Marco Polo (2014) s01e00 Episode Script
One Hundred Eyes
Li Jinbao.
Mongols.
They have already destroyed the temple at North Peak.
- Where are the nuns? - In the cloisters.
East.
Remember the oath.
We fight to the end.
[Hundred Eyes.]
Life and death are one thread.
I will guard the scrolls.
[door closing.]
[horses galloping.]
[men speaking Mongolian.]
[grunting.]
[all grunting.]
[woman.]
Li Jinbao! [man shouts.]
Do not kill him.
The Khan will want this one.
- [bone cracking.]
- [all shout.]
What kind of monk is able to kill, by himself, 25 Mongol soldiers? Is it a form of dark magic practiced at your temple? You shall never know, shall you? What did you just say, monk? You destroyed a temple and all of the ancient scrolls that contained the answers you seek.
You monks were offering shelter to my enemies in South China.
No place defies the Khan.
I will ask you again.
If you hold your tongue, I will take your tongue.
What is this fighting art kept secret in a mountain temple? - The art of peace.
- [Kublai chuckles.]
You break the necks of trained soldiers, cut their throats, gut them like wild pigs, and you call it peace? You destroy a temple and call it destiny? Kings of the past would not have shown you grace.
Me, when I make war on a city, I allow the craftsmen to live.
I conscript them into service and they live.
Here.
You will reveal these Chinese secrets to my war ministers.
Reveal Chinese secrets to fight the Chinese.
Prove yourself useful, you can live.
Defy my laws you'll die a death far worse than that suffered by the monks who perished with your scrolls.
[chuckles.]
Oh, you find humor in my decree? There is only one Supreme Executioner.
And those who try to take his place are like children trying to carve wood as a master carpenter.
Most will injure their own hands.
You do not fear death? I do not cling to life.
There is a difference.
[chuckles.]
Remove him.
This wrestler is named Black Steppe Boar.
A prisoner captured in Scythia.
Do you know why he is named after the boar? His resemblance is extraordinary.
He is called Boar because he has killed such without a weapon many times.
Boar will advance.
He will seize you.
You will demonstrate how to break the grasp.
You cover my eyes? Is that just? The Great Khan wants a report on how you fight blindfolded.
He is a most capricious fool.
And if you were not cowards, you would tell him the same.
[yelling.]
Quiet, monk! [grunting.]
[growling.]
[Hundred Eyes groans.]
- [distant screaming.]
- [clattering.]
[silence.]
[horses galloping.]
[indistinct yelling.]
The general you killed was the son of Subutai.
Do you know that name, monk? I do not.
[Kublai.]
Greatest military commander ever to serve Genghis Khan.
You slayed his son.
This is a crime beyond crimes.
Yet you do not cling to life, as you say.
Death means nothing.
What is a Khan to do? [speaks Mongolian.]
A merchant once gifted me a white crane from Lesser Armenia a water bird that was most uncommon because it had been born all black.
Black white crane.
I knew it was an auspicious being that would bring me fortune, but that black white crane refused to stay on my lake.
Always, it would fly away.
Just its natural calling, you see.
So I served him and my fortune by cutting one wing.
[justice minister reading.]
"By law of the Grand Khan, Lord of Lords" [Kublai.]
Why do you think I had you fight blindfolded? Because I'm a capricious fool? Or to see if you are capable of your Taoist secrets and skills while in the dark? "So be it.
" [Kublai.]
Because I knew the moment you were presented, you would not be like the obedient painter the resigned astrologer, the noble poet contented with wine.
[hissing.]
You would refuse to serve the Mongol Empire.
To this day that black white crane remains on my lake.
He is mine and he is beloved.
[hissing.]
[Hundred Eyes screaming.]
[distant screaming.]
[screaming continues.]
- [Hundred Eyes gasps.]
- [fly buzzing.]
[water dripping.]
[shuffling on ground, whimpering.]
[soft thudding.]
[breathes deeply.]
- [door opens.]
- [man speaking Mongolian.]
- [latch opens.]
- [footsteps approaching.]
[door locks.]
[inhales.]
[breathing heavily.]
[groans.]
[breathing deeply.]
[grunts.]
[breathing deeply.]
[grunting.]
[inhaling.]
[breathing deeply.]
[grunting.]
Are you now ready to teach my Ministers of Warfare? Tea for the monk.
Do not confuse me with one of your holy Buddhists.
Wine.
[exhales deeply.]
You were punished for killing the son of Subutai.
Never forget that.
I shall not.
The monks of Wudang spend their lives trying to achieve true emptiness.
For only when the sage can overcome the self does he enter into the Tao.
That is a dark mystery beyond all mysteries, and a gift you gave to me.
Blind? I now see the world with one hundred eyes.
Give him more wine.
I've just captured your horse.
I know.
Then know this.
There are four Taoist temples still standing in the Wudang Mountains.
My men will go there in a fortnight and burn them to the ground.
At my single command, your religion can be wiped off the face of this earth.
Or it can live grow thrive if you prove its value to me.
By training your ministers? And someone else.
[door opens.]
[Hundred Eyes.]
You must be the prince.
I am called Altai.
[Hundred Eyes.]
Why are you here? [Altai.]
Lessons.
And what do you intend to teach me in these lessons? I'm here to teach you that even the son of a royal khan is capable of humility and learning.
Then take the broom, Altai, and sweep my floor.
[exhales.]
Good answer.
If only you believed it.
You are a little nomad weed in the garden of the world.
They wish you to grow into a flowering tree.
What is the most important part of such a tree? The many branches and the flowering.
I speak of legacy.
Ah! Thank you for untangling your elusive metaphor.
We begin with roots.
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.
[Altai.]
May I ask a question? Do.
Uh, uh, uh! If you wish calligraphy on your wall, why not summon a painter who can see? Can you not read the character I made? It is a symbol for fire.
Then what is wrong? - It's upside down.
- Precisely.
This is the kung fu character for patience, control.
Remember this in the future, always, "Never give way to anger.
" Sifu? Have I not trained you into exhausted silence yet? Today's lesson is done, My Radiant Highness.
[door closes.]
You cannot see it, I know.
But I assure you it has been overseen by a great Chinese architect made from the most precious of woods and hides, and Imbecile.
Someone has painted the character of fire upside down.
I did.
Hmm.
- [Kublai.]
Huh? - [Hundred Eyes chuckles softly.]
Hmm.
On this day of the New Year I ordain this place the Hall of the Fourth Treasure.
I name you Hundred Eyes - [chuckles.]
- Minister of Martial Affairs.
And so I ask of you, as a Wudang priest, give my son his Chinese name.
There have been 500 over time who have held the name Emperor of All China, Son of Heaven.
Ordained by blood, there are those who would have been better suited to harvest cow dung than to rule the greatest empire on earth.
There are those who were as silver, a lesser metal, but worthy of coinage.
And then there are those like cold stone, who force their strength and fury and win the title by fear and intimidation.
Blood is nothing.
Heart and spirit make the sage.
And by this I give this boy the name Jingim.
"True gold.
" Hmm.
So be it.
He will walk out of here with this name, and carry it as his own into a tomorrow only the oracles can see.
As for you, priest this temple is yours.
Mongols.
They have already destroyed the temple at North Peak.
- Where are the nuns? - In the cloisters.
East.
Remember the oath.
We fight to the end.
[Hundred Eyes.]
Life and death are one thread.
I will guard the scrolls.
[door closing.]
[horses galloping.]
[men speaking Mongolian.]
[grunting.]
[all grunting.]
[woman.]
Li Jinbao! [man shouts.]
Do not kill him.
The Khan will want this one.
- [bone cracking.]
- [all shout.]
What kind of monk is able to kill, by himself, 25 Mongol soldiers? Is it a form of dark magic practiced at your temple? You shall never know, shall you? What did you just say, monk? You destroyed a temple and all of the ancient scrolls that contained the answers you seek.
You monks were offering shelter to my enemies in South China.
No place defies the Khan.
I will ask you again.
If you hold your tongue, I will take your tongue.
What is this fighting art kept secret in a mountain temple? - The art of peace.
- [Kublai chuckles.]
You break the necks of trained soldiers, cut their throats, gut them like wild pigs, and you call it peace? You destroy a temple and call it destiny? Kings of the past would not have shown you grace.
Me, when I make war on a city, I allow the craftsmen to live.
I conscript them into service and they live.
Here.
You will reveal these Chinese secrets to my war ministers.
Reveal Chinese secrets to fight the Chinese.
Prove yourself useful, you can live.
Defy my laws you'll die a death far worse than that suffered by the monks who perished with your scrolls.
[chuckles.]
Oh, you find humor in my decree? There is only one Supreme Executioner.
And those who try to take his place are like children trying to carve wood as a master carpenter.
Most will injure their own hands.
You do not fear death? I do not cling to life.
There is a difference.
[chuckles.]
Remove him.
This wrestler is named Black Steppe Boar.
A prisoner captured in Scythia.
Do you know why he is named after the boar? His resemblance is extraordinary.
He is called Boar because he has killed such without a weapon many times.
Boar will advance.
He will seize you.
You will demonstrate how to break the grasp.
You cover my eyes? Is that just? The Great Khan wants a report on how you fight blindfolded.
He is a most capricious fool.
And if you were not cowards, you would tell him the same.
[yelling.]
Quiet, monk! [grunting.]
[growling.]
[Hundred Eyes groans.]
- [distant screaming.]
- [clattering.]
[silence.]
[horses galloping.]
[indistinct yelling.]
The general you killed was the son of Subutai.
Do you know that name, monk? I do not.
[Kublai.]
Greatest military commander ever to serve Genghis Khan.
You slayed his son.
This is a crime beyond crimes.
Yet you do not cling to life, as you say.
Death means nothing.
What is a Khan to do? [speaks Mongolian.]
A merchant once gifted me a white crane from Lesser Armenia a water bird that was most uncommon because it had been born all black.
Black white crane.
I knew it was an auspicious being that would bring me fortune, but that black white crane refused to stay on my lake.
Always, it would fly away.
Just its natural calling, you see.
So I served him and my fortune by cutting one wing.
[justice minister reading.]
"By law of the Grand Khan, Lord of Lords" [Kublai.]
Why do you think I had you fight blindfolded? Because I'm a capricious fool? Or to see if you are capable of your Taoist secrets and skills while in the dark? "So be it.
" [Kublai.]
Because I knew the moment you were presented, you would not be like the obedient painter the resigned astrologer, the noble poet contented with wine.
[hissing.]
You would refuse to serve the Mongol Empire.
To this day that black white crane remains on my lake.
He is mine and he is beloved.
[hissing.]
[Hundred Eyes screaming.]
[distant screaming.]
[screaming continues.]
- [Hundred Eyes gasps.]
- [fly buzzing.]
[water dripping.]
[shuffling on ground, whimpering.]
[soft thudding.]
[breathes deeply.]
- [door opens.]
- [man speaking Mongolian.]
- [latch opens.]
- [footsteps approaching.]
[door locks.]
[inhales.]
[breathing heavily.]
[groans.]
[breathing deeply.]
[grunts.]
[breathing deeply.]
[grunting.]
[inhaling.]
[breathing deeply.]
[grunting.]
Are you now ready to teach my Ministers of Warfare? Tea for the monk.
Do not confuse me with one of your holy Buddhists.
Wine.
[exhales deeply.]
You were punished for killing the son of Subutai.
Never forget that.
I shall not.
The monks of Wudang spend their lives trying to achieve true emptiness.
For only when the sage can overcome the self does he enter into the Tao.
That is a dark mystery beyond all mysteries, and a gift you gave to me.
Blind? I now see the world with one hundred eyes.
Give him more wine.
I've just captured your horse.
I know.
Then know this.
There are four Taoist temples still standing in the Wudang Mountains.
My men will go there in a fortnight and burn them to the ground.
At my single command, your religion can be wiped off the face of this earth.
Or it can live grow thrive if you prove its value to me.
By training your ministers? And someone else.
[door opens.]
[Hundred Eyes.]
You must be the prince.
I am called Altai.
[Hundred Eyes.]
Why are you here? [Altai.]
Lessons.
And what do you intend to teach me in these lessons? I'm here to teach you that even the son of a royal khan is capable of humility and learning.
Then take the broom, Altai, and sweep my floor.
[exhales.]
Good answer.
If only you believed it.
You are a little nomad weed in the garden of the world.
They wish you to grow into a flowering tree.
What is the most important part of such a tree? The many branches and the flowering.
I speak of legacy.
Ah! Thank you for untangling your elusive metaphor.
We begin with roots.
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.
[Altai.]
May I ask a question? Do.
Uh, uh, uh! If you wish calligraphy on your wall, why not summon a painter who can see? Can you not read the character I made? It is a symbol for fire.
Then what is wrong? - It's upside down.
- Precisely.
This is the kung fu character for patience, control.
Remember this in the future, always, "Never give way to anger.
" Sifu? Have I not trained you into exhausted silence yet? Today's lesson is done, My Radiant Highness.
[door closes.]
You cannot see it, I know.
But I assure you it has been overseen by a great Chinese architect made from the most precious of woods and hides, and Imbecile.
Someone has painted the character of fire upside down.
I did.
Hmm.
- [Kublai.]
Huh? - [Hundred Eyes chuckles softly.]
Hmm.
On this day of the New Year I ordain this place the Hall of the Fourth Treasure.
I name you Hundred Eyes - [chuckles.]
- Minister of Martial Affairs.
And so I ask of you, as a Wudang priest, give my son his Chinese name.
There have been 500 over time who have held the name Emperor of All China, Son of Heaven.
Ordained by blood, there are those who would have been better suited to harvest cow dung than to rule the greatest empire on earth.
There are those who were as silver, a lesser metal, but worthy of coinage.
And then there are those like cold stone, who force their strength and fury and win the title by fear and intimidation.
Blood is nothing.
Heart and spirit make the sage.
And by this I give this boy the name Jingim.
"True gold.
" Hmm.
So be it.
He will walk out of here with this name, and carry it as his own into a tomorrow only the oracles can see.
As for you, priest this temple is yours.