Prince of Foxes Page #7

Why is he in chains?

You'll be informed

in good time, woman.

- Is this your son?

- Yes.

Have you nothing to say

to your true love now?

You need not have lied to me.

You love him less

because he's a peasant.

Huh!

His peasant birth

gave him something more...

than all you highborn thieves

and assassins could ever give him.

I cursed him once

for this worthless fraud.

But I curse you even more

for what you have done to him.

- L-

- No, wait. Cesare Borgia...

you will live after I am dead.

Let me thank you for this-

last of all the things

that you have taught me.

There is no victory

in power, no-

no honor in deceit,

no future in living as-

as you will live-

hated and despised by everyone.

Mammina, forgive me. L-

I've caused you great pain.

He's a lord of nobility and honor...

to whom I offer all my love.

The comedy is finished.

My sentence, Andrea Zoppo-

Be merciful, my lord,

as you hope for God's mercy.

- Take this woman out of here.

She has served her purpose.

Oh, no! No!

My sentence, Andrea Zoppo...

is that tomorrow you shall be exposed

in a cage on the castle tower.

There to remain

as a spectacle and a warning...

until your bones drop apart.

I protest Your Lordship's judgment!

This ungrateful peasant turned

against Your Loving Highness...

caused the death of hundreds

of good troops...

created vast expenses

and endanered future revenues.

I've never seen

a more notable treason!

You think I am being

too merciful, Belli?

What punishment is there for a half-dead

carcass to rot in a cage? Nothing.

- Let him think on his sins.

- You suggest a dungeon?

No, my loving lord,

something blacker.

Gouge out his eyes.

Blind him and set him on the road

with his hag mother to lead him.

And wherever he wanders, let him be

a warning of the justice of your magnificence.

My friend, you're a man in a thousand.

I accept your advice.

Have sharpened stakes prepared and carry

out the sentence. Remove the prisoner.

Wait, my lord!

What need is there of stakes

when I have my two good thumbs?

Gouging's the thing.

And what need to remove him

when I can pop his eyes out...

right here for the amusement

of this worshipful company?

Look now.

A quick pressure of the thumbs

and out squirts the jelly.

- This ought to be a show

worth watching, eh, Madonna?

Oh, don't be squeamish, Madonna.

You're as curious as I to see what a peasant's

eyes look like out of their sockets.

Proceed, Messer Belli.

We'll all be grateful to you.

Guards, seat him

and tie him to the chair.

Camilla, look at me.

Let me fill my eyes.

Take a good look at me.

[Belli

I'm the last thin you'll see.

Scream! Do you understand? Scream! Scream!

Stop him! Stop him!

You devil, stop it!

The eyes of an artist and traitor!

Look! Pretty, aren't they?

They belong to Your Greatness.

Take that carrion away.

Hand him over to his mother.

He's had his fill of palaces. Let him grope

his way back to a hovel. Come along, woman.

God pity him.

He was a gallant soldier.

There's no victory

in this kind of war.

I shall continue to rely on you,

Captain Belli.

Your Magnificence has no more

faithful servant than I.

Then my future is assured-

depending on which one of us

is hanged first.

Hmm?

Better, Mammina.

[Furio Barkin

[Barkin Continues

- Go, go. Lie down.

- [Knockin

[Andrea

Why, Belli!

Magnifico.

- Oh, Belli.

- Magnifico.

- Why did you wait so long-

- I have bad news for you.

- Huh?

- Madonna Camilla tried to follow after you.

- She was stopped, imprisoned in a cell.

- By Borgia?

No, Don Esteban. Borgia's gone with

his army to move against Camerino.

But he left a strong garrison.

L- I can plan an ambush fast enough,

use a knife or garrote with the best...

but I have no brain for this.

It seems to me we're lost,

completely helpless.

All the more reason then for settling down

to the life God meant you to live.

There is a way of retaking Citt del Monte

if the people are willing.

I won't let you go back

to this murdering.

The Borgia terror

must stop somewhere.

Now one small spark will start a fire that

will eventually burn down his house.

But I must get to the people.

You think they'll follow you?

You the peasant, Zoppo, against Cesare Borgia?

As they followed their own lord Verano.

I'll take an oath on that.

But the whole thing must be

very carefully planned.

Success will depend upon

stealth and exact timing.

Now, first we need to-

to bring Mattia, Fabio...

and some of the other leaders

from Citt del Monte here to Cresp-

How did you know to come here?

Who, me?

Speak up, Belli.

- Why, I- I've been here before.

- When?

On our return from Ferrara.

Then you knew all along

that I was an impostor.

Naturally I profited from it-

a thousand ducats.

I simply can't stand

being loyal to one side.

I'm a born traitor.

The truth, Belli.

- I detest fine sentiments.

- Mmm. And yet?

I've discovered the devil

doesn't always pay best.

This whole thing pleases me.

Who betrayed who,

and where did it start? No matter.

It shall be said among my fellow

practitioners in double-dealing...

that I was the greatest of them all.

[Andrea This can only be accomplished

with accuracy and precision. Fabio.

- Yes, sir?

- You will lead your men into the piazza.

- Mattia.

- Yes, sir?

You will take your group into

the garrison area behind the cathedral.

- Men must cover every guard post in the city.

- But we have no arms.

Use axes, sickles, anything.

But your most powerful weapon

will be surprise.

Each must choose a man

and wait until the right time.

- When do we strike?

- When you hear the tower bell.

It will be a signal that Madonna Camilla

is safely out of the castle.

- Strike then, and not a second before.

- Who will bring her out?

I will. Messer Belli

will give us another miracle.

He will open the right window

at the right time for me.

Remember the signal. Madonna Camilla must

be out of the castle before you strike.

And listen for the tower bell.

That will tell you

that she's safely out.

When the tower bell rings, it means

Madonna Camilla is outside the castle.

Each choose a man.

When the bell rings, strike.

When the bell rings, strike.

All clear.

[Door pens

Orsini.

Guard!

Guard!

Guard!

[Door pens

In the garden- beautiful girls.

What's this?

Why, he's drunk.

That's all.

Wait. Let's see.

If a man can't

hold his wine, I-

In his back!

Come with me.

Camilla.

Andrea. Andrea.

One guard stabbed. The other

with a garrote around his throat.

- Ring the bell. Awaken the garrison.

- No! Not yet.

Do that and you'll warn whoever

is here. Let's find them first.

The door to the secret passage's open.

Do as I command. Ring the bell!

It's not yet time!

I mean, we shouldn't

frighten whoever they are.

This is no doubt a clever scheme

to rescue Madonna Camilla.

Everyone involved will be executed.

Sound the alarm.

To ring that bell now

would be a serious mistake.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes