Enter the Robot Leonardo

THUDS

-Buongiorno, Carpaccio!

-Buongiorno, Machiavelli.

-Yesterday's bread at today's prices. Ciao, Dolorio!

-Ciao!

-Thief, just like his father.

-Lorenzo!

He'll come round. Just give him some time.

-You know what Lorenzo's like.

-Run! Run! Presto! Un diavolo! A demon!

Probably seen a three-legged dog.

You know what these peasants are like, still living in the Dark Ages.

SCREAMING

Run! Run! It's a demon!

That's no demon...

CHILD SCREAMS

I don't understand. How can it turn like that?

Who cares? How did it get up from hell?

It's not a demon. It's one of my machines from the notebook.

-You designed it?

-Drawings.

I didn't think it'd be real or used to hurt people.

-Piero built it?

-And made it better.

It does things I couldn't dream of.

We've got to get the truth out.

You designed it, you know how to beat it.

-You know how to beat it, right?

-I designed it to be unstoppable.

It has toughened armour so muskets, arrows, swords - useless.

Look who it is. The watch thief.

I saw it with my own eyes. A monster from the very pits of hell!

A demon! It will destroy the city!

-Flee!

-It's not a demon. It's a mechanical man.

I should know. I designed it myself.

Aren't you the one who told us that

Piero de' Medici was trying to kill the Duke?

That's him! The boy who cried wolf! Liar!

I'm telling the truth.

Now you expect us to believe you built that creature? He's a liar.

No, I'm not lying!

That man. He's with the Luminari.

-Now we know why Piero wanted us to accuse him.

-So no-one believes us.

He was deliberately stirring up the crowd. Why is Piero doing all this?

Stay calm! Cover your work so nothing gets damaged.

-Leonardo, presto! There's a demon on the loose!

-It's not...

-Never mind.

-Everybody, down in the cellar!

-It's not a demon.

-What?

-It's one of Leo's machines.

Presto, presto, all of you! There's someone missing, who's missing?

No! Cosimo! That idiot boy.

Phase one was perfect. The citizens reacted as you predicted.

Like terrified sheep.

I told you. They're superstitious.

Nothing like a demon to strike terror into their hearts.

Da Vinci was there.

He can do nothing. No-one will listen to him.

Excellency, why take a risk?

It's a simple matter to keep him out of the way.

Va bene. Do it.

THUD

THUD

THUDS

Cosimo!

Will this do?

Let's see. Help me with this, lift it up slowly.

Careful.

It's not how I designed it. Centre of gravity is further forward.

But it might do.

I'm going out there again. See what's happening.

It needs to be lined up so it's

exactly perpendicular to the path of the bolt...

Cousin! You've heard about the demon?

Yes. My men are assembling as we speak.

-You'll stand with me?

-Shoulder to shoulder.

-I'll fight too.

You're a good man, Piero. I knew I could rely on you.

You can rely on me too.

Lorenzo, stay here and protect your mother.

The guards will protect her.

I'm a man, now. If you're to fight a demon, I should be with you.

We all have to do our duty, and yours...is here.

Father?

Father?

Let's go.

We meet again.

-Piero de' Medici sent you.

-Inside.

Ewww! Wax!

Santa Maria!

Father?!

This is terrible, just terrible...

Indeed, your Grace. I fear the people can't endure much more.

-Scusi, scusi!

-Signor Verrocchio! This way!

I know how slippery you are. You try anything.

You told me... I'm dead.

What are you doing? Hey?

I'm sketching you.

Did I say you could?

Mi scusi, I couldn't help myself. You've got such an interesting face.

My left side's the best.

Almost done.

The wife will be pleased. Portraits...

..usually just for the big shots.

Let me see.

I think you've really captured me. An honest sort, yet...

..hidden depths.

If you look closely, you'll see

I've done a tiny Medici crest on your breast,

as a tribute to your master.

It's very... very...

I knew you were up to something. An opiate. Clever.

Not just a pretty face.

-Makes a change.

-What?

You hanging around my place.

-Is he going to be OK?

-Yes, yes, I think so.

I've got to go. Can you look after this lot for me?

Don't worry, I'll see they come to no harm.

Ready!

DISTANT THUDS

I'll flank it. That way, we can attack from two sides. Men!

All right, men, on my word.

Fire!

In the name of all that is holy, I command you to stop!

Presto! It's Piero. He's using the mechanical man to kill the Duke!

We've got to hurry.

Load.

Uno, due...

-Shoot! Shoot!

-I can't! I'll kill him!

-And that'd be bad because...?

-I just can't!

-Demon!

Be gone! Or you will taste Medici steel!

Think I fear you, demon? I do not!

Be gone!

What's he...? He had the Duke at his mercy.

Why would he save him?

Piero de' Medici! He saved us!

He saved the city!

CHEERING

MECHANICAL CLANKING

Demon! Prepare to die!

Afraid to fight, are you? Coward! Ah!

Ow!

Lorenzo! Stop!

Father!

Caporaso! Back!

It's a man, not a demon.

You...

-..you're the one behind all this?

-I built it,

using a design I got from the notebook of one Leonardo da Vinci.

-It was you who stole the notebook?

-All I care about is our city,

I want us to be secure.

In order for that to happen, the balance of power has to shift.

But children being hurt... people are terrified!

Their fear will make them see the Duke is weak,

-that they need a strong leader.

-But like this?

-It's wrong.

-Sometimes the ends justify the means.

It's better to hurt a few so we can save many.

I'm just sorry I had to get your friend, Leonardo, involved.

Yes, I know he's a friend of yours. And Machiavelli. And Tomaso.

Not any more.

Don't worry, they're like us...

..intelligent. They'll come round to our way of seeing things.

DISTANT CHEERING

-They're cheering for him.

-This was his plan all along.

To get rid of the Duke and take his place as leader of Florence.

-I just didn't see it.

-That's why they stole your notebook.

From this notebook we will conjure deadly weapons

and bring the Duke of Florence to his knees.

The Luminari must have heard something about your designs.

But they needed you to make this flame thing work...

I fell for it. I helped him.

-Remember designing this?

-Of course! It's a children's toy.

Clap your hands, a bunch of flowers pops out.

He's been one step ahead the whole time.

I was hasty. Assassinations create martyrs,

the Duke would be more popular dead than alive.

He wasn't planning to kill the Duke with it.

This way everyone thinks he saved the city.

He's made himself a hero.

Now everyone wants him as Florence's leader.

-We have to stop him.

-How? He's made sure no-one will listen to us.

We can't just give up, there must be a way.

Lorenzo!

Why didn't you tell me about my father?

You all knew. And none of you told me.

-How do you think I felt?

-We were telling the truth.

I know that now and I'm sorry for thinking you liars.

But you don't know the whole story.

The Duke's a weak leader, he leaves the city open to attack.

My father loves this city, he would die for it.

Don't be such a...

You're our friend, Lorenzo, and we trust you.

And you know your father better than anyone.

-So, if you say it's so...

-I do.

-Well, then, we have to believe you.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Dad said you'd come round.

-So, how did you discover the truth?

I found out where he's been hiding the demon.

-Sorry, I mean, the mechanical man.

-Really?

The people have made their choice clear. They want you to lead them.

-No, no, no.

-You are the Duke and...

I'll step aside. Florence is in your debt.

You saved them from that monstrosity. You're a hero.

It's a heavy burden, Medici.

But is it not our duty to honour the people's wishes?

Well, when you put it like that... I'll do it.

Just like Lorenzo said.

It's been an honour to serve as your Duke.

But it's time to step aside for new blood.

And I couldn't find a more worthy successor.

Nobody has given more to Florence. Piero de' Medici.

APPLAUSE

I stand before you not just as Florence's saviour,

but as her humble servant, and as such, I will work tirelessly

to ensure that this city, our city, your city, continues to flourish.

The demon! The demon's coming!

Show him, your Excellency! Send it back to hell.

What's that idiot, Caporaso, doing?

Get back! I command you! Back!

Your Grace! The demon is back!

-I'm not the man for that job, I'm afraid. Piero de' Medici...

-No!

It's attacking him. He's helpless against it.

-What?

-Presto! We need your help. The people in the piazza...

they're in great danger!

Caporaso,

treacherous swine.

You'll pay for this.

Prepare to die!

Lorenzo, get out of the way.

-Leo?

-I promise you, I will not hurt your father.

Out of the way!

No. I'm not letting you do this.

Lorenzo, out of the way!

Master Lorenzo! I'll save you!

Get off me!

Leo!

Back!

Back, I say! I swear, while there's a breath in this body,

you'll not harm a single one of these good people!

Flee then! Back to the pit from whence you came!

Bravo! Long live the Duke!

The Duke! The Duke! Bravo! Bravo!

Da Vinci...

I suppose you'll have to rest up for a few days.

-No cooking, no cleaning? Grazie, maestro!

-Huh.

You're not injured, cousin?

No, no, just a little overwhelmed, that's all.

So... so wonderful to have you back.

Thank you. Thank you.

How could you do this? My father was trying to help the people.

-That's not how we see it.

-He was trying to help himself.

-To the city.

-How dare you!

-Lorenzo!

-My father is a good man.

-No. He's not.

-And if you can't see that...

-If I can't see it, then what?

-Lorenzo, go home.

-Father.

-GO HOME!

What you did today, I'll never forget it.

I'll make you suffer.

All of you.

Bring it on.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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