?" "Give me an hour's start at daybreak before you tell your wife I've gone." "And your third wish?" "That I'd Iike to reserve till later." "Very well, you start at daybreak." "Every moment you delay the attack gives Ahmed time to increase his strength." "Don't wait too long, Kaidu." "Marco!" "Master Marco, where are you going?" "To Peking." "To Peking!" "What's going to become of me?" "You're leaving me alone among all these cutthroats?" "Except him." "I'II see you in Peking." "Lord Kaidu will take care of you." "And if he's too busy, there's always Lady Kaidu." "NAZAMA:" "Marco polo!" "Goodbye." "Marco!" "Marco polo!" "Where is he going?" "I'm sorry, my love, he escaped from me." "Go right after him and bring him back." "You're right." "Sound the assembly!" "call out the whole army!" "We're marching to Peking." "Not bad for a Saracen, eh?" "I want plenty of bird's nests for the soup." "Send word to that chemist, Chen Tsu, that I shall need all the fire powder he can make for the celebrations of the wedding festival." "well, my honorable friend." "You may go." "Marco polo, where have you been?" "Far away." "But there's no time for that now, Chen Tsu." "I want to talk business with you." "I want to give you an order for some fire powder." "The largest order you..." "Here's the largest order of fire powder I've ever had." "For who?" "For Ahmed." "What does he want with it?" "To celebrate his wedding festival." "When?" "Tonight." "Tonight?" "Chen Tsu, you must help me get into the palace." "You need my help?" "You, the friend of KubIai Khan?" "I must get in without Ahmed knowing it." "The lion's to assume the guise of the mouse in order to elude the snake." "There's no time for philosophy, Chen Tsu." "Don't you understand?" "We need action." "I understand." "Take off these clothes." "(GONGING)" "Your Highness!" "(WHIMPERS )" "Courage, Visakha." "Forgive me, Highness." "I am grateful, Goddess, that I have known all the beautiful things of this world." "And most grateful, Goddess, that I have known love." "I thank you, Goddess, from a full heart, that I have, if only for a brief time, known Marco polo." "My dearest, beloved one." "Princess!" "Marco." "Oh, Marco." "I have you again, and love." "The goddess didn't want me to die without seeing you." "Kukachin." "Now we must get out of here." "Yes, but Ahmed's guards are coming to take me to the wedding." "Come." "Hurry." "(ALARM SOUNDING)" "What is that?" "It's the alarm." "It is sounded only when the city is attacked." "Kaidu." "Kaidu?" "halt." "The gates are open." "Marco polo hasn't failed us." "Your excellency, it's Kaidu." "Kaidu?" "close all the gates." "Wait." "Keep the western gate open." "Go." "But, Your excellency..." "Let Kaidu attack." "The maniac." "Through the western gate?" "An advance on the palace." "But Kaidu's army will be within the city walls." "No, Bayan, only Kaidu and his leaders." "Then close the palace gate in front of him and the western gate behind him." "With Kaidu trapped between them." "His army outside..." "And Kaidu inside." "exactly." "Instruct your men, we ride through both gates, dismount in the palace courtyard, and storm the palace." "He will slaughter us all." "No, he won't." "He'II help us." "He's our only hope." "We must get to him at once." "Ahmed's men." "delay the ceremony." "delay it as long as you can." "I'II be back." "I am ready." "Sound the charge!" "(TRUMPET BLOWING)" "Kaidu is coming!" "Guards, close the gate!" "Discharge arrows!" "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "close west gate." "Lower the gate." "Those gates have withstood every invader for hundreds of years." "Never one as ineffectual as Kaidu." "Kaidu, they're closing the other gate." "Retreat!" "Kaidu!" "It's a trap!" "polo's trapped us!" "Your excellency, the Princess is ready for the wedding ceremony." "Very well." "Bayan, see that Kaidu joins his ancestors before the ceremony is over." "Or you will join yours." "To that street for protection!" "Chen Tsu!" "well done, Chen Tsu." "It is ordained that each man shall spend those years in the company of a woman who shall be his wife, his servant, and mother of the children with whom he may be blessed." "Hurry!" "Hurry!" "Marco polo has led us into a trap!" "No, no, Marco wouldn't do that." "well then, where in the name of every devil is he?" "Leave that here." "Chen Tsu, go quickly." "And you, Princess Kukachin, do you submit to this man as a dutiful woman should to her lord and husband?" "I..." "I, Princess Kukachin, of the house and blood of Genghis Khan," "through my father, KubIai, Khan of Khans, and my royal mother, Tarakhan," "who was the daughter of HiIdeba, who was the daughter of Queen Darceen..." "I should never have placed my trust in that heathen, Marco polo." "You're wrong, Kaidu." "I tell you, he'II be here." "Kaidu!" "Marco polo, where have you been?" "We haven't time." "We must attack at once." "Attack, with my army outside the gates?" "First, send some of your best men to attack the west gate tower." "You men to the west gate tower!" "What's your trick now, Marco polo?" "This is my trick." "Go on." "Go on." "Charge!" "...who was the daughter of Queen Darceen, who was the daughter of Princess Mei Thai Sun who was the daughter of Dana," "also a queen." "...who was the daughter of Adibaseen, who was..." "Marco polo!" "(GROWLING)" "We beg leave to welcome you, our honored cousin, Lord Kaidu." "We understand that you and your people have been the victims of an injustice." "The cause of that has been removed." "It will never be repeated." "I have assembled the most beautiful maidens of our empire." "I beg leave to present them to you as a slight token of my high regard." "And now, I can tell you my third wish." "It is that you accept the emperor's most generous offer and go home." "Am I glad I gave you three wishes." "(LAUGHING)" "Now is the time to draw up the trade agreements." "Now." "And now, you must go across the sea to become the Queen of Persia." "Yes." "I think I shall ask your father to appoint me your protector on the voyage." "How long does it take to get from here to Persia, Marco polo?" "A long time." "We'II go by way of the islands of the South Seas." "But what about the King of Persia?" "He's a very patient man." "He can wait."