- The usual. Fornication, heresy.
How exactly does the Church define heresy?
Francesca!
I hardly think heresy is a fit conversation for a young lady.
Why? Can't we be heretics?
I think my fiancee, Bishop Pucci, wishes to learn more from you perhaps.
If you please.
Very well.
Heresy is an affront to the teachings of the Church.
It is a rebellion against our mores and our morals.
More to the point, and you will understand this,
since you are a woman and understand women's ways,
hence the concept of "whim",
heresy is whatever I say it is.
For example, that writer fellow, Bernardo Guardi, he is a heretic.
And why is that?
Vittorio, where is the tea?
Guardi's words cause women to feel dissatisfied
- and men to doubt their manhood. - Really?
If you are an admirer of this Guardi fellow, I have some very sad news for you.
He's written out.
My colleagues are scouring the streets for him as we speak.
I'm so sorry.
- Bishop, will you take tea? - Thank you, no. I have people to see.
Signorina Bruni.
May I have the honour of accompanying you to the carnival ball?
But I've done nothing wrong.
I'm innocent! You've got the wrong man! Let me go!
Come on. Come on.
I have an urgent message for you from Bernardo Guardi.
Who are you?
Never mind. The Chief Inquisitor from Rome is here and he is out for blood.
- Delay publishing the new pamphlet. - You're a little late.
Oh, my God. Stop selling it.
- Sorry. - That's what it says. The pig.
- Well, I've always owned pigs. - Oh, tit.
Right.
Now, make sure it's ready in time for the ball.
Ah. Master.
- How's the treatment going? - Well...
- Is he any better? - Yeah, well...
It's impossible he could look any worse.
Is that you, Maestro? Maestro Guardi, is that you?
- Hello. Who's there? - Good God. You achieved the impossible.
- Thank you. - What have you smeared all over him?
- Lard, mostly. Mint jelly. - Hello?
- A few coffee grounds. - Yes. Coffee grounds. Well done.
- Signore. - Is it you, Maestro?
- Yes, Papprizzio. - How do I look?
Well, let's see.
Yes. That's very good. It's coming along quite nicely.
I've been asking your man for a mirror. He can't seem to find one for me.
- Oh, well... Lupo, mirror? - I can't find one anywhere.
After application of all your techniques, I'm terribly anxious to check my progress.
- Yes, of course. - Yes.
Oh, there you are, Fulvio. Good man.
God.
It's working.
- It's working, isn't it? - Yes.
- It's working. - Yes, indeed.
You took my regrets, of course, to the house of Bruni?
Yes.
- Good. Bad weather or some such? - Yes. Of course I did.
What of Francesca? I told her I'd take her to the carnival ball,
but I do think I need just a bit more time.
Yes, I think you're right. You do need some more time.
- Listen. Don't worry. I'll handle that. - Good man.
You relax. Lupo, a little more around the belly.
Yes, Lupo. More on the belly.
Signore, Bishop Pucci wishes to see you.
Of course.
My name is Bernardo Guardi, but I'm not the Bernardo Guardi.
Come along now, Bernardo. There's no shame in being a writer.
Let's play a little game, shall we?
I'll read you a sentence and you finish it.
"A woman is air and..."
And what, Bernardo?
I don't know. Trouble? No. No.
Wind? Air and wind?
No. I'll give you a little clue, shall I?
It's not the tea I object to. It's the water.
So, Signor Papprizzio, how well do you know Casanova?
Be careful how you answer.
I could become interested in you.
I was less than...
I was less than frank at Signora Bruni's.
It is Casanova I have come here to hang.
That fornicator who spits upon the teachings of the Church.
Are you following me? Good. So why did you go with Casanova to his house?
- I'm renting it from him. - You're renting it?
- It's strictly business, of course. - Business.
I believe he went out of town for a day or two.
- Out of town? - Yes.
Well, if I know anything, he's hardly likely to absent himself from Carnevale.
Signor Papprizzio, if you'd help put an end to this fornicator's career for good and all,
believe me, the Church will be very grateful.
How grateful?
The lard concession at the Vatican.
Which is a lot of lard.
That's quite an attractive offer.
So we have a deal?
You will help deliver Casanova unto me?
As sure as my name is Papprizzio.
- Excuse me, Your Reverence. - No.
This Bernardo Guardi we're racking, I don't think he is the heretic.
I think someone is just using his name
- as a nom de plume. - A nom...
Don't be clever, Andolini. What do you mean you think?
The Inquisition is not paid to think. Be sure!
Well, I am pretty sure. He can't read or write.
Lupo! Lupo!
- There is no lover! - What?
- There is no secret lover. - What?
She never had one.
Carnevale.
Talked of pigs all week.
- Darling, have you seen my husband? - I am your husband.
- Any sign of Casanova, sir? - I don't know what he looks like.
But he's bound to be here. He wouldn't miss the carnival.
Signor Papprizzio.
See? Everybody's here. We just have to find them.
Victoria?
Victoria!
Good evening, sir.
Signor Pizzani and Signora.
You're welcome.
Signor Papprizzio of Genoa escorting Signorina Bruni.
You're welcome.
Signor Dandolo and Signora.
You're welcome.
- Signor Papprizzio. - Mother Bruni.
We must introduce you to everyone we know.
Yes, this should be interesting.
- Will you do me the honour, signora? - May I?
- Well, I'm free. - I...
- Be my guest. - Watch this.
Signor Casanova, I have a message from your fiancee.
- Ah, which one? - Signorina Donato.
She's in the piazza. She's waiting for you to escort her in.
Good Lord!
Come.
Don't worry. You're not my first virgin.
- Victoria. - Casanova.
Something is not right.
Do we have the address of Casanova's house?
Then I think now is the time for positive action.
Lord and Lady Devonshire.
You're welcome.
Signor Casanova and Signorina Donato.
Signor Casanova.
Enchanting. I'm so very pleased for you and me.
- When's the wedding? - Soon, Your Grace.
You're welcome.
Ambassador Gritti and Signora.
- My darling. - Giacomo, where can we go?
- Find somewhere. - Find somewhere? No, no.
- I can't wait any longer. - Sit down. Very good.
Wait here and I'll come back with a glass of wine.
- Casanova. - How wonderful to see you.
What are you doing down there? No.
There he is.
- We danced off our feet. - You danced off your feet. How lovely.
That's better.
- Are you all right? - Yes, I'm fine.
- Signore. - Yea-ah!
It's Signor Donato from across the canal.
I just said that.
- May I? - Please.
Thank you.
- You all right? - Yeah, I'm fine. Just hot.
- I didn't see you in church. - Well, I was there.
I know, but I wasn't.
- Do you know Signor... - Yes. I'm the future son-in-law.
- That's right. - Yes!
- Congratulations are in order. - Yes.
Thank you.
No. No, I mean...
No. Yes. Congratulations are in order.
I just said that.
Congratulations. You must be pleased for Victoria.
That reminds me. Have you seen Victoria?
No, no. That's true.
I thought she'd be here with her... her fiance.
That's true. I haven't seen her anywhere. I think she's...
I had forbidden her to come, but she has defied me.
- She must have changed. - She has.
I suppose getting engaged to the famous Casanova
has gone to her head.
- What is the matter with this table? - It's a good table. It's fine.
I'm a traditionalist. No intercourse before the wedding.
- Social intercourse. - There's somebody under the table.
- Which table? - This table!
Is this the palazzo of Signor Casanova?
Yes, sir. He's right in here, Your Excellency.
So, Signor Casanova, not out of town after all, I see.
I find it difficult to believe this is what women want.
Yeah. Here, little piggy. Come, little piggy.
- Andolini... - Sir, I think...
Don't think. Just do what you do.
Stop the treatment! I don't like this part of the treatment!
- So, what progress? - He seems confused.
Fornication on a massive scale leads to confusion.
- Signor Casanova. - I'm Papprizzio of Genoa.
Unfortunately for you, I am intimately acquainted with Signor Papprizzio.
- I've had tea with him. - Ask Fulvio.
Fulvio, tell him. Tell him, Fulvio.
Sir.
So who is?
- So you are Papprizzio. - It's what I've been saying, stupid.
Well, Signor Papprizzio, maybe you'll tell me the whereabouts
of the owner of the palazzo where you're staying.
- Signor... - Guardi.
Signor Bernardo Guardi is my host here.
I'm staying at his place, taking his course. He designed my treatment.
Do you realise Guardi is a heretic?
Your Reverence, Bernardo Guardi is a nom de plume.
Then if
Bernardo Guardi is a nom de plume
perhaps the plume's nom is
Casanova.
- Casanova? - It was staring us in the face all along.
The glorification of women, et cetera. Boring, boring, boring.
- Casanova is Bernardo Guardi. - Bravo, Your Reverence.
Good Lord. He's taken my fiancee to the ball.
Not for long, he's not. Get your men together and come with me.
- Where are you going? - I'm going to the ball.
Well, so are we!
- You're right. She's here. - Where?
Right over there. See? You should take her home.
- You see, I'm a traditionalist myself. - Signor Valmarana and Signora.
At least someone's made an effort.
Excuse me. I say, at least somebody's made an effort.
Now that is purple.
That's not Venetian, is it? Am I wrong? That is a...
London? Paris? Rome? Is it...
It's almost a papal purple.
It reminds me of something. Don't tell me.
- Inquisitor Pucci. - Inquisitor Pucci.
Yes, I know. I heard you were in Venice.
- Come for a dance? - I'm here to arrest Giacomo Casanova.
Casanova is about to marry a young woman famous for her modesty.
His slate is wiped clean, and he's under my protection.
Does your protection extend to heretics?
Beware, Doge. Your city's freedom
dangles from the belt of the Vatican.
You're welcome.
- Admiral Massimo Canal and Signora. - You're welcome.
Where's Francesca?
My name is Pietro Papprizzio and I'm from Genoa.
What?
Signor Papprizzio of Genoa.
So you're Papprizzio?
From Genoa?
Is your name...
Bruni.
I'm your...
I'm your future...
I never dreamt you'd be so beautiful.
Me?
Oh, dear. Oh, dear.
Why...
No. No, I'm your future mother-in-law.
- My mother-in-law? - Yes.
- I'm not betrothed to you? - No, to my daughter.
Some people find her beautiful.
- There's a man who's after her. - Really? Does she like him?
Signora Bruni, your daughter has been duped by none other than Casanova.
But worry not. He's as good as...
Why don't you stop interfering, all right?
Thank you.
Well.
Signorina.
I was afraid I'd lost you.
As one might lose a pocket watch, Signor Papprizzio,
or some other valuable possession?
I know that no man will ever own you.
But to be your defender on the road you travel,
to show you the world as you've never seen it, for that I hold my hopes.
Let's start by taking one step closer to heaven.
You get this one here.
Ready. On the count of three.
One, two, three.
Witchcraft.
Actually, I believe it's because hot air rises, overcoming the gravitational force of...
Witchcraft.
Here we are.
Look! It's Casanova with his new fiancee.
Casanova.
Come on.
Is that Francesca?
- It is her. - That's Francesca.
- I've never seen her look so happy. - Really?
Such bad news for you, Signor Papprizzio.
O calamity. She's thrown me over.
- Disgraceful. - Oh, well. A scandal.
- You're a free man. - Oh, dear.
What will I do?
Thank you, Signor Papprizzio.
I'm beginning to believe that your heart is true.
There is more of the lover than the merchant in you.
Why didn't you tell me you were my betrothed?
You didn't trust me?
Well, why didn't you tell me you were Bernardo Guardi?
It's all right. I won't tell anyone.
I should've guessed the first time I saw you in that citadel of male complacency
when you were as brave in debate as you were later in duel.
You were Bernardo Guardi in beauty's mask.
I'm in love with you, Francesca.
You were at the debate?
Yes. Yes, I was.
At the university.
Francesca...
Just as you had honest reason for not telling me who you were,
I, too, have honest reason...
What?
I can explain this.
Are you Papprizzio?
Tell me you're Papprizzio, my betrothed.
Who are you?
I'm Casanova.
What?
I'm... I'm Giacomo Casanova.
You stand for everything I write against.
- Wasn't that before you knew me? - I don't know you.
Which one of you?
I think I liked you better in your masks. At least Salvato was a gentleman.
Papprizzio was promising. But Casanova, I despise.
You dare to say you love me.
I would save myself for the kind of love which a man would give his life for.
- Are you hurt? - I'm fine.
Casanova.
Signor Casanova.
I'm here to arrest you as a fornicator, a charlatan,
and, above all, a coward who hides behind the name of another -
Signor Bernardo Guardi.
And as Bernardo Guardi, I arrest you as a heretic.
- What? He's not... - Yes, signorina, he is.
- He's not... - Francesca, don't.
No.
I'm Bernardo Guardi.
Bishop Pucci.
How can I help you, my dear?
I was a virgin.
My virginity was my most cherished possession -
my gift from God.
My gift was taken from me.
Tragic and most damnable. What was the name of this vile seducer?
Giacomo Casanova.
When Casanova came to my room and robbed me
I fought for my honour.
Are you saying you'd be willing to give me the testimony that I need to hang him?
Yes.
But I would worry about my reputation.
Of course. But I think we could say if everything went according to plan,
we could return your reputation and your virginity to you.
- You could do that? - Oh, yes.
We are the Catholic Church. We can do anything.
Excuse me. When is my turn?
Give me a man who is man enough
to give himself just to the woman who is worth him.
And if that woman were me,
I would love him alone and forever.
Thank you very much.
- Are you sure I don't owe you anything? - On the contrary.
- Thank you. - Bye.
- Come back.
You're... You're the boy in the window.
Signorina Donato.
We won't forget you.
You'll be a legend among the girls.
- This is terrible. - Why?
I've loved you hopelessly for years.
Why didn't you say?
My Lord, the prisoner is being represented by a Dr Giordano of Padua.
Then I call the defence, Dr Giordano.
It is a case of mistaken identity, Your Grace.
- What? Mistaken... - Yes.
This man is not Bernardo Guardi.
- Yes, he is. - Yes, I am.
- You see? - He is protecting someone.
- No. - Yes, you are.
- No, I'm not. - Yes, you are... not.
Protecting who?
The woman who loves him.
If you are who you say, perhaps you could indulge the court with a few samples
of your more renowned philosophies on women.
If I've said I am Bernardo Guardi, does that not suffice?
My Lord, must we listen to this stuttering heretic? He has self-confessed.
Is that all that you require? A confession?
Well, yes. I suppose so.
Good.
Because I am the one with the manuscripts, written in my own hand.
I am the only one with proof that I...
I am Bernardo Guardi.
You?
- Francesca. - Do you really think I'd let you die for me?
Well, then, release the prisoner Casanova.
My Lord, my Lord, let us not forget this is a court of law.
We still have a self-confessed heretic.
And we also have a notorious seducer,
an adulterer, a violator of virgins
whose guilt I will prove by the testimony of...
No!
It wasn't true.
Of...
By the testimony of no less than 127 sworn statements,
attesting to the libidinous lust of Giacomo Casanova.
There is only one verdict open to this court: Guilty.
And one sentence: Death.
- Death to the heretic Bernardo Guardi. - No!
And death to the master fornicator
Giacomo Casanova.
- You did say the cardinal's coming. - I did, sir.
Your Reverence, I don't think we can wait any longer.
Very well.
I shall have to do it without him.
Cardinal Lopresta has arrived!
Sorry we're late. Canals, et cetera.
Your Eminence. Bishop Pucci.
An honour to meet you at last.
- I've heard so much about you. - Thank you.
What's happening here?
Just hanging a heretic and Casanova.
What luck.
My nurse.
And does your nurse enjoy executions?
Does the pope have a balcony?
What I actually came to say is this.
Venetians!
Greetings from His Holiness.
As you know, today is the pope's birthday.
- And... - Did you know that?
And in honour of his birthday, His Holiness has decreed
a papal pardon for all those who would be executed
on this happy day.
- Your Eminence. - Free the prisoners.
Free the prisoners!
Your Eminence. No. No. No.
You don't seem to share the pope's happiness on his birthday.
No, I do. I do.
How old is he?
I'm not quite sure.
- No, no... - Best stay here. Crowd's turning ugly.
Please join me in my coach. We're leaving for my country house.
I'm so sorry I'm late.
My fault. I'm to blame.
Tito.
The love of my life.
This is my son.
I've played cardinals before, of course. You may have seen me.
Anyway, we left our troupe in Trieste when we heard the news. Had to move fast.
Mom, the paint is wet.
It says "Theatre Troupe" here.
Cardinal Lopresta has arrived!
Arrest those impostors!
Move! Get out of the way!
Giacomo!
- Come on! - Come on! Out of the way, people!
Casanova!
On you get, darling. Quick as a bunny.
I didn't know it was the pope's birthday.
So how goes things?
It's very exciting, isn't it?
This is the last time I'm travelling coach.
Hold on, everyone!
Hang on!
- Easy, boy! - Tito!
Everybody off.
Hello, darling. I'm your future stepfather.
- I was always faithful to you. - I never had any doubt. None at all.
Come on, darling. Let's escape on my barge. It's by the water.
That way.
Charge!
Oh, dear.
Giovanni!
Step lightly, darling. Excuse us. Excuse us.
Out of the way. Out of the way. Excuse us.
This way, darling. This way.
I can't wait for you to see the boat. Here's the boat. Right this way. On your new boat.
- Vittorio. Vittorio. - Careful. Careful.
- I'm behind you. - This way.
No, my baby. Listen. You're staying behind with me.
Prepare to sail, men.
Oh, dear.
Vittorio, do something useful.
- Signora, what can I do? - Something useful.
Giovanni!
Come on! Come on!
Quickly! Quickly!
I can't come with you. If I do, they'll follow us both.
What?
- You mean they'll follow Casanova? - That's right.
What if he never left?
I could do it.
There's more to this than just the name.
I wouldn't mind being Casanova.
- I wouldn't mind being on that boat. - And I wouldn't mind my wedding.
Well, come on.
- Come on. - Lupo, where you going?
I'm staying.
- Why? - I'm a Venetian, sir.
My place is with Casanova.
Take care of me, my good friend.
Of course, Master.
After them!
Better luck next time!
- Andolini, get the boats after them! - Farewell, simpletons!
Get after them!
Go on!
I told you I'd come back.
It's a wonderful life, an actor's life.
You'll love it.
Who writes your plays?
Come inside.
Lovely.
Just my kind of good weather.
Which is why the story of Casanova and Francesca
isn't mine to tell.
Victoria and I lived happily ever after.
Just not together.
Venice.
So soon enough, in people's minds,
Casanova was back.
If I may say so,
I believe I rose worthily to the occasion
and added many glorious chapters to the legend,
while I kept the secret
of the true love
of the man who was
Casanova.