Prince of Foxes

[Ran

[Whisperin

This Alfonso d'Este, do they say how bi he is?

Yes. They say he's over six feet tall.

A giant of a man.

A respectful silence is the least

you can offer your dead husband.

[Priest Speakin Latin

[Choir Sinin In Latin

Would you say the dead man

made a reluctant corpse?

A loose tongue soon

loses its mouth, Captain Orsini.

A wise tongue never needs

to repeat itself, Don Esteban...

nor does

a competent assassin.

- [Sinin Continues

- [ran Continues

Duke Cesare.

We have suffered

a most tragic loss.

My dear sister Lucrezia's

broken with grief.

The court will observe

a proper period of mourning.

- How long, de Lorqua?

- One year, my lord Cesare.

One month.

The dead must not place

too great a burden on the living.

It's my belief that everything,

even death, can be turned into profit.

Our armies hold Pesaro,

Rimini, Forli.

We're on the road

to Urbino, Bologna, Siena.

All Tuscany, the center of Italy

from coast to coast will be ours.

Then inevitably, Milan...

and Venice.

But this devil-begotten Ferrara

stands blocking our progress.

You, Gravina,

you're the military genius.

- How would you take it?

- Perhaps with 10,000 troops.

Or a woman.

We will walk into Ferrara

through a bedroom.

By arranging a marriage between

my recently widowed sister Lucrezia...

and, uh, Alfonso,

the servant of Duke d'Este.

Your Lordship knows that Duke d'Este is

negotiating such a marriage with the French king.

Alfonso's a blacksmith.

He needs a lusty woman...

not one of those

frail, French birds.

And who will convey

this delicate information?

Who?

Who but a man

as quick at deceit as a fox.

He must have the grace of a dancer,

the wrist of an assassin.

He must have little regard

for good faith.

Yet by his astuteness,

be able to confuse men's minds.

He must have confidence

in himself...

yet not permit that confidence

to render him incautious.

He must charm

as a snake charms a bird...

yet he must make no friends...

except those that can

be of use to him.

And for the same reason,

although we make use of love...

he must not love.

You may go now,

all of you, except...

Andrea Orsini.

You question me?

Then go!

You're pleased

with my choice?

I have never questioned

Your Lordship's judgment.

- Don Esteban was annoyed.

- Don Esteban is easily annoyed.

Don't underestimate him, Andrea.

Remember,

that in this race for glory...

he's always just behind you ready to pass

you if you should lose a single step.

I have learned that if my wits are quick,

my feet will be quick enough.

You've learned

something else today?

Why your sister's husband

was sent to another world.

One life is little enough

to pay for all Ferrara.

So long as it's not mine.

Drink.

You are a complete rogue.

I need someone

that can follow my mind...

who can keep his eyes

fixed on the ultimate goal- one Italy...

one kingdom, one king-

Cesare Borgia.

Think of it-

chief minister to a great new kingdom.

What prize on earth

could equal it?

But the great

know only one law-

the outcome justifies the act.

Have you the stomach

for greatness?

The stomach and the appetite.

Then bring me Alfonso d'Este's

promise to marry Lucrezia...

and I'll be certain of it.

Your Lordship will find me

a most efficient Cupid.

Try some of your shafts

on my cousin, Angela.

She's waiting for you.

No.

That way.

De Lorqua.

Captain Orsini leaves

tomorrow for Ferrara.

He travels by way of Venice.

Arrange the necessary passage.

Yes, Duke Cesare.

Angela.

Oh, Angela, my love. I've been commissioned

to leave immediately for Ferrara.

Yes, I know.

It will take you away from me,

and yet you are pleased.

Only because

the reward is great.

Oh, I love you.

I love you, Andrea.

But I don't trust you.

You're too ambitious.

If I'm ambitious, it's only to make

myself worthy of your love.

For without your love,

I'm nothing.

[Man Sinin In Italian

[Andrea

What do you think of that?

Good. Very good.

It's not signed.

Did you paint it?

Would it be any better

if it were signed Leonardo da Vinci?

- It would be worth more.

- Never mind.

It's not for sale.

I need it in my business.

But...

what do you think of this?

Ah. A gem!

A rare gem!

- It's not signed either.

- It doesn't need to be.

Will you sell it?

I might.

I will, uh, risk, uh, 50 ducats.

I risked my life.

- Let Cesare Borgia pay for that.

- He does, in opportunities.

How I die is his problem.

How I live is my own.

- Uh, 60.

- I'm a poor man on an expensive mission.

Seventy-five,

and that's my last offer.

My lowest price is 100 ducats,

and only out of love for you.

- Ninety.

- It's worth more than that to me.

[Woman

I'll buy your paintin.

Madonna Camilla.

What an honor!

What a delight. Your Signora

drops like an angel from heaven.

To find you bargaining

like a fishwife.

Not for myself,

but for a client.

Oh, then it's worth the price?

No doubt, if beauty

has a price.

Will you let me have this

for 100 ducats?

Please?

Accept it as a tribute

to your own beauty.

You mean that you'll give me

this beautiful thing?

If Your Highness

would honor me.

Well, did you hear that?

And he doesn't even know me.

You have greatness of soul, Messer.

I will hang it in a place

of honor in my own bedroom...

where it will always recall your generosity

to me and to my good husband.

Well, Messer, have you nothing

appropriate to say?

Forgive my silence.

L- I was just thinking...

with envy and admiration

of your husband.

I was also deploring the fact that while

Your Highness has a memento of our meeting...

I have nothing.

You're not hinting

for a gift in return?

"Hinting" is hardly

the word for it.

But I-

There.

I will keep this as a saint's relic...

in memory of the divine hand

that wore it.

Master da Pavia, isn't it time

you presented this gentleman?

Magnifico Andrea Orsini, captain

to His Excellency, Duke Cesare Borgia.

Oh, then I know your kinsman.

- The cardinal, the duke of Gravina.

- Distant kinsman.

My family is of Naples.

My great uncle was Raimondo Orsini,

count of Nola.

Oh, indeed. Now, will you

please present me?

I have the honor to present

Camilla degli Baglioni...

wife of His Excellency,

Marc Antonio Verano...

lord of Citt del Monte.

Who is very pleased to have

exchanged souvenirs with you.

Would you do my husband and me

the honor of waiting on us?

Well, unfortunately,

I leave for Ferrara.

You go alone?

Armed with an olive branch.

- A pleasant journey, Messer Orsini.

- Madame. Messer.

How long have you known

this gentleman?

Oh, three years about.

What do you make of him?

A soldier who knows art...

an Orsini unrelated

to the Orsini...

a servant of the Borgias

going alone to Borgia's enemies.

He has too many faces.

I find him interesting.

I hope you may not find him dangerous,

Madonna. He drives a hard bargain.

Grazie.

- Don't be a fool! Don't be a fool!

- Fool to kill you?

If you kill me, you'll never

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