Prince of Foxes Page #5

You're lying, not to me,

but to yourself.

There is something

that you love...

something beyond...

this deceitful and murderous game

you're playing now.

It is better if I assume

Your Lordship is ill.

With Your Lordship's permission.

Wait!

While you're brooding over

my delirious ravings...

I'd appreciate it

if you'd do a portrait of my wife.

She tells me you have

an extraordinary understanding...

of the art of painting

and a great talent for it.

She's too kind.

[Door pens, Closes

But there is news, Magnifico!

Cesare moves on Capua,

blood flows again in Faenza...

Naples trembles and

Florence sounds with alarms.

All sure signs of spring.

Does no one notice the return of the birds

or the budding of fruit trees?

Your Lordship speaks

as one afflicted with lovesickness.

A woman's ailment, eh, Belli?

Unworthy of men...

and certain death for politicians.

I'll see you later.

When may I look?

You sat patiently for so many months,

Madonna. Have you no more patience?

A woman's entitled

to a reasonable curiosity.

How do I know but what

you've made me ugly as a witch?

Then my brush would lie.

Why should I expect the truth?

The portrait is finished, Madonna.

Do I look like that?

As I see you.

And I thought you were only

a maker of compliments...

a lord of ambitions

and dark schemes.

And now, in my own portrait,

I see something else.

There's a great artist in you,

Messer Orsini.

I have much to learn.

You speak now with humility.

What's happened to all

your quick, easy words?

Everything I know is stale. L-

I must find a new language to fit new

definitions. Please don't say anything.

Your portrait, Madonna.

What is troubling you?

The change of season.

Spring is here.

And what was planted in the winter

must soon begin to grow.

Well, there's no question

about it. Spring is here.

[Ends

It appears that Cesare Borgia...

has decided to launch

an attack against Camerino.

I am required to afford passae

for his troops...

and to levy a thousand men

for his service.

He assumes that I shall welcome this

opportunity of showing my devotion to him.

I must think about this.

It concerns others besides myself.

- Show the captain to his quarters.

- Yes, my lord.

I hope you will be comfortable.

The vacation is over, eh, Orsini?

We'll see now which is more effective-

pretty words or a sharp blade.

[Man

If Your Lordship will please follow me...

I'll show you to your quarters.

Magnifico,

soon you'll have everything-

wealth, position, fame,

even love, greatness too.

You've sweated for this

how many years?

All my life it seems.

And now only one last hurdle-

a small one at that.

Speak up, Magnifico.

Give me your orders.

Could you kill that old man?

Consider it done.

[Door Closes

Belli.

Signori, my course is plain.

Honor as well as duty...

forbids me to give aid

to this Cesare Borgia...

a man I consider evil,

false and perjured.

Therefore, I shall refuse

to assist him in this matter.

However, I have no riht

to condemn you...

and your families

to the miseries of war.

You must decide for yourselves

which you value more-

liberty or life.

I shall accept your choice.

Your Excellency,

you speak of liberty or life.

Life is cheap to Cesare Boria.

To us, it is the most

we have to ive.

Is it livin to be a slave?

Are not life and liberty

one and the same?

I say it is!

We will not have it said...

that while others defied

the power of Cesare Borgia...

we meekly fixed his yoke

on our necks.

Come to your senses.

You're throwing away fortune,

success, life itself...

for the sake

of moonshine sentiments...

that no enlightened man

would take seriously.

Do you consider yourself

an enlightened man, Belli?

Enough to know there's no profit

in fighting lost causes.

I'm not so sure about that.

- I am!

- [Man And if it be suicide-

I give you notice now

I'm withdrawing from your service.

You've betrayed not only

Cesare Borgia, but me.

- I'll not forget that.

- And to all those people, let them-

Nor will you forget what you have

seen here at Citt del Monte.

...who chose death to slavery.

Let them say

we who lived in honor...

knew also how to die in honor.

[Crowd Cheerin

I offer one more sword

against Cesare Borgia.

- Bravo! Bravo!

- [Crowd Cheerin

[Hammer Poundin

We must strip the farms

of everything edible.

We'll need all the food we can get

to withstand a long siege.

- And Borgia's troops won't be able to live off the land.

- We'll not have time.

We'll make what time we can.

I know Borgia's technique.

First he'll send mounted troops.

Artillery will follow.

If Your Lordship agrees, we won't

wait for him to attack the city.

We are not strong enough

to meet Borgia's army in open battle.

But, my lord, does the wolf charge

headlong at the bull?

No. He waits his chance, and then rushes in

from the side to escape the long, sharp horns.

And he strikes

at the weakest part-

always the weakest part.

Wear this, my lord husband.

My love and my prayers

for your safety.

My lord rsini...

this talisman for you,

with my gratitude.

Thank you, Madonna.

[Bells Rinin

I once had a friend-

he was a saint in honor

and justice...

and he passed those virtues on

to his only child.

When he died, she needed a refuge

from the enemies of her family.

I married her

to assure her that refuge.

He was my friend,

and I made her my daughter.

And as I tend the beauty

of my roses...

so I must always care for the beauty

and the happiness of her soul.

[Horse Whinnyin

They're coming into the wood.

They're coming into the clearing.

We're ready for your orders,

Your Lordship.

Charge!

[Men Shoutin

We did it! We did it!

After them!

Follow them into the woods!

[Andrea

Cut them from behind! After them!

Andrea.

How is it with the battle, Andrea?

We've thrown them back to Fabriano.

The dogs should be

straightly followed.

Give them no pause, Andrea.

- We're on their heels, Excellence.

- Good.

Am I alone?

No, my lord.

I'm here with Messer Andrea,

your good friend.

Give me your hand, Andrea.

You've both been true to me.

I have understood.

Now be true to each other...

and- and the people-

always the people.

[Bell Rins

[Men Shoutin

Direct your cannon fire

closer to the wall.

The hot oil!

The hot oil!

Hot oil! Hot oil!

[Bule

Madonna, we have held out

for three months.

Now we've come to the end.

The people are dying

of pestilence and starvation.

One more assault and we're done.

It remains only to provide

measures for your safety.

- What measures?

- There's a secret exit from the city.

While Borgia's men pillage,

you'll escape into the open...

then on to Perugia, Venice

or wherever you wish.

I marvel at you, Andrea.

No doubt.

A sad rogue.

I marvel that you think

so badly of me.

I could not sneak off and beg for refuge

while you and my people die.

Heroism is a shallow thing, Madonna,

if it isn't rooted in wisdom.

I don't intend to be wise.

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