Original subtitles

Lord,

let your word bring light in this dark hour.

You now receive Princess Sophie

as you shall one day unite us all in your heavenly realm.

We have faith in this, Father,

at this difficult time.

No.

No. No! No.

Your Majesty, please.

- Elisabeth. - Oh...

Control yourself, please. No. No. No!

Don't you dare touch me now!

You didn't believe me when I said that we shouldn't have left her on her own!

I said she wasn't well yet!

You never gave a thought about her, did you, Emperor?

That is enough.

Is this how the Princess would've wanted you to grieve for her?

You're behaving like a monster.

- You are the monster! - You will keep calm, Elisabeth!

I have been trying to keep calm now for years,

in the hope that I'm enough for you!

I left my daughter alone for you.

I cannot forgive you for that.

Fienchen was the one good thing that we made in all this time.

THE EMPRESS

KINGDOM OF BAYERN - 2 MONTHS LATER

Your Majesty, wait for us!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, wait!

Don't lose her!

Your Majesty!

The Countess of Lübeck ha...

Ah!

Elisabeth!

It doesn't feel right to just leave.

There's no need to worry. I will manage perfectly well.

Your Royal Highness, the Empress, the way she's behaving scares me.

You just ensure that your foot heals.

What shall I tell the Archduchess when she asks how the Empress is?

Tell her that the Empress is recovering very well

and will return to Vienna in the near future.

- Ah, but she... - Now, farewell. And depart.

Get up, Elisabeth, I beg you.

I implore you now to get out of bed, Elisabeth. Please.

You must try to eat something. I mean it.

Your siblings would so like to see you.

They are worried about you.

Mm?

General Gyulai's telegram is alarming.

There has been much rioting in recent weeks,

and attacks on Austrian soldiers.

The situation in Lombardy-Venetia has not improved. It's got worse.

Do I take it that you have no faith in the Viceroy, my son?

With respect, three-quarters of his budget

is being used for restoring schools and churches, and equipping libraries.

You must know that these measures that the Viceroy has taken in Lombardy

are welcome over there.

It is just a charade. Or else there'd be no riots happening,

and that Garibaldi wouldn't have a thousand soldiers there!

Do I need to remind you that new measures do not succeed overnight?

Oh, come on, Maximilian's wasted far too much time

on this type of nonsense.

It must be clear who in Lombardy has high command,

Archduke Maximilian or General Gyulai.

Majesty?

Your Majesty?

Gentlemen, His Highness and I will continue alone.

The Emperor will comment on this matter tomorrow.

Franz, I know how much this hurts.

Not only have you lost your daughter, you've lost your wife.

But a painful end is a chance to start all over again.

Did you cry?

In these last weeks?

Have you shed even one tear for her?

The empire needs your leadership, so get some rest.

"He is not well", writes my mother.

"Franz is brave, but grief rests upon him like snow."

And where is Elisabeth?

Not a word of her.

I can't imagine, Maxi, how she is feeling.

When I was a child, my sister died.

She was four, and I seven.

She had a rare illness.

No one knew what it was, and then...

Then she was gone.

My mother's grief was so raw, I thought it would be the ruin of her.

And you?

I was with her all the time and tried to make her laugh again.

All I wanted then was for her to be happy.

And you still want that now.

We have to consider our future now.

For we will have children,

several children.

First, we'll find us a gorgeous family home.

We'll have our own family.

Your Imperial Highness.

What's playing at the court theatre this week?

Here.

This week, it's a Shakespeare play.

A performance every evening.

No.

Nothing with any mad kings in it.

A Midsummer Night's Dream?

"A forest farce of mysticism and power."

Announce the Emperor's attendance for tomorrow night.

The people have to see him, and he has to see them.

Very well, Your Imperial Highness.

The Emperor simply cannot be allowed to neglect his duties

just because his wife has a tendency to give in to her agonies.

Is there any news from the Empress?

Nothing, sadly.

Then we will let the process begin.

Have you made the enquiries?

Of course, Imperial Highness.

Therese from Saxony-Altenburg and Alexandra of Denmark.

Therese is considered uncomplicated.

And that is a requisite.

A union with our family is more than the Altenburgs deserve.

And Alexandra is garrulous, but in good health.

So long as she conceives an Emperor, she can chatter all that she wants.

Your Imperial Highness, is everything all right?

Sometimes, I feel like the earth is swimming under my feet.

Ah.

Where were we?

Do you not think that the Empress will return?

Austria doesn't need her any more.

She never did.

My dearest wife...

No, start again.

My dear spouse...

I must tell you that...

Don't look at me like that, Theo.

What can one say?

Let's leave it.

That will be all, Theo.

Your Majesty.

Bring me a cognac.

Mimi, two hours of French once we've eaten.

Must I really do that today, Mother?

Well, of course you must. You know precisely why.

Je m'appelle Max.

Oh, formidable, Max.

You see, Mimi?

Elisabeth?

Your Majesty.

- Nice. - You're finally here!

- The dumplings are very fresh. - Thank you.

The sheep were taken to slaughter yesterday.

For me, just coffee, please.

For me, coffee as well.

Where's Father?

Has he not returned?

Your siblings were so looking forward to finally seeing you.

There is talk that Father lives amongst wayfarers the other side of the lake.

That's utter nonsense, Mimi.

Your father is still travelling for business.

Sit up straight, Max. Elbows off there.

And you eat your liver dumplings. Remember debutante season?

Liver gives you strong bones and shiny hair.

Next summer, we will present Mimi.

And envoys from the great and the good

have made their adoration of her already known.

I will only ever get married to one I fall in love with,

just like Elisabeth.

Mimi, that's so unlikely to happen.

Eat your dumplings now.

Go on.

Where is Fienchen now?

Max, shh.

Mother said she is with God.

That's right.

Little Sophie...

is now an angel.

And the good Lord is watching over her.

No, he's not.

That's not true.

Elisabeth, please.

Where is she then?

Fienchen's in a crypt all alone, in her coffin.

There's no heaven up there.

Elisabeth, stop it.

I don't believe in God now, Mother, or angels.

No one watches over us up there.

Do not listen to her. She knows not what she says.

We must stop her.

Your Majesty, it's sure to snow soon.

Please. The Duchess is very worried.

You will not go back into the forest. Tongues are already wagging.

You have rabies, so they say.

As a girl, when you could no longer tolerate me,

you always sent me to the forest.

You're behaving like a lunatic.

You've said that before.

Perhaps you were right all along.

We've all been disconsolate and lost children.

That's life.

I cannot live without her.

I felt that.

But you must control your emotions.

I cannot.

But you must.

Think of the Emperor. He will be so worried about your health.

And what about your other child? Gisella?

She's better off without me.

You must slow down.

And you must eat something.

Hee-haw.

Hee-haw.

Hee-haw. Hee-haw.

Hee-haw.

Ah!

My Oberon!

What visions have I seen!

Methought I was enamoured of an ass.

There lies your love.

Hee-haw. Hee-haw. Hee-haw.

- How came these things to pass? - Hee-haw. Hee-haw.

O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!

- Hee-haw. - Silence awhile.

Robin, take off his head.

- Hee-haw! - Titania, music call,

Hee-haw. Hee-haw. ...and strike more dead than common sleep

of all these five, the sense.

That was so entertaining.

Your Imperial Highness.

I heard you wished to speak to me.

Baroness von Sina, I'm so glad you're here.

I see marriage suits you. You look amazing.

Allow me to express my condolences to you for the death of Princess Sophie.

Please convey them to the Emperor also.

I wish to secure your help, Baroness.

As you may know, the Empress is staying in Bayern,

and we are unsure if she will come back.

So you want me to encourage her return?

The Emperor requires the comfort and the warmth of a woman.

I'm sure Your Imperial Highness will think of somebody.

Baroness, we both know that Elisabeth was hardly the only one

who meant a great deal to my dear son.

My husband wouldn't approve of this conversation.

Your Imperial Highness.

You would not be doing it for me, Baroness, but for Austria.

Hasn't it always been like that?

Highness,

for the reception with Milanese high society,

I thought either the exotic blue dress,

or the light, simple one.

As you and the Archduke want to be unassuming, I suggest the latter.

It will be more subtle, won't it?

It's not about the dress, but the woman who's wearing it.

The blue one.

Go and get a towel.

We should have you take more salt baths this month.

It helped my mother. Um, and raw herrings will help.

No herrings, Countess.

I have to see a doctor.

Yes, Highness.

Excuse me.

What you doing?

You shouldn't be outside, signora. There's a curfew.

Do you have a cigarette?

Please.

Yeah. All right.

Long live a united Italy!

You know, Your Highness,

we haven't seen the inside of the villa in 30 years.

Eh.

Well, now I'm here.

You're very generous, thank you.

We don't have enough to take care of the poor.

For the past few months, we've been taking care of the hospitals, Sister.

We are very grateful for that.

But poverty leads to discontent among the youth.

We should leave the planning of new infrastructure

to the Lombards themselves.

Put the power back in the hands of the Lombards.

I think that's a good idea.

To His Imperial Highness, the Archduke's health.

Raise your glasses!

Raise your glasses! Let's drink to that!

It's all just a bribe!

Shh.

Pardon?

The wine.

This food.

You're just adorning the facade, but behind it, everything's the same.

- Guards. - Leave him.

Just because you learned Italian,

doesn't mean you can fool us.

They will go to war with the rebels!

- Everyone knows that. - No.

We'll make Lombardy so stable that the revolts will end.

There won't be a war against the rebels, good sir.

Last week,

700 soldiers were forced to enlist in the Austrian army.

Young men.

Children.

Is that your idea of prosperity and peace?

There must be some misunderstanding.

I ordered no sort of forced enlistment.

But he did.

You must inform me before you take such a course of action.

His Majesty the Emperor put me in charge of the army.

I'm concerned about our security here.

All our good work will be undone if we fail to cooperate.

With respect, Highness,

as you only care for restoring churches and your almshouses,

you must try to understand I can't just have troops of Austrian recruits.

- Our army is short of soldiers. - Enough!

We must win the trust of the people.

Garibaldi is rising, and more soldiers will strengthen his hand here.

Last week, I lost five of my most decorated Austrian soldiers.

Murdered in cold blood by rebels.

A revolution is coming our way, I assure you.

And what have you done?

I relieve you of military command in the Emperor's name.

Elisabeth!

Where are you going?

To see Father.

Mother says Father lost his wits entirely last summer.

That's the reason I want to see him. I detest being here with Mother.

I cannot understand why she wants you to wed next year.

You've only just turned 15.

Mother says it's the best age.

Europe is full of unmarried royal heirs.

Or maybe she doesn't want me to end up just like Helene.

Did Mother not tell you?

Helene is hopelessly in love with the man of her dreams.

And he loves her too.

But they're forbidden to be together.

Why? Who is he?

His name is Anton of Thurn and Taxis.

They're a tiny family,

no land, or wealth.

But it didn't really matter to Helene.

She wanted to marry Anton at all costs.

She even got on her knees and begged Mother,

until Mother asked our cousin for permission.

- And then? - The King said no, of course.

His standing is far too low for us.

Helene then just fell apart.

First the issue with Franz, and now this.

I think Helene should be allowed to be with the man she really loves.

Like you and Franz.

'Til the end of time, that's what you swore.

They're just words, Mimi.

They mean nothing.

But we all dreamed of a love just like that.

It is preposterous.

Go back to the house. Do not wait for me tonight.

The Foreign Minister, Your Majesty.

- Majesty, I'll send him away. - Admit him.

Your Majesty. Thank you for receiving me without an appointment.

We must talk about the situation in Milan.

You want my brother's funds withdrawn. Isn't that so?

Last night, we saw three Austrian soldiers murdered.

General Gyulai must have all financial power to maintain security.

My brother says he must have financial autonomy.

And I've put my trust in him.

Uh, allow me.

Your Majesty, I regret that I have to say this, but...

Speak your mind.

Your brother,

he is reckless with funds.

Throws soirées, parties.

And what does it accomplish? Nothing.

He says it's all in the name of the empire,

but all he's doing is endangering the security of Habsburg,

and I cannot allow that.

Majesty.

And it's not the first time that your brother has put his own interests

above those of the empire.

I cannot ignore him taking advantage of you, Highness,

when you've been through such turmoil.

Tell the assembly that you will speak for me in this affair.

- The decision rests with you. - Majesty.

I thank you, Majesty.

Leave, please.

Go.

Your Majesty, can I help?

Get out.

Out!

And don't come back in again.

And, therefore, financial support

for cultural and social initiatives for Lombardy-Venetia will cease.

Has this actually been agreed by His Majesty?

And instead,

we'll invest in a comprehensive expansion of the local military.

No.

I, myself, will speak to the Emperor.

He alone should make this decision, not you!

He instructed me to resolve this matter.

Ministers, you are dismissed.

Since when do you dismiss us?

The Emperor trusted me with full authority in this. You hear?

And... And since when have you been so interested

in the comprehensive expansion of our military?

That is not a part of your responsibility.

Neither is it yours.

Will you excuse me?

Your Imperial Highness,

you cannot allow the Foreign Minister

to behave this way in the Emperor's absence.

This is madness.

Be careful, Minister, how you dare to talk to me.

Compose two telegrams to General Gyulai and Maximilian.

- Dispatch them this evening. - Yes, sir.

Oh, and bring me a drink.

Cognac.

Mm.

Your Imperial Highness, you're in very good health.

The regular loss of blood

strongly suggests that you can fall pregnant.

You see, my dear? All will be well.

Could I have a word in private, Highness?

Um...

I must inform you, Your Highness,

that sometimes a man's semen might be insufficient for a pregnancy.

Let me be clear, Doctor,

there have been at least two occasions when I have got a girl pregnant.

Is that so?

All the better then, Your Highness.

And since then, um, have you remained clear of illness?

Influenza, gonorrhoea,

syphilis?

No.

A telegram has arrived.

From Vienna.

- We're done here, Doctor. - Your Imperial Highness.

From your brother.

What is it?

He has cut off all our funds.

Everything's going to be diverted to Gyulai's military.

He can't do that, Maxi.

What about all our plans

and the ideas we have?

I was a fool to think that he would ever believe in me.

It's turned to shit.

It doesn't have to be final though. You must do something.

Will you listen to me?!

And stop being so naive!

You're going?

When you come up with a plan to resolve this, please will you...

How can you behave this way with what I'm going through?

The father of my children, Maxi, does not bleat like this.

It is abhorrent.

His Majesty will recover, Your Imperial Highness.

Give him some time.

I must say, it breaks my heart when I think of little Sophie.

She was so clever.

Like yourself.

She even had your name.

What does that signify?

You've had too much to drink.

One glass.

Just one.

The atmosphere just weighs down your soul.

The Countess is finished.

No, I wanted to try some pâté.

You will go to bed.

Mm.

Your Imperial Highness.

You must clear her dishes away. Clear everything up. I shall dine alone.

Yes, Your Highness.

And send for the Interior Minister too.

No pâté at all for Margarete.

Hm?

Good evening.

Looks as if at least one of us had a good day today.

Countess von Lamberg.

This is a surprise at this late hour.

- Uh, how can I help? - Let's see...

At last, someone who can have some fun.

The whole palace is like a graveyard.

Well, um, I'm very glad that...

That we finally have this opportunity.

What shall we drink to?

My good self. And reinforcing Lombardy.

His Highness trusted me with this vital operation.

So then, you are on your way to the top, hm?

Like yourself.

But isn't it actually a sad occasion?

That war's coming?

Mm.

War isn't a bad thing for everyone.

Your Imperial Highness.

Forgive me, I do not wish to disturb you.

I will not tolerate the way you spoke to me.

Your Imperial Highness?

Earlier, in front of the assembly.

Count Buol had the audacity to dominate the situation.

Then I think the two of you should meet up in a tavern one night

and prove with your fists who's more of a man!

Not at my cabinet, I tell you.

Baroness von Sina is here to see you.

Excuse me for a moment, would you?

- Your Imperial Highness. - Baroness von Sina.

Do I take it you've reconsidered?

He's an old friend, and he's in need.

He might need to talk to someone.

Just talk?

Interesting.

Whatever he might want..

Your Imperial Highness.

Were you eavesdropping, Minister?

The door was open.

Was that Baroness von Sina?

If you've an opinion, then come out with it.

Me?

I am not allowed to have an opinion, Your Majesty.

Forgive my behaviour earlier.

I wish you a peaceful night.

Minister.

Your Imperial Highness?

- Would you care to dine with me tonight? - With you?

Uh, forgive me.

You mean,

for us be alone?

It would be an honour.

To be honest, I had hoped

for more stimulating conversation from you, von Bach.

I tend to disappoint in social situations.

Once, there was a time when you were afraid of me,

and I found it amusing.

What happened to that?

First you want stimulating conversation, and now I am to be frozen with fear.

What is it you want from me?

I do not really know.

To the good old days, Highness.

And there's no need to worry,

I'm still terrified of you.

Another glass of wine, Your Imperial Highness?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty?

I am here.

My Sophie...

Shh, shh, shh.

I am here.

All will be well.

I miss you so.

I'm here.

I love you.

I love you...

Elisabeth.

Elisabeth.

Does it not hurt?

You have to surrender to the pain and forget it.

Elisabeth?

What are you doing here?

I wanted to know where you've been, Father.

I've been here.

The circus is where you always wanted to be.

Everyone said I was mad,

but I still did it.

Hm.

This circus, Father, so do you fund it all?

Uh, I make sure they have food to eat and a roof over their heads.

But at the end of the day, Elisabeth, I owe my life to them.

I was abandoned.

You let me down.

No letter.

Would it have done any good?

Everyone here is saying that you've not been eating.

It helps no one if you starve yourself.

Or do you want to die?

Is that it? Did you leave Vienna to die here?

I can't return to Vienna, Father.

They want me to forget all about her.

Does Franz want that too?

You must stop this, Elisabeth.

You can't change the world.

The world out there, it is lost.

- I don't know where to go. - Then stay here.

Look around.

Folk who have nowhere to go feel at home here.

And they can be who they want to be.

Free.

Wild.

To people like us.

Did you hear that?

My daughter is going to stay with us for a while.

I thought your daughter was the Empress.

Where are you going? Hey, beautiful girl, dance with me!

Elisabeth?

Something happened to you a few months back.

What was it?

Nothing that I'm aware of, Imperial Highness.

Does it have anything to do with Countess Apafi's disappearance?

Does nothing escape your notice, ever?

No.

So is your heart broken?

I'm not nearly as weak as you might think, Your Highness.

I can endure a lot.

But I hate to be lied to.

I do not think you're weak.

Please, Highness...

you've made your thoughts very clear over the years.

I actually know that if this palace should crumble to pieces,

you would be one of the few people who would survive out there.

You brought nothing with you,

and therefore you don't need much.

Have no fear.

There's a woman out there waiting for you.

I want to ask a question, Highness, that will earn me two weeks in prison.

Four.

The penalty is four weeks for asking intrusive questions.

Well go on, then.

Will you tell me who takes care of you, Highness?

I'm not one who requires a shoulder to cry on.

I know that.

I will never give in to sorrow, nor end up in despair.

I assure you of that.

- Good night. - Uh...

I crave your forgiveness...

I've had a wonderful time.

Mama.

Mama.

I miss you so much.

I miss you so.

Don't cry, Mama.

Where is my stone?

Papa has your stone.

Papa has your stone.

Elisabeth!

Elisabeth.

Elisabeth.

- Elisabeth. - Mm?

Oh. Come. Come on.

Come. Oh.

Have you been awake long?

What is it?

The doctor asked me about infections I have caught.

There are conditions that can make a man infertile.

I have to say that before you, I have...

had syphilis.

I thought that I had put it all behind me.

Will you forgive me?

If I can't give you any children...

will you still stay with me?

Sleeping in the forest. Who does such a thing?

It wasn't the first time.

I know that this was not the first time.

You were always running off. Don't put that on me.

You never wanted me to be here.

You pushed me away.

Nothing about me was right.

I've never told you this, but...

when I delivered you, your milk teeth were there.

Right at the front.

Right here, two teeny-tiny pointy teeth.

That's very rare, the doctor said...

...for someone to be born with teeth.

You have been strong since birth.

Stronger than you think.

I didn't protect my girl.

Oh...

You don't need to forgive Franz.

Forgive yourself, my dear.

Have you any soup?

Yes.

Mimi, go and get some soup.

I have to go back home.

Good morning, Your Majesty.

Was someone here?

Majesty?

Elisabeth was here. I'm sure of it.

There was nobody here.

Prepare the coach straight away.

I'm going to Bayern.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Mother!

A letter from the King.

- He's permitting Helene's wedding. - What? How so?

- Elisabeth wrote to him. - Let's see.

"And it is therefore with great joy

that I comply with the Empress's heartfelt wish

and enable Helene to enter into this marriage."

That is wonderful.

Wonderful!

Stop there! Whoa!

Halt!

What's happening there?

There's another carriage, Your Majesty.

We cannot pass.

It has been so desolate without our daughter.

Being without her is torture.

Without you...

my life is just unbearable.

I beg your forgiveness.

There's nothing to forgive.

What is that?

You cut yourself?

The Emperor is still reluctant to use the military.

The chance to strike the Habsburgs has never been better, Your Majesty.

He lost his daughter, Prime Minister.

He's in mourning.

Have you no heart?

I will help you unite Italy,

but I certainly won't wage a war of aggression.

Franz Josef must declare war on you.

In other words, on Piedmont, not vice versa.

France can intervene as your saviour.

And what happens

if Emperor Franz Josef does not declare war?

He's known for being a dove.

Believe me,

there will be a war,

and he will start it.