Original subtitles

Maybe your uncle will let you live with us, Francesco.

Of course he won't.

Francesco.

Francesco and you too, Guglielmo, here now! You are my wards now.

Their parents are just buried, let them stay with their friends.

I'm calling off the engagement between Guglielmo and Bianca.

- They're pledged to one another. - Not by me, not anymore.

- Guglielmo's late father wished peace between our families. - Peace?

There will never be peace between our families.

- 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're ascendant, Lorenzo, what do you have to be worried about?

Our bank's finances are precarious.

This wedding will only deepen Jacopo Pazzi's desire to destroy us.

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. - Perhaps she can wait a little bit longer?

Perhaps.

BLOOD WITH BLOOD

They were pagans, I glorify God.

We always discuss about the same things.

We should imitate the beauty that Greeks and Romans showed us.

They didn't know the good the way God intends it.

- Clarice. - One thing doesn't rule out the other.

Clarice, I'm sure Lorenzo will be here soon.

I've studied the art of the Ancients and their philosophy.

- Lorenzo, make them stop, I've a headache. - Here he is.

- 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, congratulations! - Thank you.

Surely you haven't travelled all this way to congratulate us.

Some crystals?

Not just ordinary crystals, this is processed alum.

To the textile industry, this is more precious than gold

It makes color adhere to cloth.

There are lots more where they came from, a shepherd found a mine.

The people of Volterra are about to become very rich indeed.

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.

The Pope needs that revenue for his good works, he might have no choice.

- There would be war between us and the Pope. - What shall we do?

You must be tired after the journey, come, let's have a drink.

- Clarice will be very happy to see you again. - Thank you.

Well, brother? What are you going to do?

I'll ride with Messer Maffei back to Volterra tomorrow morning.

Do you remember my son, Antonio?

- Have the Priori gathered? - They have, as your messenger instructed.

- I'm afraid their mood isn't welcoming. - Is that so?

Gentlemen!

I am returned from Florence with Lorenzo de' Medici.

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 suggest the way that you might protect yourselves.

We are about to become wealthy and wealth buys protection.

- Yes, it does. - Yes.

What happens when the price drops?

Drops? Why should it drop?

The supply of alum is limited.

If Volterra floods the market, then the prices will drop.

If your prices drop, then so will the Pope's.

The Church will be forced to seize your supplies

and Volterra will be left unprotected.

Tell them your offer, Messer.

My bank will sell your alum at three ducats per load.

- 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.

It is a good proposal.

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 doesn't fall, the Pope won't act.

Would you excuse us a moment?

- 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 doesn't point in our direction, bend it so it does!

- There, just like that. - It feels so wrong to be so happy.

- 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. - These?

Lucrezia Ardinghelli 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're lovely and more than worthy of his affections.

Give my son time, he'll learn to deny himself his youthful pleasures.

Not out of obligation, but love.

Madonna, there are visitors.

- No, put them in the lobby. - As you wish.

Signor Foscari, welcome to Florence.

You remember my daughter, Novella?

Bianca is delighted to have you here, she's heard a lot about you.

My son is expecting you.

I appreciate you coming, Messer Foscari.

Hawks must be kept apart, but close enough that they might fly together.

If they chose a mate, then it's for life, like humans.

You didn't invite me here to talk about hawks.

- I wish to propose an alliance. - You have already chosen your mate.

Florence has just negotiated a new treaty with Milan.

Now I propose one with Venice.

You see what shared benefits peace and stability would bring us all.

- You are young 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.

"Gulielme, vis accipere Blancam hic praesentem"

"in tuam legitimam uxorem"

"juxta ritum sanctae Matris Ecclesiae"?

"Volo".

"Blanca, vis accipere Gulielmo hic praesentem"

"in tuum legitimum maritum"

"juxta ritum sanctae Matris Ecclesiae"?

"Volo".

"Ego conjugo vos in matrimonium."

You have never seen me dancing.

Bride and groom were magnificent.

- 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.

- What kind of bride will I be? - 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.

- She's beautiful. - Novella is young.

I hope this marriage doesn't just end the feud between our families

but begins a partnership, business, politics.

You are aware that Volterra has found alum?

Yes, and that the Medici bank will sell it.

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.

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.

The dance begins.

- I didn't think you'd celebrate. - 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.

Now all you have to do is to bring peace with the other states.

I'm surprised Bianca invited Lucrezia Donati.

She didn't it, I did.

Her husband's an important ally.

By all accounts, it is your alliance with her that his important to you.

It's idle gossip.

A family meeting?

- Ominous. - What do you think of Novella?

She's pretty enough, why?

I need Foscari to lobby the Doge.

- He wants a husband for his daughter. - Me?

- You must be joking. - It's 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.

- Here the registers. - Thank you.

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.

If your father were here now, he would tell you the same thing.

But he's not, and we are.

Together we hold the controlling interest.

Lorenzo 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!

- Thank you for what you did. - Not at all. - I need something.

- Good morning. - Madonna Ardinghelli.

- How are you? - Fine. - Fine, and you?

Madonna Ardinghelli.

- Madonna Medici. - Ardinghelli is your husband's name, is it not?

- Yes, indeed. - I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting him.

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.

You're more sophisticated than I am. I know why he's 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 is weak.

His enemies need only kill him to destroy his kingdom.

Only I can give him a legitimate heir.

If you love him, let him go.

Another thing that makes a king weak is loneliness.

I have loved Lorenzo since he was 16.

I could already see in him the man that he was becoming.

Only I know him, only I am close to him.

Pushing him out of my bed, it won't 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 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.

As you can see, the shaping is very flattering.

The Capitoline Venus.

The Venus of Apollodorus.

They're naked, my husband wouldn't...

- I could not. - Of course, these were merely ideas.

- You can be clothed. - You are attempting to challenge yourself.

Yes.

- Ah! - 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 don't deserve to be humiliated

before your servants, your family and all of Florence.

- 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.

My heart will remain closed so long as I have to share you with her.

Clarice.

Clarice!

From the moment we met, you had my respect.

Mother's with Luca Soderini at the Priori, there's a problem.

- What's happened? - Show him. - Receipts.

They show Volterran alum selling in Venice for two ducats per load.

They're undercutting the price the Pope sells his alum.

These don't show the name of the merchant who's selling them.

- The Pope will invade if he knows. - Jacopo will ensure that he knows.

- Where did you get these? - Jacopo's showing them to Priori.

He's insisting that the Medici be no longer allowed to sell alum.

Someone in Volterra is striking deals over more than one table.

- I'll ask Maffei to root him out. - 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.

Look how far that got you.

- I'll ask Maffei to root out the traitor. - If he can't find him?

- He must. - 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.

I apologize, Messer Foscari.

I had hoped to persuade my brother to accept the match, but he refuses.

- You've wasted my time. - There is something else I can do for you.

I must discourage the Doge from entering in alliance with Florence.

- Wait. - Maffei is in the study with your mother, it's important.

You have more pressing matters to attend to, good day.

Messer Foscari.

Stefano, you bring news?

The Priori of Volterra have ousted me.

- They elected Vaccari. - They rescinded the agreement with you.

They made a deal with another merchant on more favorable terms.

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.

I will not shed blood, there has to be another way.

Far more blood will be shed when the Pope will 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.

Come to read!

- What it says? - "The Medici assume direct rule of our city."

What now, Vaccari?

What are you doing here?

Do you remember the day that Jacopo 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 and my sister married, as your parents would have wished.

I need your help

to find proof that Jacopo 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.

Together, we can prevent a war and save untold lives.

- 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 Lorenzo the politics of Florence are not my concern.

- We leave tomorrow. - I don't speak for Lorenzo or for politics.

I know a little of unhappiness, I would spare Novella the same.

There is another son of a Florentine banking family who she could marry.

Lorenzo.

Do you have it?

The last name, he has been selling the alum on my uncle's orders.

- Thank you. - Tell me it will do some good.

Yes, if we can get him to testify against Jacopo.

Go on inside, I'll be right there.

I'm having trouble with the door.

Tell Lorenzo de' Medici

Volterra does not take orders from him.

Father, no!

Maffei is murdered.

- What? - After posting your declaration, what should we do?

- War! ' Yes! War!

- Killing Maffei! - We should take revenge.

If we do not react

every city will feel free to butcher Florence's friends.

Volterra must be punished!

Gentlemen! Please!

Please.

No one grieves more than I do for Maffei's death

but more death is not the answer here.

Will you listen to the man who brought us to this?

Why is he so desperate to avoid war? Are you scared, is it that?

Volterra was cheated, gentlemen.

Strong words, young Medici, where 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? - Me! - Let it be!

Let us call upon the services of the great condottiero Montefeltro

and wash blood away with blood!

- A vote! - Gentlemen.

- War!

We can stop this war if you two find the merchant that Jacopo paid.

- We need him to testify. - Where are you going?

- I'll travel with the army to make sure they stay their weapons. - No.

To save our bank, you get that evidence against Jacopo.

- I'll ride with the army. - Giuliano.

God bless and protect you.

- Someone has been through our books. - How do you know?

This volume wasn't in the same place where I left it last night.

Let me see that.

Thank you.

Come.

- I need you to do something for me. - Yes, Messer.

Let's hurry UP!

Get ready to fight!

- Time to begin the attack. - Why the haste?

With your army, a few days siege they'll surrender.

These men came here to fight.

I keep them waiting, they'll start murdering each other.

To the line! Come on! Hurry up!

- Unprocessed alum. - From Volterra, no doubt.

Messer Baldelli?

Messer Baldelli?

It's late, Jacopo must have known he couldn't risk exposure.

- We have failed. - We have to ride to Volterra now!

Oh, God, no.

Giuliano!

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.

Guglielmo and I have been discussing the union between our families.

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?

They were taken with each other and Foscari's support is important.

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 remains pure.

- It doesn't change what happened. - Nothing can 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.

A cura del Servizio Sottotitoli RAI