Last Train to North America (2026) s01e08 Episode Script

[soft instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Waking up on a train
is so special,
not only because you are in motion, but…
because what you see through the window.
A new landscape,
new colors,
and you somehow…
get ready for a new adventure.
We're heading to the West Coast,
but first we're gonna do a stop…
at a very special place,
a place that has nothing
to do with the World Cup, but…
a lot to do with…
U.S. history and its people.
[music fades]
Welcome.
This is Last Train to North America.
[theme music playing]
[Martin] Welcome,
this is Last Train to Russia.
And from here,
we continue with Last Train to Qatar.
This is the stadium that will host
the next World Cup final.
[theme music concludes]
[Martin]
This is Last Train to North America.
[Martin] We have traveled
almost 1,500 miles by train from Kansas.
On our way to the Pacific coast,
we're crossing the desert
and find ourselves in Arizona.
Today we will learn about the history
of the first inhabitants of these lands.
[Jorigine] My mouth is watery
-watching you put the jelly on it.
-[Cheyene laughing]
-[Jorigine] I like cowboy coffee.
-[Cheyenne] Mm-hmm.
Black is the best…
[speaking indistinctly]
[Martin] The Hualapai, meaning
"people of the tall pines,"
are an indigenous Native American tribe
that lives in the mountains
of Northwestern Arizona.
[Jorigine] It's an old picture
of how Peach Springs looked.
The train coming through,
and these are homes.
It's very different now.
Here is what our people call this
the "sneak-up" dance.
It signifies that a chief
or a sub-chief passed away.
This looks like it was taken
in the early 1900s.
That's when they performed
this type of dance.
[Martin] This morning,
one of the tribe's eldest members
is preparing her traditional clothing
for a very special ceremony.
Why the circles?
It signifies that in whatever we do,
we always start in a circle.
And it brings the families together.
Yeah.
[Cheyenne]
My marks were given to me by my father.
Every mark that he's given me,
I did something significant to earn it.
Our family, we carry the straight line.
That's where we start ours off on.
So, that signifies the Majenty family.
[Martin]
The roads that cross through this town
lead us to an extraordinary place,
and there is no one better than them
to introduce us to it.
[Jorigine] Before the pavement was done,
I remember it rampier and shearing.
It was all dirt road
and a very narrow road.
[Martin] A journey through time.
A new and known landscape,
but at the same time,
it holds a striking familiarity to it.
Touching this road is so special.
It looks like just another road,
just one more
in a huge country, but it's not.
You've seen this road in movies.
You listen to many songs
about this special road.
A road that unites the U.S.
from coast to coast,
from East to West.
We're heading to the Grand Canyon,
but we have to stop here
in a very special place.
Route 66
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] And so we arrive
at an inevitable stop
on this journey.
An indescribable place.
No image or photograph does justice
to its imposing beauty.
The Hualapai accompany us to discover it.
Welcome to the Grand Canyon.
Stewart, nice to meet you.
-I’m Martin. Chelsea.
-[Stewart speaking Hualapai]
[Stewart in English] This part of here
is called, in my language,
Sa' Nyu Wa, "home of the eagle."
For us, it's a spiritual being
that protects the Hualapai
and the Hualapai lands.
Every day is different.
Today, we had a little bit of rain,
overcast, hear the thunder.
Our office is never the same.
-[chuckles] Nice office.
-Always a pleasure to come to work.
This is just a part of it.
We have a million acres
that is more in beauty,
and it just goes on.
It's just magnificent.
[music concludes]
We're about to go inside the Grand Canyon
and there's only one way to do it,
in a chopper.
To fully appreciate its beauty
and all its magnitude,
we plan to see it
from various perspectives.
And from the air,
we begin to truly grasp its vastness.
[stirring instrumental music playing]
[Martin] This is breathtaking.
We are in the heart of the Grand Canyon.
We're gonna be down there…
where there's a very unique point of view.
It's quite an adventure.
More than 250 miles of walls
carved by the Colorado River.
I'm not gonna lie to you,
it was a little bit scary,
but it was incredible
because we're leaving the Grand Canyon
for a very special and unique perspective.
[soft instrumental music playing]
[Martin] The nature of this place
completely overwhelms us.
For thousands of years,
the tribe built their settlements
within the Canyon,
considering it sacred grounds.
It's very special to be here,
not only because of the… the views,
but the silence itself.
For me,
the silence is my time of serenity.
If you're here long enough…
and don't say nothing,
you will hear the wind speak.
When you really are sincere,
you'll hear the plant life,
you'll hear the rock.
You'll hear things
that you didn't think exist,
but it's here.
It's part of you. It's part of me.
It's part of those people
that do come here to visit.
A lot of times, they don't have that time
to sit and just…
forget about the world outside,
because you're here
in Mother Nature's land.
[Martin] It is estimated
that the Grand Canyon
is about one mile deep.
The influence of the Colorado River
is remarkable,
broadening and expanding
its scope simultaneously.
[instruments rattling]
[chanting in Hualapai]
[Martin in English] A dance, a ceremony
in homage to a sacred space.
Getting to know it hand in hand
with the Hualapai tribe
has been a privilege.
[Cheyenne] The Hualapai people,
we have been charged with by the Creator
to take care of this land.
And we bring it honor and respect
because it takes care of us.
And so to have a seventh wonder
in my own backyard that I can look at
from my own back door,
it's an amazing feeling.
[intriguing instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Back on the train,
we take with us a necessary cultural
and historical experience
on our journey to the West Coast.
Many truly unforgettable images
and lessons from this passage.
A great city awaits us at our next stop.
We have arrived
in the heart of California.
[music concludes]
[Martin] L.A.
-[Chelsea] L.A.
-[Martin] Here we are.
Do you smell that? I smell Hollywood.
Yes, Hollywood.
And also, it has to do a lot with soccer,
with football, with the 1994 World Cup.
The final took place here.
And there's a lot of passion
for the sport.
[Chelsea] Los Angeles took a huge part
in a major position
in football right here
in the United States.
And also, they have the largest population
of cultures from all around the world.
It’s unique and I can't wait to see
and to experience
and to observe everything.
-Just wait until you get that feeling.
-Let's go!
[upbeat instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Chelsea,
what a great idea. I love this.
[Chelsea] This is exactly
what I wanted you to feel,
to ride around in style around L.A.
And look at the weather.
[Chelsea]
This is why Hollywood is in L.A.,
because they're able to control
the weather all year round.
And because of that,
they can film movies whenever they want.
[Chelsea] They can do basically
anything that they want.
[Martin] I feel I'm in a movie right now
in this car, sightseeing,
the palm trees.
-It's incredible. You nailed it.
-[Chelsea] I nailed it?
-You did!
-[Chelsea] All right, I'm happy.
-[cheers]
-Thank you.
[Chelsea laughs]
[Martin] As if in a movie,
that's how we arrived in Los Angeles.
The film industry capital of the world.
Today we see Hollywood
from a very exclusive point of view,
a place with a unique real estate history
behind this iconic landmark.
[music concludes]
[Martin] Wow, this is incredible.
[Chelsea] We're extremely high up.
-We are.
-Are you scared of heights?
-Not really.
-Not really?
-You?
-No, not really. Just a little.
[laughs]
Part one, you have to climb down
with this rope
to get as close as possible
to the Hollywood sign.
There's a lot of people
that want to get close to this icon,
but very few that--
who are gonna do what we're doing.
-[Chelsea] Wow, this is crazy.
-[Martin] This is incredible.
This is a sight
that only very few people see.
You know, this is a restricted area,
so not too many people can come and,
you know, touch the Hollywood sign.
Take off the gloves,
because if you touch the Hollywood sign,
-you have to feel it.
-That's right.
-[exclaims]
-[laughs]
All the movies have now come into you.
Yeah, you're touching history right here.
-So cool, my God.
-[Jeff] Yeah.
[Martin] This is a dream come true for me.
Being so close to the, probably,
most popular sign in the world, right?
Well, the Hollywood sign
has been here since 1923.
It was actually put up
as an advertising gimmick
to sell plots of land down
right down below.
-[Martin] Really?
-[Jeff] It's called Hollywoodland.
So, that's why it was put up originally.
I want you to imagine this whole area
just being nothing here.
-[Martin] Right.
-[Jeff] No homes, no nothing.
And Hollywood was becoming a boom town.
Los Angeles is known as an oil town.
And then aviation,
and then because of all that money
that was flowing into Los Angeles,
the movie industry started.
All right, and that's how a lot
of the movies were being funded
by all these other industries.
That was the birth of Hollywood,
and that's how it all started.
[uplifting instrumental music playing]
[Martin] For the city of Los Angeles,
this sign is not only a historical
and cultural monument,
which they have taken care of
to protect and preserve,
but it also represents a global symbol
for the entertainment industry.
[music concludes]
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] This is one of the places
where everything started.
The soccer development in this country
has to do a lot with Rose Bowl Stadium,
a stadium that hosted the final
of the 1994 World Cup,
a stadium that will no longer be
a participant in the next World Cup,
but through it, we will be able to see
the development of the sports in the U.S.
Thanks to one of the protagonists
that will be with us today.
Hello, hello.
-How are you?
-Good.
-All good?
-Good.
Well, like old people,
-we meet on a bench.
-[laughs] Yeah.
[Cobi] Look back in the '90s
and when it was, like,
myself coming through there
with my crazy hair and all of that.
That a lot of people hadn't seen
at that time.
I know how it was here in the U.S.
where everyone is kind of like,
"Who are those guys?"
You know, "And what is this game
that they're playing?"
You know, "How does this all work,
and what's happening?"
And that kind of connected,
you know, with the fans.
And then-- then when you have
a little bit of success
in various events and times,
all of a sudden, people are,
you know, they get behind you
and they want to support.
[Martin] The images
of Cobi Jones and his team
in 1994 in this stadium
still linger in the collective memory
of sports fans in this country.
So, how special is it
to be close to the-- to a place that…
is so important for U.S. soccer history?
[Cobi] It's always wonderful
for me to be here.
You know, looking at, you know,
the Rose Bowl and seeing that symbol.
It's a pinnacle stadium,
you know, for U.S. soccer.
You know, you look at all the big games
that we've had there,
you know, over the years.
The soccer fan
or anybody that really wants
to get into the history of the game,
this is-- this is a stadium
that you have to come to.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Today we set out
to build a bridge through time
with Cobi, the Rose Bowl,
and what will be a new stage
for soccer in this city.
On our journey, we reconnect
with the love of the fans.
I remember those days!
That was the first day, man!
-[chuckles]
-[Willy] Hell yeah, man.
[Martin] I see the emotion
in your… in your eyes.
Man, those were good days.
That was like '90s something.
I still remember that.
I'm Galaxy before LAFC.
-[laughs]
-[laughs] Honestly…
-Say it again, say it again. [laughs]
-Honestly, Galaxy before LAFC, man.
All right, Cobi.
Man, nice seeing you, man.
-You too. What was your name?
-Willy.
-Willy. All right. Pleasure, man.
-Thank you.
[Martin] I loved this moment.
-[Cobi] Yeah. [laughing]
-[Martin] It was magical. Yeah.
That's why trains are so special, Cobi.
[laughing] Yeah.
Th-- That's it. That's it, right?
You know?
This train, I had a magic moment.
[laughs]
[Martin] Over the course of 12 years,
Cobi Jones played 164 matches
for the U.S. Men's National Team.
A living legend
for soccer in this country.
That's why, with him,
we visit the new home of the team
with the Stars and Stripes.
-[Martin] Hello.
-[Chelsea] Hello.
[Martin] Chelsea, Cobi.
-[Cobi] Hi. Nice to meet you.
-[Chelsea] Hi, Cobi.
[cheerful instrumental music playing]
Let's just take in the sounds,
the view, the energy…
this stadium is incredible.
I think it's amazing.
You know, like you said,
using the word iconic,
and it just shows you
the stadium's not that old,
how quickly it has become
an iconic stadium.
[soft instrumental music playing]
[Martin] Would you think
this World Cup and this stadium
would have the chance to take
the U.S. men's national team
to a new level?
[Cobi] I do think so because
it is such an iconic stadium.
You're gonna have the U.S.
have their first game here.
It's gonna be that pro-American crowd.
I-- I think that's going to resonate
with the team
and the players and motivate.
You know, that's the great thing
about the World Cup.
Once you're in it,
it's just like… [grunts]
And any soccer fan within the U.S.
that is cheering
for that U.S. men's national team,
they will be focused right here
in the opening match.
Chelsea, what's great
to have Cobi connecting L.A.
from the Rose Bowl to the SoFi Stadium,
from the past
to the present and probably the future
of soccer in the U.S.
And what's incredible
is that SoFi Stadium,
it's located in such a great area
where we're having development.
We're having new things being built.
So, you're going to have more things
around this stadium in the future.
And it's not even that amazing
'cause it's right next to the airport.
So, very convenient
for people that are coming in.
[music concludes]
[lively instrumental music playing]
[Martin] The West Coast
of the United States
has a train journey
that's worth experiencing.
-[Chelsea] Thank you.
-[Martin] Thank you very much.
The Coast Starlight is a train
that travels from L.A.
to San Francisco daily.
An iconic route along the Pacific coast
that offers the sea,
the forest, and the mountains.
I've been in many, many trains,
but none of them were like this one.
You can see
much more with these windows.
-You can watch the sky from here.
-Exactly.
We're going
from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
I feel like meditating.
Look at that. All the…
I told you,
this is perfect for meditation.
You have the window up top.
-Trees.
-You have the windows in front,
-behind you.
-The green. Yeah. And there's…
kind of a peace.
[Chelsea] And that's exactly what you need
before you get all tensed up
-in these World Cup games, right?
-[Martin] Okay.
So, this is a perfect way
to segue into that.
-Let's do it.
-[laughs]
I love it.
[music concludes]
[laid-back instrumental music playing]
[Martin] We arrive at a new station,
a place with a distinctive atmosphere
which lends itself
to these types of activities.
A place that represents
a fundamental pillar
of technological innovation
at the forefront of cultural,
avant-garde and social freedom.
A city that, 32 years ago,
also hosted the World Cup
and today opens itself
to the world once again.
Welcome to San Francisco.
[music concludes]
[upbeat instrumental music playing]
[Martin] The Golden Gate Bridge.
A marvel of human engineering
and once the longest and tallest
suspension bridge in the world.
An iconic image of the city
with a special meaning for its visitors,
but even more so for its own people.
[music concludes]
[Martin] How did you come up
with the idea of the-- of the poster?
-[David] There it is.
-You can show it this way.
[David] You know,
the Bay Area is more than just…
the landmarks, but it's also technology.
You know, you gotta include
the landmarks,
but you also, you know,
have to pay tribute to Silicon Valley,
you know, world, you know, innovation.
But not only
there's the Golden Gate Bridge,
we have another important bridge,
which is the Bay Bridge.
[Martin] Yes.
So, it's a combination of both.
[David] It's a combination of both
because these are the bridges
that connect to the city,
that connect all throughout the Bay Area.
And so I wanted to also give
a little meaning to…
The concept, right?
-…the concept of connection.
-[Martin] Yeah.
[David] The bridge is to connect cities,
cultures, people…
to celebrate-- I mean,
World-- World Cup is coming here.
Amazing, right?
The perspective of a local artist
looking ahead for the next World Cup
and the wonderful concept of a bridge
that connects soccer and individuals.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[Martin] The San Francisco Light Rail
takes us to what will be the great stage
for soccer in the city.
A stadium and a sponsor that pay homage
to the classic American trousers,
denim jeans.
Originating from this land,
they are an icon
of this country's culture.
Beyond the commercial
and marketing agreements
for the naming rights,
this stadium is also a connection
with the American culture
and the identity of this city.
Welcome
to the San Francisco World Cup Stadium.
[Chelsea] Martin, we're here,
the home of the San Francisco 49ers,
Levi's Stadium,
where the FIFA World Cup will be played.
[Martin] Yes, a new World Cup
in the U.S., a new stadium.
2014, it was built,
and they've played two Super Bowls here,
so it's kind of, I want to say,
a walk in the park for them
when it comes to organization,
'cause they already have it down packed.
Yes, and six games will be played here,
so I think the stadium
is ready for a big show.
A big show, it has the amenities,
-and they're ready.
-Okay.
Located in Santa Clara,
the center of Silicon Valley,
this stadium will be called
the San Francisco Bay Area
during the World Cup.
[bell ringing]
[Martin] An essential postcard
that I wanted to take away from this trip
is without a doubt
the famous San Francisco cable car.
A must to-do ride
to experience the breathtaking views.
Inaugurated in 1873,
it is part of the identity of this city,
a historical landmark that represents
the world's last manually operated
cable car system.
I love this.
It's incredible.
[bell ringing]
[Chelsea] I'm happy that you love this.
This is the perfect way
to end your trip in San Francisco.
You get a little bit of everything,
the sightseeing, the experience.
It feels as if you're on a roller coaster,
so it makes it fun.
[Martin] And you kind of understand
why San Francisco needed a tram
back in the day,
with so many hills, ups and downs.
I cannot imagine a better way
to move around the city.
[Chelsea]
This is a perfect way of transportation.
Can you imagine yourself trying
to bike up these hills?
-It would be a workout!
-[Martin] Yeah. Yeah.
I love it. It's the perfect ending…
for this city,
an amazing city,
different from the rest in the U.S.
I'm glad you had your fun.
And it's another way
to just experience a train ride,
the same way we've been doing
around the United States.
[Martin] As is fitting,
on board a cable car,
this is how we conclude
our visit to San Francisco.
It couldn't be any other way.
This was Last Train to North America.
See you at the next station.
[gentle instrumental music playing]
[music concludes]