Casanova

10,000 pages.

My life and loves.

That's just about one woman for every page.

God, I'm tired.

But there is one story I haven't put down.

Francesca.

That's a story which isn't mine to tell, really.

So keep it to yourself.

- For how long? - I don't know how long.

- It's a man, and you're a whore. - I'm an actress.

What's the difference?

Giacomo.

You be good for your grandmother.

- Now, you know I love you very much. - Mama.

Listen to me. Look out there.

Know one day you'll come back to Venice

and I'll return for you.

I promise.

I promise.

She means when I am dead.

It's not her fault. It's in the blood.

A heat for love. Irresistible.

Irresistible.

Sophia, my love!

My husband.

Your husband is the luckiest man in Venice and doesn't know it.

And it's lucky he's not in Venice.

Sweet darling, I love you like no other.

You are my dreams come true.

Please, please make love to me again.

Casanova, tell me I'm the only one.

Of course. I always do.

- Darling, I'm home! - My husband!

I know Casanova well. It's just like him.

- Has the iceman come yet? - Yes.

And he comes again tomorrow.

Don't believe what people say.

I don't conquer. I submit.

I've never sought glory as a lover.

Well, what then, Signor Casanova, do you seek?

A moment that lasts a lifetime.

So, tell me.

This unusual order of nuns you belong to.

Is it a very strict order?

Very. No

jewels or nice clothes before sundown

and back in our cells by...

- Heavens! Is that the time? - You don't have to go.

I must. It's been delightful. Only...

Only...

How do I know you're really Casanova?

Yes! Yes!

Casanova.

- The Inquisition is here looking for you. - No.

Forgive me.

Quick. If they catch you, they'll hang you.

Giacomo, wait. Tell me I was the one.

You are the one.

- You won't forget me, will you? - No, I could never.

- Casanova. For you. - Thank you.

- Where is Casanova? - I've taken a vow of si...

Eternal damnation. For one night with Casanova.

Seems fair.

We've got him.

Come on.

...hours of study by respected thinkers of our time, including myself.

I'm not old-fashioned in this matter.

I do not say a woman's place is at the hearth and in the bed.

What I do say... Of course it is their place.

What I do say is let them be educated at home.

On the higher planes of science and philosophy,

women serve only to distract us,

to bring us down to our earthly appetites.

So I say no woman shall ever set foot inside this university.

Let my opponent take the floor.

And now Dr Giordano of Padua.

- Too late, gentlemen. - Silence!

Let me show you who is bringing whom down to earth.

A woman is air and fire and lightness and strength.

Like this little vessel

that would rise up to heaven were it not held down by ballast -

bags of sand.

The dead weight of men with their heads full of sand.

Only a woman would argue by this demonstration of a toy.

It would never strike the superior intellect of a man, or I'll eat my words.

Eat these briefs, signor, for these are the words of the philosopher Bernardo Guardi,

who was said to live in this very city.

Bernardo Guardi. That madman.

Wait until the Inquisition catches up with him.

Call him a madman,

but he has more understanding of women than any man in this room.

And I'll wager he has better luck with them in bed as well.

Strumpet.

There he is! Over there!

Stop him!

Hold him!

Gentlemen, my apologies.

You see?

The dead weight of men.

But I didn't know what was happening. He...

He bewitched me.

He said he was the Holy Ghost.

And it's happened before.

You are charged with debauchery, trespass, heresy.

To wit: Fornication with a novice.

Well, she was hardly a novice.

For which the punishment is death by hanging, tomorrow at dawn.

And this time your admirers in high places won't be able to help you.

Excuse me, Inquisitor. The doge.

Dalfonso.

Prince, we were just talking about you.

What brings you here?

- I have a special interest... - I have a special interest.

This time the prisoner has been condemned on the evidence of a nun.

A special interest in your witness.

- Sister Beatrice? - I need a word.

For God's sake, don't you know who she is?

- Who? - Cardinal Lopresta's mistress in waiting.

He entrusted me with safeguarding her virginity for him alone.

She's leaving for Rome today.

Your witness is Cardinal Lopresta's sister, Beatrice.

His sister? Oh, God! Those Romans.

Think about it, Father Dalfonso.

Who's going to get the blame for dragging her into the Casanova affair?

Take your time.

Me?

Signor Casanova, this seems to be another case of mistaken identity.

You are free to go.

You know I'm your friend, but I'm being threatened by Rome.

Venice, I'm afraid, is perceived as a hotbed of...

Well, as one enormous hot bed

with silk sheets and heretical books under the mattress.

The people here are given over to physical pleasure and scepticism.

Do not abuse my sympathy for you, Casanova.

I'm expelling you from Venice.

Your Excellency, I worship beauty. There's no harm in that, is there?

- Worship it in Paris, London. - I can't leave Venice.

- Why? - I'm waiting for someone.

- She may let you down. - No. She promised she'll come one day.

You don't understand.

I'm expelling you from Venice for your own good.

- Unless... - Unless what?

Unless you find yourself a respectable wife.

A good woman from a good family will give you protection.

A wife?

It will soon be the time of Carnevale when authority winks at our indiscretions.

- You're bad enough during Lent. - But Carnival's in a few days.

You better not waste any more time then.

- Meanwhile, you're on good behaviour. - A wife?

- No scandals... - Getting married?

...duels, drunken escapades.

Morning, Lupo.

- We were worried about us. - You were right to be.

- We're getting married. - Congratulations. To whom?

Don't know yet. Any callers?

Landlord, tailor, wine merchant, usual creditors.

Look at the state of us. Where have you been all night?

It's like being married already.

Can you get me some fresh clothes? We have some shopping to do.

- The Contessa Morelli-D'Aosta. - Yes, yes, yes. Oh, but, no, she snores.

Yes, I remember. Lady Veronique Costello.

- Heavenly. - Yeah.

- Duchess of Urfe. - Yes.

- But didn't she poison her husband? - Did she? I don't remember that.

Ah, Giulietta Badalamente.

Sadly, she hasn't poisoned her husband yet.

Perhaps if we told us what we're looking for.

I don't know. Beauty, modesty.

- Purity. - All that.

Lupo. We have had a vision.

Still spying on your virgin?

She'll never look this way if you don't make yourself known.

The whole town's talking about it.

It's just appalling.

You think those men liked hearing they're no good in bed?

If they wanted that, they'd go home to their wives.

Francesca, arrogance in a woman is not attractive.

She's not arrogant. She's just angry.

- Fruit, sir? - Don't defend your sister.

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.