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Previously
on The Borgias
We are in a snake pit
surrounded by venom.
We shall cleanse the
College of Cardinals.
Vitelli, Orsini.
Let us gather them to us.
Catherina Sforza
invites you all
to join her in a
confederacy of hatred.
Until the Borgia
snake is lanced.
Catherina Sforza
seeks out allies.
Give her a lesson in revenge.
There was
a plot to rid the Earth
of the Borgia family.
So tell me, what must I do?
Confess.
To a crime I would never
even dream of committing!
Then name those who would.
Cardinal Sforza!
My uncle has
expressed his disquiet
at the thought of a child
without legitimacy.
You are to negotiate
my dowry, Brother.
If Naples dares to
take your son from you,
it will never know
peace again.
My betrothed will
not bed me.
He is a ***.
I am a Borgia.
I feel unloved.
My lady.
Why am I here?
To learn to lie.
To say whatever's needed.
Cardinal Francesco
Todeschini Piccolomini.
Liar!
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Orsini.
These are false
accusations coming from-
Cardinal Rocca Colonna!
Julius Versucci!
I have been party to
no conspiracy, Your Holiness!
Those cardinals
will be stripped
of their offices and titles.
They will be forbidden entry
through the gates of Rome.
My sins are many.
But the greatest of them
is this ***.
God must want us to live.
[♪]
Original Air Date on April 28, 2013
[♪]
Your lies should
make you choke, De Luca.
The sentence is banishment.
Cardinal Versucci will be
stripped of his position
as procreator of the Office
of Public Works forthwith
and his property
will be donated
to our Holy Mother Church.
How many more,
your Holiness
until your coffers
are adequately lined?
Take him from our sight.
You're running out
of cardinals.
What use is an
empty Consistory?
An empty Consistory
is at least free of
traitors and assassins.
We will cleanse
our house
and get rid
of this deceit
with our own hands,
if that be God's will.
And the fruits of
their degeneracy
will be put to God's use.
Your Grace.
Out of the way!
No, no.
Not now.
A summary of the state
of the papal armies.
This your work?
The articles of war
demand the papal army
at full strength number:
You have less
than half that.
Of horses, wagonry, and
six tenths.
Of supplies, provisions,
medicines, foodstuffs
half.
Half?
What good are
our men-at-arms
if we can only equip them
with one sword between two?
Are they supposed
to share?
Well, what do you
expect me to do?
What of your
cardinals' fortunes?
There were debts.
The treasury is filling,
but not to the extent
of equipping an army.
Well, we must find a way.
Because Catherina Sforza
gathers allies to her daily
like flies to a corpse.
And we are weak.
We are not yet
at war, Cesare.
Father, we're already seeing the
first gambits on the chessboard:
plot, intrigue,
assassination.
But the endgame will be war,
and it will engulf all Italy.
Am I wrong?
No, you're not wrong.
Then give me command!
In time, Cesare.
FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!
You go to Naples
to discuss the terms
of your sister's wedding, do you not?
Yes.
When do you arrive?
Tomorrow.
We offer Naples
a chance to strengthen
our kinship with them
in a bond of blood
and family.
It is a joyous visit.
But you might take
the opportunity
to judge how our friends
and cousins in the south fare
in terms of men,
arms, horses, wagonry,
supplies, general equipment,
and the like.
So that kinship may not be
the only thing strengthened
by this joyous marriage.
Is that smoke?
Do you smell smoke?
The treasury's on fire!
Fire in the treasury!
The account books!
Hurry!
Quickly!
Help! Help!
My God!
How did this happen?
Your Holiness,
it seems Cardinal Versucci
was the last person
in the room.
Whether this is by negligence
or by design I can't tell.
Unfortunately, no one
can find him to ask him.
[♪]
God be with you.
Good day, Brother.
Benedicte.
Move back, I say!
Give the swordsmen room!
Finish him!
Ready!
Yah!
I've won.
No.
I won!
I'm telling you.
I had you!
I think not.
I had you, Baglioni!
If this were for real -
If this was for real,
you'd be dead.
I have a hundred ducats
that say I get first blood.
Whoa!
Once more.
On my mark.
My lords.
Ya!
Nothing either way.
You're not so fast as you think,
huh, Gian Paolo Baglioni?
Huh?
Let's do that again.
Look at your neck.
Baglioni!
He's cut him!
Baglioni's untouchable!
You think you
could do better?
Against Gian Paolo Baglioni,
Lord of Perugia,
the most renowned
blade in all Umbria?
I value my own shirt
too highly.
Blood is the very
devil to get out.
I know who you are.
You're Catherina Sforza's man.
Alfonso wishes me
to ask you
if he may accompany
you to Naples.
Alfonso cannot
ask me himself?
I think he finds
you a little, um
What?
Frightening.
Take him.
He wants to
see his family.
Ah!
Well, if you insist.
How long will you be away?
It's difficult to know.
To negotiate the harmony
of two households -
Harmony of households
be damned.
You know what I want.
You wish your son
to be acknowledged.
As much as I am,
you are.
As much as any other
*** child in Italy.
I give you my word -
I will do my utmost,
for Giovanni and for you.
Come back soon.
Why do you say that?
I don't feel safe unless
I know you're nearby.
What brings you
to Florence?
I am on my way home
from visiting friends.
Which friends
would those be?
Prospero Colonna,
Roberto and Paolo Orsini,
Vitelezzo Vitelli.
A miracle even to get them
in the same room together.
We share a common interest.
And these are now
your friends?
We hope that
they will be, yes.
I see.
Your lady does not
lack for ambition.
You have done well suppressing
the uprising in Umbria.
The Florentines
speak highly of you.
But
your contract with them
is over.
Perhaps it's time to
consider where you go next?
Naples.
I haven't seen her
in too long a time.
We're to be brothers.
And, mindful of that honour,
I should like to show
you around the city.
Its beauties are modest
in comparison to Rome -
but- uh,
it is my city, so
Impress me not with your
love for your native city
but your love
for my sister.
I could not love
her more, my lord!
Will your "more"
be enough?
You are marrying
Lucrezia Borgia.
Your sole allegiance
is to her now -
And to Rome.
Never forget that.
Keep that wagon moving!
Palace is this way,
my lord.
Our allies.
Cousin.
My Lord Borgia.
We welcome you
in the name of the fair
and ancient city of Naples.
Rather more ancient than fair,
from what I've glimpsed.
It seems the French army
were not exactly
considerate tenants.
Tonight we dine to
honour the union
between our own Alfonso
and the most-gracious
Lady Lucrezia.
A union not only
of man and wife,
but of Naples and Rome.
We beg you,
you will grace us
with your presence.
I would be glad.
Presenting His Excellency,
the Duke of Acquitane,
Ambassador of the Court
of his Highness
Louis XII of France.
We are honoured to receive
the Ambassador from France.
And France is most deeply
honoured to be so received.
Hm.
Your new king, Louis the XII,
sends his ambassador.
Tell me, does he bring
murmurings of peace or of war?
Peace,
Your Holiness.
Tell us more of this
considerate young man.
He, uh, has
the energy of youth
but the wisdom of age.
He is attentive to counsel,
but decisive in
his own authority.
And most of all,
he wishes no discord with Rome
or with her pope.
Are we to believe
he is without fault?
Well -
you could perhaps,
were you not
to meet his wife.
His wife?
It is the most
unfortunate match.
The shame of France.
Hm.
Arranged, of course,
when he was only a child.
Back then no one knew
how she would develop.
And now we know
All we can do is wish -
wish for an act of God.
My apologies,
Your Holiness.
I have entirely
forgotten myself.
Please forgive me.
Oh, you have our forgiveness.
Let us talk
further
if you so desire
of, uh,
the shame of France.
The Royal Guard.
Here lies the true worth
of Naples, my Lord Borgia,
not in its buildings nor
its peasants, but here.
Impressive.
And yet merely the razor
tip of the great spear
that is the Neapolitan army.
Straight!
If I may ask
uh, how many men does
Naples have under arms?
Ten thousand men.
Impressive.
One might almost say
incredible.
Put that down!
No more *** thieving,
do you hear me?
You're telling me
that people would wish
to steal such ***?
That's good armour, that.
Just needs shaking
in sand for 10 minutes;
it'll come up good.
You shake this in
sand for 10 minutes
and all you'll end
up with is rust.
Now as to residence -
on her marriage,
your sister will become
the Duchess of Bisceglie.
We had-
Some attendance at the
court would be in order.
We had already discussed it.
She's happy to undertake
any duties that are expected.
Agreed.
Very well; then I think our
business here is concluded.
There is one other thing.
The child.
The *** son?
Yes.
My feelings on that matter
have already been made
abundantly clear.
I do not ask that you
parade him in public.
I do not ask that you
make any statement,
any commitment.
But to separate a
mother from her child -
Her *** child.
A child that she loves -
A *** child nevertheless.
All I ask is that Giovanni
should accompany his mother.
Quietly, if you wish.
In the company of a nursemaid.
Out of the public eye,
but in the *** of his family.
His family
is to be my family,
a family that traces
back its lineage
to Aragon and Castille,
the kings and queens
of Spain and Portugal,
and I can assure you,
my Lord Borgia,
my family has never
encompassed
the offspring
of stable boys.
You would risk an
open breach over this?
An open breach with me?
Do not parade your empty threats
around here, Cesare Borgia.
Rome needs Naples -
you know this
as well as I do.
Your father sent you here
to consolidate an alliance,
not to treat favours
for an infant.
I'm not here to
consolidate an alliance
but to consider one.
And I will consider one
elsewhere if the need arises.
Do not be hasty,
Your Highness.
Turn the matter
over in your mind.
Come to my
sister's wedding
and let us have
your answer then.
Highness.
Why did you say nothing?
What?
You sat there,
meek as a girl -
and said not one word.
Your wife!
Your family!
Have you nothing
to say?
Back to Rome.
There's a report.
A report in what?
The state of the army.
Stores, powder,
shots for the cannon,
readiness of the men.
Commissioned for
the pope himself.
In preparation for war.
What else?
I should very much
like to see it.
Was it pleasant
to see your home?
Yes.
You and I should
speak together.
He refused?
When he finally
comes to his senses
he will realize that
one child's happiness
is a small price to pay
for the goodwill of Rome.
Yes, one child's happiness.
And that of his mother.
Is that so much to ask,
that threats must be made,
alliances held in jeopardy?
Am I so hard to love?
No.
No, my love.
Rome is the peak
of the world,
and we are at its pinnacle,
and yet
still, no matter
which way I turn,
I still can't seem to find
that which will
make me truly happy.
Why can I not be happy?
I will make you happy.
I promise.
Forgive my prurience.
Am I to understand
she is so uncomely
she is unbeddable?
In all honesty, then
Yes, honesty,
is always good.
She is what we must
call a two-sack woman.
What?
There are women one
might take to bed
only if they were to wear
a sack over their heads.
And then there are others
where you too must
wear a sack,
lest theirs fall off.
Sadly, she is more
than likely barren.
Ah.
Well, King Louis
has our every sympathy.
I am most encouraged to hear
you say so, Your Holiness.
Now, we should
bid you goodnight.
It could hardly
have been clearer.
He wants an annulment.
Uh-huh.
And you're the only person
in Christendom
who can give it to him.
Uh-huh.
This is it.
This is where the game turns.
Everyone fears the French,
and we hold their royal
succession in our hands.
Everyone fears the French.
Especially those who have
felt her sword, like Naples.
Ah!
I have seen Naples, Father.
There is nothing there.
Nothing but a king whose throat
I would joyfully slit.
A warehouse full of rust
and spiderwebs.
No army, no will,
just a *** with his hand
out begging Rome for coin.
Hm.
Your sister
marries Naples.
Why don't you
marry France?
And you would hold two states
in the palm of your hand:
France and Naples.
Cesare to France,
Lucrezia to Naples.
Two states,
one who desires the other.
A desire that is destined
to be frustrated.
Once your sister
is married to Naples,
you will take ship
to France.
You will take with
you a papal brief
granting annulment to
the king's marriage.
But you will not grant
this gift lightly.
You will use every
advantage you can.
Hm?
As you said yourself:
everybody fears France.
Well, let it be
everybody but us.
And while you're there
find yourself a bride.
Your cousin
banished Vitelli.
Your family dispossessed.
Your cousin-
Cardinal Orsini-
dead, at the pope's own hand.
What more convincing do you
need to come to my lady's side?
Your mistress
deludes herself
if she believes she can be
victor over the Pope of Rome.
My mistress alone
perhaps.
The assassinations failed.
He lives.
The alternative
you would bring us
is open warfare against
the papal armies of Rome.
That is a great deal
more of a risk
than a blade in the dark.
And the blade in the
dark failed miserably
What if it was
less of a risk?
What if it was more
of a certainty?
Dear God.
Is this information accurate?
This is an exact
copy of the report
commissioned by
Cesare Borgia himself.
It's accurate.
The papal armies of Rome
barely exist.
I was told to deliver these.
Shall I take them through?
Yes, take that one.
And over there.
Where would you like them?
Over there.
Should we arrange King
Ferdinand's retinue
and family on the one hand,
and ours on the other,
or should we take
the fashionable route
and let the guests
intermingle?
What is it?
Cesare is to go to France.
What of it?
Straight after my wedding -
the wedding that
shackles me to Naples -
my brother sets sail to court
Naples's greatest enemy.
He said as much?
No.
But it was in his eyes.
He can't hide things from me.
Why are you so upset?
This makes no odds
between Alfonso and you -
What rules this family,
Mother?
Love.
Ambition.
Ambition rules this family.
My father's.
My brother's.
And I will have to add to that,
my own if I don't want to
live in a garden of weeds.
Lucrezia
It was you who purged the poison
from your father's veins.
In that hour,
you saved Rome.
I believe you are
the equal to any task,
least of all that of
taking care of your family.
Do you hear?
Have more faith in yourself.
I shall.
There's no one else
to have faith in.
He's done what?
Invited her
to the wedding.
He would invite that ***
*** into our house?
Not alone.
Gian Paulo Baglioni,
Prospero Colonna-
Oh!
The Orsini brothers.
Vitelezzo Vitelli.
Half the Lords
of the Romagna!
And Catherina Sforza.
And Catherina Sforza.
As honoured guests of
King Ferdinand of Naples.
Why is he doing this?
I don't know.
To show his strength?
To show that Naples
does not stand alone?
To throw my own
words back in my face
and show that the
alliance with Rome
is only one of any number
he would consider.
You'll forbid it, of course.
What, and insult him publicly?
Humiliate him?
Yes.
Yes, why not?
Because the whole
of Italy is watching!
Would you have
them see us divided
even amongst
our own family?
Bickering like peasants?
Do you not see
that even the impression
of weakness begets weakness?
No.
We are the Pope of Rome,
the vicar of Christ.
Let her come.
My lord.
I placed you here,
as you see.
At my side.
I see it.
Are you?
Of course,
at your side.
Whatever happens:
France, or Spain, Naples
they can crumble to dust,
for all I care.
As long as you -
Forgive me!
His Royal Highness,
King Ferdinand II of Naples.
You are welcome
in the name of Christ.
Peace be upon you.
Naples thanks you.
Catherina Sforza Riario,
Countess of Forli
and Lady of Imola.
We had almost lost hope
of having you kneel before us.
I bend my knee to no man
unless I choose to.
We should have
prepared her apartments
in the Castel
Sant Angelo
Hm.
I knew she was clever,
but I never realized
how clever until today.
Well, put her from your mind.
The die is cast
and we must hazard everything
or leave the game.
Have you lost your mind?
What have you done,
you fool!
You invite her here?
Into the heart
of Rome
onto the steps
of the Vatican
for the whole
world to see?
You're insane.
And you're naive!
My invitation of Catherina
Sforza is a move in the game,
as is your marriage
to the pope's daughter.
My marriage is no game.
Don't be a child.
I love Lucrezia.
Maybe you can't understand -
Whether you love her,
hate her, are repulsed by her -
you marry her,
and you secure our claim
to the friendship of Rome.
Why else do you think I put
you forward to be her suitor?
And therefore also choose
to remind His Holiness
that Naples has friends,
friends beyond Rome.
And if Rome wishes the
friendship of Naples,
that friendship needs to
be cultivated, nurtured -
She tried to kill
his children!
His grandchild!
That, too, is the game;
a game in which you are
new and uninstructed.
Now, play your part.
Get married,
*** the pope's daughter,
and leave the serious
matters for your elders.
Now go.
My lord.
May I take
the opportunity
to offer your sister
my congratulations
on the occasion
of her marriage.
I shall be sure
to tell her.
Should I also offer my
father your congratulations
on his recovery
from poison?
My family
your congratulations
on their escape
from assassination?
If it pleases you to do so.
You risk everything, my lady.
Do you think me
ignorant of that?
You have your blade there.
No one would stop you.
I know what I risk.
You could sink
your steel into me -
to the hilt -
if you wished.
My lady.
His Holiness,
Your Majesty, my lords.
Ladies and gentlemen -
Pray open the dance.
[♪]
[♪]
[♪]
Such delights!
Your sister looks quite
entrancing, does she not?
She does.
Would you take
a drink with me?
Marriage can be
such a blessing.
A man and wife united
in the sight of God.
It is a beautiful thing.
It should be.
It can be.
Even for the
King of France.
Do you cry at weddings?
I always find
my eyes a little
moist.
I would cry at my own,
perhaps.
Ah, why so, my Lord Borgia?
Because it would mean the
end of a certain life for me.
Your father has mentioned
the possibility
of a French bride.
Ah.
What would France
say to that?
One marriage for another.
Beauty and blessings
all round.
Our little pack of wolves.
What is their price?
Land.
The restoration of what
has been taken from them.
Tell them if they pledge
their swords to me,
they shall have
all they had before,
and the Borgia estates
I will divide among them.
I will.
So we are done in Rome?
Very far from it.
Those who we would overcome
we must first confound.
I would confound this pope.
More than you
have already?
Considerably more.
My lords.
Orsini.
And who are you?
Do you not know?
You are no cardinal.
You have no robes,
and you are no soldier.
You have no army.
You're not even anyone's
legitimate son.
Roberto.
So I ask again.
Who are you?
Oh, take a breath,
Roberto.
Have some more wine,
my wine.
Take a dance in the garden,
my garden.
The pretty young noblewomen
of Rome would, I'm sure,
delight to have you
paw at them.
I care nothing for your
pretty young noblewomen.
Then I will introduce you
to some pretty young
noblemen instead.
Calm down!
Brother!
Take a walk.
So
Are you, umm
are you still
a ***?
You know I am.
Saving yourself
for marriage.
I told you as much,
didn't I?
And, um,
are we now married?
I believe so.
I seem to remember a ceremony.
I also.
What's this?
This board?
It's nothing.
It's seating arrangements
for the wedding.
*** me.
This isn't the wedding.
This is ally on the one hand
and enemy on the other.
Who did this?
Only my brother
would have -
Is this what I am
to your brother?
A question mark.
A question mark.
A QUESTION MARK!
Is this what I am
to your family?
[♪]
[♪]
[♪]
What on God's earth?
Am I so hard to love?
No, Lucrezia -
you cannot.
But I must.
Only a Borgia, it seems,
can truly love a Borgia.
They already whisper it of us-
throughout the whole
of Italy.
Why deny ourselves
the pleasure
of which we're
already accused?
Your husband -
You will be my husband
tonight.
[♪]
[♪]
[♪]