| Leonardo walks into his favourite bar in Via della Stufa, Florence. |
| LdaV: |
Morning, Gianni. |
| G: |
Morning, Leo. |
| LdaV: |
Caffè corretto, please. |
| G: |
Hmm ... things not so good,
then? |
| LdaV: |
Gianni, please ... just give
me the coffee. |
| G: |
Brandy or grappa? |
| LdaV: |
Grappa. Two shots. |
| G: |
Here you are. Now, Leo, why
so sad? No work coming in? |
| LdaV: |
Not much. Patronage isn't
what it used to be. |
| G: |
Sorry to hear that. |
| LdaV: |
Me too. Mind you, I am
working on a new project. |
| G: |
What's that? |
| LdaV: |
Well, it's all about anatomy.
The perfect form of the human body, that sort of thing. |
| G: |
Sounds interesting. |
| LdaV: |
Yes. Actually, I think you
could help. |
| G: |
Ready and willing. |
| LdaV: |
Come round here. That's it,
stand with your legs about two feet apart. Good. Now raise your arms
out straight and sideways about a foot above shoulder height. |
| G: |
Is that right? |
| LdaV: |
Great. Now lower them until
they're the same distance below your shoulders. |
| G: |
OK? |
| LdaV: |
Perfect. This is going to
work. Thanks, Gianni. |
| A young, dark, round-faced girl walks
into
the bar carrying a basket of
olives. |
| G: |
Hello, Lisa. |
| L: |
Morning, Gianni. Any olives
today? |
| G: |
Yes, please. Five libbra of the Frantoio. |
| L: |
There you are. |
| Gianni pays Lisa and she leaves. |
| LdaV: |
She's nice. |
| G: |
Indeed she is. |
| LdaV: |
Lovely smile. Enigmatic. Come-hither eyes. |
| G: |
Steady, Leo. |
| LdaV: |
I feel quite hot thinking about it. Maybe I'll paint her some day. |
| G: |
Pigs will fly. Old family. You'll have to convince her husband Francesco. |
| Time for Leonardo to leave. |
| LdaV: |
I'll go and make a stab at the anatomy job. |
| G: |
Good luck. Why don't you come back for something to eat later? About 8pm? We're having friends round, lots of wine, farewell do for a mate. |
| LdaV: |
That's very kind of you, Gianni. I like a bit of supper. As long as it's not my last, eh? |
|
