Vanozza Cattaneo(playing cards with her two youngest children) Even Joffrey has heard, have you not?
JBJoffrey Borgia
The Pope is dead?
You know what that means?
Vanozza Cattaneo
I know there will be an election.
(enters after Cesare) And the city will be bedlam until it is over.
Do you think our father can win, Juan?
Are we allowed to dream, Mother?
Vanozza Cattaneo
Your father found ways to love and care for us in this house, but I'm not sure that, as Pope, he can do the same.
As Pope, he can do what he wants.
Vanozza Cattaneo
(gives him a direct look) Are you sure? Kings and Popes and Emperors belong to their people, not to their families.
So- we allow the election to run its' course, and he won't be Pope?
Vanozza Cattaneo
What other course is there? It's in the hands of God.
(smiles) It's in the hands of the College of Cardinals, Mother. Not quite the same thing. (gestures to Joffrey to play a particular card) This one.
Vanozza Cattaneo
... Fool that I am, my son, perhaps I love him still.
Vanozza Cattaneo
No. It can be endured, embraced- and suffered. (pause) You are suffering, my son?
... I have met a woman, Mother(sits across from Vanozza, who smiles slightly)... who is married.
Vanozza Cattaneo
And she makes you suffer? (Cesare sighs) Well, perhaps she suffers, too.
She does. (pause) But, if I can rid her of her impediment-
Vanozza Cattaneo
She will be yours?
(shakes his head) To endure life, like you did, Mother?
Vanozza Cattaneo
You could leave the Church (Cesare scoffs, she smiles humorously) And displease your father... if you dare.
(pause, leans forward) I fear nothing, Mother.
(dressed as Minnerva at a Roman masquerade) Juno.
Vanozza Cattaneo
(dressed as Juno) Well spotted, Julia Farnese. (they dance) And, you are?...
You may call me Minnerva.
Vanozza Cattaneo
(smirks slightly) Oh, and to think- you were Venus, once.
And, I soon may be a vestal virgin. (Vanozza chuckles)
Vanozza Cattaneo
You fear for the constancy of your lover's affections?
And, if I may be so bold... I would ask for your advice.
Vanozza Cattaneo
When his eye wanders, as it did from me to you?
Vanozza Cattaneo
No. And, if you would take my advice... don't do as I did; rage, remonstrate, play the wounded wife.
No? So, what is the goddess Juno's advice?
Vanozza Cattaneo
He is Janus tonight, is he not? He looks both ways. Allow him his fancy- let him look both ways. But, be sure one of those gazes falls on you.
Vanozza Cattaneo
Your father claims I have warned you against the dangers of marriage. (Lucrezia smiles) You have incurred his extreme displeasure. I think it might make him ill.
Well, then father and daughter will be ill together! the thought of marriage turns my stomach.
Vanozza Cattaneo
It's within his prerogative to marry you to whomever he may please.
Well, then let him do it. (flops back over her bed) And he can fish me out of the Tiber.
Vanozza Cattaneo
(looks at her) He's asked me to vet suitors on your behalf.
(sits up, looking offended) And you agreed?
Vanozza Cattaneo
More or less. (Lucrezia sighs angrily) At least it leaves you with a choice! (sits next to her daughter)
Mother, the man I married was a beast. I was little more than meat to him.
Vanozza Cattaneo
And yet, you took the stableboy as your lover. (they both smile)
Well, that was different.
Vanozza Cattaneo
Then, there is hope for you yet.
... I do not deny that the warm touch of a lover would ease the pain.
Vanozza Cattaneo
(takes Lucrezia by the chin and looks at her) So- all is not lost. (embraces her)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(storming into Vanozza's villa) Vanozza!... Vanozza!...Vanozza! (Vanozza enters the dining room at the same time as him) Did you know of this?
Vanozza Cattaneo
Of what?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
That our daughter, betrothed to one, gives herself to the brother?!
Vanozza Cattaneo
(sarcastically) Lucrezia? It's not possible- how could she be so foolish?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(impatient) With the help of those around her, perhaps? What advice did you give her, hmm?
Vanozza Cattaneo
(sits down) I merely said, that if she married to please you, she may yet love to please herself.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(sighs in exasperation) And you thought that wise?!
Vanozza Cattaneo
(curtly) I married one of your choosing, to be free to love you.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
But you are not the Pope's daughter!
Vanozza Cattaneo
Rodrigo, she will love whom she chooses- she is a Borgia. (Lucrezia enters, Rodrigo angrily turns on her)
I hear the Palavacini boys have gone. (walks past him)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
Yes- because you would marry a pauper with a paintbrush! (Lucrezia kisses her mother,then turns to face him)
(coldly) I would have married Calvino Palavacini, as you bid, dear Father- but, if I had followed my heart, I doubt I would have married either of them.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(sarcastically) Oh- so the future of this family is enthralled to your heart, hm? (Lucrezia's expression softens just a fraction)
(strokes her father's chin)...If it is, it needs mending. Like my heart.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(to Antonello) Bring us some wine. (Cesare drinks, Antonello brings over the wine-pitcher, pours some into a cup, and drains it)
AAntonello
(pause)... It is good, Holiness. (Rodrigo nods and gestures for him to pour; Antonello fills his goblet, then takes the tray across the room)
(staring at the earth coating Rodrigo's hands and robes) What's happened to your hands, Father?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(glances at his filthy hands)... We have buried our son. (Cesare stares at him in disbelief) And, we realize now... that, we have brought this... upon ourselves. (takes a drink)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(shrugs) You, are our own doing. What you've done, is our doing also. We brought you to this. (Cesare looks away angrily) You say, we granted every favor to him... but, our favors fell on him so easily. Of their own accord! (sees Cesare is still resentful and sighs sadly, smiling) You are too much like me. A man feels less favor, for his own image, reflected.
(long pause, trying to form the words) If I cannot have your affection... can you at least grant me, your forgiveness?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(conflicted expression) I...
Father? (Rodrigo staggers towards him) Father! No- Father! (Rodrigo begins to convulse and bleed from the mouth as he grabs Cesare's arm) HELP! (He cradles Rodrigo as the Pope collapses)
(runs into the room with Vanozza, Julia and several others) Father!
CPCardinal Piccolomini
Holy Father-
Vanozza
Rodrigo!
The Borgias · 70 quotes
