Alexander VI quotes from The Borgias

Cesare Borgia

I ask to confess to you... Holy Father, because... I have sinned.

And how have you sinned, my son?

Cesare Borgia

I have corrupted my soul. I have pledged estates, castles, benifaces to your brother Cardinals... and transferred the documents in the innards of beasts and roasted fowls. All, to secure your election as Pope.

And God will repay us, tenfold.

Cesare Borgia

But, you must set my soul at ease, Father. Can a family such as ours survive such a prize? (chuckles darkly) We are Spaniards- they hate us. The enemies we have at present will be multiplied tenfold.

God will protect his vicar on Earth, Cesare- and those dearest to him-

Cesare Borgia

(sarcastically) Will you inform God, as to his duties in this regard?

... Why this blasphemous tone, my son?

Cesare Borgia

(grimly) Because, I swear- if God does not protect us, I shall.

(sharply) You are a bishop, Cesare- you have no need of such temporal thoughts.

Cesare Borgia

(angry) You placed this collar around my neck, Father. You made God my calling... but the sins I've committed for you must surely convince you that the Church is not my calling! (pause) I beg you, now, to release me of my vows- and let me live as a layman. As a soldier. I can then protect my family from the storm that surely must engulf it-

You are my eldest son, Cesare. You were always destined to be a Prince of the Church!

Cesare Borgia

I would be a Prince of State, Father, and I think you know that.

The Papal Army is small, Cesare. The battles I will fight will be within these sacred walls. This is where I will need your help! (pause) Juan can bear arms for the Borgia family, and lead whatever army the Pope has, and I will not have my authority questioned further on this. Ego te Absolvo.

(to his doctor) Go away! (to Cardinal Sforza) Do nightmares ever plague the Vice-Chancellor?

Ascanio Sforza

The very office is a nightmare, Your Holiness. Plots, petty intrigues and petitions... which I do my utmost to keep from your presence.

(nods slowly) I need your assurance... of the welfare of my daughter- in the castle of your cousin, Giovanni Sforza.

Ascanio Sforza

You suspect she's ill-used?

(sighs worriedly) Our nightmares tell us so.

Ascanio Sforza

He will be... putty in her soft hands, Your Holiness. Yes, he inherited the Sforza name, the Sforza wealth- but none of its' vigor.

And the Sforza appetite for intrigue?

Ascanio Sforza

(shrugs) Yes, well...yes, that he did inherit. But... intrigue is no match for Borgia intelligence, as all Rome has discovered.

So... I need your further assurance that... he, and another cousin, the Duke of Milan, will be constant in their support... for our Papacy. (Cardinal Sforza looks away) We have merged our fortunes with the Sforza name- the consequence of that trust being betrayed... would be most severe.

Ascanio Sforza

(pause) Do you speak to me as Vice-Chancellor, Your Holiness?

Cesare Borgia

(having received a report from Micheletto) Della Rovere has left Florence.

With, or without satisfaction?

Juan Borgia

(dismissively) We have the Papal Armies, the Sforza armies, our allies in the Romagna, all under my command. (sits across from Cesare, slams his sword on the table) To hell with Florence!

Cesare Borgia

(fiddling with a dagger) My fear is, the Cardinal might invite Apocalypse.

He would open the Seven Seals.

Cesare Borgia

No, Father, let us not talk in metaphors. My fear is, he would go to France, conspire with the French to invade us, and arrange free passage of their armies through the Republic of Florence and the Duchy of Milan.

And, the French King would-

Cesare Borgia

Depose you and march south, to Naples. (pause) His armies are hardened by a hundred years of battle with England- there is nothing here to match them.

Juan Borgia

Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan- he is cousin to our sister's husband, Giovanni Sforza.

Cesare Borgia

(scoffs) Lucrezia did not marry Ludovico Sforza, Brother- and they don't call him Il Moro for nothing.

Juan Borgia

(stands up, crosses the room) I hear he keeps his own cousin, caged beneath his castle floors.

Cesare Borgia

(stands up, approaches the Pope) He would betray us in a moment, if he thought his Dukedom was in peril. What he fears... is that his nephew would wear his crown.

Well... perhaps we should threaten them, with just that possibility. (Juan smiles) And you should go to Florence- tease out their intentions. Those Medici bankers have a preacher, Savanarola, who accuses them of usury. (smiles) Perhaps we should offer them an excommunication- a public burning- if they support our just cause.

King Ferrante of Naples sends his humble regards-

Juan Borgia

(smirks) King Ferrante of Naples can neither hear nor see, I believe. (Alexander swats him on the shoulder)

Son.

He nevertheless sends his every good wish. And, in the face of all the spurious claims upon his Kingdom- from Spain, from France, from the Duchy of Milan- he would remind Your Holiness of the justice of the independent claims of Naples. An independent Naples can only be to Rome's... benefit. (Cesare glances at the Pope) And I, as his Ambassador, am proud to present a suit for your consideration, of his last unmarried daughter, Sancha, Duchessa of Squillace. (reaches for the cloth cover to Sancha's portrait)

Juan Borgia

Where is Squillace?

(annoyed) In the Kingdom of Naples. (reveals the portrait; Alexander looks approving, while Juan is clearly drawn to Sancha's face; he stands up and takes a closer look)

Juan Borgia

(clearly jealous) My younger brother Joffre is all of thirteen years old.

His Highness had understood the prospective groom to be the Gonfaloniere himself- the Duke of Gandia.

Juan Borgia

(offended) Me? Why, this is most irregular- I would never consider marrying the illegitimate daughter of the King of Na-

(cuts him off, sharply) Would you convey our thanks, to our friend and ally King Ferrante- whose claim to independence we fully understand- for his most generous offer?! (Juan looks angrily back and forth between him and the Ambassador) You will have our response... shortly.

We will excommunicate Florence, if the French armies are admitted! (several of the Cardinals voice their approval)

Ascanio Sforza

(skeptically) Excommunicate the entire city, Your Holiness?

The Medicis, the Paccis, Machiavelli- the whole signoria! (the Cardinals repeat their approval) And we will have that Savanarola burnt! We will bear no more opposition to our work!

Then you must excommunicate half of Christendom- because half the world is against us!

(stands up, furious) We will not tolerate this heresy- this apostacy! (gestures behind him) This is the chair of Saint Peter's; we are the voice of the living God! We will occupy this chair until death, and the fires of Hell shall rain down on those who would oppose us! (the Cardinals look unimpressed by this outburst, Cesare watches his father as he walks down the hall and turns) We are, all of us, about to be... sorely tested. And you... are either with us... or against us. (walks back) We hereby impose an excommunication... upon that heretic apostate, Cardinal Guiliano Della Rovere. We ask for your support in this most solemn declaration. (pause) We demand your compliance, so... (gestures to them) A show of hands, Your Eminences (silence) If you please! (none of the Cardinals, even Cesare, raises their hands; Alexander drops his in frustration. After a moment, Cardinal Sforza lifts his hand)

Ascanio Sforza

(wearily) Your Holiness, may the Vice-Chancellor speak?

... Yes, Cardinal Sforza, he may. (sits)

Ascanio Sforza

It would be... unwise (stands) to use the Church's most solemn sanction... to so little effect.

What does the Vice-Chancellor mean?

Ascanio Sforza

Excommunication or not, this invasion will proceed. We may all have to adjust ourselves to new realities.

(angrily) We granted your King Ferdinand and your Queen Isabella the title of "most Catholic Majesties." We delivered a solemn Papal bull granting them everlasting rights over that vast new continent-

But, with respect, Holy Father, what you ask is impossible!

(more quietly) The involvement of Spanish forces, in the protection of St. Peter's and the Head of Christendom- (gestures to himself)

(cuts him off) Would amount to a declaration of war between France and Spain.

(wags a finger at him) Then I warn you, Ambassador, favors granted can be rescinded!

(raises his hands helplessly) And I would beg Your Holiness' forgiveness that I cannot meet his full demands!

(sighs in despair and goes to the window) Must we face this... French apocalypse alone? The populace is already fleeing Rome. (observes the civilians leaving the city, then turns back to the Ambassador) We thank their Royal Catholic Highnesses, and tell them- (kisses the Ambassador) our savior was kissed thus by Judas Iscariot. (storms out)

Your brother did not fail, Cesare; your father did. Your father, who placed that responsibility on his shoulders- who was blinded by paternal fondness. Your father, that has been abandoned by all that once supported him. Your father, who... who faces his dark night of the soul...alone. (Cesare kneels next to him and grips his hand)

Cesare Borgia

...I will not leave you, Father. (Alexander kisses his hand and hugs him close, weeping)

Charles VIII

(enters St. Peter's Basilica and moves towards the altar, looking all about) Holiness? (pause) Your Holiness? (he comes upon Alexander praying in the garb of a simple monk before the altar, and mistakes him for a common priest) Forgive me, Friar- I am seeking an audience with the Pope. (the Pope rises, his back still turned to the King) You have been interrupted at prayer-

(shakes his head) Our prayers are ended. (turns around and pulls back his hood) And, perhaps... they will be answered.

Charles VIII

(stares at him in astonishment)...Can this really be the Pope of Rome? Pope Alexander?

Sextus- at your service, my Lord. (comes forward and offers his ring; Charles kneels and kisses it) And you, my Lord, are?...

Charles VIII

King Charles, of France. (Alexander bows slightly to him, Charles gestures at the Pope's sackcloth robe) It is not as we expected...

Does the Pope of Rome disappoint Your Highness? Had you hoped for gold and silver vestments? Display has its' purpose... but simplicity must rule our hearts. (Charles bows his head reverently) We are all of us, naked before God... even the Pope of Rome. Even... the King of France.

Charles VIII

There are beauteous women in Naples, I have been told. (Alexander nods) Even for this ugly snout of mine? (the French and the Pope chuckle)

They will swear it is divine, Your Highness.

Charles VIII

They can lie in Naples?

Exceedingly well. They hardly know what "truth" is.

Charles VIII

HAH! (he and his generals roar with laughter, Charles turns to Cesare) A most excellent Pontiff, your father, is he not?

Cesare Borgia

(smiles uneasily) I have... no other to compare him with.

Charles VIII

Well, he has suited our purpose! We could be said to have an understanding. (glances at the Pope, who returns his gaze)

(nods heartily) We could, indeed!

Charles VIII

But, in case- just in case- we would make a request of Your Holiness.

Well, we will respectfully hear it.

Charles VIII

We would have you nominate a Papal Legate, to accompany our armies to the Kingdom of Naples. To remain with us, for the duration of our visit.

(glances away)... Very well. We will nominate a legate of our choice-

Charles VIII

(smiles and touches his arm) Oh, no- not of your choice, Holy Father. (Cesare tenses) Of ours.

... Who would you choose?

Charles VIII

(smiles slightly) Your son, Cardinal Cesare Borgia. (Alexander hastily looks in Cesare's direction)

Cesare Borgia

(sharply) You would have me accompany your army as... a hostage?! (Alexander gestures at him to calm down)

Charles VIII

No, God forbid. (shakes his head, smiles) A hostage implies emnity!

Cesare Borgia

(angrily) And what does Legate imply?

Charles VIII

Friendship, surely! And a guarantee that such friendship will continue.

Julia Farnese

We should give thanks.

Cesare Borgia

Whom should we thank?

(holding his newborn grandson) God. (he hands the baby to Lucrezia as everyone gathers around her bed) We should thank God for all the blessings he has visited upon this- our family.

Ambassador. (walks past to the Papal Throne, humming to his grandson)

(bows) Your Holiness. (he is forced to wait longer than usual, as the Pope walks slowly in a rocking motion to keep the baby calm)

There we go! that's nice, isn't it? (sits down with the baby held to his chest) So, how can we be of assistance?

(stands up, rather loudly) The whereabouts of Alf-

(gestures for him to keep his voice down) Shhhh! Pion isimo!

(more quietly) Alfonso of Naples is still at large. (the Pope pretends to look surprised) We have reason to believe that he infected his own city with the pestilence that plagues it.

Oh- but how could that concern us? We would have the Ambassador gently remind the King, that Naples has the habit of rejecting those who would conquer it. (the baby begins to fuss) The Moor, the Turk, the Norman- shhhh (quiets the child) Why should the French be any different?

But, Your Holiness invested King Charles with-

SHHHH! Pion isimo! (to the baby) It's all right, darling, it's all right. (to the Ambassador. sharply) We granted the King his wish- Naples. He has Naples; he regrets that fact. That is his tragedy, and not ours! (the baby starts to fuss again) And now you've woken the child; shame on you, Ambassador! (walks past him, to the baby) Shh-shh-shh, it's all right, it's just the nasty Ambassador. Let's go and find your mama.

So... Cardinal Della Rovere is still alive.

Cesare Borgia

I would... hardly call it living.

Juan Borgia

(snidely) You need lessons in killing, Brother.

Cesare Borgia

From you?!

Enough! (pause) And King Charles of France, what of him?

Cesare Borgia

(smiles) He has been struck with the Neapolitan disease.

(nods) As we had hoped. So... Now, is the time of reckoning, for those who betrayed us.

Juan Borgia

What- the Vitelli, the Orsini, the Sforza?

All the great families of the Romagna and the Papal States. Our task... is vengeance. We believe that the Cardinals will now, from henceforth, do our will- but now it is time to make sure their families feel the wind of our displeasure.

Juan Borgia

"'Vengeance is mine', sayeth the Lord."

(smiles and shakes his head) Vengeance... will be ours. (looks at both of his sons) We shall subdue the arrogance of those Papal States, one by one by one. We will force them back into the arms of Rome. But, above all, the Sforzas... their betrayal of our Papacy shall be avenged.

Cesare Borgia

By whom? (indicates Juan contemptuously) This headless cock? (Juan lunges at him, Rodrigo forces them apart and cuffs them around the heads)

WILL YOU STOP THIS DISCHORD?!! (gestures forcefully at them) WE ARE FAMILY! WE ARE ONE! And, we will only triumph AS ONE! (long pause) For, we have a second task -it is called renewal. We would restore Rome to its' former glory. Under the Borgias, it shall shine, as it did beneath the Caesars. But, if we are to achieve this greatness- your birthright- it will be together. As one! As family. Now, let me hear you speak that word. (takes Juan's wrist and holds his hand to his own) Give me your hand, Cesare. (Cesare does so, reluctantly, and Rodrigo holds it to his and Juan's) Family.

Juan Borgia

Family.

Cesare Borgia

(slightly hesitant) Family.

...Family.

(finds Vittoria back in her disguise, restoring the ancient Roman art works) Do you never rest? (Vittoria smiles) Where do you sleep?

(grins) Under silk covers, last night.

(chuckles, shakes his head) On a normal night.

On a straw bed, on a studio floor.

(crouches next to her) So, you know the streets of Rome- the slums, the tennants- you live among the common people.

I am one of them, Your Holiness.

(strokes her ear) Hmm- not for long, I would hazard, knowing your talents.

... Does the Pope of Rome not know his flock?

(sighs and looks around)... You see the gilded cage we live in. We meet with princes and pergunters and prelates, and... very few of the common people. (pause, kisses her head) We might... need your assistance. (Cardinal Sforza appears behind them and clears his throat, the Pope stands up) Ah, Cardinal Sforza! Come to view our... Roman treasures? (gestures around them)

Ascanio Sforza

Etruscan, I would wager.

(surprised) Ah- the Cardinal is an expert in such matters?

Ascanio Sforza

The Cardinal has seen Donatello's David, and marveled at the source of its' eros. Now, he knows.

And, the Cardinal thinks there may be scandal, perhaps?...

Ascanio Sforza

(stiffly) The Cardinal does not care. What the Cardinal does care about are the Vatican finances.

Ah- yes. (to Vittoria) You will excuse us, young maestro.

Cardinal Versucci

Your Holiness. (they sit)

(smiles) You have been in charge of the Office of Public Works for how many years?

(smiles) Oh, for as long as I have been a Cardinal, Your Holiness.

Mmm-two decades? (Versucci nods, chuckles) After which time the orphans of Rome find themselves destitute. (Versucci's smile vanishes) And, the Cardinal has built himself how many palaces?

... Three.

You see the irony there?

... The poor will always be with us, Your Holiness.

(scoffs) The poor- like the pigeons! (storms down the hall, Versucci hastily follows)

I- I beg your pardon, Your Holiness-

Does the Cardinal believe the pigeons will always be with us?!

Is this a riddle? (the Pope whirls around and points at him)

We will have curatorial funds used for their declared purposes! Money destined for the poor should GO to the poor! (walks on into the next room, where Julia Farnese is sitting at a desk) So, we will have you go through the last two decades of your accounts, with one we have designated to supervise them: the Lady Julia Farnese. (puts his hand on Julia's shoulder)

(offended) What Your Holiness proposes is unthinkable!

What- that moneys destined for the poor should go to the poor?

That a woman should have access to curatorial accounts. (Rodrigo looks expectantly at Julia)

Julia Farnese

(mockingly, looking away from Versucci) Can a woman not count? Add, subtract?

Count her children, perhaps. (Julia spins around and glares at him)

Julia Farnese

(coldly) There's a new method, Cardinal. Devised by the Florentine bankers. (Versucci scoffs, Julia gets up and approaches him) It is called double-entry bookkeeping... and it proves a valuable tool in tracing all missing funds.

So, the Cardinal shall help you in your efforts to source those missing funds- while we shall attend to another matter of worrisome import. (leaves)

(bows, seething) Your Holiness.

(trying to console Lucrezia, who is in deep mourning after Paolo's "suicide" and is refusing to nurse her crying son) Please talk to me, my love. You are the light of my life... the light of this family's life. If that light goes... (clutches her hand, worried)

Lucrezia Borgia

... I would ask just one thing of you, Father.

Anything.

Lucrezia Borgia

(looks him straight in the eye) Permit my Paolo a Christian burial.

(closes his eyes quickly) He is a suicide- it is impossible. (Lucrezia sits up, holding a scrap of paper)

Lucrezia Borgia

This note was pinned to his sleeve. (Alexander takes it and examines it)

Yes. A suicide note-

Lucrezia Borgia

(angrily) But he could not read or write Father! (Alexander looks up at her, startled) My Paolo could not even pen his own name. (long pause)

... So, it was murder. (pause) Where is the murderer?

Lucrezia Borgia

...Too close for comfort.

(sighs angrily) I will not have this family at war with itself!

Lucrezia Borgia

(coldly) And I would have my Paolo saved, from the fires of Hell.

Rodrigo Borgia

(nods resignedly)... And your infant must... feed.