Cesare again seeks Louis XII of France as an ally to gain an army since his condottieri have deserted him. He is even enlisting peasants and arming them. Lucrezia has had a still-born child and is being purged and bled by her doctors; Cesare suffers with her. The Orsini have joined the opposition and have enlisted a cardinal and a Spanish military leader; their intent is to defeat Cesare and depose his father. Negotiations between Cesare and the deserters seems to be making progress, but Alexander imprisons the blind cardinal sent to get his promise of no reprisals. The die is cast--there can be no compromise, one side must prevail, winner take all. Cesare succeeds in setting a better trap, captures and executes his enemies, and is both obeyed and feared throughout Romagna. Suddenly both Cesare and the pope are gripped by fever and excruciating stomach pains--is it poison? (thetvdb.com)