Your Royal Highness, may I introduce you to Cardinal Guiliano Della Rovere? (Charles continues eating) Cardinal Della Rovere, His Royal Highness King Charles of France.
(bows) Your Royal Highness.
Charles VIIIWe have heard of you.
And I of you, Your Highness. Your military renown has traveled far and wide-
Charles VIII
(irritated) Enough of the pleasantries! You are the one who would give us the Crown of Naples. (gestures for Della Rovere to sit opposite him, Della Rovere does so)
The Kingdom of France has long had claims on the investiture of the Kingdom of Naples. I would-
Charles VIII
I said, enough pleasantries, did I not? Just tell me, Cardinal (leans forward) How you would place the Crown of Naples on this ugly head of mine. (Della Rovere looks startled) And it is exceedingly ugly, is it not?
Your Highness bears all the vigor of the French race in his person.
Charles VIII
(smirks, to his Generals) He's afraid to say it. Is my head not ugly, General?
(grins) I can hardly bear to gaze at it. (the Generals laugh)
Charles VIII
So, admit it, Cardinal- I have all the graces of a carnival dwarf.
Those words would never pass my lips, Your Highness.
Charles VIII
Well, then we may get nowhere. I appreciate only plain speech. (eats, pause) Tell us, then, what you want of us- plainly.
... My countrymen are accustomed to the show of war, not the reality. They could never muster the courage to sustain your French fury.
Charles VIII
... You want me to march to Rome, depose that Borgia, give you the Papal Crown... in the hope that you will place the Crown of Naples on this ugly head. (indicates himself)
(firmly) I want to restore the universal Church to her former dignity.
Charles VIII
Couldn't this Borgia do the same?
(bewildered) Restore the Church?
Charles VIII': Place the Crown of Naples on this ugly noggin?
Charles VIII
Head. (his Generals chuckle)
(curlty) Either way, you must get to Rome, Your Highness.
Charles VIII
(drinking wine with Della Rovere) You would entice me to battle- but, do you know what that means?
It means a just war in defense of Christendom.
Charles VIII
(snorts) No war is just. War is chaos. Brute force, mustered against brute force until one side is destroyed, utterly. (pause) I have read of your Italian battles. Hired mercenaries on feathered horseback, prancing like peacocks one against the other, until one side retires... with something called honor? (stares at Della Rovere, snorts) But, there is no honor in war. (bitterly) The French learned that against the English. There is blood, death, armor against armor until one side... surrenders, in death or domination. (pause) Be careful what you pray for, Cardinal, if you pray for war. You will find yourself in a place... beyond prayer itself. (Della Rovere stares at him)
FSFrench Scout
(returning from the gates of the city of Lucca) They would open their gates to you, my Liege, but they would first discuss terms.
Charles VIII
(curtly)... Let us show them terms. (gestures to his artillery)
GGunners
FIRE! (the French cannon batteries open fire, doing devastating damage to Lucca's walls and gates and terrifying the civilians; the French soldiers cheer)
Charles
(to the scout) Those are my terms. (the scout and Della Rovere both look horrified) Captains!
FORWARD! (the French cavalry charges into Lucca, followed by the infantry)
I have heard a whisper of your excommunication, Cardinal.
Indeed? I've heard the same of yours. (Machiavelli glances at him)
I've heard rumors the whole of Florence could be excommunicated, if this city is surrendered to French arms. (they glance back at Charles VIII at the head of his troops, who have almost reached the gates)
Well, then- perhaps that depends on one's definition of surrender. (he rides forward to intercept the King) I bid His Royal Highness and the Armies of France welcome, to the fair city of Florence. (Charles eyes him suspiciously) But, it would be politic, Your Highness, if you would ride through our gracious city with your lance at rest.
Charles VIII
(glances at his spear, held in offensive position) At rest?
(smiles) Your lance at point is a symbol of conquest- and our gracious Florence has not been conquered. On the contrary- we welcome you with open arms.
Charles VIII
Signor Machiavelli? (Machiavelli turns around)
Charles VIII
Our lance at rest prevents our entry to your "fair city."
(shrugs) Perhaps, Your Highness, if it were to be angled backwards?
Charles VIII
(irritated) And of what would that be a symbol?
(smirks) Of Your Highness' infinite... resourcefulness.
We are in danger of losing the initiative, Your Highness! (King Charles motions for him to shut up) Your Highness, I strongly urge you to-
Charles VIII
You will wait! (pause) I will not harm her.
(to Lucrezia) Lucrezia! My God-
They hold us hostage, Brother.
Julia Farnese and I. We were riding to Rome-
Would you survive this day, dear Juan?
We have a battle to fight.
Believe me, you have lost it already-
(sharply) I have heard one roar of cannon! A hundred more, and your whole army will be dead and bleeding, and you have yet to see their pikes!
(stubbornly) I will not accept defeat-
Then do not call it that! Call it common sense! Say the French King asked for terms. You offered...
His safe passage to Naples, in exchange for... his bloodless entry into Rome.
Lucrezia, he will pillage the place! Depose our father!
Leave that to me. (she returns to Charles) It was my brother, Your Highness!
Charles VIII
Your brother?
The Gonfalionere of the Papal Armies. He thought you meant to sack Rome, like the Goths and Vandal hordes! I told him you're a gentleman- you had no such idea. (Charles glances away ashamedly) You had no such idea, had you?
Charles VIII
... No such idea.
Your goal is Naples. (Della Rovere looks quickly at the King)
Charles VIII
Naples... of course.
(smiles) So... my brother, the Duke of Gandia, the Gonfaloniere of the Papal Armies, bids you welcome to Rome.
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-
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(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?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
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...
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
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)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
They will swear it is divine, Your Highness.
Charles VIII
They can lie in Naples?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
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?
(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)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(nods heartily) We could, indeed!
Charles VIII
But, in case- just in case- we would make a request of Your Holiness.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
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.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(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.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
... Who would you choose?
Charles VIII
(smiles slightly) Your son, Cardinal Cesare Borgia. (Alexander hastily looks in Cesare's direction)
(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!
(angrily) And what does Legate imply?
Charles VIII
Friendship, surely! And a guarantee that such friendship will continue.
(to Caterina and Giovanni Sforza) And, if the King decides to ride north, your armies would ride with his?
Yes- in return for a certain consideration.
And, this... consideration? (he attempts to drink, but Caterina takes the glass from him)
His cannon. (the French commanders chuckle)
(smirks) You would have him leave his cannon to the Sforza armies?!
Not every piece. But, enough to defend our castle at Forli- to replicate the great fortresses of France.
Charles VIII
(looks up after a moment)...Giovanni Sforza.
GSGiovanni Sforza
(gestures to Caterina) And my cousin, Caterina Sforza, Your Majesty.
Charles VIII
You have many cousins, I am told. (takes a cup of wine) Are they all impotent, like you? (the French laugh)
GSGiovanni Sforza
That is a vile Borgia slander- perpetrated by the Pope himself.
Charles VIII
(grins) Which is why you are here, of course- you would have a taste of vengeance. The Italian appetite for vengeance astounds even us, Lord Sforza-
(steps forward) the Italian appetite for vengeance may be boundless, Majesty, but happily for you, the Spanish appetite for war is not. (Charles stares at her, intrigued)
(fully armored) You make a manly figure on your horse, Cardinal- but the French cannon will soon break down your walls, and you will be impotent in the face of them. (Giovanni Sforza smirks)
(calmly) My walls may yet prove stronger than you think, my Lady.
FSFrench soldiers
Part for the King! The King! Make way! (Charles, fully armored but still sick, rides out to join them)
Charles VIII
(coldly) We have Italian friends, Cardinal Borgia, but our business... is all French.
Charles VIII
To gain entry to the city of Rome. The easy way... or, the hard. You have decorate the walls of Rome with flags and pennants- to welcome us, I presume?
(smirks) Your Highness is indeed welcome... to march on, past Rome.
Charles VIII
(furious) I warn you, Cardinal: I shall RAZE your city! Take terrible revenge on YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND THE PAPACY ITSELF!
Charles VIII
My cannon will gain me entry! Twelve hours, I have been assured, to batter down those walls!
... Perhaps my cannon will make their statement, first.
CANNONS, FORWARD! (the "cannons" are rolled into the attack position)
(to herself) How did they manage to?...
Charles VIII
(ashen-faced)...General?
(looking equally worried) Our battle line is still forming, my Liege.
I must compliment Your Highness on his ingenuity. Chained cannonballs can take apart a regiment, like... a knife through butter. (Charles looks away) Are you not well, Your Highness?
Charles VIII
We have the Neapolitan fever.
(nods) Perhaps battle should wait, then- until his full health returns. Or, perhaps he should trace his gracious path home- to fair France. (turns and rides back inside the gates)
Do I give the signal, my Liege?
Charles VIII
Do I look like a fool, General?!
Charles VIII
We ride on, past.
Charles VIII
We are ill, Your Holiness. This battle may well be our last- which is why we have requested a private audience.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
Not for your... confession? (crosses himself before the altar and joins Charles at the table)
Charles VIII
My sins are many, Your Holiness, and they are all bloody ones. Perhaps, even the Pope of Rome... cannot forgive them.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
So, why have you requested our presence here?
Charles VIII
To use your diplomatic skills... to spare us this battle.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
... Well, perhaps if you were to surrender the booty you have pillaged, to our Holy Mother Church... we might do something.
Charles VIII
(smiles tightly) With respect, Your Holiness, you have fooled me once. For a man of God, yours... was a most ungodly stratagem.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(shrugs) So, why our presence?
Charles VIII
(angrily, gesturing to make his point) If they are fool enough to join battle with me, I will destroy them, utterly! I will be pitiless, I don't know the way, but my cannon will ANNIHILATE their armies! I will DRAG you, in chains, to Avignon and see you end your days in ignominy! All this, before I die. Are you listening, "Holy Father?!" (thunder sounds outside)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(flatly) ...We hear you. We will convey your words to the lead forces. (stands up, starts to leave, then stops) Ah! Listen. Is that the sound of rain? (sarcastically) Can, even the King of France light his cannon in the rain?
Charles VIII
(sneering) You think we don't know how to keep powder dry?!
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(coldly) Do you think the Lord God doesn't know how to make rain?! (leaves)
The Borgias · 70 quotes
