Pope: That’s the problem.
Michelangelo: What is?
Pope: The disciples.
Michelangelo: Too many?
Pope: Well, of course it’s too many!
Michelangelo: In a way, but I wanted to give the impression of a huge get-together, you know. A real last supper, not just any old last supper, but a proper final treat, a real mother of a blowout.
Pope: There were only twelve disciples at the last supper.
Michelangelo: Well, suppose some of the others happened to drop by?
Pope: There were only twelve altogether.
Michelangelo: Well, maybe they had invited some friends?
Pope: There were just twelve disciples and our Lord at the last supper. The Bible clearly says so.
Michelangelo: No friends?
Pope: No friends.
Michelangelo: Waiters?
Pope: No.
Michelangelo: Cabaret?
Pope: No!
Michelangelo: You see, I like them, they fill out the canvas, I mean I suppose we could lose three or four
                          of them, you know, make …
Pope: Look! There were only twelve disciples at …
Michelangelo: I’ve got it! I’ve got it! We’ll call it «The Penultimate Supper»!