Annulment of Lucrezia Borgia's marriage to Giovanni Sforza
Lucrezia Borgia's marriage to Giovanni Sforza is being annulled in a tense Vatican chamber, with Pope Alexander VI manipulating the proceedings to sever the politically inconvenient union.
Setting
A private chamber within the Vatican Palace, specifically in the Apostolic Palace. The room is adorned with rich tapestries and religious iconography, with a large wooden table at the center where the discussion takes place. Heavy velvet drapes partially cover the windows, allowing only slivers of winter light to penetrate.
Characters
Lucrezia Borgia
primary
A young woman of 17 years with a slender, graceful build, fair complexion, and long golden-blonde hair arranged in intricate braids. Her delicate features are accentuated by high cheekbones and large, expressive blue eyes that often draw attention.
Pope Alexander VI
primary
A man in his mid-60s with a commanding presence, his once-dark hair now streaked with gray. His face bears the marks of age and indulgence, with deep-set eyes that exude both intelligence and cunning. His build is robust, suggesting a life of comfort rather than austerity.
Canon Lawyer
secondary
A middle-aged man of slight build, with sharp features and thinning grey hair. His piercing eyes are framed by wire-rimmed spectacles, which he frequently adjusts when making a point. His hands are delicate, with ink-stained fingers from hours of document preparation.
Papal Secretary
secondary
A middle-aged man of slight build with sharp, observant features. His thinning dark hair is neatly trimmed, and his pale complexion suggests long hours spent indoors. His hands are ink-stained from constant writing, and he wears a pair of small, round spectacles perched on his nose.
Lucrezia's Lady-in-Waiting
background
A young woman in her early twenties, slender with delicate features, her pale complexion flushed with anxiety. Her dark brown hair is neatly braided and pinned beneath a simple linen cap, with a few loose strands framing her face.
Dialog
Pope Alexander VI
My child, the Holy See cannot be seen to tolerate an unconsummated marriage. The annulment is necessary for the good of your soul.
Lucrezia Borgia
Father, if this be for my soul's welfare, why does it feel like a dagger to my heart?
Canon Lawyer
Per canonem, if the marriage was never properly consummated, it is as if it never was. The paperwork merely reflects divine truth.
Pope Alexander VI
Precisely. And Giovanni's... inadequacies are well documented by our physicians.
Lucrezia Borgia
Must my bedchamber secrets be paraded before all Rome?
Canon Lawyer
Nobilis domina, these proceedings are sealed by pontifical authority. None shall speak of them.
Pope Alexander VI
Enough. The decree will be signed today. This is not a matter for debate, but for obedience.