Original subtitles

We admired your work in Masseto. I'm flattered.

But Florence is a big city. Will your style work here?

Fear works anywhere.

Very good.

Ten thousand florins. That's a lot of money.

One thousand for you,

nine thousand to buy weapons. The nastier the better.

What do you want them for?

I could tell you, but then I really would have to kill you.

How am I supposed to paint her if she never looks up?

Great picture for the groom, the faceless bride.

She's such a misery guts. I feel sorry for him.

As I said, I have a church mural to complete out of town,

but my apprentices will do a fine job.

And they're cheap. The rest of you,

hurry up and get your things. You're working with me.

Fine job? She hasn't got a face.

Mi scusi, Signore. We need to get the Signorina to look up. Do we?

Signore, please! It's our fault, we weren't clear in our instruction.

The payment, Signore. Half now and half upon completion.

Would you step this way?

You can't seriously be marrying that man? Tomaso.

Leave it. This is the 1460s. You can marry who you like.

Leave me alone and finish your painting.

Attenzione, imbecille.

Mac? You all right?

Do you know him?

Never seen him before in my life.

Look, you go in. I'll be back in a while. OK.

She can't marry him! He's old and hideous and hateful.

A big fat toad.

A big fat bullying toad. But it's who her father's chosen.

Oh, right, so that's OK, is it? We just have to marry any old thing,

however gross they are. What we want doesn't matter.

You have to accept the wishes of your parents. What?!

Oh, because of her arranged marriage thingy.

She's right. No-one should have to marry him. He's evil.

His name is Lucio Zangari.

New in town, but famous in a village called Masseto.

He lends money and when people can't repay him,

does terrible things to them and their homes.

If people borrow money, they should pay it back.

He beats them, takes everything they own, torches their houses.

Is that how things work at your daddy's bank, Lorenzo?

I don't want to work for him. I don't want to paint that girl.

Petronella Conti. Her father owed him money,

so Lucio made him an offer - your daughter or prison.

Her dad sold her to Lucio?! No.

The father chose prison, but Petronella insisted on the marriage.

To save her father. Mm-hm. So we have to save her.

How? We have to get the money, pay Lucio back. Then she'll be free.

Look, we shouldn't interfere. Leo? What if it was me?

Tom's right. We can't ignore this. We have to stop him. I agree.

But you lot have to stay out of it. He's dangerous. I'll deal with him.

On your own? You seem to know a lot about him.

Are you sure you don't know him?

I told you, no. Then what's in it for you?

Oh, you know me, damsel in distress and all that.

I live to serve others. You're not doing it alone, Mac, no way.

We're in this together, right?

Lorenzo?

Course. We're going to free Petronella.

And we're going to make him give back all the money he's taken. Si? Si.

Have you got a plan? No.

But we can invent one.

That's the one. Mm-hm.

THEY CLEAR THEIR THROATS

Look, a perfect gold bar.

Good, isn't it? Shall I help with the painting now?

You're doing such a fantastic job, why not stick with the gold bars?

Wow. Can't believe you can do this from memory.

Make the eyes a slightly steelier blue, a bit more cobalt.

So...sorry, just explain it again. We're going to trick Lucio

out of his money, by making him think we can turn lead into gold.

Erm...forgot what it's called.

Alchemy? Alchemy.

Hang on, what's with all the forged paintings?

We need to soften him up, reel him in,

make him feel he's missed out on a get-rich-quick scheme.

Then when the next one comes, he'll grab it.

But we can't let him get close - he'd tell the difference.

So we need a real gold bar for the alchemy part.

Good luck with that! LORENZO SNIGGERS

You know what to do? Make it look like you don't want him to see them.

Yeah, we know. We're not stupid.

Presto! They're coming.

So I'll see you outside the gallery. Phase two. All right.

Smile, you're getting married.

Should be on your knees with gratitude, girl.

I'm rescuing you from your loser of a father.

Two pictures the same!

Yeah. Practice pieces.

Copying the work of great masters in order to improve.

Signorina's portrait will be finished tomorrow.

Well, it better be! The wedding's at noon and I want it there.

Very classy to have a portrait of your bride.

I want the whole of Florence to see what sort of man I am.

That'll give them something to look forward to.

Just get it finished.

Smile!

Excuse me, I-I was wondering if you could help us?

I'm Lorenzo de' Medici. Oh, don't worry about all that, my good man.

My friend is an artist... Buon giorno.

..who my family have commissioned

to do a series of paintings on ancient kings of Rome.

It would be a real help if we had a real-life model.

You, Signore, have a very noble and indeed a very... King-like! ..face.

Would you mind posing whilst my friend draws a few little sketches?

Well, er, make it quick.

You would make a great Tarquinius Priscus.

He was the fifth king, you know.

No, don't move! Don't move.

I've so nearly captured that magnificent nose. Very impressive.

In a bit more profile...

Eccellente. Finito.

Thank you very much. You've been ever so helpful.

Give the man one of the portraits to show him our gratitude.

You never know, might be worth a fortune one day!

That was incredible!

We stole a painting! When are we putting it back?

Soon, really soon, Lorenzo.

Lucio wants the picture at the wedding.

If I paint really slowly, I might delay it. I wish you could stop it.

Maybe we can. You know, I wasn't always such a misery guts.

No-one said you were. I used to make Papa laugh all the time.

Once I hid his boots in... DOOR OPENS

The whole of Florence is talking about a stolen painting -

a masterpiece, the one you did copies of.

No, you must be mistaken, that was a different painting.

Don't lie to me, boy. I want a copy...

to sell as the original.

You're too late. That's what my boss does. I gave him the copies.

Old Viddochio? Verrocchio. Whatever.

No, my real boss. Niccolo Depornado. I want to meet him

and you're going to take me.

No. No way. He would kill me. And I'll kill you if you don't.

Be careful of the brocade on the doublet. It snags very easily.

Your mama's away in the country with the servants, yes? Yes.

So it's just your dad to keep out of the way.

Any chance you can get him to show you round the bank?

Oh, good idea. Papa wants me to take an interest in the family business.

Good. While you're there you can pinch me a gold bar.

Living with that pig, day in, day out.

I couldn't do it. I know I couldn't do it.

Well, I love my father. So do I. That's not what I'm saying.

I deserve a life, don't I? My own life.

I mean, girls...like you...deserve to live your own lives,

make your own choices.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Master Zangari, Signore. Incantato. But I don't remember inviting you.

I know what your game is. I can't think what you mean.

Don't give me that lah-di-dah act, just because you got all this.

You're a crook.

You're selling forgeries of the stolen painting to art collectors.

Very fine people. Who think it's real.

I want in.

You want my silence, you give me a copy.

I'm a respected and enormously wealthy member of Florence's elite.

And you are?

Well, who are you exactly?

I've got money. I've got connections.

The point is, is anyone likely to believe such a story?

The point is, are you willing to take that risk?

Well, that's the last one...

and it's sold,

which leaves us with a bit of a stand-off.

All right.

I'll take a gold bar.

I'm delighted you're taking an interest in the bank, Lorenzo.

Erm, it's about time I learned. In a few years I may well be running it.

Indeed. Well, maybe you should know a little about its illustrious history.

In 1397, our ancestor, Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici,

moved the headquarters of his bank to Florence.

Give him a gold bar.

It's not like we'll miss one.

Are you forging gold as well as the paintings?

The gold isn't forged. What then?

Maybe I just have the Midas touch.

We now have branches in all the major cities

and we operate a general ledger system.

There's a master book, if you will, in which we, erm...in which we...

In which we...erm... Would you excuse me for a moment, Lorenzo?

What are you doing? Em...holding a gold bar.

Feeling the weight. Letting it inspire me.

It's worth 5,000 florins. Does that make it seem heavier?

Erm...no, it weighs as much as it always did.

Spoken like a Medici!

Thank you, Papa. Take it, keep it under your pillow.

Learn the weight, the smell, the texture.

Real gold smells. Did you know that?

Come on. Andiamo. Where are we going? Home.

Already? But I was so enjoying the story...

You need lots of money to make this kind of gold.

It's way out of your league.

I told you, I have plenty of money.

10,000 florins. See?

I'm impressed. So you should be.

You leave me no choice.

There's a scientist.

She takes molten lead

and passes it over a stone called lapis philosophorum.

Turns lead into gold. Alchemy?

Exactly.

I thought it was impossible.

The stone is expensive and rare,

but each stone can make 30, even 40 gold bars.

Our buyer for the painting, he's here.

You need to buy one of the stones

for the alchemist to do her magic. I told you, no problem.

Master, the BUYER is at the gates.

My boy will show you to the alchemist this evening. Now,

if you don't mind?

We're home! Lorenzo, why are you shouting? Just excited to be back.

No need to shout about it.

Shut those doors, Lorenzo. Yes, Father.

GOLD BAR CLANGS TO THE FLOOR Ow!

For pity's sake, boy. I tell you to learn its value

and the first thing you do is drop it!

My toe, Father, my poor toe! Let's see. Oh...

Oooh, ow! Oh, don't be such a baby.

It's not broken. You'll live.

The plate sits deep in the barrel.

And you put the clay mould full of lead here, OK? Mm-hm.

And then the plate will spin

and the clay mould with the gold in it will be on top.

We really are turning lead into gold.

Right, I'll do the jokes.

Whatever happens, we can't lose this gold bar.

What gold bar?

Ah-ha-ha-ha!

Grazie, Grazie. Very good.

THEY LAUGH

An exact quantity of lead is heated into liquid.

LIQUID BUBBLES AND HISSES

It's... It's pure gold!

HE LAUGHS

Here, make some more. I can't.

This lapis philosophorum is small

and its properties are worn away now. So how do I get a stone?

If you have ten thousand florins, my supplier can deliver tomorrow.

All right. But you just make sure it's a big stone.

I thought we could use this for the lapis. No, it has to be this one.

Oh, OK, but I don't know why. Mine's much shinier...

Just do as I say, Lorenzo! All right, keep your hair on!

But can we at least take the stolen painting back now? No, not yet.

It might come in useful.

Market place, just before noon.

Man in the bright red jacket.

You look miserable. Why?

You're going up in the world. You're marrying me.

Ah, the happy couple.

I believe a final payment is due.

That's me robbed.

You, be at the church by noon.

Wait! You forgot the painting!

She can bring it. I've got business.

But it has to be you! Why?

Well, because...

It's heavy and...

erm...

And if Lucio Zangari were to be seen by the priest,

or the grand people of Florence,

making his bride carry her own portrait to her own wedding,

what would they think?

Don't you ever question me again!

You look vile. Well, thanks very... DOOR OPENS

Is this him?

He has the stone, yes.

He's a bit young. It's a young science.

If my age prevents you completing the transaction, so be it.

No, no, no. I want that stone. And I want ten thousand florins.

HE CHUCKLES

I'll be back tonight.

I think we just did it. Ten thousand florins.

I can explain! This is not the painting I commissioned!

I commissioned a painting of my wife!

It's done. He's been arrested.

For theft.

Oh, I get it! That's why we hung on to the stolen painting.

Ding, ding! Give that man a bar of gold!

What will happen to him? Tried, imprisoned, banished. Who cares?

He's not got enough money to buy his way out.

And speaking of money... Of course, there you go.

It's all yours. I can't thank you enough.

That money will rebuild lives, homes... Sure will!

Eight thousand florins goes a long way.

Actually, Petronella... it's TEN thousand.

MAC CLEARS HIS THROAT

So it is.

Eight, ten, sounds the same when you say it quickly.

THEY LAUGH

I don't know what to say. I think you might have saved my life.

It's worth saving.

I wish I was more like you. I've never met anyone as good, as brave.

I'm not brave. Not really.

We all do extraordinary things for what we love. Especially you.

Sacrificing who you are for your love of painting.

How did you know? Don't worry.

Papa!

♪ The door slammed loud and rose up a cloud of dust on us

♪ Footsteps follow, down through the hollow sound, torn up... ♪

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