Medici: Masters of Florence (2016–…): Season 3, Episode 2 - Episode #3.2 - full transcript

After finding his city Florence threatened to fall into the grasp of his enemies anytime, and his family including his children not much shielded, Lorenzo makes an unforeseen decision.

They'll take you to the convent.

Hang on in.

Open up, open up!

Messer Medici. They're ready.

You're late.

Say what you've come to say.

Your mercenary army
is on its last legs.

Let's not spill more blood, Lorenzo.

Surrender Florence.

This is not your fight, Alfonso.

Go home.



I'm here by order of
the King of Naples.

To serve the Pope.

I had no idea your
father was so devout.

It's a waste of time.

If you want Florence,
you'll have to take it.

The city's people
call you Magnificent.

But you've lost them everything.

Except their freedom.

Which they seem to
value most of all.

You must miss your brother.

I'll see you and your
children join him.

Guiscardi, check the perimeter
and see if we can attack.

We should attack again now!

The troops are exhausted!
I'll give...



...no order without my
father's command.

The sooner we get this done,
the sooner you can return to Naples!

You go ahead if you like,
but without my men you'll lose.

Well?

Attack and they will drive
us back from the river...

Then nothing will stand
between them and Florence.

You'll have reinforcements.

You've a few days at most.

We simply don't have enough men.

I'll address the Priori
on my return to the city.

While I live...
Florence will not fall.

Combined forces of Naples and
the Papacy are twenty miles away.

We must send half
the soldiers guarding...

...the city's walls to reinforce...

...Guiscardi's army or it
will be defeated within days.

Let us proceed.

Ardinghelli?

Recruit more mercenaries
to support Guiscardi.

We can't.
The city's coffers are empty.

Our men must stay on the walls
for protection of the city.

You're prepared to sacrifice
the blood of mercenaries...

...for Florence's freedom,
but not that of your own sons?

If-if... we...

If freedom-if freedom
is so precious...

...let us exercise it
by putting this to the vote.

Yes, a vote!

Or are we not really free?

Yes, a vote!

A vote!

A vote is called.

Those in favor of
reinforcing Guiscardi's...

...line with men from
the city walls.

Those in favor?

Against?

The motion is defeated.

Does Ardinghelli not see?

If Riario wins that will
be the end of the Republic.

He doesn't care who rules or how...

Just that his business
turns a profit.

There's so little paint here.

Pigments are expensive.

We only mix what we need.

Will you show me?
I want to learn to mix paints.

You're a very keen
student, Giovanni.

I'm going to be an artist.

Well, there are easier things to be.

This is what I love.

Good boy.

The boys missed you.

I lost the vote... to Ardinghelli.

Now my hands are tied by the Priori.

Can't the bank pay for
the reinforcements?

I guess we can.

But a divided Priori
weakens Florence.

You asked to see me, Holy Father.

I've received a message from Riario.

Your husband wishes me to place
Prince Alfonso of Naples...

...under his command.

To force the pace of
the war with Florence.

If that's what he
believes is best...

I will not do as Riario asks.

Holy Father, I...

My spies report growing
unrest in Florence.

Lorenzo will soon have to
enforce his will upon the city.

Proving he is the tyrant that I've
told the people he already is.

Go to your husband.

Explain my thinking.

He won't listen to me.

He...

...has a sharp temper.

When you married him...
I feared for you.

Over time, I have...
come to see what I suspect...

...your husband does not.

That your mind...
is as sharp as his temper.

Put it to use, Caterina.

Why not?

Messer Medici, there is no money.

We're a bank.
How can there be no money?

The King of England knows we
are weak because of the war.

He has defaulted on his loan.

- The sum he owed is vast.
- And you didn't see fit to tell me?

That decision was mine.

Sassetti, you can leave us.

But it's mine...

What do you think you're doing,
keeping these things from me?

Piero, what's going on?

It's mine!

- Is that true, Giulio?
- Yes.

I thought to find a way
to cover the shortfall.

That you'd never need to know.

Is it not enough
that I must fight for...

...the future of Florence
and the Medici?

But I have to do it blind-folded?

Lorenzo?

Let him have the toy.

Well, do as I ask.

When I retire from this job...

...that you haven't yet
given me, I'll write a book:

a thousand and one stratagems
for losing at chess.

You lost the vote at the Priori.

I'll have it with my queen.
Putting you in check.

There's nothing that I
can do about the Priori.

Well, that's not true.

I've been studying Florentine law.

Helps me sleep.

In times of emergency, there is
a precedent for instituting...

...a temporary war
council of Ten...

...ruling in the Priori's place.

With that in place...

...you can order as many troops
from the city as you like...

- ...to support Guiscardi.
- No.

No, I cannot, will not, seize power.

Besides,
the people will never accept...

...a council of Ten.

As you keep telling me...

...the Medici
cannot rule Florence.

...without the people's goodwill.

Another chapter for my book.

Then you must take power
while maintaining the mirage.

There must be another way.

Here. Thank you.

I'll give you some water.

Here.

This will help...
Have some more.

Alright.
I'll pray with you.

Our Father... who art in heaven...

Keep your God.

In nomine Patris, et Filii...
et Spiritus Sancti.

Amen.

You're distressed.

It's nothing.

It wasn't that he died.

You deal with that every day.

It was that he turned away from God.

No! There's no alternative.

He has the pox and
he must be removed.

This isn't a hospital.

We took in the wounded as there
was nowhere else for them.

Would Jesus turn this man away?

Perhaps you should
ask yourself whether...

...He would put other
lives at risk...

...by allowing him to stay,
Father Girolamo...

I believe He would.

Let him sleep in my cell.

I'll rest here with the wounded.

If you agree, Prior?

Quintino... take him there.

I'm not sure you're suited
to life within a community...

...where the needs of your
brothers must also be considered.

Christ shared his life
with the apostles.

Yes, he did, Father.

But you are not Christ.

Thank you...

...for agreeing to meet me.

How can I be of use?

You are under great pressure.

No, no, not really.

I wanted to ask...

...if you can try and persuade
Ardinghelli to change his mind.

To support the movement
of troops at the front.

You know I will always do
what I can for Florence.

And for you.

But my husband's acquired a
taste for political power.

And a victory in the
Priori has only fed it.

But I will try.

Thank you.

What is it?

Sketches you requested from
Verrocchio's workshop, Messer.

And the address of the artist?

Thank you.

Father, always good to see you.

I came to warn your wife.

There's a case of the
pox at the convent.

But I couldn't resist...

Of all the Greeks,
I should have known...

...you'd make a friend
of Aristotle.

For a heathen he was very Christian.

Read Thomas Aquinas'
teachings on him.

I will. When I get time, I will.
I promise.

In the meantime,
you should borrow it.

Thank you.

I recognize the artist...

Yes...

All the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

He has no interest
in Saint Sebastian.

Every line boasts of the artist's
knowledge of the human form.

Please.

Is it what he draws
that upsets you...

...or the fact that they say
he does not believe in God?

One is the cause of the other.

God forbade man from eating from
the tree of knowledge for a reason.

We may too easily become
lost in our own intellect.

Is this hell?

Yeah. It's in nine circles
and in the last one is Lucifer.

Virgil... helps Dante through it.

You like doing this.

- Yeah...
- You enjoy it.

More than painting those
dead men for my father.

I'll see you soon,
Father, and thank you.

Father Girolamo was here for another
of your philosophical discussions?

There's a pox... at the convent.

How much more suffering
must the people endure?

It may spread.

You and the children should
go to the villa at Pistoia.

What, you're sending us away?

No.

You'll be safer there.

And what of you taking
solace from your family?

It's not just the pox.

Any day now the city
may come under siege.

I see your mind is already made up.

I'll ask Carlo to accompany
you, and Poliziano.

The children's schooling
should not be interrupted.

Oh dear!

There they are.

Will you take him from me?

Ohh! You're so heavy!

- For you.
- Thank you.

Let me see them!

No! They're for me.

You'll be a much better artist
than this one, Giovanni.

Poliziano,
it's a wonder Lorenzo allows you...

...to teach the next generation
hot air and philosophy...

Giovanni, come on.

Piero.

You're in my thoughts.

And you in mine.

Always.

Excuse me.

I still owe you money for
your work at the loggia.

I will not take it, Lorenzo.

Why don't you come to my studio?

I'm illustrating a text
of the Divine Comedy...

...for publication by Niccolò
di Lorenzo della Magna.

You should see it.

I will.

I will.

Were Lorenzo's wife and
children in the carriage?

They took the road to Pistoia.

The Holy Father believes
Florence is divided...

...and will soon fall into
your hands like ripened fruit.

Without further bloodshed.

And he sent you to convince
me to do as Alfonso says?

I wouldn't think to.

But if you antagonize Alfonso...

...don't you risk him
taking Florence for himself?

What a cunning wife I have.

You've learned much from
me, haven't you?

We've got to go from here to here.

Take this to Lorenzo de' Medici. Go.

This is the wide side.

Move what men we have here.

Guiscardi's scouts believe
Alfonso's attack is imminent.

I'm sorry, Lorenzo,
but my husband would not be moved.

Thank you for trying.

Then that is it?

No.

You have a plan.

What will you do?

Something I hoped I
never would have to do.

Boys!

Go play with your cousins.

Come on!

It doesn't do to defy the Medici.

- You don't like children, Messer?
- It's not that I dislike them...

Just that I fail to see what
there is to like about them.

Do you know why Lorenzo
has summoned the Priori?

He must have found a way
to persuade Ardinghelli...

...to send reinforcements
to the front line.

Who are you... Messer?

Bruno Bernardi.

Your loyalty is to the Medici?

To Florence.

Aren't they one and the same?

It is truly...

...in my great honor...

to serve as a member of this Priori.

As my father did, and...

...his father did before him.

It is true:

We've... we've had some
disagreements along the way.

But I always felt
we had a common aim:

to serve Florence as best we could.

The best that I could.

And I will always be grateful...

...for the support
you showed me in...

...the days following
my brother's murder.

I'll never forget those.

But it has become clear...

...in recent days...

...that I am no longer in tune
with the thinking of the majority...

...as to what the best
way of serving Florence is.

And in light of that fact...

...with great sadness,
I announce my resignation.

The Magnificent has resigned!

You can't do this.

It's done, Tommaso.

Tell them that it was a mistake.

Ardinghelli opposed me.

Let the Priori look
to him for leadership.

Do you still want a job?

Never more so.

Good.

What's going on?

A carriage has arrived.

We're not expecting
visitors, Madonna.

You invited her?

Clarice,
you shouldn't have done this.

Lorenzo exiled her from the city.

We are in the country, Carlo...

...and I see no
reason as to why my...

...children should not
see their cousin.

Or my sister-in-law.

Bianca...

Oh, it's so good to see you.

She's even more beautiful
than I remember.

Thank you for asking me, Clarice...

I thought I might never
see my family again.

How's my brother?

I bear him no ill will.

These have not been easy
times for any of us.

Come on.

Let's go inside. We're going
to meet your uncle Carlo.

Right?
Come with me.

So that's something we can maybe wait...

Prepare the ledgers,
will you, Sassetti?

We'll go through the
accounts together.

Messer Bernardi?
I saw your door was open.

We've not been properly introduced.

Madonna.

You're as beautiful as I remember.

We've met before?
I saw you...

...from a distance,
once, as a young man.

I was in the city with my father.
He was doing business.

And to a poor boy like me from the
country, you looked like a vision.

- Nonsense.
- You still do.

Enough of your flattering,
Messer Bernardi.

- What are you doing here?
- I now work for your son, and...

Oh, then perhaps you could tell me
what he thinks he's doing resigning.

The people are angry,
they're bewildered.

I'm so sorry, Madonna,
but I must take my leave.

Until our next meeting.

- You lose.
- I could have killed you!

But you didn't, you couldn't.

I didn't even know if I could move
my blade out the way! You're insane!

It's the only thing
I could do to win.

Sometimes us...
mere mortals have to...

...roll the dice and
see where they fall.

I thought we should add...
Soderini...

to the list.

Sorry?

Bastiano Soderini.

To the Ten.

Yes.

Yes, It's a good choice.

What did she want?

Your mother was asking questions.

Perhaps you should explain.

She'll know soon enough.

You had to do this.

Is everything else prepared?

It is.

Then all we have to do is wait.

Leonardo?

Lorenzo de' Medici...

Verrocchio tells me
that you're a genius...

But that you don't
finish what you start.

Verrocchio's honest.

What brings you here?

I've come to commission a work.

That's not why you've come.

You've come here
looking for answers.

What are you doing here?

Studying the machinery
that gives us life.

The mechanisms by
which machines work.

I brought this very man
from the river two days ago.

He wasn't a machine then.

He was a living, breathing being.
He had a soul.

And what caused God to strike
down this man and let me live?

Well...
if God does exist, do you...

...really think he cares
who lives or dies?

The good and the devout
are cut down by...

...war and plague just as fast
as the dissolute and the evil.

What father brings children
into the world not to love...

...and care for them, but just to...
abandon them?

Mine... for one.

We live our lives...
hemmed in by the fear of judgment.

I live my life as I see fit.

You must choose how you wish
to live your life, Lorenzo.

That's the only
answer I can give you.

In the Republic...

...Plato introduced
us to idea of the...

...tri-partite soul.

Name one part, Piero.

- The spirit.
- Very good.

Giulio?

Appetite.

Well done, Giovanni,
but I asked Giulio.

Giulio?

The third part?

Well, stop staring at me
like a donkey and answer.

Donkey...

Ah! The Medici do not cheat!

- I don't know.
- Reason.

I don't care.

If you have no desire to learn...
then leave.

Now!
Very well...

Plato's boring!

What's the matter?

That boy does not know
how to pay attention.

Well, perhaps they should
study the Bible for a while.

But Plato's on the syllabus.

What, and the Bible isn't?

My husband gave you that
instruction, did he?

Not only does he send his
family away, but then he...

...chooses what...

...our children can and cannot
learn without consulting me first.

Clarice!

Get some help!

Breathe!

Get back from the window!

The people blame us.

I was assaulted in the
street on the way here.

Something must be done now!

- What they want is Lorenzo.
- But why?

Because they love him!

And such a thing cannot
be reasoned with.

And if you agreed... to send more
men to reinforce Guiscardi...

...this would never have happened!

So now you must give
them what they want.

Gentlemen...

There is rioting in the streets.

Well, what do you intend to do
about it, Messer Ardinghelli?

You knew this would happen.

Ardinghelli, say your piece.

We've come to ask you...
to rescind your resignation.

To beg.

To beg.

Well, I have conditions.

The Priori will appoint a war
council of Ten to be headed by me.

It will run Florence...

...without interruption,
until there is peace.

You hold us to ransom...

No, no.

The city needs strong leadership.

Once the council is appointed...

...the Priori
will dissolve itself.

This is blackmail.

We have no choice.

We have no choice.

It's a yes or a no, gentlemen.

We cannot agree to this.

Tommaso, we must.

There is civil unrest.

The enemy is only
miles from the city.

I'll have the order drawn up.

It's already been drawn up.

It awaits your signatures.

It will be passed anyway, Tommaso.

I cannot in good conscience.

This is the end of the Republic.

These men are all
good, loyal citizens.

These are the names to be
appointed to the Council of Ten?

Petrucci... Bastiano...
the rest...

To a man they will do whatever
you ask... without question.

You believed in our Republic.

Sought to make it better.

This Council is nothing but
a front... for... tyranny...

...Lorenzo.

We must be decisive...
if we are to save Florence.

- "We"?
- It's a temporary measure, Tommaso.

How temporary?

Well, as soon as the war's over,
the Priori will be reconvened.

I want you to have a
seat on the Ten, Tommaso.

And I charge you with speaking
the truth to me... without fear.

- Messer?
- It's your wife.

She collapsed.
A physician's with her.

And the child?

Still lives.

Right.
Saddle the horses!

You cannot mean to go to Pistoia?

You must stand your
authority on the Ten.

Florence needs you more
than your family now.

Don't you ever tell me what
comes before my family!

Do you understand?

Ever!

Tommaso?

Issue an order under
the seal of the Ten...

...dispatching half
of the city's garrison...

...to the front,
to reinforce Guiscardi's men.

Do you understand?

What news?

Florence has ordered
reinforcements to the front.

Alfonso's stalling has given
Lorenzo the time he needed to act.

There's more. He left for
Pistoia with a handful of guards.

Slip past Guiscardi's men...

Take a few soldiers with you.

And do what must be done.

Clarice?

Not yet out of danger.

Get the boys ready to
leave for Florence.

You'll never know what came down.

Boys, where's Giulio?

Piero?

You know.

Tell me.
Where is he?

Ran away.

To the village.

I'll find him.

Come on, boys, with me.
Piero!

What are you doing here?
Clarice asked me to come.

You shouldn't be here,
it's too dangerous.

Well, we have to leave! Now!

The contractions have
started, Messer Medici.

Your wife can't possibly travel.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Giulio?

If you're going to steal a
horse, you'd...

...probably better find
one your own size.

Why did you leave?

Whatever they say, I don't belong.

I'm not a Medici.

Come back.

You're as much one of them as I am.

You, tell me where the Medici are!

I don't know.

Ask him.

He works at the villa.

You, you.

The Medici villa.

Hey!

Here!

Who is he?

The man that killed my mother.

Okay, we'll cut across the fields.

I know where to hide.

There are men coming to kill us.
She needs to be moved.

No. Move her and you
could loose them both.

They're here.

Quickly! Quickly! Come on!

Sit her down.

- Help her!
- Help her down!

We'll have to deliver
the child here!

Please, Madonna, sit down.

It's alright.

Riario sends you into my home...

...to kill my children
and my pregnant wife!

Kill them all.

Father!

- Where's your mother?
- There.

We'll call her Maddalena.

Maddalena.

Let this be a new
beginning for our family.

You asked to see me, Prior?

Father... yes.

I've decided that you
should return to Rome.

I believe I'm better
here, in Florence.

It's not your decision to make.

Very well.

- Then I'll make preparations.
- Leave within the week.

By nightfall, Father.

So, there'll be no time for
an appeal to the Medici.

Well?

Lorenzo lives.

The money to pay the
troops has come from Rome.

Fetch it.

Thank you for coming,
Messer Guiscardi.

Lorenzo de' Medici wouldn't be
happy that I'm meeting with you.

You have something to say?

It's two thousand ducats.

Ten thousand more will come.

I don't ask you to fight with
us, even to surrender.

Just let us pass through your ranks.

I'm sorry, Lorenzo.

Guiscardi has betrayed us.

Bought off by Riario.

And what about the reinforcements?

They arrived too late...

Some have returned, others deserted.

Well, then the city will be
under siege in a few days.

The cold may stop them from
launching an all out assault...

...but it will weaken the city more.

We can last no longer than a
few, short weeks.

We must face it.

We've lost, Lorenzo.

Gentlemen.

I am sorry that the
first meeting of the Ten...

...is under such dire
circumstances, but...

please, be seated.

We must...

...try to secure the
most favorable terms...

...possible for the surrender.

That mercy be shown to
you and your family...

...of course, is paramount.

No, there'll be no terms.

- There's no other option, Lorenzo.
- Bastiano's right.

As long as... Naples with all
its resources backs the Pope...

...we can't win.

Well, then I'll go to Naples.

I'll persuade King Ferrante
to break his alliance...

...with the Pope and
side with Florence.

That... would be madness.

A suicide mission.

- Ferrante's a murderous tyrant.
- Well, he's my problem.

Yours... is to see that Florence
doesn't surrender before my return.

If... you return.

Yes, Bastiano, if.

You're intent on doing this?

I am.

Lorenzo, please reconsider.

There's nothing to reconsider...
I must do this.

Is it-is it true?

You...
You're-you're to go to Naples?

You should be resting.

It's... it's too dangerous.

What... what good is it going to do?

You think that you
can work a miracle?

You're only flesh and blood.

Was it prayers... that saved
you and our child at Pistoia?

Lorenzo, please...

Look, Clarice, sit, please...

God will not save Florence.
Someone must.

But I do not wish to
go without your love.

You go nowhere without my love.

Alfonso's men are
moving into position.

We can leave by the Western gate.

We?

Well, they say a little travel's
good for the soul, Bernardi.

Come on!