Angels and Cherubs Leonardo

Che bella.

Beautiful.

-Are you looking forward to the finals of the art contest?

-Indeed.

Of the five, the Benchi apprentice, Michelangelo, is favourite.

-Verrocchio's apprentice, what's his name?

-Leo.

Or is it Rio, or Theo? Something like that anyway.

Ah, yes, grazie.

Leonardo da Vinci is also supposed to be rather good.

It should be a close contest.

Let's hope there aren't many battlefield scenes.

It's bad enough our young men have to sacrifice their lives.

There is nothing glorious about war.

Quite so.

Summer berries?

A celebration of talent is what we need. Good of you to sponsor it.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for the good of Florence.

I wish all were as public-spirited.

Perhaps you should judge the contest.

No, no, cousin. It's Florence's leader the people wish to see.

They do so love you, Your Grace.

I try to listen.

It's important to keep in touch with fears, hopes, desires.

It keeps wars at bay.

Democracy. The will of the people.

Quite.

MUSIC BOX PLAYS A TUNE

No toca lo.

Don't let him get to you. Grumpy idiot. No wonder his wife left him.

It's not that.

My mum has this music box.

I haven't heard that song since I left home.

Sorry, pathetic. Crying like a girl!

Andiamo. Let's find Leo.

Verrocchio will go mad if we're late.

Hello.

You can't save every bird. Cost you a fortune.

I think it's lovely.

# I'm a dandy highway man you're too scared to mention

# I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention

# Stand and deliver

# Your money or your life... #

-Ah, look who it is.

-Michelangelo.

Bird boy and his feathered friends. Fly, little birdie.

Presto, before we turn you into a juicy bird pie.

Don't. Leave it alone.

Ah, bless, I'm upsetting his delicate sensibilities.

He's a vegetarian. Doesn't eat meat, not a sausage.

-Against his "principles".

-What do you want?

To wish da Vinci luck in the contest.

Have you heard? Apparently you're going to win.

-Where did you hear that?

-People love an underdog story.

-The poor peasant boy.

-I'm not a peasant!

-Really?

So...why are you dressed as one?

I find underdog stories incredibly tedious, so I've decided to win.

That's what you think. Leo's painting's fantastico.

Is it? What about yours?

-Are you going to beat me with your scribbles?

-I might.

Some advice - no self-portraits. You don't have the bone structure. See?

It's all squishy! Ew!

# ..Stand and deliver

# Your money or your life. #

I don't know why he hates me so much.

Cos you're good. You'll win. I'd bet every florin I have.

At last!

How long does it take to buy a few things from the market?

Presto, not much time left. I bet the Benchis don't have this.

I'm sure Michelangelo doesn't idle away his time at the market.

-You, turn around and buzz off.

-I came to see Leo's painting.

You can see it along with the rest of Florence.

Now, vamoose, skedaddle.

I won't tolerate any distractions.

An apprentice from my workshop will triumph at the finals.

You need to add a few more layers. Where's the linseed oil?

Give me strength! Go and get it. Presto!

Grazie.

Don't you have anything better to do?

Not really. Banged out a searing masterpiece this morning.

I'm kind of bored now.

Please, I don't have time.

Come on, don't be a meany. Give it back to him.

When you don't have my gifts -

you're a hard-working plodder and not a genius -

you need all the time you can get.

You going to wipe that smile off his face? You'd better, cos I did it.

I bet everything on you to win.

Mac, that's a lot of money. Are you sure?

I have total faith in you.

-Grazie.

-Prego.

PLAYS OUT OF TUNE

Sorry.

CONTINUES TO PLAY OUT OF TUNE

I am very disappointed. That was a disgrace.

I'm sorry, Mama, I really have been practising.

I'm sure, mio piccolo tortellini.

I know you're not to blame. The Medicis are musically gifted,

so I assume it is your tutoring.

Incompetence is not tolerated here. You are fired. Leave immediately.

Does this mean I don't have to have lessons any more?

Don't be absurd, Lorenzo.

Well, that was, erm...

That was, er...music to my ears.

You should try playing it, it's not easy.

How did you pass security?

Delivering hay for the horses. MIMICS: Coming through!

Finest hay for His Excellency's horses.

-What do you want?

-What makes you think I want anything?

-The Duke's your dad's cousin?

-Yes...

-And he's judging the finals?

-Yes.

Michelangelo is convinced he'll win.

He's so arrogant. But he is good.

-Leo could beat him.

-Yes.

-Especially if we give him an advantage.

Yes... No! What, do you mean cheat?

Angels and fools play by the rules.

We've got an angle and we'd be idiots not to use it.

-What angle?

-La famiglia.

Your dad's cousin.

Find out what he likes.

I don't know what he likes but I know what he hates.

-Really?

-Battle scenes. Loathes them.

"There's nothing glorious about war."

You can do an impersonation?

Lorenzo, for the first time in our long acquaintance, I'm impressed.

Mmm. You have a way with portraits.

An ability to get inside.

Leonardo may not be the only one to watch.

Your mother, I presume? Your parents haven't been to visit you.

They live in Rome. It's too far to travel.

You could apply the paint in thinner layers.

Gives a broader, luminous range of colour.

See how delicate the paint is, almost translucent.

See how he uses the oil.

What's...?

I don't understand.

This oil isn't linseed.

How could you be so careless?

All that work.

Start again.

I can't. That was weeks of work. It won't be the same.

Don't answer back. You can...and you will.

Oh, Leo, missing me already?

Cavolo! Are you mad?!

I knew you were arrogant. I didn't think you were a cheat!

-Watch who you're calling a cheat.

-You switched my linseed oil.

Ridicolo. Why would I do that?

-I didn't know.

-Oh!

I swear, I didn't. I didn't ask them to do it.

I don't need to cheat.

I am better than you, do you hear me? ECHOES: I am better than you.

The will of the people, democracy? We need strong leadership,

not this weakling bleating about the tragedy of wars.

He's taken to walking the streets,

listening to his citizens and any old riff-raff.

With one bodyguard. Imbecile!

If that isn't asking to be assassinated, what is?

In fact, maybe we have waited long enough, hmm?

Caporaso.

Do you believe him?

Yeah. He doesn't need to cheat to win.

But I'm not going to let him. Not without a fight.

But I can't do that painting again.

Not now, not yet. I don't have the heart.

I need something else, something...

Tomaso, wake up. Wake up.

What?

-You were snoring.

-I don't snore.

-Let me sleep, I'm really tired.

-Per favore, get up. Get up.

# Mona Lisa

# With your cryptic smile

# Though it pains me it sustains me

# All the while

# Mona Lisa

# Love can't heal you now... #

Che bella.

# ..A moment in time... #

Just like that.

# ..When you were mine

# Mona Lisa. #

-Bongiorno.

-Your Grace.

-Bongiorno.

-Your Grace.

-Looking forward to the contest?

-Si, Signore.

-You're sure Michelangelo dines there?

-Mm-hmm.

OK, so you know what to do.

Go on, hop to it. Off you pop.

-Bongiorno.

-Bongiorno, Signore.

-Bongiorno.

-Che bella ragazza. What's your name?

-Maria...

What the devil...?!

Come back! Come back!

HE MOUTHS

-I see you worked through the night.

-Si, Maestro.

It's not an easy profession.

If it isn't good enough, rip it up, start again.

Strive for perfection,

because sometimes we may even find that we...get close.

You've drawn from memory, I take it the model exists.

Anyone I know?

No, Maestro.

Unusual, you've shown her smiling. I'm not sure it's been done before.

Is it wrong?

Nothing wrong with breaking rules, it's how art progresses.

Why should our portraits have to be serious? No, I like it.

She has a lovely smile.

Reminds me of someone.

Carry on, you have another few hours yet.

You're late. Michelangelo's in the cafe already.

Amazing!

-It's exactly like my uncle's hat, perfect replica!

-Yeah, perfect.

We can't let anyone see your face, so keep your handkerchief over it,

-that way we'll get away with your impression.

-What do you mean?

-You were impressed before!

-Well, I had to suck you in.

-And vanity, thy name is Lorenzo, need I say more?

-I am not vain!

I can still back out, you know.

-Can't even imagine the trouble if we're caught.

-We won't be caught.

WHISTLES

OK, here's what to do - surround him, ask for money, autograph, whatever,

but make sure no-one else can get a look.

Once we're in the VIP, we should be fine.

Come on, andiamo!

Atchoo!

Allow me, Your Grace, this way.

Atchoo!

Leave His Grace alone.

Go on, be off with you, shoo!

Trust Machiavelli to try and get in with the Duke.

Shameless sucking up. Look at him.

-There you go, Your Grace, you settle yourself there.

-Atchoo!

That's a nasty cold.

I've taken the liberty of ordering you a hot lemon to soothe it.

Ah, grazie.

That devious cur is up to something.

Mmm, simply delizioso, my good man.

WHISPERS: You're overdoing it!

Ah, simply delizioso.

So, is Your Grace looking forward to judging the finals?

He's digging for information.

Um, indeed.

Indeed I am.

And what sort of paintings adorn your own palace?

Ah, well, I'm afraid I'm rather conservative in my tastes.

Battle scenes, portraits of soldiers...

..great warriors dying on the battlefield.

Spears piercing flesh, legs ripped asunder.

Heads on moles...

-Sorry, I mean poles, heads on poles. That sort of thing.

-Really?

Yes, you can't beat a good scrap when it comes down to it.

The more blood and gore, the better.

Anything you aren't keen on?

Well, to tell the truth, I'm not mad about angels or cherubs.

I find, when it comes to angels and cherubs,

well, when you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Your painting?

Angels...

..and cherubs.

Come on!

My acting was good, wasn't it?

Yeah, almost as good as your ability to play a musical instrument.

Did you catch my Duke-like hand action?

Lorenzo, where did you get that hat?

The hat?

The hat.

-I...

-We saw a vile urchin with it

and Lorenzo recognised it.

So we chased after him and got it back.

Well done. Very public-spirited, like your father.

Unfortunately the urchin escaped.

Pity. A boy like that needs some guidance.

Grazie.

Grazie.

I was hasty.

Assassinations create martyrs.

The Duke would be more popular dead than alive.

We can be a bit more creative in our thinking.

Valerio's had a breakthrough with a mechanical man.

And I think I know exactly how to use it.

Our time will come.

I will command this city.

But we need to be patient a while longer.

You have a real chance of winning.

Although you'll have to beat Tomaso first.

Grazie, maestro!

Pack it up.

For once, I expect the pair of you to be on time.

You all right, Leo, ready to go?

One sec.

Oh, wow.

She's beautiful.

I mean, the painting's beautiful, not Lisa.

Not that Lisa's not beautiful too.

I mean, I haven't noticed before, why would I?

But...ahem.

I thought you were doing an angel, what happened?

-Michelangelo.

-What?

It's a long story.

His friends switched some oil, ruined the painting.

-He said he didn't know.

-You believe him?

-I think so.

-Doesn't matter,

-because you're going to win and he'll lose.

-You can't be sure about that.

I can, because someone, and you can thank them later,

convinced him the Duke adores battle scenes.

Which, in fact, he hates.

Please tell me you're joking.

Of course I'm not.

What's the problem, you said yourself, he's a cheat?

What happened to, "I have every faith in you"?

"I'll put every florin I have..."

I did... I do.

I should have known.

It was all about fixing things, so you come out on top, as usual.

-No, it wasn't.

-You didn't think I could win on merit, no cheating?

Vai via, Mac.

I don't want to talk to you.

Just...

Welcome to Florence's first art contest.

I'd like to thank my Cousin, his Excellency Piero de' Medici,

for sponsoring the event showcasing our young talent.

And, in no particular order, the five finalists are

Carlo Greco, Tomaso Gherardini, Paulo Ricci, Leonardo da Vinci

and Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni.

Would the artists please reveal their paintings?

Interesting pallid skin tones.

This is beautiful.

-Complimenti, it's a charming piece.

-Grazie, Your Grace.

I can see why they say he has talent but that painting...

hard to stomach.

It's a shame, it's almost perfect,

but there's something not right about the mouth.

Signori, signore e bambini.

The winner of the contest and Florence's best young artist is...

..Tomaso Gherardini.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

Well done.

Your talent does Florence proud.

Grazie, Your Grace.

And your prize - your first commission will be

to paint my god-daughter, La Contessa Rosetta Brunetti Bugatti d'Abruzzo.

Put it there.

It was a great show, remarkable.

I wasn't mistaken in taking you on.

Enjoy your victory, you deserve it.

Grazie.

It wasn't about the money, you know.

-I know.

-I do have faith in you.

Do not involve me in anything like this again.

-I mean it.

-All right.

At least Tomaso won.

I'm glad about that.

Me too. And whatever you say, I'm still glad he lost.

Yeah, me too.

Excuse me.

I've a package for Tomaso.

That's me.

Grazie!

Leo!

Grazie, grazie!

Uh...

But it's not from me.

Don't be so modest, who else would it be from?

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

What happened, boy?

I'm so sorry, Maestro, I didn't think the smile was right,

so I tried to change it.

You should have left it as it was.

It was perfect.

No.

But it will be.

One day.

# Can you find a way to make me smile?

# Just for a while

# Just make me smile-a-ile-a-ile

# Can you tell me what I took?

# You're just like a closed book... #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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