Original subtitles

How long have these men been here?

Since last week.

And more keep coming every day.

We can provide shelter, but this mill must keep spinning.

There's no wool to spin.

The English ships won't deliver, not as long as the war drags on.

Our obligations cannot be met without revenue.

We can't even send the Pope's tithes to Rome.

The people are desperate.

This war must end.

Albizzi is out-matched.

If the war ends now, it will mean defeat for Florence.

If it doesn't end now... we shall be ruined.

- Madonna - What's going on?

- There are men at the door. - Where are the guards?

Showing the mercenaries. Shall I find Messer Cosimo?

No, I'll deal with this.

Get out of the way!

How may I help you, Messer?

We have come to search the house, Madonna!

Step aside!

Search? Whatever for?

There's no work to be found and we're hungry!

Go to the kitchen!

Have the cook bring these men some food.

It's not food we're looking for!

This is not a bank.

If you want gold, go there.

There are guards at the bank!

Move aside, Madonna. We don't want to hurt you.

Wouldn't it be simpler to just ask me where the gold is to be found?

If you please.

At the mint.

The mint?

There are 54 grains of gold in a Florin.

The last of ours are being used to strike new coins as we speak.

You're De Girolamo, aren't you not? The weaver.

And you're Del Giudice, the mason.

If you ransack this house

rest assured the gonfaloniere will hear of it.

Do you really want to face prison for a pointless search?

Wait outside, Messer.

The cook will bring you food.

What good fortune that the gold is at the mint.

Of course it isn't.

That door is to remain locked until you find Marco Bello.

Tell him we need guards.

What are you thinking?

I come from the front.

Where my son Ormanno fights valiantly.

Not to deliver fantasies of easy victory.

But the hard facts of war.

Written with blood and steel!

We are sworn to defeat the Milanese!

But this condottiero, Sforza

has killed and maimed many of our men.

To defeat him

we need greater resources.

We have no more money to fund your wars!

You cannot draw blood from a stone!

Yes!

I understand your hardship, Messer.

But our republic cannot afford to lose!

Not after we have invested so much.

Signor Guadagni!

Signor Pazzi

We agree with Signor Albizzi.

We demand a vote!

- Yes! Yes! - A vote!

A vote!

A vote!

We agree!

Good!

Then let's move to the vote.

Black for yes

white for no.

Our supporters are waiting for you to lead, Cosimo.

This war bleeds us dry.

Oppose Albizzi.

Is that what you would do?

If father had asked you to lead the bank?

Why won't you?

I can see what Albizzi does not

when the price of victory is too high.

So you just accept defeat?

I act when I can act.

The vote for more taxes

is past!

What are you doing here?

Are you deaf? Answer me.

Praying.

Enough of that. Come with me.

When will you complete it, father?

Complete what?

The cathedral.

I told you to put away your drawings.

You will lead the life of a banker, not an artist.

I have put them away.

But the church cannot be consecrated until it has a dome.

I will not live to see it consecrated, neither will you.

Someone must be clever enough to complete it.

The problem is not the engineering.

It's capital.

Well, surely we can afford it now.

With the Pope's revenues flowing through the bank.

Think, Cosimo. Why was the cathedral built?

- To honor God. - Yes.

And you honor God by serving this family

and our bank.

I don't see how a bank honors God.

Men are God's creation.

Whatever we achieve is God's glory.

- We're late. - What for?

We're going home to meet your father-in-law.

Some wine Messer Bardi?

No.

My father will be with us at any moment.

I'm not accustomed to being made to wait, Messer Medici.

Yes. No disrespect is intended, I assure you

I see you have already met my son Lorenzo

Monsieur Bardi.

This is Cosimo.

It is an honor.

Shall we get down to business, Messer Medici?

Back this way.

My father and grandfather were bankers

who could afford to buy noble blood

just as you do now.

I am aware, Messer.

Centuries of prosperity ruined

by a single unpaid loan to the King of England.

And now I find myself forced to sell my daughter's hand.

Your noble blood

is an asset whose value

cannot be diminished.

Beware Messer Medici.

It's difficult to scale the heights of power.

The fall is swift and easy.

You are a wise man, Messer.

A humbled one.

As we are both men of business, shall we

speak terms?

Please.

Romantic, isn't it?

The loan that ruined my family

was for 900,000 Florins. For my daughter's hand

I ask

100,000.

Oh!

Pardon me.

I appreciate your position, Messer

but that is far more than this union is worth.

In that case, there is no union to be made.

Your daughter is attractive, but opinionated.

She has few suitors

none with the means to support your family.

You need to marry her off, Messer.

And at a good price.

I am prepared to offer 50,000 Florins.

That will not do.

You will not do better

You miscalculate, Messer Medici

50,000 Florins

can scarcely improve my family's position.

Not by itself perhaps, but

your bank holds bills of trade with merchants

in Barcelona, Seville

and Marseille.

Bills of trade as yet unpaid.

My bank is prepared to acquire these bills

at one-third their face value.

All told, that would result in a net dowry of, eh

81,473 Florins.

You calculate

the conflict

in Avignon will end

and these bills of trade will become

payable.

Sooner or later

In which case, rather than

paying for my daughter's hand, you would actually

profit from it.

My family can afford to wait to pay these debts, Messer.

Yours cannot.

Very well I agree to the terms.

And you, young man

you shall have my daughter as a bride.

We are delighted to welcome her into our family.

She's looking forward to meeting you.

Medici!

I must get back to the front.

But I am not ungrateful for your support

however belated.

I had no choice.

The people of Florence are suffering.

It's not just the people who suffer.

But your bank

which is starved of trade.

Do you have a question Rinaldo?

I understand the surgeon, Di Cecco, is dead.

Murdered.

- So I have been told. - Curious.

I saw you talking to him inside the cathedral.

Only a few days before he died.

We are making inquiries.

Good.

I should be most eager to find out who killed him. And why.

Why does he speak like that?

He cannot suspect you

It is not only the Milanese he seeks to destroy.

Come.

- I was just going to get you. - What is it?

Your wife.

Darling, are you unwell?

I'm perfectly fine.

She's not fine.

- She fell. - When?

An hour ago.

I stood up too quickly, that's all.

After drinking a cup of wine

she said it tasted off.

It was fine.

I'm fine.

Will everyone please stop fussing over me?

You're pale as a ghost.

This is my fault

for worrying you with talk of going to war.

Nonsense.

She just needs a little rest.

- That's all. - Thank you.

Do you think she's been poisoned?

- I'm not certain, of course. - How? In my home!

Well, it wouldn't be difficult to uncork a bottle from the vineyard.

- I want all our wine disposed of. - I have already given the order.

Go to the apothecary. Seek an antidote.

At once.

What is it, Cosimo?

Business.

What kind of business?

Let me tend to these affairs.

You take care of this family.

I always have!

And more besides.

Is he handsome?

I couldn't say.

Well, did he seem kind?

Clever?

I've been told he's a cold fish.

I didn't notice

and you must stop asking questions.

Father, this man is to be my husband.

Do you take so little interest in my happiness?

This is not about your happiness.

- Obviously. - Contessina!

Your tongue is too sharp!

So I'm told.

You've been given the chance to save your family from ruin.

By marrying beneath me.

That is the way all my friends will see it.

In that case they are not worthy of your friendship.

Father. There are others who would have my hand.

You mean Ezio Contarini?

He may have a title, but

he has no resources.

He has declared his love for me, and I care for him.

Daughter, do you know how naïve you sound?

When you marry into the Medici

we will gain 80,000 Florins

and you will be my eyes and ears

on what is now the richest bank on earth.

Your bride's arrived, Cosimo.

What are you doing?

I have no use for them.

Now that I am to lead the life of a banker.

Brother, you were always to lead the life of a banker.

The one that you wanted us to meet in Rome

That doesn't matter.

Who was she?

Bianca?

A true woman.

But not suitable for a Medici

so father got rid of her.

Well, whatever father may have done

Contessina de Bardi is to be your now bride, Cosimo.

You must accept that.

More bad to do good

Marrying into nobility is not bad.

And who knows, in time your affections may grow.

Advises the man who's yet to fall in love with any woman?

Come.

They're waiting.

Contessina de' Bardi

Cosimo de' Medici.

Contessina

My son is delighted to meet you.

You two should get acquainted.

Are you quite well, Messer de' Medici?

You may call me Cosimo if we are to be married.

Thank you, Cosimo.

You've not answered my question.

I think you know I am quite well, Contessina.

Then you are uncomfortable.

And you are as direct as I've been told.

I know you did not choose this union, Cosimo

I did not.

I do not appreciate being

mated like cattle.

Cattle?

I'm sorry if the truth offends you.

You know, I did not choose this union either.

Then why go through with it?

Because it benefits my family, of course.

From the moment we are married, you will be a Medici.

You will not act as an agent for your father's bank

telling him our family's secrets.

You will be my wife

and you will be loyal to me

and only to me.

Do you understand?

What can I help you with, Mastro?

Are you familiar with the properties of hemlock?

Yes, of course.

I fear a friend may have accidentally ingested some.

That is quite an accident.

Is your friend still alive?

- I seek an antidote. - When was it consumed?

Just a few hours ago.

I'm sorry, Mastro.

The only antidote

is an emetic. Zinc

or mustard and castor oil

but it's too late for that.

Keep your friend warm.

And pray.

That is his only hope.

You sell hemlock here, don't you?

Yes.

It is needed from time to time to put down a sick animal.

And do you sell it as a liquid?

A-as a liquid?

One that could be used, say, to

paint grapes

Grapes? No.

I don't prepare liquid hemlock, Mastro.

Trade in or out of Florence has virtually dried up.

This cursed war is destroying the bank.

Well?

The apothecary says it is too late for an antidote.

Am I simply to watch and wait as my daughter-in-law dies?!

May we have a moment?

Of course. I'll collect the accounts from the other room.

We don't know how much she ingested.

We are not even certain that it was hemlock.

But the apothecary does sell such a poison.

He could have sold the hemlock used to kill your father.

Surely he would never admit to such a crime.

No.

Not freely.

You are not to hurt this man, Marco.

You need proof Rinaldo degli Albizzi killed your father.

The apothecary could supply it.

But the surgeon was enough.

I'll not have any more blood on my hands.

The blood is on my hands, Cosimo, not yours.

Once a thing gets started

it must be finished.

God knows that is enough.

And Albizzi suspects.

He can never prove it.

A viper cornered may strike anyone.

He's already struck my daughter-in-law

Then we need the truth.

How is she?

No better, no worse.

- Ah, good morning. - Ugo.

What are you doing here?

Your wife is in need of funds.

So I've been, uh

scraping together Florins from different accounts.

Florence has ground to a halt under the weight of this war

and there will be no hope of recovery until peace is restored.

When was the last time tithes were paid to the Pope?

Six weeks ago, I believe. Since before war began.

How much are we holding?

Uhm, a great deal.

Almost, uh

70,000 Florins.

More than enough.

All those funds belong to the Pope. We cannot touch them.

Thank you, Ugo.

What are you thinking?

Opportunities may arise in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Messere.

Those men?

Who were they?

It doesn't concern you.

Any strangers in my home at this moment concerns me.

I'm looking for her.

Rosa?

I can't get her out of my mind, Cosimo.

I loved her.

I don't care what anyone says.

She wouldn't just disappear.

It has been months, Lorenzo.

So you're telling me just to give up?

Like you did with that girl that you loved

all those years ago?

I would never presume to tell you what to do.

What is it you want, brother?

If I am to act against Albizzi

I need allies.

What kind of allies?

A kind one finds in Rome.

And what would you have the Pope do?

I want you to prevail on him to sue for peace.

I don't see why Albizzi would listen to the Pope.

Albizzi is a man of faith, and the Pope has certain

spiritual tools at his disposal.

If you want to end this war

then you must fight Albizzi head on.

You know what father taught us.

Yes, but surely desperate times justify

a direct exercise of power.

If peace were to be restored

people would soon forget the suffering they endured

in this war, but would long remember

I advocated for surrender, and hate me for it.

Is it not better they thank the Pope than blame our bank?

Our great cathedral was begun generations ago.

By our grandfathers

and their fathers before them.

And some say they dreamed too large.

That their ambition

outstrips our abilities.

But you, Signore, are here today

to complete the great work

that began so long ago.

Why has no one solved the mystery of the dome?

It requires a great understanding of mathematics.

The weight alone would cause the entire structure

to come crashing down

onto the parishioners below.

No scaffolding could possibly be erected high enough.

So, how do I propose to complete the great duomo?

We'll erect an enormous pillar

a giant mountain!

Dirt mixed with coins

upon which

The roof, of course

With all due respect to my colleagues

It is unquestionably

without doubt

- the only way. - the only solution.

The only way.

Fools!

Charlatans.

And impostors!

None of you is fit to call yourself an architect.

Messer Medici, apologies.

But I would not have come, had I known this man was invited.

I was not invited, but I came anyway.

Because not one of you knows how to complete this glorious edifice.

Filippo Brunelleschi

at your service.

The doors you designed for the Baptistry

are of incomparable beauty.

- Oh - That was 20 years ago.

And it was Ghiberti who won the commission.

And this man's a goldsmith

he's not an architect.

He is just a buffoon, a babbler.

I'm a genius ahead of my time.

How do you propose to complete the dome Mastro Brunelleschi?

The answer is quite simple.

And it requires no pillars, no sponge-stone

and no mountain of dirt and coins.

The artist sees what nature hides.

The question you were asked is how, "genius".

I heard the question.

And here's the answer.

You presentation was dramatic, Mastro, but

short on detail.

You expect me to share my secrets with those scoundrels?

They would only steal my genius

and claim it as their own.

Surely you can explain to me

how you propose to complete the dome, since

I am the man who means to pay for it.

You've ever been to Rome?

Yes.

Many years ago.

Then perhaps you observed the sublime beauty of the Pantheon

built so many centuries ago by the ancients.

I did indeed.

I spend countless hours contemplating it

studying it from all angles.

I determined

the only way to complete our cathedral

is to do it without scaffolding.

In the air.

How?

By building not one

but two domes.

The inner dome will serve as support

for the outer dome.

Ingenious

The first 46 feet will be constructed in stone.

Then we will use lighter materials

either brick or sponge-stone

laid in a herringbone pattern.

So each brick

supports the others.

A flying buttress

imbedded in the dome itself.

Precisely.

How do you know it will hold?

I don't.

No one can say for sure

because no one has ever attempted to build a structure of this scale.

If you fund me

it will be an act of faith.

It's been a long time since the Medici have come to Rome.

What is this urgent business of yours?

As you're aware, Your Holiness

Florence is locked in a ruinous war with Milan.

I am.

That's why your bank has held back our tithes from the North.

It wasn't safe to transport them.

The people of Florence are suffering.

What can I do?

Persuade Rinaldo degli Albizzi to sue the Duke of Milan for peace.

I could write a letter for you to carry back.

Thank you, Your Holiness.

But I'm afraid that I will need more than a letter.

There must be consequences if Albizzi fails to heed your suasion.

Such as?

Your Holiness

has many tools at his disposal.

Spiritual tools.

How is your wife, Piero?

Sleeping. But no better.

The messenger reached you with news of the Pope's rejection?

Yes.

Pius fool.

- Son, are you not eating? - No, I, eh

stopped at an inn just outside Siena, where

I heard the most remarkable rumor

What sort of rumor?

I heard that my

brother intends to complete the dome in the cathedral.

Is this true?

No, it couldn't possibly be, mother.

Even if someone were capable of completing such a dome

which no one is it would take years

and cost hundreds of thousands of Florins.

Not even in the best of times did father dare such an undertaking.

Cosimo, is it true?

- Of course it is. - Explain yourself.

We've always known that he wanted to be an artist.

Although he's picking a very odd

time to fulfill his childhood dreams

Cosimo, we barely have enough money to feed ourselves.

The men of Florence are poor.

Hungry.

They grow restless and resentful.

Two of them came to our home only

days ago seeking to rob us of our gold. Did they not?

The dome

will put hundreds into work.

Paid by imaginary wages?

And hundreds more providing bricks and supplies.

They in turn will buy

clothes, food and the thousand other services

on which the citizens rely on for a livelihood.

You're making work.

Out of nothing

Not out of nothing, son, no.

The Pope may refuse to end this war, but his tithes will be used for

a spiritual purpose.

Until we can repay him.

You sent me to Rome

knowing he would turn down my entreaty.

And give you more time to use his funds

The people will be grateful

not to the Albizzi for waging war

but to the Medici for feeding their families.

I wish I shared your optimism, Contessina.

But while these lovely new jobs

drain our accounts

their taxes fund Albizzi's war.

And as long as that continues, we're all doomed.

Welcome everyone!

All the builders, carpenters, see the clerk here!

All ladies to the gentleman in black.

Apples?

Medici?

What's going on here?

You have been too long at the battlefield.

My brother has decided to complete the dome.

Complete it? Now?!

While you wreak destruction outside of the city walls

the Medici create within.

Keep moving!

Up the hill!

Don't be concerned, son.

This folly will only hasten their demise.

If you're already assigned a position, please move on!

The bill of sale, Mastro Tancredi.

What bill of sale?

For the hemlock I know you sold.

I need the name of your customer, and proof that he bought it.

I--I don't have it.

Find it.

Or loose the other eye.

I'll be back tonight!

Ego vos in matrimonium coniungo

In nomine Patris

et filii

et spiritus sancti.

Are you always so quiet?

What if I am?

I am not.

Then that is something we will both have to get used to, Contessina.

Excuse me.

Give my son time.

Time for what?

To recover. He's still smarting from a failed affair in Rome.

Was he in love?

Perhaps he thought he was.

It was simply a laundress, who caught his eye.

- Who ended the affair? He or she? - Neither.

I told his father to intervene.

For Cosimo's own good.

What's the matter?

You need to ask?

You are to lead the most powerful bank in all of Europe

and have married into a

noble family.

I don't see, uh, much you have to be upset about.

You had no right.

I had no right?

You sent her away!

Of course I did.

Father

This is my life to lead.

No, no, it is not.

I gave you life

And I will instruct you on what you do with it.

- I wanted to be an artist. - An artist?

Your folly was made possible because of the privilege I gave you.

To what end?

You give me an education

you expose me to great beauty

then insist I spend my life

devoted to money and politics

Oh, no, don't sneer at those words: money and politics

are what make possible the beauty that you so worship.

I didn't climb out of the stink and mud of that mill

and scrounge the capital

to start this bank

and raise this family

all, so you could just throw it away on on

on youthful passions.

Think with your brain.

A man

must live his own life.

Well

a foolish man lives for himself.

A wise man lives

with a purpose.

And yours is to serve

this family.

And you will or so help me

I will take away the life

that God gave you.

My father gave me this crucifix

to remind me of my duty.

It's yours now.

Here.

Well?

Riccardo!

How's it going?

We've got off to a fast start, Messer Lorenzo.

Water down that wine!

I won't have any drunks on this site!

If they say Mastro Brunelleschi is a genius, I'm sure he is.

But to me, he looks mad.

Get that food out of here!

No one is to stop working!

Not even to eat!

Cosimo, I know you believe in the cathedral

and it is not my place to question

the wisdom of building it or the

le--legality of using Rome's tithes to pay for it.

I appreciate that, loyal Ugo.

And I can see that men are back at work, and and that there is

pride on the streets where before there was only despair.

But this war rages on.

And the Pope's tithes will not last indefinitely.

I am aware of that, and I intend to do something about it.

I know

this is a dream your father took from you long ago.

And perhaps you sense

now is the time to seize it after all.

But some losses

once borne

can never be undone.

Piero.

Saddle up.

We're taking a ride.

Where are we going?

To the war.

Cosimo de' Medici!

Shouldn't you be on the Florentine side?

I came to see you, Francesco.

This is my son, Piero.

Your father and I are old friends.

But you're enemies.

Hardly.

General Sforza is one of the finest soldiers of fortune in all of Italy.

I am a mere condottiere

to whom your father loaned money

many years ago

when no one else would.

I'm not the kind of man to forget a favor.

I was hoping you'd say that.

This war with Milan

has dragged on far too long.

We have the advantage, my friend.

We must press it.

What is it the Duke of Milan

seeks from this victory?

Why the city of Lucca, of course.

Lucca is wealthy.

What he seeks

is revenue.

Give this to the Duke.

Tell him his guild will confirm the contents.

Tancredi?

Victory is in hand!

A victory that will bring glory to all of Florence!

But only if we persevere.

Don't tell me that you're going to vote again

to support this scoundrel?

Even as he means to destroy us?

I don't intend to vote at all.

We have to keep fighting

and stay strong.

Then we will be victorious.

This is our city!

This is our republic!

General Sforza

I'm sorry to interrupt your speech, Signor Albizzi.

But there is no longer a need for it.

Arrest this man at once.

You may arrest me, but if you do

you'll be jailing a friend.

I have come to announce terms

of a truce.

A truce?

The Duke of Milan

has withdrawn from Lucca.

The war is over.

You paid Milan to withdraw?

I didn't.

Lucca's guilds did.

What's happened?

The apothecary's dead.

I think he knew who killed your father.

I told you no more blood

He was dead when I got there.

Killed with this.

- Whose initials are they? - I don't know.

Find out.

The war ended

you might just have the resources to complete this, brother.

And the Pope will finally have his tithes.

It will honor God.

Honor God or honor you?

Whatever I achieve, honors God.

Father!

What is it, son?

Lucrezia's fever has broken.

- This is most welcome news. - Yes, but

that's not the only news.

Her illness masked another more serious condition.

What condition?

She's with child.

I am to be a father.

And you are to be a grandfather.

Keep clear! Everybody keep clear!

What is it, Ricciardo?

Was this man drunk?

Messer, he wasn't drinking.

It's the black death.