UBUrsula Bonadeo
I asked to meet you here, because... my husband has been found. (Cesare looks at her, then away) Washed up, on the shores of the Tiber- three weeks dead, with stab wounds to his neck. (pause, her voice shaking) For those three weeks, I -gave my body to you. I broke my marriage vows.
I thought... perhaps I hoped- you did so willingly-
UBUrsula Bonadeo
You bought those three weeks with murder! (tearfully) I told you he was riding on the road to Ostia that night. (pulls the veil off her face and stares at him) Admit it, Cardinal!
UBUrsula Bonadeo
Yet the crime is written on your face!
(finally meets her eyes) There was no murder. He fought, he lost! (Ursula claps her hand to her mouth in horror)
UBUrsula Bonadeo
(tearfully) I begged you not to meet him!
You begged me not to place myself in harm's way.
UBUrsula Bonadeo
I had no idea you had such capabilities!
(turns away) And to think, I thought you knew me.
UBUrsula Bonadeo
I thought I knew a man! A man conflicted, perhaps, between the world and God, but not a murderer!
(voice shaking) Is it murder to defend your mother's honor? To procure the freedom of one you could love? (Ursula gives a sarcastic laugh through her tears) Even more than your mother's honor. (stares at her) If it is, I am a murderer born.
UBUrsula Bonadeo
Maybe God can forgive you, because I'm not sure if I can.
You think I care for the forgiveness of God?! (pause) I care for your happiness, your future... and I have now given it to you. Liberame, you asked me-
UBUrsula Bonadeo
You have not given me a future! You have given me a lifelong penance! I am party to your crime! (pause, more quietly) I feel for you, still... but I know not this monster beside me. (she starts to rise, but Cesare grabs her arm and pulls her back, scaring her)
Well, let me tell you. (pause) I was born... with a stain. A mark. Like the mark of Cain. It is the mark of my father, of my family... the mark of Borgia. (pause) I've tried, to be other than I am... and I have failed. (voice breaks) If I have failed you in the process, I am truly sorry. (rests his forehead against hers)
UBUrsula Bonadeo
You... you have the Devil's insight, Cardinal. You read what my heart wanted, and you gave it to me. You gave me... joy. Through a crime, I could not have conceived. (pause) And now, I must live my life in penance, praying for forgiveness.
UBUrsula Bonadeo
... You will not know where. (stands up and walks away, Cesare stands behind her)
UBUrsula Bonadeo
I mean confinement.
(voice shaking) I will search you out! Like Abalard and Eloise. You may find a nunnery cell, but you will never be free of me!
UBUrsula Bonadeo
(smiles grimly) You are right. I will never be free of you.
Tell me, Cardinal- what is the Italian word for "cannon"?
We have no such word, General.
For... gunpowder? Recoil, battery, cannonball, ordinance?
(grins) You will need a new language, then. Your Italy will soon be deafened by the sound of cannon. (Della Rovere looks uneasy)
I must return to my husband in the morning.
Because he is my husband. Because our father needs his allegiance.
I should keep you here in chains- I suspect you would be happier.
(looks sharply at him) Why do you question my happiness?
Because something happened. I know it.
Your eyes. (Lucrezia turns away) You no longer walk on air. (she walks away, he follows her) Where is my young sister hiding?
I am the Lord Sforza's wife, Brother.
If he does ill by you, I shall do ill by him.
He would be wise to be kind, then. (they both stop)
What are... his pleasures?
Hunting. (bitterly) The marital bed.
(exhales angrily) I dislike him already.
(smirks, sits) But he had an accident, Brother- and now, he can indulge in neither.
Unfortunately, yes. (Cesare sits down, looks at her)
...You are no longer a child, Sis. I won't forgive him for that.
... There was a reason for my marriage, Brother. (pause, looks at him) Remind me of it. (Cesare looks away, then leaves)
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.
(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)
(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)
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
We will excommunicate Florence, if the French armies are admitted! (several of the Cardinals voice their approval)
(skeptically) Excommunicate the entire city, Your Holiness?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
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!
APAlessandro Piccolomini
Then you must excommunicate half of Christendom- because half the world is against us!
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(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)
(wearily) Your Holiness, may the Vice-Chancellor speak?
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
... Yes, Cardinal Sforza, he may. (sits)
It would be... unwise (stands) to use the Church's most solemn sanction... to so little effect.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
What does the Vice-Chancellor mean?
Excommunication or not, this invasion will proceed. We may all have to adjust ourselves to new realities.
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.
(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.
Signor Machiavelli? (Machiavelli turns around)
Our lance at rest prevents our entry to your "fair city."
(shrugs) Perhaps, Your Highness, if it were to be angled backwards?
(irritated) And of what would that be a symbol?
(smirks) Of Your Highness' infinite... resourcefulness.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(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-
SASpanish Ambassador
But, with respect, Holy Father, what you ask is impossible!
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(more quietly) The involvement of Spanish forces, in the protection of St. Peter's and the Head of Christendom- (gestures to himself)
SASpanish Ambassador
(cuts him off) Would amount to a declaration of war between France and Spain.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
(wags a finger at him) Then I warn you, Ambassador, favors granted can be rescinded!
SASpanish Ambassador
(raises his hands helplessly) And I would beg Your Holiness' forgiveness that I cannot meet his full demands!
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexaner VI
(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)
(to a nearby whore) You know this man?
WWhore
No, Father- he had no name last night. (Cesare grabs Juan by the feet and yanks him out of the bed, then drags him upright by the hair, waking him up)
WWhore
(amused) You have a priest for a brother?
A Cardinal. (Cesare frog-marches him across the room)
WWhore
Cardinal? I shoulda charged you double!
(chuckles) I imagine you did- (Cesare dunks him headfirst into a bucket of water, then pulls him back up and shoves him onto a blanket)
(curtly) Your father would review the forces at his command, Gonfaloniere.
I am out of sorts this morning, Brother.
It's afternoon. (picks up a bowl of water)
Ah, no!- (vainly trys to shield himself as Cesare throws the water on him)
(smirks) You know me, Brother- I disapprove of lechery, debauchery, drunkenness.
(grins) Which is why our father made you the Cardinal.
Why, then, did he make you a Duke? (throws the rest of Juan's clothes at him)
(smugly) Because lechery and debauchery are the very marks of nobility. (Cesare grabs his arm and yanks him upright again)
Most of Italy has galloped off to the French side. They've heard a sound that is new to their Italian ears: the sound of cannon. (sharply) And the Gonfaloniere has other duties besides lechery and debauchery- there is the tedious business of war.
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-
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!
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?
Your goal is Naples. (Della Rovere looks quickly at the King)
(smiles) So... my brother, the Duke of Gandia, the Gonfaloniere of the Papal Armies, bids you welcome to Rome.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
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)
...I will not leave you, Father. (Alexander kisses his hand and hugs him close, weeping)
(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.
(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?...
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.
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.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
Exceedingly well. They hardly know what "truth" is.
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.
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!
But, in case- just in case- we would make a request of Your Holiness.
RBRodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI
Well, we will respectfully hear it.
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-
(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?
(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)
No, God forbid. (shakes his head, smiles) A hostage implies emnity!
(angrily) And what does Legate imply?
Friendship, surely! And a guarantee that such friendship will continue.
(observing the ceremonial crowning of Charles by Alexander) It is an august sight, is it not?
St. Peter's in its' full glory, the Pope of Rome in Cathedra, the Sistine Chapel Choir singing. It would bring tears to one's eyes, Cardinal Borgia.
I want to compliment you, Cardinal, on your... steadfastness, your probity, your...survival, indeed.
(nods) It did prove hard, at times.
In fact, you proved such a worthy opponent, that... I would gladly have you back in Rome. (Della Rovere glances sharply at him)
I have my father's ear, as you must understand. And, he needs someone with the steel that your soul has. (Della Rovere looks away)
I will not be Cardinal forever; surely, you must know that.
Well, my father's problem is he surrounds himself with weakness. (he and Della Rovere meet each other's gaze) And, with your strength, Cardinal-
I serve God...and can only pray the Papacy survives its' current occupant. (looks towards Alexander)
... I could've killed you. Twice.
Perhaps, then, you should kill me now. Because my opposition to the Borgia Papacy will only die with me.
