A Wing and a Prayer Leonardo

WIND HOWLS

Wooo!

-I won't let you do it.

-I have to. I've been working on them for weeks.

It can't be done. It's mad. You're mad!

Tomaso Gherardini, are you sketching a bird or chirruping like one?

Sorry, Maestro.

No, no, no... eagle, not waddling duck.

Start again, Guiseppe.

The eagle is nature's most magnificent bird.

It's against nature.

Says the girl living life as a boy.

A miracle of creation.

It's using nature. Learning from it.

I want to see that. I want to see birds soaring and swooping.

Not plummeting to the ground like one of Cosimo's puddings.

What's wrong with my puddings?

Anyway, you're not going anywhere. Not with his beady eye on us.

Cosimo. Fetch my coat.

Not that one, the best one...

I have been chosen by one of Florence's

finest and richest gentlemen to paint his portrait.

And the apprentice who succeeds

in capturing the essence of a bird in flight will assist me.

Bellissimo non e vero?

No, it's not beautiful. It's dangerous.

There are hundreds of reasons why you can't do this.

-You're going to kill yourself.

-Where's your sense of adventure?

Just imagine it.

Imagine what you'd see from up there, high up in the clouds.

The wind in your face.

-Flying.

-Soaring.

-Swooping.

-Gliding.

No. It's impossible. Oh, and did I make this point before?

You are going to kill yourself.

Such little faith. Look...

So the wings are attached here, in the outer section.

And then, this...inner bit you can flex with a control cable.

Yeah.

What is it?

Let's call it a mechanical man.

Who designed this?

Just a boy.

A gifted and inventive boy, but a boy nonetheless.

Without the resources to see it built.

Without the experience or maturity.

Ah well, as you can see, my beard is grey.

So, can you build it?

Naturally.

I am the most talented engineer in all of Florence.

We will get you all you need.

And you will say nothing of this to anyone.

Ok, do what you want.

You will anyway. But don't expect me to watch you...kill yourself.

-Right.

-I'm staying here...

-Right.

Right here.

Santa Maria!

I never had this kind of trouble when I hung out with girls.

Girls don't throw themselves off buildings with...

weirdy contraptions strapped to them.

Not the ones I know anyway.

Scusi.

Magnifico non e vero?

Indeed, a beauty, Your Excellency.

You want me to paint you with the falcon?

Precisely.

It will be an honour, Your Excellency.

Yes.

Sorry, Father, I didn't realize.

No, no, no. Come in, Lorenzo.

Let me introduce you. You don't know Signor Verrocchio, do you?

No. No. Absolutely not...

Never... I haven't had the pleasure.

The pleasure is all mine.

Run along then.

Signor Verrocchio and I have terms to discuss.

Sons. Perhaps I indulge him too much. What do you think?

I wouldn't know, Your Excellency.

-I don't have children.

-Of course.

I'll take another 20 off you, selling like hot paninis.

Power of persuasion. Act confident and people believe any old rubbish,

-even that these little beauties are genuine.

-Is that so?

Ah, Signor Rizzo, you misunderstood.

The ones I sold you were the real deal.

I would never sell a connoisseur like you a fake.

Get him.

What the... That way! He went that way!

Mac, you are the man.

Santa Maria! Fast for big men!

Ow. Watch where you're...

Might have known it was you. Who have you upset this time?

Nobody. Nothing like a run. You? Good little swot like you skiving?

I'm not skiving... Well, I am sort of...

Don't tell me... Leo.

Where is he anyway?

Santa Maria!

-He's actually going to do it.

-I tried to stop him.

Can't stop Leo once he gets something in his head.

He'll be OK.

Wait!

Birdman!

What a loser.

Silenzio!

LEO YELLS

Leo, Leo!

Talk to me, are you OK?

-Leo!

-Ah! Nothing broken, just winded.

-It's not funny. You could have...

-Killed myself. I didn't. I flew.

Did you see it? I did it!

I flew just for a moment, but, oh...

If you could have felt it. My senses weren't just alive,

they were singing...

-Buzzing... That was such a buzz!

-Until you fell.

I can fix it, I can fly for longer, control the landing, I know I can.

Good. Because I'd like to make you an offer.

They're not for sale. And besides, there's a flaw in the design.

You'll fix it. And then you'll sell them to me.

Name your price.

They're not for sale, sir.

Well, if you won't name your price, I'll name mine.

Your little friend here...

He's not my friend, never seen him before in my life.

And I'm not little.

As I was saying, your little friend here sold me this...piece of junk.

Now, you will give me the wings

or I will make sure he rots in a filthy, rat-infested prison.

-It's nothing to do with Leo.

-Oh, thanks a bunch.

-You got yourself into this, get yourself out.

-I want those wings.

I want the power of flight.

It will make me more powerful than the Duke,

more powerful than all of the Medicis put together.

-It'll take time.

-Yeah, you have two days.

And then you will demonstrate.

And in case you want to double cross me, I'll take a little insurance.

I'm not little.

It's the strength to weight ratio.

I'm too heavy to be suspended in flight with these wing dimensions.

Wretched hat-fitting. I always miss all the fun. Is my feather straight?

Does nobody but me get that he nearly killed himself

-and he's going to do it again!

-Girls.

No, I'm not having that.

I'm as brave as you any day.

-Yeah, right.

-I am!

I need to glide. They need to be thicker.

I'm not sure I can do it in time. Where does that leave Mac?

He'll be OK, he always is...

Your lucky day.

This is new to me, all this.

Perhaps you'd better deal.

BIRDS SQUAWK

I need a bird.

I'll get you a budgie from the market.

No, I need one that glides. An eagle or a falcon.

My dad's bought this amazing falcon. Didn't Verrocchio tell you?

He's painting his portrait with it. Most expensive bird in Florence.

Oh, no...

Absolutely no way. I know what you're thinking and no way.

He'd skin me alive.

There's no way I'm doing it. No way.

BELL RINGS

BIRD SQUAWKS

Ssh!

Ssh!

-Hello.

-She is so beautiful.

How do you know it's a she?

I need to adjust the wings to maximize rigidity.

-So small.

-What?

-The cage. Does your dad take her hunting?

-No, it's just for display.

-Showing off, you mean. Poor Marietta.

-Marietta?

-I can loose the bracing cables for support.

Do you hear that Leo? Lisa's named the falcon Marietta.

-Tom.

-Everybody's asleep.

That's not the point. Someone only has to forget once and that's it.

Yeah, OK, sorry. Tom.

If I can control the tips, I can control the angles.

Better go.

Thanks, Lorenzo. Really appreciate it. And so will Mac.

I'm doing it for you, not for Mac.

-Dragging us into his messes.

-I know you don't mean that. Or you.

So, where is it? I'm waiting.

What price loyalty?

I know one of you has taken and sold it.

And the rest are protecting the thief. Well?

I am a reasonable man, confess and I will be lenient.

-Lorenzo.

-Yes, father?

-Did you see or hear anything last night?

-No, Papa.

I want answers. And if I don't get them, you will all be dismissed.

-Do I make myself clear?

-Yes, your Excellency.

Cosimo! Where is that infernal boy?

-Quick put it away, he's coming over.

-We're running out of time.

-Get me coffee.

-Yes, Maestro.

What's this?

You had the whole of yesterday to finish it. And another one.

What were you doing yesterday? Chattering and chittering no doubt.

Attenzione!

You're sloshing it all over the place.

-What's up with him?

-Haven't you heard?

Someone has stolen a falcon from his Excellency Piero de' Medici himself.

The portrait's been cancelled.

We need to get it to Mac's, work through the night.

He's going to kill us if he finds out.

Tomaso Gherardini, you will swap places with Giuseppe.

I don't want to hear another peep out of either of you.

Ah!

You win.

-Again.

-Not very good at this are you?

Bet she can cook as well.

Like an angel.

The best a man could have. My old mum.

I'd love to meet her if

I ever get out of here.

Well, if it was up to me... yeah, but the boss, he ain't a nice man.

-But he's a good boss though? Pays well, does he?

-Right old miser.

Here, come here, I'll let you in on a little secret.

All nicked.

Got so much he don't know what he's got. Here go ahead, have a look,

see if there's anything you fancy. He won't miss it.

-I think I'm in enough trouble, mate.

-Yeah.

How d'ya think your mate's doing?

I don't mean to sound negative or nothing,

but he can't really fly, can he?

Leo?

That boy can do anything.

Here, Marietta, you'll like these. Tasty seeds.

Mmm... See?

SNORING

Leo!

Leo, wake up!

Leo!

They're done.

Chop, chop, Signor Machiavelli.

Hold him tight, Luca, we know what a slippery little eel he can be.

Not little.

-What are you doing?

-I thought we needed to get her back to your dad.

Someone could have seen you.

BIRD SQUAWKS

You'd better hope he doesn't bottle it.

He won't. Is everything ok?

-Yeah. No thanks to you.

-Shhh.

MUSIC: "Song 2" by Blur

# Woohoo

# Woohoo. #

WINGS SWOOP

DOOR CREAKS

A boy's fantasy.

Nothing more. It's not possible.

Anything is possible.

# Woohoo, well I lie and I'm easy

# All of the time I am never sure why I need you

# Pleased to meet you... #

Soon as he hits the ground, grab the wings.

I don't think so.

-What's this?

-I know all about your little cash of stolen goods.

You report me, we both rot in prison.

The deal's off.

He's not giving you his wings.

Well played. But tell me this.

What's to stop me taking them?

-Leo, don't land!

-Shoot him down.

-No! Luca!

-Stop him Luca!

Leo! Don't come down!

Shoot him down.

Leo!

Ooh! Ah.

Ah!

Leo!

He isn't moving.

He's dead, isn't he? Santa Maria! I think he's dead.

Shut up, Lorenzo. Leo!

Leo! Leo! Please, Leo.

I'm OK. I'm OK.

I hit the wing, see.

Don't ever do that to me again.

Oof!

You and your friends don't want to cross me.

Oh, look your friend forgot his bird.

What a beautiful cage.

Real rubies!

You bring me the wings or I keep the bird. You have one hour.

Then I get it stuffed. Yeah?

Hope you're happy now. You almost got him killed.

I've said I'm sorry.

My dad's going to sack all the servants. What are we going to do?

There's only one thing we can do.

Give Rizzo the wings.

Shall I go after him?

No, let him have it.

I have the power of flight. What do I want with a bird?

I will be a bird!

He switched cages. Didn't you notice he'd switched cages?

Don't get at Leo.

He gave up his wings to that creep.

Fat lot of good they'll do him.

-How do you mean?

-They're designed for me, my height, my weight.

-That big gonzo will never fly.

-Serves him right.

-Good.

No. It's not good.

If he can't fly with them, he could come after us again.

-So what do we do?

-There might be something...

-Yeah?

-Yeah. We land him in it with your dad.

How?

You're not going to like this, mate...

What?

I took your falcon, it was me.

I wanted to impress my friends, and I know it was wrong

but I just put it down for a second in the market

-and this man took it, ran off with it.

-What man?

Big,

dark brown hair, beard...

loads of gold chains, and a diamond stud in his ear.

-Rizzo.

-Do you know him?

-I know he's a thief.

-At least now you know the servants can be trusted.

I already sacked them.

-But you could get them back.

-I never go back.

Makes one appear weak. This is on your head, Lorenzo.

Next time think twice before you take something that belongs to me.

-I'm the one you should punish.

-Don't worry. I fully intend to.

-Are you going to have Rizzo imprisoned?

-Something like that.

I want to release her.

I can't. I need to get back in my dad's good books.

She shouldn't be in a cage.

I can't.

Lorenzo, I've felt the vastness of the sky, the freedom.

We can't deny her that.

Such an honour, Your Excellency. May I offer you some refreshment?

Presto, presto! A drink for our distinguished visitor.

I am your most humble servant.

You have something of mine.

Of yours? I don't think so, Your Excellency.

-A falcon.

-No, no you must be mistaken.

If I'd only known it was yours, Your Excellency, I'd never have...

I've only got it because of the wings.

Wings? What do you mean wings?

Did I say wings?

Not really wings, just

something I took a fancy to...

a child's toy.

Let me pay you for the falcon, your Excellency,

I'll pay you twice what it's worth.

How much?

I want the wings.

It's not like they work or anything,

yeah, that would be absurd.

SARCASTIC LAUGH

We will see, won't we?

Because you are going to test them for me.

I will be a bird.

Ramrod straight. You will not move a muscle, do you understand?

How long will it take, Signore?

-A week? Maybe two.

-Take your time. We want it to be perfect.

# Woohoo

# Woohoo

# Woohoo

# Woohoo

# I got my head checked

# By a jumbo jet

# It wasn't easy

# But nothing is

# No, woohoo

# When I feel heavy metal

# Woohoo And I'm pins and I'm needles

# Woohoo, when I lie and I'm easy

# All of the time I am never sure why I need you

# Pleased to meet you. #