Leonardo (2021) s01e03 Episode Script

1
[theme music playing]
[bells tolling]
[Stefano] Ambassador?
Officer Giraldi.
Did you read my statement?
- I did.
- Then you know everything.
I [sighs]
I saw Leonardo kill her. Poor Caterina.
With respect, you saw her die from poison.
You didn't actually
see Leonardo administer it.
You don't believe he's guilty?
You said in your statement
that she wrote to you,
asking to see you the very day she died.
- Yes.
- Did she say why?
No.
[bird screeches]
[Stefano] You had not seen her in years.
Yet you came.
I thought of her many times
over those years.
I know how the three of you met.
What I don't know is why you parted.
[sighs] It was love, of course.
Love is the poisoner of reason.
[bird screeches]
No image, not even the very smallest,
enters the eye
without being turned upside down.
[Tommaso] You're turning
a worrying shade of crimson.
No.
Yes.
People are staring.
Not at us.
[guard] Make way for the Duke Regent!
[Tommaso] You see?
If Ludovico Sforza saw you like that,
- he'd think you quite mad.
- [chuckles]
I think that extra flow of blood has
helped me think of ways to captivate him.
But you said
he already offered you his patronage.
I refused him.
- You did what?
- I turned him down.
And he said he never makes
the same offer twice.
And you didn't think to mention this
before we left Florence?
No.
- [chattering, laughter]
- We could have gone to Mantua. Or Naples.
[people singing]
How long are you
going to be angry with me?
It's going to last a while, I think.
[laughter]
Well, now it's for the greater good.
I'm sorry for that.
- Forgive us. Forgive us.
- Please don't apologise.
I'll take care of this.
Go get yourself a drink.
I'm sorry, gentlemen.
Désolé.
Liar.
No, no, no. Um
"Actor." It's pronounced "actor"
where I come from.
[laughs]
Let's go back to Florence.
There's no future for me in Florence.
I don't like it here.
[man singing in Italian]
There are more soldiers
than there are women.
Exactly.
What is this?
A war machine.
Oh, splendid idea.
Except you're not a military engineer.
Who says I'm not?
[singing continues]
[people laughing]
[bells tolling]
- Are you the artist?
- Yes. I am.
His Excellency will see you.
Thank you.
[Chamberlain] The Duke Regent
will receive you in his private chambers.
When you meet His Excellency,
you are to bow with suitable deference.
Too deep is considered vulgar,
too shallow an insult.
You must not initiate conversation
with His Excellency.
Do not make eye contact unless addressed.
If you're fortunate enough
to be introduced to Lady Beatrice,
you must bow reverently,
but not as deeply as to His Excellency.
You are to refer to her
only as "My Lady" or "Madonna".
[Chamberlain clears throat]
This way.
Just stay still for one more second.
Good boy. Good boy!
Your Excellency? Leonardo da Vinci.
Your Lordship.
Do you think this collar flatters him?
Hmm. I believe it's a man's duty
to make everything around him beautiful.
Surely you agree.
Beauty and truth, yes.
Oh, come. We both know the truth
needs decorating to be palatable.
What brings you to Milan?
I was pretty clear last time we spoke,
so I know you can't be here
to beg my patronage.
Well, um
That was when you approached me
as an artist, Your Lordship.
Today I come before you as an engineer.
I have ideas here
for defences for your city.
If you'd like to take a look.
First, we have our
This is a mechanism
for pushing siege ladders away from walls.
And we have some more, well
This here is a mobile cannon.
It protects the people inside with a
armour on the outside.
You're dressing the truth.
You've no passion for war.
You've ruined your reputation in Florence
and now you're trying your luck with me.
Besides, I've all the defences I need.
Your Lordship, you're right.
I don't have a passion for war.
But I do have a passion for art.
And paintings.
And forgive me for saying, sir,
but what you do not possess
is a true work of art.
[stutters] I don't mean these,
but something so beautiful
that all the world would marvel.
Now, I know you said
you don't offer second chances,
but I swear to you, if you do
I will deliver such a masterpiece.
It's all I wish to accomplish.
Lady Beatrice would like your opinion
on tonight's masque, My Lord.
[Ludovico] Very good.
Come.
Your Grace.
Ladies and gentlemen!
A morality in praise of chastity.
- Music.
- [lyre playing]
[singing]
[singing continues]
Brava.
[laughs]
[Beatrice] Thank you, my love.
I promise tonight will be
even more spectacular.
- [Ludovico] I'm sure.
- [Beatrice] With nymphs and dwarves
[Ludovico] Tell me about the unicorn.
[Beatrice] The unicorn is fantastic!
[woman] I seem to have lost my asp
You have not seen 'em anywhere, have you?
- Caterina?
- Ta-da.
[both laugh]
You know, watching your face
during that rehearsal
was the best fun I've had in weeks.
What are we doing in a palace?
What are you doing in Milan?
Bernardo's here for trade deals.
And you working for Il Moro.
I'm not here on Ludovico's invitation.
I'm here because I've nowhere else to go.
I didn't get an offer from Il Moro.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because you were so happy.
I didn't want to spoil it.
- I missed you so much.
- I missed you, too.
Messere Leonardo!
So good to see you again.
And you, Ambassador Bembo.
Sanseverino, you are in the presence
of a great artist.
Oh. Then I am honoured to meet you.
Sanseverino is responsible
for the safety of the Duke Regent.
- There you are, Caterina.
- Your Excellency.
[chuckles] Darling, you're going to be
a divine Cleopatra.
- Thank you, Your Grace.
- We shall become dear friends, I know it.
Your Lordship, I wondered
I've just been discussing you
with my wife.
And as it turns out,
we do have a commission for you.
- One of great importance.
- [Beatrice] Yes.
A troupe of actors have come here
to perform Poliziano's La Fabula di Orfeo.
For our nephew,
who's a rather sad young man.
He's insufferably miserable.
[Beatrice] He's in great need of cheer.
A dazzling spectacle
would be just the thing.
You can design the production. Hmm?
Well, you've seen the masque.
Take your lead from that.
I don't understand.
Our next entertainment, of course.
[Beatrice] I'm so excited
you're going to design it for us.
An opportunity for you to prove yourself
worthy of my patronage.
I wish I shared
Il Moro's passion for masques.
But I'm afraid I do not have
an artist's soul.
Masques are not art.
Oh.
[sighs]
Who was that?
The Duke of Milan.
[Beatrice] Orpheus played his lyre
so beautifully.
Even the birds were enchanted.
But his greatest love
was his wife, Eurydice.
When Eurydice died,
he went to beg Hades for her return.
Hades agreed, but on one condition.
He must not look upon her
until they'd left the Underworld.
I'm sorry, gentlemen.
Désolé.
But he did, and Eurydice vanished forever.
[man 1] Bravo!
Well done, everybody!
- [man 2] Here comes our new designer.
- Bravo!
[man 2] I know exactly what you need.
A good glass of wine.
I'd like that very much.
- Yes.
- So
Mm-hmm.
When can we talk about your plans?
[chuckles]
We plan only to sing.
Yes, but what about scenery and the stage?
Build me one of
Wooden planks, if you must.
And trees, yeah. Paint me some trees,
whichever ones you like.
- Yes.
- Not willows, though.
They're far too gloomy.
- Trees, right.
- That's all.
Look, that's all I require from Il Moro's
lapdog.
[Leonardo] Have I told you about Thierry?
The leader of the actors' troupe?
The vain braggart who means to sabotage
your every effort?
You may have mentioned him
once or a hundred times.
I should be studying.
I should be discussing
the mysteries of nature and people.
Not painting baubles for tomfools.
Stop torturing yourself.
These theatricals are an audition,
that's all.
If you give him more
of the spectacle he wants
No, I can't.
he'll reward you, Leonardo,
he said so himself.
Well, what if he doesn't? What will I do?
I'm not like you, Caterina.
I don't know how to
live.
You have a gift for it.
It's not true.
You can breathe life into anything.
You gave me life. You gave me wings
to fly out of the gutter.
I had no idea
how exhausting court life is.
Last week I attended three dances,
a fête and two banquets.
And you taught me how to play chess.
Check.
Masks and fireworks, that's what you need.
It's what everyone does.
I'll hardly impress
with "what everyone does".
Why didn't I protest?
And I stood there gawping at Ludovico
like a
startled fish.
[sighs]
This is not the end of your story.
Believe me.
I think that's checkmate.
Where is Antonio?
I gave him the night off.
He was exhausted.
You will soon grow accustomed to servants.
Well, I hope not.
The Doge of Venice will be unimpressed
when your report fails to arrive
because you were making love
to your mistress.
Only because the Doge of Venice
has not met my mistress.
What is [gasps]
The blue sapphires are from Persia,
and the diamonds polished
by Lodewyk van Bercken himself.
- I can't accept this. No.
- I insist.
You will wear it as a favour to me.
On one condition.
You will ask Il Moro
to take Leonardo off this entertainment
and commission a painting
from him instead.
He'll listen to you.
This is hardly my business.
Leonardo's gifts are worth
more than dressing ponies as unicorns.
You know that.
Please.
Please.
Please.
- Please.
- Yes.
Yes!
I'm truly grateful, and so will he be.
Thank you. Thank you.
- Madonna.
- No, thank you.
- Please.
- All right.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
"For every mortal thing,
time stops."
For every mortal thing, time stops.
[Bernardo] Your Excellency,
I'm intrigued to know
why you assigned Messere Leonardo
to a theatrical entertainment.
Your judgement is superlative, of course.
But it strikes me as a trifling commission
for an artist who shows
such an exceptional talent.
- I see.
- See what, exactly?
Idle gossip is beneath us, of course,
but even I've heard talk
of how the "wild stag of Venice"
has finally been captured.
And by such a lowborn creature.
[Bernardo] Any stag worth his salt
would give an antler
to be caught by such a ravishing creature.
And now she has you doing her bidding
on her lover's behalf.
It is the lovely Caterina
who asked you to speak with me
on this matter, is it not?
No, Messere Leonardo is not
You are aware they regularly frequent
a tavern by night, unchaperoned?
I have nothing but admiration for you.
Personally, I couldn't tolerate the idea
that a softling could better satisfy
my mistress than me.
[snickers]
I'm teasing you. I'm teasing you.
[both laughing]
Mmm.
Why are you here?
Me?
Well, the Chamberlain insisted
that I be here.
So I'm here.
I love these. Almonds.
They're my favourite.
Mmm. How are you?
- No, no
- No, don't touch that.
[scoffs] Why?
You want to lose a finger?
[laughing]
That's, um That's not what I asked for.
I need to make this theatrical.
The most spectacular ever seen in Milan.
My future depends on it.
- Could you please leave?
- [chuckling]
I'm not sure one angel in the whole
of heaven counts as spectacular.
Won't he be lonely?
It's your reputation at stake, too.
Don't you care?
About what?
About what men like Ludovico think?
What do they know of music and art?
You're fortunate, then.
I can't afford to paint
without his patronage.
Hmm.
Give that to me, please.
- You want this?
- Give it to me.
Take it. What?
Take it! Take it! [chuckles]
[laughs] Take it!
Move, move!
What dark secrets have you,
Maestro da Vinci?
- Just let me have a look.
- Give it to me.
- Just a minute.
- [panting]
S'il vous plait.
Merci.
Wait.
You, Lapdog, you did all this?
Do people know?
How many drawings are there?
I've never seen machines like these.
Balance wheels.
My father, he was a clockmaker.
Make Orpheus your world.
Bring it to life.
I'll need more time.
You have a month.
We can help.
Yes?
Yes.
Don't forget me. Thank you, Francesca.
Does the artist have what we need?
[boy] What's your name?
Leonardo da Vinci.
Please, leave us.
Do you know who I am?
Yes, Your Excellency.
"The poor little boy
shut away by his uncle."
That's what they say, isn't it?
Please, take a seat.
Tell me, Leonardo da Vinci,
what do you think of hunting?
I don't care for it.
My uncle says it will make a man of me.
He doesn't realise I'm already one.
I don't need to kill birds to prove it.
How could anyone be so cruel?
What is your favourite of all the birds?
I think mine is the pelican.
Did you know the pelican
has great love for its young?
And when it finds them in the nest
dead from a snakebite,
it pierces itself to the heart
and bathes them in blood
till they return to life.
I like pigeons.
[chuckles]
I feel sorry for them.
They're so unremarkable.
Yes, the pigeon does get a hard time,
doesn't it?
And, of course, the pigeon
is also the symbol for ingratitude.
For when it's old enough
to no longer need to be fed,
it begins to fight with its father.
And that struggle doesn't end until
the young one drives the older one out.
Your Excellency,
I didn't mean to cause offence.
My uncle was burdened
when my mother didn't want me.
But I've no intention of driving him out.
I wish he'd be Duke instead of me.
If he felt burdened
why would he organise
an entertainment for you?
- Entertainment?
- Mm-hmm.
One that will truly astonish you.
How do you know?
- He engaged me to design it.
- Really?
[laughing]
[Thierry] What about masks and fireworks?
No.
I've never seen
a man so clenched like a fist.
I just can't find the truth in this.
It's just a thrill, a diversion,
a taste of pleasure.
There for a moment and gone.
What does it matter?
It matters because art lifts us up.
Mmm.
It transcends
and gives meaning to our lives.
- That's why it matters.
- [chuckles] No. There's no meaning.
We're here for a moment and gone.
That's all.
Theatricals are about the moment. The now.
If you can unlock yourself
long enough to see that,
you might even enjoy it.
- Let go.
- I can't.
Let go.
Come with me.
Did you know
the mayfly only lives for one day?
Shh. Dante, Deo, you ready?
This is going to be fun. [chuckles]
[screams]
[Thierry] Relax! Relax! Stop panicking!
Just let go! Let go!
Let go and enjoy yourself!
You're flying!
You're flying, my friend!
You're flying!
You're flying!
[Leonardo] I'm flying!
You were wrong!
If a mayfly lives for only one day,
then that day is not meaningless.
It must mean everything.
The flying worked then.
I didn't hear you when you said it,
but when you said,
"Make Orfeo your world"
I must be the creator
of a world within a world.
We must utilise
the same four elements the gods do:
air, earth, water and fire.
An artist must observe like a scientist,
but create with fantasy,
and that story takes place
in heaven and hell
where one must effortlessly
become the other,
for they are both sides of our nature,
good and evil.
Just as God created us.
The audience must not merely see this,
but they must feel it.
The stench of demon breath.
The kiss of an angel.
The heartbreak of a man
losing his one true love.
The audience must feel it all.
Caterina.
It's so good to see you again.
Why are you here in Milan?
- I'm
- You lied to me.
Yes.
But Leonardo knows what I did,
and he's forgiven me.
Well, his heart is softer than mine.
- If you hurt him again in any way
- Why would I?
- My own success depends upon his.
- Right.
Remember that.
[Bernardo] You're getting good
at this game.
I don't just mean chess.
Turns out wealthy people are no different
from those in the streets of Florence.
They just have finer clothes.
It's good that you're spending time
with the ladies of the court.
Far more suitable company
than Messere Leonardo.
He's been far too busy to see me.
But I'm sure that will change
once the theatrical's over.
I have no doubt.
Would you mind wearing
something particularly fetching tonight?
- Fetching?
- Mm-hmm.
I'd like your help
to get in Il Moro's good graces.
All right.
Don't be too agreeable, though.
I've known men like Ludovico.
They push just to see how far you'll bend,
and if you don't stand up for yourself,
they'll never respect you.
I'm sorry. I say too much.
I'll stop if it displeases you.
It doesn't.
Not in the least.
In fact, you please very much.
Listen, I didn't want to mention it
until I was certain,
but I think
someone's been stealing from us.
- Leonardo?
- What?
When?
Yesterday, perhaps day before.
I'm not sure.
We've been at the palace so much,
it's hard to say.
- I'll see to it.
- [Thierry] Maestro.
- Maestro Leonardo.
- [Leonardo] What is it?
Well, I just need a word.
I can't be long. I have this dinner later.
Don't go.
What?
Just don't go.
What are you talking about?
I have to go. It's with Il Moro.
Yeah. You're right, you should. Um
Anyway, I'm not good to be around
the night before production, so
There's only yourself to blame.
There wouldn't be a production
if you hadn't inspired me, so
Thank you.
[chuckles] It's funny.
Remember the first time I met you?
[Thierry laughs]
What are you laughing at? Tell me.
- "I can't find the truth in this."
- Mmm.
- Remember that?
- That was a good impersonation.
- No. It wasn't, but, um
- Oh, dear.
Well, you know me.
I'm a man of many faces.
Anyway, what, um
What I wanted to tell you is, um
What?
Come to France with me.
I'll be late.
Megastomo?
[whimpers]
Here, boy!
Good boy. Here, here.
Good boy. Come. Good boy.
[crowd chattering]
[Megastomo whimpering]
[Megastomo barks]
Come on here. Oh!
- [chuckles]
- [Megastomo whimpers]
Good boy.
Thirteen is the age of manhood.
Which means it is time
for you to stop concentrating on the arts
and turn your attention towards politics.
[indistinct]
Wouldn't you agree,
Messere Leonardo?
Oh, I I apologise.
Caterina was warning me there is pheasant
in this, and I don't eat birds.
Or any animals, for that matter.
My body will not be a tomb
for other creatures.
I've never heard that before.
I like the idea.
Although,
I'd rather hear about the theatricals.
Oh, do tell us more.
You will be amazed.
There's a machine which can
I think Leonardo would rather
it be a surprise.
Oh, come now.
There will be plenty of time.
I
[gasping] I should
[Beatrice] Darling?
I
I
- You
- Uncle?
[choking]
[all exclaiming]
- No, don't touch him!
- Stand back, I tell you!
I need a pestle, charcoal, turmeric, salt
and milk from the kitchen, please!
Take the Duke.
Guards, take hold of the dog!
Do not touch him with your bare hands!
What's happening? Tell me!
I think someone has laced the dog's fur
with a deadly poison.
I know of an antidote,
but it does not always succeed.
[choking]
The ingredients are here, they're here.
Lay them down.
[Beatrice] My God! My love! My love!
Go, go, quicker! Quicker! My love
- [choking]
- Please! Hurry, please!
You don't look well either.
- [Beatrice] Please do something!
- [wheezing]
Have mercy! I beg you, please!
Sanseverino, please!
Please save him.
[Beatrice] Breathe!
[gasping]
Now we wait.
[door opens]
What's happening?
I still haven't heard anything.
The physician was in there all night.
I hope I did enough.
[bell tolls]
Maestro?
Il Moro has woken.
And he wishes to thank you.
- Please.
- Yes.
Messere Leonardo.
You saved my husband's life.
If you hadn't been here
with the right antidote
at precisely the right moment
How does an artist come to know
the antidote for poisons?
Um Many pigments artists use are poisons.
I've made a study of their toxic qualities
and concocted antidotes to counter them,
but that coppery pigment
that was used last night,
that "composition of death",
that's hard to come by in Milan.
I've seen it in Florence, but
not here.
[coughs]
[Ludovico] Leonardo?
The theatricals
they will go ahead as planned.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Do you think I'm a traitor?
I know how desperate you are
for Il Moro's patronage.
How you disapproved
of the task he gave you.
And how creative you are.
I had nothing to do with that.
Listen to me.
I did see something yesterday.
I saw a man speaking to the Chamberlain,
and I didn't see what he looked like.
He could have been a co-conspirator.
It looked suspicious.
He had a gold lion-headed medallion
on his boots.
Thank you.
[door slams]
[chattering]
He looks anxious.
- I'm going to speak to him.
- You're not.
What?
You're not to see him any more.
Why?
I will not be made a fool of.
Bernardo, you can't command me to.
If you're no longer happy
with our arrangement, just say the word.
You are free to return
to the streets of Florence.
- Something terrible happened.
- I heard.
You heard?
They think it's me. What am I going to do?
Hey. Forget them. Forget them.
This is your moment.
[Leonardo] What if it doesn't work?
What if I'm nothing?
You are
You are a god.
[Tommaso] Leonardo.
Leonardo!
What? What?
[Tommaso] It's time to start.
Are they ready?
- Are we ready?
- Yes.
- Now!
- Smoke!
Now! The river! Water!
This way. This way. Go, go, go.
[lyre playing]
[Beatrice] Orpheus played his lyre
so beautifully,
even the birds were enchanted.
[singing]
But his greatest love
was his wife, Eurydice.
When Eurydice died,
Orpheus went to beg Hades,
god of the dead, for her return.
Fire! Fire!
Fire!
[gasping]
Cogs!
[crowd exclaims]
[Beatrice] Hades agreed,
but on one condition.
Orpheus must not look upon her
until they'd left the Underworld.
But he did.
And Eurydice vanished forever.
[screaming]
This
is a public display
of the fate that awaits all traitors.
I want you to take that message
to all Milan!
Take them out.
Everybody out!
Stop! That way, Madonna.
The actor was using you
to gain favour in the court
to get close to Il Moro.
He was part of a plan orchestrated
in the name of King Louis of France.
Your tip about the medallion
confirmed the culprit.
I am indebted to you for the information.
His treachery must have been
deeply painful for you.
I, too, was taken in.
We're only human.
Try not to blame yourself.
Love is the poisoner of reason.
[Bernardo]
Love is the poisoner of reason.
Meeting him was
was her tragedy.
You haven't explained, Ambassador.
How can you be so certain
Leonardo was responsible?
If my word is not sufficient,
let's look at your precious facts.
"Composition of death."
The poison that nearly killed Ludovico.
[inaudible]
It was the same poison
used to kill Caterina.
- Coincidence, perhaps?
- [Bernardo] You're missing my point.
If Leonardo knew how to save Ludovico,
why didn't he save her?
Her salvation was in his hands.