The Borgias, Season One

Cesare Borgia:
(having received a report from Micheletto) Della Rovere has left Florence.

Rodrigo Borgia/ Alexander VI:
With, or without satisfaction?

Juan Borgia:
(dismissively) We have the Papal Armies, the Sforza armies, our allies in the Romagna, all under my command. (sits across from Cesare, slams his sword on the table) To hell with Florence!

Cesare Borgia:
(fiddling with a dagger) My fear is, the Cardinal might invite Apocalypse.

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
He would open the Seven Seals.

Cesare Borgia:
No, Father, let us not talk in metaphors. My fear is, he would go to France, conspire with the French to invade us, and arrange free passage of their armies through the Republic of Florence and the Duchy of Milan.

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
And, the French King would-

Cesare Borgia:
Depose you and march south, to Naples. (pause) His armies are hardened by a hundred years of battle with England- there is nothing here to match them.

Juan Borgia:
Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan- he is cousin to our sister's husband, Giovanni Sforza.

Cesare Borgia:
(scoffs) Lucrezia did not marry Ludovico Sforza, Brother- and they don't call him Il Moro for nothing.

Juan Borgia:
(stands up, crosses the room) I hear he keeps his own cousin, caged beneath his castle floors.

Cesare Borgia:
(stands up, approaches the Pope) He would betray us in a moment, if he thought his Dukedom was in peril. What he fears... is that his nephew would wear his crown.

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
Well... perhaps we should threaten them, with just that possibility. (Juan smiles) And you should go to Florence- tease out their intentions. Those Medici bankers have a preacher, Savanarola, who accuses them of usury. (smiles) Perhaps we should offer them an excommunication- a public burning- if they support our just cause.