By the Sword Leonardo

More space. We need everything out, in case of explosions.

-Move that canvas.

-Carefully!

-And get rid of those tables.

-Anything else?

Perhaps we should remove the walls and ceiling for you.

Ah, eccitante! Is this all for the super weapon?

-Can you help us move those benches out to the back?

-No. Not really.

Just came to say, guess who Papa has hired as my new fencing instructor?

No idea.

And the easels. All of them.

-Silvio Pirelli.

-No!

-Undefeated champion of all Europe!

Is he as handsome as he looks in his portraits?

That's a girl question. I've no idea.

He's doing a demonstration in the piazza this morning, want to come?

Not there, we'll trip over it.

I'll come!

Oh! Fantastico.

And with that move, I shaved an eyebrow

from the great Antonio of Naples.

Don't you want to comment on the dress?

She'd look amazing in anything.

My dress, Mac, my dress.

Oh. Yeah, yeah, it's nice. What colour do you call that?

Blue.

Never mind.

You're not the one I'm trying to impress.

Why won't she look at me?

He's staring at you, you know.

I can't help that, can I?

Don't do anything to encourage him.

Like what?

My father has decided our wedding will go ahead.

-We agreed to make the best of things.

-I know.

You don't need to tell me.

I know.

So much for party tricks. Time for some real fencing.

But first, I need an opponent.

Who here is man enough to face Silvio Pirelli?

I'll do it!

Ladies and gentlemen, a challenger has entered the field of combat!

-I admire your pluck, bambino.

-Thanks.

En garde!

The same response I got from Antonio of Naples!

What kind of person does that to a little kid?

Is this my next challenger?

At least I'm nearer your size. Or are you scared?

It seems, today, all my opponents are girls and bambini.

What next? A goat?

What are you doing?

Will you fight me or not?

I don't fight girls.

Exchange your sword for a sewing needle

and perhaps I'll allow you to darn my pantaloons!

Apprentices, thus far, you have devoted your lives to art.

Well, today, you finally get to do something important.

This is the biggest job of your lives.

The future of Florence lies in your hands,

and in the hands of Leonardo da Vinci!

Where's Duke Rocco today? Writing love poems to himself?

Blowing kisses into a mirror?

In the workshop, Your Excellency.

He'll be giving some ghastly pep talk, no doubt.

The future of Florence lies in your hands, all that claptrap.

He's speeding up the construction on the super weapon

and he's training the army.

Yes, he does have his uses.

That is, at least until my weapon is finished.

Now, for the education of our spectators,

perhaps my new pupil, Master Lorenzo,

will display his skills?

No.

Oh, go on, then.

En garde!

Angelica, didn't you see me? I've been trying to say hello.

I can't talk to you.

Non capisco. Has something changed?

You said you liked me.

I shouldn't have said that.

Why? Because it's not true?

Or because it is?

I'm getting married. You need to leave me alone.

Give me five minutes, that's all. Please, just five minutes.

You still owe me an ice cream, remember.

All right. Where can we meet in private?

Touche! The young master is victorious.

I think maybe you let me win.

Yes, I did.

Silvio Pirelli, I challenge you to a duel!

And who are you?

Tomaso Gherardini.

My sister Lisa challenged you, and you insulted her.

Insulted?

Was it an insult to notice she was of the weaker sex?

She may be talented in the feminine sports,

like pat a cake and apple rolling.

But swordplay is for men to do,

and girls to watch trembling behind their handkerchiefs.

Show's over, ladies and gentlemen. Good day to you all.

Thank you, Silvio, for a fantastic demonstration.

So you refuse my challenge?

I can't take on every amateur swordsman who fancies his chances.

(IMITATES CHICKEN) Bwark-bwok-bwok-bwok.

Are you calling me a coward?

No. It wasn't him, it was a chicken. There are loads of them here.

Are you a coward, Pirelli?

Be here tomorrow morning at seven, and you will find out.

Ha! That got to him! Did you see his face, Lorenzo?

Lorenzo?

What?

No, more than that. Those rivets need to go right through the panel.

Mi scusi, Maestro.

I thought I'd sketch some of the apprentices at work.

Document the construction of the weapon.

Great. You're...

Scusi, you're kind of in the way, a bit.

-Perhaps if you were nearer the wall?

-Oh.

I can't believe I ever thought he was gorgeous.

Who? And where have you been?

Silvio Pirelli. He's an arrogant, disgusting, ignorant pig.

OK, well, now that's cleared up,

I need you to work on the sighting mechanism for the gun.

-He looks like a ferret.

-It must be precise.

And he's going to be sorry he messed with me.

I challenged him to a fight.

Why would you do that?

Because he humiliated this little kid.

You should have heard the way he spoke to me.

Like, because I'm a girl, I can't fence.

-You can't fence.

-That's not the point.

He made a complete fool out of me and I can't let him get away with it.

-Course you can. He's an idiot, isn't he?

-Yes.

So, then, who cares?

KNOCK AT DOOR

What do you want?

I've been thinking... about my fight with Pirelli.

Oh, yeah. Go on.

I might have overreacted. Slightly.

And Leo needs my help with the weapon,

so, on reflection, I'm going to withdraw the challenge.

Is that right?

I hope Signor Pirelli will accept my apology.

I don't know about that. He's a prickly fellow.

It's all about honour, isn't it? You did call him a chicken.

-Oh.

-Hmm.

I'm joking. Don't worry your little head. I've already done it -

apologised on your behalf.

The match is off.

-You...apologised FOR me?

-Hmm.

I knew you'd change your mind when you calmed down a bit.

It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. I know girls.

Emotional and all that.

How dare you make that decision for me?

How dare you assume you know what I want?

But I was right.

No, you weren't.

I've changed my mind.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Ready when you are, Master...

Oh.

It's you.

Come to make your apology in person?

No, actually. I've come to take back the apology.

What?

No, he hasn't.

Go away.

I absolutely will not apologise to you,

and I absolutely will not take back the challenge.

Then you absolutely will be crushed.

The fight is on.

I've been patient with you so far, boy,

but this is becoming tiresome.

We fight, tomorrow.

This time...there is no wriggling out of it.

Good.

I...Sorry, what just happened?

Heat-of-the-moment thing. You know girls. Emotional.

You do realise he's going to wipe the floor with you?

Not if I learn how to fence properly.

-You can do it before seven in the morning?

-With the right teacher.

What teacher?

KNOCK AT DOOR

Sorry.

Sorry.

It's me that should be sorry.

I let you think there could be something between us...

when there can't.

-But you do like me?

-It doesn't matter if I do or not.

Of course it matters.

Lorenzo tried to talk to his father.

The wedding is to go ahead.

You talked to me about wanting to be free.

Free to do what you want. Now's your chance.

I was being childish, silly.

I have responsibilities.

-A duty to my family name.

-Now you sound like Lorenzo.

I AM like Lorenzo. That's the point.

-We're a good match.

-No, believe me, you're not.

I love him - he's one of my closest friends,

but he's not right for you.

-LORENZO:

-Mac? Are you there?

-Did he follow you?

-I don't know!

-Behind the curtain! I'll get rid of him.

Hello?

-Don't mind if we borrow your place, do you?

-Well, I was kind of...

I'm going to teach her everything I know about fencing.

So we'll be, what, 10, 15 minutes?

Thing is, I'm in the middle of something...

That's OK. You won't even know we're here. Oh!

-Sorry.

-What are you up to that's important?

-Er...

Nothing. Nothing.

Of course you can stay.

-Right!

-OK.

The super-weapon will give us a massive military advantage,

but we can develop all sorts of other munitions

that will take the Milanese by surprise.

These are battle flares.

You drop them at night, and they let out a flash,

temporarily blinding the enemy.

Where's the rack for them?

Who's taken it from this table?

Maestro?

Foreground, Leonardo. A painting needs foreground to give depth!

Of course. But I kind of need it.

Oh, go on, then, take it, for goodness' sake. I'm not stopping you!

Grazie, Maestro.

-I'll just use the table itself for perspective.

-No!

Yes.

I think it would be wiser to store those vials in a rack.

And...

Up here.

-Good.

-Ooh.

And punta sopramano. And squalembrato.

TOMASO LAUGHS Squalembrato? You made that up.

No, I didn't. It's a diagonal cut.

Mandritto squalembrato is from right to left.

-Riverso squalembrato is from left to right.

-OK.

OK, I get it!

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention.

Angelica's here.

Ciao.

So, you're still sneaking around behind my back with another boy!

You can talk. You're sneaking around behind MY back with another girl.

What girl?

I'm a boy.

Oh, please. Credit me with SOME intelligence!

You're the girl from the ball.

The one that was kidnapped.

-The one that...

-You can't tell anyone I'm a girl!

Don't worry. Angelica seems to be very good at keeping secrets.

-Even from her own fiance.

-And what's THAT supposed to mean?

Perhaps we should ask Mac.

Nut, anyone?

Just need to get a bit there.

-CLATTERING

-Porca miseria!

Can't you just keep out of the way?

I only came here to tell him we can't be together.

That's the truth, I swear it is.

I only came to prepare Lisa for her fight.

Tom! Not Lisa. My name is Tom.

Please don't tell people I'm a girl. I'd lose everything.

-Why are you pretending to be a boy?

-So she can paint.

Lisa... Tom's a great artist.

So, you spend your whole life dressed as a boy?

It's not as bad as you think. You can do all sorts of stuff as a boy.

What? Like fight?

Well, yes, if you want to.

And why do you want to fight Silvio Pirelli?

-Because she's a stubborn...

-You saw how he spoke to me today.

Didn't it make you angry? Being told girls shouldn't fence?

Well, they shouldn't, really, should they?

It's not exactly...ladylike.

I beg your pardon?

All that violence and aggression is not in our nature.

-Is it?

-It might not be in yours.

This is a fascinating debate, but could we save it for another day?

We hadn't finished talking.

There's nothing more to say. I have to go.

Nice meeting you...

Tom.

En garde.

And that is how I took the thumb from the great Romano of Siena.

-Incredibile.

-PIRELLI LAUGHS

So...big match tomorrow?

Hmm?

Tomaso Gherardini.

PIRELLI LAUGHS

Master Lorenzo, I have defeated the best fencers in Europe.

Tomorrow is not a big match.

It is an exercise... in fly swatting.

OK. You will go easy on him, though, won't you?

Certainly not. I intend to teach young Tomaso a lesson

he will not forget for the rest of his life.

You won't cut off his thumb, will you?

When I've finished with Tomaso Gherardini,

his thumb may well be the only thing left of him.

LORENZO CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY

That was a joke, right?

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.

Why not? You only spoke the truth.

I was...getting in the way.

It's still your workshop.

No.

No. It belongs to the military now.

You work for Duke Rocco, not for me.

So...no apology necessary.

-Master Lorenzo.

-Signor Verrocchio. May I speak to Leonardo?

-Who tweaked HIS nose?

-Me.

-I humiliated him in front of the whole workshop.

-Ouch.

Speaking of public humiliations, talk Tom out of her fencing match.

-I tried.

-Then do something to make her win.

-Like what?

-Invent a special sword that fights by itself or something.

A special sword that fights by itself?

Or something. There must be an invention...

I'm trying to defend a city. I have a hundred problems to solve.

I don't have time to help Lisa win a game.

-It's not a game.

-It is. The swords are blunt.

The only thing she'll hurt is her pride.

If she wants to fence, let her do it.

Fine.

She's going to be completely pulverised.

HE SIGHS

COCK CROWS

BELL CHIMES

Leo?

Signori e signore, I hate to disappoint you.

It seems my challenger has got cold feet.

I take the match by default.

Silvio Pirelli!

He's here. I mean, she's here.

I mean...he's here.

Oh, good.

En garde.

How about we make this more interesting?

Give these good people a chance to see real blades?

PIRELLI CHUCKLES

What do you say?

No. Please say no.

Ready to put down your training weapon and fight like a man?

I'm ready.

We fight until you yield.

Or die. Whichever comes sooner.

Go and get Leo.

When you've filled those ones, seal them and we'll make another batch.

Leo, you've got to come. Presto!

-I'm busy

-It's Tom! Now! Andiamo!

Leonardo?

Leonardo!

CROWD LAUGHS

You're holding it wrong! Concentrate!

CROWD LAUGHS

CROWD GASPS AND APPLAUDS MAN: Bravo!

FABRIC RIPS

That shirt cost more than you earn in a month.

You shall pay for it with blood.

Tom!

This is what happens to those who dare to challenge Silvio Pirelli!

PIRELLI CRIES OUT

I see you've got friends willing to help you cheat.

Tell me, where is the honour in that?

That was it? The best you've got? Hey?

No. THAT'S the best I've got.

LAUGHTER

Darn your own pantaloons.

Ladies and gentlemen... Our winner...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Tomaso Gherardini!

If Tom beat THE champion fencer in Europe,

does that makes her the new champion?

-Well, technically, yes, I suppose it does, but...

-Campione! Campione!

I had an excellent tutor.

Yes, and now I don't have any tutor at all.

-I could teach you a few moves.

-Like dropping my opponent's trousers? No!

Leonardo!

Catch you later.

Since when was it permissible for you to run off in the middle

-of the most important job this workshop has had?

-I'm sorry, Maestro.

Will "sorry" build your super-weapon? Will it defend our city from attack?

No, Maestro. I behaved foolishly.

That you did.

Get back to work

and we'll hear no more of it.

-I'll talk to him. It was my fault that you ran off.

-No, leave it.

Va bene.

Why are you smiling? Why are you so pleased at getting told off?

Leo!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd