The Betrothal Ball Leonardo

66 Via Trento.

Tell him to wait there until you come to the rescue.

HE ROARS

Leo!

Stop messing about, you two.

No, no, this paper's too thick, Enzo,

you won't get enough layers like this.

Come on, concentrate, all of you.

We've got 20 of the dratted things left to do.

# You sleep and I keep watch.

# I lament alone

# That I'll endure life's pain

# You sleep peacefully, without anguish

# And my eyes never close.

# You sleep and I, cruel one,

# I lament and weep

# And I, alas I die. #

Bellissimo, my piccolo songbird, bellissimo!

Grazie, mama.

You will sing for our guests tomorrow at the masked ball.

Oh, mama, no! In front of all those people?

I'll make a complete fool of myself.

Medicis don't make fools of themselves, Lorenzo.

This year, our Carnevale Ball is to be held in your honour.

We have a very special announcement to make.

What, Mama?

That, mio piccolo tortellini, is a surprise. Una bella sorpresa.

Ooh, eccitante.

You could invite your friends.

Leonardo. And the other two.

Seriously, Papa?

I know it's been a little strained.

It might help things get back to normal.

Grazie, Papa, grazie.

Perhaps we should tell him before the ball. Prepare him.

And spoil the surprise?

Marriage will mean the end of these carefree days.

It may come as quite a shock.

Nonsense. He'll be delighted.

What young man doesn't dream of his wedding day?

Mmm.

More to the point, she's from one of the most powerful families in Pisa.

It's a great match.

And she's so pretty.

Scusi.

ORGAN NOTES PLAY

I love Carnevale. All the music and masks and dancing.

I like your thingy. What is it?

Viola organista.

You strike a key and it pushes the string against the moving bow.

Fantastico.

Not the way you play it.

Ha, ha, same old Mac.

Yeah, same old Mac.

We're having a masked ball. For Carnevale.

And you're all invited.

One for you, one for you, and one for you.

Mama says they're planning a surprise for me at it.

Can't think what it is.

You're actually inviting us?

-You're my friends.

-What about your father?

He suggested it.

Thanks, but I think I'll go to the party in the Piazza,

-with the rest of the commoners.

-Me too.

Leo, you'll come, won't you? Don't let me down.

I have to sing. You could accompany me!

On your viola thingy.

I'd love to, I would...but I...

I've got to work.

But it's Carnevale.

It's a portrait. A special commission.

A very rich Austrian aristocrat, Baron von...

Schnitzel.

Tomorrow's the only day he can sit for us.

Back to work. A lavoro, you lazy lumps.

Break's long over.

-Master Lorenzo.

-Signor Verrocchio, I implore you, will you not give

Leonardo tomorrow off, so he can attend the Medici Masked Ball?

Leonardo isn't working tomorrow.

Oh, oh, I must have misunderstood you Maestro.

Well, understand this -

stop tinkling about on that bizarre instrument, and get to work!

And you, we need more fur and feathers. Go and fetch them.

And you...

Buzz off!

I'm sorry.

Va bene. I understand.

But please, come. For me.

Course.

Course I'll come.

I'll see you at the palace to practice.

Typical Lorenzo. He thinks if he invites us

to his fancy ball, we'll act like nothing's happened.

-Well, there's no way I'm going.

-Me neither. No way.

Santa Maria, che bella...

Although, on the other hand, if Leo were to go...

-He'd need someone to look out for him?

-Exactly.

It's got your name on it.

And a huge price tag. Dream on.

Better get those things for the Maestro.

Leonardo. So glad you can come tomorrow.

And how nice of you to help Lorenzo out with your funny little...

whatever.

Lorenzo's waiting to practice with you. Have fun.

LORENZO SINGS VOCAL WARM-UPS

Leo, guess what?

I've got us matching outfits!

Oh! Wow... Fantastico.

It's a complete original.

One of a kind, designed by the Milanese genius himself,

Giorgio Adriano.

Do you think Leo will like it?

I think a "thank you" would be nice.

Oh, sorry, Mac - thanks.

Leo, look at my dress!

I don't think you should come. It's too dangerous.

Nobody will recognise me. That's the beauty of it.

It's a masked ball.

I'll be completely safe.

It's the perfect disguise.

And we've been invited. What could possibly go wrong?

Is everything in place?

Yes, Excellency.

Get rid of the guards at the palace gates.

Give them the day off.

They can go and join the street party in the piazza

with the rest of the town's rabble.

We don't want them here, interfering with our plans.

No, Excellency.

Here, there's the Duke.

-How can you tell?

-Something always gives it away.

The eyes, a subtle gesture, body language...

The royal hat?

When you're as smart as I am, it's a piece of cake.

Leo, I thought you'd never get here!

Tom, Mac! You came too. Eccellente!

Come on, we have to get ready.

We don't have to stay - we could go to the piazza instead.

What, and waste all this? No, I'm going to dance.

-Well, if anybody asks me, that is.

-I'll dance with you,

if you're worried about being a wallflower.

I'm not.

And I'll wait for somebody proper to ask me, thanks very much.

Suit yourself.

-LORENZO:

-The only good thing about singing

is that it gets me out of dancing.

Mama usually foists a load of silly girls on me at these things.

Bella, bella, Angelica.

Lorenzo's going to be so excited when we announce the wedding.

You'll make the most divine couple, won't they, husband?

Indeed.

Excellency.

Great minds, eh?

We've got the same dress.

Yours is a copy. And a cheap one at that.

-May I have the pleasure of this dance?

-Thank you.

Swap masks, a minute.

I want to see if Mac's as clever as he thinks he is, see if he can spot it's me.

All right, but don't be long.

MAC: Look at her, it's like she'll dance with anyone apart from me.

Have you ever been in love, Lorenzo? It's torture.

Girls are torturers.

It's like, no matter what I do for her, what I say, it's always Leo.

Leo, Leo, Leo. She only has eyes for Leo.

What are you talking about? Who?

Very funny. I was just messing with you.

Lisa, do you mean Lisa? She doesn't like me.

I mean, she likes me, but she doesn't LIKE me.

I told you, I was just joking around. I knew it was you all along.

Better luck next time, Da Vinci.

HE WHISPERS TO HIMSELF Why, why?

Come on!

Mac!

I've just had the weirdest conversation with Mac.

He seems to have got the idea that you like me,

I know that you like me, but that you like me.

I have no idea who you are,

what you are talking about, and I most certainly do not like you.

Porca!

Leo!

-That was so embarrassing.

-What?

-There's a girl here wearing the exact same dress as you.

-I know.

I asked her if she liked me, well, not exactly that...

I had a weird conversation with Mac. I thought he said

you liked me, I thought she was you, so, I asked her if she did.

But you don't like me, do you?

Course I don't like you. I mean, I like you,

-but I don't LIKE you.

-I knew he was talking rubbish.

And then I thought he said that he liked you!

Mac liked me? That's ridiculous.

Mac and me - we're totally unsuited.

Ridicolo. You must have got it wrong.

The only person Mac is into is himself.

Leo, vieni. We're on. Swap masks.

And now, Signore e Signori,

you have the honour of hearing mio piccolo bambino sing for you.

I give you Lorenzo de' Medici.

# You sleep and I keep watch in the storm and the wind

# On you marble doorstep

# You sleep and I keep watch I am always in torment

# I must preserve my heart

# You sleep and I keep watch and in bitter tones

# I call on dying pity

# You sleep and I keep watch and in a moment

# I melt in tears and weeping

# You sleep and I keep watch, I am always in torment

# No-one to console me

# You sleep and I keep watch

# I lament alone,

# That I'll endure life's pain

# You sleep peacefully without anguish and my eyes never close

# You sleep and I, cruel one, I lament and weep

# And die, alas, I die. #

My son, my wonderful son, who is fast becoming a man.

And what better way to mark this passage into manhood

than with a betrothal.

A what?

Signore e Signori, may I present my son's future wife,

the very lovely Angelica Visconti.

No, wait, I'm not her, I'm just wearing the same dress.

Lift your mask, dear.

That's Lisa, isn't it?

Lorenzo, where's Lorenzo?

They've taken Lorenzo!

And his fiancee.

-No. I'm here.

-Then who?

Porca! Tom! They've got Tom.

Find him! Find my son!

Aspetta un momento. This way.

Move it.

My life's over.

I mean, I knew it would happen one day, but not yet.

I'm too young!

Santa Maria, will you shut up about your stupid arranged marriage.

We're being kidnapped!

Sorry.

This is an outrage! You will be sorry you dared to abduct

a Medici. And, I can assure you, you won't get a single florin.

Big roar from a little lion.

Well, I have already been paid for what it is that I have to do.

And what's that?

Aspetta. My father will pay you more if you release us.

He will pay you in gold. More gold than you can imagine.

I'll make sure you get away. They won't catch you.

We haven't even seen your face.

Ha!

You have now.

Move it!

Get in.

Let her go. She isn't even my fiancee!

Just get in!

You! Up against the wall where I can see you.

Run!

Crowds and Carnevale. What did I tell you?

Rich pickings for pickpockets.

Help me, please. I am Lorenzo de' Medici,

I've been the victim of a scandalous attempt on my life.

Lorenzo De Medici. Is that so?

So, if you would be so kind as to escort me back to the Medici palace,

my father will gladly pay you a handsome reward.

Sounds very tempting. But, I'll tell you what?

I think we'd get a whole lot more money from your dear papa

if we ransomed you.

Come along, sunshine, you're coming with us.

You can't be serious, this is ridiculous!

Where's Lorenzo?

He's been kidnapped.

I know he's been kidnapped. You were paid to kidnap him.

Someone else has got him.

Where did they take him?

Go find him!

It wasn't my fault.

Save your breath for His Excellency. You're going to need it.

Move! Move!

Now, if you don't want to get hurt, sunshine,

look like you're having a good time.

Sing!

-# You sleep and I keep watch... #

-Louder!

# ..in the storm and the wind

-# On your marble doorstep... #

-Buona sera, Officer.

# You sleep and I keep watch... #

Tom!

Somebody else has got Lorenzo, and I've lost them.

# You sleep and I keep watch... #

-I don't know which way they went.

-Ssh! What was that?

This way.

If anything's happened to him, I will never forgive myself.

Who could have done such a terrible thing?

Committed such a heinous crime?

Don't worry, dear wife. Placidi will find him, I know he will.

Have you got him, have you found my baby?

What?

HE WHISPERS

Is he here?

In the study.

Where is he?

He escaped. Two men took him.

You're lying.

No, I swear it!

I did exactly what you told me to do.

A boy and a slip of a girl, and they escaped.

If you've double crossed me...

I haven't. I swear, I haven't.

If one hair, one single hair, on my son's head is harmed,

I will make you pay.

Let me think, I need to think.

# You sleep and I keep watch and in bitter tones

# I call on... #

Is that an aubergine?! Are you threatening me with a vegetable?

They can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.

-LEO:

-What like a bad cook, you mean?

Yeah that sort of thing.

Now you're for it.

We didn't mean anything by it. Just a little joke...

Cowards! Filthy cowards.

Shall we go after him?

Just get me back to the palace, please.

Yeah.

He's back.

Va bene, he's back.

Lucky for you.

Now, you say exactly what we have agreed.

If you think you can manage it.

Grazie a Dio!

-Are you hurt?

-Sono bene, Papa. Leo found me.

He saved me.

Grazie! Grazie.

That's the man, him, he was going to kill us.

Talk. Talk before I run you through.

Who hired you?

The Duke of Milan.

You lie. Why would the Duke of Milan commit such an outrage?

Provoke us in this way?

To stop the wedding.

And to prevent an alliance between Florence and Pisa.

He fears our two cities together would be too powerful.

Would join forces against him. Against Milan.

I'll kill him. I'll go to Milan and I'll kill him myself.

No, cousin. True, he has provoked us with this terrible crime.

But nobody wants a war. I will travel to Milan.

Talk with the Duke.

Assure him that Florence wants peace,

that this alliance changes nothing.

Very well.

But, as for you, you shall never see the light of day again.

We'll take him to the Magistrate.

And now, of course, you allow me to escape, as agreed, right?

Of course. Plans go awry, it's not your fault.

A deal's a deal. So, now we let you escape.

Go on then. What are you waiting for?

I need to stop wearing dresses. Gets me in trouble every time.

Far safer as a boy.

Cioccolato.

Grazie.

Cheers.

The look on Piero's face when he saw Lorenzo was safe.

Poor Lorenzo. I don't know what was more of a shock,

the kidnap or the wedding announcement.

She wasn't very friendly, was she?

Snooty. Rude. Arrogant.

And those are her good points.

THEY LAUGH

I better get going.

MUSIC: "Kiss Me" by Ed Sheeran

Leo, you know what you asked me at the ball?

Err...no, what?

Nothing. Doesn't matter.

I need to change.

Night, Leo.

Night Tom.

# I'm in love now... #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd