Hannibal Page #5

directly to Animal|and Plant Health...

but you need to get the vet|affidavits from Sardinia.

Va bene?

Bene, bene.

How are they?

They are big, Mason--|very big.

Tommaso.

Say again?

They are big, Mason--|really big.

Maybe 270 kilos.

Can you hear?

Hear!

They sound fantastic.

Super.

The full balance of the money...

is payable upon receipt|of the doctor alive.

Of course, you won't have|to seize him yourself...

rather just point him out.

In fact, it's preferable|to all concerned...

if that's the extent|of your involvement...

from this point.

I prefer to stay involved--|to make sure things go right.

Professionals will see to that.

I am a professional.

You enjoy the performance,|Commendatore?

Very much.

Allegra, this is Dr. Fell,|curator of the Capponi Library.

Signora Pazzi.

I'm honored.

Are you from America, Doctor?

Not originally.|I've traveled there.

I've always wanted to visit.

New England, especially.

I've enjoyed|many excellent meals there.

I noticed you wrapped up|in the libretto.

I thought this might amuse you.

Dante's first sonnet|from "La Vita Nuova."

It's beautiful.

Rinaldo, look at this.

I can see.

"Joyous love sing to me...

"the while he held my heart|in his hands...

"and in his arms...

"my lady lay asleep...

"wrapped in a veil."

"He woke her then,|and trembling and obedient...

"she ate that burning heart|out of his hand.

"Weeping, I saw him then|depart from me."

Dr. Fell, do you believe...

a man could become|so obsessed with a woman...

from a single encounter?

Could he daily feel|a stab of hunger for her...

and find nourishment|in the very sight of her?

I think so.

But would she see through|the bars of his plight...

and ache for him?

Please keep that.

-I couldn't.|-I insist.

Commendatore.

Allegra.

Let's get something to eat.

Of course.

Why not?

Is that you, Doctor?

Questura. Pandolfini.

I'd like to speak with...

Chief Inspector|Rinaldo Pazzi, please.

This is Agent Clarice Starling|from the American FBI.

All right. One moment.

Pazzi! FBI.

I'm not here.

Inspector Pazzi, Agent Starling|from the FBI. How do you do?

Actually,|I was just leaving for the day.

-Can I call you back tomorrow?|-This won't take long.

First of all,|I'd like to thank you...

for sending us the security tape|from the perfume store.

When I say you,|I mean your department--

Agent Benetti.

Is he there?|Can I speak with him?

-I'm sorry. He's gone home.|-That's all right.

I should tell you this|rather than him anyway.

I'm late for|an important appointment.

The person I'm looking for,|Inspector...

who was indeed shown|on that tape is Hannibal Lecter.

Who?

Dr. Hannibal Lecter.|You've never heard of him?

I'm not familiar.

The tape confirms that he is,|or was recently, in Florence.

Really?

He's a very dangerous man,|Inspector.

He's killed fourteen people--|that we know of.

I really have to go, miss...

Starling.|Just another minute.

Are you sure|you've never heard of him?

No, I haven't.

Because I'm confused.

I'm confused,|because someone there...

has been accessing|our private VICAP files...

on Dr. Lecter|with some regularity...

on your computer.

Everybody uses|everybody's computer here.

Maybe one of the detectives|on Il Mostro...

was looking at profiles|of killers.

I'm speaking about the computer|at your home, sir.

You're trying to catch him|yourself, aren't you?

For the reward?

I cannot warn you|strongly enough against that.

He killed three policemen|in Memphis while in custody...

tearing the face off one,|and he will kill you, too.

I want him out of Tuscany fast.

Believe me, he'll be gone from|the face of the earth fast--

feet first.

Buona sera, Professore.

Because of his avarice...

and betrayal|of the Emperor's trust...

Pier Della Vigna was disgraced,|blinded and imprisoned.

Dante's pilgrim|finds Pier Della Vigna...

on the seventh level|of the Inferno...

and like Judas Iscariot...

he died by hanging.

So Judas and Pier Della Vigna|are linked in Dante...

by the avarice he saw in them.

In fact, avarice and hanging|are linked in the medieval mind.

This was the earliest known|depiction of the crucifixion...

carved on an ivory box in Gaul|about A.D. 400.

It includes the death|by hanging of Judas...

his face upturned to the branch|that suspends him.

Here he is again on the doors|of the Benevento Cathedral...

this time with his bowels|falling out.

Commendatore Pazzi.

Wasn't easy, but I got this|number without telling them why.

-Sorry.|-Not at all. Welcome.

Please join us.

Thank you.

In this plate...

from the 15th Century edition|of the "Inferno"...

Pier Della Vigna's body|hangs from a bleeding tree.

I will not belabor|the obvious parallel...

with Judas Iscariot...

but Dante Alighieri|needed no drawn illustration.

It was his genius|to make Pier Della Vigna...

now in hell...

speak in strained hisses|and coughing sibilants...

as though he is hanging still.

Avarice...

hanging, self-destruction.

"I make my own home..."

"be my gallows."

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,|for your kind attention.

I'm not a scholar,|but I think you've got the job.

Thank you.

-May I buy you a drink?|-How kind. I'd like that.

I'll be a minute|gathering my things.

Take your time.

Allegra, I'll be home|a little later than I said.

I'm taking Dr. Fell|out for a drink.

I can see the people|coming out now.

Yes. Bye, honey.

My wife.

I should have|shown them this one.

I can't imagine how I missed it.

Remember? I told you about it.

It's a rendering I found|in the Capponi Library.

Can you make it out?

There's a name there.

The one I told you about.

It's your ancestor,|Commendatore...

hanging beneath|these very windows--

Francesco de Pazzi.

On a related subject,|I must confess to you...

I'm giving|very serious thought...

to eating your wife.

If you tell me what I need|to know, Commendatore...

it might be convenient for me to|leave Florence without my meal.

I'll ask you questions,|then we'll see, all right?

So...

Was it Mason Verger|you sold me to?

Blink twice for yes,|once for no.

Was it Mason Verger|you sold me to?

Yes. Good. Thank you.

And are his men|waiting for me outside?

Was that a single blink?

You're confused.

Please don't be confused...

because I may have to fillet|Signora Pazzi after all.

Have you told anyone|in the Questura about me?

No, I thought not.

Have you told Allegra?

No? Are you sure?

I believe you.

Okey-dokey, here we go.

Your heart|is really palpitating.

It's not your heart.

Well...

shall I answer it?

Pronto.

I've gone above you. I've spoken|to your section chief.

Someday, you'll thank me--|or you won't.

I don't care. You'll be alive.

Inspector Pazzi?

Is this Clarice?

Well, hello, Clarice.

I'm afraid|I have bad news for you.

Is he dead?

Did you get my note?

I hope you liked the skin cream.|I had it specially made for you.

Is he dead, Dr. Lecter?

Clarice, there is nothing|in this world...

that I would love more than|to be able to chat with you.

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