TANNENIO'S men were about to take Marty someplace when the sound of hoofprints were heard. This sound was followed by someone's voice crying out:
“Your men will do no such thing.”
All eyes turned to see who it was. It was a young man of great authority accompanied by a group of men dressed as soldiers. This group of men had swords and were also on horses. The young man had his sword drawn and pointed at Tannenio.
“Release them.” he insisted.
“Prince Lorenzo.” said Tannenio.
“Do it.” said Lorenzo.
At those words, the prince’s soldier withdrew their swords and pointed them at the count and his henchmen.
Realizing that all was hopeless, Tannenio had Marty released and surrendered Simonetta
to the prince saying to his men “You heard the prince. Do no such thing to the guy
who saved her. Satisfied Prince?”
The prince did not reply. He only said “Take your men and leave at once.”
Tannenio looked at the prince and his men. Then, turning to Simonetta, he said "Someday you'll be mine, Simonetta. Someday."
"Never!" said Simonetta.
Then, turning to Marty, he said "We're not through with you yet, Dumas. You may have won this round but you've got a lot to learn about me."
"So do you, butthead." said Marty.
"Maybe we'll learn about this right..."
Tannenio was interrupted when the prince had his sword between the two potential combatents.
"That's enough." said the prince, "Leave, Tannenio."
At that, Tannenio took his own men and left.
Marty looked at the departing men and said “Thanks a lot mister. I needed that.”
“No.” said Simonetta as she was being helped off the horse, “I should be thanking you-uh, what’s your name again?”
“Alexander Dumas.” said Marty.
Then the prince got off his horse and said “I am Prince Lorenzo de Medici.”
“Medici?” exclaimed Marty, “Son of a bitch! You’re the member of the Medici family.”
Marty remembered his history lessons. The Medici family was the most powerful family in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Marty looked around and saw Simonetta bowing to the prince. So did many of the citizens present. The prince looked at Marty and asked “Are you going to bow to me too?”
“Not really.” said Marty with a grin on his face, “You see, I’m from…” Then, he realized that this is the year 1473 and America hadn’t been even discovered yet. Rather than putting the space-time continuum in jeopardy by explaining where he came from, he bowed saying “Sorry about that.”
The prince wasn’t interested about the apology. He only asked “Where are you from?”
Marty paused. Then he said “Hill Val…, Monte Cristo.”
“Monte Cristo?” asked the prince, “You don’t look French. What’s your name?”
“Mar-Dumas.” said Marty, “Alexander Dumas.”
“That’s odd.” said the prince, “Very odd.” Changing the
subject, he turned to Simonetta and asked her “Why aren’t you at
Botticelli’s studio, Simonetta?”
“I was on my way when I ran into Count Tannenio.” explained Simonetta.
The prince looked at Simonetta with concern. Then, he said “We will make sure you arrive at the studio in time.”
Simonetta was helped back onto the prince’s horse as Marty asked “Can I follow? I feel so responsible for what almost happened to her.”
“You’ve done your part…” said the prince before Simonetta interrupted him by whispering into his ear. The prince whispered back. Then, he said “Mr. Dumas you may follow.”
“Cool.” said Marty and he started following.
“Cool?” asked some of the prince’s men.
On their way there, Marty was given a horse to ride on. Simonetta rode with the prince. He noticed some suspicious pleasantries exchanged between the prince and the woman.
"Simonetta." asked Marty, "I thought you were married."
"I am." said Simonetta.
"Then what the hell going on between you and the prince?" asked Marty
"Oh this." explained Simonetta, "I'm his mistress."
"Mistress?" exclaimed Marty, "You mean you and the prince are pulling some hanky pank behind your husband."
"Tell you the truth," said Simonetta, "the marraige between me and Marco was political maneuver between my parents and Marco's."
"Yeah, Simonetta." said Marty, "But marraige means 'to love and respect each other'. Not just marry one man and make off with another. How long have you and Marco been married?"
"Four years now." said Simonetta, "I married him when I was fifteen."
"Fifteen?" exclaimed Marty, "That's pretty young, aint it?"
"I was to marry at fourteen but the man I was betrothed to died." said Simonetta.
"That's sad." said Marty.
"Here we are." said Lorenzo.
The party stopped their horses and dismounted.
++++++
Jennifer stood naked on the clamshell. She was given a wig to wear. She felt a little scared at first knowing that she’d never did this in front of members of the opposite gender, except for her doctor, and of course when her father had to change her diapers when she was an infant. She had hoped to save her nakedness for Marty but that was now by the wayside.
Alongside her were the man and woman pretending to blow wind on her. The two were suspended by a rope dangling from some pulleys.
Botticelli was looking her over. Either he was ogling her or he wasn’t sure about how she would pose.
“Is there a problem?” asked Jennifer.
“Not really.” said Botticelli, “I’m trying to figure out how you should pose.”
Then, there was a knock at the door.
Botticelli put down his palette and brush and went to the door. Upon opening it, he said “Prince Lorenzo.”
Then a voice from behind the door said “Your model ran into Count Tannenio on her way to this place but she’s here now, safe and sound.”
Botticelli turned his head and said “Simonetta.”
He turned his head back to Jennifer, then out the door.
Then someone came in: It was a woman bearing the resemblance of Jennifer.
Jennifer looked at this woman with shock. But the woman looked at Jennifer asking “Who’s she?”
Botticelli looked at Jennifer saying “That’s supposed to be you if you are Simonetta.”
“I am Simonetta.” said the woman, “Simonetta Vespucci.”
Botticelli looked at her. “No.” he said, “It can’t be.
Then, Jennifer said “I’m afraid she’s telling the truth. I’m not Simonetta Vespucci. My name is…”
She was interrupted when someone barged in. It was Marty.
At this Jennifer covered herself in the way the model did in Botticelli’s painting.
“Bravisimo.” said Botticelli, “Simonetta, hold that pose.”
“Not now.” said Jennifer, “Marty! Get outta here.”
Marty was dumbfounded at what he was seeing. “Jennifer.” he asked “What the hell are you doing without any clothes on?”
At the same time, the prince and his men entered. So Botticelli told his broom lady to cover Jennifer. Picking up a sheet, broom lady did. However the sight of what she was doing caused him to hit on an idea: Why not have the broom lady pose as the hours?
Meanwhile Marty was talking to the now covered Jennifer. “Jennifer.” he asked, “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m posing for Sandro Botticelli.” said Jennifer, “I’m Venus.
And I’ve just emerged from the sea onto a clamshell.”
“Jennifer.” he said, “You don’t belong here. Neither us belong here.” He immediately indicated to Simonetta saying “That’s her job.”
“Well, I’m sorry.” said Jennifer, “But it’s my job now. You could go back to the future with that look-alike of me.”
“Jennifer.” said Marty, “That woman doesn’t belong in our century, she belongs here. And she’s married to someone else.”
“So is Jan Jandick.” said Jennifer, “But that didn’t stop you from flirting with her.”
“Jennifer.” insisted Marty, “I was having a friendly chat with her. That was all.” Jennifer refused to hear anymore. So Marty said “Listen, Jen. We’ve got a week to get back together. Otherwise, Doc will leave us here for another week.”
“Well, that’s too bad.” said Jennifer, “I’ve been standing here on this clamshell and I’ve just decided that I don’t want you back in my life ever again. Even if it means staying here for the rest of my life. So when Doctor Brown comes back here to get us, tell him I plan to spend my life here in the 15th century.”
Shocked over this, Marty said “Jennifer that's crazy. You don’t belong here. You live in the 20th century, not here.”
“Don’t give me that, Mister McFly.” said Jennifer, “Now get out of my sight.”
Realizing that Marty’s pleas would fall on deaf ears, he said “Alright. Have it your way. I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore.” He turned to leave.
Meanwhile, Simonetta was upset at Botticelli. “Sandro.” she exclaimed,
“How can you do this. It was me you’re supposed to be painting.”
“I thought I was painting you.” said Botticelli, “The model I was painting looked just like you.”
“Well, you are still going to paint me.” insisted Simonetta. Turning to Jennifer, she demanded “Put your clothes on and get out.”
“And if I don’t?” asked Jennifer.
Simonetta rolled up her sleeve and held out a knuckle sandwich saying “This.”
“For your information,” said Jennifer, “I’ve taken self defense.” and she held out her hands in a position to suggest karate chops.
Marty stepped in and dragged Simonetta away saying “I’d step away from her if I were you. She’s very good at it.”
“Oh always trying to protect someone else.” said Jennifer, “Not me. You’re too chicken to protect me.”
Marty stopped in his tracks after Jennifer made that statement. Turning to her, he said “Nobody calls me…” Then, he stopped. It was that feeling again. Somehow, being called a chicken had something to do with this break-up. After that, he left.
Everyone else stood around in silence. Then, they went their separate ways.
++++++
It took Jennifer a half an hour before she regained her composure. By then, the two models and the broom lady left for the day leaving her with Botticelli. He offered her wine but she refused.
“Where I come from,” she said, “I have a year to go before I’m old enough to drink.” Then, she started to cry. “Why doesn’t he leave me alone?” she asked about Marty.
“Is he someone who’s been harassing you?” asked Botticelli.
“No.” said Jennifer, “He was someone that I once loved. But not anymore."
“What happened?” asked Botticelli.
“He saved a woman from a violent man.” said Jennifer, “Then, he admired what he did.”
“Like an artists admiring his artwork.” said Botticelli.
“Yes you could say that.” said Jennifer.
Botticelli looked at the painting he was currently drawing saying “As much as I am
admiring this work.” Turning to Jennifer, he said “As much as I am admiring
you.”
Jennifer looked up. Brushing away a tear, she approached him dropping the sheet she was wrapped around in started putting her arms around him and started to kiss him.