Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI, Cardinal Versucci and others in “Unfinished Business”

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.