The Borgia Apocalypse: The Screenplay Read online

  She brings her lips close to the bars.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  Kindness.

  ALEXANDER

  Kindness?

  CATHERINA

  A soft word. A gentle touch, can often achieve what the whip and the rack cannot.

  ALEXANDER

  Ah…

  He touches her lips with his hand.

  ALEXANDER (CONT’D)

  We could unlock that indomitable heart, with just a word or two?

  CATHERINA

  Perhaps.

  ALEXANDER

  Well, let us put it to the test. Perhaps you could join us for supper, some days hence.

  CATHERINA

  Still in chains?

  ALEXANDER

  And if words can melt you, we will do our best to find them.

  EXT. BALCONY. VATICAN. DAY.

  A balcony overlooking the gardens. Micheletto and Cesare.

  CESARE

  So my father’s pleas carry more weight than mine?

  MICHELETTO

  It was time. And he made me realise. I am weaker without you. As are you, without me.

  CESARE

  Did you explain your absence to him?

  MICHELETTO

  You had me kill one I loved.

  CESARE

  I had you kill one that played with you. And me.

  MICHELETTO

  Still...it scared me...

  CESARE

  Where?

  Micheletto takes Cesare’s hand and places it on his heart.

  MICHELETTO

  Here.

  CESARE

  So. You have a heart?

  MICHELETTO

  Not anymore.

  CESARE

  Ah, so you are fit for service once again?

  Micheletto glances down into the gardens, where we can see Rufio, waiting.

  MICHELETTO

  Is there still room for me?

  CESARE

  For one I trust such as you? Of course.

  MICHELETTO

  And you trust him?

  Cesare smiles.

  CESARE

  So far.

  MICHELETTO

  You shouldn’t.

  CESARE

  Prove it to me then. Why I shouldn’t. And we will be as one, once more.

  Cesare embraces him.

  CESARE (CONT’D)

  Come. Meet your... other...

  MICHELETTO

  Must I?

  CESARE

  Yes. Things have changed here. Greatly.

  INT. CELL IN NUNNERY. NIGHT.

  Pia, dressing for bed. As she takes off her bonnet, we see her hair is shorn.

  Lucrezia takes off her bonnet, but keeps white wimple on underneath.

  PIA

  You sleep with your wimple –

  LUCREZIA

  Yes. As I did last night. And the night before that –

  PIA

  Does the Reverend Mother know?

  LUCREZIA

  Not unless you tell her.

  PIA

  There are rules here, that govern every minute of our day. And we are sworn to keep them –

  LUCREZIA

  Well can you keep a secret then?

  Pia stares at her.

  PIA

  Yes.

  Lucrezia comes close to her. Almost lip to lip.

  LUCREZIA

  Promise?

  PIA

  I shouldn’t, but I do.

  LUCREZIA

  I obey no rules.

  She takes off her wimple, and her beautiful hair spreads down around her shoulders.

  Pia gasps. As if she has never seen such beauty.

  PIA

  You are not a nun. Not even a novitiate?

  Lucrezia smiles.

  LUCREZIA

  I am serving penance.

  PIA

  What penance?

  LUCREZIA

  The penance of Sappho.

  PIA

  Sappho?

  LUCREZIA

  Yes. She made the mistake of loving a woman.

  PIA

  A woman?

  LUCREZIA

  A long time ago. On the island of Lesbos.

  Lucrezia lies down on her hard bed.

  LUCREZIA (CONT’D)

  But when my penance is done, my father has promised. To take me back. To barter me in marriage, like any other child bearing beast of burden.

  PIA

  I would rather be a nun, sister Angela.

  LUCREZIA

  And some nights, sister Pia, so would I.

  EXT. GARDEN. NIGHT.

  Cesare approaches Rufio, with Micheletto.

  CESARE

  Rufio. Meet my Micheletto.

  They look at each other and nod.

  CESARE (CONT’D)

  You know each other?

  RUFIO

  I have heard of him.

  Cesare looks at Micheletto.

  CESARE

  And you?

  Micheletto slowly shakes his head. Rufio holds out his hand.

  RUFIO

  You are a legend.

  MICHELETTO

  Ah. Where?

  RUFIO

  Throughout the whole of Italy. Wherever men fight.

  Micheletto shakes Rufio’s hand.

  MICHELETTO

  You were Catherina Sforza’s man...

  RUFIO

  I was.

  MICHELETTO

  And you can change allegiance so easily? From Florence to Rome?

  RUFIO

  She is the past. He is... the future...

  Micheletto looks from Cesare to Rufio.

  MICHELETTO

  And long may he remain so.

  INT. CASTEL ST ANGELO. DAY.

  Adriana, the servant girl, washes Catherina Sforza’s hair.

  CATHERINA

  My confinement is improving.

  ADRIANA

  Is it?

  CATHERINA

  It must be, if they allow you to wash my hair.

  She takes a dead louse from the water.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  But it will never end.

  ADRIANA

  They cannot keep you here forever.

  CATHERINA

  Oh yes they can. And will. Among rats and lice.

  She takes Adriana’s hand in hers.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  The Pope sent you, did he not? As a peace offering, of kinds?

  ADRIANA

  I was told to do whatever would make you comfortable...

  CATHERINA

  And give His Holiness a message from me then, will you?

  ADRIANA

  He so rarely speaks to me.

  CATHERINA

  But I am sure you can find a way.

  She brings the hand to her cheek.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  Tell him, when he asks after my comforts, that I would happily dine with him. But only if I can make myself presentable...

  ADRIANA

  Presentable?

  CATHERINA

  Hair washed and curled. Face and lips with all of the necessary unguents. I would be beautiful again, if only for one night... For him...

  INT. VATICAN GARDENS. DAY.

  Adriana hurries past the Pope, eyes downcast.

  ALEXANDER

  You girl –

  ADRIANA

  Holiness –

  ALEXANDER

  How is our charge?

  When Adriana is afraid to answer, he interjects.

  ALEXANDER (CONT’D)

  Catherina Sforza?

  ADRIANA

  She is sad, Your Holiness.

  ALEXANDER

  Of course. Wouldn’t you be? In chains?

  ADRIANA

  But she told me she would happily dine with you. If she could make herself presentable.

  ALEXANDER

  Indeed? Could this tigress at last be in the process of being tamed?

/>   He considers.

  ADRIANA

  She would be beautiful again, if only for one night... for you...

  ALEXANDER

  Touching, indeed.

  ADRIANA

  Have I then your Holiness’ permission to supply her with all of the necessary comforts?

  ALEXANDER

  You have indeed. Whatever she needs.

  INT. CELL IN NUNNERY. NIGHT.

  Pia, asleep in bed. Then her innocent shorn head suddenly shivers, as if from a nightmare. She sits bolt upwards.

  Lucrezia wakes.

  LUCREZIA

  What is it?

  PIA

  I cannot keep your secret.

  LUCREZIA

  Why not?

  PIA

  I dreamt of the fires of hell. They burnt my clothes. What is left of my hair. I have sworn to hide no detail of our lives from our Reverend Mother. I cannot swear a lie. . .

  LUCREZIA

  Can I let you in on a secret, Pia?

  PIA

  What?

  LUCREZIA

  She already knows.

  PIA

  She does?

  LUCREZIA

  My father, who would have me marry some fat merchant for some bagful of coins is a benefactor of this place.

  Pia lays her head back down.

  PIA

  And now I cannot sleep.

  LUCREZIA

  You can smell the sulphur? Of the fires of hell?

  PIA

  And I miss my mother.

  LUCREZIA

  Come here.

  PIA

  Over to you?

  LUCREZIA

  Yes. Let me be mother. Tonight.

  And Pia rises, comes over the Lucrezia’s bed. She crawls in underneath the poor blanket.

  PIA

  Thank you –

  LUCREZIA

  You are far too young to have fled the nest, little Pia –

  INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE CELL. NUNNERY. NIGHT.

  A harsh looking nun with a stick prowls the corridors. Her name is sister Benvenuta. She looks in each barred window as she goes.

  She stops at their cell. POV - SISTER BENVENUTA -

  Lucrezia’s long hair spilling down. Little Pia in her arms.

  INT. CASTEL ST ANGELO. DAY.

  Catherina Sforza writes out the equivalent of a shopping list.

  CATHERINA

  A bleach, for the hair. For the face, a mixture of mercury and vermillion. Though if my skin were any paler, it would probably fade away. And for the lips, a salve

  that a former servant of mine knows of.

  She scribbles a note.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  But this note is for him, alone. For his eyes only.

  Adriana looks at the note.

  ADRIANA

  Rufio?

  CATHERINA

  Currently in the Duke Valentino’s employ.

  INT. RUFIO’S APARTMENTS. NIGHT.

  Rufio, with Adriana. He examines Catherina’s note.

  RUFIO

  Who wrote this note?

  ADRIANA

  The lady Catherina. She dines with the Pope tomorrow. She would look her best.

  RUFIO

  One last time, perhaps.

  He looks at her.

  RUFIO (CONT’D)

  And who else knows of this request?

  ADRIANA

  No-one, my Lord.

  RUFIO

  It is unusual, to say the least.

  ADRIANA

  She wanted a salve.

  RUFIO

  A lip-balm.

  ADRIANA

  And you have such a thing?

  RUFIO

  And what, may I ask is the occasion?

  ADRIANA

  She dines with the Pope, tomorrow.

  RUFIO

  God bless her.

  He smiles to himself.

  RUFIO (CONT’D)

  Come back in the morning. I will have it then.

  INT. RUFIO’S APARTMENTS. DAWN.

  Rufio hands Adriana a small glass container.

  RUFIO

  For her lips, only...

  INT. CASTEL ST ANGELO. EVENING.

  Catherina, in her cell, applying her make-up. Adriana helps her.

  Micheletto walks by, behind the bars.

  MICHELETTO

  You dine with the pope tonight, my Lady.

  CATHERINA

  I had hoped to. Has His Holiness changed his mind?

  MICHELETTO

  Not at all. His Holiness has sent me to escort you to your carriage.

  CATHERINA

  That is a privilege, indeed. A carriage...

  As Adriana finishes with her face-paint, she reaches for the bottle Rufio gave to her.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  No, my dear. Don’t touch. Allow me...

  She takes the bottle, and applies the salve carefully to her lips.

  Checks herself in whatever is there of the mirror. Turns to Micheletto.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  How do I look?

  MICHELETTO

  A vision.

  CATHERINA

  Thank you. And if you would be so kind as to release me. . . for the evening, at least. . .

  Micheletto nods to the jailor, who begins to open the locks on the doors.

  INT. VATICAN. GRAND STAIRCASE. NIGHT.

  Micheletto walks, with Catherina on his arm, up the grand staircase.

  A figure appears. Cesare Borgia.

  CESARE

  My Lady.

  CATHERINA

  My Lord. You are to dine with us?

  CESARE

  Sadly, no. But let me escort you from here.

  She removes her arm from Micheletto’s, and takes Cesare’s.

  CATHERINA

  For old times sake.

  CESARE

  Indeed. Old times.

  As they walk upwards.

  CESARE (CONT’D)

  Will my father be safe, alone with you?

  CATHERINA

  Were you safe?

  CESARE

  Hardly.

  CATHERINA

  Perhaps the hint of danger is what excites His Holiness.

  CESARE

  I am sure of it.

  At the top of the staircase. He pushes her into an alcove. Brings his lips close to hers.

  CESARE (CONT’D)

  No tricks, Catherina.

  CATHERINA

  I have no tricks left. Alas.

  She looks into his eyes.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  Would you kiss me, my Lord?

  CESARE

  Not tonight.

  CATHERINA

  Again, alas.

  CESARE

  That may be my father’s pleasure. Your lips, on his ring.

  CATHERINA

  I believe that is the point of this exercise.

  He leads her on.

  CESARE

  Come then.

  INT. DINING ROOM. NIGHT.

  The Pope at the door of an elaborate dining room, beautifully set.

  Cesare emerges into view, with Catherina on his arm.

  ALEXANDER

  Catherina Sforza.

  CATHERINA

  It is no-one else.

  The Pope moves towards her.

  ALEXANDER

  And the pleasure is ours. Tonight.

  He takes her arm.

  ALEXANDER (CONT’D)

  Thank you, my son...

  INT. CASTEL ST ANGELO. NIGHT.

  Though it is always night in here. Micheletto walks through, alone, looks at Catherina’s empty cell.

  And he hears a sound, which alarms him. The squealing of a rat.

  He looks in the bars. He sees a rat, by the discarded vial of salve, bleeding from the mouth.

  He rattles the doors, alarmed.

  MICHELETTO

  Guards!!! Guards!!!

  INT. DINING ROOM. NIGHT.

>   The Pope hands Catherina a glass of wine. They stand overlooking the Roman evening.

  ALEXANDER

  Rome can be beautiful on an autumn evening.

  CATHERINA

  Your view is better than mine Holiness. All I see of an evening are damp walls and cobwebs.

  ALEXANDER

  Not quite the same.

  CATHERINA

  But must I suffer that view indefinitely, Your Holiness?

  ALEXANDER

  Perhaps the answer is up to you, Catherina Sforza.

  INT. CASTEL ST ANGELO. NIGHT.

  The guards come running. Open the door for Micheletto.

  He runs inside the cell, and rummages through the straw. He finds a dying rat, beside the vial of salve Rufio gave Adriana.

  MICHELETTO

  Poison –

  And he runs.

  INT. DINING ROOM. NIGHT.

  Catherina and the Pope.

  CATHERINA

  I have knelt only once, Holiness. Of my own free will.

  ALEXANDER

  So. If it is your will to kneel now, perhaps your freedom can be assured.

  CATHERINA

  And is that all I must do, Holiness? Kneel?

  ALEXANDER

  Kneel. Kiss this ring. Swear eternal obedience to the Pope of Rome.

  She looks at him. Holding the glass between two delicate fingers.

  CATHERINA

  So. You have won. I finally declare myself...

  She drops the glass. It smashes on the floor.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  Beaten.

  She kneels, beside the broken glass.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  This is me, kneeling.

  She takes his hand. Kisses the papal ring.

  CATHERINA (CONT’D)

  This is me, kissing the papal ring.

  EXT. CORRIDOR. NIGHT.

  Micheletto, running up the enormous staircase. He calls out for Cesare.