Scenario
A brief outline of the action in each scene
ACT I
Piazza della Signoria - Pallazo Vecchio (Florence 1473)
In the Prologue we meet
BASTIANO and see how ARAGONA Farnese becomes indebted to LISA’s
family.
It is the Annual Regatta del Palio, a public holiday. We open with the people singing and dancing in festive mood. Bastiano, the evil state spy watches disdainfully.
The crowd go off to watch the main event and Aragona Farnese enters with her aged - and blind - mother Giovanna. Bastiano wants Aragona. He cajoles, then threatens her, but she refuses him again.
To teach her a lesson, when the people return he gets her mother falsely accused of using witchcraft to curse the losing team.
The crowd turn on Giovanna, but Lucrezia del Caccia intervenes and
pleads for her life. Hearing the commotion, the then ruler of
Florence, Lorenzo de Medici, comes out of the Pallazo with his wife
Clarice. He demands an explanation.
Lucrezia, who is known to
Clarice, speaks out. Lorenzo orders Giovanna’s release and asks who is her accuser. The boatmen implicate Bastiano, and Aragona
tells of his blackmail. Bastiano is arrested and taken away, vowing
revenge on Aragona, eventually to be tried and thrown into jail.
In return for saving her life Giovanna gives
Lucrezia a ‘Cornicello’, a pendant made of gold and red coral,
traditionally said
to protect the wearer from the ‘evil eye’. She tells Lucrezia that this
sacred charm has been passed from mother to daughter in her family, and when Lucrezia has a
daughter of her own she must pass it on to her, and it will protect her.
Aragona vows to her mother that she will one day
repay Lucrezia’s kindness.
Six years later Lucrezia does indeed have a daughter, Lisa Gherardini – the Mona Lisa, and that seemingly simple trinket will play a huge part in her life - and art history!
Leonardo’s Studio (Florence 1503)
It is thirty years later. We meet LEONARDO and SALAI, discover their characters, and relationship with each other. We learn of Leonardo’s need to secure income.
Leonardo, disillusioned with his work in Milan for Cesare Borgia (and unpaid) has moved his household back to Florence. He has taken space for a studio and lodgings, filling five rooms on two floors in part of the friary of the Servite monks, Santissima Annunziata.
His favourite ‘apprentice’ Salai has already been with him for 13 years. Salai likes the easy life. He is a young man, with an appetite for the good life. Leonardo chastises Salai, but it is obvious that Leonardo has deep feelings for him. Salai, protective of his position, teases Leonardo, but would never respond. Nor would Leonardo reveal the true extent of his love for Salai, accepting that it is ‘a love that dare not speak it’s name’.
He constantly implores Salai to settle down. Salai reveals that he now has a 'patron', none other than Aragona, who has married well, but is neglected by her husband. Aragona is in love with Salai, and he encourages her, but he is leading her on only for her money.
Father Pietro comes asking when Leonardo will pay some rent. Leonardo manages to reassure him, but finances are precarious.
Leonardo admits to Salai that he needs income, and says that he might reluctantly have to take commissions. He tells of a meeting next day with a prospective client - Francesco del Giacondo - to discuss a portrait of his wife.
However, these days Leonardo would rather work on his scientific research and inventions, for which Salai gently mocks him.
Inn - ‘Il Punto Nero’ (Same Night)
Although supposedly banished for life Bastiano has secretly returned to Florence. Niccolò Machiavelli, who is tasked with keeping the City Fathers informed of any potential trouble, learns of this, and knowing Bastiano’s reputation has asked his brother TOTTO to befriend him and learn more of his motives.
Punto Nero is a popular riverside Inn, run by a couple of jokers, Iseppo and Marco, who introduce themselves in a comic song.
Bastiano is drinking at the Inn, Totto comes and befriends him. Bastiano and Totto have much in common. They are both accomplished spies. The wine flows and tongues loosen. They discuss Bastiano’s downfall.
Bastiano is swearing revenge on Aragona. He has learned of her ‘patronage’ of Salai, and suspects they are having an affair. If he can prove it to her husband, she will be cast out, penniless, and Salai would be a dead man!
Bastiano has done well while away and is now a rich man. He conspires with his new ‘friend’, and offers to reward Totto well if he will help him. Totto admits that he understands because he also has designs on a woman who rejects him. Totto agrees to help in order to keep an eye on him, but he is contemptuous of Bastiano.
Leonardo's Studio (Next Day)
First meeting of Leonardo - and Salai - with FRANCESCO and Lisa.
Leonardo meets with Francesco del Giacondo and his wife Lisa. To his pleasant surprise she is young and beautiful and he happily accepts the commission to paint her.
Salai is instantly captivated by her beauty. While Leonardo and Francesco go off to agree terms, he teases Lisa about her beauty. She pretends annoyance, which turns to amusement. She is cool, but it is obvious that there is mutual attraction. He oversteps the mark and she threatens to tell her husband.
Salai begs Leonardo to let him paint her also. Leonardo indulges Salai because of his love for him, and agrees – if it is acceptable to Giaconda. Salai leaves to celebrate and Leonardo reveals his feelings in a song.
Via Laurentian - Street Outside Studio. (Continuous)
Totto discovers Aragona and Salai’s secret
As he leaves to ‘celebrate’ Salai meets Aragona in the street and she reprimands him for neglecting her. He is excited by meeting Lisa and talks openly - and carelessly.
Aragona teases him with talk of finding a new protégé. He reassures Aragona of his love and agrees to see her next day.
However, there is a hooded figure lurking in a corner... The 'beggar' overhears Salai and Aragona talking, revealing their affair, and arranging to meet the following day at the Inn.
As they go the beggar shows his face. It is Totto, who has been following Aragona.
We meet CAPTAIN DONATI and
his crew. Salai and Aragona meet and become openly intimate. Totto
and Bastiano, secreted in a corner, watch and listen.
The Inn is a popular meeting place for sailors. Captain Donati and some of his crew are drinking there. There is much singing and merriment. Salai is a regular visitor and known to Iseppo, Marco and the Captain.
Salai and Aragona feel safe to meet there. They are flirtatious and indiscreet. Totto and Bastiano observe them, and overhear their conversation.
Bastiano is convinced and is ready to denounce them, but Totto warns Bastiano not to do anything without definite proof.
The first sitting.
Musicians play whilst Leonardo and Salai paint.
However it is not going well. There is tension between Lisa and Salai. She is unsettled by Salai’s presence, and complains about many things. He tries to amuse and impress her but she puts him down. They behave like a couple of quarrelsome children.
Lisa asks Leonardo if it is absolutely necessary for Salai to be there. Leonardo attempts to smooth things over, and Salai agrees that he will henceforth not speak unless she speaks to him. Lisa smiles triumphantly.
The painting is well underway. Salai and Lisa are now getting along well
It is weeks later. Lisa is sat posing, whilst Leonardo and Salai both paint her. There have been several sittings by now and the atmosphere is relaxed and light-hearted.
Leonardo is called away urgently. Salai asks if he can carry on for a while.
Salai and Lisa are left alone. They are both young and obviously attracted to each other. Their conversation becomes more intimate. Salai compliments her on her beauty. She responds, and confesses that her husband, who is much older, never seems to notice.
They sing a duet, which ends with a kiss. She is torn between passion and guilt and hurriedly starts to leave. He calls after her – ‘Will he see her at the carnival tomorrow?’ In confusion she replies... she doesn’t know!
Piazza della Signoria - Pallazo Vecchio (Next Day)
It’s a feast day, a crowd fills the square and there is much fun,
dancing and singing
Everyone is happy, and the crowd start a traditional Italian folk dance.
All the main characters are there. Salai is with Leonardo, and introduces Aragona, who is on her best behaviour.
Lisa comes with Francesco. There are many meaningful looks and exchanges. Totto appears, a little under the influence of drink and looking for trouble.
Lisa tells Francesco that she would like to dance, but he laughingly complains that he is too old. He suggests that ‘young’ Salai dance with her. Leonardo is troubled, Lisa is unsure, and Aragona looks on jealously!
Leonardo tries to defuse the tension by offering to step in. Totto, who has long had designs on Lisa, sees an opportunity and grabs Lisa's arm. She rejects him and tears herself away. Salai, unable to control himself instinctively goes to defend her and confronts Totto, who skulks away.
Leonardo calms Salai down with some wise words in a song, which everyone joins in.
As the song finishes everyone disperses. Aragona is the last to leave. As she does Bastiano appears and confronts Aragona, who is shocked and runs away tearfully.
END OF ACT I