I, Don Giovanni Page #5

---

And?

Would you like Don Giovanni

to marry and turn into...

a faithful little husband?

Explain.

Lorenzo believes he's met

the woman of his dreams.

He's in seventh heaven.

And he's even shared the joy

for his new love with...

Don Giovanni.

You're a jealous woman.

I'm starting to get bored.

This is not a trick.

See for yourself.

This...

is the marriage scene.

Written by his own hand

and distributed yesterday.

What do you want from me, Adriana?

Annetta...

Her name is Annetta

and she is part of his Venetian past.

I'm sure she wouldn't like to hear

about all Lorenzo's conquests.

Take it and read.

You have perspicaciously noted

that I modelled Lorenzo

in my image.

By way of comparison,

I noted all his conquests

with great attention to detail,

I assure you.

You may copy the list, if you wish.

Some names can even debunk

stories I heard.

Of course, I wouldn't want

Lorenzo to know.

Bastard!

Even Gertrude, my maid!

You appear on the list too.

Prayers for him!

Prayers for him my lips still pass!

I am Lorenzo Da Ponte.

I'm looking for Miss Dei Fiorini.

- Is she at home?

- I'm sorry, I don't know.

I'll go and see.

Lorenzo, what are you doing here?

I came to pay a courtesy call

and bring flowers.

I am betrothed, I can't accept them.

Annetta, who is it?

You misunderstand,

they are not for you.

Please, come into the salon, sir.

- Allow me to introduce myself...

- I know who you are, Mr Da Ponte.

I am delighted to meet you,

Madam Dei Fiorini.

I had the great fortune of being

acquainted with your brother.

A kind gentleman.

My brother, rest his soul,

was an idler who squandered

the family fortune

at the gaming table.

But please, Mr Da Ponte,

sit down.

Adele,

put these flowers in a vase.

Excuse the disorder,

we were folding sheets.

You must forgive me,

I called unannounced.

Let me help you

with the chore I've interrupted.

I told my aunt

you're writing the libretto

for Mozart's new opera.

We were bewitched by

"The Marriage of Figaro".

I'm flattered. I hope my new opera

will also be to your liking.

Why have you come?

We'd said everything.

You did not forbid me

from seeing you again.

Besides, I wouldn't have obeyed you.

Why not tell us something

of your new opera?

It's the story of a libertine,

a subject that may seem indelicate,

but our treatment of it

reaches a highly moral conclusion.

It tells of a dissolute

who places the fatuity of vice

above genuine feelings,

until a woman kindles within him

a love he's never felt.

He decides to change his life,

and give himself to his

redeeming angel.

Forgive my prying,

but is all this linen

part of your trousseau?

You are inquisitive, but to satisfy

your curiosity:
No, it isn't.

But tell us more

about this redeeming angel.

A maiden betrothed to another man.

His love seems impossible.

He's desperate, but doesn't desist.

She feels

the same rapture for him,

but doubts his sincerity...

though she finally realises

his love is genuine.

You see, the story ends

both happily and instructively.

I am not betrothed.

I am not about to marry.

Annetta...

how can you still doubt me?

Why don't you open the door?

Excuse me.

Miss, this was delivered for you.

I never want

to see or hear from you again!

You and your glib tongue!

Get out of this house

and my life,

and don't you dare come back.

Were you working all night again?

You promised to take

more care of yourself.

You can't go on like this,

your health is already poor.

Don't worry,

it's just a spot of tiredness.

A cup of hot coffee and I'll be fine.

I'll make some immediately,

but lie down.

At your request

See, here I come

I am your guest...

My dear!

Gently...

It's nothing, just a mild attack.

I'm all right.

Forget this "Don Giovanni",

it's ruining your health!

What?

The work is almost complete.

And wasn't it you who insisted

I accept it?

I know.

It was a serious mistake.

This damned opera is killing you.

Don't be so dramatic.

I can't leave an opera unfinished.

We can't afford

to give the advance back.

Besides,

"Don Giovanni" is a splendid work.

Splendid?

The lecherous adventures

of a sexually excited degenerate?

That kind of rubbish could only

appeal to your friend Da Ponte,

who's not much better

than Don Giovanni.

Maestro Casanova,

Lorenzo tells me that you

are the true inspirer of our opera.

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am

to know that you have set

"Don Giovanni" to music.

This is not childish adulation,

this is one of the most

important moments of my life.

Thank you.

Allow me to introduce our Leporello.

And our Don Giovanni.

Pleased to meet you.

Young, handsome...

We're waiting for Donna Elvira,

she's about to arrive.

- Isn't that so, Lorenzo?

- Yes.

The scent of the theatre...

Here she is.

What a nice surprise, Mr Casanova!

You look wonderful, Adriana.

Our Lorenzo is truly brilliant.

His ideas are so astonishing

that I sometimes wonder

where he gets his inspiration!

Let's sit down,

you can enjoy an advance preview.

I read here that Don Giovanni's

Italian conquests number 320.

Permit me a little national pride,

but such a miserable score

gives the impression

that our hero looks down

on Italian beauties.

Why don't we increase it?

In Spain his total is 703...

Ladies and gentlemen,

he's the world's greatest seducer.

Is it possible that

in his own country he chalks up

such a poor result?

Let's be more lavish.

- Let's make it 1,003.

- 1,003?

Pray behold, ma'am,

in this long list I've made, is:

An account

of my master's fair ladies!

Not Jove

so renown'd for his trade is:

Pray observe it,

and read it with me!

Pray observe it,

and read it with me!

First in Italy, ma'am,

seven hundred

Then in Germany

eight may be number'd

Then in Turkey and France,

one and ninety

But in Spain, ma'am...

But in Spain, ma'am

one thousand and three!

One thousand and three

One thousand and three

Here are chambermaids

by dozens

City dames and country cousins

Countesses and Baronesses

Marchionesses and Princesses,

all descriptions, ages, classes

Not a woman could go free

Could go free

First in Rome,

we have seven hundred...

I don't wish to meddle with

your muse's whisperings,

but I gather that you intend

to end the opera

with a chastened Don Giovanni who

even goes so far as to marry

the love of his life.

Is that true?

All nonsense.

Whoever told you such rubbish?

Baronesses, Marchionesses,

Princesses

All descriptions, ages, classes

not a woman could go free

Not a woman could go free

Not a woman could go free

First the fair one

He bewitches

By the softness

Of his speeches

Makes the brown ones

In a fever

Warmly vowing

Love forever

With the pale ones

he will languish

Melt and sigh in tender anguish

The great

And tall ones

Sometimes warm him

But the short ones

But the short ones

But the short ones

always charm him

He who loves but one woman

is merely a selfish oaf.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes