THE LEOPARD
TWENTY YEARS EARLIER
Come on. Move.
Come on. Stupid animals.
-Give 'em here, Sedara. -Be careful.
Stop. Steady.
They're spirited as well as healthy.
You think this is enough, do you?
It's all I can give you.
If it's more you want?
If it's more you want, I'll have it back off you.
Hmm?
Ma!
Get the girl out here, yeah?
Don Calogero.
Signorina Bastiana.
Get out! Get out!
-Breathe. -Fuck!
-You horned devil. -Breathe.
I'm sorry. It's a girl.
That's all right.
Better, actually.
Angelica.
See, you can do it.
Angelica, who's better than you?
No one is, Papa.
Turn around.
Perfect.
Come on.
I'm disappointed that you weren't invited.
-Stupid bastards they would-- -Shh.
Don Calogero Sedara. And signorina Angelica Sedara.
Hmm.
-Princess. -Don Calogero.
Don Fabrizio.
Angelica?
Angelica.
My prince.
Oh, here comes the timballo!
-It's the best timballo ever. -I know.
Angelica, how many times have I told you about this timballo?
-I can't even begin to describe it. -Probably just as well, Mayor.
Yes.
Hold your excitement,
and you'll see what happens when the rum jelly comes out, Angelica.
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
My goodness, just look at that.
-It looks as good as it tastes. -I hope so. How magnificent.
Oh!
We could go for a walk in the garden later, if you'd like to.
It's exceptional. I've asked the princess for the recipe every time,
but no one will give it to me. No one.
-That's a family secret. -Rightly so.
-The livers are scrumptious. -What's that delicate scent?
-Signor Sedara, your cologne is exquisite. -Is it very beautiful in France?
Did you like Paris?
Yes. It was a wonderful city. I really do miss it terribly.
It was bought by Angelica.
Ah.
Everyone is wondering… which way your vote'll go.
I'm constantly being asked,
"Which party do you think the Leopard will side with?"
-In my op-- -We've never needed elections in Sicily.
So I've never voted as I've never had to.
And I certainly don't intend to start now.
Don Fabrizio's title and all land together were given by the king.
-And therefore, they are God given. -It's a shame, though.
Our king is not in power any longer.
But God is still God.
Father Pirrone is delighted, no doubt, that you feel this way.
Good, good. That was…
That's funny.
Are you happy?
-Yes, Concetta. Of course. -It's all a charade.
Do you really believe Garibaldi, as well as his king,
will simply forget about their victory, recall all their troops,
and finally leave Sicily if the people vote no?
In my personal opinion, uh, Prince,
the people won't vote no. No.
So then, would you say you're are in favour, Mayor Sedara?
Princess, I'm only saying that,
if the people are able to make a choice, have their voices heard--
-Yes? -Um…
-People will be content, I'd say. -Huh?
He sounds like Tancredi.
Is that so?
Exactly the same.
Don Tancredi,
do you feel the same as my father does about it?
Yes, I do.
But I feel the same way as my uncle as well.
To lose an eye in combat
and still not know exactly where you stand…
That can't be a very comfortable position to be in.
Signorina, you are right.
How did it happen to you?
-Angelica, Tancredi would rather-- -Concetta.
It was a little place.
A place very similar to this one.
The locals had recently taken control of it.
So my company was sent in as reinforcements,
for another that was in difficulty there.
Though it wasn't that easy.
They hadn't run into difficulties.
They were the difficulties.
They were a company of Sicilian men, mainly new recruits.
And inebriated on the power of their new red shirts,
were ransacking the town.
Father Pirrone, I'm embarrassed to say
that when we got there, they were pillaging a convent.
And you protected the sisters?
We tried our best, Concetta.
But unfortunately hell had broken loose.
And this was a consequence.
And from an upper window, the abbess was chucked out on her face.
Oh, dear Lord.
But not one of the others were defiled or dishonoured in any way.
Maybe because they were too old or ugly to bother about.
Tancredi.
However, Signorina Angelica,
I'm sure the situation would have been markedly different
if, for instance, you had excited the novices.
Every man pulling from an entire battalion wouldn't have got them off you.
Tancredi, we're not in your officers' mess now.
What makes you think you can talk in this manner?
I'm ashamed of you.
You should've thrown them out of there. Onto the street.
Oh, please do try to remain calm, Stella.
I shan't do any such thing.
The mayor, his daughter, and Tancredi, thrown onto the street.
Nothing that serious actually happened.
Tancredi started being silly,
told an inappropriate joke which a beautiful girl laughed at.
-But that's it. -Cut them off publicly.
That's what you should do. They should be made an example of.
-For Concetta, if nothing else. -No one was laughing at Concetta.
What was it that girl did that so gravely offended her?
Explain, will you?
Stand there next to her.
Quite a little scratch.
Listen here.
I don't mind you entertaining yourself with the pathetic village mayor's daughter
anytime and anywhere you want.
But not in front of my daughters.
Have you forgotten they're princesses?
Speaking of which,
what's the story with you and Concetta?
Huh?
Should I be taking it seriously?
Honestly, I don't know.
I just don't know.
What are you doing now?
I'm moving on.
I have a feeling that if I stay here for even a day longer,
I'll end up doing something that I might end up regretting.
It's night, though, and so go to bed instead.
You'll feel better after. We can discuss this in the morning.
My mind is made up.
I'm going.
Fine. Go wherever you want, and continue to do whatever pleases you.
Just send us news now and again.
Father Pirrone was most content with your actions yesterday.
He thinks you were correct in speaking up and intervening.
Unlike your father did.
Tancredi's whole performance was unacceptable and vulgar.
The war has disfigured him, though.
Thats why he jokes. It's only natural.
I think we should be forgiving, don't you?
Should be forgiving?
And try to understand the pain in his heart.
If the convent has encouraged you to feel this… sentimentality,
maybe we don't return you to their embrace.
In fact, I'd rather not return there.
Being married would make me happy.
I love him, Papa.
And we'd both be loving you, and you loving us,
and we'd stay here to help you
Princess, come in.
In the name of the descendent of your foundress,
the holy and blessed Corbera… I humbly ask that you see fit
to grant me refuge here.
Let us now give thanks to our blessed Corbera,
who as a testament to truth, left this rock here
that the devil threw down at her.
Thanks to your saintly ancestor, Your Excellency, it was forced back,
with the power of the Almighty.
Ah, these here are the best almond cakes to be found in the whole of Sicily.
Which makes them the best in the world.
Mother Superior,
I'd say these benches…
They are new here?
And the roof, up there, a portion of it has received renovation.
Uh, it has very recently, Your Excellency.
And also the fountain.
Truly a sight to behold.
Tell me, how so?
Uh… the fountain was repaired to mark your visit here, Your Excellency.
Who did it, though?
Uh… the stonemason who's employed here brought someone to do it.
I was actually enquiring who paid for it. That was what I wondered.
Because, you see, all of your funding, as far as I'm aware, is still in my hands.
It's still with you,
Don Calogero, Your Excellency.
The Mayor.
Sedara?
And why would he offer that?
As he is local, Your Excellency.
And you are only here, I would say, annually.
Meaning to say he's often here. Is that what you're telling me?
My dear Don Ciccio.
-Don Fabrizio. -Shall we?
Amen.
He even managed to gain access into the convent.
Why is he meddling in this?
I've always been the one to cover the costs of the Blessed Corbera.
The mayor…
Hmm?
He believes that the town council should be paying for matters
relating to Donnafugata.
We've never run things like that before.
Is no one protesting against this?
Everybody who has contributed to town funds
held communally has received a loan to be able to do it.
From Don Calogero.
So you see, who would complain?
Why would they want to protest against it? Wait.
Is there anyone in Donnafugata who doesn't owe him money?
I'm not beholden to him.
Prince.
Go, go.
Go on, find it! Run, run, run!
Princess?
Your forgiveness, I beg of you.
And also of you, Concetta.
I'm truly sorry.
He was a lowly farmer, born with nothing.
So where did he find the capital to offer loans to everyone?
When the Redshirts began arriving here from Genoa,
Sedara secured all the reserves of wheat held in the province here.
A month of patience, and when the invaders came onshore,
suddenly, the price of the land had tripled in value.
He buys cheap land that's worth nothing. You'd assume it was barren, though.
And miraculously, right there,
they, out of nowhere, discover there's sulphur to be mined.
He is wealthier than the devil.
And a ruthless individual.
A scourge that will not stop until he has exactly what he wants.
Which is?
You.
All he wants is to be you.
-Try. -You must, come on have one.
You must. I think you will really enjoy their flavour
That girl, Father…
I'm happy to confess that I wish I could have been Zeus,
that I could have transformed into a white bull
and have her taken her there and then.
Keep praying, Your Excellency.
Your prayers will help to clear your mind,
refresh your entire body,
and placate your heart.
None of that will help, though.
I'm not worried about a few lustful thoughts preoccupying me.
But they do worry me.
I long for the death of them.
These people who desire to walk all over us…
…who smile and laugh and bow to us during the day,
and rob us blind by night.
If I were a heathen king,
in order to protect my family,
I'd have them all killed.
Good day, signorina.
It pains me to struggle to find a more civil way
to reclaim all that they've stolen.
I'd prefer to use a pistol or knife.
For those thoughts, I pray.
Concetta, are you in love?
You mustn't tell anyone.
Has he ever stroked your hair and kissed your neck?
Or taken his hand, maybe, and slid from your waist down?
Concetta, excuse me. Sometimes I can be quite vulgar.
Your first kiss, what do you remember? Tell me, Angelica.
Was he a Frenchman?
Or a poet from Russia?
It was the son of a stonemason from Donnafugata.
And are you still friends?
My father had him beaten and thrown onto the mountain.
I believe our upbringings were very different, don't you?
Your turn.
You won't tell me who he is yet?
YES TO A UNITED ITALY.
Signorina Angelica, I've a beautiful peach here.
Save it for later. Otherwise, you'll get your dress dirty.
Tancredi.
Concetta.
You remember Cavriaghi,
Tassoni.
I didn't know I'd see you. You didn't say you were coming.
Did I upset you?
Because I confided in Father Pirrone, of what was said.
No, Concetta, please.
I'm really sorry. I just had to speak to someone, you understand?
Concetta, I have to go and see Uncle.
-Aunt Stella. -Buongiorno.
Welcome home.
Buongiorno, Uncle.
What are your intentions?
To spend the days here, together, with you.
Don't bother trying to insult me, or I shall rip you limb from limb.
Tell me, who have you returned for?
I assume Concetta.
No.
It's good to see you again, Tancredi.
Imagine having a cousin like that one.
Too meek.
I mean, that's more what I'm after.
The mayor's daughter's not for you.
Cavriaghi, no one before has ever accused me of discrimination.
Signorina Sedara?
May I?
Don Tancredi.
My Prince.
A small contribution for the festival.
So often we're all more, more, more, without giving anything back.
So the town council is helping with funding,
to contribute to the expense.
This funding from the community will contribute towards the expenses
I've incurred for this?
Indeed.
I don't believe there is any fund for the community.
You see, I believe it's all for Don Calogero Sedara, and that's all.
Hmm?
I'd say there are many different ways of saying the same things, you see.
You can hang on to your savings. Don't worry.
I wouldn't permit your daughter to dance freely
with just anybody, if I were you.
Hmm?
-He is a count, isn't he? -Well, not every count's a count.
And you're saying she ought not to dance with this type of count?
Ah, come on.
-That's enough, my friend. -Captain.
-Enough. Enough. -What is it? What's the matter?
That's enough.
I remember that time,
we were… at a station, we were.
It was near Messina.
I remember, all we had to do was say, "Urgent orders on His Majesty's Service,"
and horses appeared like magic.
Honestly, we gave them our orders,
which were actually the bill from our hotel in Palermo.
Thank God no one there could read.
Otherwise, who knows what would have happened.
That's more than enough.
Isn't it time you let someone else have a turn?
Pianos are for everyone, Concetta.
I've got an idea.
It's time for… parlour games.
-No, Cesco. I beg you. -What game?
This is the best house in the world to play hide-and-seek in, yes?
You can ask anyone.
Falconeri,
Palazzo Donnafugata is the best place in the world to play hide-and-seek,
would you agree?
-No doubt about that. -Perfect. Concetta, count.
-Yes, you seek. -You count.
Come, Cavriaghi.
You stay where you are.
Angelica?
Angelica, I can hear you.
From the outside, you'd never even know this part existed.
How many rooms are there?
My uncle believes it would be vulgar to count them, so he always says.
Well then… what do we do now?
But aren't you supposed to be trying to hide from me?
I decided I wanted to be found.
Perhaps you'd pour me a glass, Count Cavriaghi?
My pleasure.
It's nice to see you again, Signorina Concetta.
You see, uh, a little while ago,
ever since we met in Palermo, as brief as it was,
it's, uh…
it's your beautiful face that I picture when I pray.
And so, if your father allows, I was wondering
if you would like to go for a walk with me?
-Of course, we would have a chaperone… -Count, that's enough.
I'm sorry.
It's just my father's intending to promise me to Tancredi.
What is it, Tancredi hasn't mentioned it to you?
Signorina Concetta, excuse my… inappropriate conversation.
It actually happened to be Tancredi who mentioned I try to court you.
What did they do here?
I believe that one of my ancestors may have come to make penance here.
And to mortify his sinful body.
These paintings, they're not what you would call sacred.
I like to imagine they were for him.
Pain was both a penance and a reward.
The shame of the pleasure found in the reward
had to be scourged for a start.
Only then the scourging itself became a pleasure.
And so the cycle continued, until he died and these rooms fell to ruin.
People say you are penniless.
They're right.
But you have a house, though.
One that is crumbling to the ground.
Even piles of rubble are able to be restored.
-I see. -Mm-hm.
Enlighten me.
A little money would do it.
Concetta?
Have you ever brought her here?
And why would you think I'd bring Concetta here? For what?
"Kiss of peace."
"That gentle kiss of peace
which you once placed upon my scornful brow."
"Italy… peak."
"There, furrowed by recent lightning… my dear maiden…"
"Ah, at my strike…"
Signorina Sedara.
Yes?
It's getting very late in the day.
Which means your father would have every right to rebuke me.
You should return home. Allow me to accompany you?
-I'll go with you. -No, you'll wait for me here.
Take the counts to their respective chambers.
Signori, if you would like to follow me.
We should be leaving.
My Prince.
I'm afraid the princess doesn't think very highly of me.
Like me, the princess thinks you are a very beautiful girl…
…navigating a delicate moment in life.
Perhaps you need a man by your side to guide you.
What if that man were a prince?
You can aspire to more in life than becoming a mistress of any man.
When I was younger…
…I thought I was destined to marry a farmer.
But my father gradually became rich, though,
and bought me beautiful dresses.
I had new aspirations.
"I'm going to marry a lawyer instead."
And my father then became even more rich.
He sent me to Paris to be given French lessons
and to be taught the difference between a gavotte and a sarabande.
Now, though… I am no longer sure who I'll marry.
If you ask me, you probably know more than most.
But we shall see.
I know what I've done to Concetta,
and I'll do everything I can to make amends.
Concetta's no concern of yours.
Her parents, along with her priest, will take care of her.
So tell me, what is it you're wrestling with, then?
Uncle, in all my life, I've never had anything
that didn't first belong to you.
So I need something now that's solely mine.
And have we discovered that?
-Vote yes! -Vote yes for a united Italy!
-Your Excellency? -Long live Italy!
Shall I wait, Your Excellency?
Paolo.
Psst.
Excuse me, Mayor. The Prince is here.
Prince.
Good day to you.
I just knew that I would see you eventually.
Please, please. Come and sit down.
-Father Pirrone. -Good day.
Would you like a beverage?
Huh? A little orange liqueur?
Here.
They make this one for me personally.
There you are.
Oro.
Father Pirrone, of course you'd like to indulge.
Ah.
The presence of Father Pirrone
would indicate that you have something important to say.
Spiritual, is it? Hmm?
We're visiting you today…
requesting the hand of your daughter in marriage.
Sit down, why don't you?
You see, it turns out that my nephew Tancredi
is most desperately and completely smitten with your daughter,
the incomparable Angelica.
Our impression, however, or perhaps Angelica's,
she believed that Tancredi and Signorina Concetta
already had an arrangement.
No, no, nothing of the sort at all.
Father Pirrone would guarantee that.
Yes, yes, yes. I… guarantee that, uh,
that is so.
Well, I'm happy to report to you without hesitation
that my Angelica reciprocates completely the affections of Tancredi.
Have I mentioned that the Falconeri arrived
in Sicily with Carlo of Anjou?
That speaks volumes for the richness and purity of his heritage and his name.
And in no time, we'll be one family together.
Oh.
Indeed.
Well, anyway, I knew that Father Pirrone would be in a position to guarantee
the truthfulness and purity of Tancredi's soul.
Because apart from that, his good name, and what I make sure to give him monthly,
he has possibly nothing more in this world that he can call his own.
It amounts to what?
A sum total of barely a ducat.
Father Pirrone will no doubt agree…
It's a blessing that you and I, huh,
believe so vehemently in the power of love above all.
Vehemently. Mm.
And what kind of father wouldn't have put a little something aside
for my daughter Angelica, in view of such an occasion like this?
It's only right, Prince, that you be aware of what lies ahead for Tancredi.
So, where would you like to begin?
He rattled off a list of properties that never seemed to end.
There was even the Settesoli estate, which is over 1,000 hectares.
All the olive groves and vineyards at Gibildolce, another 500 hectares.
And Tancredi will receive all this thanks to his name.
To our name, remember.
Fine, to our name.
Did he also guarantee to make you as vulgar
as he is and behave in the same way?
This is definitely not a moment for us to give in to snobbery, Stella.
It's the perfect moment.
Do you happen to remember what they call the wife of Don Calogero, Bastiana Sedara?
They call her The Beast.
Because she doesn't know how to read or write,
or… or… or even hold a conversation.
And her father, do you have any idea what's said about him?
He was so disgusting, so despicable.
There seemed to be only one name suitable, "The Pig Shit."
That's who you're inviting into this family.
Daughter of the Beast, granddaughter of the Pig Shit.
-Tell me why you're not fighting this. -That's exactly what I'm trying to do!
You know better than me that marriages are all about power.
Don Calogero wants to emerge here.
Fine, I'll assist with this emergence.
And I will agree to this matrimony, all thanks to which Tancredi
enters into possession of more
than half of all those filthy profits currently held by that signori.
And Concetta?
Where does your daughter's broken heart fit in in this transaction?
That was just an infatuation. It was a simple, naive infatuation.
And I lay the blame on you for making me believe in it.
And I will not give my daughter to someone who doesn't want to marry her.
And if she can't find forgiveness?
What if you lose her forever?
She's my daughter, not a pocket watch to be misplaced.
That's enough now.
Good night.
Please, you have to stop it! Oh, please!
-Stop it! -Calm down.
-You have to stop it. -Calm down.
-I'm begging you. -Calm down.
-I'm begging you. -You need to calm down.
[Concetta crying[
Come now, Concetta.
We'll discuss this again when you've come to your senses.
But…
the decision has already been made.
You are my father no more.
My father would love me.
You are my father no more.
"The Sicilian people wish to become an integral part of Italy,
one and indivisible, under Vittorio Emanuele,
the monarch of their constitution."
Yes or no?
No.
Mm…
Yes.
My Prince.
Your Excellency.
Make way. Come on, make way.
Your Excellency.
Make way for the Leopard.
Friends!
The votes of all of you are sorted and counted.
They have been scrutinized and recounted
and scrutinized again!
Votes in favour,
in total, 543!
Votes against,
zero!
I can, therefore, announce, in addition to the results
of the other communities,
our people of Sicily have decided to unite with Italy
under Vittorio Emanuele, the monarch of their Constitution.
Long live united Italy!
Hurrah!
Mayor Don Calogero Sedara!
What kind of fabrication is this?
Not even a single vote against?
What has happened to my vote, then, Don Calogero?
Get your hands of me.
You know you could have won anyway, so why would you need to win with lies?
If this is how Italy is going to be born, like a calf born into the world deformed,
corrupt and profane, like you, Don Calogero Sedara?
You're as corrupt as the others.
You are dishonourable and will always be nothing more than a corrupt liar.
I have a right to speak.
You can not silence me! You are all being lied to!