- Who is there? - Cesare Borgia.
What do you want?
Your sister has devoted these last weeks to prayer,
penance and solitude.
- I beg you, eminence. - I am no longer a cardinal.
I've got very important news for her. Where is she?
You're profaning a sacred place.
No man should be here, eminence.
I am no longer a cardinal.
Penthesilea!
Sire...
My sister.
In the name of God, don't cause a scandal.
Stand aside.
Lucrezia!
Are you hiding from me now?
Don't make any more mistakes.
I love her, Cesare.
- I accept responsibility. - I'm not the one you must explain to.
Get your mistress ready.
We're going back to Rome.
I know it was a mistake,
but you know well, Holiness,
the strength that love can have and how it blinds us.
Perotto...
You had to look after her.
We placed our trust in you.
You have every reason to be angry
and I know that all my repentance will never be enough
for having betrayed your trust,
but my feelings were sincere, I swear by Our Lord.
We were moved only by love,
not by malice or lust.
Cesare...
I'm your son.
You think, I execute.
Come here, my son.
It is all forgotten, Lucrezia.
It is all forgiven.
But don't do anything else silly.
You have to think of your next husband.
I don't want another husband.
All who come near me seem to be doomed.
That's rubbish!
Stop this useless grief, put on your most elegant clothes.
I want Alfonso of Aragon to be fascinated
by the famous beauty of Lucrezia Borgia.
Father,
I loved him.
A woman may know many men
but she has only one father and one name.
If she loses them, she loses herself.
You are a Borgia.
I don't want to tell you that again.
Where is Penthesilea?
Your maid couldn't bear the shame.
They fished her body out of the Tiber yesterday.
Poor girl.
Remorse killed her.
May the Lord have mercy on her.
First, you said they would soon fall,
but they grow stronger every day
and more despotic.
Now, you ask us to fight under their banner?
What is happening to you all?
Don't you see that the more we feed their power,
the greater we'll make them?
The Orsinis will fight under the Pope's flag,
not that of the Borgias.
The Vatican will be stronger, not they.
It's the same thing.
The Pope is expropriating castles and lands from Roman families
to give them to Cesare.
He even gave Nepi to his whore of a daughter.
I don't think he asks Lucrezia's opinion.
She is just a tool.
That's...!
You too?
What power does she exert over you?
She married her second husband
carrying a servant's baby in her belly,
if it wasn't Cesare's or the Pope's, as many say.
A saint, isn't she?
Lucrezia is the Pope's daughter, daughter-in-law and wife.
I'd strangle Cesare with my own hands
and, like him, I'd have no mercy.
- I don't fear the Borgias. - No?
No!
Then why must we obey them day after day, year after year?
I defeated Juan Borgia
and I can stop that pig Cesare humiliating us.
I!
Such stupidity.
You have to be at the enemy's side.
No other position is so comfortable,
when the time comes to strike the mortal blow.
He's right.
Think, Paolo, think!
Amen.
Leave us.
I had it forged for you.
- "Either Cesare or nothing". - Either Cesare or nothing.
From today, that will be your motto, my son.
Come.
In the Pope's name, you will crush the lords of the center of Italy,
one by one.
I want a kingdom for the Borgias.
It won't be easy. They are strong, they have castles, armies...
Yes,
but they are tyrants.
They detest each other and are detested by their people.
They humiliate and despise their own people.
You'll be received as a liberator.
- Burkard. - Holiness?
No sleeping today.
We have to write to those arrogant princes
and remind them they've never paid their tributes to the Holy See
and that the patience of Alexander VI is at an end.
"By his apostolic powers,
he declares you deprived of all right and all power
over the domains which the Holy Church
granted to you at one time
and which now, with the same authority, it takes from you."
It's a declaration of war.
And he's sent it to you, who reigns in Forli and Imola,
like the other lords.
What does His Holiness expect? To be the master of all Italy?
His son.
It's not he but Cesare who wants it.
They say that Alexander VI
has got the King of France to grant him
a noble title.
But his dream is to become Duke of Romagna.
Duke of Romagna...
Those Borgias are ambitious.
Do you know what we'll do, cardinal?
We'll go to their house first
before they come to ours.
Go, Duke of Valentinois,
and submit those who, ignoring our words and our mandates,
turn their backs on the Lord,
whose power will protect you.
Your sister Lucrezia has a gift for you.
This is a copy of Julius Cesar's helmet
when he conquered the world for Rome.
Take it, so it may bring you, beloved brother,
the same honors.
Thank you, Lucrezia,
sister.
Share my fortune and my fate.
And remember that wherever I may be,
a part of this Cesare
will always be yours.
As I also belong to you,
brother.
May Our Lord and His Holy Mother
protect you all on this journey with my beloved son Cesare,
your captain
and Captain General of the Holy Mother Church.
You, the Orsinis, have also given way.
We obey His Holiness,
as you also do, Cardinal Della Rovere,
and, like you, we prefer to wait.
Here is our leader.
Sire.
Sire?
For you, I'll always be Cesare, my friend.
Duke of Valentinois.
Eminence.
I am glad you are leading our men.
No one in Rome has such courage and talent.
I'll pray for your conquests and victories.
I'm fighting only for the Holy Church.
But I'm happy you've decided to be a friend of the Borgias.
I hope God hears your prayers.
Eminence...
He doesn't look like you.
If he did, he would be handsomer.
He'll be intelligent.
Holiness,
two messengers from Countess Caterina Sforza request an audience.
I'm busy, Burkard, can't you see? Take care of it.
I would, happily, and always do when I can,
but this time the gift is not for me.
Very well.
Abbot Burkard does his work very diligently.
He's ingenious and alert,
but he irritates me at times. Excuse me.
Maybe I should change my secretary.
Holiness,
we bring you, on behalf of Countess Caterina Sforza,
a crucifix worked by Forli's master goldsmiths.
It would be an honor if you were to accept it.
The Countess's fame has reached our ears.
They say she moves like the ancient Amazons
and is fierce and pitiless with her enemies.
The Countess is a just lady and defends the Christian faith.
Didn't she avenge her husband's death
by having his assassins killed, and all their families too?
What does such a woman want from us?
She begs that you accept these letters of hers.
They are her concerns
at the advance of the troops
of the Duke of Valentinois, your son, Holiness.
Wait, Holiness!
Don't touch it!
Guards! Quickly!
It's cantarella, Holiness, poison.
Dammed bitch!
You wanted to kill me!
Take them away!
Back, gentlemen.
Where is Cesare?
He's to take his troops to Imola and Forli
and finish off that dammed whore!
Get out!
All of you, get out!
Get out!
Go away!
Can't you hear me? Get out!
Get out!
20,000 ducats for Caterina Sforza!
The whore is mine!
I arrived just in time.
A moment later and they'd have torn you apart like hunting dogs.
You hunt, don't you, Countess?
Who are you?
How dare...
You're the Duke of Valentinois.
So I'm your prisoner.
You should have killed me.
You cost me dear. I want to recoup what I spent on you.
You're no use to me dead.
Shall we go home, Countess?
Cesare, he's your nephew.
When he gets angry, he's got his grandfather's character.
Yes, he's got a Borgia's character.
There, my love.
There, there, my prince,
grandmother's darling. Come along.
And you?
Stop!
What's this?
Look.
Know what it is?
- It's the feather! - Yes.
It's always with me.
Motherhood has made you even prettier.
No, I've got as fat as a barrel, look.
- Yes? - Yes.
Let's see how fat you are!
Stop!
Let go of my wife.
You're talking to me?
Yes, Duke.
I wouldn't like her to get hurt.
Lucrezia is my sister.
I would never let that happen.
I know that.
Everyone knows how much you love her.
Alfonso, Cesare was only joking.
I know, my love.
I didn't mean to get angry.
Lucrezia, I'll see you tonight at the party.
- Yes, of course. - Alfonso.
Duke of Valentinois.
Why did you get like that?
I prefer him far from Rome.
Don't say that.
I don't want you to be enemies.
I love you both.
He hates me.
He hates my family.
Cesare would never harm us.
You should ask your brother Juan.
I won't let you insinuate that it was Cesare.
Why do they think it in France?
Why do the Spanish monarchs think it?
Why does everyone think it,
even here in Rome, even in the Vatican?
It's a lie.
People say those things because no one can defeat us.
So this is your first party in the Borgias' chambers, Nicolas?
Yes.
I confess that it is.
Unforgivable, ambassador. In Rome, it is all the talk.
Come.
Holiness.
Cardinal Della Rovere.
May I introduce you to the ambassador?
Holiness.
Duke of Valentinois.
I come to pay you honor for your conquests.
I thank you, cardinal.
No, I thank you.
Your conquests
are those of everyone.
Countess Sforza, what a surprise!
Join us, Cardinal della Rovere. And you too, ambassador.
Do you like dancing?
It fascinates me.
Especially when it's done so charmingly.
True.
There's nothing closer to God
than beauty.
Bravo!
Lucrezia is lovelier every day.
Why isn't your brother here with her?
I shouldn't have come either.
Now is the time, Cesare.
The Aragons are unnecessary.
Yes, father.
Without them, we are almost Italy now.
Almost.
Now, we have to be a kingdom,
unite Church and State,
make the Borgias the dynasty
that will bequeath the kingdom from father to son.
And you are my prince.
Aren't you coming to bed?
What are you thinking?
When will I be set free?
Don't you like the rooms I've provided for you?
In Sant' Angelo, the guests usually have much less comfortable lodgings.
I am Caterina Sforza.
I'd rather be cast in a dungeon,
I'd rather be engulfed in flames,
than be humiliated as a prisoner.
But you're not one.
You're not.
You can leave when you wish,
But,
for the moment,
I want you to remain as my guest.
You can have my lands,
my flag, my body,
but you'll never have me.
We'll have to settle for that.
One can't have everything, Caterina.
One can't have everything.
- He says you lost. - What?
No, that game was mine, I'm telling you.
That's enough.
Guards!
Lie still, Alfonso.
Cesare is the devil.
He did it.
I believe he did it.
Don't say that, Alfonso.
It wasn't Cesare.
Calm yourself, please.
He wants to kill me so he can have you.
Don't you see?
We have to leave Rome.
Leave Rome!
Alfonso is right.
It was Cesare who sent his assassins.
It wasn't Cesare.
I'm going to see my father.
Your father?
He is in agreement with him.
In any case, he's got no power over Cesare.
Not anymore. Don't you realize?
We have to leave Rome, Sancha.
We'll go home.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow we'll leave Rome.
Now,
get some rest.
Don't open it!
Open!
Open in the name of His Holiness Alexander VI!
What is the reason for this ruckus?
His Holiness wants to see Lady Lucrezia. Open up!
Didn't you hear?
They come in the name of His Holiness. Open up!
Burkard!
Lady Lucrezia, I'm sorry to come at this time.
They tried to kill him,
but he's out of danger.
Don't worry.
Your father knows what happened, he wants to see you.
A guard will stay here as protection.
I'll accompany you.
Wait a moment.
Father!
Someone tried to kill Alfonso and they say it was Cesare!
I don't know what lies you've been told, but my Alfonso...
We must help him.
We must get him out of Rome.
His only crime is to love me.
- If it was Cesare... - Daughter,
at times, good follows a tortuous path.
What good?
What good are you talking about?
- My brother's? - No, Lucrezia, the family's.
Cesare is only an instrument, as I am.
The Borgias.
The Borgias are the end.
I beg you.
- I've always obeyed you. - Then continue doing so.
Stay here, beside me.
We'll pray together.
We'll ask forgiveness for our sins.
Don't do this to me.
Look deep into your heart, treasure,
and tell me what lies there.
Please!
Alfonso!
Lucrezia,
something terrible has happened.
Murderer!
Bury her brother and take her away. I never want to see her again.
Or she can go back to where she came from
before the same happens to her.
I want to thank the governor who has gathered us here.
We know that Valentinois is preparing to attack Bologna.
We know what that means.
It means Cesare would have no more adversaries.
He himself told me
that he wants Lucrezia to marry the son of Ercole d'Este,
to have Ferrara as an ally.
Lucrezia is the pawn again.
But the Este family doesn't sympathize with the Borgias.
They are raising objections to the marriage.
Alexander VI will get what he wants.
He always does, I don't know how.
That marriage is very important to the Borgias.
Then Cesare will be King of Italy.
The first King of Italy.
Tyrant of Italy, you mean.
If we don't stop him, he'll eliminate us one by one,
as he did with Alfonso of Aragon.
Syphilis is driving him insane.
He's possessed by the devil.
It isn't the devil, it's the blood of the Borgias.
We must unite to stop them.
You don't intend to meet your new husband
dressed in mourning, do you?
Alfonso is from one of the noblest Italian families.
You don't know what your father had to do to get him to agree.
You should show your gratitude, be happy!
I don't know if I can.
Don't say that. Stop thinking of yourself for once.
- And think of my family. - Exactly.
Cesare...
Why did you let him in?
He's your brother.
I know you don't want to see me
but I couldn't leave for Ferrara without saying goodbye.
I don't know when I'll see you again.
I'm going with you!
Hello.
Let go!
Here, Rodrigo, your sword.
Don't be afraid.
Of course he's afraid.
Everyone close to you dies.
My family doesn't fear me.
You don't fear me.
I do now.
You were always the person I loved most.
But you're the person who has done me most harm.
And now I belong to another family.
My father is marrying me off again in our interests.
I'll keep the best memory of you in my heart.
Bring the children.
Rodrigo!
- Come along. - I don't want to go.
Come!
Neither do I.
Can't we play a little longer?
What are you looking at?
Who are you?
You're...
You're cold.
Cold as death.
Neither you nor I is affected by death.
Because we don't fear it.
Neither of us.
We're similar in that.
That's why we're together.
We are together because you are keeping me here.
Get out. All of you.
Are you still waiting for them to come and get you?
They'll come, don't doubt it.
Very well.
I'm waiting for them.
Come in!
Where are those terrible enemies, Caterina?
Why have they never come in all this time?
Don't look at me like that.
Who will come?
Who?
The King of France?
The King of France is my friend, you hear?
Who'll come here?
A ghost?
Which one?
The soul of Alfonso of Aragon?
Of my brother Juan?
Did you know my brother Juan?
The handsome Juan?
Did they tell you I killed him?
Did they tell you?
Yes, they did.
Yes, of course they did.
Cesare Borgia killed his brother, he was jealous.
My father thinks so too.
Well, I didn't kill him.
But I would have been happy to.
If his ghost were to appear here now
I'd send him back to the hell he's come from
and where one day I'll be reunited with him.
We'll meet there.
All of us.
I've got your life in my hands.
But not your own.
Here.
Stick it in me.
Send me to hell, Countess.
They are waiting downstairs,
to take you to wherever you order.
You're free.
Governor Lorca, can you confirm this news?
Unfortunately, Holiness.
Piombino and Urbino have rebelled, and other territories too.
They are suggesting a pact with your son.
And Vitellozzo is leading them?
Vitellozzo Vitelli,
with Paolo and Francesco Orsini and Olvirotto da Fermo.
Very well.
They're acting out of fear.
Fear that when you conquer Bologna you may become a tyrant.
But I'm sure that if you were to listen to them,
they could convince you.
Never.
They fear you, but they have great respect for you.
I could organize a meeting at my palace in Sesenna.
No, no meetings.
The governor may be right.
Your army is weak, Cesare,
and the forces promised by the King of France are too far away.
We can't risk a confrontation.
We'll negotiate peace, as you suggest.
The Holy Spirit inspires your decisions.
Can you explain why?
Brukard,
bring the letter.
At once, Holiness.
Negotiate peace.
Send them money to confirm your friendship
and promise they won't be punished.
Assure them you never thought of taking anything from them.
I have to excuse myself?
Explain it to him.
Yes, explain it to me.
Only then will they believe in your good will.
- My good will? - Yes.
Then you'll go to the meeting Ramiro Lorca proposes and...
And?
They'll kill you.
From Venice.
Our spies tell me that a few days ago that hypocritical pig
had three ships at San Marcos docks
loaded with gold and precious stones.
At first, I couldn't believe it.
The governor
is intending to move elsewhere, it appears.
This north wind will bring snow,
don't you think?
I don't like negotiating here with Cesare.
I prefer to face him in open country.
Yes, and make enemies all at once
of the Pope and the King of France.
This isn't his style, but his father has sent him
so we'll see what he offers.
There he is.
- Vitellozzo. - Duke of Valentinois.
I'm glad to see you.
I feared I had lost a friend.
All of you are welcome.
Where is Governor Ramiro?
We mustn't detain him, he's going on a journey.
Corella!
Tie them up.
Let me pass!
Holiness,
I demand an explanation.
Don't you know enough?
Your nephews betrayed the Duke of Valentinois and are under arrest.
The Orsinis were serving the Church faithfully
long before a Borgia set foot on this land!
Captain of the Guard,
arrest Cardinal Orsini.
You wouldn't dare!
Have you gone mad, Rodrigo?
You'll regret this, I swear. Let go of me!
Inform the Duke.
The bear is in the cage
and the cubs can have their throats slit.
In the name of His Holiness Alexander VI,
and by the powers vested in me,
I, Cesare Borgia, Duke of Valentinois and Romagna,
condemn you.
You can never destroy the Orsinis!
You hear? Never!
The Borgias are alone! You hear?
Alone!
A cardinal murdered without any Christian mercy,
without even the pretense of a trial.
Alessandro Farnese, I'm surprised you fear the Borgias.
You're almost a relative.
Your sister
sleeps regularly in our Holy Father's bed.
Precisely.
Do you want to talk of how their relatives end?
You are young.
Think of the future.
His Holiness is old and Cesare, without him,
is a blind man in the dark.
A very powerful blind man.
Don't forget,
he controls the Spanish cardinals.
Yes, but he doesn't know what to do with them.
He's a soldier, he's got no idea how to control a conclave.
When the time comes,
he'll look to someone for advice
and that someone will be me, my dear cardinal.
Giulianno Della Rovere, where are you hiding?
Talk of the devil...
I've come to your house.
Holiness, Duke.
- Welcome to my modest home. - This palace isn't for sale, is it?
I'm joking, fear not.
So, Cardinal Farnese,
are you still offended because I didn't give you
the castles seized from Cardinal Orsini?
My brother is satisfied with what he has,
convinced that His Holiness knows what is best.
Of course I do, because I'm so well advised.
Listen to your sister, Alessandro. Stay by our side.
You don't know how much I appreciate your father's presence here.
This will prove that His Holiness is not afraid of leaving the Vatican,
as evil tongues are saying.
On the contrary.
Only his enemies are afraid.
You've heard him.
Nothing will stop him taking Our Lord's empire
to where it has never been.
You're right,
obviously, the Vatican has never been so great.
Yes, but don't worry.
History will put things in their place.
Serve more wine.
What is this?
God!
God, what is this?
I've been poisoned! Poisoned!
Holiness!
What's wrong with you?
- Are you dreaming? - Damn it!
Help me.
My head! My head is hurting!
Call the doctors!
Call my children!
My children!
Lucrezia...
Juan...
Call my children.
I'm not going to die.
Not now, Lord.
Stand up.
Not now.
Not now, Lord.
I don't think it's poison. It could be fever.
He's ill, very ill.
Where's Cesare? He keeps asking for him.
He is ill too. Whatever it is, it has affected both of them.
Rome will fall into chaos and disorder.
Corella!
Lady Vannozza!
Open the gate!
You'll be safe here.
Get back!
Close the gates!
Cesare, my son!
I don't want to imagine Rome without Rodrigo Borgia.
Even at this distance, I can smell the blood.
Father!
What are we going to do,
without law or order,
with no one to show us the way?
We'll all die with Rodrigo.
Cesare will regain control of the army.
He is the Duke of Valentinois, he is the prince.
There will be a new Pope.
After one there always comes another.
All we can do is wait.
Wait
and trust in the Lord.
The Lord
will have to trust in us.
His Holiness Alexander VI
is dead.
Holiness...
He's not here.
He's escaped! Cesare Borgia has escaped!
Guards!
Cesar Borgia has escaped!
Slowly! Watch what you're doing!
What are you doing here?
Cesare has written from Navarre. He wants to come back to Italy.
I've spoken to your father.
Come back to Italy? To do what?
He is still Duke of Romagna.
There is no Duke of Romagna.
Romagna belongs to Pope Julius II, like all the Church lands.
Would you make me his enemy?
Go back to your rooms.
This is no place for my wife.
- I must answer that letter. - There it is,
my answer.
Tell your brother to stay in Navarre
and to thank the Lord for letting him stay alive
when so many have died at his hands.
I still have hopes that my dear father-in-law,
Duke Ercole,
or the Duchess Isabel,
who at times seems to show affection for me,
will listen to my requests.
But if I am to be honest,
no one here loves me as I was loved by you
and by our father.
Therefore, I beg you to adorn your heart
with the same patience I have learned to use in order to survive.
They say he wears a mask
because syphilis has made him into a monster.
Have you seen him?
No. Never.
They say that he once ran ten men through with his sword
and then raised them in the air.
That's him.
Pay me now.
This letter is for Cesare Borgia,
but I'll only give it to him.
You're late.
If your life depended on that letter,
half of you would wish you'd never come.
It's so important for him?
No one has answered his demands to return to Rome.
They've turned their backs on him to erase his memory in that way,
because they couldn't kill him.
It's not my mission to wait for an answer, nor carry it.
That's a bad sign.
I've tried everything, Cesare.
No one wants to hear our name.
They are ashamed of us
and deny us a place in the history of Rome,
as if we were only the past.
No one wants you to come back,
no one.
My soul dies when I imagine never seeing you again,
but if you come back they'll kill you.
I pray that God may find for you, brother,
a land where you may spend the rest of your days in peace
and where the hatred of our enemies will never reach you.
There they are, sire.
They're mercenaries.
Let's go, before they see us!
What are you doing? Let's go back!
To where, Ramon?
Sire...
To where?
Go.
Go!
Cesare Borgia's remains never came back to Rome.
The Inquisition had them buried
in the patio of St. Mary's Church in Viana
so that people could walk on his grave.
Lucrezia never came back to Rome either.
In Ferrara she became known
as a patron of art and culture.
She died 12 years later, at 39, after giving birth to her 5th child.