The Borgias, Season Two

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
Cardinal Versucci

Cardinal Versucci:
Your Holiness. (they sit)

Rodrigo Borgia/ Alexander VI:
(smiles) You have been in charge of the Office of Public Works for how many years?

Cardinal Versucci:
(smiles) Oh, for as long as I have been a Cardinal, Your Holiness.

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
Mmm-two decades? (Versucci nods, chuckles) After which time the orphans of Rome find themselves destitute. (Versucci's smile vanishes) And, the Cardinal has built himself how many palaces?

Cardinal Versucci:
... Three.

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
You see the irony there?

Cardinal Versucci:
... The poor will always be with us, Your Holiness.

Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI:
(scoffs) The poor- like the pigeons! (storms down the hall, Versucci hastily follows)

Cardinal Versucci:
I- I beg your pardon, Your Holiness-

Rodrigo Borgia/ Alexander VI:
Does the Cardinal believe the pigeons will always be with us?!

Cardinal Versucci:
Is this a riddle? (the Pope whirls around and points at him)

Rodrigo Borgia/ Alexander VI:
We will have curatorial funds used for their declared purposes! Money destined for the poor should GO to the poor! (walks on into the next room, where Julia Farnese is sitting at a desk) So, we will have you go through the last two decades of your accounts, with one we have designated to supervise them: the Lady Julia Farnese. (puts his hand on Julia's shoulder)

Cardinal Versucci:
(offended) What Your Holiness proposes is unthinkable!

Rodrigo Borgia/ Alexander VI:
What- that moneys destined for the poor should go to the poor?

Cardinal Versucci:
That a woman should have access to curatorial accounts. (Rodrigo looks expectantly at Julia)

Julia Farnese:
(mockingly, looking away from Versucci) Can a woman not count? Add, subtract?

Cardinal Versucci:
Count her children, perhaps. (Julia spins around and glares at him)

Julia Farnese:
(coldly) There's a new method, Cardinal. Devised by the Florentine bankers. (Versucci scoffs, Julia gets up and approaches him) It is called double-entry bookkeeping... and it proves a valuable tool in tracing all missing funds.

Rodrigo Borgia/ Alexander VI:
So, the Cardinal shall help you in your efforts to source those missing funds- while we shall attend to another matter of worrisome import. (leaves)

Cardinal Versucci:
(bows, seething) Your Holiness.