Original subtitles

Vincenzo…

PREVIOUSLY ON THE LIONS OF SICILY

…only used you, but now he's come to realize

that you're of no use to him.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[Vincenzo] Two thousand people die in Palermo every day.

Cholera is going to end at some point, and when it does,

I believe we need to be prepared.

I thought of something. Why don't we build our own fleet?

I'd believe you'd be perfect

-for the operation I've planned. -What operation?

[Vincenzo] We have to convince them to invest their own money,

so we can raise this fleet.

What better occasion to host a dinner?

[Giulia] Host a dinner with all the nobles of Palermo?

[guests chatter]

[Vincenzo] What I'm offering you is a great opportunity

to bring progress to Sicily.

Florio, this steamboat, how long would it take to build it anyway?

I'll marry you. I'll marry you right now.

At least this baby will bear the name "Florio."

[priest] In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti…

-[Ignazio crying] -[Giulia] It's a boy.

Let's call him Ignazio, Mama.

-Yeah? -[Ignazio crying]

[indistinct chatter]

[Vincenzo] A fairytale city, symbolic, mystical,

that leaves you in awe with its infinite beauty.

A place where anything at all can happen.

And many things have happened to us Florios,

hard things and beautiful things.

The courageous people here, despite our differences,

opened their arms,

and we fell in love with them at first sight.

"No words can express the hazy brilliancy which hung around the coasts

"as on a most beautiful noon we neared Palermo.

"The purity of its outline, the tenderness of its ensemble,

"the softening of its colors,

"the harmony of the sky, the sea and the land.

"He who has once seen it will not be able to forget it."

-These are not my words. -[crowd laughs]

[Vincenzo] I wish.

They're by Wolfgang Goethe, that my dear Giulia has chosen for me.

[♪ gentle music playing]

[Vincenzo] Without a doubt,

there cannot be a better name for our first ship.

The first ship in fleet Florio, in the name of this beautiful city,

Palermo.

[crowd applauding]

-[♪ upbeat music playing] -[crowd cheers]

THE LIONS OF SICILY

[indistinct chatter]

[Giuseppe] Do you see it? We are not alone.

JANUARY 1848

[Giuseppe] We are not alone!

Palermo, Messina, Naples,

all the cities in the Two Sicilies are in disorder.

[bell tolls]

The people say this isn't right, and they are ready to fight.

-Any spark could make it all explode. -[bystander] And that makes you happy?

Aren't you worried that Sicilians could die?

No, I'm not happy. And I'm worried that our people could lose their lives.

Just the thought of people dying makes my heart bleed.

And yet, I'm here, as you see.

and I'm no longer afraid to die for Sicily. Not anymore!

We have suffered for years.

And all our concerns have only been ignored.

When they weren't condemned, there was mockery.

But in the end, our desperation has grown into courage.

And with courage, we will fight against absolutism.

-[♪ intense music playing] -[indistinct clamoring]

[gunfire]

[gunfire continues]

-[indistinct clamoring] -[horses neighing]

[horses neighing]

[Giulia] We have artichokes. The capers are salted. We have olive oil.

Good.

-How many chickens do we have left? -[Luisa] A dozen.

-Uh. And potatoes? -[Luisa] They're on the way, signora.

So, we need flour, legumes, eggs and some cheese.

[Vincenzo] Giulia!

-Vincenzo. -[Vincenzo] Giulia!

-[Giulia] How are you? -[Vincenzo] I'm fine.

It's hell out there.

There's dead bodies everywhere, and they're destroying everything.

La Masa already said that they were ready to fight.

La Masa? Giuseppe La Masa?

-You know that dissident? -Who doesn't?

We have enough supplies to last, and with what we have,

we can even help the revolutionaries.

Why would we help the revolutionaries, Giulia?

Politics is not our business. Enough with La Masa and those outlaws!

We have to get out of the city now.

You want to run away?

[Vincenzo] I'm not running away.

I'm keeping my family safe.

We're safe here, and we can also help.

How can you be sure we're safe? How can you be sure?

I'm afraid something could happen to us here.

Pack the bags. We'll leave soon.

[♪ somber music playing]

-[gunshots] -[indistinct clamoring]

[gunshots]

-[gunshot] -[indistinct shouting]

[groans]

-[grunts] -[horse neighs]

[groans]

[groans]

[indistinct clamoring]

Get going!

-[rebel 1] Stop there! -[coachman] Whoa!

Relax. Don't shoot.

Where are you going?

I'm taking my family to a safe place out of Palermo. Let me through.

Get down.

-[rebel 2] Come on. -[rebel 1] Come on, step down.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Let's go, follow me!

It's all right.

[distant shouting]

Are you Vincenzo Florio?

In person.

My apologies, Florio.

Nobody comes in or gets out of Palermo, not until the city is ours.

Who's given you the authority to tell me what I can or can't do?

The people of Sicily have.

Or maybe, you think I should make an exception for you because your wealthy?

But to me,

you're just like everyone else.

May I know with whom I have the honor?

Giuseppe La Masa.

I attended some of your rallies.

Giulia Florio.

My husband and I sympathize with the cause.

Florio, a friend?

I'll have the Revolution protect you, then.

You don't need to leave Palermo. Go to your house.

Oh, Florio…

would you permit me a word?

[grunts] Well, there's no other man like you on this island.

With your help and resources,

we can make a new Sicily for all of us, together.

Can we count on you?

[♪ intense music playing]

Donna Giulia…

it's been a pleasure.

Escort them home, safe.

[horse neighs]

-Vicè, what happened? -[Vincenzo] Nothing, Mama.

Just an unfavorable agreement.

Let's go home.

-[waves crashing] -[crickets chirping]

[indistinct chatter]

How was your trip?

I'll have you know, this is the last time I send rifles for you and the Revolution.

I mean it.

You're exposing quite a lot

for a person who's never been remotely interested in politics.

I'm just doing a favor for the revolutionary government.

A favor? Is that what you call it?

By supplying arms to the Revolutionaries, you've taken their side, my friend.

Or at least that's what people are going to think.

And that makes it the true, even if it isn't.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[indistinct chatter]

Florio, good to see you.

I brought the English Cargo that you requested.

Ah. Excellent!

We're grateful.

You've been a tremendous help to the Revolution.

All right. If we're done here, I have things I must see to.

Wait a minute, just one more thing.

The revolutionary government needs a more efficient way to move our troops.

I was thinking…

your steamboat.

It would be perfect.

-The Palermo? -[Giuseppe] Exactly.

I sincerely hope you're kidding me?

Florio, you have free reign as long as the Revolution allows it.

Let's not put me into an uncomfortable situation

that could be bad for you.

How am I responsible for your situation, La Masa?

You need to understand. My earnings have more than halved.

If you take away my steamship,

you'll be putting the very existence of my family in serious jeopardy.

We all sacrifice for the sake of the Revolution. Without excuse.

I'm sure your wife would share my way of thinking.

Oh, and anyway…

for the use of your steamship, you will get paid.

-What is all that? -It's silver.

-Our cause stole it from the Church. -Isn't that sacrilegious?

Not believing in religion frees us from those silly superstitions.

Please, tell your men to take these things away.

We need the space.

What was I supposed to do?

You need to tell those people they have to return everything now.

Do you really think they'd listen to me?

Should I say, "Excuse me, thieves,

"my mother thinks that all of this should be returned."

-What is all this? -Nothing. It's not for you to worry.

She should be worried.

Your husband gave orders to have all these sacred pieces melted down.

-Why would you do that? -Am I not allowed to get something

out of this whole mess?

Payment for what I do.

If you do something like this, an undeniable curse

will be brought upon this family.

-A curse, isn't that great? -[Giuseppina] Careful, Vicè.

Think twice when making your jokes.

-Where did all of this come from? -[scoffs] A friend of yours, La Masa.

It's from churches. All of it looted.

So… [clears throat] …Vicè, what do you like me to do with these?

-I say leave 'em. -[Peppe] But Donna Giuseppina--

Don't listen to her. They stay.

Maybe just not in the entryway.

-All right, I'll see to it. -[Giulia] Thank you.

-When will this all end? -[Giulia sighs]

Maybe when someone is willing to become king of Sicily, I'm afraid.

If this Revolution fails, they're going to punish everyone who helped it.

I am proud of what you're doing for Sicily.

Things are changing, Vincenzo, in the whole world.

My cousin wrote to me from Milan.

The Austrians will lose control of the city.

You have always believed in this Revolution.

Perhaps that's the only reason I've agreed to help them.

Despite your bitter tone,

I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me.

It just makes me crazy that they're using my money to do it.

-[chuckles] I know. -[♪ soft music playing]

-It taken me my whole life to earn it. -I know.

Do you believe that thing about the curse?

What do I know about it?

-I'm just a woman. -[scoffs] Only when you wanna be.

[breathes deeply]

You're the most intelligent person I know.

I don't believe that. I'm talking about the curse.

Adelina, have them take the crates out.

INDUSTRY DOMINATES STRENGTH FLORIO'S FOUNDRY

[foundry worker] We have to shovel all this in there, all this coal goes.

-Good evening, Signor Florio. -Good evening.

-Ciao, young man. -How's the work going?

Good, we've been working morning and night.

-And when's the first delivery feasible? -I'd say a month.

-[Vincenzo] A month? -[foundry supervisor] A full month.

That's a long time. What wrong, Ignazio?

Are you the one in charge here?

My name is Vincenzo Florio. How may I be of service to you?

All of this noise you're making here is unacceptable, Signor Florio.

Our convent is right next door, and we can't even hear our own prayers.

The Lord has very good hearing,

so I don't think you should worry about it.

I'm not finished.

I wrote the Duke of San Pietro, and he's going to intervene.

If this business of yours keeps on disturbing us,

he will shut you down.

-[whistles] -[machine whirring stops]

[sighs] Do you see what kind of torture we have to endure?

Mother Superior, this is what progress sounds like.

This is a foundry.

In here, we construct the hulls of enormous sea vessels.

It's a work that provides for hundreds of families.

So, your prayers might be interrupted,

but in other ways, they're also being answered.

Now, you keep doing what you do, and let me work in peace, please.

You better watch out, Florio.

God gives and he takes away.

Let's go.

-Get out of my way. -Oh, seriously! [chuckles]

Another curse? Just what we need, isn't it?

Yeah, you said it.

-You okay, Gnazì? Did she scare you? -"God gives and he takes away"?

Superstitious nonsense, don't you worry about it.

Actually, it's a good lesson. Because in the future,

you're going to be the one that face those who stand against the Florios.

Can you handle it?

-Get the teams back to work. -Yeah, right away.

ONE YEAR LATER

[♪ soft music playing]

-[waves crashing] -[birds squawking]

Let's stop now, okay?

Stop. Stop.

Well done.

Why can't I ride horses with Dad, too?

Because you don't know how to ride horses.

Well, that's because I've never been taught.

The Marsala wine business is run by Uncle Giovanni.

Then we have cotton…

tobacco, and what else?

-The tuna, the foundry and-- -Which is called?

-Oro… -Orotea.

And then there's sulfur.

What is the sulfur company called?

It's in English, Papa, how would I know?

How would you know? 'Cause I've told you a hundred times.

I'll never be able to do what my brother does.

-But why? -That's what it's like for now.

But it'll change.

Promise?

Yes, my love.

[Vincenzo] "Anglo-Sicilian" means we are half English and half Sicilian.

"Sulfur company" means that we deal with sulfur.

-Aw. That's really hard. -You have to learn these things, Ignazio.

One day, all this will be your responsibility,

-when I'm not here anymore. -When you're not here anymore, sure.

But you're here now, right?

And what's the name of the shipping company?

Ignazio and Vincenzo Florio Steamship Company.

[Vincenzo] You see? You do know. Good boy.

And who is this Ignazio, your dad's partner?

-[Ignazio] It's me. -[Vincenzo] Ah, you!

'Cause you're my flesh.

-Now, can we gallop please? -It's too dangerous.

We can't let anything happen to you. You're too important.

[horse neighs]

[Giulia] Take the girls in the house.

Allez, les enfants. Dépêchez-vous.

-Who are they, Papa? -Go inside. Go to Mama, go.

Come on.

[Giulia] Ignazio, go inside!

-[Giuseppe] Oh. Whoa, oh. -[rider] Whoa.

-[horse snorts] -Good morning, Don Vincenzo.

Good morning.

Donna Giulia.

Wonder what they want now?

Let's talk at the house. Out of the wind.

After you.

Grazia, Donna Giulia.

Uh. Have you met, uh, Rosolino Pilo, Pasquale Calvi, Ruggero Settimo?

Sit down, gentlemen, please. It's an honor to have you here.

I myself have great admiration for what you're doing for our Sicily.

And your writings,

as you know, have been a source of great inspiration.

My dear, I'm sure these men have come all the way out here

for more than compliments and your delicious lemonade.

Is that true?

You can go, Giulia, grazie. Leave us to talk.

Excuse me, please.

The Revolution is in trouble, Don Vincenzo.

The delegation of aristocrats from Palermo met in secret

with a representative of the king.

They're going to surrender the city to him.

So, the aristocrats have turned their backs

on the new Kingdom of Sicily.

They're just vermin.

-Vermin heading for the life rafts. -If anyone can save the ship, we can.

It's up to our common effort.

[Vincenzo] I've done everything in my power

and given everything at my disposal.

[Giuseppe] But we need you now more than ever, Don Vincenzo.

The Revolution asks you for a favor once more.

Men, arms, and a means of transport.

So, you're asking me for more money.

What a surprise.

And how much do you need?

-Fifteen thousand. -Fifteen thousand onze?

-You must be insane. [scoffs] -So, don't you want to help us?

Since you've asked me in such a direct way,

I'll respond to your question directly as well.

-No. -[Giuseppe] Ah. That's why.

That's why you sent your wife away, huh?

So, that she wouldn't hear you abandoning the Revolution.

You leave my wife out of it.

Have respect for me in my own house.

I did everything that was possible, and even more.

I financed all your endeavors,

bankrolled you for an entire year, fulfilling all you could think to ask.

Enough is enough. Even I have a limit, and this is it.

You did try, and you failed.

And the cause is not going to make me bleed any more money out.

Especially a cause that now is dead.

You hear what you're saying?

You sound like an opportunist, and the worst kind.

I'm just a businessman.

Only someone who hasn't scraped and fought

and worked with their own hands for payment

would waste their time for the sake of ideals.

Gentlemen, with all due respect…

[♪ somber music playing]

…our deals are nothing but pretty words.

And I wanted to believe that they were true. I truly did.

But they're just beautiful, childish words.

And I live in a world, like it or not, that's made up of adults.

One where you have to come to terms with those in command.

And it's clear that it's no longer you.

Why would you bleed for Sicily anyway? It's never been your homeland after all.

Signore, we made a mistake. We're done here.

We should have remembered from the start that the Florios were not true Sicilians.

Do you actually believe that you people have done more for Sicily than I have?

I do. And I'll tell you this,

you're losing the most loyal friends you could have,

and your change of heart won't be enough to get you back

in the good graces of the king.

[♪ somber music continues]

[Vincenzo] I must write the king before he closes everything on me.

That's what you're worried about?

Just for a moment, I thought that even you could have ideals.

How wrong I was.

Do you think it's easy for me to ask the Bourbons for a pardon?

Or that I'm happy to let the Neapolitans come in

and just take what's mine and what is ours?

I'm completely repulsed. Repulsed! To have to bow down to them.

-Well, then don't do it. -I'm not holding the reins, Giulia.

And neither are your friends. They don't exist.

If the king returns to power, I have no choice but to accept it.

For the sake of our family.

For the money, isn't it?

All you care about is money, that's all it is.

The well-being of this family depends on our money.

-Don't be so naive, Giulia. -No, Vincenzo. That's not true.

It's not true.

Sometimes, you have to do things that are selfless, think about others,

to fight for ideals and stand up to make a change.

-And this is that moment. -Stop it.

I need those ideals. I believe in them.

-Do you understand? -Enough! I don't even know who I married.

You've only become a Revolutionary now

because La Masa has ignited some kind of fantasy in you, that's why.

-Tell the truth. -You never got it, did you?

[Vincenzo] Everybody will be against us! Everybody!

The rebels, the Bourbons, everyone!

[♪ somber music fades]

This one's nice and flat. It'll really skip.

Don't you like skipping stones across the water?

Of course, I like it, my boy.

-[Ignazio] Are you angry? -I'm not angry.

I just don't like being confined here…

without knowing what's going on in the city.

I imagine that the king should be back in power at this point.

And I don't understand why he's still ignoring us.

What does it mean to be confined?

You're trapped. It's like being in a prison.

Maybe the king just forgot that we're out here.

We're too much of a nuisance.

Impossible to forget.

And can't you just meet with him and talk?

I could.

You're right. I can go talk.

-I'll come with you. -[Vincenzo] No.

You have to stay here, remember? Nothing can happen to you.

Watch. Huh?

You see that?

I'm going to Palermo.

-To kneel before the king? -No.

To take responsibility for what I've done.

If he decides to punish me, then I'll have no choice.

It's better than sitting here, waiting to hear our destiny.

[♪ soft music playing]

[Giulia] Are you sure this is a good idea?

I know I've been unbearable these days.

I'm sorry. I apologize,

but I just can't sit around knowing nothing.

It's like I'm locked up.

Like a caged lion?

We are who we are, Giulia.

We can't do anything about it.

[chuckles, breathes deeply]

Forgive me?

I'll forgive you if you don't get arrested.

I don't want to be alone here with your mother.

[both chuckle]

[Vincenzo breathes deeply]

[♪ soft music concludes]

-[Ignazio] Papa's leaving. -[horse gallops]

[Ignazio] Did you hear me?

-Aren't you going to say goodbye? -I don't feel like it.

But why don't you?

He's willing to put himself in harm's way to protect you

because only you carry on the Florio name.

Because you're a boy.

And we're not.

-[♪ intense music playing] -[indistinct clamoring]

The Bourbons have taken half of Palermo.

They have no mercy for anyone.

[Peppe] Porta Nuova is guarded.

We can try and reach the Royal Palace by going

-from behind the cathedral. -No.

First, we go to the port.

I want the Palermo ready to embark. Should anything go wrong…

you have to take care of my family.

Get them on to the Palermo.

-All right. -Let's go.

[♪ intense music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

I'll be a minute.

Take this.

-Captain. -Don Florio.

-[♪ intense music concludes] -[Vincenzo] Get your men ready.

The Palermo may need to launch at any moment.

-It'll be ready. -Good.

Come on. Load faster.

I thought I recognized you.

I'm glad to see that you've decided to go on the run.

And you, on the other hand, are happy to crawl back to the king…

and beg for assistance for you and your petty affairs.

Whatever I choose to do is none of your business.

-You see, I'm a free man. -Yes, you are.

-Free to betray the cause. -Free to do what was right to do.

-And what is that? -Accept fate.

I don't like it any more than you do.

But you cower and decide to just run away.

[chuckles] No. See, I'll be preparing the next move for the Revolution.

Ah.

That does sound much better, but still running away.

Hey, get your hands off me.

Florio, what are you thinking?

That the king's emissary will take you back so easily?

The king thinks you're a traitor because that's what you are.

You are a traitor. And the worse kind that there is.

Could be.

Maybe you're angry, La Masa, because everyone beat you.

And without my money, you can't play revolutionary anymore.

In my opinion.

[chuckles]

You know, it's true what they say about you.

You're not just a sleazy businessman, are you?

Because your soul is black.

Now, go on out. Go report me to your friends.

Ah, and remember, Florio, when the next ruler shows up…

be loyal.

By the way, the sailor suit looks good on you.

Just something to think about.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

I'm Vincenzo Florio.

I have a letter with me for the emissary of the king.

Wait right here.

What if I should have listened to La Masa?

Perhaps there was more I could do.

If I weren't so stubbornly fixated on my reputation…

maybe things would have really changed for the better.

Vicè, you are changing things for the better.

You're just doing it in a different way.

Besides, if you're not certain about this, there's still time to get out.

No.

Vincenzo Florio! Arrest him.

What have I done? What are you arresting me for?

What a surprise.

I have to admit, you have a hell of a lot of nerve

and courage to show up here after supplying the rebels with weapons.

The same weapons they used to murder my troops.

All revolutions end, Minister, but Sicilians are still here,

with all their monsters under their beds.

You can contemplate those monsters all you want in your cell.

-Take him away. -Please, Vicè.

-Peppe, go back to the harbor. -Wait! Stop!

The king's lieutenant wants to see Signor Florio.

Follow me.

Prince Filangeri.

Are you the king's new lieutenant?

So, it appears, Don Florio.

Have a seat.

I'm here because I wrote a letter to the king.

A letter in which I take responsibility for what I've done.

This one?

You see, fortunately for you,

I'm not the type of man who easily forgets a friend.

Especially, one who was there for me

when my finances were, let's say, in trouble…

and in need of aid.

I can convince the king not to charge someone

who, um, was friendly with the rebels.

What about Del Carretto? He nearly arrested us.

[chuckles] Oh, that old goat.

He will soon be replaced by a minister,

who's equally blood-thirsty, but a bit more rational.

This won't be needed.

-I'll vouch for you. -I don't know how to thank you.

Well, there is something…

-Your steamship. -The Palermo?

It will be annexed to the King's Royal Navy.

A gesture. Symbolic, I would say, to the king and Sicily of your loyalty.

"Symbolic," you say?

[Filangeri] My friend, freedom has no price.

[groans]

Then it's done. Your Eminence.

Oh, while I have you…

Ruggero Settimo, Pilo and Calvi have been captured and punished firmly,

but La Masa is still on the run.

Helping us to catch some revolutionaries would guarantee the king's goodwill.

Do you have any useful information?

I'm sorry, but we don't have any information.

That's too bad.

Prince.

[Peppe] That went well, Vicè.

[Vincenzo] Yeah. A bit of luck every now and then doesn't hurt.

Shall we head back to Arenella?

[sighs] No. Let's make one more stop first.

-[church bell tolls] -[birds chirping]

Oh, it's you.

Sister, I'm happy to see the Revolution hasn't affected you.

What is all this? What are all these things?

Consider them a gift from a generous neighbor.

God can take away, but sometimes he gives too.

He's given today. Excuse me.

Wait, Signor Florio! Signor Florio!

What are we supposed to do with all this?

-[♪ upbeat music playing] -Easy, easy. Keep going.

Do you like it?

-[horse neighs] -[Vincenzo] Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

What are you doing?

Get down, now. That's dangerous.

[scoffs] Suddenly it's dangerous because we're girls?

You take care of the business, and I'll take care of our children.

[♪ closing theme song playing]

♪ Menomale che non sei normale ♪

♪ Come tutti quanti ♪

♪ Che lasci tutto e torni ♪

♪ Se ho paura anch’io e non lo sanno gli altri ♪

♪ E allora come mai ♪

♪ C’hai messo così tanto ad incontrarmi qui ♪

♪ A farne il tuo bersaglio ♪

♪ E poi portarmi in alto che la città è un puntino ♪

♪ Lo vedi quant’è bello dividersi un destino ♪

♪ C’è una notte stellata tra le ciminiere ♪

♪ C’è una vita pensata ed una da pensare insieme ♪

♪ Ed una da inventare ♪

♪ Ed una da capire ♪

♪ Ed una da durare io e te ♪

♪ Ed una da impazzire io e te ♪

[♪ closing theme song concludes]

Translated by Giuseppina Paola Bonica