The Borgias

Previously on The Borgias:

Now is the time of reckoning.

The vultures are circling our family.

Our Rome.

We must remove him from the chair of St. Peter's and from this world.

Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord. Ah. Vengeance will be ours.

No! Catherina Sforza.

If she does not kiss the papal ring,

we will drag her in chains through the streets of Rome.

You would have me kneel to him? Bow?

I only kneel when it suits me.

Catherina Sforza shared her bed with me.

Did she beg to be friends with us?

She remains an enemy.

Now we're in need of another alliance. I will not marry.

It is a daughter's duty to marry her father's choice.

Surrender to my forces! Journey to Rome!

I will never bend my knee to the whore master of Rome.

Fire!

We're under attack!

What should have been a glorious victory is an ignominious defeat.

Father, we must discuss our brother. He is hurtling towards ruin.

He will drag this whole family with him. Sleep well.

The pope is surrounded by a ring of steel.

I propose we use the weapon the Borgia family uses:

Cantarella.

I would gladly die to rid the world of the Borgia pope.

The thought of marriage turns my stomach.

The warm touch of a lover might ease the pain.

We grow weary of this game. It is no game.

You are marrying for all of us, Lucrezia. For family!

Who are you? I'm Prince Alfonso d'Aragona,

suitor to the Lady Lucrezia.

Yes, I will marry him. He has all the sweetness of an apple on the tree.

You want to inhabit my shoes, carry my sword.

You must resign yourself, Cesare.

You'll realise I've done everything for your own good.

Leave my baby. Juan, leave my baby alone.

I will not have this family torn apart. Help him through his dark night.

Come to beg forgiveness for your insult?

You're already forgiven.

We're Borgias.

We never forgive.

Your brother murdered in cold blood. Who would do such a thing?

Many people, Father.

I have wished him dead a thousand times.

Find his murderer. Scour all Italy.

There will be no need of that. Do you know who did this?

I have taken upon my head the act that none other would dare commit.

If I cannot have your affection, can you at least grant me your forgiveness?

We realise now that we have brought this upon ourselves.

Father!

Help!

Come with me! Hurry!

Help! Father!

Summon the physician!

Is he dead?

Stand back!

Make way, I say! Physician, hurry!

Make way!

Move! Move aside!

Seal the city!

Close the gates!

Make way! Make way, make way.

Cantarella. What can you do?

Nothing. His soul is already departing this world.

His soul does not depart until I give it leave.

There is nothing. No remedy, no antidote, nothing to cure such a case.

No, there is. There is something. Charcoal.

But I have only read of it, never seen it done.

I need water, water.

Open his mouth.

Get this down.

Come on, help me!

Force it in until he can bear no more. If he vomits, force more. Understand?

But this is witchcraft.

This is physic. Get to it.

Do what she says, every detail.

And if his soul departs, I shall ensure it does not do so alone.

Yes, eminence. Hand me water. Push this down his throat.

Get these people out of here. I want this room clear.

Get it down.

Will he live?

I found this in the boy's cell.

A Dominican salter in a Franciscan cell?

I have closed the city.

I must leave. Do what you can.

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Keep going.

Come on.

The last words I spoke to him,

Shh. Shh. they tore him apart.

It's not yet too late.

Who's there, Brother?

Stop! This is the house of God.

And God is angry.

Whose room is this?

Cardinal Della Rovere's.

Where is he? Where is Della Rovere?

My lord. Cantarella.

You, where is he?

Tell me where you have hidden Della Rovere or your life is forfeit.

Show me or I will gut you like a fish.

You threaten me? We are men of God.

Men of God who have conspired to murder my father. Your father.

Did you really think I would not find you out?

Look at me.

Look at me!

Show me.

Show him.

Get up.

There is nothing more I know to do.

Well, we cannot leave him here.

Come.

We've lost him.

It seems our prayers may not be answered.

That depends on the nature of your prayers.

God forbid he should die.

But should he die,

there will be opportunity.

There will be mayhem.

God wants an Italian. The Holy Spirit wants a Roman. We should decide amongst ourselves.

Find the safest Italian hands, bless the martyr who brought about this outcome.

A Roman. Of one of the great Italian families.

Colonna, De Luca, Piccolimini, Sforza, Versucci, Orsini.

Yes. Ha-ha-ha.

He could be anywhere.

His arm, lift his arm.

Of course.

I would need to know where you consider me.

Cardinal Orsini.

Cardinal De Luca.

Cardinal Colonna.

Cardinal Sforza.

My brothers, I came as soon as I heard.

As soon as you heard? Of the pope's death.

Cardinal Della Rovere, your information somewhat pre-empts the matter.

He lives?

Amen. Amen.

The life has not left him yet, Eminence.

Cesare.

You.

Your blade! Cesare, put up your blade! No, no, no!

Cesare.

The least disturbance may tip the balance.

Cesare, please! Now, think!

Think of what? Of what happens next.

Of what becomes of us if he dies.

You, me, Lucrezia.

Do you think we've made friends here?

Do you think we can turn to our allies?

Where are these allies, Cesare? Who are our friends?

I'm not pope. Neither are you.

Without him, what becomes of us?

Will he die?

It hangs in the balance.

Then we must wait to see which way the balance falls.

Meanwhile, look to me for your safety.

We should align ourselves now to reap what we can.

There's nothing else.

There are the Borgia estates.

Are we agreed?

An Italian, then? And a Roman.

Della Rovere is both.

He has long been in the wilderness. But far too long.

How long will any of the Borgias survive once he is gone?

I want the treasury. And I want land.

He won't sleep. Take him back to the villa.

Put him in his bed there.

We'll join you as soon as we know his grandfather's fate.

Thank you.

Shh.

Be safe. Yes, my lady.

You go too. It's not safe here.

If it's not safe for me, how can it be for you?

It's not, but I'm a Borgia and my place is here.

I'm to be your husband. Yes, but you are not yet.

Go back to your villa,

and when this is over, one way or the other,

I will send for you, never fear.

I would protect you, you know.

A time may come, but not now.

Christ the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women, blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for our sins.