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Gian Battista Cibo.

Gian Battista Cibo.

Gian Battista Cibo.

Gian Battista Cibo.

The Lord John Battista Chivo, Pata Patrum, Innocent VIII, the

Holy Father, is dead.

You've asked Burkhard to come? Yes, sir, Emilio.

Who else?

My lord, I thought it prudent to warn the Lady Adriana. Of course.

Has word been sent to Cardinal de la Rosaria? Yes, Monsignor. To us via last

night. The petition was paid to inform him when it was known that nothing more

could be done to the Holy Father.

Waste of money, Imperator.

Yes, Monsignor.

The bells will tell all Italy before noon.

Will you now be Pope?

Does it show?

I don't want it.

And if it were mine?

Not your one -eyed husband?

No.

Get dressed, Julia, my child.

Perotto has sent for the Lady Adriana.

Am I still desirable?

Your eminence may be confident of success this time. So I've thought

But he who goes into the conclave a pope, the parts a cardinal still, how

will be absent?

Four, your eminence.

So, I must be assured of 14 votes.

May God direct me in wisdom, Perotto.

He has already directed the Cardinal Rovary.

Has the Almighty told you that himself?

The Cardinal's chamberlain whispered it under the sheets to a woman. How

directed?

To accept 200 ,000 buckets from the French upon the understanding... So

For a Genoese, Giuliano della Rovere is a poor actor.

No, no, no. Upon the understanding that when he's elected, it'll be used to

cleanse the church of fee money and corruption.

When he can't use them to buy votes.

Will your eminence treat with him?

I shall embrace him as a loving wrestler.

One foot about his ankle.

Does your eminence wish me to recall the Lord Cesare from Siena?

No. My son will stay where he is.

Patience is good schooling for young churchmen, and the virtue all Borgias

painfully learn.

Who else knows of Rovery's gift from France?

Monsignor, a woman creeps into many beds.

My dear Perotto, do I ask you to favor a discriminating horse?

However, let her story travel busily.

Into one ear there, another here, then deny it.

You disagree?

My wits are slow, Eminence.

There are some cardinals who will seldom watch the rover. So deny it. My name

with horror.

Let it thrive upon denial.

Until I'm forced, at the favour of a woman, to acknowledge its roots.

Is Cardinal Sforza in Rome?

No. In Ostia, Monsignor. With Cardinal della Rovere.

It is the richest prince of the church to make himself pope because a

vote can be bought for two mule loads of silver.

No one has yet offered me a ducat, Giuliana.

Look at my table, Asconio.

Cups of clay, not gold.

The books in my library are bound in poor hide.

Not studied with jewels.

Your revenues are great.

To be expended wisely on God's work. In which the making of a pope transcends

all other tasks. Because without the head, the body is nothing. Well,

in that work, do not the expenditure be liberal as well as wise?

When there is confidence in the good faith of those upon whom it is bestowed.

Good faith is nurtured by early encouragement.

I agree. I mean, even the Italians will be up.

He'll not resolve the claims of France and Spain to the throne of

Naples. It's upon the matter of France. I hear the king of France... You say you

wait for God's prompting in this. It's made manifest in Rodrigo Borgia.

Who robs the church and thinks of Julia Farnese's body even as he prays.

It's manifest in the Catalan arrogance of his firstborn bastard.

I think the one in front is Giovanni Orsini.

The other one may be his brother, Paolo.

I beg you, my lord, do not be rash.

I hear your cousin will be offered the office of vice -chancellor. Should you

elected?

Very able man.

Indeed he is.

But in poor health, is he not?

He would bring you but one vote.

The office would be a positive inducement, the one with greater

Ask anything but that.

Don't distress yourself, Juliana.

Without such inducement to offer myself, I'd hesitate to ask you to surrender

your nomination and transfer your votes to mine.

Here.

You will accept nomination?

I believe.

that God Almighty has just called me to that duty.

It's the young Volkar.

Good day, my lord, Cesare. The forger Volkar with a discreet tonsure between

tiny horns.

Your brother's manners have not improved, Barlow.

My humble apologies, your grace.

Will the learned bishop of Pamplona forgive me and grant me his blessing?

May Lucifer go with you, my son, in the name of the goat, the serpent, and the

toad. Do not provoke us, my lord.

I've no quarrel with you, Paolo Orsini. You were a friend in our childhood.

Then we'll be still.

Well, his father bets our cousin's wife. No doubt your cousin will profit from

the experience.

You heard the bells, my lord?

What will you wager against my horse in the Palio?

A hundred ducats?

Five hundred.

And a thousand against the Borgia Pope.

No, my lord.

Call it. The hawk is lost.

You're a fool, Giampaolo Baglioni.

What's a hawk to me now?

At the last conclave,

each cardinal was given a table, a chair, a stool, two urinals,

a seat for the dischargement of the stomach,

Two small napkins for the table.

Four hand towels.

Two little... Enough.

Enough. This is not what I asked for.

Does your eminence wish to hear of the sale reserve for each party? No.

There will be sugar and pine seeds, as before.

And marsupial.

You are a worthy master of ceremony.

Whoever next takes Peter's shoes.

Who do well to keep you in that office.

Your eminence is more than generous.

You keep a journal, do you not?

My son?

Your eminence?

Prato.

You keep a day book?

Yes, Monsignor.

Of gossip, perhaps?

No, Monsignor.

You hear none?

For example, that the Jew physician gave his late holiness potions of blood

drawn from the veins of young boys.

And if Cardinal Sforza becomes Pope, his brother Ludovico will boldly strangle

their nephew and make himself the Duke of Milan.

When God calls, if God calls me to the Triple Crown,

The burdens will be eased by so well -informed a friend.

If evidence may be sure, I'd serve him with love and loyalty.

Then you are determined upon it.

I must respond to cogent persuasion. Oh, yes.

Your brother, Lord of Ico.

The regent of Milan is not my master.

I reckon.

Refer to the prompting of my conscience.

You may rely upon federal votes, perhaps eight.

So many.

You have the support of Milan and Venice.

You are French.

I told you there's no truth in that.

In the early voting, I shall cast for Costa and Zeno.

And by the third day, we should face each other, Juliana.

Bar if you are, may expect as many as four votes.

Do you?

No. He will prevent either of us from securing the majority of two -thirds.

What shall we do then, I wonder?

The castle of Nepi and the revenues of Agria.

And the vice -chancellorship.

20 ,000 ducats.

And the vice -chancellorship.

If we cannot agree, Borussia will profit.

And Spain's word will run through Italy from Naples to the Alps.

And if we do agree, so may the word of France.

He is a Catalan, but you put even Spain second to his family.

A Borussia dynasty of popes.

In return for your votes, Giuliano, I'd gladly offer you the vice

-chancellorship.

Good morning, cousin.

Where is Julia?

Is her husband pining for her? She should rejoin my son until the conclave

over.

She says she must go.

She will do as she's told and quickly.

There is a mob on Via Fafale and the cardinal's servants are looting the

apartments for their masters.

A proper custom.

This holiness may now face St. Peter in virtuous poverty.

Two of your own are among them.

Splendid.

Julia. Madonna.

How's Lucrezia?

She's well.

Agree? It improves.

A Latin.

Better than her manners.

Then I was wrong to entrust my daughter to you, Adriana.

What her mother do better?

Madonna has a good heart and loves Lucrezia.

As a cow its calf.

But better for a child of the Borgia boon.

Wait now.

In there.

No. I shall stay here.

Now go, child.

You better go.

You may stay until I go to the conclave.

What do I tell my son?

That his wife is with me.

And his Orsini kinsmen?

Do you think they give a fig because you had me to cackle your poor son?

You should know the complaisance hopes for future profit.

You will not be pope now.

Sforza is at Ostia with Robert.

As one great cat smells out another.

So cast for the one or the other and wait.

Wait?

At 19 I came to Rome and I waited.

At 25, I was cardinal.

26, vice -chancellor.

And I waited.

When our uncle, the Pope, died, the mob cried, Catalan!

And they killed my brother.

And I waited.

Eight years ago, I was cheated over the tiara.

And I waited.

Now I'm 60, and I'll wait no longer.

For God has rewarded my patience.

I'm Rodrigo Borja.

with enough gold to fill the Sistine Chapel.

On the second vote of the second day, the votes cast this morning for Cardinal

Zeno and Costa having been transferred to the second preference on the papers,

the figures now are for the Cardinal Presbyter of San Pietro of Vincoli, nine

votes, for the Cardinal Deacon of San Pietro of San Modesto, seven votes.

The Cardinal Bishop of Porto de Santa Fina, Vice -Chancellor of the Holy Roman

Church, fine votes.

There being no majority of two -thirds, the papers will be burned and the voting

will be resumed tomorrow night.

For example, the rumor.

that Cardinal Rovere has accepted 200 ,000 ducats from France to secure his

election.

Why, it was you who told me, Federico.

I know your eminence. Speak of it with others.

You see how cynical I am.

I'll say nothing ill of Giuliano Rovere.

Monsignor, if I may not vote.

yet have already done so. All will be well, if you trust me.

But how did you cast your vote, Federico?

You have much to learn, my Lord Bishop.

You've been too long in Italy.

Never hesitate when a knack is drawn.

Writing you?

Don't struggle, boy.

My instincts are strong.

I saw you writing with Giovanni Orsini.

A tight -pursed master.

Are you more generous than he?

I'd be wise to outbid him, I think.

You see my trade?

There is none better at it.

Would you take me into your household, my lord?

Where should I?

I am a Spaniard, like you.

And I am only modestly ambitious.

And I do say that your father will one day be pope.

Signor, how can I refuse?

I agree. Now let me go!

Forgive me, my lord.

Your oath on it first.

In the name of Mary, Mother of Christ.

Your name?

Miguel de Correa.

Call Michelotto.

Take notice of your own precept, Signor Michelotto.

In my service, you'll never hesitate when the knife is drawn.

I call upon our saviour to witness that the vote I am about to give has been

dictated by my conscience alone.

The figures now are, of the Cardinal Presbyter of San Pietro, eight votes, of

the Cardinal Bishop of Porto and San Rufino, seven votes, of the Cardinal

of San Vito, six votes.

There being no majority of two -thirds, papers will be burned.

Jean -Baptiste, you have persuaded me.

The revenues of Cartagena.

The castle of Nepe.

And my new palace on the Bakivaki.

And the office of vice -chancellor.

The revenues of Agria.

And the office of vice -chancellor.

Three mule loads of silver.

Cardinal Riario, whose vote I have, has asked for my palace of Trastevere.

Since it's yours, it's in your gift.

It shall be given, if I may hope, for the palace of San Lorenzo.

Which accompanies the office of vice -chancellor.

So it does.

Very well.

The vice -chancellorship.

Is that all, Ascanio?

I feel the pinch of poverty.

Um, my brother Ludovico hopes that a new pope will acknowledge his title to the

dukedom of Milan.

Your nephew, the duke, is gravely ill?

We fear he may soon be.

I see no obstacle, unless your brother has objection for an alliance between

Milan and the Holy Office.

Not a little consummated in a marriage bed.

Cesare?

The Lady Lucrezia and our nephew Giovanni.

You have so many nephews.

And she's already betrothed.

It is always.

You've done so before.

Rovery has a niece.

I couldn't think of that vinegar stick in bed with any man.

Even your nephew, Giovanni.

Very well.

That is all, Ascania.

Is it not?

Four mule loads.

And gold, Rodrigo.

Not silver.

The Cardinal Bishop of Porto and Saurafina, 13 votes.

The Cardinal Presbyter of Campietro.

Eight votes.

There being no majority of two -thirds, the papers will be burned and the voting

will be resumed tomorrow.

No, Jack, no.

You are wrong.

Come, sit down.

What's that?

No pope, eh?

Not yet, old friend.

Did I vote for you?

No, Giacomo. For Giuliano Rovere.

Oh, you see, I forget. I'm old.

Too old. No.

A venerable age.

Ninety -six. Ninety -six.

They ask too much.

The paper is the vote.

My hand is rusty.

Of course.

Oh, we are all thoughtless.

I have it.

Perotto can be your scrivener.

Let him write your vote for you.

May God in his mercy release me soon.

Too many years.

Too many debts.

What? Debts?

Debts. Perotto.

A note.

Five thousand ducats.

No.

Hello, Giacomo.

I would not insult you.

For the Cardinal Bishop of Porto and Santa Rufina, 14 votes.

For the Cardinal Presbyter of San Pietro and Vincoli, 7 votes.

We have for Pope, the Lord Rodrigo de L 'Ancoli Borger, Cardinal Bishop of Porto

and Santa Rufina, Dean of the Sacred College.

Vice -Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church.

I am Paul.

I am Paul.

We are the people of Christ.

Alexander the Invincible.

We desire and take the name of Alexander the Sixth.

You've come for me? Yes, my lord.

No, my lord.

My lord.

In private.

We have been called to St. Peter's chair at a time of grave danger for Mother

Church, threatened as it is by forces within and without.

We are determined to restore order to this city of Rome and the faithful

Brotherhood and peace.

young princes, respect for God among all men.

The Holy See shall be cleansed of tyranny, of simony, corruption, and all

villains.

We are vicar of Christ for the salvation of souls, not the gratification of

personal or family ambition.

Ten paces without gratifying his family ambition shall be discontinued.

And in earnest of his love, he makes you Archbishop of Valencia, together with

revenues of 16 ,000 ducats and the palace of... But I'm not to come to

Oh, my lord, he's assured the Curia he'll not permit his children to...

there already!

Open me!

But discreetly.

His Holiness believes your nature will not allow... The devil with my nature! I

go to Rome! My lord, don't be so stubborn!

Nicolano!

Trust me, my lord!

I won't forget you, you little weasel!

You can tell him I'll wait!

Tell him I'll wait no longer!

An audience.

To recommend the Lord Rinaldo to His Holiness.

Upon what matter?

The desire of my master, the Duke of Mantua, that his cousin may receive...

beautiful the Lady Lucrezia looks in the firelight.

Be silent.

You may not speak so. Not to me.

You're a child, Lucrezia. I'll speak as I wish.

I am to be wed.

Thus I am no longer a child.

A child. And too small to become big with child.

When my brother Cesare writes to me, he calls you the bride of Christ.

He does so, he says, because he'd not offend my ears by calling you the Pope's

whore. You witch!

Get out!

Take it out!

Take it out!

Madonna, I'm very saying, it is the desire of my master that his cousin

receive the cardinal's hand.

A neck so white, so slender, need...

What does your excellency think?

I'm content to agree with you, madame.

Pearls.

The lady Lucrezia is excessively fond of pearls.

My brother Cesare says that when women become fat, they lose their wits as well

as their beauty and are thus unlovable.

Because your brother, Chesiree, will not love you.

Chesiree.

Geoffrey Farney. Chesiree. Excellency. Welcome to my humble house. My son.

Happy and unhappy mother.

Oh, Chesiree.

Who is he?

Hmm? It was a shadow.

He blew out the light and he's gone.

Why are you in Rome?

Oh, it's the princess. Oh, she's well.

When will she be well? In the autumn.

Will you oppose it, Cesare?

If you will. Oh, no, no, my son. Say nothing, do nothing.

I am content.

You weren't given leave to return to Rome.

How are you, Signor Canale?

You prosper.

Indeed, Your Excellency. The holiness has appointed him commander of the Torre

di Nonna.

Prison governor?

Well, you didn't expect that when you wed my mother, now, did you, sir? No,

no. Forgive me. I certainly expected nothing less.

One is to be captain general of the Holy Church.

What? It was agreed long ago.

You were to be the priest and I the soldier.

I could defeat any force you led with only 50 horsemen.

each wearing a cuirass of brightly polished steel.

A Popping Joe brother would be so besotted with 50 images of himself, he'd

no wits left for battle. You're ever a braggart.

Would Your Excellency some wine?

Must you always quarrel with your brother in my house? We meet nowhere

Then I shall forbid you to come, though I see you too rarely. My father's a fool

to favour him.

If you weren't so blind with envy, you'd see he loves you boldly. But he keeps

me from Rome.

Why won't he acknowledge me as his child?

The Borgia pool stands on every column in Rome.

I may not put it above my house or on my servant's couch.

I will speak with him.

You?

You mean nothing to him now.

You've nothing to bargain with.

If you must be cruel, take care you do not enjoy the pain you inflict.

You're right, of course.

When you see him, tell him... Tell

him I pray for him.

She's well?

Yes.

Where are you lodged?

At the Palazzo Baglioni.

Am I welcome?

You come to Rome without our permission.

You've grown a beard.

You wear silk, velvet, and carry a sword.

You've hired an assassin, Perotto says.

None of this is seemly an archbishop.

Even one so young.

Any man with the courage to stand above me may see that I am a servant of God.

What other man has such a son?

What other son must call his father uncle?

Yes, your mother said.

You've seen that?

Yes.

I will not buy your love.

I want a cardinal's hat.

I was 25 before I became... You've given one to Alexander Farnese. Do I come

second to the brother of your whore?

You're afraid of me?

You're not eligible for the college.

You are illegitimate. I am what my mother made me and may be what you

You're Pope.

We are Pope and carry the world upon our shoulders like a patient has.

We hold the future of the Holy See in trembling hands.

We face the dark and weep for all men.

When Ferrandi of Naples dies, as he shortly will, France and Spain will

in the belly of Italy unless I prevent it.

Pray for me, my friend. And my brother, the Duke of Gandia, is to be your

captain general. Your brother Juan goes to Spain, in Lucrezia's word, as our

envoy, and will himself marry anyone they have to offer in Aragon.

By Lucrezia's marriage, we shall have its forces army between us.

And the greed of trust. You see, I take you to my confidence and trust.

What trust?

I have waited and waited and waited for you to send for me, and still I am kept

from Rome.

Juan attends your courts, holding hands with an Ottoman savage.

This gem is a hostage.

The Sultan pays us 40 ,000 ducats a year to keep him here. I have a better way

with Turks.

Release me from my office.

I'll offer my sword to the Knights of Rhodes.

If you wish.

you well.

Out Caesar, out Nullus. This shall be Caesar or nothing.

There was a reason you were kept in Rome.

The cardinal has been examining your legitimacy.

They have decided you are the lawful son of the lady Manotta by her first

husband. We shall issue a bull according to the door of a brothel.

My second beau, private and unpromoted, shall acknowledge you as our son.

It will give me great joy.

Do I get a cardinal's hat?

Of course.

Say more than that, Jesus.

I brought you a gift.

Where is your brother, Cesare?

Not here, as you can see.

Does he love you no more?

You saw him at our wedding today.

Yes. Sit clean at the thought of your marriage bed.

Hold your tongue.

Nobly honored by you.

This plate was your gift.

Proclaimed a rubies from your brother Ludovico, I believe.

A pity that, um, a fever, is it, keeps him from Rome?

Ludovico.

You were not present at the wedding.

I avoid the infection of other men's others.

And how is your nephew, the Duke?

A languishing.

If Ferranti of Naples wants to knock my head and dispute my right to the

dukedom, I'll open the gates of Milan and loose the French at his throat.

France's claim to the throne of Naples is past history.

And Ferranti is not yet dead, Ludovico.

But dying.

Thank God.

He's nominated his son as successor.

And I, Charles of France, having reminded the nasty little ape of his

Naples.

Spain will contest it.

and Rodrigo Borja.

Take her to bed.

No,

no, no.

You forgot the contract.

The contract?

The lady Lucretia is too young for the duties of marriage.

In a year, she'll be all you desire.

It's an excellent portello on the Campo Masso.

If you wish, my chamberlain can direct it.

You know, Spain will direct the conscience of that Catalan bull.

But he will make them pay for it.

When will Charles come?

If the runty obliges us by dying before Christmas, there'll be French lancers in

our olive groves by spring.

But will they unseat Rodrigo?

And in favour of whom?

Your eminence must now earn his 200 ,000 ducats.

Thus has the authority of the church become so debased that there is more

honesty among thieves and more virtue among harlots.

We have seen great offices used to gratify lust and greed,

title and preferment distributed like playthings among children.

We have seen the Cardinal of Valencia sent to Naples to dignify

at his honest marriage between his baby brother Geoffrey and the daughter of

Alfonso of Aragon, between one bastard and another. Oh, blow your tongue,

Silence!

Continue, but cautiously.

Even a goater knows.

That this marriage and the other Spanish marriage of his brother Juan were

payment for the recognition given by the Holy Chair to the fourth succession of

the Spanish claimant to the throne of Naples.

We were promised honesty and we've been fed with lies.

We were promised an end to corruption and we choke in its stench.

We were promised peace and we must now endure war.

Juliano. May I not speak?

But the cities of the north are already in revolt.

In every village, poor priests cry out against Rome's wickedness and call for

avenging sword.

It will come.

This morning, I received news that the King of France will enter Italy when the

passes are clear.

And will advance upon Naples to remove the usurper.

All roads to Naples must pass through Rome.

And if Charles of France is opposed by the Holy See...

Ascani will speak.

Helens.

My brother Ludovico.

wishes me to inform this consistory that as duke of milan no

he strangled your witless nephew as duke of milan and a true

servant of god and his conscience he feels obliged

to offer the french all assistance to

To cleanse St. Peter's chair!

I refuse!

I refuse!

Silence!

Silence!

Silence! Silence!

Have none of you been paid enough?

get more from France?

Will you?

You yelp and squeal like deflowered virgins.

Am I to be frightened of that?

I am Pope.

I.

If I must, I'll create a hundred new cardinals to replace you.

Test me.

Test me!

And you'll see what manner of man is a bourgeois.

Charles of France demands free passage through the Papal States and threatens

you with deposition if you refuse.

What will you do?

In the North, the people are shouting, Viva Francia!

The priests declare that the sword has come.

What will you do?

Good sense obliged me to pray, I think.

You have no force to resist.

No. I believe they may conquer Rome with a few pieces of chalk they need to mark

their billets.

Send me to Naples.

Right. Tell Alfonso to give me command of his army. Yes, commanders.

With my approval.

Who?

Vincenio Fini.

And his sons, Paolo and Giovanni.

What do you mean?

You fool.

Did you learn nothing from Schwarzer's treachery?

You old fool!