Barbarossa Page #2

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[SHOUTING STOPS]

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[DOG BARKING]

Whoa!

[BARKING CONTINUES]

The dogs are restless.

They're afraid of thunder.

They are not afraid

of thunder, Father.

Someone is out there.

[THUNDERCLAP]

Oh, my God! It's you!

You frightened me.

What on earth are you doing out there

in this weather?

I want to talk to you. Alone.

[THUNDER CONTINUES]

What...

Well? I'm listening.

I'm heading north to Barbarossa's camp.

You tell me things I already know.

Yes, the, uh... The fact is...

There are two females in this home.

For which have you come?

I'm asking for the hand

of your daughter Tessa.

Well. Tessa...

Huh.

Tessa is in age for a husband.

You are looking for a wife.

It's a start.

Maybe a good one.

Then you'll speak to her?

Yeah, yeah.

I'll tell her your intention.

I have everything planned.

Understood.

[CHUCKLES]

Until my return.

[HORSE WHINNYING]

Hyah!

Whoa.

We are finally here.

That's the part of Italy

that has to be conquered if you want

to reach Sicily, Your Highness.

What about Rome?

It's right in the middle.

It's not going to be that easy.

Rome is weak and sick.

You just have to wait a little more.

[Clearing Throat]

How long?

That avid and stubborn Englishman

that took on the name of Pope Adrian IV

has one foot in the grave already.

Our cardinals tell me that his successor

will be much more malleable.

Soon, very soon you will be able to sit

on the throne that belonged to Charlemagne.

Let's go.

[SCREAMING]

[CHUCKLES]

Gotcha!

[WOMAN LAUGHING]

Siniscalco Barozzi,

he came to our house last night.

He asked for the hand

of my sister, Tessa.

Barozzi's a worm.

Barozzi will never take

my sister to the altar.

And how can you be so sure?

Well, I can...

I can feel it.

[CHUCKLES]

So what they say is... is true.

You are sort of a witch.

No. Wait.

Wait!

[LAUGHS] I brought you something.

Wait. Wait.

With this spoon, I'll take care of you

for the rest of my life.

With this dagger, I'll defend you

at the cost of my life.

[GASPS]

what? What?

[WHIMPERING]

Hey. What's wrong?

Hey!

Damn it!

[GRUNTING]

Oh, this damn thing.

[TESSA]:
Eleonora. Hey.

Are you sleeping?

No.

I wanted to show you something.

Look.

He finally made up his mind?

Ranero gave me the pledge.

Don't tell our father.

He keeps telling me that Siniscalco Barozzi

is an eligible bachelor

and that one day he

may even be a consul.

Our father would never have

to sleep in the same bed

with Siniscalco Barozzi.

Follow your heart, Tessa.

You must follow your heart.

Hey! Get some sleep, you two!

Tomorrow is another day.

My heart has already decided.

So this is the way it must be.

Hyah! Hyah!

Ho. Ho.

[HORSES WHINNYING]

[MEN SHOUTING]

My God.

[SOLDIER]:
You may go in.

I'm to confer directly

with the emperor.

I'm afraid you'll have to content yourself

with conferring with me.

I bring Milan's oath of allegiance.

Milan is a city with a short memory.

- I don't understand.

- You do understand.

You were there too

when that Milanese consul of yours trampled

on the imperial seal.

I, Ranald of Dassel, was humiliated,

made fun of, beaten by your rabble.

How dare you?

I have also come to apologize.

There is no more time for words.

Go back to your consuls and tell them

the emperor is coming

and that this is not going

to be a courtesy visit.

Listen. Listen to me.

There are many noblemen in Milan

who are favorable to the emperor.

There is nothing more

you can do, Barozzi.

[SIGHS]

[COINS JINGLING]

This stays here.

Ah.

It's true. I am scared.

I am scared

because I have seen with my own eyes

the power of the German army.

Their tents covered the entire plain.

And they have so many war machines...

that our whole square

could not contain them.

For the love of reason, I implore you,

let us surrender.

Surrender!

No surrender. We will fight!

[Scoffs]

Soon, Barbarossa's army

will be at the gates.

You can count the days

to the destruction of Milan

on the fingers of one hand.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[WHINNYING]

Every time we come here,

they build a bridge for us

that is stronger than before.

People of Verona respect

tradition, Your Majesty.

They know that by ancient custom,

when a German king crosses

their land, it is their duty

to build a boat bridge

north of the city.

And that's why we respect them.

- Your Majesty!

- What's going on?

Watch out! Watch out for the logs!

Stop! Stop!

[THUD]

[HORSES WHINNYING]

[SOLDIERS SHOUTING]

[THUDDING]

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

Go past! Go past!

The rope! Tie the rope!

Tie the rope!

[SHOUTING] Help me!

It's a trap! It's a trap!

Fall back!

- The horses! Save the horses!

- The Veronese have betrayed us!

Hyah! Hyah!

No, Your Majesty!

Remember the prophecy!

Remember the prophecy!

Water brings death!

Help your emperor, goddamn you!

- Go!

- Save the emperor!

Tie the ropes!

[WHINNYING] Help him!

Take the rope!

- He's gone under!

- Dive down.

Look for the emperor!

No.

Find him!

Dive! Dive! Dive!

God, no!

[ALL CHEERING]

Give me your hand, Emperor!

[CHEERING]

[CHUCKLES]

[GROANING]

what you have done

is very serious indeed.

You have allied yourself

with Milan against the empire.

You have caused the death

of many German soldiers.

[SWORD UNSHEATHES]

You have not respected the tradition

that has saved Verona

from destruction until today.

Why? Why?

Today is an important day.

I want you to remember one thing.

You can only betray your emperor once.

[SCREAMS, GASPS]

I am as cruel...

[SOBBING]

as God is full of mercy.

[ELEONORA]:
Alberto!

Alberto!

Barbarossa has destroyed

the city of Brescia.

They say there are over 1,000 dead.

How do you know?

Have you had another one

of your visions?

What do you want us to do?

Surrender to the Germans?

What difference would it make, right?

Slaves we were, and

slaves we'd still be.

We don't want to be slaves anymore.

Is it worth fighting a battle

that is already lost to begin with?

That's enough, woman.

We all have to do our duty.

Ours is to fight to defend the city!

Yours is to stay home and wait

for your man to return!

If you have one.

[SCOFFS]

Don't you ever talk to

her like that again. Ever.

That's enough, Alberto.

Alberto!

That's enough.

[BARBAROSSA]:
There they are.

Wonderful.

I wonder how many cities

we have to destroy

before they come to their senses.

Just one more, Sire.

Destroy Milan and all the other cities

will bleat like frightened sheep,

wanting only to obey their shepherd.

Milan. Milan.

Milan.

The city of Parma greets the emperor.

The city of Cremona greets the emperor.

The city of Padua greets the emperor.

The city of Ferrara

greets the emperor.

I wonder what's stronger

in these people:

The will to fight for the empire

or to contribute

to the destruction of Milan?

They're sheep, Ranald.

They don't need to think.

They just need to obey the emperor.

[COWS MOOING]

[SNORING]

[HORSE WHINNYING]

[RUMBLING]

Did you hear that?

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