Medici: Masters of Florence (2016) s02e04 Episode Script

1 Maybe your uncle will let you live with us, Francesco.
Of course he won't.
Francesco! Francesco! You too, Guglielmo! Here now! Come! You are my wards now.
Jacopo, their parents are just buried.
Let them spend a while with their friends.
I am calling off the engagement between Guglielmoand your granddaughter, Madonna.
They are pledged to one another! Not by me.
And not anymore.
Guglielmo's late father wished peace between our families.
This union would ensure it.
Peace? Peace!? There will never be peace between our families, Madonna! Come, Francesco! Stay where you are! Don't touch him! Get out of my way.
Or you'll feel the force of my hand too.
Not in this house, Messer Pazzi.
Lorenzo Come! Come! Come!! You are loyal to a friend.
The sign of a good heart, Lorenzo.
But never pick a fight you can't win.
It only strengthens your enemies.
You look more anxious about Bianca's wedding than your own A marriage to the Pazzi.
A new treaty ratified with Milan.
You are ascendant, Lorenzo.
What do you have to be worried about? Our bank's finances are precarious.
And this wedding will only deepen Jacopo Pazzl's desire to destroy us.
But he's old.
And you are more than his equal.
I'm burdened by conscience.
Which puts me in a disadvantage.
How is conscience a disadvantage? There are moral lines that I won't cross.
And he has none of those.
There is strength in goodness.
And I believe in you.
Clarice will be waiting.
I should go.
Well, perhaps she can wait a little bit longer? Perhaps How can you not acknowledge the wisdom of the ancients? Because they are not the answer to everything Poliziano and certainly do not glorify God.
That's your answer to everything, isn't it? You're as stubborn as a mule Sandro.
I'm not being stubborn, its simply the truth.
And you and your philosophers should realise this.
I'm sure Lorenzo will be here soon.
All I'm saying is the art of the ancients remains unsurpassed.
I've studied the art of the ancients and their philosophy! And here he is, you see? Sorry for being late.
You said you'd be back hours ago Business, I'm afraid.
It couldn't be helped.
Can you forgive me? Pardon me, Messer Medici.
Messer Maffei is here.
Unannounced? All the way from Volterra? Stefano Lorenzo! Giuliano, Madonna Medici another wedding in the family! My deepest congratulations.
Thank you, Messer Maffei.
Surely you haven't travelled all this way to congratulate us Some crystals Not just ordinary crystals Processed alum.
Well, to the textile industry, this is more precious than gold It makes color adhere to cloth.
And there are lots more where they came from.
A shepherd found a mine on his land.
Well, then the people of Volterra are about to become very rich indeed.
Except that the textile makers from across Europe buy from the Pope's supplies.
He cannot afford to be undercut.
We are a small city.
We could offer little defense should the Pope decide to invade.
Volterra is under Florentine protection.
He wouldn't dare.
No The Holy Father needs that revenue to sustain his good works.
He might have no choice.
Then there would be war between us and the Pope.
What shall we do? You must be very tired after your journey, Stefano.
Come.
Let's have a drink.
Clarice will be very happy to see you again.
Thank you, thank you.
Well, brother? What are you going to do? I will ride with Messer Maffei back to Volterra.
First thing tomorrow morning.
Do you remember my son, Antonio? Have the Priori gathered? They have, as your messenger instructed.
But I'm afraid their mood is not welcoming.
Is that so? Gentlemen! Well, you can send him right back to Florence.
The Priori of Volterra will make its own decisions.
You are Messer Vaccari.
Messer Vaccari is quite right.
The people of Volterra must make their own decisions.
I had hoped that I might be able to first suggest the way thaffne people of Volterra might protect themselves.
Well, we are about to become wealthy.
And wealth buys protection.
Yes, it does.
What happens when the price drops? Drops? Why should it drop? The supply of alum is limited.
If Volterra floods the market, then well, the prices will drop.
And if your prices drop,.
.
.
well, then so will the Pope's.
And then the Church will be forced to seize your supplies, and Volterra Volterra will be left unprotected.
Tell them your offer, Messere.
My bank will sell your alum at three ducats per load.
Well, we could get five! Neither more, nor less than the Pope receives.
The market remains stable, Volterra is protected.
It's a fair offer.
With peace and stability for all.
Control of the alum in Volterra The advantages for the Medici will be enormous.
You must implore the Pope to stop this outrage.
Volterra has its own Bishop who has spoken to the Holy Father.
As long as the price of alum does not fall, the Pope will not act.
Would you excuse us a moment? Jacopo, I hate the Medici just as much as you, but my hands are tied.
-Tied? Why then did I pay to educate you, place you in the Curia and obtain this exalted position? Not for the love of an orphan child or loyalty to your kin.
Obviously.
I'm sorry, cousin.
But the facts are not on our side.
Facts? What are facts? If the truth does not point in our direction, then bend it so it does! There, just like that perfect.
It feels so wrong to be so happy, Mama I'm scared it will be snatched away.
Every bride has nerves.
-I certainly did.
You and my son, are you happy? Of course.
He has great respect for you.
Lucrezia Ardinahelli is very beautiful.
Lorenzo is young and privileged.
He's not accustomed to being denied the things he enjoys.
When we met, he said that if I gave him my heart, he would promise before God to take care of it.
You are very lovely.
And more than worthy of his affections.
Give my son time, and he'll learn to deny himself his youthful pleasures.
Not out of obligation, but love.
Madonna? There are visitors.
Signor Foscari.
Welcome to Florence.
You remember my daughter, Novella? Bianca is delighted that you could attend ner wedding.
She's heard a lot about you.
My son is expecting you.
I appreciate you coming, Messer Foscari.
You know that hawks must be kept apart, but close enough that they might fly together? And if they chose a mate, then it's for life.
Like humans.
You didn't invite me here to talk about hawks, Messer Medici.
I wish to propose an alliance.
But you have already chosen your mate.
Florence has just negotiated a new treaty with Milan.
And now I propose one with Venice.
Well, surely you can see what shared benefits peace and stability would bring us all.
You are young, Lorenzo.
And idealistic.
Take my proposal to the Doge.
And I would be prepared to offer something in return.
Such as? A husband for my daughter? I might.
Let's talk again after my sister's wedding.
Here, let me help you.
I'm sorry.
I'm so clumsy.
No apology necessary.
Who are you? A friend of Bianca's.
And you? Brother of the groom.
Then you should be celebrating with him.
Not here.
Taking a bride is a dangerous game.
Either you further your family interests by marrying a stranger, or marry a girl you love and risk your family's honor.
Myself, I'd rather stay out of the game altogether.
As a woman, I have no choice but to play.
But what kind of bride will I be? That Be careful with that.
A danger to myself? Or to some as yet unknown man? Very amusing.
Novella? Novella? Novella Come along.
Shot from Cupid's bow? Just missed me.
I think.
Well, I hope this marriage doesn't just end the feud between our families.
But begins a partnership, business, politics.
You are aware that Volterrra has found alum Yes.
And that the Medici bank will sell it.
But there are countries where the Pazzi bank is more established.
So, you want us to sell for you? With us.
As a joint venture.
Mutual benefit.
I cannot do this, unless Jacopo agrees.
And he won't do that.
Which is why I'm relying on your support.
For the good of the Medici bank.
For the good of Florence.
I didn't think you were celebrating.
A change of heart Everything is going smoothly.
You're worried for nothing.
Medici and Pazzi united.
If only my grandfather could have seen it.
Well, now all you have to do is to bring peace with the other states.
I'm surprised Bianca invited Lucrezia Donati.
She didn't.
I did.
Her husband's an important ally.
By all accounts, it is your alliance with her, not her husband, that his important to you.
It's idle gossip, Clarice.
A family meeting? Ominous The girl, Novella.
What do you think of her? She's pretty enough.
Why? I need Foscari to lobby the Doge.
He wants a husband for his daughter.
Me? You must be joking.
Lorenzo wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't important to Florence.
How can you ask? Have you seen how miserable your own wife is? Not a chance.
I'll love who I wish.
I thought you said you didn't believe in love There you are.
Since when do you discuss our affairs with Lorenzo? The offer benefits our bank! This is my bank.
My brother and I hold my father's shares.
And if your father were here now, he would tell you the same thing.
But he's not! And we are.
And together we hold the controlling interest.
Young Medici throws scraps off his table, you lap them up and pronounce yourself satisfied This is not about the bank! This is about power! We will not compromise! We will not negotiate! We will wipe them out! And we will take our rightful place as masters of Florence once and for all! Madonna Ardinghelli? Madonna Medici Ardinghelli That is your husband's name, is it not? Yes, indeed.
I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting him.
Well, unfortunately he's obliged to travel a lot to the East.
For business reasons.
Is that why you maintain a relationship with my husband? You should discuss your husband's relationships with him.
What I discuss with Lorenzo is none of your business.
You are very beautiful.
Far more sophisticated than I am.
I understand why he's so captivated by you.
Do you love him? My feelings are none of your business.
If you love him, let him go.
Lorenzo does not have a crown, but he is king.
A childless king, however, is weak.
His enemies need only kill him to destroy his kingdom.
Only I can give him a legitimate heir, only I can protect nim, so I implore you: if you love him, let him go.
There is another thing that makes a king weak: loneliness.
I have loved Lorenzo since he was sixteen.
He was only a boy, but I could already see in him the man that he WAS becoming.
Only I know him.
Only I am close to him.
And pushing him out of my bed, it will not be enough to bring him close to yours.
Madonna Medici.
You alright? It's nothing.
A cold, that's all.
If it's any consolation, it seems that my brother wishes unhappy marriages on both of us.
Novella Foscari must marry the son of a Florentine banking family.
You? Things were much simpler back when my family were still wool merchants.
Speak to him.
I dare not.
My brother is many things.
But he's not heartless.
So, as you can see the shaping is very flattering.
And the Capitoline Venus.
The Venus of Apollodorus.
They're naked.
My husband wouldn't I could not.
Of course, of course.
These were merely ideas You can be clothed, anything You're attempting to challenge yourself.
Yes.
Where have you been? Better late than ever.
A matter of opinion.
Giuliano.
You will be Mars.
In the scene Ovid describes, he rests.
Beauty has led him to love.
Which, in time, has brought him peace.
Now he is free to contemplate God.
What do you think you're doing? Gods don't wear clothes, do they? You made a promise before God.
You're asking me to stop seeing Lucrezia? I have asked nothing of you.
But I do not deserve to be humiliated before your servants, your family and all of Florence.
Clarice, that was not my intention- Well, that is the result.
I can forgo love, but not respect.
Until I have that, I will behave as the model wife, but my heart will remain closed so long as I have to share you with that woman.
Cl- Clarice? From the moment we met, you had my respect.
Lorenzo? Mother's with Luca Soderini at the Priori.
There's a problem.
What is it? What's happened? Show him.
Receipts, showing Volterran alum selling in Venice Tor two ducats per load.
They're deliberately undercutting the price the Pope sells his alum.
Well, these don't show the name of the merchant who's selling them.
If the Pope finds out about this, he'll be forced to invade.
Well, Jacopo will make sure that he finds out.
Where did you get these? Jacopo's showing them to members of the Priori.
He's insisting that the Medici be no longer allowed to sell alum for Volterra.
-Right, right.
Someone in Volterra is striking deals over more than one table.
I'll ask Maffei to root him out.
No, there is not time for that.
We must scare the Volterrans into respecting their agreement.
With whose army? Sforza will provide us with his.
I promised the people of Volterra I'd protect them Not threaten them, Giuliano.
Look how far that got you.
I will ask Maffei to root the traitor out.
What if he can't find him? He must.
Well, if you say.
I have an appointment.
Have you thought more about the marriage to Novella Foscari? You have my answer, brother.
Mother I can still taste your kiss.
It was a mistake.
You can't look at me, can you? Go on.
I dare you.
See? I've seen quite enough.
Thank you.
Giuliano, lie back.
Contemplate God.
Giuliano, eyes.
Close them.
Really? Search within yourself.
No looking.
I'd rather watch my husband count his coins.
Not looking at his chest.
Above him.
Your sister's wedding is over, Messer Medici.
I apologize, Messer Foscari.
I had hoped to persuade my brother to accept the match, but he refuses.
Then you have wasted my time.
Ah, but perhaps there is something else that I can do Tor you.
I regret that I must strongly discourage the Doge from entering into any alliance with Florence ana— I'm sorry to interrupt.
But Messer Maffei is in the study with your mother.
She said it's very important.
You have more pressing matters to attend to.
Good day.
Messer Foscari! Stefano You bring news? The Priori of Volterra have ousted me and elected Vaccari.
They rescinded the agreement with your bank.
And made a deal with another merchant on more favorable terms.
The Pazzi are behind this.
We must prove that that merchant is being manipulated by Jacopo.
There is no time.
You must send in Sforza's army and take the alum.
No, no, no.
I will not shed blood.
There has to be another way.
If you do notact now, far more blood will be shed when the Pope is forced to send in his soldiers to take Volterra by force.
Volterra remains under our protection.
No alum is to leave that city until Jacopo's treachery has been proven.
You understand? Antonio and I shall ride back to Volterra and inform them at once.
The Medici assume direct rule of our city What now, Vaccari? What are you doing here? Do you remember the day that your uncle came to fetch you and Guglielmo? I could never forget it.
It felt like the sun would never shine again.
In all these years later, it has.
Your brother, my sister married.
Just as your parents would have wished.
I need your help, Francesco.
To find proof that your uncle is paying someone to undercut me in Volterra.
He raised me.
He's my family.
Now I'm your family, too.
It feels like a betrayal, I know.
I know.
But together, we can we can prevent a war and save untold lives, Francesco.
She has talked to you also? You know my feelings for you.
But she's my wife.
Would you really deny me? Messer Foscari? Thank you for coming.
I wish to speak to you about your daughter.
Tell your husband the politics of Florence are not my concern.
We leave for Venice in the morning.
I do not speak for Lorenzo.
Or for politics.
I know a little of unhappiness, and I would spare your daughter tne same.
There is another son of a Florentine banking family who would have your daughter's hand.
Lorenzo? Do you have it? The last name.
Has been selling the alum on my uncle's orders.
Thank you, Francesco.
Tell me it will do some good.
Yes.
If we can get him to testify against Jacopo.
Go on inside and wash up, son.
I'll be right there.
Tell Lorenzo de' Medici Volterra does not take orders from him.
Father, no, no, no! Maffei is murdered.
What? -After posting your declaration.
What should we do? War! Yes! War! Killing Maffei! If we do not react, every city will feel free to butcher Florence's friends! Volterra must be punished! Gentlemen! Please! Please! Please! No one feels more than I Maffei's death.
But more death is not the answer.
Will you listen to the man who brought us to this? Why is he so desperate to avoid war? Are you scared, Lorenzo, is it that? -Volterra was cheated, gentlemen! Strong words, young Medici.
Wnere is your proof? You give me time and I'll have it.
And what of Maffei? His blood is on your hands! Will you now deny him justice? Who's for war?! -War! War! War! Let us call upon the services of the great condottiero Montefeltro and wash blood away with blood! A vote! Gentlemen The only way we can stop tnis war is if you two find the merchant that Jacopo paid.
We need him to testify.
And where are you going? I'll travel with the army to make sure they stay their weapons.
You'll do no such thing.
The only way to save our bank is if you get that evidence against Jacopo.
I'll ride with the army.
Giuliano? God bless and protect you.
Messer Pazzi, someone has been through our books.
How do you know? This volume was not in the same place where I left it last night.
Let me see that.
Thank you.
I need you to do something for me.
I understand.
Time to begin the attack.
-Why the haste? With your army and reputation, a few days siege, they'll surrender.
These men came here to fight.
I keep them waiting and they'll either desert or start murdering each other.
Come on then, information.
Move it, quickly.
Unprocessed alum.
-From Volterra, no doubt.
Messer Tefari? Messer Tefari? We are too late.
Your uncle must have known he couldn't risk exposure.
Then we have failed.
We have to ride to Volterra now! Oh, God, no Giuliano! We are victorious.
It was a slaughter.
I haven't the stomach for this.
Giuliano! Giuliano! Thank God.
Francesco! Forgive me, Guglielmo.
I'm weary.
Humor me.
Andrea Foscari.
Your brother and I have been discussing the union between our families.
Welcome back, messer.
You should be with the others celebrating.
I wish to be with you.
I saw a messenger leaving.
Yes.
It was a letter from Francesco Pazzi.
Thanking me.
For what? He is to marry Novella Foscari.
I suggested it to her father.
You? I could see how taken they were with each other.
And how important Foscari's support was to you.
I've failed, Clarice.
I've failed.
By trying to seek peace, I brought war.
By trying to save lives, I lost them.
There's blood on my hands.
You sought peace.
It doesn't matter what I sought.
You surprise me, Lorenzo.
With all your education, your fine books and philosophy.
God does not judge us by the outcome of our actions.
He judges us by what is in our hearts.
Your heart was and and remains pure.
it doesn't change what happened.
Nothing can ever change what happened.
We must mourn and honor those whose lives were lost.
If God forgives you, Lorenzo, then you must forgive yourself.
I've been a fool.
I'm privileged to call you my wife.