Casanova Page #2

It's true. She knows

she's smarter than most men,

which makes men pretend to be superior,

which makes her angry,

which is seen as arrogance.

Giovanni, come away from the window.

Our neighbours'll think you're a gargoyle.

No, Vittorio. Over there.

Francesca, this is a very important week as

you well know. You have responsibilities.

In a few days, thanks to you,

I won't be poor any more.

Much thanks to your father

who had the foresight to betroth her

to his rich cousin's eldest son in Genoa.

Listen to this.

"Mystery transvestite at university

overturns laws of gravity,

conjures devil from the air,

nearly starts fire."

God. Can't they get anything right?

Be thankful. I told you I'd not permit another

scandalous display at the university.

- There's too much at stake.

- Mother, I don't want to marry him.

- Please. I'll be damned if I do.

- Well, if you won't, I will.

That's funny, is it?

Well, I'm damned to be widowed

and gathering dust.

Mother.

Well done.

I know why you're like this

about your fiance.

- Why I'm like what?

- Come on.

You're always slipping away in secret.

And you're thin.

It's obvious

you've already got a secret lover.

Well, don't tell.

Hello. A gift for your daughter.

I don't know what to say.

Thank you. It's magnificent.

But you don't know my daughter

and she doesn't know you.

Yes. But I know her reputation,

Signor Donato.

And everybody knows yours,

Signor Casanova.

I've always wondered

what you look like.

Quite ordinary, I can see that.

Well, how can I put this?

Victoria is that rare thing -

a Venetian virgin.

Yes, one hears of them,

but invariably it turns out that...

I am sorry. Do go on.

Thank you.

She's led a very protected life.

Never has an impure thought

crossed her mind.

Of course not.

She's never been alone in a room with a

man, or even seen a man without his coat.

I've made sure of that.

There isn't anything I wouldn't do

to ensure her happy innocence.

- She should be in a nunnery, but...

- Heaven forbid.

- Exactly. One hears things.

- Yes.

On the other hand,

there is you, Signor Casanova,

the most notorious lover

of women in Venice,

reputed to have the longest list

of conquests ever known.

A virtuoso of the intimate caress

The maestro of multiple...

- What was that?

- I will come to love her, Signor Donato.

It's out of the question.

Your idea of love is sensuality,

to reduce women to quivering puddles of...

Victoria!

Are you all right?

I want him. I want him.

Please, please, Papa.

I'll never be happy without him.

- Congratulations. We're engaged.

- We are a marvel.

- I mean, actually getting married?

- Yes.

You have sullied my glove.

I mean, love. My love.

- I'm sorry. What did he just call us?

- We didn't sully it. It came out of nowhere.

Thank you.

You've sullied my love.

Victoria Donato is my fiance.

- Is she?

- Yes.

- In the sense that I'm going to marry her.

- Well, she never mentioned that.

Of course she didn't.

I haven't asked her yet.

Wha...?

Here, sir.

What, are you two

working together now? Lupo.

San Cremori at dawn.

Listen. We decline to fight you, dear sir.

- You coward.

- We happen to be on good behavior.

You have no right to decline

to defend your honor.

It's our honor, so we have the right.

He who gets slapped has his rights.

Those are the rules.

See?

- Now, what did we do that for?

- I don't know.

San Cremori at dawn.

May I know of whom

I have the honor to be killing?

Lupo Salvato.

Thank you.

- Don't forget your glove.

- Thank you.

Surely we don't mean...

What's this "we"?

You slapped him. You fight him.

I see you're not laughing now.

Come on!

The apple is very distracting.

It's all right. I'll fight him.

I can be Lupo Salvato.

Bastard!

Signor Salvato.

Oh, dear.

This gentleman is here to explain

the terms of the duel and to see fair play.

- Very good.

- Your attention, please, gentlemen.

Stay behind the line until I give the word.

If one trips or falls, the other puts up

his sword until I say "continue".

Yes.

If a sword breaks,

your second hands you the spare sword.

- Do we have a spare sword?

- Yeah, we do.

First blood ends the duel.

Master!

Move. Go on.

Master!

It's the old switch game.

You'd have killed him.

And you are?

Francesca Bruni.

He's my brother.

- I'll take that, sir.

- Sorry, Signor Salvato.

I should think you would be sorry.

- It was all a case of mistaken identity.

- Mistaken identity?

Giovanni got it into his head

you were courting Signorina Donato.

- Did he?

- It's all over Venice.

The famously virginal Victoria Donato is

gonna marry the infamous rake, Casanova.

- Do you know him?

- Casanova. The philosopher,

who devotes his life to the perfection

of experience? Yes, I know him.

No. Casanova the libertine

who devotes his life to seducing women.

Well, we're obviously

talking about the same person.

There must be something deeply wrong

with a man like that, don't you think?

Something missing in his life.

True love, perhaps.

All love is true in different ways.

To say "l love falsely" is as self-

contradictory as saying "l believe falsely".

You are a philosopher, too.

I've spent countless hours

alone with Casanova,

pondering the ways of love and

how it makes us at one with the angels.

And with the beasts.

I will not debate with you

if you take the side of a man

whose idea of love

demands a female sacrifice every day.

I've no sympathy for women who think no

better of themselves than to be a plaything.

You tell your friend from me that what

he imagines being love is, in fact, self-love.

And self-love is self-doubt.

- Well said.

- Yes.

By the philosopher Bernardo Guardi.

You should read him, Signor Salvato.

- Clearly.

- Give me a man who is man enough

to give himself just to the woman

who is worth him.

If that woman were me,

I would love him alone and forever.

Goodbye, Signor Salvato.

If fighting continued, one of us

would have had good cause to be sorry.

The one still standing, I think.

Francesca Bruni.

- I want my money!

- Next week, without fail.

- You said that last week!

- I was a week early.

- Go to hell.

- I'll see you there. Thank you so much.

Honestly. Why, the nerve!

Can you believe this man?

I mean

does he know who we are?

He should be honored

to be owed money by the likes of us.

- Lupo.

- What?

I've made a terrible mistake.

- You have?

- Yes.

I have to find her.

Master, I'm a little confused.

- I thought we'd made our decision.

- Yes, I know.

Francesca!

He's arriving tomorrow.

Your fiance.

She has a fiance.

Well, so do you.

- Giovanni.

- Good day, Mario. How are you?

- I'm sorry.

- Giovanni, more disgrace.

- Allow me.

- Thank you. I'm sorry.

Mama, this is Signor Salvato.

I understand you've had an unpleasant

encounter with my son this morning.

It was nothing more strenuous

than a morning's constitutional.

Come along.

Sorry.

- Your sister has a fiance?

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