"August 1494 Transfiguration" "Yes, think of nothing, my Lord." "Nothing but the good." "Yes, my Lord." "Your eyes are still narrow, my Lord." "Eat your pastry." "It is from the King's own kitchen." "And how is your mood?" " No better, no worse." " And this view does not help?" "Like all, so many places to be buried." "Do you want to stop at an inn?" "Find a fight?" "I've given the King of France all for which he has asked." "The time has come for him, in all his majesty, to do the same for me." "If Florence were to offer a few ducats more, then do you not think the treaty fair?" "My liege." "Painting can be frustrating." "I must wait for this layer to dry before I apply the next." "But with patience I can create a time-honored masterpiece." "We had an agreement which you violated." "We had an understanding that I would do all I could in regard to your marriage." "The point is, I secured your annulment on the condition of a reward..." " which I did not receive." " You are Duke of Valentinois." "What am I to do with that?" "Sit around, playing jeu de boules and drinking Beaujolais?" "You wish instead to be a king." "After my brother's death the Pope let his authority go lax." "The governors of the Papal States took the advantage." "Now the Holy Father is restored in vigor, but these miscreants still defy him." " I will rein them in." " How?" " With the threat of you." " But threats fade if not backed by action." "I will lead an army across Romagna... reclaiming all pontifical rights and obediences." "Your bravi are tough, but an army they are not." "Mon bon ami, you will provide me with an army." " Gascon and Breton mercenaries?" " Swiss and Scot, they kill with more efficiency." " Six thousand men." " Twelve thousand men." "Give me troops, Sire, I will march into Milan and capture the Ducal throne for you." "And so you shall, General Borgia." "I like your face clean shaven." "I took to the razor to avoid paying Farnese's tax on beards." "Such good and bad fortune that I am off to Spoleto just as you return to Rome." "I will wander the Papal Archives with a heavy heart." "And you will be far too occupied to think of me." "Yes, I will be busy." "As governor, I must manage civic affairs." "I must create laws, serve as judge." "How will I handle all of those responsibilities?" "Better than your imbecile husband." "He was angry when the Pope appointed me instead of him." " Do you know Di Calabria's whereabouts?" " If I did, I would instantly forget." "Alfonso, a single question rolls around and around in my head." "Am I ready?" "You are a Borgia." "To rule comes naturally." "What if I choose to rule not like a Borgia?" "Bless me Father, for I have sinned." "It has been a week since my last confession." "I confess to the sins of lying, of concealment, of betrayal." "And as punishment, I ask, Holy Father, to be sent back to Spain." " We cannot permit such a request." " I came to Rome to serve God." " And what is it we are doing?" " Learning secrets." "I know too many." "About whom?" "About my fellow cardinals, my family, you." "The secrets are taking over me." "We need you here." "You know how many enemies we have in the Consistory." "Uncle, I'm scared." "With each new secret I learn," "I have to make room in my soul by banishing a piece of myself." "If my soul is ravaged by whispers, who is to say that I will not become your enemy as well?" "That was not a threat, it is a plea." "Go to Valencia, perform your duties as archbishop." "Be a paragon of virtue for the Borgia name." "Be certain your parishioners will never learn that two years ago... you contracted the French disease by sleeping with a Jewish whore." "Carlotta?" "May I show you something?" "You, you do this." "Try this instead." "Okay." "Here." "Yes, I see." "Thank you, Cesare." "This ledger contains all the inn's expenses." "This one, the income." "I never once thought of how to run a tavern, let alone an entire city." "I could come with you to Spoleto." "Help you acclimate yourself." "With Cesare in France and you departing..." "I feel I have little purpose here in Rome." " What of your vineyards, your inns, your husband?" " They will manage." " Please, I can advise you." " Mama, no." "I need to make my own way, as you have done." "Buy some art." "That always fills your soul." "Goffredo meanders around Rome, cursing his wretched wife." "He too needs purpose." " You come to say farewell?" " No." " I come to offer you a position in Spoleto." " I know nothing." "You're my brother." "This will be the farthest I have ever been from Rome." "If you're there, the distance will not seem so far." "The Pope and your sister seem once again to be in sublime harmony." "But I heard she was being squired by Fabrizio Colonna." "Yet, Fabrizio issues bands of marriage to Agnese de Montefeltro." "The Feast of Transfiguration seems to have brought out a larger crowd than usual." "At least the streets are filled with Romans and pilgrims, and not the French." "How soon until those fleur-de-lis bastards invade our city?" "Ask me about finances, church dogma." "Political strategies are outside my ken." "Do not act a naïve, boy." "We are on the brink of an apocalypse." "Naples, Milan, Florence, all the Holy League fear another invasion." "Pope Alexander has manipulated France before." "That is Charles, who is dead." "Louis is a much more troubling foe." " And a good friend to Cesare." " I have seen little evidence of that." "And we will go to our summer estate in Corsignano." "You love the hot springs at Palazzo Vescovile." " And I will bring my mother." " Your mother?" "Holiness, the Princess has come for your blessing." "Both a princess and a governor, and our darling girl." "Are you ready to represent us in Spoleto?" "In truth, I am both excited by the challenge and anxious." "To guarantee your success, we have elevated a new bishop." " Do I not have the Pope's full trust?" " Of course." "But a wise leader surrounds himself, herself, with good and decent allies." "The papal legate we have chosen is most worthy." "First, as a poet, second as a defender of Venice from the Muslims." "Pietro Bembo?" "Oh papa, thank you." "I will not hurt you." " You bit me." " You scared me." "I do not mean to scare you." "I mean to understand you." "For months, you treat me with indifference, disdained." "Then you kiss me, then you say our kiss changes nothing." "Then you smile at me with loving eyes." "You want me." " No, I..." " You want me." "Oh, Madonna Vannozza, so good to see you again." " I disturb you?" " No, no." "Come in." "Ah, Michelangelo..." "Jacopo Galli has provided you with a lovely work environment." "Yes, too lovely." "I can barely concentrate." "I miss my dungeon." "I have been out in my vineyard and I thought you might like some wine." "How perfect." "The sculpture which cardinal Riario-Sansoni has commissioned is of Bacchus... the god of wine." "Lord knows I need the inspiration." "May I see?" "I come to discuss a commission of my own." "He is very rough, I know." "Just the initial outline of the shapes." "Not my best work." "Go ahead." "How does that feel?" "Close your eyes." "Smooth." "Cold, but yet also warm." "You feel the cold because you touched the stone." "But you feel warmth because there is life inside." "All my life I have been fearless." "I have had to be." "But this morning I awoke and..." "I am afraid." "I fear that I am losing myself." "If you lose your way... then start again." " My apologies for being late." " You missed dinner, Sandro." "Come, sit." "Let us get you something to eat." " You arrive, brother, as I go." " Because that Catalan summons you." " Like you're a servant." " I go because I love him." "Love?" "If Borgia knew how to love, then he would allow you to marry." " Because he loves me, he does not." " He loved the mother of Isabella Matuzzi." "But now, does anyone even remember that poor woman's name?" "Rodrigo is a holy hypocrite." "When my great uncle Bonifacio was pope..." "We may as well go back to the Seventh Day of Creation." "As a priest, Rodrigo Borgia enjoys the status of the celibate... while never being denied the pleasures of a lover." "As a woman, you have no status unless you're married." "You must marry." "He refuses to find me a husband." "What can I do?" "Then find one yourself." "Come at me, full force." "Attack, you fillette." "Attack." " Ask the King if I may dine with him tonight, alone." " He will want to know the purpose." "Tell Louis that I wish to engage in the discussion of art." "Well, have you looked very closely at the Bourdichon miniatures?" "Yes, he is a master, no question." "But he is no Fouquet." "Fouquet is en route from Paris as we speak." "A magnificent specimen which I am eager to show you." " And what of the Italians?" " My collection lacks the new artists." "I've heard that this Florentine Buonarroti can also paint." " Though I've only seen his sculpture." " When an artist excels in one form... he rarely equals that achievement in the other." "But if he is any good, perhaps he could paint Carlotta's wedding portrait." "The portrait for her wedding to Guy de Laval?" "No, to me." "Carlotta kissed my lips." "She initiated the kiss." " Well, that does not mean..." " It means that my dreams are not lost." "But you must renew your pledge to bring Carlotta and me to the altar." "She needs only a gentle push from you and Queen Anne." "As always, Cesare, I wish you to be happy." "Do not worry, I will not let matters of the heart affect the strategy of war." "(Dear friend), I am not completely convinced that our scheme to conquer Milan is the most sound." "Perhaps you should return to Rome and pave the way for our entry from there." "I can do nothing from Rome." "You have seen how my techniques improved the skills of your army." " You have said yourself that I'm a military genius." " I wish to always be honest with you." "But some of my court believe... that your ambition makes you unqualified to command my army." "This is Briconnet." "Can you not see that he only serves his own ambitions?" "He has France's best interests..." "France's best interests and Italy's are the same." "Cesare, I rely on Briconnet." " How was the meal?" " He served me peasant food." " You are insulted." " I will do it." "His Highness said the sausage was a delicacy called andouillette... made from the intestines and chitterlings of a pig." "The meat smelled of merde." "These French, to satisfy their mouths, will torture their noses." "The strongest stench is Briconnet." "I must persuade his Eminence to support me or eliminate him." " By poison?" " No." "You were right to say that murder is too obvious." "What I need to poison is the cardinal's confidence." " A letter has arrived." " From Lucrezia?" "From Goffredo." "And all of a sudden, the clothes which Jesus wore turned white." "A white no man had ever seen." "A white so bright that the three apostles were blinded." "And then, overhead, a beam of brilliant light burst through a cloud... and a voice said:" ""This is my beloved son."" "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti." "People of Spoleto..." " my friends..." " Silence." "Thank you." "Thank you for such a welcome." "Thank you on behalf of my brother." "And so, as governor..." "I am happy to be in Spoleto... and will do good things." "We will do great things..." "Together." "And I..." "And now the Benediction." "And now the Benediction." "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti." "No doubt, you come to pray for the King to allow me to lead his troops." "Though my prayers are concerned with matters more spiritual..." "I wish you success in that endeavor." "Is it not an especial sin to lie in the house of the Lord?" "Not as great a sin as murder." "The fate that befell my son at your hands." "You have another son." "Perhaps he too will die before you." "You are not in an alley in the city of vipers, Rome." "You are in France, a civilized country... where men do not stab other men and then stroll off." "You speak true, Briconnet." "I need to be more clever covering the tracks of my boots." "I suppose your Guillaume could die from the fall off an agitated horse, or a ravine." "Or perhaps he will not die at all." "Perhaps he will be injured." "Perhaps he is already injured... crying for his papa." "Is one of these my son's?" "Borgia, Cesare, I beg you, do not harm my Guillaume." "He has a brilliant mind and will contribute much to the Church." " Do not worry, he can still serve the Church with a limp." " What must I do to save my son?" "I think you know." "I have not the power to persuade the King to give you his army." "Then I have not the power to keep your son's toes intact." " Wait." "I will try." " You will succeed." "Briconnet has metamorphosed... and therefore you will command our legions." " A miracle." " A man-made miracle." "Those three thieves you hung yesterday proved to have a life beyond the gallows." "Come, let us review your stratagem for attacking Milan." "First love, then war." "I must tell Carlotta." "A marriage to Carlotta can never take place, even if she's wavering." "Borgia must never rule Naples." "Pity, I actually like to see Cesare happy." "But still, friendship must not cloud the sky." "Bring Briconnet back." " But cousin, I do love Anna Maria." " I know you have affections for Lucrezia." "Do not insult me with denial." "I will tell my cousin, your wife and Duke Ercole, your father..." " unless you tell me what you know." " What I know?" "What you have overheard, going in and out of the Papal Office... in your role as archivist, regarding Milan." "The Pope called Duke Ludovico scum." "Borgia called my brother scum?" "Ludovico has always been a cherished ally to my father." "The Pope desires to rid Milan of you Sforza... with the use of French troops, 13 thousand." "And I fear my Ferrara will fall next." "The kings of Europe will have something to say about that." "Rarely do Spain, Portugal and the Germans seek an audience together." "Usually, you come one by one to complain about each other." "Sometimes, Holiness, our complaints are congruent." "Holy One, we come to convey a unified message." "Our masters' objections to your alliance with France cannot continue to be ignored." "If necessary, the long-dormant question of your legitimacy could be brought before a council." "We were elected unanimously by the College of Cardinals, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit." "Which is more than your monarchs can say, two of whom usurped their thrones." "Christ gave our predecessor Peter absolute authority over the world." "Do Maximilian, Ferdinand and Joao believe they are exempt?" "Guards, arrest this serpent." "Bind his wrist and hang him by the feet from the Ponte Adriano." "Let the harrow's head rest just below the water." "Leave him there for fish to feed upon." "Imprison the other two for one week without food and water... then send them home to deliver this message." "We are the Rock of Christ, the Father of Kings." "God speaks with our voice." "Lock all three in the Papal Suite in the Castel Sant'Angelo." "Do nothing else until you hear from me." "You must calm yourself, Holy Father." "That?" "An outburst staged to show strength when outnumbered." "The rulers of Europe do not want Italy unified." "We do." "But with France on our side, the fruit of that tree comes closer into reach." "Louis will supply Cesare with men, cannons... but we must do our part to confound the other kings." "The three of you will act as our emissary." "Go to each ambassador individually and claim that you begged us for his release." "Then, say to Spain that our momentary anger... does not diminish our abounding love for Ferdinand and Isabella." "And to demonstrate that love... the Pope grants all of Cesare's former Spanish beneficium... to King Ferdinand to dole out to whomever he chooses." " All?" " All, except Valencia." "Tell the envoy of Portugal..." "His Holiness is willing to bestow upon your King... exclusive rights to any new lands discovered around the coast of Africa." "Joao is sending an explorer named Da Gama to circumnavigate Africa." "As for the Imperial ambassador, inform him..." "Pope Alexander will fully support Maximilian's policies against England." "Kings are like children." "To stop their sobbing you must wave a shiny new toy." "Go with God's speed." "And who will deal with the Italians?" "I will." "Come." "We must not be found out." "I think that we should be found out." "You cannot marry Guy." "He is less than the man you imagine him to be." "Yes." "And you are better than the man I assumed you to be." "Marry me." "Marry me." "Carlotta, trust your heart." "I want to." "I do." "Yes." "Then we wed today." "We wed today." "Meet me at the chapel, at the hour of None." "I will." "Yes, I will." "I go to make all of the arrangements." " Highness?" " Eminence." "Did you hear?" "Your soul is in turmoil." "I offer spiritual council." "When in doubt, listen to those who love you." "Queen Anne, Louis, your own father..." "God." "None wish you to wed Cesare Borgia." "This room is so dark." "These drapes, so ugly." "And this is your office." "If I am to spend my days in these chambers, I must make changes." "A woman will always discuss drapes instead of war." "I was not aware that Spoleto is at war." " We are not, Highness." " Then why?" "Councilor Cortese refers to the neighboring town of Terni." " Some minor tensions." " Or not so minor." " General, is war a possibility?" " War is possible anywhere at any time." "Yes, but is war a probability?" "Spoleto and Terni are separated by these mountains... in which a vein of iron ore runs." "We Spoletans have mined that vein for over a century." "Terni wishes to claim our spoils." "Their finances dwindle, result of three poor harvests." "For them, their situation grows increasingly urgent." "Therefore they regard the idle mine with a more aggressive eye." "The ore is a precious resource, and a lucrative one." " So we may go to war over profit?" " Not officially." "There will be an incident, insignificant, a pretext, which will set the war into motion." "Ascanio, our past differences must not divide us in our common goal... to keep France in France." "Our ability to do so depends not on reality... but on what Louis believes our allegiances to be." "Whilst you fiddle like Nero, my brother Ludovico readies his army." "All the armies from Milan to Naples are no match for French might." "We cannot fight force with force, but we can with cunning." "This begins by turning our enemy into an ally." "Ludovico attempted such a gamble and was betrayed by King Charles." "Cesare informs us that Louis possesses none of the Anjou pride." "Still, should he invade Milan, we will impose an interdict upon France." "Cutting them off from the Holy Sacraments, from salvation." "You must issue the interdict before Louis invades." "Good idea." "Meanwhile, go to Milan, reassure your brother... the Sforza have our absolute, unshakable loyalty." " Lucrezia." " Good Lord, Goffy." "I see that the forests of Spoleto are plentiful." " I will enjoy living here." " And I will grow fat living here." "To kill a wild boar with a crossbow takes nearly impossible marksmanship." "My brother may not be good at politics or marriage... but he can shoot an arrow better than Guglielmo Tell." "Guglielmo Tell, yes." "I wish this year to institute an archery competition." "We already have an archery competition." "In which we will invite the archers of Terni to participate." " Invite Terni to our carnival?" " A peaceful competition... where men can spend their aggressions without causing harm." "An invitation must be sent to the governor of Terni." " Who is he?" " Bishop Giovanni di Fonsalida." "Excellent." "He once worked in the Cancelleria for my father." "He will accept our invitation." "What if we lose this competition to those Terni dogs?" "We cannot lose." "My brother excels at both crossbow and hand-shot." " The Eroli family would not..." " The Eroli family is no longer in power." "I am." "She is not here." "Carlotta d'Aragona is now married to Duke Guy de Laval." "I performed the ceremony a half hour ago." "You lie." "I will search this castle." "Carlotta loves me." "She is gone..." "To Bretagne." "Your desire to outwit me overcomes the desire to see your son live another year." "My son is also gone." "In two months or twenty years, when you are senile... and have forgotten this moment, your son will suffer." "La Bella, what is that in your hand?" "A letter?" "From whom?" "Will you now insist on reading my private correspondence?" "We came to tell you we must postpone our trip to Corsignano." " Of course." " We will see you tonight at dinner." "No, I will spend the time with my family." "My mother is still grieving." "Cesare?" "Cesare, there is someone I would like you to meet." "Cesare Borgia, Duke of Valentinois, Georges d'Amboise, Bishop of Rouen." " An honor, your Grace." " A pleasure, your Excellency." "Georges joins the King's council." "Louis and I are childhood friends." "He needs wise men." "The French court is a warren where the rabbits are eaten by snakes." " Cesare always speaks his mind." " And you do not, Giuliano?" "I have longed to meet the man who willingly surrendered his cardinal's biretta." "Whereas I wish fervently to wear one." "And with a Borgia on the papal throne your wish may soon be fulfilled." "And we ask you, Terni brethren, to join with us... so that we may inspire great accomplishments in one another." "In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Alexander, our Pope... let the games begin." "The Terni captain is quite fine." "What is his name?" "Sidonius Grimani, from a very noble ancient Ternian family." "Is he married?" " Who is that and what is she doing?" " The mother of Sidonius." "She performs an ancient incantation." "The people of Terni are, in spite of my preaching, steadfastly and foolishly superstitious." "Goffredo has won." "Just to the right." "So it's straight." "Perfect." "Cesare?" "Cesare, the Fouquet has arrived." " C'est magnifique, n'est-ce pas?" " Beautiful." "I bring good news." "Pope Alexander has granted Georges d'Amboise the title Cardinal of Rouen." " Bravo." " I cannot wait to see Georges' face." "And so your decline begins, Eminence." "You are no longer the only high-ranking French cleric at court." "D'Amboise will ask to see the accounts of royal expenditure." "I pray, for your sake, the tallies are in order." " How did you know Briconnet had stolen?" " Everyone steals." "With Briconnet I did not know how much, until now." "The arrival of Bishop d'Amboise is most fortunate." "Fate is my mistress." "But how is it possible for you to have received the news from Rome so quickly?" "Oh, I have not received it yet." "But my father loves me." " Virginio Orsini?" " He invited me to his birthday celebration." "You promised us you would never marry while we live." "You leap a mile, Rodrigo, from birthday to wedding." " Still, I made no such promise." " In this very room." "That night, when you made me out a whore?" "And now am I a liar?" "You asked that I promise." "I did not agree, I simply said that I love you." "But your arrogance assumes that every request should go unquestioned." "Have I no agency in my own future?" "Would you have me dry up alone?" "Despised by your enemies?" "La Bella..." "I promise, you will be taken care of." "My love..." " play a game with me." " What game would that be?" "I will show you." "The game becomes almost unfair." " Giulia, what?" " The game is as fair as you are." "We'll finish playing when I marry Virginio Orsini." "Giulia, come back." "Untie me." "Lucrezia..." "Lucrezia..." "Lucrezia..." " My feisty wife." " Alfonso, what are you doing here?" "I could be away from you no longer." "I love you, queen of my heart." "Governor, come at once." "Your brother has been hurt."