SCENE 2 � THE CALCULATOR
NARRATOR: The calculator, which Leonardo designed to help with difficult scientific calculations, was also used to help Duke of Florence with his taxes:
(Lights up on LEONARDO�S LABORATORY/STUDIO, DAY. LEONARDO is sitting at his desk, working on a difficult calculation. He is using his calculator. LEONARDO writes down some numbers in the book on the desk in front of him. Enter the DUKE OF FLORENCE.)
DUKE: You�ll have to do something about those peasants, Leonardo.
LEONARDO (not looking up from his work): Which peasants, your grace?
DUKE: The ones that are moaning about paying their taxes, of course.
LEONARDO: Oh, those. What exactly would you like me to do?
DUKE (sighing): I want you to make them pay up without moaning about it?
LEONARDO (looking at the DUKE): I see. (LEONARDO thinks for a few seconds) How much tax do you charge them?
DUKE: Every man pays me forty percent of his income.
LEONARDO: No wonder they complain.
DUKE (sarcastic): That�s not very helpful, is it?
LEONARDO: I suppose not. (He taps a few figures into his calculator and writes some numbers down on a scrap of paper, which he holds out to the DUKE) Here�s your answer.
(The DUKE takes the paper and studies it. LEONARDO turns back to his calculator and continues his work as he talks to the DUKE)
DUKE (not pleased): Reduce the taxes! To twenty-one percent. That�s it?
LEONARDO: That�s it, your grace.
DUKE: I�ve had people executed for less.
LEONARDO: I�m sure you have. (Pause) That means twenty-one percent for everyone.
DUKE (angry): Yes, so I see. But it�s just not good enough. Twenty-one percent doesn�t even cover� (Pause, then he realises) For everyone!
LEONARDO: For everyone.
DUKE (pleased): Everyone! That�s brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
LEONARDO: It was just a minor calculation, your grace.
DUKE: Minor? Hmm. (He looks at the calculator and walks slowly towards LEONARDO�S desk, pointing at the calculator) And what�s that marvellous device called?
(LEONARDO looks up and sees what the DUKE is pointing at. LEONARDO picks it up and hands it to the DUKE)
LEONARDO: It calculates, your grace.
DUKE: Yes, it most certainly does. A man would be a force to be reckoned with if he had one of these items. What did you say it was called?
LEONARDO: I didn�t, your grace.
DUKE: You said it calculates, so what name have you given this device?
LEONARDO: I simply call it a calculator, your grace.
DUKE: That�s not very imaginative.
LEONARDO: No, your grace. The imagination went into its making, rather than its naming.
DUKE: And you came up with your twenty-one percent tax idea by using it?
LEONARDO (looking steadily at the DUKE): I came up with the twenty-one percent idea, and then used the calculator to calculate the total.
DUKE: And?
LEONARDO: And you need to pay me more.
DUKE: How much more?
LEONARDO: That�s for you to determine, your grace. I�ve just increased your tax yield by thirty four percent.
DUKE: How much is that per annum?
(LEONARDO writes a figure down on a scrap of paper and hands it to the DUKE, who is still holding and staring at the calculator)
DUKE (pleased): That�s a good return. (He holds up the calculator) How soon could I have one of these?
LEONARDO: It will not help you, your grace.
DUKE: Why not?
LEONARDO: Because you are a statesman, not a mathematician.
(Blackout � end of scene)
An extract from Leonardo�s Life � R J Dent (2007)
