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tv   Dateline NBC  NBC  December 14, 2015 2:33am-3:02am EST

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each nine holes gets you a different experience. >> amazing views, challenging shots and remote controlled pool carts. after a long day of relaxing, there's only one way to complete the experience. >> we have over seven restaurants and lounges here on the property. >> the steak house, at the top of the list. >> a steakhouse with a french twist and a touch of asian. >> the perfect center of your one top vacation. >> when you're looking for luxury but enhanced and more exclusive intimate and with an incredible attention to personalization, this is the place you want to stay. >> now it's time to head across the pond to a hotel in london that is quickly becoming an a-list destination. all call this place home when they're in the u.k. t
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the. >> we needed the cherry to go on top. >> it's an elegant victorian hotel with a 21st century twist. >> we have the largest hotel in london. the wifi speed is what i call almost nasa speed. >> it's often what attracted the hollywood clientele. >> we did the world wide premier for star trek. also mr. johnny depp and some of the stars are coming back to stay with us just purely on leisure time. >> they have seven unique signature penthouses. >> all of them are set over two floors. you're feeling as though you're coming into a residence rather than a hotel room or suite. >> the royal penthouse will run you nearly 13 grand a night. but you can enjoy a chic double guest room for just 650.
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>> the spa is set over four floors. it's not just the pampering, the well 46 bei well-being, it's also about the wellness. >> you can feast at one of the superb restaurants. >> it's all about the food. >> any hotel in london that's worth its salt must have this tradition. afternoon tea. whether you're a star or just want to feel like one, it's the most luxurious address across the pond. coming up, the cliffside island frequented by leo and brad and angie. and the must stay place when you go there. >> a private outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the sea view. >> then -- thank you. introducing the changing face of travel. >> they change in flight to the tahitian dress. >> all the details coming up on extra's mansions and
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millionaires world's best destinations.
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now we are going ashore to the island of santorini and a resort group of hotels that is unparalleled. it's simply a world class get away. >> we offer privacy and outstanding service. also easy access to the town. >> leo frequents the hot spot. who can blame him? >> it's one of the top four destinations. >> here are five great reasons why. number one, the picture perfect five star hotel. breathtaking one of a kind views complemented by endless whitewashed walls with stunning
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architecture. guests not only want to enjoy delicious hometown cuisine but also embrace the beautiful blue waters. >> it's a private unique location which is convenient. >> every room features a sea view with a master suite complete with five star luxury. >> a private outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the sea view. also a huge outdoor seating area and a loft. it is fantastic. >> it's one in a collection of five sister hotels. all unique, but with one common denominator, splendor. the spa perfectly blends history and hospitality. their a spa promoting
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the villa offers two bedrooms and three bathrooms with magnificent views. with only seven villas this is the most intimate and private destination. sunbathe poolside at its lavish pool whole soaking up the views. and finally the sun rocks boutique, a prominent couples only hotel perfect for weddings and honeymoons. you know, the best part of coming here to tahiti is that our vacation started on the plane. and i was off to paradise. thank you. air tahiti nui carrying me off to the white sands and the clear blue sea. the best thing about flying air tahiti nui is that your vacation starts the minute you get on
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board. before escaping to the real life utopia, air tahiti extolling the virtues of this one of a kind airline. >> our polynesian spirit will put them at rest, at ease and in vacation mode the moment they're on board our aircraft. >> i remember if you're taken you put it on this side over your heart. and if you're single you put it here, right? >> that's right. >> okay. i'm ready. once in flight, luxury at every turn of my eight-hour journey from l.a. on the modern a-340. >> comfort for our passengers with two by two seating so couples are always seated together. >> the attendants slip into something a little more comfortable. >> they change in flight to the tahitian dress, the parota,
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which
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. closed captioning and other consideration for extra provided by --
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that's it for "extra's" mansions and millionaires world's best destinations. i'm michael corbett. i want to thank you all for coming along on our amazing global journey. also we want to thank our hosts. and of course, hey, mario thank you. we'll see you back at universal. >> thank you. i'm definitely putting that place on the bucket list, man. right now we're going to leave you with a new look at another pretty amazing place, gotham. here's a look at batman and super m superman, the dawn of justice. >> the greatest gladiator match in the history of the world. >> you're psychotic. >> it is a three syllable word for any thought too big for little minds. >> what it means to be a man.
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>> stay down! if i wanted it, you'd be dead already. >> man won't kill god. >> the devil will do it. >> what have you done? >> is she with you? >> i thought she was with you. ♪ the only way to get better is to challenge yourself, and that's what we're doing at xfinity. we are challenging ourselves to
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improve every aspect of your experience. and this includes our commitment to being on time. every time. that's why if we're ever late for an appointment, we'll credit your account $20. it's our promise to you. we're doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your life. not the other way around. [ d[ bark ] ] there it is! [ gasps ] oh no! look, the sky's awake! ♪ that. was. epic! [ bark ]
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and daughter, at least not in australia. if harris was disappointed, he didn't show it. he'd learned long ago to keep his emotions at bay. was it heartbreaking for you that you went all the way over there and she wasn't ready to see you? >> no. >> reporter: but we're talking about your daughter and seeing your daughter and hugging her and telling her, i'm your dad. >> yeah. well, i didn't give up on that. i was there for about a month. and it wasn't until the third week that i finally realized that that just wasn't going to happen. >> reporter: so harris flew home, wondering if he'd ever see his daughter. after nine months in an australian jail, lee was extradited and flown back to charleston to face three federal counts of international parental kidnapping and passport fraud. and hot on her heels was savanna, returning to the city of her birth. going home to defend the mother who raised her and perhaps to
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meet the father she never knew. >> emotionally, i think that it's a decision i will make when i'm ready. coming up -- at last. >> i need to see for my own eyes what kind of person he is. >> a moment 20 years in the making. >> when she came to the door, i held my hand out. i didn't know whether she wanted to shake my hand or not. ♪
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♪ in december 2014, savanna, with her boyfriend along for support, returned to charleston for the first time in 20 years. she came for her mother, who was behind bars facing kidnapping charges and a prison sentence. >> for 20 years, all of america's been like she's crazy. or she's stolen a kid and no one knew whether i was safe or not. so first off, me coming back happy, healthy and grounded would have to raise some questions, you know? >> reporter: samantha has gone on record as saying she never saw anything wrong with her mom. she had a loving childhood. great relationship.
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it really flies in the face of everything that we heard early on. >> well, there's a saying. we don't know who discovered water, but we're certain it wasn't a fish. and a lot of times you can be raised in an environment and not necessarily know what it was until you happen to get outside of that environment and look back in. >> reporter: savanna returned home to a big welcome as lee's old friends gathered around to see her baby daughter all grown up now. to patty roth, lee's close friend who had held savanna the minute she was born, and patty's daughters who would have been her friends. and to charleston, the beautiful city that could have been savanna's home if life hadn't taken such a turn that
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ultimately led here, the charleston jail where her mom was awaiting trial. >> we don't know what's going to happen. i'm looking forward to going to trial, to be honest. >> i think we're going to give it all we got and that's all we can really say, right? >> it is. that's it. >> so we can only hope. >> and she said to me, i've done this all for you and i've succeeded, you know. she doesn't care what happens to her. >> reporter: lee's defense for what she did had not changed from the allegations she had made 20 years before, namely that harris had abused savanna that time when she picked her up with the bloody nose. lead prosecutor nathan williams said he re-investigated the incident but, like the original inquiry, found no evidence to support lee's charge. >> the first doctor said there was no problem with it, they didn't think a second opinion was needed. the defendant in this case got a second opinion from their pediatrician, who said the same thing. and so there was an indication
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that she was looking for an answer that wasn't there. >> reporter: not only that, williams' investigation revealed that lee had started to plan her escape even before she accused harris of harming baby savanna. >> we know contemporaneously, with this allegation of abuse that was unfounded, she was also getting false documents, false driver's licenses, false passports and setting the table to flee the country with her child. to try to rationalize it and claim that it was based on something that isn't true, to me, is a clear indication of guilt. >> reporter: "dateline" asked lee for an interview, but she declined. in the end, she pleaded guilty to all the charges against her. savanna spoke at the sentencing. she began by giving her name. >> i didn't know which one to give. so i gave all of them. and i said, samantha mulga geldenhuys. i said savanna lee barnett, savanna catherine todd.
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and i spoke the truth. i spoke from the heart. i remember saying that she gave me every opportunity. and she's given me the most incredible life. >> reporter: the judge sentenced lee to 21 months in prison. what did you think should be the punishment for lee? >> over a third of my life was essentially taken from me. the most important thing in my life. even if my daughter disagrees with it, i think her mother deserved to spend more time in jail for what she did. if for nothing else than a warning to any other abductive parent. >> reporter: there's been a lot of claims of revenge, that you put on this facade of trying to find your daughter when it was really about finding lee and making sure she paid. >> no. i'm not seeking revenge, not seeking revenge. all i wanted was my daughter, that's all. i love my daughter. and unfortunately, my ex-wife took her.
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and it's not revenge to want my daughter back. >> reporter: the daughter harris lost 20 years ago had been in charleston for several weeks. seemingly meeting everyone who had played a role in her past except him. but then a little after christmas 2014, he got the e-mail he'd been longing for. savanna wanted to meet. just one rule, she said. no talk about her mother or the case. and no photos. >> i'm not going to be ditching my mom by any means. but i wouldn't expect them to ever see each other again. but i need to have a mature, adult relationship and see for my own -- in my own eyes, and gauge myself what kind of person he is. >> reporter: harris happily agreed, and a few days later, here they were, father and daughter face-to-face on the doorstep of the house that once was savanna's home. >> when she came to the door, i
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didn't know whether she wanted to shake my hand or not. but -- so i held my hand out. and she said, no, i want a hug. >> reporter: that must have felt so good when she said that. >> oh, shoot, felt great. >> reporter: harris led savanna to what was once her bedroom, with its little wooden crib and baby toys. a place where time had stood still until now. >> to be honest, i was trying to make sure that i didn't fall apart. i didn't want to just stand there and cry or anything like that. here's a daughter who remembers nothing about her father. here's a father who remembers everything about his daughter and has longed for her for years and years. well, it's very hard to put those two things together. it's -- >> reporter: it's like two different worlds coming together. >> right. you know, life is not like a hallmark movie. >> it was natural. no, there was no uncomfortable. there was no awkwardness. i think that i'm a natural-born
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speaker. and it seemed to be that he is too. i learned very much a lot about him and my family on his side. and yeah, it was very pleasant. >> reporter: lee was released from prison in may and has to spend two years of probation in the charleston area. she'll have to build a new life in the u.s. as a convicted felon. she may never be allowed back into australia. but savanna returned there, to the place she calls home, to continue her college studies. since her visit she has not been in touch with her father. but if there is anything that harris has learned in the last 20 years, it is that there is always hope. >> you know, my daughter's her own person now. she can make her own decisions. and whether my daughter wants to contact me or not, she knows where i am. and she knows i want to hear from her, whatever happens.
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that's all for this edition of "dateline." i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. this sunday morning, donald trump's call to temporarily ban muslims from entering the country may have thrilled his supporters but it's disgust it had establishment. >> you really have no choice. it's so out of control. it's so terrible. >> why republicans fear a ticket headed by trump is a ticket headed for disaster. plus, could we be looking at a contested convention? our new nbc news/"wall street journal" poll on the republican race shows a serious three-way contest developing with new signs that ted cruz and marco rubio are on the move. rubio joins me exclusively. also, a global deal on climate change. i'll talk to secretary of state john kerry ab

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