Corsage

She scares me so much.

Just count with me.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA. DECEMBER 1877

How long? - 40.

Nonsense. It was a whole minute and eleven seconds, Majesty.

Fetch Lotti.

The Emperor and Empress will arrive to the last bars of the national anthem.

You leave the carriage simultaneously

in front of the main entrance of the new Museum of Art History.

You will be greeted by the architect Baron von Hasenauer,

mayor Felder and minister-president Prince of Auersperg,

who will join you in the topping-out ceremony.

Since you haven't seen him in a while, Your Majesty will permit me to remark

that the Prince has been critical of the Double Monarchy from the very start.

He seems to keep a precise record of how many days

Your Majesty spends on Hungarian soil.

At the Emperor's side prevails

He related by common sense

Rich in charm that never outdated

Our gracious Empress

What fortune to be praised as highly

Stream from the sky on them

Hail Franz Joseph

Hail Elise

Blessing to the entire House of Habsburg

Majesty.

Watch out for your back, Adolf.

A magnificent building. You must be proud, Carl.

As though your ink drawing came to life and made its way to the Ringstrasse.

What a rare honour, Your Majesty.

My wife read recently in the papers that you were struggling with your weight.

These tabloids are a veritable plague.

Your Majesty, what a delight to welcome you in person.

Being appreciative of art, I know of course the depictions of your gracefulness.

Luckily, there are plenty because here in Vienna

we almost think of Majesty as a phantom.

You sway back slowly and then...

And then the eyes. At the right moment, you do this...

Like this and then...

That did not look quite right, Ludwig. - Show me again then.

You remind me of my dogs.

I'd love to be your dog, then I wouldn't vex your husband so much.

You would. He's jealous of my dogs.

Is he? - He is.

But actually,

you much rather remind me of my wallpaper.

They were inconsolable.

They want to assure themselves of your existence occasionally.

I really felt... so weak.

Those cheekbones. - He is sweet, isn't he?

Is your dear cousin staying much longer?

He is leaving tomorrow. He has obligations.

I have never met a more fickle person. - Haven't you?

People will gossip that you are sick again.

Well, it does make me sick

to stand there with a kilo of tin on my head, while everybody gawks at me.

What will you do about the Serbians? What does Gyula say?

General Beck and I have been in contact.

Andrássy's opinion is of minor importance now.

As is mine.

Stop that.

See what Hungary has brought us? - Yes.

A kingdom.

I asked for your opinion back then.

And I am despised for doing so to this day.

"A lion doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep."

Nobody loves nobody.

Everybody loves what he wants from others.

And we love anybody who loves in us that which we would like to be.

Let's go on a journey.

Majesty, it's Christmas in two days.

"The large assembly organised by the Independence Party

was attended by over 5,000 people.

Vehement speeches were held in opposition to Minister Andrássy..."

Mama, the trees are being decorated. They are the biggest ones we have ever had.

You have to see them. - I do not care much about dead plants.

The child looks pale.

Yes, Majesty. - You must get some fresh air.

When was she last outdoors? - I have so much studying to do, Mama.

Studying is good, but breathing is even better.

Send for Hunyady.

The child is reading too much in German. - Yes.

A young idealist has of course no idea

of the duties and devotion that mark the lives of the aristocracy.

But it's quite amusing to leaf through his newspaper.

I sometimes do it in secret.

It must be the audacity of youth

that gives him these republican ideas.

These newspaper people are quite infatuated with Her Majesty.

She is always a source of stories, your Mama, isn't she?

More of rumours, I would say.

Long may she live Long may she live

And yet more so

Long may she live

Long may she live

And yet more so

Beautiful may she remain

Beautiful may she remain

And yet more so

The candles, Mama.

A steady breath like a 20-year-old.

Here's to you, my darling.

Happy Birthday.

At the age of 40 a person begins to disperse and fade,

darkening like a cloud.

For example, we intend to place the two sections,

for peaceful and for restless patients, further apart,

so the emotional mood swings of one group

do not trigger attacks of hysteria and panic in the other.

And in line with Your Majesty's valuable remark on your last visit,

which put the medical staff in a flurry,

the installation of modern bathrooms is being considered.

Especially since the healing power of warm baths,

with various substances or even electricity added to the water,

is proving of increasing importance in this treatment.

Hello. Candied violets.

You will like them.

Paralytic imbecility.

Triggered by secondary syphilis.

Don't you remember me?

Last time you told me I was beautiful.

Most of the women here are by nature melancholic.

Jesus.

A fairy.

Valerie.

Come on, get dressed.

It's night time.

We are going on a little trip. Just the two of us.

Is it allowed? - I allow it, my dearest.

Come.

Your horse is falling asleep. - I can't see anything, Mama.

And I'm so cold.

Darkness is beautiful. It's protection.

Valerie.

Valerie.

"... saw a large fish flapping around,

trapped in a thorn bush, unable to move.

As soon as the fish saw Sepp on his horse, it addressed him:

God bless you, please free me from this thorn bush.

I have been trapped here for seven years..."

Over 40 degrees? - 39.

She is quite fine.

Papa!

It's beyond my comprehension that you of all people would risk our child's health.

Will you always blame me?

We didn't know it better. We should never have travelled with Sophie.

She could have fallen ill here, too. - No! - Yes!

I don't want you to pass on your restlessness to our child.

The task of raising the children is mine alone.

You committed yourself on paper.

I do not believe that you see more in them

than their position in the succession to the throne.

Papa!

Hello, princess.

She would be 22 years old now.

She wasn't that droll and chubby at all.

But she did have that serious look.

He captured that well.

At least we leave behind a pretty picture of her.

The room needs to be cleaned.

My husband is not joining me?

I was ordered to serve your dinner only, Majesty.

Good evening, Your Majesty.

Has His Majesty gone out?

No, Your Majesty. His Majesty has already gone to bed.

Is he unwell?

His Majesty is quite well, Your Majesty.

You arsehole.

Forgive me for disturbing you so late. - The later the disturbance, the better.

You are leaving so suddenly. - I always go away after New Year.

My sister will be joining me.

Well, Papa is surprised that you...

Howsoever... I would like to accompany you.

Lovely.

Now they're checking if I've grown old.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND. JANUARY 1878

Thank you.

Bay will never marry Charlotte.

You know very well why.

Don't you want your sherry?

I do not see the attraction of alcohol. - It helps to relax.

Remember father after seven tankards of beer?

You exaggerate.

I believed every man spoke that way after dark.

He slurred his speech after dinner.

My sister is tired.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Imperial Highness.

You have good eyes. - Yes, I do.

Majesty, Mr Louis Le Prince, resident in Leeds.

He asked to meet you. The Earl felt his request might interest you.

You have a request? - Your Majesty.

It is said that your interest in technical innovation is unusual for a woman.

And what I have to present is indeed an exciting new invention.

But you don't appear excited. - No. I am even-tempered by disposition.

I would like to film you, Majesty.

What would you like?

I have developed an apparatus that can capture moving pictures.

Like photography?

The difference is that photographs don't move.