Da Vinci's Demons (2013–2015): Season 1, Episode 2 - The Serpent - full transcript

Leonardo:
My name is Leonardo da Vinci.

Lorenzo: You're the eccentric
that Verrocchio employs.

Leonardo:
I'm an artist and an anatomist

and an engineer of some note.

The Turk:
Search for the Book of Leaves.

Fate has chosen you, Leonardo.

Well, where do I start
my search, then?

Zoroaster:
The Hanged Man.

The Jew that was hanged--
I want you to unearth his body.

My mistress insisted

that you be the one
to capture her beauty.



- Ah!
- ( women scream )

I sense the Vatican's hand
behind this.

You need weapons of your own,
Your Magnificence.

This will greatly increase
your gunners' rate of firepower.

Girolamo: The Medicis have
employed him to design siege weapons.

Sixtus:
You know this how?

Girolamo: Because I have an agent
within Lorenzo's ranks.

( theme music playing )

( bell tolling )

Avraham: He told you
time is a river, yes?

Leonardo: He told me
the river was circular.

That one man's death paves the way
for the birth of another.

Indeed.

And men like ourselves,



we can change the river's course.

I'm like you, then?

I find that hard to believe.

( echoing )
You don't know who I am, do you?

( vanessa gasping )

My brother and I--

there were bandits
who tried to take my honor.

- Where?
- Down the path to the left.

- Get the horses.
- Hurry, hurry.

This way, this way.
You can go.

Go on, in.
( slaps )

All right, you should
be safe in there.

Come on.

I'm sorry,
the fools locked the gate.

Fools are worth worrying about.

But a locked gate...

not so much.

Avraham:
There is no yesterday, you see.

No tomorrow.

Time is all
one single continuum.

We have met, haven't we?

Of course.

We're brothers.

Who are you?

Start with your heel,
roll to your toe.

You have a lot yet to learn,
bean sprout.

I already have a maestro, Zo.

Yeah, I'm not suggesting
you abandon da Vinci's counsel.

I'm suggesting you enhance it.

There.

What is it?

They don't like their graves
being violated,

so they cover them in sand
and press letters

to alert them if mischief
has occurred.

Nico:
What does it say?

Funnily enough...

"Taken."

Avraham: I am a son of Earth
and Starry Heaven.

I'm thirsty.

Please...

give me something to drink
from the Fountain of Memory.

The Turk:
See as I have seen...

Into infinity,

and you will be a god.

But know this--

you will...

- suffer.
- ( gasps )

One corpse, freshly plucked.

Was it a nightmare, Maestro?

No, it was something else entirely.

Take notes, would you?

I perceive the expected
ligature marks

from strangulation,

a crushed larynx--

Nico!

Diminished musculature.

That's likely from malnutrition.

Circumcised member.

Never seen one of those before.

( chuckles )

What is that?

A missing fingernail
on the right digitus primus.

Vanessa:
Leo, what are you doing?

The Turk said to start my quest
with the hanged man.

Specifically,
the seat of the soul.

It's a euphemism for the stomach.

- ( gagging )
- ( grunting )

( bones crack )

The missing fingernail.

Odd that he would ingest it.

Huh.

( Leonardo chuckling )

Oh.

Leonardo:
"One man's death...

opens the doorway
for another."

( coin clinks )

Lorenzo:
Did your husband give you that?

It's a family heirloom,

from Ceylon.

It's a stone called serendibite.

What's troubling you?

Apparently, Count Riario
is coming to pay us a visit.

Oh?

For what purpose?

Oh, nothing pleasant, I'm sure.

But whatever the viper's intentions,
I'll be expected to wine and dine him

whilst hosting
the rest of Florence's elite.

Will you come?

Well, you can keep
Riario entertained.

Won't Clarice be there?

Of course.

We can steal glances
throughout the evening.

I'll even invite
that scoundrel, if you like.

Who?

Da Vinci.

The one who's supposed to be
painting your portrait

and building me a weapon.

( thunder crashing )

( door slams )

You're late, son.

Contract signed.

And now binding.

Did you not even read it?

We had already agreed to the terms.

But not the administration
of those terms.

I told you to stay away.

I let you know there would be
consequences.

What do you think you've done?

Painting Lucrezia Donati,

fraudulently leading
the Medicis to believe

you can deliver
preposterous weapons of war?

You've overreached
and now I've made it

so you'll soon be gone.

( sighs )
There isn't a contract you can devise

that can contain me.

You're the bastard son of a servant girl
I spilled my seed into.

Your heritage contains you.

( sighs )

( groans )

( Leonardo moaning )

( sighs )

- No!
- ( pencil clatters )

- What's wrong?
- What's changed?

Something's shifted
in you, signora,

since last we met.

Perhaps it's just you and me
here in Lorenzo's home.

You're feeling guilty.

It's not as if I don't have
affection for him.

Or perhaps...

I'm guilty about feeling guilty.

It's not as if I don't have affection
for you as well.

Which guilt do you prefer, then?

I have known Lorenzo
since I was a girl.

I've known you a week.

- That's not an answer.
- Well...

The Jew they executed...

what was his offense?

He said he had to run
from cutthroats

and he took refuge
in a bookstore.

The Authority suspect
he stole something,

but nothing was missing.

And the bag that he carried
was empty.

So they hanged a man

for stealing something
that wasn't missing.

The scene of the crime
requires further investigation.

Does it?

( door opens )

Lorenzo:
Quattrone, prepare the horses.

I want to be off at once.

Oh, so you've finished
today's sitting already?

Yes.

Signor da Vinci
had somewhere to be.

Ah, yes.
He is testing his gun for us.

Today he gives
Florence its sting...

or I show him mine.

It's quite considerate he left us
a moment to be alone.

Lorenzo,
anybody could walk in.

I just needed a bit of you.

And you will have it,

for it is yours alone.

Good luck today.

Lorenzo:
Quattrone, we're off!

( footsteps receding )

- Good luck.
- Mmm.

That bit of you...

it's not his alone.

No, it's not.

But it will always be his first.

Do you have any saltpeter,
Maestro Andrea?

What the devil do you need
potassium nitrate for?

Gunpowder.

The maestro
is designing a weapon.

He calls it
the pipe organ musket.

The recoil will kill him.

Don't worry,
he's worked it out.

By God,
he's corrupted you already.

Over there,
third shelf from the top,

between the vermilion
and the ultramarine.

And tell him I expect
to be paid in coin,

not idle boasts like last time.

- ( thunder rumbling )
- ( Lorenzo laughing )

Becchi:
Come on.

- Giuliano: God!
- Lorenzo: Careful, Giuliano.

Fucking hell.

What are we doing here?
We're in the middle of nowhere.

- Lorenzo: Where is he?
- Perhaps he's simply late.

Or perhaps he realized
what he actually proposed

was much more
than a flying party trick.

I wouldn't be surprised if he had
no intention of coming here at all.

I'm telling you, brother,
the man's a lunatic and a coward.

Oh, God!
Shit.

Keep control of yourself, brother.
They're only cutouts.

Leonardo: Quickly!
Soldiers advancing on Florence!

How-- how dare you?

You are pointing a weapon
directly at the House of Medici!

- Men, take him.
- No, hold.

Obviously, the gun
passed its first test.

It's done nothing.

No, it's done
a great deal, actually.

Intimidation.

Now, if you will proceed
to the gallery,

we will proceed with testing
its less ephemeral utility.

You picked quite a day
for it, da Vinci.

Yes, you like it?

I think it has the verisimilitude.

I question the company
the maestro keeps.

That man's a known reprobate.

Are these soldiers
meant to be Swiss?

And you would be?

Commander Quattrone,
leader of the Florentine militia.

Becchi: His Magnificence
thought it wise

to bring a military strategist
to the demonstration.

In order to better evaluate
your work.

I wish I'd brought a boat.

Well, the commander
has a keen eye.

What you see before you

is a representation of Rome's
private mercenary regiment.

It's a bit of theatrics,

but often presentation
is more than half the performance.

Lorenzo:
Well, get on with it, da Vinci.

While you delay, we drown.

Where was I?

- Mm.
- Yes!

- Lorenzo: Come on.
- Quickly!

Soldiers advancing on Florence.

- Yes, yes, yes.
- The man is mad.

( men coughing )

( coughing )

( Becchi, muffled )
The House of Medici has invested

hundreds of florins
in this project.

According to your contract,

the failure of this contraption
constitutes fraud.

Men, take him away.

On your feet, Maestro.

( coughing )

Hold.

You have one week, artista.

Lorenzo, no.

The materials alone
will cost another 200 florins.

One week.

That sounds...

quite r-reasonable.

- ( chatter )
- ( braying )

Man:
Get your chickens here.

Woman: I'll have two
if the price is right.

I wanna have words
with you, boy.

We found footprints
in the graveyard

where the Jew's body
was stolen.

A donkey's, a man's,
and a child's...

long-toed poulaines

such as you are wearing.

( grunts)

Do you know who I am?

I am Lord Girolamo Riario,

Count and Captain General

of the Holy Roman Church,

nephew of His Holiness,
Pope Sixtus IV.

Signor Morgante
has informed us

of your recent
grave-robbing exploits.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Lupo:
Don't insult us, boy.

We're well aware
of who your master is.

Um, Your Excellency,
there was the matter of payment.

Hmm.

Yes, of course.

Captain Grunwald.

- Ah!
- Now...

Ah!

Nico:
Jesus.

( crying )

Now that we've established
my propensity for directness,

I trust our conversation
will proceed smoothly.

Now, we're interested

in why da Vinci required
the Jew's body.

And lest you be tempted
to feign further ignorance,

I wanted to demonstrate
a remarkable device

I recently acquired from the Orient.

It's called "The widow's Tear."

No! Ah!

Girolamo: The source
of the discomfort you're feeling

is an exquisitely tooled
diamond needle,

the titular "widow's Tear."

And as I turn the handle,
the diamond...

( Nico yelling, groaning )

...slowly incises a circle of skin

from the back of the hand
one layer of epidermis at a time.

( Nico yelling )

Now, I want you
to weigh your next answer

very, very carefully.

Why did da Vinci
unearth the Jew's body?

Very well.
Another turn.

( groaning )

Stop!
Stop, stop.

Girolamo:
Shh, shh, shh, shh.

It's all right, Nico.

- ( groans )
- Just a few simple words

and we could end
all this unpleasantness.

He was searching.

The Jew swallowed something.

What, child?

A key.

Leave nothing unturned.

Just find the key.

Guard:
Rip it apart.

Stop!

You won't find it.

( mechanics whirring )

Nico:
That's what you're looking for.

- Open it.
- I can't.

It's locked.

Hack it apart.

( mechanics whirring )

Wait a moment!

( all yell )

( guard, muffled )
We better get out of here!

Hurry!

Let's get out of here!

You, boy.
You!

Get up!

You have defied instruments
of the Lord's will.

- ( door opens )
- Andrea: Leonardo!

Go! Go!

Andrea:
Leonardo, are you all right?

Oh! Oh, merciful heaven.

What happened here?

These men are agents
of the Papacy.

Well, it wasn't enough
to tangle with the Medicis.

Now you're--

Leo, you're talking
about the Pope.

Not to worry, they can only
have our entrails torn out

- with rusty sucket forks.
- Nico...

who did this to you?

Count Riario.

The papal nephew
and attack dog?

He snatched me
from the market.

I told him-- I'm sorry.

I told him you took the key
from the Jew's body.

Well, you may have
told them that,

but you showed them
something else.

Hey, you've done
something exceptional, Nico.

You've saved your own life
into the bargain.

Grunwald:
Halt!

Be still.

Our visitor was expected.

You know I can't be seen
meeting with you.

There are too many
prying eyes in Florence.

If I'd been stopped on the road--
( gasps )

You needn't lecture me
on the necessity of discretion.

I wouldn't jeopardize
such a valuable asset as yourself

- without ample reason.
- ( groans )

Now take these.

A list of secure locale
hidden throughout Florence.

I need more information.

Details of Lorenzo
and da Vinci's activities.

If you have something
pertinent to convey,

inscribe a Greek letter alpha

above whichever locale
is convenient.

If we have something
to convey to you,

we will inscribe
the letter omega.

Are you clear on all this?

That stamp bears
the official papal seal.

Mark your messages with it.

And one final thing.

What is it?

Instructions
will be forthcoming.

In the meantime,
keep it hidden.

Now da Vinci...

Has your celebrated artist
made any mention of a key?

What about the Jew?

He asked me
about his capture.

He wanted to return
to the scene of the crime.

That's how he put it.

He was preoccupied
with why a Jew

would hide in a bookshop.

Da Vinci has the key.

Why would he concern himself
with a bookshop?

I don't know.

Perhaps da Vinci
is more clever than you.

But then, that would
be heresy, wouldn't it?

Keep an eye
on that bookshop.

If we're lucky, da Vinci will complete
our investigations for us.

- ( gasps )
- And you, Miss Donati.

Do continue ensnaring
Lorenzo and da Vinci

with that pretty little cunt of yours.

- You're a bastard.
- Yes.

And the architect
of my pedigree

is the Holy Father himself.

Now go, lest the prying eyes
of Florence

see us together and question

your already
compromised character.

She grows more impertinent

with every encounter.

Girolamo:
Mm.

Even a mouse
occasionally bears its teeth

when it's about to be crushed.

Becchi:
Scudos, the papal currency.

Let's review the events again,
da Vinci.

They took the boy
and ransacked your workshop.

What were they looking for?

My weapon designs,
I presume.

Giuliano:
Well, let Rome have them.

By this time next week,
they'll have decimated themselves.

By this time next week,
they could decimate us!

- Lorenzo--
- Open your eyes, brother.

We no longer enjoy
Milan's protection.

I want your men
to surround this building,

no one to come in or out
save for da Vinci and the boy.

You will accompany da Vinci
wherever he goes.

I hardly think that's necessary.

Go.

You have three days
for a successful fire of your gun.

If it fails, there will be
no second chances,

there will be no trial.

You will hang.

Whatever you need
to accomplish this, you will possess.

Money, materials, men--

make your vision real, da Vinci.

For your very life.

When the, uh, black hood
pulls the lever,

be sure to clench.

( laughs )

Those guards are gonna make it
exceedingly difficult

to sneak off to the tavern.

Maestro, did you not hear
what Lorenzo said?

Yes.

( grunts )
That's why I need to think.

And if I need to think,
I need to drink.

Vanessa:
This place is wonderful.

So much better
than the convent.

A million thanks
to you, Leonardo.

What are you doing?

I'm just trying to envision
what kind of lock cylinder

that the notches on this key
might correspond.

( mumbles )

Nico, do you have that coin
the Turk gave me?

( snapping fingers )

Ah.

Thought so.

Two keys.

( coin clatters )

Whatever lock
this corresponds with,

I'd wager the key
represents only half

of the mechanism
needed to open it.

Zoroaster:
Listen, Leo, honestly.

Who cares?

Just give the damn thing
to Riario.

- You have a musket to complete.
- Inspiration can't be forced.

Oh, tell that to the hangman.
Hangman, inspiration cannot be...

Look, the fact that Riario
would jeopardize a formal visit

just to acquire this is telling.

Obviously, it's linked
to the Book of Leaves.

- I mean, the Turk confirmed it.
- Oh, of course, the Turk.

Your-- your little
mystery man again.

Yes! And since we have
a mystery here...

I intend to see it through
to its conclusion.

What mystery?
The Jew stole a key.

He swallowed it to prevent
his pursuers from getting it.

The end.

Why would the Jew bother
breaking into a bookshop?

Did it ever occur to you that that's
where the key was in the first place?

That's why he broke in?

No, the narrative
doesn't hold up,

'cause the bookshop
reported nothing missing.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

And the bag the Jew
was found with was empty.

And why the fingernail again?

And why was the Jew
being pursued...

before the bookshop?

( chatter )

( screeching )

Leonardo:
According to accounts

the Jew crossed
the Piazza del Duomo

and then entered
the Via dei Librai here.

Perhaps someone
witnessed the event.

Please, signor,
can you offer any charity?

Tell me, good man...

were you here the night
the Jew was caught?

Indeed I was, for this is my home
and I have no other.

Now who's lacking vision?
Can't you see this man's blind?

Shh.

A florin, signor?

You could identify that
by its sound?

I am well versed in
the respective tone and weight

of our realm's coinage.

If you would, my friend,

could you describe
what you heard that night?

With pleasure.

It was a cold night.

When I first heard the shouts,
I thought that I was dreaming.

They were coming
from the Duomo.

Then I heard the Jew's footsteps
and his breath.

- ( Avraham panting )
- He was terrified, I could tell that.

Then he fell.

Dropped something.

Pages fluttering like birds' wings.

Then I heard the Jew say,
"Whoa, whoa."

Avraham's voice:
Whoa, whoa.

And I heard more shouts,
his pursuers calling after him.

I did not understand
a word they said except for "halt."

Man: Halt!

Beggar: Halt.

I still fail to see how it sheds
any light on your mystery.

The men who were chasing the Jew
spoke a foreign tongue.

Hmm?
Yet they used the word "halt."

Only two languages use that word,
German and English.

- So?
- So...

the Swiss mercenaries who
are employed by Rome speak German.

And in speaking it,
they must've assumed

the Jew understood it,
which makes sense

since most Jews speak Yiddish,
a form of German.

The word "whoa" in Yiddish
means "where."

The Jew wasn't fearful,
he was searching for something.

See, I believe the Jew had two items
in his possession.

The first was small enough
for him to swallow-- the key.

The second was larger, forcing him
to find a hiding place for it.

The fluttering pages.
A book.

( snaps fingers )
Precisely.

And where would one
best hide a book?

Would you mind
skulking around,

making the proprietor
apprehensive.

Why me?

Well, because you reek
of dishonesty.

( sighs )

As usual.

Signor Bisticci!
How goes it?

Tell me, how many rows of shelves
do you have here?

10. What of it?
You there!

Did you just stuff something
into your robes just now?

I beg your pardon.
You offend me.

I was simply hefting the weight
of this handsome tome.

The fingernail is a clue
to the second item's location, yeah?

10 shelves, 10 fingers.

No, you're facing the west.

It would be more obvious
when counting

to orient oneself towards
the opposite cardinal direction,

the east and the rising sun.

Additionally, Hebrew
is the sacred language of the Jews,

which is read
from right to left, so...

if we count from the right...

We get row number five.

Blood.

And we know
he bit off his fingernail.

( snapping fingers )

Look, look.
Nico, there.

A heavy layer of dust.

No one's disturbed
these books in ages,

but here...

There's no dust at all
on this book.

And in Hebrew, no less.

I think we've found
item number two.

I take it all back.

If you had tits, I'd marry you.

So, you long for the soul of a man,
but the breasts of a woman?

We have a treacherous
road ahead, my friends.

Artista, you will come with us.

If you resist...

well, just ask your little friend
about Riario's hospitality.

Well, unfortunately, we will
have to decline the count's invitation.

What is that?

You're acquainted, I believe,
with my infernal devices.

The exploding chest
in my workshop?

Well, this...

works on the same principle.

It is a grenado that's packed
with gunpowder,

activated by a push button
on its base.

And if I remove my thumb--
( gasps )

the device will explode.

He's lying.
It's a snuffbox.

Leonardo:
Don't test my resolve.

I do not care for you to die,

on this day or any other.

If you think the greatest mind
in all of Europe

needs to bluff, then try us.

There's a vendor in the market
that sells those things by the dozen.

This is da Vinci you're staring down.

- If he says it's a grenado...
- It's a snuffbox.

...It's a fucking grenado.

( sighs )

Fuck me.

Split up.
It's me they're after.

After him!

Halt!

( yelling in German )

Halt!

Halt!

Zircher:
Halt!

- Halt!
- Shit.

Oh, for-- shit.

Ha!

Oh, please give Riario
my regrets!

( laughs )

Count Riario.

If you'd be so kind.

Signor de Medici...

Lady Orsini, thank you
most humbly

for the hospitality
you have extended

to our modest delegation.

We are only too happy

to receive Rome's
favored son.

Lord Girolamo.

We are ecstatic.

Mm.

Shall you and I retire to my study
for a few moments?

Lorenzo:
Drop the niceties, Riario.

Your men broke
into my artist's studio

and I want to know why.

Word of da Vinci has reached
the Holy Father's ears.

He's tasked me
with finding artisans

to adorn the great chapel
he's building.

I thought,
"Do you know what?

An exploratory meeting
might be in order."

And was the death of your men
part of that intended exploration?

Only retroactively,
but it taught me a few things

about your man and made me anxious
to make his acquaintance.

Da Vinci is a mere dilettante.

An amusement,
nothing more.

And yet I am told
you've advanced him

a stipend of 50 florins.

That's quite a handsome allowance
for a mere dilettante.

Rome hears
every whisper, Lorenzo.

Even outlandish ones
concerning artisans

capable of constructing
war machines.

The manufacture
of armaments

could be construed
as a provocative move.

As could the assassination
of Duke Sforza.

Or the refusal
to pay one's debts.

Usury.

It's such an unseemly
business.

I hear the Holy Father is now
borrowing money

from the Pazzi family.

Is he planning
on bilking them as well?

Girolamo: Since we're on
the subject of provocations,

I believe it's time I stated
the purpose of my visit.

His Holiness wishes
to inform you of his choice

for the Archbishop of Pisa.

Pisa falls under
Florence's jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, the selection
has been made.

His Holiness has appointed

Francesco Salviati.

- Lorenzo: Your cousin.
- Mm.

Well, it appears congratulations
are in order.

Please inform the Holy Father

that you and Salviati should assemble
the largest army you can find

because the only way
you're setting foot in Pisa

is if I am dead and buried.

I see.

So, that's your
proposed condition?

Rome fired the first salvo, not I.

And we intend to fire the last.

Good night, Magnifico.

How in Christ's name
did he know all that?

Becchi:
Troubling.

- ( door opens )
- ( gasps )

( wind howling )

You look very fetching
in your nightshirt, Andrea.

What are you doing
skulking around like that?

I could've hurt you.

With a drafting compass?

Why are you here, Leonardo?

I can't go down to my quarters.

The Vatican's thugs are scouring
the streets looking for me.

Lorenzo's men have been in and out
of here all day looking for you.

Lorenzo gave me a deadline
on my musket.

Frankly, I'm not sure
I can make it.

I'm not surprised.

You have three layers of cannons

- on top of one another, yes?
- Mm-hmm.

Well, obviously there's going to be
some powder contamination

between the three tiers.

But I promised Lorenzo
a repeating musket

that could be fired, cooled,
and loaded simultaneously.

This is a dangerous game
you're playing with Lorenzo.

Are you sure you
haven't overreached?

Christ! Andrea, the whole point
of progress is overreaching.

Why doesn't anyone
understand that?

Drink

Now, do you want to tell me
what this is all really about?

Have you heard

of the Book of Leaves?

It's a myth.
No more real than a unicorn.

I have reason
to believe it exists.

What, a book of wonders containing
the secret history of the world?

Please.

The Jew that was hanged.
Hmm?

This was his.

And your Hebrew's
better than mine.

Perhaps you can tell me
what it concerns.

It's--

it's a treatise on the origins
of the universe.

Astronomy.

It keeps referring
to the Vault of Heaven,

how it can be opened.

Or perhaps... ah.

So, the Vault of Heaven
could refer to the night sky.

So, perhaps the Book of Leaves
can be found

by looking for a specific
constellation.

Leo, give up
on this fool's errand

and focus
on your commission.

Stop borrowing trouble
based on a fable!

This fable...

it's bound up in the fate
of my mother.

I can draw anything
I've seen, Andrea.

Anything-

But I can't draw her face.

I've tried. I c--

I can't.

I just can't remember it.

If there's any knowledge
to be had of her

bound up in this quest...

I need to see it through.

Then your need will most likely
end up getting you killed.

Hmm.

( screeching )

( laughter and chatter )

Man: He told me the linens
were from Naples.

( laughs )
Isn't that right, dear?

Me, a textile merchant.

I suggested he start getting
his wine from the Orient

while he's at it.

Shouldn't you be working
on Lorenzo's musket?

Well, unlike you, Father,
I'm actually capable

of doing two things
at the same time.

Drinking and digging
your own grave.

Yours.

The question
you asked of me earlier.

Which guilt do I prefer?

Lucrezia: You seem
very uncomfortable, Maestro.

I don't often attend affairs
such as this.

Well, I do.

It's a confection
of pretense and masks.

Smile.
Lorenzo's watching us.

( clapping )

Your pardons and indulgences.

Your pardons
and indulgences.

Welcome, all of you,

to a feast of Florence,

so full of life and vibrancy.

( applause )

So like Eden.

( music playing )

- Crowd: Ooh!
- Lorenzo: Full of fresh fruits.

Full of bird and game.

Full of nature's grace.

( hissing )

( applause )

So like Eden.

But, of course,
Eden had guests.

- ( hissing )
- ( crowd murmuring )

- As do we.
- ( laughter )

Of course, our guest
is somewhat more pleasant

- than the serpent.
- ( laughter )

Please, let us welcome
Count Girolamo Riario,

emissary from Rome
to our Eden,

to our Florence.

( applause )

Dinner is served!

( door opens )

( door closes )

What do you see?

I know who you are,
you know who I am,

we both know what's transpired.

Now, tell me,
what do you see?

I believe I saw someone
call you a snake

in front of all those people.

And I see a key
that you will be giving to me,

along with whatever you took
from that bookstore.

Well, both the key and the book
the Jew hid are quite useless

unless one actually has
the intellect required

to find the Vault of Heaven.

Then I'll have you as well.

And why would I possibly
surrender myself to Rome?

Perhaps you value your life?

Not enough to betray Florence.

Then...

perhaps you value
the life of another a little more.

I know desire when I see it,

and I am very well-versed

in the myriad ways
of exploiting it.

You know, this--

this doesn't have
to be contentious, da Vinci.

Join us and the whole
of the Vatican's Secret Archives

can be at your disposal.

You're offering me
forbidden fruit now.

( chuckles )

That's what serpents do,
isn't it?

Meet me tomorrow at sunrise...

and then the key,
all of its secrets,

can be yours.

And your services?

Surely if I'm to find
the Book of Leaves,

I'll need those as well.

( sighs )

Lorenzo:
What is he doing?

Dragonetti:
He's playing with a bottle.

Becchi:
Of course he is.

I'll admit he eluded us once.

But this time
we were ready for him.

( hoofbeats approaching )

Men:
Yah! Yah!

Giuliano:
There.

It makes sense.

He was already working
with the Roman scum.

Men:
Yah! Hyah!

Do we need any more
proof than this?

He is complicit with them.

Girolamo:
Consider this a retainer...

for your services to Rome.

Why do you hesitate, da Vinci?

- This is the next step.
- Sorry.

- I don't follow you.
- ( coin clinks )

Why did you exhume the Jew?

Why do you endeavor
to find the vault?

I don't endeavor.

I found it.

The Vault of Heaven
which, presumably,

contains the Book of Leaves.

I've had it put on wheels
so I might move it for safekeeping.

Apparently, it requires
two keys to open.

The Jew...

the vault, the book...

you've done all this
because you want to know

what's next.

Between the base animal
clawing for money

and the enlightened man's
reach for God

lies knowledge.

You just want to know
what's next.

- I do, too.
- Well, that's not what you want.

You want to suppress knowledge.

No, I want to administer it.

Someone has to.
Why not an agent of God?

Well, if God exists,

surely He intended His knowledge
to be shared by all.

The truth is progress
frightens you and your ilk.

( Girolamo chuckles )

Not at all.

- We embrace it.
- Really?

Really?

Are we at an impasse, then?

That would be unfortunate.

This is your last chance
for an amicable partnership.

I decline your offer.

( speaking loudly )
I pledge allegiance

to Lorenzo the Magnificent,

his foolish brother,

and the whole of Florence!

You want to tame Florence,

but I prefer it wild,

for all its quirks and criminals.

So why don't you scurry on
back to Rome

and tell your Pope

that neither Florence
nor da Vinci

will be contained?

( yelling )

You hurt my friend!

- Go!
- Run, you fools!

Girolamo: Go!

( yelling )

( neighing )

( flint rock clatters )

( hoofbeats recede )

( gasping )

I'm sorry.

I did warn you.

Leonardo: Why aren't
we meeting at the palace?

( Lorenzo sighs )

I come here to retreat
from public life.

And the words
I would have with you

aren't meant to be public.

I believe there may be
a spy in my court.

Riario knew the details
of our arrangement,

the exact amount of the stipend
I've advanced you.

You suspect my allegiance?

No.

No, the fact that you just killed
six of the Papal Guard

releases you
from the circle of suspicion.

Hmm.

No, you wanted me
to witness

your meeting
with Riario today, didn't you?

What makes you say that?

You managed
to evade my officers,

despite the fact that I insisted
they watch over you,

and then today,
conveniently, you slip up.

You intended for us
to track you to the quarry.

I thought you might appreciate
seeing the gun work

against real opponents
rather than just wooden ones.

How did you fix the gun's flaws?

I realized the cannons
needed more separation,

so the rotating drum
I fashioned did just that.

And can your musket
now be produced on a large scale?

Well, given the resources...

absolutely.

Then you will have them.

You have done well, da Vinci.

We struck Riario
quite a blow today.

But it won't be long
before he retaliates.

( door opens )

Lorenzo, we don't have much...

I'm sorry,
I thought we were alone.

No, it's all right, Lucrezia.
It's only da Vinci.

And I trust we can rely
on his discretion.

Absolutely.

Lorenzo:
Good man.

Get to work, Maestro.

Florence is counting on you.

( Girolamo laughing )

Lupo:
Why do you laugh?

One day, Lupo,

all that you see here
will fall under Rome's rule.

And if that day happens
just a bit further down the road

because of da Vinci's
intervention,

so be it.

But he has the key.

That makes him
one step closer

to obtaining
the Book of Leaves.

Let him keep it for now.
At least we know where it is.

And besides...

the key is useless
without its counterpart.

And what if da Vinci
obtains that?

He won't.

How do you know?

Because I have it.

And now you know,
dear Lupo,

why I find the whole affair
so amusing.

Zoroaster:
Why the long face, Leo?

Andrea:
The maestro's never satisfied, Zo.

The possibility of perfection,

of yet another puzzle
looming over the horizon.

How many letters are there
in the Hebrew alphabet?

27.

There are 27 illustrations
in this book.

Andrea: So?

Have you gone mad?

Help me move this table back.

Hebrew, as we've
already established,

is written from right to left.

If the first illustration

corresponds with the first page
of the Hebrew alphabet...

Alef.

...and the second page
corresponds with the second...

Bet.

...and the third page
follows the same pattern...

Gimel.

Do you see how the gold gilt
lines up from one page to the next?

Have you heard
of steganography?

It's a type of cryptography
developed by the Greeks.

It means "concealed writing."

It's basically hiding
a coded message in plain sight.

"Leaves in a forest."

If we make a grid
of three rows,

each of them nine across...

- Nico: What is it?
- Patience, Nico.

As with most puzzles,

it needs to be viewed
from a different perspective.

The Vault of Heaven
isn't a metaphor.

It's an actual vault

containing the Book of Leaves.

And that, gentlemen,
is a map

detailing the vault's location.

The land this describes
doesn't exist.

Well, then, we'll just
have to discover it,

won't we?

( theme music playing )