Prince of Foxes Page #6

I can only be what I am.

Then I ask you to leave for my sake.

How can my leaving...

serve you?

The book is closing for me, Madonna.

I have failed in all points-

in art, in politics, in war.

But if you are safe,

I'll know at the very end...

that my life was to some purpose.

It's been strange...

our road together...

and yet not together.

Please go.

- [Man Captain rsini.

- What is it, Fabio?

There are three Borgia men

under a flag of truce at the city gates.

Do you know what they want?

Did they say what they want?

Yes, sir.

They say a parley.

A parley? Mattia, escort them

to the council hall.

- Yes, sir.

- Fabio, call all our men into the square.

- Let it be swarming with soldiers.

- And leave the walls undefended?

Never mind. They must judge

our strength by what they see.

- Hurry!

- Yes, sir.

If haggling's their game, our road

may be longer than we thought.

Always the fox.

With a few tricks left.

Come, Madonna.

You must change your gown.

Wear your prettiest dress.

Hurry.

As commanding officer of the benevolent Duke

Cesare Borgia's forces engaged before your city...

I am authorized by His Excellence...

to make certain proposals

to Your Illustrious Signore...

that he believes you

will find to your advantage.

Does our fierce resistance

force him to offer...

- what he had not first intended?

- Hold your tonue, madame!

- Watch your words, Esteban!

- Captain Orsini.

We cannot deny that the duke

offers these terms...

as a tribute to

Your Excellency's courage.

It would be a shame to Italian chivalry

should harm come to you.

A thousand thanks, Signore.

Proceed with the terms.

First, in return

for the surrender of your city...

my lord duke engages

to restrain his soldiers from looting...

and take no vengeance on the people.

- What security does he offer?

- His illustrious word.

- The next?

- Second...

my lord duke engages to permit the noble

Madonna Camilla to remain here...

provided that only a captain

appointed by the duke...

shall command the arrison and

assist her in the overnment.

And the next?

Third, these terms shall be

considered null and void...

unless the traitor calling

himself Andrea Orsini...

be delivered alive into the hands

of Duke Cesare's officers...

to be dealt with

as His Excellence may determine.

Go back to your duke with my answer.

Tell him...

I will set torches to the city...

rather than accept

the conditions he offers.

- Madonna Camilla, I beg you to recons-

- I have spoken.

[Balioni Your ladyship's refusal

does credit to your courae.

But for this, many will suffer and die

and this good city be laid waste.

How long do these terms stand?

[Esteban

Until tomorrow. Sunrise. Madame...

understand the Duke Cesare will permit me

to make no compromise regarding this gentleman.

I ask nothing...

from your illustrious assassin...

except that he withdraw...

and leave us in peace.

I shall convey your answer

exactly as you have phrased it.

[Man

Attenti!

Well, so much for that.

- We'll renew the defense.

- It will be our last.

I'm not afraid.

[Balioni

Captain Esteban!

Enter, Baglioni.

I bring Your Lordship a prisoner.

A good haul, Baglioni.

A very good haul.

I ask to be taken

to Duke Cesare Borgia.

By his orders, I sit in his seat.

Well, sit lightly, my friend,

lest you damage your brains.

You've a good tongue for cutting.

Since I'm not one for recriminations,

Messer Andrea...

I'll not review the history

of your treason.

There is only the matter

of a fitting punishment.

What's the difference, since to all intents

and purposes, I'm dead already?

A reasonable deduction.

And yet, like so many dead ones,

I can still influence the living.

- You've surrendered, yet you intimate terms.

- Only one.

That you honestly fulfill

those you have already offered.

What if I take your life now and

do as I please about the terms?

You will conquer a dead city.

Every building

will be razed by fire.

Every man, woman and child

will be a corpse.

[Andrea

There will be even less lory than loot.

I will fulfill the terms.

- Put your promises in writing.

- My word-

Is not good enough to convince

the noble Madonna Camilla...

who, unfortunately,

does not know you as well as I.

It will be in writing.

Scrivener.

Write this.

I, Don Esteban Ramirez...

in the name of Cesare Borgia,

Duke Valentino and duke of Romagna...

in exchane for the immediate

surrender of Citt del Monte...

- promise faithfully-

- [Andrea And on my honor.

[Esteban And on my honor

to fulfill the followin obliations.

[Marchin Band

[Ends

[Door pens

[Cesare

Madonna Camilla...

I come from Rome,

not as a conqueror...

but as one who would create

a bond of affection between us.

Is there something I can do

to accomplish this?

I ask only one thing...

but you would not grant it.

Ask and find out.

Grant the lord Orsini

life and freedom.

I will obey your least wish

and thank you with every breath.

This is most touching.

No, no, Madonna Camilla.

You must not kneel.

Such love is indeed rare,

and I respect it.

What you ask is not impossible.

All will come right in the end.

I promise... you'll be surprised.

[Middle Eastern

Your Signora's not eating.

I have no taste for food.

I promised to consider the case

of the noble Orsini.

Since it concerns him,

should we not invite him to table?

I haven't words to thank

Your Grace for this mercy.

Don't-

Don't speak of it. Esteban!

Enough of this.

Get out!

Guard, bring in the Messer Orsini.

There he is.

What do you think of him?

Look at him, Madonna. I'm showing him

to you out of masquerade...

in the clothes proper

to his station and birth.

No, Madonna.

You'll stay here.

You need to be informed

about this noble Orsini...

who stands before you

stripped of fraud...

a peasant who posed as a noble.

Still want to marry

this lying impostor?

I love and honor the lord Orsini.

The lady's swallowed

his hook to the gills.

Well, he always had a glib tongue.

At least before he lost his voice.

You slander him when he has

no voice to call you a liar with!

I've done all

I could for you, my lady.

Now I must protect my own

reputation for truthfulness.

Don Esteban, see to it.

Yes, Your Magnificence.

Guard, bring in the woman.

Messer Belli will see to it that the lady

does not leave her chair.

Yes, Magnificence.

And you were his friend.

Friend?

Messer Belli trades in friends,

Madonna.

And this Messer Belli

has come up in the world.

He wears lace and brocade,

carries a jeweled sword...

and sits at Cesare Borgia's table.

Nor has there ever been a more

successful judas than this Messer Belli.

As this peasant, Zoppo,

can tell you.

Shh!

Oh.

Andrea, my boy.

What have they done to you?

Water.

- Water.

- Let her be.

You, bring a chair.

Drink, my son.

Drink slowly.

Oh.

Oh, my boy.

[Andrea

h, Mammina.

Mammina.

Merciful God.

They've almost killed you.

Why has he been tortured?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes