Sword of Freedom

[first lines]

Francesca:
Marco.

Marco del Monte:
Uh-huh.

Francesca:
Marco, please stop working. I want to speak to you.

Marco del Monte:
Yes, but can't you see I have a lot of work to do on this entire mural and your brother commissioned me to complete it by a certain date, so as much as I would like to...

Francesca:
You always say how fond you are of me and whenever I need you, you're too busy.

De Medici:
Ah, Francesca. The Lady Adriana has arrived.

Francesca:
Am I supposed to be impressed?

De Medici:
Yes. Impressed and grateful! Rudeness, extravagance and disobedience; schemes, lies and treachery - we're going to put an end to this infamous behavior, Francesca!

Francesca:
You forget, my dear brother, schemes, lies and treachery are my heritage and I learned them all from you!

[last lines]

[Francesca is wearing Lady Adriana's wedding dress]

Francesca:
Marco, I think I'll wear this dress when I get married.

Marco del Monte:
Francesca, you're out of your mind.

[they kiss passionately]

[first lines]

Machiavelli:
A handsome piece of work, Marco. Who's it for?

Marco del Monte:
Baglione.

Machiavelli:
So now you work for the Captain-General of de Medici's guard, hmm? I thought such people were your sworn enemies.

Marco del Monte:
Art knows no enemies, my friend - particularly amongst those can afford to pay as well as Baglione.

Machiavelli:
Bravo! I never expected you to be such a realist.

Marco del Monte:
Well, I haven't sat at the foot of Master Machiavelli for nothing.

Baglione:
I see you can still find *some* good work in Florence.

Marco del Monte:
Oh, better than anywhere in Italy, your excellency. Better than Rome, Sienna, Venice - anywhere.

Baglione:
And should I disagree with you? What do you say to that?

Marco del Monte:
The critical opinion most important to any artist is the customer's, your excellency.

Baglione:
You talk like a diplomat.

Marco del Monte:
Not I, my lord, but Master Niccolo Machiavelli says, "No diplomat can ever afford to speak frankly unless he holds all the cards."

De Foix:
Saddle the horses. We're leaving this accursed city. I'm going back to a world where chivalry is more important than science. And a man's honor is measured by the length of his sword arm.

[Marco is complaining about a new tax imposed on the artists' guild]

Duke de Medici:
Marco del Monte, may I remind you that I am a patron of the arts. I have myself bought some of your paintings.

Marco del Monte:
Well, of course. Any man with the necessary money would be a fool not to by the work of a major artist.

Duke de Medici:
True, but we were discussing your work.

Marco del Monte:
Sandro, do you realize what this duel means? A chance to restore the republic! With de Medici dead we can force an election. An honest election for a change.

Sandro:
Yes, but do realize if you kill de Medici, you'll be a marked man. He's got powerful friends.

Marco del Monte:
His friendships are based on fear. Two minutes after d'Medici's death, he won't have a friend left in Florence.

Sandro:
They say he's a fair swordsman.

Marco del Monte:
Fair is not good enough - not against me. He's too rich to be reckless, too well-fed to have any stamina and too evil to be lucky. No, I will win - for the Republic and for my honor.

Marco del Monte:
Well, it's a Medici trick! He hasn't got the courage to face me on the field of honor. I demand satisfaction!

Muzio:
A rule of the code is a rule of the code and if a rule of the code were broken it would be the end of all honor among gentlemen. That much is settled it. It only remains for his magnificence to name a substitute so Master Marco can get his satisfaction.

Duke de Medici:
I have sent for Pierre de Foix.

Sandro:
Pierre de Foix? Why he's the greatest knight in the world!

Duke de Medici:
I can afford the best.

Marco del Monte:
It just seems unbelievable that my talent should be destroyed by this feudal relic.

Sandro:
So you will go to Rome?

Marco del Monte:
And have history say I was run out of my own city by a walking anachronism? No, I'll fight, but not with bone and sinew. The weakness of the feudal man is up here.

[taps his temple]

Marco del Monte:
And it's up here I will attack the great Pierre de Fiox.

Marco del Monte:
You are witnesses at an historic event. I will now test the world's first machine gun designed by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. As you know, I fight the great knight Pierre de Foix on Wednesday next. If this gun works, it will be my choice of weapon for that duel. We will meet on the field of honor each armed with one of these dread weapons. Imagine the duel, my friends - machine guns at 20 paces!

[from his hiding place where he can observe Marco's test]

Marco del Monte:
Machine guns at 20 paces?

De Foix:
You can't use this fiendish device in a duel.

Marco del Monte:
Why not. The code says I may use anything I wish provided I supply you with an identical weapon.

De Foix:
If we fire this thing at each other at 20 paces between us, we shall both be killed!

Marco del Monte:
Of course we'll both be killed.

De Foix:
I suspect you of madness.

Marco del Monte:
Oh, sir, it would be madness if I chose swords or battle axes because then I would die and you would live. Oh, but with this weapon, when the smoke clears over the field of honor, we shall both be dead. The great Pierre de Foix has fought 117 duels without defeat - I shall go down in history as the first man who ever fought him to a tie.

[last lines]

Muzio:
According to the message, de Foix said something about Florentine weapons being unchivalrous. What weapon did you intend to use?

Marco del Monte:
Well, what would you expect me to use? Swords, of course! I'd have cut him to pieces.

[first lines]

[while checking his appearance in Sandro's mirror, Marco selectssamples of his drawings to add to be placed in his portfolio]

Marco del Monte:
Yes, put that in. No, no, not that one. Now keep that thing still! No, no - oh, wait a minute. Ah, yes - yes, put that in as well.

Sandro:
You'd think you were an apprentice showing his work to his master.

Marco del Monte:
We are all apprentices at the feet of Leonardo de Vinci.

Sandro:
I still can't think what you're making such a fuss about.

Marco del Monte:
You probably think that birds fly and fishes swim by nature, but, no, my flatfooted friend, nature commissioned Leonardo to design the wings and the fins... and the creatures to go along with them.

Guilio Basti:
I told them, eh?

Lucrezia Basti:
Quiet, Guilio. Everyone will hear.

Guilio Basti:
Let them. Let everyone hear! Then other honest citizens will follow my example if there's enough talk about this.

Lucrezia Basti:
Never fear, you'll be the talk of every banquet table - and not to your advantage.

Lucrezia Basti:
Emerald green you say is a deadly poison? That's odd - it's always been my favorite color.

[first lines]

The Consul:
Julio Basti, as a master butcher, you are required to pay a tax on each of the animals you slaughter. You have failed to do so. We therefore find you guilty of tax evasion.

Guilio Basti:
I protest and hereby file an appeal against the decision.

Lucrezia Basti:
Guilio...

Guilio Basti:
I did not evade the tax; I refuse to pay it until we get an accounting of public funds collected by the banking house of his Excellency, the Prince de Medici. If it's a public service, I say let's have a public accounting of funds!

Duke de Medici:
Our butcher has gotten out of hand, Rodrigo. He must not be allowed to appeal.

Captain Rodrigo:
It's a delicate situation, my lord. If he should disappear any time before the appeal, your enemies will say that you arranged the disappearance in order to suppress an inquiry into the misuse of public funds.

Duke de Medici:
It only goes to prove that he must be made to disappear discretely and quietly. The old goat has a young wife... married her out of the marketplace by all accounts.

Duke de Medici:
Charmed her, perfumed her - and now the young minx is estranged of him... and he's insanely jealous.

Duke de Medici:
With good reason I should imagine by the cast of her eye.

Captain Rodrigo:
I'm told she's having her portrait painted - secretly, of course - at the studio of Master Marco del Monte.

Duke de Medici:
Ohhh. I begin to see a pattern emerge. A jealous old goat of a husband, a beautiful young wife with pretensions - he discovers her in the studio of a handsome painter with a reputation. An affair of honor, the butcher is killed and we hang del Monte for it. Pity, in a way - the man has talent; however, we must not allow art to interfere with politics.

[first lines]

Marco del Monte:
Arrgh!

Angelica:
Something tells me your disposition isn't all it ought to be today.

Marco del Monte:
There's nothing wrong with my disposition that a little neck wringing wouldn't cure.

[Angelica touches her hand to her throat and grimaces]

Angelica:
Oh, ah, anyone's neck in particular?

Marco del Monte:
Yes, there is - some idiot English ambassador who's on his way to Florence to lend de Medici a lot of money!

[Angelica attempts to fix her hair and clothes after her battle with de Medici's men]

Marco del Monte:
Well, we'd better straighten up this mess.

Angelica:
...Oh, for a moment, I thought you meant me.

Duke de Medici:
This is intolerable! Intolerable! It will take me years to repair the damage by that pompous meddling fool of an ambassador, to say nothing of the damage to my self-respect.

Francesca:
Do you think he'll like my address.

Duke de Medici:
What does it matter whether or not he likes your dress! May I remind you he is an Englishman, so do not expect him to be interested in anything but his-his bed-warming pan and-and-and his ale and he is probably incapable of anything but the grossest, grossest...

[the English ambassador enters the room]

Duke de Medici:
Ah, my lord Ambassador.

Duke de Medici:
Master Machiavelli, I cannot understand this suggestion of yours - that, although the Duchess indignitly rejects the castle as a monument to the duke, she will happily except a monument to herself.

Machiavelli:
It's just a question of understanding a woman's mind.

Duke de Medici:
You're obviously out of yours.

[playing chess]

Machiavelli:
You surrender your pawns too readily.

Duke de Medici:
Surely that is what pawns are for - they have the exquisite pleasure of sacrificing themselves to the greater glory of their king and queen.

Angelica:
Where's Sandro? I want my breakfast.

Marco del Monte:
Why didn't you have some before you came to work.

Angelica:
There wasn't time. Come to think of it, that's a better reason than the one I used to have for not having breakfast before I met you.

Marco del Monte:
What's that?

Angelica:
Well, I had all the time in the world. There wasn't any food.

Marco del Monte:
Don't you miss the old life?

Angelica:
Anyone who tells you that picking pockets is fun is either a liar are hasn't had to do it to keep alive. I owe a lot to you, maestro.

Machiavelli:
Seeing Captain Rollo reminds me of the affair of General Ferruci. How is it progressing?

Duke de Medici:
It saddens me to report that the esteemed hero of Florence still continues to enjoy excellent health.

[referring to the wine Angelica has spurchased for him]

Rollo:
What's it like?

Angelica:
Old, cheap and strong - like soldiers.

Valeska:
As I explained when you took this commission, I can't spend more than one hour a day when my husband attends the counsel meetings. If he knew he'd be furious!

Marco del Monte:
But I thought this portrait was meant as an anniversary gift to him.

Valeska:
It is - a surprise! I do hope he's surprised. Then, perhaps, he'll overlook the expense.

Marco del Monte:
Expense?

[chuckles]

Marco del Monte:
Your husband is a wealthy man. It is well-known he boasts he still has the first florin that he ever earned.

Valeska:
And all other subsequent florins.

Valeska:
De Medici is giving a dinner tonight for all the counsel members and their wives. If all the women were to... Oh, but dare I... After last night, Luigi...

Angelica:
Are you a woman or a mouse?

[first lines]

[de Medici enters his apartment and finds Machiavelli feeding grapes to a pretty woman]

Duke de Medici:
Enjoying yourself, Master Machiavelli?

Machiavelli:
Welcome home, your excellence! Did you find what you are looking for?

Duke de Medici:
Oh, yes, I found cannon - fine, sturdy brass cannon. I daresay the armorers of the Amelia are as excellent craftsmen as you will find anywhere in Europe.

Machiavelli:
And yet I believe I detect a certain discordant note?

Duke de Medici:
You do - the ring of brass on an empty coffer.

Machiavelli:
And the excellent craftsmen of the Amelia are asking to be paid for their labors.

Duke de Medici:
In gold, before delivery. Machiavelli, I must find that money!

Artist's Guild Chairman:
Gentlemen, I propose that the art dealers of Florence be prohibited from dealing in ancient, classical and pagan objects of art and that all such objects presently in their possession be confiscated and impounded by the government.

[the artists react angrily]

Artist's Guild Chairman:
It is the duty of Florence to protect it's *living* artists and not to line the pockets of the dealers who buy and sell the works of the dead.

Marco del Monte:
And force them to buy the half-dead works of some of the living?

[last lines]

[toasting a statue]

Marco del Monte:
Here's to my Venus, to my goddess of love, and her newfound freedom.

Angelica:
But Marco...

Marco del Monte:
And, for once, the heroine's silence is absolute and guaranteed. To my *silent* beauty!

Angelica:
I still say she's too fat.

[as his friends chuckle, Marco and Angelica embrace and kiss]

Angelica:
Your excellency is left all alone?

Colonna:
Mm-hmm.

Angelica:
But you had a profitable day with the cards?

Colonna:
Which interests you the most - my loneliness or my profitable day?

Angelica:
Both! They make an interesting combination.

Duke de Medici:
Francesca, you were very rude to the Count d'Albert.

Francesca:
He's a bore.

Duke de Medici:
We must do everything we can to cement our alliance with the Bourbons and despite your rudeness, the Count seems quite taken with you, so...

Francesca:
The success of this alliance is in your hands, *not* in my heart!

Marco del Monte:
Angelica, my darling, you look ravishing! Oh, my angel, I've never seen anything quite so lovely.

Angelica:
I'll come back when you're feeling better.

[last lines]

[de Medici has just forgiven his sister for joining a plot to overthrow him]

Angelica:
Such *charming* people.

Marco del Monte:
Oh so carefree; so impetuous.

Machiavelli:
It is better to be impetuous than cautious, for fortune is a woman and it is necessary, if you wish to master her, to conquer her by force.

Marco del Monte:
Who wrote that?

Machiavelli:
I did.

Marco del Monte:
By force!

[Marco grabs Angelica and kisses her passionately]

[Vespucci is seeking backers for another trans-Atlantic voyage]

Vespucci:
How you estimate my chances of being heard?

Marco del Monte:
What matters, Captain, are your chances of being believed.

Machiavelli:
Exactly. To arrange a hearing with the Counsel won't be too difficult, but I can guarantee you'll be dismissed without further consideration unless you can offer evidence to substantiate your claims.

Vespucci:
If you mean gold and silver and precious stones, I'm afraid they aren't lying around waiting to be picked up like so many seashells.

Machiavelli:
Yes. Yes, that's a point we needed belabor, of course. The counsel is imaginative enough when it comes to visions of easy wealth.