Illusion Leonardo

-My father's a good man.

-No. He's not. And if you can't see that...

If I can't see it, then what?

-Lorenzo, home.

-Father...

-Go home!

What you did today, I won't forget it.

I'm going to make you suffer. All of you.

Bring it on.

You know what you have to do, Placidi.

CLATTERING

TOMASO GASPS

Piccola ragazza. Tell him Piero de' Medici is watching him.

And when the time is right...

Buona notte. Sleep well, little girl.

If I hadn't woken up when I did, he would have slit his throat.

No. Too crude. Send his man to murder Leo in the workshop?

-Not Piero's style.

-These warded locks are useless. They're easy to pick.

You just need a tool to clear the projections.

What is he planning, then?

Before the Egyptians, they used knots, not locks.

-But Placidi didn't steal anything?

-No.

-What about your notebooks?

Still there.

What is he up to?

He could have easily closed down the workshop by now.

Told people I'm a girl. Why hasn't he?

No, no, too simple. Piero likes toying with people. Playing games.

-He wants to scare us.

-Well, it's working.

Hey! Look, it's me he's gunning for.

It's me he wants to get. Well, just let him try.

I'll be ready for him.

Don't let him go anywhere on his own.

Oh, yeah, right. Like that'll be easy(!)

It's just ridic... (Oh, they've gone.)

Signor Placidi!

Not now, Master Lorenzo. I'm busy.

En garde.

How do you do that?

That would be telling.

Take that, Leonardo!

And as for you, Tom, you big... girl!

And as for you, Machiavelli...

Oh. I'm so BORED!

Only the boring are bored, Lorenzo.

Sorry, Papa.

It's been months now.

You need to stop moping around the house and get out.

Make some new friends.

Yes, Papa.

Well, off you go, then.

And as for you, you will pay for such oafish clumsiness.

That will come out of your wages for the next three years.

Oh, actually, Papa, that was...

me.

BANGING

Tomaso! BANGING

Tomaso!

No, no, no. It's way off.

What's the matter with you this morning? Do it again.

We're nearly out of lapis lazuli, Maestro.

Not surprising when you mix it so badly.

Leonardo, go buy some more.

Er... I should just go with him.

Yes, excellent idea(!)

You two go frolicking off and fritter away my time as well as my money.

Just mix the blue, and get it right this time.

Si, Maestro.

And Cosimo!

Si, Maestro.

Coffee!

< Coffee, coffee, coffee.

Scusi! Scusi!

Lapis.

Whoa! I wish you wouldn't do that.

Just watching your back, my friend.

Well, you don't need to. We won. We beat him, didn't we?

Yeah, yeah. We did.

-And if he tries to attack me again, we'll beat him again. Yes?

-Yes.

Yes, I know, I've seen him.

-Maybe we should go over.

-No. I'm not talking to him.

He made his choice, there's nothing more to say.

MACHIAVELLI CHUCKLES

# You pull me apart, now you pull me apart

# In a pool with the sharks I fall from the start... #

-Here, let me have a go.

-Think you've got it, do you?

I know I've got it. I'm the Mac. Watch me!

You know you're going to fall in the dirt, don't you?

Whoa! Whoa! Oh! Oh!

Agh!

You're such a gonzo.

Cheers, mate.

-Got it.

-Got it?

Va bene, Master Lorenzo?

Of course, why wouldn't I be?

En garde.

Not now. I'm not in the mood.

You've captured him perfectly, Maestro.

Yes. Would Signor Costa care to examine the work?

I think you will be pleased with the result.

Do you?

Well, I most certainly am not.

Call yourself an artist? You call THAT a portrait?

Pah! E spazzatura! It's nothing like me, it's tat.

It's rubbish.

And if you think I am going to pay YOU for that monstrosity, well,

you've got another think coming, Sir!

Signor Costa,

I can assure you it's a very good likeness.

Costa. You owe me 20 florins.

I will not pay you a single one, Sir!

You will pay me Costa, or I'll have the Magistrate onto you.

I will not pay for sub-standard work.

My work is of the highest quality.

A chimpanzee could do a better job. A big, old chimpanzee!

-How dare you!

-A big, old, blindfolded chimpanzee!

-What's going on?

-He won't pay him.

-You Philistine!

-Oh!

Porca miseria! Give me my money.

I would rather give it to the beggars. You charlatan!

Cheat! This man cannot paint his way out of a paper bag!

-Maestro!

-Maestro! Come away.

-Let me go!

-My eye! My eye!

Thief! Scoundrel! Give me my purse!

You're the scoundrel! Farabutto!

Did you see that? Did you see?

He tried to steal my purse.

You're lucky, Sir, that I don't report you to the Magistrate.

-Maestro!

-Maestro.

A week's work down the drain.

That portrait was an excellent likeness.

I'll have my money from that swindler if it kills me.

-Maestro, where are you going? Maybe you should...

-To get a drink!

Go and clear up in there. And get that portrait out of my sight.

I don't want his ugly mug staring me in the face when I get back.

Sorry.

BELL CHIMES

Is the Maestro back?

He won't break the curfew. He'll stay in the tavern now.

-And be in a foul mood tomorrow.

-The man cheated him.

I know. I know. But he can be scary when he's angry.

A surprise for Placidi if he comes back.

Where's the rest of my money? I earned it.

You can see the eye.

You did a good job, my friend.

Well, that concludes our business, then.

Not quite.

Come on, wake up. Time to go home. Come on.

All right! Let me sleep.

You'll be sorry in the morning.

You know what you have to say.

-And you're sure nobody saw you?

-I'm sure.

We don't want anyone thinking there are two identical ones, do we?

Cosimo! Bring me coffee!

Oh, it's you. Bring me coffee.

And keep it down, can't you?

HE GROANS

LEONARDO!

I take it this is one of your idiot pranks.

-I can explain.

-Don't bother. I'm going to change.

By order of the Duke, search the premises. Leave no stone unturned.

Where do you think you're going?

-Hey! Hey, leave that alone!

-Get out of it...

Get off!

Get out of my way, boy. >

Not those, please! >

What's going on?

Andrea del Verrocchio. I am arresting you for murder.

-What!

-You can't be serious.

Who am I supposed to have murdered?

This man. Signor Antonio Costa.

That's ridiculous.

Why are your clothes wet?

Attempting to wash away the blood, no doubt.

It was me, I put it there.

-There was a bucket over the door.

-We had a break in...

Silenzio!

Where were you last night?

I was in the tavern.

The tavern outside which Signor Costa was killed.

I was asleep.

The tavern owner says you could easily have sneaked out.

-Come back in again.

-But I didn't.

And then there's the witness.

-What witness?

-The witness who saw you do it.

Not possible. It can't be.

Maestro, tell them!

Several other witnesses saw you fighting with him

-earlier in the day.

-He refused to pay.

And so you smashed his skull in and took his purse.

-No!

-No! He didn't, he couldn't have.

So, what is this?

Take him away.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Entree.

It is done. The Magistrate has taken him to gaol.

I would like to have seen the boy's face.

He does so love his Maestro.

You don't...you don't think there's any way he could have done it?

No! No, I don't.

Go to Mac's and see if he can find out anything about this "witness".

All right, there's some bread and some fruits,

and some of his biscotti that he likes.

I don't know what he'll do without his coffee.

Do they give you coffee in prison?

-Don't worry, Cosi, I'm sure they do.

-Bene, bene.

-He's like a bear with a sore head without his coffee.

-Yeah.

They will let him go, won't they?

Course they will.

It's just...in town, people were saying it's happened before.

-What?

-That he's done it before.

When he was young, he killed a boy the same way. With a rock.

That's rubbish! That's mindless gossip.

These artist types are all the same. Terrible tempers.

Quite.

And drinkers, too, more often than not.

Apparently, he'd been in the tavern all night,

drinking himself into a murderous frenzy.

Mmm.

It makes my skin crawl.

He painted Lorenzo's portrait, didn't he?

It's one of my favourites.

We'll have to take it down.

We can't display the work of murderers on our walls.

I'll instruct the servants.

Thieves and robbers and murderers

roaming the streets like feral animals.

We're barely safe in our beds at night.

I'll feel better once the man is executed.

He has to have a trial first.

One can't simply just hang people. More's the pity.

Naturalmente. A trial, and then he will hang.

The man is clearly guilty. Everybody says so.

Lorenzo, you've not eaten a thing.

I'm not hungry.

I don't know what's happened to your appetite recently.

At least try the pickled peacock. E delizioso.

Lorenzo, walk with me. I want to talk to you.

I brought you these.

I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't draw. It's like breathing.

They're saying I've done it before, aren't they?

Nobody believes that.

Why not? It's the truth.

What?

I have killed before.

No.

When I was about your age. We were messing about, throwing rocks.

I hit my best friend on the head. It was an accident.

But a boy still died.

What do you think of your Maestro now?

It doesn't... It doesn't change the way I feel.

It was an accident.

I didn't kill Costa, I swear to you on my life.

Somebody's going to a lot of trouble to make it look like you did.

You're being set up. Framed.

My dad! My dad!

My dad will help us. He'll prove you're innocent.

I just need to speak to my dad! Jailer!

He can't have.

I'm fond of him too, Lorenzo. But facts are facts.

And you have to face them.

He can't be a murderer.

Well, sadly, he is. Signor Verrocchio has a temper.

And he's done it before. He killed a boy. With a rock.

It was an accident. Or so he says.

Can't you do anything, Papa?

Oh, I am doing something. Costa, the murdered man, worked for me.

I'll make sure that justice is done.

HE CHUCKLES

-Ciao, Leo.

-Ciao, Papa.

Come on, let me buy you an ice cream.

Due gelati, per favore.

Dad, erm... have you... Have you heard?

Have you heard about Signor Verrocchio?

I'd have to be cloth-eared not to. It's all over town.

I don't know what the man was thinking.

But if the workshop's closed down,

we'll have to find you somewhere else to live.

It won't be closed down.

I suppose you could come and stay with us for a couple of days.

But it's a bit tricky.

Haven't ever got around to actually telling Francesca I've got a son.

And what with the wedding coming up, it's not the best timing.

You're getting married?

Didn't I tell you? Anyway, that's by the by -

the point is, you're going to be without a job, without lodgings.

We're going to have to find you a new apprenticeship, presto.

No. No, No. You don't understand. None of it's true.

Verrocchio is innocent. He didn't do it.

-Grazie.

-Prego.

He needs a good lawyer, and you're the best.

The evidence against Verrocchio is strong, practically unassailable.

He was at the tavern, a witness saw him do it.

Yes, yes, yes, but he was killed in exactly the same way

-as Verrocchio's friend died. With a rock. Do you see?

-See what?

That he didn't have the imagination to choose a different method?

That he's being set up, he's being framed. That's the only explanation.

Enough, Leonardo. The victim's purse was found in his workshop.

It must have been...

..planted. Of course!

A few nights ago, Dad,

-someone broke in and that's when they did it...

-I said enough!

You need to grow up. You're not a child any more,

and the world is not always what you want it to be.

Verrocchio is innocent. Please take the case.

Please.

I couldn't, even if I wanted to.

the Magistrate wants me to present the case

-AGAINST Signor Verrocchio.

-You can't!

Dad, I'm begging you, tell them you've changed your mind.

Apparently, Piero de' Medici has asked for me especially.

-What?

-It's a great honour.

His Excellency, Piero de' Medici himself!

All makes sense, taking revenge in the most hurtful way he can.

Destroying the workshop, destroying Verrocchio.

Leo said he got Placidi to plant the purse.

There must have been two.

He planted one, and made sure

witnesses saw the other one when they fought.

If we could prove there were two purses...

No, he would have destroyed it. He's anticipated our every move.

He's even got my dad against us.

-It's not your fault.

-Isn't it? Isn't it? I never saw it coming.

I thought he'd come after me,

but I never thought Verrocchio would be in danger.

-I never saw it coming.

-None of us did.

I was arrogant. Stupid. Thinking we could beat him.

-We can.

-How? How can we beat him? He's got us cornered.

-He's won.

-Don't say that, Leo. Don't say that.

We'll think of something.

Yeah.

Yeah, but we've got to be quick.

The case is being heard tomorrow and if Verrocchio is found guilty...

What?

He'll be executed.

We know you didn't see him do it!

You're in the pay of Piero de Medici! How much is he paying you?

-Tell the truth and we'll double it.

-Get away from me!

-No!

A man's life is at stake and you're bearing false witness!

Diddums.

-Filthy lowlife!

-Tom!

-You're lying!

-Tom!

-You lowlife, admit it!

-Get off!

My dad!

You, get yourself off to court and stay out of harm's way.

You two, don't let me ever catch you brawling in the streets again.

Andate via!

As for you...

Come with me.

How dare you?

How dare you interfere with a witness in a murder case?

Are you insane? It's a criminal offence.

Verrocchio is innocent.

-Don't start that again.

-You don't understand. Why won't you listen?

Verrocchio didn't murder Costa.

I know he didn't, because I know who did. Piero de' Medici.

Piero de' Medici had him killed

and he framed Verrocchio to get back at me.

-Do you know how ridiculous you sound?

-It's the truth.

-To get back at me for...

-For?

For stopping him taking over Florence!

-It's the truth!

-Silencio!

I won't hear another word. I will not be embarrassed like this.

You need to stop making accusations about Piero de' Medici now!

Capiche?

Yes, Father.

Mac?

Well, maybe he'll see reason.

No, mate! He'll just gloat!

-Don't give him the satisfaction. Don't do it!

-What? Don't do what?

What a pleasant surprise.

A lora.

And what can I do for you?

So sorry to hear about the spot of bother at the workshop.

I suppose you'll be looking for a new position,

now that your master is in prison and very likely to hang.

Do you need a recommendation? Is that why you've come?

I'd be only too happy to oblige.

After all, I know better than most how gifted you are.

That's not why I'm here, and you know it.

-I can't think what you mean.

-I know you're behind it.

Behind what, exactly?

Why take it out on Verrocchio?

-It's me you want revenge on.

-Revenge?

Oh, you mean because of our little contretemps.

No, no, no. That's all water under the bridge.

Long forgotten. I bear no grudges.

Please.

Let him go. I'll do anything.

I'll work for you. I'll design for you.

Please, I'm begging you.

Oh, yes. You are, aren't you?

Just, please, let him go.

I've always liked Signor Verrocchio.

Maybe I will help him.

But on the other hand,

I really don't think my conscience will allow it.

Letting a guilty man, a murderer go free...

You're the murderer!

Sticks and stones, Leonardo! Sticks and stones.

Although slander is a criminal offence, so you should be careful.

But delightful as it is to chat,

I do have work to do,

so if you don't mind...

(WHISPERS) Leo!

What do you want? I don't have time for apologies.

I wasn't going to apologise.

I've got nothing to apologise for.

What do you want, then?

Just to say that I'm sorry about Signor Verrocchio.

You know how much I like him.

-It's terrible, completamente orrendo.

-What is, exactly?

Well, that he lost his temper like that

and, you know... But maybe the court will be lenient.

-Maybe they'll show mercy.

-Not if your father has his way, they won't.

-My father likes Signor Verrocchio.

-Your father has framed him!

He has framed him to get back at me.

He is going to have him executed to get back at me.

He doesn't care who he hurts to get back at me.

That's ridiculous.

No, it's you that's ridiculous.

And so, in conclusion, Your Honour, there can be no doubt...

No doubt whatsoever that this man standing before you is guilty.

-CROWD:

-Yes!

The evidence cries out against him.

Just has his victim, Signor Costa, cried out

when Verrocchio took that rock and smashed his skull!

Andrea del Verrocchio,

I find you guilty of the murder of Signor Costa.

Tomorrow morning at ten,

you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. Take him away.

-Where are you going?

-I need to think.

-He thinks it's his fault.

-We have to do something.

We have to save Verrocchio before Leo does something stupid.

Yeah? What?

-Are you ill, Lorenzo?

-No, Papa.

Then why are you lying on your bed like a swooning maiden?

Stand up when I'm speaking to you.

Yes, Papa.

-What did Leonardo say to you?

-Nothing, Papa. I haven't seen him.

Don't lie to me. I saw him come in here.

So what if he did?

I'll let that go. I can see you're...not yourself.

I suppose he told you that I framed Signor Verrocchio?

Yeah. But I didn't believe him.

More fool you, because it's the truth.

Oh, close your mouth, you look like a gawping goldfish.

I told the boy I would have my revenge.

And you know I never go back on my word.

I know this is difficult for you. But friends come and go.

Blood is for ever. You'll learn that one day.

That should put the cat amongst the pigeons.

I don't understand, Your Excellency. Why tell the young Master?

Because I want him to stop me.

We have to spring him.

What?

Get him out of jail, out of Florence.

-How?

-Someone has to take his place. Someone or...something.

It's all about illusion.

Scusi.

We're never going to get away with it.

Yes, we are. It'll be dark in there, gloomy. Isn't that right, Father?

"Si, Signor Machiavelli."

Your job, distract him from looking too closely. Lots of tears.

Ready?

SHE WAILS

There he is!

My poor Andrea, my poor boy!

Tomaso?!

We've come to pray with you, my son.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

Don't say a word, we're going to get you out.

-Are you mad?

-Have you got a better idea?

You've overdone the make-up, boy,

but you make quite a convincing woman.

I'll keep talking in Latin, you swap clothes.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris et...

What? It's the only bit I know.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

In nomine Patris, et filii et spiritus sancti.

Mac! Tom!

You're not welcome here.

What do you want?

My dad told me. That what you said was true.

He told me like it was nothing. Like I'd go along with it.

That's what you usually do, isn't it?

-I'm ashamed of him. And myself.

-Will you go to the Magistrate?

Forget it. He'd never take a boy's word against his father's.

I want to help. Please let me help.

Can I borrow your horse?

Jailer! Jailer! We're done here.

Be right with you...Father.

Sleeping, is he?

Er, praying. Making his peace with God. Best not disturb him.

You must think I was born yesterday.

He pulls to the left a bit,

so you have to compensate and pull to the right.

You will look after him, won't you? Bring him back?

Where exactly are you going to, anyway? What's your plan?

It's best you don't know.

You mean you don't trust me? Va bene. I'll leave you to it, whatever it is.

I need to get back anyway. Got things to do.

Come on, Carlos. Good boy. Good boy. That's it.

-What do you want?

-I'm here to see Signor Verrocchio.

Well, you can't. So get lost.

Porca miseria.

Who you calling a miserable pig?

You, you big gonzo.

And I'll carry on calling you one till you let me see my Maestro.

Porca! See? Ha! Porca!

Oh, you want to see your Maestro, do you? Va bene!

You can see your Maestro till the cows come home.

Get in there.

Feast your eyes on him all night and watch him hang in the morning.

Santa Maria, what's got into you? Such rudeness.

Man was just doing his job.

Si, Maestro.

I can't say I'm not glad of the company.

It's going to be a long night.

I thought we could paint together.

Paint? I don't want to paint. What's the point of...

Better I prepare myself.

Do you remember when you taught us about perspective, Maestro?

How to create the illusion of space, distance, solidity on flat surfaces?

Yes, yes, yes. But I'm really not in the mood for giving an art lesson.

I don't need a lesson. Just some help.

What on earth are you up to, Leonardo?

# What do I have to do

# To get you where I want you?

# I'll guess we'll see

# What might be... #

(Leo, what are you doing?)

# You're a million miles

# A million miles away... #

Leo?

# So come closer

# So come closer

# So come close Ah, whoa

# Ah, whoa

# Your reasons don't make any sense

# I'll never rely on you

# And you're draped on him

# While you're staring at me

# Whoa, whoa

# You're a million miles

# A million miles away

# So come closer... #

Sorry. Sorry.

Leo!

Leo!

Leo!

The prisoner has escaped!

Help! Help! Guards! Guards! The prisoner has escaped!

Sound the alarm! The prisoner has escaped!

Andiamo. Presto.

I'll deal with them. You get to the city gates,

there's a horse waiting for you there.

Search the city. Presto! Find the prisoner!

That's the boy that was with him! Catch him!

That is one clever boy. Come on!

Here, he's gone down that way! Just seen him. He's there!

I just saw him go that way! He's there!

-He went that way!

-Just seen him!

-Yeah, he's there!

Come on. Come on. Come on.

-He's getting away! Shut the gates!

-Shut the gates!

Shut the gates.

Come on! Come on!

YES! Come on!

Presto!

Come on!

You're my son. I thought I could trust you.

Your horse has been returned to the stables.

Your friends have been returned to the jail.

The execution can still go ahead on time.

You know, Lorenzo, if you told me that Leonardo stole the horse,

I would accept your word.

No. I took the horse. And I'm glad I did it.

I'm only sorry they didn't succeed.

You would openly defy me like this? How dare you!

You leave me no choice, Father. You tell me to behave like a Medici.

You tell me to be proud of our noble name.

Well, I'm not proud of it and I'm not proud of you.

Lorenzo, I'm warning you. Watch your tongue.

No. I won't! It's murder. I won't let you kill a man for revenge.

If you go through with this, I'll have nothing more to do with you.

I swear it. On Leonardo's life, I swear it.

I can't believe you're talking to me like this. My own son?!

It's because I'm your son!

Dio Mio. What have I done? I have turned my own son against me.

Il mio ragazzo. My true and honest boy, you are right.

What I am doing is shameful.

Father, do you mean it?

I've been blinded, blinded by my lust for revenge.

But there is time. Still time to put things right.

The execution of Verrocchio will take place immediately.

The only question is whether the boy should hang alongside him.

My son is young, Your Honour.

And repentant. Extremely repentant.

He knows how foolish he has been.

But his only real crime was that he has been loyal

to an unworthy master.

Signor da Vinci.

Your Honour, forgive this interruption

but I have new evidence.

A signed confession from the witness.

The man, it would appear, is a liar.

Where is this liar? He must be brought before me.

He must pay the price.

He already has, Your Honour. The guilt was too much for him.

He took his own life.

Signor Verrocchio is innocent and should be released immediately.

As should the boy.

Well, you heard His Excellency. You're free to go.

Justice has been done. Eh, Leonardo?

The truth will out, Signor Verrocchio.

The truth will always out.

No hard feelings?

You were just doing your job.

Esattamente. I was just doing my job.

I'm glad it turned out this way.

Stay out of trouble, my boy. And I'll see you soon.

I owe you an apology. No, More than that.

I know you won't believe this, but I am truly sorry.

-Really?

-Yes, really. And you have my son to thank for it.

Lorenzo made me see sense. Pulled me back from the brink.

Yes. Well, excuse me if I don't fall on my knees in gratitude.

You're angry. I don't blame you.

But I hope, in time, you'll be able to forgive me.

Your Excellency...

-Grazie.

-Is he all right?

Sleeping.

-Is this the end of it? Will the Medici leave us alone now?

-Maybe.

But why? Why pull back when you've gone to all that trouble?

-When you're that close to winning.

-Why pull back?

Maybe he really did do it for Lorenzo. Maybe he really is sorry?

Ciao.

Ciao.

Is it OK if I come in?

-Not just now.

-Oh, OK. Right.

Well, I just wondered... I wanted to ask...

Can't we go back to how we were? Can't things go back to normal?

My dad really is sorry. Can we be friends?

I don't know. Lorenzo, I don't know.

You had them right there, dangling on the hook - why let them off?

I had to make it seem as though I was taking my revenge,

or Leonardo would never have trusted me again.

And I need him to trust me.

And it was fun, watching them squirm.

But now the fun is over. The real game begins.

And, for that, I still need Leonardo.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd