Paolo

Episode Synopsis
The Pope decides to see for himself the conditions in the streets of Rome and after realising the extreme poverty enlists Giulia to try and tackle the issue. Paolo, the father of Lucrezia's child, arrives in Rome seeking her. With the help of a prostitute, he manages to meet Lucrezia again, but they are seen by Juan who is angry that his sister would love a commoner. Cesare and his mother organise one night for Paolo and Lucrezia to be together again so that he can meet his child, on the condition he leaves Rome immediately after. This he does only to be caught and killed by Juan.

Plot
Paolo asks some shepherds where is Rome, which one man remarks that "you can smell it from here. It stinks!" He hopes to see his child from his tryst with Lucrezia. Meanwhile, after having a threesome the night before, the Pope is seen waking up with his mistress Giulia and Vittoria. The Pope has a waking thought that this is equivalent to entering the Holy Trinity. Vittoria makes a comment and asks if she ought to be bound and whipped for her "offense;" the Pope decrees that she will in the afternoon.

An artist works on a ceiling fresco at the St. Cecelia nunnery while Cardinal Cesare Borgia converses with Sister Martha (aka Ursula, his former flame). He briefly talks about St. Cecelia, the patron saint of music before taunting Sister Martha and removing her headdress. The artist adds that the saint "was no nun," topped with Cesare's belief that he can make Sister Martha's lips live again.

A lifeless man, drenched in blood, has his face fileted. Back in town, a prostitute follows Paolo who asks if he's in town for pleasure. She begins to wonder who is the noble Lucrezia he speaks of. The Pope monitors Vittoria while she works. Cardinal Sforza stops by, warning the Pope about the worrisome status of the Vatican's finances.

Paolo is ridiculed by a few other prostitutes for his involvement with a noble "who costs more than a shilling." The prostitute who tagged along earlier reminds Paolo that commoners like them don't die with a silver plate with a golden fork in their hands. At the nunnery, the monkey Julius on a Cardinal's arm serves as an entertaining sight. He is later sent to a monestery to get better. The Pope eats with his family and proposes that he go out into the streets of Rome for the sake of the people's wellbeing. At night when he does (with Vittoria and Giulia), he comes across a slew of impoverished bodies, a mother holding a dead child, and filth everywhere. Later, they indulge in the underground gambling scene.

The Pope suggests the Giula have access to the finances, as double-entry bookkeeping was newly created. He also demands that "money for the poor go to the poor!" Upon seeing Lucrezia, Paolo closely follows her and Juan to the fountain. Juan attempts to kill Paolo, her Narcissus. She sneakily banters that he say a prayer to St. Agatha at the fountain at midnight; they rendezvous before meeting again the next night. The prostitutes watch them passionately kiss from afar, wondering if that is what love feels like.

Cesare and Lucrezia talk about Paolo before making arrangements for him to be with Lucrezia and his child for one night only. The Pope shows Juan some portraits of potential wives for a Spanish alliance. Lucrezia and Paolo share an intimate embrace. Meanwhile, a wine-drunk Juan strangles a prostitute before barging into the Borgia's home, where he advances to drown and hang Paolo.

'''Guest Starring plus additional cast

-Ruta Gedmintas

-Luke Pasqualino

-Augustus Prew

-Noah Taylor