THE LEOPARD
AUGUST, 1862
Pass it to me.
Thank you.
-Can you take this, please? -Yes.
Yes?
Mama, did you send for me?
You will have to take these off at some point.
They'll be removed in good time.
Your father decided that he should go to Turin.
He's considering whether to accept the senator post.
No. I'm not prepared to go with him as well.
-Please, would you? -No, Mama.
I don't yet have the strength to see Tancredi.
I'm afraid your father's doing much worse than you can possibly imagine.
He hasn't been the same since Paolo died.
Concetta.
We'll go together.
Together?
I'll be with you. We'll go together.
That is simply marvellous.
Even if you're only doing it
because you were asked to do so by your mother.
If it's true we're similar,
then you know it's not possible to force me
to do something I don't want to do.
And I'm a Salina like you.
TURIN CAPITAL OF THE KINGDOM OF ITALY
Please, this way.
Uncle.
How was your journey?
It was quite tiring.
I can imagine.
-Concetta. -Cousin.
Welcome. Shall we?
Follow me. I'll show you the apartment.
Ah.
GARIBALDI'S NEW ARMY IN SICILIAN HARBOR
Our little drama's even making news here.
They say 4, 000 of them are ready to march on Rome with him.
It's total folly, Uncle.
And you? Are you cured of this attitude of folly?
Not entirely, Concetta.
Welcome, Salinas!
-Uncle. -Angelica.
-Concetta. -Angelica.
What a beautiful apartment this is.
I was looking at this painting and the excellent brushwork.
It's delicate, isn't it?
Even if the colours are in a duller palette
in comparison to the Bellini in Villa Salina.
-Of course. -Concetta, how is my aunt Stella?
Just as you would imagine her.
There's a surprise.
You should see the seats reserved for you tonight by Chevalley at the opera house.
-The king will also be there. -Mm.
-Really? Tonight? -Of course.
There's so much to see, you know. We mustn't waste a single moment.
Turin really is the place to be now.
Very well. Which opera is it?
We're going to see Nabucco, Uncle.
Ah.
And you know what else?
The French ambassador to Italy is also attending.
Can I say it now?
Angelica, there's nothing to announce yet.
Tancredi is one of the candidates being considered
to go to the Italian embassy in Paris this year.
-Paris, indeed? -The ambassador from France is interested.
I would be most grateful if I also had your support.
You will.
Come. I'll show you the house.
Has Concetta been herself?
Mm, yeah.
This is your chamber.
It's most beautiful.
I think as a nursery, it would be perfect, don't you?
But it's far more likely to become a room for billiards, though.
I am so happy you're here.
As well as Tancredi.
He talks about you being the most intelligent person he's known.
He's always been quite the diplomat too.
You should get some rest.
It's an honour to host you here, Prince.
Especially as I'm most aware of the tragedy your family is enduring.
You have organized an active few days, I believe.
Yes. A visit to the senate tomorrow, and, um…
Then, of course, your speech at the National Club on Friday.
Uh, allow me to introduce the French ambassador, Charroux.
My dear Prince.
-Pleased to meet you. -An honour.
This is my daughter, Concetta.
Pleased to meet you.
The pleasure is mine.
I am amazed at how acclaimed the two of you have become here
in society in so little time.
I'm not entirely sure that's a compliment.
Mm.
Be honest with me, Concetta. What do you make of all this?
Of Turin?
Of Italy.
Yes, this wasn't what was promised, was it?
How is that so?
"A boat together from Messina to Naples."
"And then a train to Rome or Florence or Venice…"
Garibaldi and his army have disregarded the King's orders.
They have crossed the Strait of Messina and arrived on the mainland.
Papa.
Are your king's orders worth nothing, Tancredi?
Or were there others that I wasn't informed of?
I know the king will send an army to Rome as soon as possible.
If it's not immediately, we'll have no choice but to read the equivocation
of your government as an international declaration of war against France.
Ambassador, please. I implore you to be patient.
Forgive me. I have to leave.
-No need to be hasty. Stay. -I'm expected in Paris.
Ambassador, if I may.
If you leave, you won't be able to attend the party
we're having for my uncle tomorrow.
What will we do without you?
Countess…
Uh, if this incident can resolve itself in a timely manner, perhaps.
But now, I'm afraid I've lost my appetite for Verdi.
Prince.
If you'll excuse me.
Uncle, if Garibaldi does manage to take Rome,
he won't stop until we're a republic.
People like us wouldn't last long in an Italy like that.
If we want things to remain as they are, in the future,
Parliament has to be seen to work.
I'm still not sure if politics fascinates me or repels me.
But what I do know makes me happy
is seeing that you're achieving all of your potential here, son.
I'm proud of you, my beloved nephew. Hmm.
You have a fine career path ahead of you,
and your marriage is one that everyone would like to have. Huh?
I've no doubt that your mother who's looking down at you
is also proud of you.
Thank you, Uncle.
Your wisdom's always meant a lot to me, as I hope you're aware.
Oh, I meant to mention… the imminent arrival of Don Calogero.
-No! -Yes.
He's coming to find proof of noble lineage, apparently.
No!
The king sends troops to repel Garibaldi!
Italy on the verge of civil war!
Welcome, my Prince, to the centre of politics in Italy,
the senate.
The heart of our new nation.
I hope you'll accept and become a part of this.
The gifts we received to commemorate our unification.
They're a wonderful display of just how varied our united nation is.
This one here is from your Kingdom.
How typically Sicilian.
In what sense?
Everyone else has sent a gift that at least has some… functionality.
A beautiful saddle, a coat of chain mail, uh…
Look at the gift from us Sicilians.
A galleon made of coral.
And if it made contact with water would sink.
Built aesthetically and for vanity.
This is exactly the kind of wisdom that we desire
and that we desperately need at this historic moment.
With men like you joining us,
violent enterprises such as Garibaldi's march
on Rome will indeed be a rare occurrence.
Hmm.
One hundred and ten.
This colour would suit you beautifully, Princess.
Very well.
I shall make sure it's sent to you as soon as it's ready, my Princess.
I'm grateful.
I'm grateful to you as well, Angelica.
My opinion was that you should wear
something special at your father's welcome party.
Are you this busy every day of the week?
Probably, yes. That way suits me.
Um… doesn't it ever bother you
not to have evenings together, just the two of you?
People's marriage arrangements are very different here.
You can enter.
It's from Count Bombello.
-It's a note for you. -For me?
We shouldn't meet without my father.
-Or Tancredi, perhaps. -Concetta…
You're no longer in Sicily.
So now it's time to show your courage in Turin.
So, get dressed.
Count?
Concetta.
-I'm honoured you would meet me, really. -Not at all.
Is your father not coming as well?
No, uh, neither he nor my cousin.
But I was assured such formalities aren't necessary here.
Ah… I'm less certain of that than you are.
The other night, I saw you at the opera, so I'd guessed that I'd find you here.
-Well… -Yes. You were right.
Um… an opportunity such as this one must not be missed
while we're both here in Turin.
Your vision must be excellent, to be able to notice me out of everyone.
No…
No, afraid not.
No, I noticed you because
you were more splendid than all the others.
How long will you be staying in Turin for?
That depends on my father.
Will he accept the post they're offering, do you know?
I think he finds the idea… persuasive.
Do you not support the governors?
I'm not sure it isn't a… a compromise, that's all.
Not a new dawn, though.
Not what I fight for or believed in. That's all.
Shouldn't you be one of those crossing the strait with Garibaldi?
Happily, my fighting's finished now.
And my own life takes over.
Would it be appropriate to see each other again, before you depart here?
Are you not returning to Milan, though?
There is no other place I would rather be that is better than being here with you.
You must ask my father the next time we meet.
Of course.
It'll be a pleasure.
Who is it?
May I?
You're so beautiful.
Seeing you again is more difficult than I imagined, Concetta.
Imagine the difficulty for each other.
Well, you obviously hide it better than me.
Concetta, are you ready yet?
One moment.
We ought to be going.
Yes, come on.
Signore and signori! May I have your attention?
I have some very important news.
I'm delighted to report that Garibaldi was defeated this afternoon in Aspromonte
by General Pallavicini.
Thanks to the King's decisive actions,
the rebels were stopped in their tracks 300 miles from Rome.
We've also heard that Garibaldi
was injured by a stray bullet to the foot during the defeat.
How painful. Not ideal for marching on Rome.
In light of this good news,
I would like to propose a toast to this gentleman.
Soon, we'll be honoured to have him as one of our senators.
Our very special guest of honour,
Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina.
To the prince!
It has such a refined quality. Don't you agree?
Although, in my opinion,
the Dolce I remember that is hung in your library
conveys a more… expressive sorrow.
Have you ever visited Paris?
Ambassador, I'll introduce you to the general.
I should do as I'm told.
If you'll excuse me.
Ambassador Charroux, this is General Marini.
-Nice to meet you. -It's a pleasure.
Concetta, I must speak with you.
Not here, though, with the world watching.
Where shall we go?
Take note of this address.
Via Lascaris, number 75.
Meet there?
Papa?
Are you all right?
Yes.
I'm ready to leave here.
You return with your cousin.
It would be my pleasure, Uncle.
-Good night, then, Papa. -Good night.
My carriage is outside. I'll be there as soon as possible.
Tassoni?
We're as surprised as each other.
Why are you here as well?
This is my house.
I must have got the address wrong, then. I'm sorry to bother you.
No need to be.
As Tancredi mentions borrowing the apartment so often,
I had no idea that the young lady in question was going to be you.
"So often"?
Apparently, even you convent girls aren't immune to his charms.
Please.
Follow me.
Come along.
Good night.
The pleasure is all mine.
Until the next time.
So the authority of a prince goes beyond a girl's bedroom walls now, is that so?
Only when that girl's his niece.
What if that niece has been betrayed already by her husband
two months after their matrimony?
If discretion concerns you, there are plenty of hotels
that are a lot quieter.
And more discreet than this one, Prince.
Do you… want to be a Salina…
or would you prefer to be a whore?
Men have been talking about me since I was a child, Uncle.
You will promise me now this will not ever happen again.
I was let in by Tassoni.
Is this where you bring everybody?
What do you mean, "everybody"?
You make it sound like there were hundreds of them.
You told me you had things you had to say.
Since seeing you,
you've barely left my thoughts for more than a moment.
I knew I had to see you again.
And what about your marriage?
If you're so preoccupied with my marriage, what are you doing here, Concetta?
In truth, she was something I had to have.
I wanted to have.
More so in my poverty.
And to start with, I had faith in my marriage.
I trusted it too.
Unfortunately, it became clear
Angelica and I had nothing in common except ambition.
And all I'm doing is spending day and night
imagining what it could have been like between you and me.
So then…
Uncle, you're still awake.
I brought Concetta back here. I accompanied her.
May I?
Sit down for a moment.
Your wife…
is in a relationship…
with that French ambassador.
Are you aware of what it is that I'm trying to tell you?
Uncle, you don't need to worry about this.
It's all under control.
You need to understand the ambition Angelica possesses to forward my career
is now greater than that in me.
What are you trying to say, then?
You agreed that she'd do this?
And encouraged this deceit, therefore?
It's all right, Uncle.
You have always had a lover, as far as I can remember.
Watch what you say!
I am still more than capable of smashing your little face in!
You're a ruffian.
A cheap pimp is what you've become.
-Welcome, Signor Sedara. -Are they having breakfast?
Yes.
A beautiful picture of such youthful joy.
Angelica, my darling.
-Tancredi! -Don Calogero, good morning.
Princess.
Mayor.
-Are you hungry, Don Calogero? -Yes.
I must apologize for my uncle.
He's reviewing his speech for this afternoon.
Oh, definitely excused.
It was so kind of you to come here and lend your support to him today.
It's not the only reason, you know, to be completely honest with you.
I see?
Angelica, as you're aware, our family have…
mm, suspected for some… for quite a while now
that there's a possibility that we are ancestors of Baron Prizzi.
On the side of his mistress, of course.
Anyway, I want to confirm whether there is any truth in what we've heard.
And, uh… I've also been told that here in Turn,
I can find the best heraldists.
How splendid. May all the luck in the world be yours.
However, the main reason for my being here,
for undertaking this long and difficult journey
to end up being here with you,
is that my good friend, the prince of Salina,
is about to receive another sparkling medallion
to pin upon his chest, huh?
Our Princess, you must be so proud of your father.
I'm always proud, Don Calogero.
Is your mother… has she recovered a little bit? Hmm?
A little bit more.
I understand.
Especially losing one's heir…
It's too…
It's too awful
to even contemplate.
I can't imagine.
And that horse, it was marvellous, for such a beast to die,
under those circumstances…
Excuse me. I'm going to call my father.
Princess.
Excuse me.
Ah.
Papa.
Sedara's arrived.
It's difficult, you know.
What do you mean?
Arriving at my age to find you got almost everything wrong.
But why would you think that?
Tancredi has always had my affection.
And the result is what?
Whereas Paolo always had to battle for affection.
And, in the end, this fight led to his deathbed.
And I know it was all caused by me.
Even though no one has the courage to tell me.
You…
You have to have the courage to tell me.
Come on, Papa.
Come.
Signore and signori, may I have your attention, please?
I would like to welcome members of the political club,
the many senators, and all of our lady guests.
We are here today to listen to a future senator of Sicily.
Don Fabrizio Corbera,
Prince of Salina.
Please.
To all the senators that are here, ministers,
signore and signori.
In truth, uh, I've only been in Turin a couple of days so far.
But I must confess that this time has been invaluable.
As the days spent here so far have reminded me
of who and what I am.
I am irreparably proud to be a… a Sicilian.
For over 25 centuries,
we Sicilians have been bearing the weight of wonderful civilizations,
all imposed upon us from elsewhere.
All completely foreign.
They were… they were… formed and complete. And quite perfect.
But up to this point, we have never had the pleasure
of seeing a culture emerge from our island of Sicily.
For 2,500 years,
we've been no more than a colony.
Of course I have to admit that, to a great extent, it's our own fault.
But evidently, all these quests of domination, you see,
have left us all with a feeling of resignation.
And as that is so, all we desire to do is…
I mean, it's about time…
is rest a little.
We hate anyone who tries to wake us.
Even if they attempt to do it carefully
and with the very best of intentions, however.
Like the case in question.
What you're all offering me on this marvellous occasion.
But there's no ignoring that I am a member of the old ruling class.
I am indelibly tied to the old regime of Bourbon.
Uh… chained up happily.
Through decency, if not affection.
I also belong to an unfortunate, disillusioned generation as they struggle
with the old and the new world.
Unable to adapt to either, though.
And therefore, it is with… such great humility
and real gratitude,
I'm obliged to decline this most generous of offers.
He's offered a seat, and he refuses.
Incredible.
Of course, anyone else would have joined the senate…
irregardless of what personal feelings they possess.
Somehow…
he always makes me feel so very proud of everything he does.
You should feel the same too.
I do.
Good day.
I beg you to reconsider.
If honest men like you withdraw,
it opens the way for those without scruples.
And then, what hope will our young nation have?
I'd rather not beg, my Prince.
Just listen to your conscience.
But that's exactly what I did do.
You are a true gentleman, Chevalley.
I am truly delighted to have made your acquaintance.
If I may, make a suggestion.
I have a name that I'd like to propose for the position.
Do tell me.
Over there, you see.
Father-in-law of Tancredi, Don Calogero Sedara.
To your health! To your health!
He is most definitely the right man for this position.
And also, you see, his lineage is ever so long.
Or pretty long, so I'm led to believe.
Hmm? A perfect choice.
Excuse me.
-Concetta. -Count.
Your father is full of surprises.
I imagine that you will depart with him right away.
Well, if he's to leave, I think I should, yes.
Yes, well, I will therefore have to travel to Sicily to speak with him.
Until then.
I shall look forward to it.
Need anything else for your journey?
-I don't think so. -You'll have to excuse me.
Only this just arrived.
I couldn't resist opening it when I saw the seal.
The overseas offer is official. They want me in Paris.
Congratulations to you. To you both.
-Thank you. -Arrivederci.
Arrivederci, Prince.
-Thank you for everything. -Pleasure to see you.
I'm happy for you.
Thank you, Concetta.
You've achieved exactly what you were after.
Paris!
How completely stupid of me to come up here.
What must I have been thinking when I accepted their offer?
Let's go home, back to Sicily.
Hey, Concetta?
An ageing future that's splendid and melancholic is awaiting there.
And you?
You know…
We shall marry you with a husband that's Sicilian.
-Yes. -Papa.
So you'll never leave us alone.
Papa, listen, please, will you?
Then you're able to support your mother and your brother as well…
Where am I in this?
Papa, enough!
Enough of this absurd urge to try to decide exactly what everyone is doing.
You mustn't control everyone's lives like you're their puppeteer.
I need to build something of my own.
And begin to be in charge of my own decisions without you there.
You have no idea how much I love you, Papa.
I can't live in this world you've created when it's down to you,
because I need to be able to create my own world now.
Count Bombello will visit to ask you if he can marry me.
And I need you to accept his offer when he does so.
I must have liberty to live.
Let us go back now.
BASED ON "THE LEOPARD" BY GIUSEPPE TOMASI DI LAMPEDUSA