(to Caterina and Giovanni Sforza) And, if the King decides to ride north, your armies would ride with his?
Caterina SforzaYes- in return for a certain consideration.
And, this... consideration? (he attempts to drink, but Caterina takes the glass from him)
Caterina Sforza
His cannon. (the French commanders chuckle)
(smirks) You would have him leave his cannon to the Sforza armies?!
Caterina Sforza
Not every piece. But, enough to defend our castle at Forli- to replicate the great fortresses of France.
(looks up after a moment)...Giovanni Sforza.
GSGiovanni Sforza
(gestures to Caterina) And my cousin, Caterina Sforza, Your Majesty.
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.
(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-
Caterina 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)
Caterina Sforza
(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)
(coldly) We have Italian friends, Cardinal Borgia, but our business... is all French.
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.
(furious) I warn you, Cardinal: I shall RAZE your city! Take terrible revenge on YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND THE PAPACY ITSELF!
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)
Caterina Sforza
(to herself) How did they manage to?...
(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?
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?
Do I look like a fool, General?!
Caterina Sforza
(giving Cesare a tour of Forli Castle) My son, Benito, longs for a soldier's career.
Mmm- It has much to recommend it.
BSBenito Sforza
You bear arms yourself, Signore Borgia?
Caterina Sforza
No, my love- he wears a Cardinal's skirt.
BSBenito Sforza
(glancing at Cesare's military garb) But, your dress is that of a-
I am a civilian, today. An ambassador.
Caterina Sforza
He comes bearing a message from his father, the Pope of Rome. (turns to face Cesare) Have I guessed correctly, Cardinal?
(smiles) You think so little of your charms?
Caterina Sforza
(smiles back) Oh- you've come to sample them, perhaps?
Perhaps. (removes his cloak)
Caterina Sforza
While bearing a message from the Pope of Rome.
The Pope does send his best regards, and would request your... beauteous presence at the Chair of St. Peter's.
Caterina Sforza
He would sample my charms also?
(shrugs) Perhaps. He would feel your lips on his... Papal ring.
Caterina Sforza
(pause, steps towards Cesare) He would have me kneel to him. Bow.
The whole world must bow to the Holy Father.
Caterina Sforza
(doesn't take her eyes of Cesare) Whom does your mother bow to, my son?
BSBenito Sforza
(proudly) Nobody.
Caterina Sforza
(smiles) You heard him, Cardinal. His mother bows to nobody.
And, if "Nobody" were to sit at her table?...
Caterina Sforza
She would not bow. But there are other forms of obesence. (she walks into the dining room)
BSBenito Sforza
(follows her) Other, Mother?
Caterina Sforza
Indeed, my son. There is a form of surrender which implies no submission. It gave birth to you.
BSBenito Sforza
... I confess that I'm lost, Mother.
Caterina Sforza
(chuckles) Indeed, you are truly a soldier, made of hard wood! (pats his cheek, meets Cesare's gaze) But, the Cardinal must know... I only kneel when it suits me. As must the Holy Father.
If you do not come willingly-
Caterina Sforza
Oh, hush, Cardinal, hush! You are our guest this fine evening- I'd have no discord between us. You can relay the Holy Father's message in its' fullness tomorrow.
(sees Giovanni Sforza enter the room, starts and then smirks) My Lord Sforza.
GSGiovanni Sforza
I arrived in the early hours.
You must have. You have... business with your cousin?
GSGiovanni Sforza
Matters of state? Always. (takes some food from the table and nibbles it)
So she requested your presence here.
GSGiovanni Sforza
She told me it would be... appreciated.
Mmm. And, can you tell me why?
GSGiovanni Sforza
To talk of your father's proposal to her.
GSGiovanni Sforza
Mmm- I can only think of him as your father. The father of that... slattern I was tricked into marrying-
(exhales sharply in anger) Be careful, Lord Sforza.
I hold my sister's interests dear.
GSGiovanni Sforza
(smirks) Hmm- I'm aware of that. (pause) You humiliated me, before the whole of Rome. (Cesare smiles thinly)
Caterina Sforza
(enters the room) You shall have your answer, Cesare Borgia.
It is why I am still here, my Lady.
Caterina Sforza
My answer is simple. It is no. (Giovanni smirks, Caterina starts to leave)
Let me be clear. (she stops) You refuse to come to Rome? (Caterina smiles and leaves)
GSGiovanni Sforza
My cousin refuses to debase herself before that... swine that wears the Papal Tiara
(with burning anger) That question was for her, my Lord.
GSGiovanni Sforza
And you have her answer.
Yes- and you will have mine. (he stabs a knife into Giovanni's hand, pinning it to the table-top. Giovanni wrenches it free with a yell of pain; they scuffle, but Cesare quickly gains the upper hand, forcing his knife nearer and nearer to Giovanni's throat) I promised my sister your heart, on a dinner-plate! (finally forces the knife deep into Giovanni's throat, then turns him around and stabs him repeatedly in the belly and lower chest) But I can find no heart!
The Borgias · 70 quotes
