[COLLINGRIDGE]:
YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1738.
A 10-YEAR-OLD FARMBOY
BEGINS A JOURNEY
THAT WILL MAKE HIM
THE GREATEST EXPLORER
IN HISTORY.
TO MANY,
HE WILL BE A HERO.
TO OTHERS, A VILLAIN.
[♪♪♪]
HE IS CAPTAIN JAMES COOK.
THE NEW LANDS HE'S CHARTED
AND THE OCEANS HE'S CROSSED
HAVE ADDED A THIRD OF THE WORLD
TO THE MAP.
[CHANTING TE REO MAORI]
[♪♪♪]
IT'S BEEN A MASSIVE EFFORT...
AND IT'S TAKEN ITS TOLL.
BUT HISTORY DOESN'T TELL
THE WHOLE STORY.
I'VE BEEN ON A JOURNEY
OF MY OWN...
IT'S AMAZING UP HERE.
...TO UNCOVER THE MAN
BEHIND THE MYTH,
TO FIND OUT WHAT DROVE
THIS OBSESSIVE
DISCOVERING GENIUS.
AFTER HIS SHOCKING DEATH
IN HAWAII...
[GASPING AND CHOKING]
COOK THE MAN
BECAME COOK THE LEGEND...
HE WAS FETED,
TRANSFORMED INTO AN ICON
OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED,
THE COOK INDUSTRY
SPUN INTO ACTION,
PEDDLING PROPAGANDA
AS OFFICIAL HISTORY.
THE MAN HIMSELF WAS LOST.
THEN I FOUND THE STORY
OF HIS REMARKABLE WIFE,
ELIZABETH.
JUST BEFORE SHE DIED,
SHE DEEPENED THE MYSTERY
BY BURNING
ALL HIS PERSONAL LETTERS.
NOW, AS MY JOURNEY
COMES TO AN END...
WE'RE CLOSER TO DISCOVERING
THE REAL JAMES COOK.
[♪♪♪]
[BELLS TOLL]
THE SUMMER OF 1776
FINDS JAMES COOK HERE,
ENSCONCED AT GREENWICH HOSPITAL,
A RETIREMENT HOME FOR SAILORS.
HE'S PROMOTED TO POST-CAPTAIN.
IT'S A SHORT STEP
FROM BEING AN ADMIRAL,
BUT HE'S BORED.
HE'S ALL BUT RETIRED.
[COOK]: MY FATE DRIVES ME
FROM ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHER.
A FEW MONTHS AGO,
THE WHOLE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
WAS HARDLY BIG ENOUGH FOR ME,
AND NOW
I AM GOING TO BE CONFINED
WITHIN THE LIMITS
OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL.
IT'S A FINE RETREAT
AND A PRETTY INCOME,
BUT WHETHER I CAN BRING MESELF
TO LIKE EASE AND RETIREMENT,
ONLY TIME WILL SHOW.
YOU CAN SENSE
THE BUILDING FRUSTRATION
IN HIS WORDS.
HE HATES HIS RETIREMENT.
HE KNOWS
HE'S THE GREATEST EXPLORER
THE WORLD'S EVER SEEN,
AND THE TENSION
OF BEING STUCK HERE
MUST BE DRIVING HIM MAD.
HE'S HURRYING
TO MAKE A DINNER APPOINTMENT,
AND HE'S TAKING HIS TENSION
WITH HIM.
HE'S THINKING
ABOUT THE LAST GREAT
GEOGRAPHICAL MYSTERY ON EARTH,
AND IT'S GOT A LOT TO DO
WITH THIS CUP OF TEA.
[♪♪♪]
THE BRITISH HAVE ALWAYS
LOVED THEIR TEA.
IN 1776,
THEY'RE IMPORTING
MORE THAN 4,500 TONS OF IT,
MOSTLY FROM CHINA.
TROUBLE IS, GETTING THERE.
[♪♪♪]
THE MAIN TRADE ROUTE
TO THE FAR EAST
IS AROUND THE BOTTOM OF AFRICA
AND ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN,
BUT THE PORTUGUESE
HAVE CONTROLLED THAT
FOR ALMOST 300 YEARS.
THE ANSWER IS TO GO ANOTHER WAY,
OVER THE TOP OF THE WORLD.
A PASSAGE NORTHWEST
FROM BRITAIN,
UP THROUGH THE ARCTIC,
DOWN INTO THE PACIFIC,
AND ROUND TO CHINA,
CUTTING THE DISTANCE
BY ALMOST HALF.
THE SEARCH
FOR THIS HOLY GRAIL
HAS BROUGHT JAMES COOK
TO A HIGH-POWERED DINNER.
HE'S BEEN ASKED TO PLAN
AN EXPEDITION
TO FIND THE FABLED PASSAGE.
THIS MAP OF THE TIME
SHOWS THE DREAM--
A CLEAR WAY
ACROSS NORTH AMERICA,
BUT, AS COOK KNOWS,
NOT ALL MAPS
TELL THE TRUTH.
THE DINNER
JAMES COOK IS HURRYING TO
IS WITH THE THREE
MOST IMPORTANT MEN
IN THE BRITISH NAVY.
EACH ONE IS EVERYTHING
JAMES COOK ISN'T--
WEALTHY,
ARISTOCRATIC,
TITLED.
EVERYTHING HE WANTS TO BE.
SIR HUGH PALLISER,
COMPTROLLER OF THE ADMIRALTY,
A LONG-TIME SUPPORTER
OF JAMES COOK
AND A FRIEND.
SIR PHILIP STEPHENS,
FIRST SECRETARY,
ANOTHER FRIEND,
THE EARL OF SANDWICH,
FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY.
HE'S PRESIDED OVER THE NAVY
WHILE JAMES COOK HAS ADDED
A THIRD TO THE WORLD MAP.
THESE MEN HAVE ONE THING
IN COMMON.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN DRAWN
TO THIS PHENOMENON
CALLED JAMES COOK.
HE'S MADE THEM LOOK GOOD.
THEY'VE ASKED HIM
TO DINNER
TO HELP CHOOSE THE COMMANDER
FOR THE VOYAGE
TO FIND THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.
THE CONVERSATION DRAGS ON,
AND STILL NO ONE CAN AGREE
ON THE RIGHT MAN.
[♪♪♪]
AT LAST, JAMES COOK
CAN'T BEAR IT ANY LONGER.
HE STANDS UP AND DECLARES--
[COOK]: I WILL UNDERTAKE
THE DIRECTION
OF THIS ENTERPRISE,
IF I AM SO COMMANDED.
[COLLINGRIDGE]: IT'S WHAT
THE ADMIRALTY LORDS
WERE HOPING FOR ALL ALONG.
BRITAIN'S DISCOVERING GENIUS
HAS JUST COME OUT OF RETIREMENT.
[♪♪♪]
HIS FIRST VOYAGE
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
WAS A TRIUMPH.
HE'D CHARTED TAHITI
AND NEW ZEALAND,
COMPLETED THE MAP OF AUSTRALIA,
AND ADDED TWO NEW LANDS
TO THE EMPIRE.
HIS SECOND
WAS THE GREATEST VOYAGE
OF DISCOVERY EVER MADE.
IN A JOURNEY
LASTING THREE YEARS,
HE WENT FURTHER
THAN ANY MAN HAD GONE BEFORE.
CONTINUALLY DIPPING
INTO THE FROZEN WASTES
OF THE ANTARCTIC,
THEN HEADING NORTH
TO CHART THE WARM WATERS
OF THE PACIFIC--
TWO GIANT SWEEPS,
COVERING AN AREA
LARGER THAN EUROPE.
WHEN HE'D FINISHED,
HE'D SHATTERED FOREVER
THE MYTH OF
THE GREAT SOUTHERN CONTINENT.
JAMES COOK ALREADY HAS FAME
AND REPUTATION.
COOK'S OLD FRIEND,
JOSEPH BANKS,
COMMISSIONS A PORTRAIT
BY NOTED ARTIST NATHANIEL DANCE.
IT'S THE IMAGE OF JAMES COOK
MOST OF US RECOGNIZE--
THE GLOSSY IMPERIAL HERO.
[♪♪♪]
COOK COULD SPEND HIS DAYS
IN COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT
WITH HIS FAMILY,
BUT HE'S TOO DRIVEN--
AND PERHAPS TOO INSECURE--
TO REST ON HIS LAURELS.
THIS FORMER YORKSHIRE FARMBOY
WANTS MORE...
WHATEVER THE SACRIFICE.
HIS EXTRAORDINARY TALENT
HAD EARNED HIM
THE TITLE OF CAPTAIN,
BUT IT WOULDN'T GIVE HIM
THE STATUS ON LAND
HE SO DESPERATELY WANTED
FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.
WORKING-CLASS BOYS
WHO WANTED KNIGHTHOODS
HAD TO WORK MIRACLES,
BUT THEY ALSO NEEDED MONEY,
AND THERE WAS A £20,000 REWARD
FOR FINDING
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE,
BUT HE SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN
HIS FAILING HEALTH
AND TEMPER ON THE LAST VOYAGE,
AND THAT THIS WOULD BE
NO EASY JOURNEY.
JAMES COOK
IS UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE.
HE HAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS
TO PREPARE.
HE SCOURS THE EXISTING CHARTS
AND ACCOUNTS
OF PREVIOUS VOYAGES,
BUT MOST OF THEM
ARE USELESS FANTASIES.
IT'S A SIGN
OF TROUBLE TO COME.
LOOK AT THE QUALITY
OF INFORMATION
HE HAS TO DEAL WITH.
THIS RUSSIAN MAP PURPORTS TO BE
A "VERY ACCURATE LITTLE MAP,"
BUT JUST LOOK HERE.
ALASKA IS SHOWN AS AN ISLAND.
THIS STRAIGHT
DOESN'T EVEN EXIST,
YET COOK'S BEEN SENT NORTH
TO SAIL THROUGH IT
AND FIND THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.
HE WAS ALSO REWRITING
AND OVERSEEING
THE PUBLICATION
OF HIS SECOND VOYAGE JOURNAL.
THIS IS THE AGE
OF THE FIRST GREAT TRAVEL BOOKS.
THEY'RE SELLING MORE COPIES
THAN THE BIBLE.
ANOTHER WRITER WROTE UP
HIS FIRST VOYAGE
AND TURNED IT
INTO A RIP-ROARING ADVENTURE.
SENSATIONALIZED FOR PUBLICATION
BY A JOURNALIST,
IT SOLD LIKE HOTCAKES,
BUT INFURIATED COOK...
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY.
IN SOME CIRCLES,
IT PASSED FOR EROTIC LITERATURE.
[♪♪♪]
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE IDEA
OF JAMES COOK
AS A MEDIA CELEBRITY.
[♪♪♪]
LONDON'S THEATRE DISTRICT,
AND AN EXAMPLE FROM SIX YEARS
INTO THE FUTURE
OF JUST HOW BIG
COOK'S MEDIA PROFILE
WOULD BECOME.
IN DECEMBER, 1785,
THE HOTTEST TICKET IN LONDON
WAS HERE IN COVENT GARDEN.
IT WAS A PANTOMIME,
OMAI:
OR, A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD.
"AN ILLUSTRATION OF IMPORTANCE
TO THE MATURE MIND OF AN ADULT,
"AND DELIGHTFUL
TO THE TENDER CAPACITY
OF AN INFANT."
BY 1785,
COOK WAS LONG DEAD,
BUT HE WAS SO FAMOUS,
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
THE PANTOMIME, OMAI,
OR, A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD,
IS ABOUT
A YOUNG MAN FROM TAHITI--
A PLACE SO EXOTIC
IN THE 18th-CENTURY IMAGINATION
THAT IT REPRESENTED
THE SUM OF ALL FANTASIES.
"OMAI" WAS BROUGHT TO LONDON
IN 1774,
ONBOARD THE ADVENTURE,
JAMES COOK'S SISTER SHIP
ON HIS SECOND VOYAGE
AROUND THE WORLD.
HIS REAL NAME WAS MAI--
THE BRITISH ADDED THE "O."
LONDON COULDN'T GET
ENOUGH OF HIM.
HE WAS SEXY, EXOTIC, EROTIC.
HE WAS EVEN PRESENTED
TO KING GEORGE III.
[♪♪♪]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
THE PANTOMIME WAS SPECTACLE,
FUN, PROPAGANDA...
A BIT OF IMPERIAL SPIN,
AND THE PUNTERS LOVED IT.
[♪♪♪]
♪ IN DA BIG CANOE 
♪ I O'ER OCEAN SWIM 
♪ ME, JACK,
AND MERRY CREW ♪
♪ GIVE GOOD LIQUOR
TO ME ♪
♪ DEN TO LONDON COME! 
[THUD]
WHAT YOU TINK OF DAT?
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
BACK IN 1776,
JAMES COOK'S REAL JOURNEY
TO FIND THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
NEEDS TO BE KEPT SECRET
FROM BRITAIN'S RIVALS...
THE REST OF THE WORLD
THINKS COOK IS TAKING MAI
BACK HOME TO TAHITI.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]
BUT THERE ARE WORRYING SIGNS
THAT JAMES COOK'S
THIRD GREAT VOYAGE
WILL HAVE ITS PROBLEMS.
ONE THING HE WASN'T DOING,
SOMETHING
HE HAD ALWAYS DONE,
WAS TO CHECK PERSONALLY
THE SHIP, THE SUPPLIES,
AND THE EQUIPMENT
FOR THE VOYAGE.
HE'S NEGLECTING THE VERY THING
THAT ENSURED HIS SUCCESS
ON HIS OTHER VOYAGES.
[♪♪♪]
THE DAY BEFORE HE SAILS,
JAMES COOK PREPARES HIS WILL.
HE SAYS FAREWELL TO ELIZABETH.
ONCE AGAIN, SHE KNOWS
SHE FACES YEARS OF SEPARATION...
BUT EVEN SHE CAN'T GUESS
IT WILL BE
56 YEARS OF BEING ALONE.
THEY WILL NEVER SEE EACH OTHER
AGAIN.
[♪♪♪]
IN JUNE, 1776,
THE EXPEDITION SETS SAIL.
ONCE AGAIN,
COOK USES TWO SHIPS.
RESOLUTION,
WHICH HE'LL COMMAND,
AND DISCOVERY,
COMMANDED BY HIS CLOSE FRIEND,
THE BRILLIANT AND ROGUISH
CHARLES CLERKE.
[♪♪♪]
JAMES COOK'S REPUTATION
AND BRILLIANCE TO DATE
MAKE HIM
A MAGNET TO HIS MEN.
HIS OFFICERS AND CREW
KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE.
CHARLES CLERKE,
CAPTAIN OF THE DISCOVERY,
AND HALF-A-DOZEN OTHERS
WILL HAVE SAILED ON ALL THREE
OF COOK'S HISTORIC VOYAGES.
IT'S THE SECOND
FOR THE YOUNG AND ADVENTUROUS
GEORGE VANCOUVER,
WHO JUMPED ON THE BOWSPRIT
IN THE ANTARCTIC,
THEREBY CLAIMING TO HAVE MADE IT
FURTHER SOUTH THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
HE'LL FAMOUSLY CONTINUE
COOK'S WORK,
CHARTING
THE CANADIAN COAST.
ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT CITIES
WILL BE NAMED AFTER HIM.
ONE NEWCOMER IS SHIP'S MASTER,
THE BRILLIANT BUT PRICKLY
WILLIAM BLIGH.
HE'LL BECOME NOTORIOUS
FOR THE MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY,
BUT, FOR NOW,
HE WANTS TO SAIL WITH COOK,
THE GREAT NAVIGATOR.
[♪♪♪]
IT TAKES EIGHT MONTHS
HARD SAILING
TO REACH NEW ZEALAND
IN FEBRUARY, 1777.
[♪♪♪]
QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND
IS ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE
ANCHORAGES...
BUT, THIS TIME,
JAMES COOK WILL BE ASKED
TO KILL SOMEONE.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
THREE YEARS EARLIER,
ON COOK'S SECOND GREAT VOYAGE,
THERE HAD BEEN A MASSACRE HERE.
MAORI HAD KILLED AND EATEN
11 CREW
FROM COOK'S SISTER SHIP,
ADVENTURE.
A CHIEF NAMED KAHURA
WAS SAID TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
NOW, COOK'S MEN,
AND OTHER MAORI, WANT REVENGE.
THEY WANT KAHURA DEAD.
THERE IS KAHURA!
KILL HIM!
WHY WILL YOU
NOT KILL HIM?
YOU TELL ME WHEN A MAN
KILLS ANOTHER IN ENGLAND,
HE IS HANGED FOR IT!
THIS MAN HAS KILLED 10,
AND YET YOU DO NOT
KILL HIM!
WHY WILL YOU
NOT KILL HIM?
[COOK]: SOME OF THEM
IMPORTUNED ME TO KILL HIM,
BUT IF I HAD FOLLOWED
THE ADVICE
OF ALL OUR PRETENDED FRIENDS,
I MIGHT HAVE EXPIRATED
THE WHOLE RACE,
FOR THE PEOPLE OF EACH HAMLET
OR VILLAGE, BY TURNS,
APPLIED TO ME
TO DESTROY THE OTHER.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
COOK KEEPS HIS HEAD
AND LETS KAHURA LIVE.
YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE
THE BEWILDERMENT ON SHORE
AND THE MUTTERINGS
BELOW DECK.
SO WHY DID HE DO IT?
WELL, WE KNOW
FROM HIS JOURNALS
THAT HE BELIEVED
THE MEN OF THE ADVENTURE
WERE AT LEAST PARTLY TO BLAME
FOR THEIR OWN DEATHS.
IN FACT, HE SAYS
OF THE MAORI HERE...
"IN FAVOUR OF THESE PEOPLE,
I FIND THEM NO WICKEDER
THAN OTHER MEN."
THIS IS COOK,
THE EXPERIENCED COMMANDER,
AT HIS WISEST
AND MOST RESTRAINED.
BUT AS THE VOYAGE DEVELOPS,
COOK UNDERGOES A DRAMATIC
AND DISTURBING CHANGE.
THIS IS HIS THIRD GREAT JOURNEY
IN A DECADE.
THE LONG YEARS
OF RELENTLESS PRESSURE
ARE TAKING THEIR TOLL,
BOTH PHYSICALLY
AND MENTALLY.
HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS ERRATIC
TOWARDS THE END
OF HIS SECOND VOYAGE.
NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE.
[TREVENEN]: HEIVA,
THE NAME OF THE DANCES
OF THE SOUTHERN ISLANDERS,
WHICH BORE SO GREAT
A RESEMBLANCE
TO THE VIOLENT MOTIONS
AND STAMPINGS
ON THE DECK
OF CAPTAIN COOK,
IT WAS A COMMON SAYING
AMONG BOTH OFFICERS AND PEOPLE,
"THE OLD BOY
HAS BEEN TIPPING A HEIVA."
JAMES TREVENEN, MIDSHIPMAN,
H.M.S. RESOLUTION.
[COLLINGRIDGE]: JAMES COOK
DOES HAVE BIG PROBLEMS.
HE'S BATTLING THE WIND,
AND SUPPLIES
ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT.
HE'S ALSO MISSED
THE NORTHERN SUMMER,
WHICH MEANS EXTENDING THE TRIP
BY ANOTHER YEAR.
THE COOK OF OLD
WOULD HAVE MAINTAINED
HIS COMPOSURE.
THIS NEW COOK
HAS A MEAN STREAK,
AND HE TAKES IT OUT
ON OTHERS.
[GILBERT]:
CAPTAIN COOK PUNISHED,
IN A MANNER RATHER UNBECOMING
OF A EUROPEAN,
BY CUTTING OFF THEIR EARS...
[MAN SCREAMING]
FIRING AT THEM WITH SMALLSHOT
AS THEY WERE SWIMMING
OR PADDLING TO SHORE,
BEATING THEM WITH THE OARS,
AND STICKING THE BOATHOOK
INTO THEM.
GEORGE GILBERT, MIDSHIPMAN,
H.M.S. RESOLUTION.
[COLLINGRIDGE]: THE ISLAND
OF MOREA, NEAR TAHITI--
THE LOCALS
STEAL THE SHIP'S GOAT.
JAMES COOK IS SO ANGRY,
HE SETS FIRE TO THEIR BOATS
AND VILLAGE IN REVENGE.
HE WRITES--
[COOK]: THUS THIS TROUBLESOME,
AND RATHER UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR
ENDED,
WHICH COULD NOT BE
MORE REGRETTED
ON THE PART OF THE NATIVES
THAN IT WAS ON MINE.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
HIS JOURNAL SHOWS US
HE WAS AWARE OF HIS BEHAVIOR,
BUT COULDN'T STOP IT.
FOR A CONTROL-FREAK LIKE COOK,
THIS MUST HAVE BEEN TERRIFYING.
COOK'S WILD MOOD SWINGS
CONTINUE,
BUT THERE ARE PLACES
THE OLD COOK REAPPEARS,
BUT, IRONICALLY,
THEY'RE ON LAND,
NOT AT SEA.
[♪♪♪]
IN AUGUST, 1777,
JAMES COOK LANDS IN TAHITI
FOR THE FOURTH TIME.
NATIONS, WARRIORS,
CHIEFS RENOWN'D...
THE FIRST PART OF HIS JOB
IS DONE.
HE'S BROUGHT MAI HOME...
BUT TO WHAT?
ASSEMBLE ALL,
AND HAIL YOUR KING!
SOUND THE CONCH,
LET TRIUMPH RING!
KNOW ALL,
OMAI IS OWNER
OF 50 RED FEATHERS,
MASTER OF
400 FAT HOGS.
HE CAN COMMAND
A THOUSAND FIGHTING MEN,
OR 20 STRONG-ARMED WOMEN
TO THUMP HIM TO SLEEP.
[AUDIENCE CHUCKLING]
ACCEPT FROM MIGHTY GEORGE,
OUR SOVEREIGN LORD,
IN SIGN OF BRITISH LOVE,
THIS BRITISH SWORD.
[♪♪♪]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]
[COLLINGRIDGE]: POOR MAI...
A DOOMED FIGURE
WHO'S FALLEN
BETWEEN TWO CULTURES.
AMONG THE USELESS PRESENTS
THE BRITISH HAVE GIVEN HIM,
A SUIT OF ARMOUR.
HE'LL BECOME
AN OBJECT OF RIDICULE.
[COOK]: SUCH IS THE STRANGE
NATURE OF HUMAN AFFAIRS,
THAT WE LEFT HIM
IN A LESS DESIRABLE SITUATION
THAN HE WAS IN
BEFORE HIS CONNECTION WITH US.
JAMES COOK
KNOWS HIS TRIP TO ENGLAND
WAS A CRUEL EXPERIMENT.
WITHIN THE YEAR,
MAI WILL BE BROKE AND DEAD.
BRINGING MAI HOME
WAS ONLY EVER A COVER
FOR THIS VOYAGE.
COOK'S REAL GOAL
WAS TO FIND
THE PRIZED NORTHWEST PASSAGE,
BUT COOK LINGERED IN THE ISLANDS
FOR FOUR MONTHS.
EVEN HIS OFFICERS
STARTED TO WONDER
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.
FROM AN EARLY AGE,
COOK HAD METHODICALLY
SET HIMSELF GOALS,
AND CLINICALLY
CARRIED THEM OUT.
NOW HE WAS STALLING,
WHEN HE HAD EVERY REASON
NOT TO.
HE KNEW SUCCESS COULD GIVE HIM
EVERYTHING HE WANTED--
A KNIGHTHOOD,
A PLACE IN SOCIETY,
THE LION'S SHARE
OF THAT £20,000--
A BIG INCENTIVE
FOR A FORMER FARMBOY.
IT TAKES JAMES COOK
AND THE EXPEDITION'S TWO SHIPS
THREE MONTHS
TO SAIL
FROM TROPICAL TAHITI
TO THE NORTH AMERICAN
CONTINENT...
[♪♪♪]
THEN MAKE HIS WAY
UP TO THE ICY WATERS
OF NEW ALBION
BY THE SPRING OF 1778.
THIS IS WHERE
HE NOW BEGINS HIS SEARCH
FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.
[NATIVE AMERICAN MAN
SINGING]
[COLLINGRIDGE]: NEW ALBION
INCLUDES WHAT WE NOW CALL
CANADA.
HERE, JAMES COOK
MEETS THE MOWACHAHT--
"THE PEOPLE OF THE DEER."
THE FIRST WHITE MEN
THEY'VE EVER SEEN,
HIS VISIT WOULD CHANGE
THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
[COOK]: ONE OF THEM
SUNG A VERY AGREEABLE AIR,
WITH A DEGREE OF SOFTNESS
AND MELODY
WHICH WE COULD NOT HAVE
EXPECTED.
[SINGING CONTINUES
IN DISTANCE]
[COLLINGRIDGE]: WHEN JAMES COOK
ARRIVED IN THESE WATERS,
IT'S SAID THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME OUT TO MEET HIM
DIRECTED HIM TO A VILLAGE,
AND THAT'S IT OVER THERE,
THE VILLAGE OF YUQUOT.
I'VE COME HERE TO NOOTKA
TO MEET THE DESCENDANTS
OF THE VERY MOWACHAHT
WHO MET JAMES COOK.
[MEN SINGING]
RAY AND TERI WILLIAMS
HAVE A MOVING STORY TO TELL.
IT SEEMS
THERE WERE MISUNDERSTANDINGS
FROM THE START.
WHEN THEY WENT OUT
TO MEET HIM,
THEY TOLD HIM
TO CIRCLE THE ISLAND--
THEY TOLD HIM TO NOOT-SHIEK,
THAT MEANS
"CIRCLE THE ISLAND,"
AND THAT'S HOW
IT GOT THE NAME "NOOTKA"
FOR THE ISLAND.
HE THOUGHT
THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL HIM
THAT IT'S CALLED NOOTKA.
SO THIS WHOLE AREA'S
MODERN NAME
IS BASED ON
A MISUNDERSTANDING?
YEAH, YEAH. EXACTLY.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
THE CAPTAIN COOK PAINTINGS
FROM JOHN WEBBER
OF THE TIME?
LET ME HAVE A LOOK...
NO. CAN YOU
SHOW US?
LET ME SHOW YOU HERE.
THESE ARE
THE LONGHOUSES...
YEAH.
AND THE MOWACHAHT,
ON THE BEACH
WITH THE CANOES.
YES.
THAT'S RESOLUTION
AND DISCOVERY.
RESOLUTION AND DISCOVERY.
AND THEN YOUR PEOPLE
ON THE BEACH...
SO, REALLY,
VERY LITTLE CHANGED
IN THE LAST 230 YEARS.
[MEN SINGING
MOWACHAHT TRADITIONAL SONG]
[♪♪♪]
[COLLINGRIDGE]: COOK IS TIRED,
BUT HE SEEMS TO RENEW HIMSELF
AT NOOTKA.
[COOK]: DURING THE TIME
I WAS AT THE VILLAGE,
THE PEOPLE RECEIVED ME
VERY COURTEOUSLY,
EVERY ONE PRESSING ME
TO GO INTO HIS HOUSE,
AND, THERE, SPREAD A MAT
FOR ME TO SIT DOWN UPON,
AND SHOWED ME
EVERY MARK OF CIVILITY.
MANY OF THEM ARE DECORATED
WITH IMAGES.
THESE ARE NOTHING LESS
THAN THE TRUNKS
OF VERY LARGE TREES
WITH THE FRONT
CARVED INTO A HUMAN FACE,
AND VARIOUSLY PAINTED
SO THAT THE WHOLE
IS A TRULY MONSTROUS FIGURE.
[♪♪♪]
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
JAMES COOK LIKES IT HERE.
I THINK IT'S A RELIEF
FROM THE NEVER-ENDING PRESSURE
ONBOARD.
FOR A SHORT WHILE, ANYWAY,
HE SEEMS TO REGAIN
HIS BETTER TEMPER.
HIS CREW RECORDS
THE LOCAL LANGUAGE,
AND STARTS TRADING
WITH THE CHIEF OF THE MOWACHAHT,
MAQUINNA.
WHEN YOU HAD MAQUINNA AND COOK,
THEY WERE CLEARLY
TREATING EACH OTHER
AS RESPECTED
INDIVIDUALS,
AS EQUALS.
CHIEF MAQUINNA AND HIS PEOPLE
WERE TRADING
FOR NAILS, HAMMERS, FOR MUSKETS,
FOR MIRRORS, FOR ANYTHING
THAT WAS VERY USEFUL
AND VALUABLE
FOR MAQUINNA'S PEOPLE,
AND MAQUINNA TRADED, YOU KNOW,
WITH LAND OTTER
AND SEA OTTER PELTS
AND MINK PELTS
AND, UH, RACCOON PELTS,
AND THAT WAS THE TRADING,
AND HE DONE IT
IN A BUSINESS-LIKE MANNER.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
COOK'S VISIT PAVES THE WAY
FOR A BOOMING FUR-TRADE
IN NOOTKA,
BUT THE EUROPEAN CONTACT
WILL BE DEVASTATING
FOR THE MOWACHAHT.
JUST THINKING ABOUT
THE WAY MY PEOPLE LIVED
BEFORE HE CAME.
THEY WERE SO WEALTHY
AND SO...
THEY DIDN'T KNOW
THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
AND IT CHANGED EVERYTHING
WHEN THEY CAME.
FOR WORSE.
YEAH...
A LOT OF THE MEN
WERE KILLED,
AND...
[INHALING DEEPLY]
THE WOMEN
WERE BEING RAPED.
BECAUSE THAT IS
THE OTHER SIDE, ISN'T IT?
THE MEN COULD TRADE,
BUT THE WOMEN WERE SO OFTEN
SEEN AS SEXUAL OBJECTS.
YEAH... YEAH.
THEY MADE THEM DRUNK
AND, SOMETIMES,
THEY KILLED THEM THEN.
AND THIS
IS WITH COOK'S MEN?
YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S THE SIDE
OF HISTORY
WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR,
ISN'T IT?
YEAH... YEAH.
THEY SAID THEY TOOK
QUITE A FEW OF OUR WOMEN
AND TOOK THEM ONBOARD...
IT INTRODUCED THE BOOZE
TO OUR PEOPLE.
THE BOOZE,
THE ALCOHOL?
THE BOOZE, THE ALCOHOL,
AND MADE OUR MEN DRUNK,
AND SYPHILLIS, GONORRHEA...
THE DISEASE
THAT THEY HAD BROUGHT...
THAT'S HOW COME
A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE
STARTED DYING SO YOUNG,
BECAUSE OF THE DISEASE THEY HAD,
NOT REALIZING
IT WAS KILLING THEM.
[♪♪♪]
RAY AND TERI'S WORDS
ARE PAINFUL,
BUT NOT SURPRISING.
COOK KNEW
HE WAS BRINGING DESTRUCTION
TO THE PEOPLE HE MET.
WE KNOW THIS, TOO.
HE WROTE IT
IN HIS JOURNALS.
THAT KNOWLEDGE
WOULD NOW HAVE BEEN EATING AWAY
AT HIS SOUL.
JUST IMAGINE
HOW PROFOUNDLY ISOLATED
THAT WOULD HAVE MADE HIM FEEL.
[♪♪♪]
[TREVENEN]: CAPTAIN COOK
WOULD SOMETIMES RELAX
FROM HIS ALMOST CONSTANT
SEVERITY OF DISPOSITION,
AND CONDESCEND NOW AND THEN
TO CONVERSE FAMILIARLY WITH US,
BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE TIME.
AS SOON AS
WE ENTERED THE SHIPS,
HE BECAME AGAIN THE DESPOT.
JAMES TREVENEN, MIDSHIPMAN,
H.M.S. RESOLUTION.
[COLLINGRIDGE]: THERE ARE
OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL.
JAMES COOK'S SHIP, RESOLUTION,
IS REALLY FALLING APART.
SLOPPY DEFENCE CONTRACTORS
AREN'T JUST A MODERN PROBLEM.
THE SHIPWRIGHTS BACK HOME
HAVE DONE A TERRIBLE JOB,
AND HE NOW NEEDS TO CHOP DOWN
THESE TREES
TO REPLACE MASTS
AND MAKE NEW TIMBERS--
ALL WORK THAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN OVERSEEN BY COOK IN LONDON,
NOT THOUSANDS OF KILOMETRES
AWAY, HERE.
[♪♪♪]
AFTER A MONTH IN NOOTKA,
JAMES COOK SAILS OFF
IN SEARCH
OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.
IT'S THE START
OF HIS LAST GREAT QUEST.
COOK'S SHIPS CRAWL ALONG
THE TORTUOUS ALASKAN COASTLINE.
EVERY BAY AND INLET
MUST BE METHODICALLY CHECKED.
ANY OF THEM MIGHT REVEAL
THE ELUSIVE ROUTE TO ENGLAND.
WEEKS, AND MONTHS, DRIFT BY.
THERE'S NO SIGN OF COOK'S PRIZE,
NO SIGN OF A QUICK ROUTE HOME.
COOK SHOULD'VE BEEN
IN HIS ELEMENT.
ON PREVIOUS JOURNEYS,
HIS OBSESSION
WITH METICULOUS CHARTING
OF UNFAMILIAR COASTLINES
HAD DRIVEN HIS CREW
TO DISTRACTION,
BUT NOW IT WAS DOING THE SAME
TO HIM.
ONE HUGE BAY
ALONE TOOK 16 DAYS
TO EXPLORE
TO HIS SATISFACTION.
COULD IT BE HE WAS STARTING
TO DOUBT HIMSELF?
WHAT IF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
DIDN'T REALLY EXIST?
WHAT IF THIS LAST GREAT VOYAGE
WAS A WASTE OF TIME?
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
IN AUGUST, 1778,
RESOLUTION AND DISCOVERY
PASS THROUGH
THE BERING STRAIT
AND ENTER THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
[♪♪♪]
THE TWO SHIPS BEAT DRUMS
AND FIRE GUNS
TO KEEP TRACK OF EACH OTHER.
HERE, JAMES COOK ENTERS A WORLD
SHROUDED IN FOG.
THE RUSSIAN MAPS
HE'S GATHERED IN LONDON
ARE USELESS.
[COOK]: WHAT COULD INDUCE HIM
TO PUBLISH SO ERRONEOUS A MAP
THAT THE MOST ILLITERATE
OF HIS ILLITERATE
SEA-FARING MEN
WOULD HAVE BEEN ASHAMED
TO PUT HIS NAME TO?
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
JAMES COOK'S BEHAVIOUR
IS BEGINNING TO HORRIFY HIS MEN.
HE RUNS WITH THE WIND
IN FOG SO THICK,
THEY CAN BARELY SEE
THE LENGTH OF THE SHIP.
SUDDENLY, HE HEARS THE SOUND
OF CRASHING SURF
AND ORDERS THE SHIP HALTED.
WHEN THE FOG CLEARS,
THEY REALIZE
THEY'VE HURTLED THROUGH
A GAP IN THE ROCKS
LITTLE WIDER
THAN THE SHIP HERSELF.
[COOK]: PROVIDENCE
HAD CONDUCTED US
THROUGH THESE ROCKS,
WHERE I SHOULD NOT
HAVE VENTURED ON A CLEAR DAY,
AND TO SUCH AN ANCHORING PLACE,
I COULD NOT
HAVE CHOSEN BETTER.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
PROVIDENCE?
FELLOW CAPTAIN AND FRIEND
CHARLES CLERKE
WAS MORE IRONIC.
[CLERKE]: VERY NICE PILOTAGE,
CONSIDERING
THE PERFECT IGNORANCE
OF OUR SITUATION.
CHARLES CLERKE, CAPTAIN,
H.M.S. DISCOVERY.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
JAMES COOK'S WORLD
IS SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL--
A SHIP THAT'S FALLING APART,
MAPS THAT ARE USELESS
FANTASIES...
HE'S BEEN AT SEA FOR A YEAR,
AND JUST AFTER THREE WEEKS
IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN,
HE'S HIT A WALL OF ICE,
AND IT'S NOT EVEN WINTER YET.
ICE IS COOK'S NEMESIS.
IT STOPPED HIM IN THE ANTARCTIC,
AND, NOW,
IT'S STOPPING HIM AGAIN.
JAMES COOK HAS TAKEN
AN 18th-CENTURY WOODEN SHIP
AND ITS CREW
TO THE EXTREMES OF THE EARTH--
70 DEGREES SOUTH AND NORTH.
[♪♪♪]
NOW, EVEN THE WORLD'S
GREATEST EXPLORER
HAS TO ADMIT DEFEAT.
HE WAS ALMOST 50.
HE'D SPENT MOST OF
THE LAST 10 YEARS AT SEA,
UNDER THE SORT OF PRESSURE
THAT MOST CAPTAINS
NEVER EXPERIENCE.
WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER,
HE SEEMED TO THRIVE ON THIS,
BUT NOW IT WAS TAKING ITS TOLL.
WHERE HE ONCE LED
SOLELY BY EXAMPLE,
NOW HE WOULD SOMETIMES RESORT
TO USING FEAR AND THREATS.
HE WAS LOSING THE RESPECT
OF HIS CREW AND OFFICERS,
AND THE PEOPLE HE MET
IN THESE NEW LANDS.
[♪♪♪]
WITH THE NORTHERN WINTER
LOOMING,
IT'LL BE MONTHS
BEFORE HE CAN SEARCH AGAIN
FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.
HE DESPERATELY NEEDS
SOMEWHERE WARM TO REST
AND RESUPPLY,
SO HE TAKES HIS TWO SHIPS
BACK TO THE PACIFIC,
TO A PLACE THAT HE'D DISCOVERED
ON HIS JOURNEY NORTH...
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
TODAY, WE KNOW
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS
AS HAWAII.
[♪♪♪]
AMAZINGLY,
COOK NOW SAILS ROUND THEM
FOR SIX WEEKS WITHOUT LANDING.
THEIR CREW THINK THEIR COMMANDER
IS OUT OF HIS MIND...
THEY CERTAINLY ARE,
WATCHING THIS LAND PASS BY
DAY AFTER DAY.
COOK OFFERS NO EXPLANATION,
AND THEY DON'T DARE ASK.
FINALLY, RESOLUTION
AND DISCOVERY
ENTER THE WIDE BAY
AND DROP ANCHOR.
YOU STILL ENTER KEALAKEKUA BAY
THE WAY JAMES COOK SAW IT,
BUT THE RECEPTION HE RECEIVED
WAS ASTONISHING.
SO MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT
AND CLAMBERED ABOARD
RESOLUTION AND DISCOVERY,
THAT BOTH SHIPS
STARTED TO LIST.
[COOK]: I HAD NOWHERE,
IN THE COURSE OF ME VOYAGES,
SEEN SO NUMEROUS
A BODY OF PEOPLE
ASSEMBLED AT ONE PLACE.
BESIDES THOSE IN CANOES,
ALL THE SHORE WERE COVERED
IN SPECTATORS,
AND MANY HUNDREDS
WERE SWIMMING ABOUT THE SHIPS
LIKE SHOALS OF FISH.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
COOK'S AMAZED TO FIND OUT
HE CAN SPEAK WITH THESE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE POLYNESIANS,
THE SAME PEOPLE
HE'S SEEN IN TAHITI
AND ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
[COOK]: HOW SHOULD WE ACCOUNT
FOR THIS NATION
SPREADING ITSELF SO FAR
OVER THIS VAST OCEAN?
WE FIND THEM FROM NEW ZEALAND
TO THE SOUTH,
TO THESE ISLANDS TO THE NORTH,
AND FROM EASTER ISLAND
TO THE HEBRIDES.
HI.
HELLO! YOU MUST
BE GORDON.
YES. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M GOOD, THANK YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU. OH!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
GORDON LESLIE'S FAMILY
HAVE LIVED IN KEALAKEKUA BAY
FOR CENTURIES.
THEY WERE HERE
AT THE TIME OF COOK.
EVEN NOW, THERE'S A BELIEF
THAT THE HAWAIIANS
GREETED JAMES COOK
AS THE GOD ORONO.
HOWEVER, TRUTH, AS IT OFTEN IS,
IS A LOT MORE INTERESTING.
WHEN HE LANDED ON SHORE,
IT IS SAID
THAT THE LESSER CHIEFS
THAT WERE HERE,
WHEN THEY WENT TO GREET
CAPTAIN COOK ON A BEACH,
THEY PROSTRATED BEFORE HIM
ON THE GROUND
AND SAID,
"ORONO, ORONO, ORONO."
AND THAT WAS INTERPRETED
TO BE, BY THEM,
THAT OUR PEOPLE THOUGHT
HE WAS ORONO--
THAT WAS JUST
PROTOCOL.
THEY DO THAT PROTOCOL
MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD TODAY.
IF A HIGH-RANKING DIGNITARY
ARRIVES, IN SOME CULTURES TODAY,
THEY STILL GO DOWN
AND PROSTRATE BEFORE THEM,
SO THAT
WAS OUR CULTURE.
THIS MASSIVE STONE BUILDING
IS A HEIAU--
A SACRED PLACE, A TEMPLE.
JAMES COOK DESCRIBES
BEING BROUGHT HERE
IN HIS LAST-EVER JOURNAL ENTRY.
FROM THIS MOMENT ON,
IT'S UP TO OTHERS
TO PICK UP THE STORY.
[THEATRE AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
[♪♪♪]
[KING]: WE WERE CONDUCTED BY KOA
TO THE TOP OF THIS PILE.
AT THE ENTRANCE,
WE SAW TWO LARGE WOODEN FIGURES
WITH FEATURES
VIOLENTLY DISTORTED.
CAPTAIN COOK WAS SEATED
BETWEEN TWO WOODEN IDOLS.
KOA AND PAREEA
BEGAN TO PULL THE FLESH
OFF A HOG IN PIECES
AND TO PUT IT
INTO OUR MOUTHS.
I HAD NO OBJECTION
TO BE FED BY PAREEA,
WHO WAS VERY CLEANLY
IN HIS PERSON,
BUT CAPTAIN COOK,
WHO WAS SERVED BY KOA,
COULD NOT SWALLOW A MORSEL,
AND HIS RELUCTANCE
WAS NOT DIMINISHED
WHEN THE OLD MAN,
ACCORDING TO HIS OWN
MODE OF CIVILITY,
HAD CHEWED IT FOR HIM.
JAMES KING, LIEUTENANT,
H.M.S. RESOLUTION.
[COLLINGRIDGE]:
AFTER ALMOST THREE WEEKS,
RESOLUTION AND DISCOVERY
RE-SUPPLY AND LEAVE.
JAMES COOK'S GOING BACK AGAIN
TO HAMMER AWAY AT THE ICE
AT THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE,
BUT JUST A FEW DAYS
OUT OF HERE,
RESOLUTION BREAKS A MAST.
IT'S THAT SHODDY WORKMANSHIP
HE NEVER OVERSAW IN LONDON
COMING BACK TO HAUNT HIM.
THE SHIPS HAVE TO RETURN.
THIS TIME,
THERE'S NO BIG WELCOME.
THE HAWAIIANS HAVE ALREADY
GIVEN JAMES COOK
EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.
THEY'RE FAR FROM HAPPY
TO SEE THE SHIPS RETURN.
IT'S THE 14th OF FEBRUARY, 1779.
JAMES COOK AWAKES TO LEARN THAT,
DURING THE NIGHT,
ONE OF HIS SHIP'S BOATS
HAS BEEN STOLEN.
THE EVENTS OF THE DAY
NOW MOVE VERY FAST.
HE ORDERS THE BAY
TO BE BLOCKADED--
DISCOVERY,
ON THAT SIDE OF THE BAY,
SEALING IT.
RESOLUTION
SEALING THE OTHER SIDE.
JAMES COOK HAS DECIDED
TO PICK A FIGHT.
BUT NOW ONE OF THE GREATEST
JOURNEYS IN HISTORY
IS ABOUT TO COME
TO A BLOODY END.
THIS IS THE LAST DAY
OF JAMES COOK'S LIFE.
JAMES COOK
ARRIVES ON THIS BEACH.
HE'S ARMED,
AND WITH NINE MARINES.
THEY HEAD UP
TOWARDS A LARGE VILLAGE HERE
CALLED KA'AWALOA.
IT IS PERHAPS
THE MOST SACRED SITE
ON THE ISLAND.
HE MARCHES
INTO THIS SACRED VILLAGE
AND GOES STRAIGHT
TO THE CHIEF'S HOUSE
AND SEIZES HIM.
COOK INTENDS TO KEEP HIM HOSTAGE
UNTIL HE GETS HIS BOAT BACK.
JAMES COOK BRINGS THE CHIEF
DOWN HERE,
TO THE WATER'S EDGE,
AMID A GATHERING CROWD
OF HAWAIIANS--
HUNDREDS ON THIS BEACH,
AND MORE LINING THE ROCKS.
TO THEIR EYES,
JAMES COOK'S BEHAVIOUR
IS A HUGE INSULT.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY,
WILLIAM BLIGH, EVER AGGRESSIVE,
ORDERS HIS MEN TO OPEN FIRE
ON A CANOE
TRYING TO BREACH THE BLOCKADE.
THEY KILL
A HIGH-RANKING WARRIOR.
A TIDAL WAVE OF ANGER
THEN SWEEPS ALONG THE SHORELINE.
THE BEACH ERUPTS
INTO A VOLLEY OF STONES.
[CLAMOURING AND SHOUTING]
JAMES COOK HIMSELF
FIRES THE FIRST SHOT,
KILLING A MAN...
THEN THE HAWAIIANS ATTACK.
[BLOWS LANDING, ANGRY SHOUTING]
[♪♪♪]
[GASPING AND CHOKING]
IT'S 9:00 IN THE MORNING,
AND IT'S OVER.
JAMES COOK,
THE WORLD'S GREATEST EXPLORER,
IS DEAD.
[GILBERT]: A SILENCE ENSUED
THROUGHOUT THE SHIP...
IT APPEARING TO US
SOMEWHAT LIKE A DREAM.
GRIEF WAS VISIBLE
IN EVERY COUNTENANCE,
SOME EXPRESSING IT
BY TEARS.
ALL OUR HOPES
CENTRED ON HIM...
OUR LOSS
BECAME IRREPARABLE.
GEORGE GILBERT, MIDSHIPMAN,
H.M.S. RESOLUTION.
JAMES COOK DIED RIGHT HERE,
THE SAILORS WATCHING HELPLESSLY
AS HIS BODY
IS HACKED TO PIECES.
BUT WHAT ACTUALLY KILLED COOK
WASN'T DAGGERS OR STONES
OR DROWNING--
IT WAS THE BELIEF
THAT HE COULD CONTROL
EVERY SITUATION.
THAT'S THE TRAGEDY
OF HIS DEATH...
HIS NEEDLESS, POINTLESS,
STUPID DEATH.
BUT THAT VERSION OF HISTORY
DOESN'T MAKE LEGENDS.
THE CREW GET BACK
WHAT'S LEFT OF JAMES COOK--
A SMALL BAG OF BODY PARTS--
HIS SCALP,
SOME FLESH FROM HIS THIGH,
HIS JAWBONE, FEET,
AND BOTH HANDS--
THE RIGHT ONE
RECOGNIZABLE BY THAT SCAR.
THE PIECES OF JAMES COOK
ARE THEN BURIED AT SEA.
IT WILL BE A YEAR
BEFORE HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH,
FINDS OUT.
SHE'S MAKING JAMES A WAISTCOAT
FROM TAHITIAN CLOTH.
IT CAN ONLY BE FOR JAMES'
AUDIENCE WITH THE KING--
THE AUDIENCE
WHERE HE'LL RECEIVE
HIS KNIGHTHOOD
AND SHE'LL BECOME A LADY.
SHE WILL BE A WIDOW
FOR THE NEXT 56 YEARS.
[♪♪♪]
NEAR THE END OF HER LIFE,
AT THE AGE OF 93,
SHE BURNS
ALL OF JAMES' LETTERS--
EVERY ONE OF THEM.
WE HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT WAS IN THEM
OR WHY SHE DID IT,
BUT I THINK SHE WANTED TO KEEP
JAMES COOK THE MAN,
HER HUSBAND,
THE FATHER OF HER CHILDREN,
FOR HERSELF.
BUT, IRONICALLY, IN DOING SO,
SHE MADE SURE THAT ONLY
THE MYTH WOULD REMAIN.
MY JOURNEY
IN SEARCH OF JAMES COOK,
THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTH,
ENDS RIGHT HERE ON THIS BEACH
IN HAWAII.
WHAT I FOUND IS PERHAPS
AN UNPALATABLE TRUTH,
THAT PERHAPS THE AMBITIOUS,
DECENT MAN
WHO SAW THE HUMAN IN EVERYONE,
THAT MAN LOST HIMSELF
ALONG THE WAY.
SO, A GENIUS, YES,
BUT A FLAWED
AND LONELY GENIUS,
AND IT'S PRECISELY THOSE FLAWS--
THE MADNESS, THE VIOLENCE--
THAT MADE HIS TRUE STORY
MORE HONEST, MORE TRAGIC.
[♪♪♪]
WE DON'T NEED
TO WHITEWASH OUR HEROES.
[♪♪♪]
JAMES COOK IS STILL
THE GREATEST EXPLORER
THIS WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN...
AND THE TRUTH
IS EVEN MORE POWERFUL
THAN THE MYTH.
[♪♪♪]
