Original subtitles

-You say, Tobias, -A personal favor Johann

Please.

Terlenez was the last.

It was agreed.

Take me home.

Lana has taken ill.

Huh?

Too bad.

He was supposed to conduct the Domeyer's at 12:30

I guess the orchestra could play

without the leader, but...

Sorry, Tobias, but I refuse to be melted

by your crocodile tears.

I'm tired, bone tired.

Tired of this crazy business, those silly, fawning

women.

I'm going home to bed.

Of course, of course.

You're not as young as you used to be.

You need the rest.

So anticipating the exhaustion, I thought of another

substitute for Lana.

Good.

Your son.

Shanny?

He has talent, a sensitive violinist, promising composer.

Never.

I told you not to encourage him.

Johann, listen.

I forbid it.

Shanny will not make my mistake.

Mistake?

To be the waltz king of Vienna?

Waltz king?

Bah.

I refuse to argue.

As you say, you're tired.

I am not too tired to maintain an

intelligent position.

I know what is best for my boys.

Shanny and Joseph are grown men.

They are still my sons.

They will do as I command.

And no more nonsense from you.

Where are you taking me?

Home, Herr Strauss.

Didn't you hear Herr Haslinger?

He told you Domeyer's, and Domeyer's it is.

Turn around.

Yes, Herr Strauss.

Here comes Domeyer.

With good news, I hope.

Going to throw us out.

Ladies and gentlemen, Domeyer is proud to present

as guest conductor for the remainder of the

evening, none other than Vienna's king of the waltz.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the one

and only Johann Strauss.

Shanny, it's your father.

Oh, I know.

What's the matter?

I can't let him find me here.

Change places.

Please.

What about capturing the spirit of this gay

spring night with a gallop?

Spell gallop.

Joseph.

Papa caught me.

Playing in Lana's orchestra.

Lana took sick, and suddenly there he was.

That was who?

Papa.

He took Lana's place.

Shanny.

Shanny.

Come down here.

How many times must I tell you that

I will not have it?

Yes, father.

I forbid you to play music in public,

and you deliberately disobey me.

I find work for you.

Decent, respectable, daytime work.

And you stay up all night playing second

fiddle in a third-rate orchestra?

Well, I won't have it!

My sons are going to be solid, respectable

citizens if it kills me.

Do you think I make these plans to

amuse myself?

What is this generation coming to when boys

who are barely in their twenties dare to

defy their fathers?

Now you listen to me.

You will forget this nonsense.

You will be on your job on time

tomorrow and the day after, and the day

after that.

And you will become a lawyer or I

will disown you.

Do you understand?

No, Father, I do not understand.

Then maybe this will help you understand.

You're coming on business for your father?

No, Herr Hausmann.

Then out of my face!

Not just a minute.

Not even a second.

Out!

Don't you want to hear my latest waltz?

No, especially don't I want to hear anything

of yours.

But you encouraged me.

A great mistake.

You said I had talent.

I take it back.

From now on, we are not even nodding

acquaintances.

Out!

Please.

Would you rather I take it to dear Belly?

By all means, dear Belly.

It is better I should lose you to

a competitor than your father.

Herr Haslinger?

Jetty Treffz, how nice to see you.

Thank you, sir.

It's good to be back.

I hear you're going to sing at Domeyer's.

Yes, isn't that a lucky break?

For Domeyer, yes.

Oh, he knows talent as well as I do.

Then you also know talent is not enough.

It needs good material.

Help yourself.

Hundreds of things.

Love songs, lullabies, arias.

Don't you have something special for a coloratura?

Something that hasn't been sung to death?

Oh, you...

What's that?

What's what?

Well, there's something new and fresh.

Never heard it before.

Excuse me.

Shanny, didn't I tell you to get out?

Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt.

Please go ahead.

Thank you.

Like it?

Oh, yes, it's beautiful.

I'm honored, Madame Threffz.

Just what I've been looking for.

You're the composer.

Allow me to introduce myself.

Johann Strauss, Jr. Another gifted Strauss?

No, he's a lawyer's apprentice.

A musical lawyer, then.

Could I hear it again, please?

Gladly.

There are lyrics if you'd care to try it.

Die Löcher im Laue Schwirrt der Taubenriss So

lau Sein wahniger, milder Hauch Der liebt und

küsst das Feld Den Aue Der Frühling in

Heu Der Bruch, der Wach Ja, ha, ha,

ha Alle Pein Zu Ende mag sein Alles

allein Wenn's verloren ist, ist's weit Schmerz wird

milder Frohe Bilder Glaub an Glück Kehr zurück

Sonnenschein Ringt durch ein Alles allein Ja, ha,

ha, ha Mama,

Joseph, I have done it.

I have finally done it.

What have you done?

I've written a waltz.

Hasslinger could not resist.

Oh, son.

And you know who sang it?

Yetti Treffz.

And she's going to use it at Domeyers.

In public?

Of course, in public.

After what Papa told you?

Maybe when he hears that a professional is

using non-music, he'll come to his senses.

Please, Charlie.

Where is Papa?

Taking his afternoon nap.

Sleeping soundly, I hope.

I want you to hear this.

Oh, Charlie.

Not Papa's violin.

It's the only one left in the house.

Must you play now, Charlie?

Papa is sure to hear.

Be careful, Johann, what you do.

No, Papa.

You dare to lay hands on your father?

Yes, but...

Johann!

No!

That's your violin.

I warned you.

Oh, I know you did, but I cannot

live like this.

I'm not cut out to be a lawyer.

My life is in music, and I don't

know why you fight it, and why you

make me fight you.

You have a job.

Work at it, and this foolishness will pass.

I had a job, Father.

Not anymore.

I quit.

I quit.

Do you remember what I said I would

do if you disobeyed?

Well, you won't have to disown me, Father.

I intend to leave anyway.

Then go!

No, Johann.

No!

Go.

Live like a musician.

Eat your heart out.

Fiddle for fools.

Spend the rest of your useless life in

a dress suit.

Go on.

Pop the champagne corks, smile back at the

giddy women, and then one day, when you're

sick to death of it all, remember what

I told you.

What makes you think I'll be any more

successful?

First, you're a girl.

You're prettier than I am.

Second, you will suspect I'm trying to influence

him because of his father.

Which is true.

True.

In other words, you'd rather I did the

nasty work.

Shani must give up this nonsense and go

back to the law office.

It's essential for his father's peace of mind.

Not to mention my own.

This place looks even worse than the last one.

He is coming down in the world.

You just see to it that Shanny returns

to that law office.

As you have, Haslinger.

I'll drop in tomorrow with the full report.

Good, good.

Back to my office, please.

Excuse me, please.

Is Strauss still living here?

Oh, right inside.

Ah, thank you.

You gonna take music lessons?

Well...

When you pay him, you better make it

bread or wine.

He's got plenty of sausage.

Thank you again.

Lottie.

That was very, very nice, but if you

watch your elbow and hold the bow a

little more loosely...

Well, here, let me show you.

Will I play it that pretty?

Well, one day you really will.

But you must do as I tell you

and keep practicing.

I will.

May I go now?

Of course.

We can only stand so much work, and

we must rest and play.

You're very smart for a music teacher, Strauss.

Well, thank you, Lottie.

Bye, Strauss.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Papa said they'd be bread for next week's lesson.

Would you accept this?

Thank you very much.

Goodbye, Herr Strauss.

Goodbye.

Jetty.

Jetty.

Come up, please.

What a surprise to see you.

It's been ages.

Yes, it has.

We've all missed you.

Well, I've been working very hard.

Good.

Please.

To you, madame.

To our picnic.

What's the use pretending?

I'm miserable and you know it.

All your friends know it.

It is something you cannot hide.

And why should you?

Is a man's work valid only if it

is acclaimed?

Yes, but how long, Yeti?

How long must I go on like this?

My work is good.

Well, I'm not great.

I'm not a Wagner or Beethoven, but I

make the kind of music people like to hear.

I know this.

Do you know that Haslinger still will not

publish me, not as long as he's afraid

of losing my father?

Then prove to Haslinger.

He's not the only publisher.

Thank you.

He might as well be.

Do you know?

He has gotten to every other publisher.

He's put the fear of death in them,

bribed them, I don't know what, but they

won't even look at my work, let alone publish it.

Why don't you get an orchestra and play

your own music?

An orchestra, my own music?

Why not?

With what?

Musicians won't play for nothing.

Or for promises.

It takes money.

Good, hard cash.

Would your hundred golden help?

A hundred golden?

I just signed a contract with the opera

and they gave me a hundred golden in advance.

You're welcome to it.

Good, not from you, not from a woman.

Of course not from a woman, but from

a fellow artist.

And it's a loan, not a gift.

I expect it badly.

It's very, very nice of you, Jetty.

It's a wonderful gesture, but let's be realistic.

No more objections, please.

Just listen.

I sang for a while at Domeyer's and

he was always complaining that things are not

what they used to be.

No young talent, no fresh music.

Could it be we have a surprise for him?

You know something?

What, Johnny?

You make it very difficult to be a failure.

All right, I'll pay it back every cent.

With interest.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen.

As all of you must know by now,

I am a patient man.

I have enormous patience, but enough is enough.

Now, Piccolo, what's the matter with you?

Either they go or I go.

Boys.

Better?

How can it be better?

Just look around.

He is right.

How can we work under these conditions?

It's impossible.

You can't keep your mind on the music.

I have had enough.

I quit.

Me too.

Fellas, fellas, listen.

We've all been working too hard.

We're on the edge, but we've got something here.

Let's not give up before we give ourselves a chance.

I told you the Domai debut looks good.

I expect to hear today one way or the other.

Now, can't you at least wait for that?

Let's dig it out.

Why not?

What do we have to lose?

Come on, fellas.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you very much.

What do you say we try the next

number and see how it goes?

All right.

From the beginning.

12 o'clock.

Lunch time.

Sit down.

It is in the agreement one half hour for lunch.

Promptly at high noon.

Lunch, gentlemen.

Shanny.

Shanny, I've got it.

I've got it.

The contract?

Yes.

What did I tell you?

Domai's name big as life.

So when do we start?

April 21st.

Hey, that's Saturday.

We better start rehearsing.

What are we waiting for?

Let's go.

And gentlemen, please, this time like you meant it.

Mr. Haslinger is here, Mr. Strauss.

Oh, yes, um, show him in, please.

Do you mind, my dear?

We have some, uh, some business to discuss.

Madame Strauss, you are looking well.

Thank you, Haslinger.

When you discuss Shanny, please do so with

charity in your hearts.

Such a woman.

Sometimes I think she reads my mind.

Sit down, Tobias.

Was it about Shanny you asked me to come?

Well, of course, but I didn't tell her that.

She must have smelt it.

Women, women.

Well, never mind about her.

This is between men.

You and me.

Tobias, my son's debut must not come off.

Yeah?

You must not allow it.

Me?

Well, of course you.

Who else is so good at making and

breaking careers?

Or have you been boasting all these years?

I wish only to say that Shanny's debut

is already set.

The contract is signed.

I doubt if even the emperor himself could break it.

I'm not asking the emperor, you imbecile.

I'm telling you.

I don't care how.

Do it.

With charity in our hearts.

Yes, with charity.

Do you think this is easy for me?

Shanny, don't you understand this is for Shanny's own good?

We must knock this nonsense out of his

head now, while he's still young, before good

business prospects have passed him by.

Because you are a genius, Johann, I cannot

always follow you, but I'll do as you say.

Thank you.

After all, business is business.

And we all know Vienna isn't big enough

for two Strausses, eh?

Tobias, are you implying that my son could

be a competition to me?

A threat?

A threat to the master, the idol.

How ridiculous.

Now, the boy is good, eh?

Johann, he is very, very good.

Then all the more reason you must destroy him.

Completely.

See to it.

Destroy him?

But completely.

I'm not accustomed to destroying careers, Herr Haslinger.

I make careers.

I launch them.

With the applause of myself and associates.

Herr Stieglitz, all these years I have employed

your services, and you are now explaining to

me your function.

Only because you are asking me to do

something I do not do.

Then branch out.

Expand.

Ruining artists should make a welcome change, give

your business more scope.

I don't like this.

A fine young man, possibly as great an

artist as his father.

We are saving this boy from himself, from

making a terrible mistake he would regret the

rest of his life.

You wouldn't want to inflict that on him,

would you?

Of course not.

Well, then.

Destroy him for us.

How?

How?

You are supposed to be the king of

the clacks, you tell me.

You and your men.

Can't you whistle?

Catcall?

Stamp your feet?

Make noises of disapproval?

Oh, yes.

I suppose we could, but we would have

to acquire these somewhat vulgar skills.

Practice them.

I would have to raise my fee, Herr Haslinger.

Some 20%.

All right, all right.

I'll pay it.

Anything so that Charlie Stieglitz doesn't come off.

As you wish, Herr Haslinger.

The operation must be clean and quick.

See to it.

Have you understood everything clearly?

Tactics, position, timing?

Good.

Then take your places.

In three minutes, I make my final reconnaissance.

Go.

Thrilling, isn't it?

You seem more excited than you were at your own debut.

Oh, I am.

Look, there's Stieglitz.

Stieglitz?

The king of the clacks, the man who

launched Schubert.

He helped me, too, for the break for Shanny.

Dear sweet Tobias, how wonderful of you.

Huh?

Now, don't pretend to be modest.

Who else could have thought of it?

Now or never, boys.

I should like to play, in honor of

my father, the Radetsky March by Johann Strauss, Sr.

To honor my son's debut,

I am privileged to conduct

Roses from the South

by Johann Strauss, Jr.

Wait up, please.

Herr Strauss must rest.

Thank you, madame.

You will forgive me, but I had to do that.

My pleasure would be even keener if I

knew your name.

I am an admirer.

Let that be enough.

A Cossack.

He says he's looking for...

Are you the Countess Polanski?

Oh, dear.

He mustn't find me.

Not here.

Through this way.

The fire door will take you back to the hall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Who is she?

I beg your pardon?

My fiancée.

I know she is here.

You must have the wrong room, my friend.

Try another.

Why?

Herr Strauss too has been strained, he must rest.

If there is a lady involved, I at

least have the right to know her name and yours.

The lady is my fiancée, the Countess Polanski.

I, Prince Prokhorov, call you out.

You have joys of weapons.

What makes you think your fiancée is here?

She sent you flowers.

Of this I have been informed.

I see.

Come with me, my friend.

Flowers from ardent admirers.

So?

Well, if you can find your fiancée's bouquet

and her card is any more passionate than

the others, I will gladly fight a duel with you.

Well, what do you say?

What?

Yes.

How did you do that?

Did not you know?

I'm a very funny man.

Please, Herr Strauss.

Some intermission left, huh?

Tobias.

This is it.

We're going home.

Impossible.

We have Moscow yet.

Cancel it.

But think of the money.

At the present rate of exchange...

No, I said cancel.

We're going home.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen

Applause is good to hear anywhere

But nowhere in the world so good

As in Viena

Wonderful Isn't it?

you can have it.

All those paying customers...

Did you see that demon with the scissors?

She wanted this souvenir.

What, my head?

A lock of hair.

Think of it, Shani.

Good night,

Tobias.

Good night.

The lady...

Good night, Shanny.

Be sure to give your dear mama my love.

Yes, yes, yes.

Good night.

Good night, ladies.

Good night.

Oh, Shanny.

Get out of here.

Get out.

Drive fast.

Let me go.

Be careful, you'll get hurt.

Jetty.

Take your hands off me.

Jetty, it's me, Shani.

Shanny Strauss.

Shanny.

Goodbye.

Shanny.

You scared the hell out of me.

How was I to know you'd be wearing

that horrible beard?

Is this what fame has done to you?

No, that's not half of it.

Look, why don't we go somewhere quiet and talk?

There's nothing in the world I'd rather do.

It seems like years.

It has been years.

Driver, Grinsing.

No, Jetty,

it's not enough.

What more could a man ask for?

He has success, security, popularity.

You sound like hustling.

I expected more understanding from you.

What do you want me to tell you?

That you're wasting your time and talents conducting

a dance band, writing light, romantic waltzes?

Is that what you want?

I don't know what I want.

I only know that I'm fed up with

the fawning women and the rich food and

the flattering friends.

Where do I go from here?

You have quite a problem, don't you?

Where does a waltz king go?

Papa was right, he warned me.

If he were alive today, he'd point his

finger at me and he'd say, you see,

Shanny, you should have stuck with the law.

Remember how I fought him?

No man is ever what he wants to be.

He's only what he is.

And by that I mean you're a better

musician than you realize.

You think so.

Look, I'm an opera singer.

I should know what I'm talking about.

You have it in you to be one

of the immortals.

I, immortal?

You mean like Wagner?

Of course not like Wagner.

Immortal like...

Like Strauss.

Gay, carefree, a lover of life and of Vienna.

You are Vienna.

Please don't ever lose that.

You're good for me, Jetty.

You always were.

But this time you've got me wrong.

If I'm going to compose serious music,

I'd better start taking life and music a lot more seriously.

What did you think?

Very nice.

Different, anyway.

Mama has a point.

It is different.

For you, I mean.

In other words, you don't like it.

Maybe I've been with the city engineers too long.

Lost my ear.

Excuse me.

I have some plans I have to check

over before morning.

A new street sweeper, maybe?

Not exactly.

This has to do with city improvement.

We plan to...

But why bore you?

It couldn't possibly be of interest to you.

See, why not?

For generations, the Strausses have been gypsies and

musicians and artists.

I think it's a step forward that little

brother is the famous inventor of a street sweeper.

Don't you?

You shouldn't have spoken like that, Charlie, just

because you wasn't enthusiastic about your music.

He said himself he'd lost his ear, his interest.

You are wrong.

Joseph has never lost his love of music,

but he is shy.

He couldn't bring himself to disobey his father, as you did.

But at heart, he's just as much a musician as you ever were.

He has been composing for a long time.

If you weren't so busy being famous, you might have noticed.

Look this over sometime, and please, don't hurt him anymore.

Good night, my dear.

Good night, madame.

It's getting rather late.

I'd better be going.

No, wait, please.

You have nothing to say?

There's nothing I could possibly add

to what's been said.

You agree?

Yes.

You're the one that encouraged me.

You said I had it in me to

do better things, maybe even as good as Wagner.

Yes, but as Strauss, not as Wagner.

Ah, listen.

Better?

Yes, much better.

Joseph, I'm glad you could come.

Mama told me you wanted to see me here.

But if it's because you think you have

to apologize about last night,

please forget all about it.

Well, I will not forget, and I do apologize.

But that's not why I wanted you to come.

It's something else.

Mama showed me your...

Look, come over here, huh?

Yeah.

No, come on up.

Is this a joke?

No, no, this is very serious.

I want to play something for you, and

I want your honest opinion.

Oh, please, Shanny, not again.

Now, listen, please.

That's my polka.

Oh, that's not right.

It should be pizzicato.

Pizzicato?

I don't know.

Suppose you show us.

Come on.

Go ahead.

Right, gentlemen, pizzicato.

It's like an experiment.

This proves good enough.

That was fine, Joseph.

Do you have anything else?

Not with me.

Well, try the next number.

But why?

You're a Strauss, aren't you?

Conducting is second nature to a Strauss, go ahead.

All right, gentlemen, next polka.

Look how natural he is

I'm thinking of turning over some of my conducting to Joseph.

That'll give me more time for composing.

Well, you haven't given up?

Well, I come from a long line of bullheaded Strausses,

and we never give up.

Good, because I have tickets for an operetta

I want you to go to.

An operetta?

Yes, by a Frenchman named Offenbach.

Have you heard of him?

Of him, yes, but I've never heard his work.

What could be important or serious about an operetta?

You'll see.

It's wonderful, such spirit and a gaiety.

I thought you'd like it.

Much more your type of thing than Wagner.

It's a lot more popular than opera, isn't it?

Yes, the audience loves it.

Pardon me, but are you maybe thinking of writing an operetta now?

Thinking, yes.

You're king of the world, successful, getting richer every day.

Don't waste your time on such thinking.

Don't you ever think of anything except money?

Of course I do.

Sometimes I have to think about silly musicians who make for me nothing but problems.

First Wagner, now Offenbach.

What next?

Do you know Offenbach?

I know everybody.

Well, I would like to meet him.

Nothing simpler.

Only this afternoon he came to my shop to arrange a meeting with you.

So I ask you, who is the more famous?

Is an operetta any better than 50 great waltzes?

Yes, I am telling you.

A shoemaker shouldn't always be changing gravy trains in midstream.

An honor, indeed, an honor.

It's the other way around, Monsieur Offenbach.

The honor is mine.

Oh, I've long been the admirer of your beautiful melodies.

Thank you, sir.

I've never heard anything like your music before.

We Viennese are a little provincial.

We're not used to such lively wits, such clever music.

It's truly wonderful.

How do you do it?

It's not really that difficult.

The first step is to find the right story.

The kind that inspires you with musical ideas.

Time, maestro.

Oh, you will excuse me.

The third act begins.

But we will meet again soon, oui?

Most certainly.

I'll arrange a dinner.

We have so much to talk about.

It has been most charming, Madame Strauss.

I am also looking forward to seeing you again.

Yes, I mean, I am too.

We'd better go back to our seats.

Did you hear what he called you?

Yes.

Silly of him, wasn't it?

What a fool I've been.

A selfish, conceited idiot.

It takes a stranger to tell me what you are to me.

What you've always been to me.

Will you marry me?

I should ask to think it over.

As a proper lady would.

But why pretend?

I said yes many years ago.

Shanny

Thank you, Tobias, for everything, especially the privacy.

Shanny.

Yes?

How long will you be gone?

A month.

A whole month?

Go on.

Sorry, darling.

What's so funny?

This play.

The play?

I've been reading nothing but plays for the past week.

Haven't you noticed?

How can I notice anything but your beautiful face?

You sound just like Alfred.

Alfred?

Now, who's Alfred?

A character in the play.

He's in love with the businessman's wife.

That's supposed to be funny.

Will you please listen?

I'm trying to tell you.

The story's very amusing.

It pokes fun at the Russians, at the

aristocracy, at everything.

What's the name of this gem?

Fliedermaus.

A bat?

It sounds more like a horror story.

It's just because one of the characters wears

a bat costume and a masquerade.

Are you listening?

I'm listening.

You'd better.

This would make a wonderful operetta.

You know what Hasslinger says about changing gravy trains in midstream.

It's risky business.

Do you want to hear more of this story or don't you?

Why not?

Oh, where were we?

Oh, yes, the character in the bat costume.

Well, it seems he had too much champagne

at his masquerade, so his friend leaves him

lying in the public square to sleep it off.

When he wakes up, it is ten o'clock the next morning

and everybody's laughing at him.

As long as you're awake, listen to this.

Sounds very romantic.

With you as inspiration, how else could it sound?

Where does it come into the story?

Well, it's the ballad the wife sings to

her husband in the second act.

But she doesn't.

I knew you weren't listening.

Well, somebody sings it.

Starts right there with we alone.

Lost in our wonder, we find it Just

the two, just to be One in our

destiny We are You'll

find true love when you lose your new

love in your heart Oh,

Shanny, it's wonderful.

Like Offenbach?

No, you silly girl, it's not like Offenbach

or Wagner or Brahms or anybody else in the whole world.

Except Shanny Strauss.

Now go on, go on quickly.

Enough, my lord, it's good enough.

No, no, enough, we have to part.

A little kiss gives me comfort in suffering.

Enough, my lord, we won't come to an end today.

Enough, it's time now.

There's a beautiful big bird's nest, it's very

near here.

The birds fly in and out and find

a free quarters.

It invites them very politely to be a

guest.

Through fat birds they feel free, it must

be very good.

Now the birds fly in and out and

find a free quarters.

It invites them very politely to be a

guest.

Through fat birds they feel free, it must

be very good.

Enough, my lord, we won't come to an

end today.

Enough, it's time now.

There's a beautiful big bird's nest, it's very

near here.

Fine, fine. Much better than before. Relax

Oh! It's going well

Some people can live like ostriches if they have to in the clouds

Now what's wrong?

Nothing, nothing at all.

Look, there is something wrong and I want to know what it is.

Just a silly rumor

More than a rumor. I have it on good authority

What do you have on whose authority?

They are going to close your show, even before it opens.

That's what.

Who are they?

Now, darling, don't get excited.

No, I'm not excited.

But I will if somebody doesn't get to the point

Who is going to close Fliedermaus?

The Russian ambassador sent a formal protest to the foreign minister.

So?

So this protest says that your operetta makes

fun of the Russian nobility.

Shows you to be arrogant and stupid.

Which it is.

What's wrong with telling the truth?

The truth?

You call that the truth?

The police catching a rich man's wife with

her boyfriend?

Things like that do happen.

Sure, sure.

But does this man have to be rich?

That is the point.

The play satirizes the morals of the nobility and the rich.

But those kind of people are so powerful.

Now, I am supposed to be scared to

death of these stuffed shirts.

What next?

It's no use.

Every day you're getting more stubborn than your father used to be.

Go on, open your show.

But when your career is ruined, don't say

I didn't warn you.

Finale of act one.

We have much work to do if we're

going to open on time.

Positions, please.

The Russian ambassador.

We are outnumbered by the enemy.

We will be outfought and outlawed.

This I predict.

The emperor and the archduchess.

The archduchess hasn't been to a theater in 15 years.

This can end in nothing but disaster.

What are you two whispering about?

Oh, nothing, Mother.

Just Tobias and his little jokes.

Courage, Tobias.

It's too late to turn back now.

Yeah, but the nobility is not applauding.

The beginning of the end commences.

You see?

Even his own public is not with him.

See how wrong you are?

He's won the audience already.

One battle doesn't win the war

Wait 'til the second act

Who cares? If they kill me now I would die happy!