Rodrigo addresses the Cardinals. Upon receiving a letter of condolence from della Rovere, Rodrigo invites him back to Rome and dismisses Giulia. After Cesare informs him that Juan killed their halfbrother Pedro Luis, Rodrigo sends him back to Valencia. Rodrigo denies Lucrezia's request to marry Pedro Caldes. He orders her to become a nun and care for Juan's orphaned children.

Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander XI, is not yet over the loss of his son, Juan. His powers are threatening to slip from his hands.

When Rodrigo has a man executed for his homosexuality, Della Rovere comes up with a perfidious scheme to eliminate Rodrigo's secretary, Gacet.