Original subtitles

[hooves clopping]

[snorting]

[Elisabeth] Slowly!

Hold the line.

Faster.

Out.

Hup!

Out onto the open sea.

Hup!

A wild longing drives me.

I wish I could see the sun.

The joyous, envied sun.

And sink into your waves.

Wonderful, Your Majesty. Stay that way.

[solemn music playing]

Out.

Out onto the open sea.

A wild longing drives me.

[music ends]

[theme music playing]

THE EMPRESS

[theme music fades]

[carriage rattling]

[hooves clopping]

-[coachman cueing horses] -[horse neighing]

[horse snorting]

[Konstantin] Your Majesty, we have arrived.

[indistinct chatter]

[door opens]

[baby babbling]

[knocking on door]

[door opens]

[Konstantin] His Majesty the Emperor.

[door closes]

Your Majesty.

[baby babbling]

Let's see where…

There you are!

[gentle music playing]

-Now, come here. -[baby babbling]

Look, your father is here.

Come.

There we are. With your brother.

[birds chirping]

Your Majesty.

Good morning, Theo.

-My husband's not here? -I am afraid not, Your Majesty.

He had an early meeting?

A meeting? No.

He had an appointment this morning. In the city.

A diplomatic contact. Regarding the Prussian visit.

Last night he slept here again.

[pensive music playing]

[chuckling] See how Josef can nearly do it?

-[Josef squealing] -Oh. [chuckles]

[kissing]

Well, he still has time.

[chuckles] Hmm?

-[knocking on door] -There.

I must go now.

[babbling]

[inhales deeply]

Thank you for the tea.

And I will see you next month.

I had hoped to see you tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

It's the boys' birthday.

I thought it would be nice if you could spend it together with them.

No, I cannot.

I'm seeing King Wilhelm of Prussia.

Of course.

[Franz] And one more thing.

Please do not call me their father in front of them.

[door opens]

[door closes]

Why not translate this paragraph here from Hungarian as well, Your Majesty?

[Pauline sighs]

What is it, Pauline?

Konstantin said yesterday,

he feels a steadily growing affection for me.

[Charlotte] Mmm.

But we may only kiss when we are wed.

As per our Good Lord's will.

Forget about what all the men want.

What do you want?

[inhales sharply]

Do you not ever imagine what Margarete might be doing?

Countess, the Empress is reading Hungarian,

and she needs to concentrate.

Sorry, Your Majesty.

We should quote the article of Ferenc Deák when we talk to the cabinet about Hungary.

[Charlotte] You mean the Empress, Ida.

When the Empress speaks before the cabinet, not you.

I know that.

Allow the Empress to have a little respite.

She has been working for Hungary for weeks now.

You are not her nursemaid.

And you are not a minister.

That is Count Andrássy!

[suspenseful music playing]

[Ida] Yes. He wrote this article himself.

[Pauline] What does it say?

[Ida] He writes that he believes in the foresight of Vienna.

The Austrians are not Hungary's enemy, he writes.

On the contrary.

He believes in how strong Buda and Vienna can be together.

[Charlotte] Have you had any contact with him, Elisabeth?

I met with Count Andrássy for our empire's benefit.

I am doing this for Hungary.

And for no other reason, I assure you.

[inhales deeply]

Could you leave me alone now?

I would like to read through this

before my appointment with the portrait painter.

[inhales deeply]

[painter] I would imagine it's a little painful

to hold that position, Your Majesty.

No, it is not.

I would rather immortalise you as you really are.

-[footsteps approaching] -[bell rings]

[valet] His Majesty the Emperor.

I wanted to check on the portrait's progress.

Your Majesty, certainly. It is an honour.

How nice that you're featuring the star in your portrait.

I was looking for you this morning.

I had an appointment early in the city.

A diplomatic contact regarding the Prussian visit.

That's what Theo said you were doing.

When can I present my ideas for Hungary to the cabinet?

It is not an appropriate time this week.

"This week" has not been an appropriate time for months now.

I will keep pressing until my ideas are heard, Franz.

[Franz] And they will be heard.

But first I must address the problem with the Prussians.

And why is it that you are meeting with King Wilhelm here?

He wants to annex the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia.

This is against the order of the states. It cannot happen.

[Elisabeth] You informed him of that months ago.

I do not think he is willing to accept it.

And how can I help?

You know King Wilhelm. He's capricious, arrogant.

But his heart is tender.

We must remind him of his loyalty towards the imperial family.

I will.

Then I will disturb you no more.

[melancholy music playing]

[Sophie exhales deeply]

Oh yes, please take as long as you like.

It feels so pleasant when you prolong the pain like that.

[maid gasps]

[sobs]

[Sophie sighs]

[breathes deeply]

Is someone else here?

[curious music playing]

[maid 1] I can't believe it. It's uncanny.

[maid 2] Who is she?

[maid 1] I have no idea.

[valet] My lady, you cannot enter unannounced.

[Anna] Oh, it's fine.

It's me.

[inhales deeply]

Anna.

Let's take a look at you.

What are you doing here?

You didn't write.

Could you fetch us some tea to warm us up?

This palace is so damned cold.

It immediately chills you from the inside out.

[inhales deeply]

A hot tea would be exquisite.

Can she speak?

No, and that suits me.

You've made it quite cosy in here. What's the colour of this fabric?

Cemetery green?

And what is that?

Is it from Mexico?

How is Maximilian faring over there?

You must miss him terribly.

We do not talk of him.

[Anna sighs]

Our picture!

Look how young we were then.

Like two peaches.

So, what brings you here?

I just felt that I should come.

How much do you need?

-That is not why I came to see you. -Nonsense. How much do you want?

The castle needs a new roof.

It's leaking, so it is uninhabitable.

I will need somewhere to stay for the winter.

Hmm.

And why do you not try to find a new husband?

The Duke of Saxe-Meiningen is widowed

and recently went blind, if you're interested?

I'm afraid I am still grieving.

Yes, you've grieved all over Europe, so I heard.

Your Imperial Highness, the King of Prussia is almost here.

Brother-in-law Wilhelm? What a lovely surprise.

A political meeting, Anna. Not a chance for you to show off.

As if I would show off.

[dramatic music playing]

[coachman] Go on! Go on!

[horse neighing]

-[coachman cueing] -[horse snorts]

[footman] Your Majesty.

[wind whooshing]

[music fades]

Your Majesty, it is such an honour to be here.

King Wilhelm.

-You do us a great honour. -[chuckles]

-And the Empress. -Your Majesty.

What a pleasure.

Your Imperial Highness.

I was unsure if we would make it on time.

-Have you seen the storm outside? -You call that a storm?

There were times when I'd go sailing with my father in such weather.

Oh! Uh… [laughs]

May I introduce you to my newly appointed Prime Minister,

Otto von Bismarck.

Your Majesty.

It is a pleasure.

I've heard much about you.

Thank you.

Before we start on business matters, I would like to ask you both to dinner.

A small family gathering. What do you say?

Of course, there would still be time to recuperate for the both of you.

Yes.

The journey from Berlin was long, so we are very well rested.

We can start the meeting immediately, Your Majesty.

[Wilhelm] Oh, must we?

The Emperor is inviting us to have dinner with his family.

Politics can wait.

[Franz] Wonderful.

So we'll see you later.

[pensive music playing]

[Franz] Shall we raise our glasses?

Oh, not too much. Sensitive stomach.

My dear King Wilhelm, I am delighted you grace us with your presence.

Honourable Prime Minister, welcome to Schönbrunn.

Oh, uh, perhaps a little more.

[Franz] Not least following the last war,

I feel I learned what really matters between us great powers.

True loyalty. Cooperation.

Prussia and Austria are lasting allies, but that is not all.

We are a family.

[sighs] Your Majesty, it really touches me to hear you say that.

You must call me Franz.

Franz.

Gladly.

Elisabeth.

Elisabeth.

You are most welcome to visit it. Then we can go hunting together.

With pleasure.

I always find that the hunt is best in summer.

-[gasps] Your Majesty! -[Franz] Aunt Anna.

This is a lovely surprise.

[Anna] Forgive me for arriving here unannounced.

I asked the gentlemen to set a place for me.

I hope that is all right with you.

I heard this is a family dinner.

I will be as quiet as a mouse.

I will nibble at my food, and you won't even notice I am here.

[Wilhelm] Hmm! [chuckles]

When we were girls, no one could tell us apart,

our parents included.

Sophie and I would often swap places, you know?

-Do you recall, Sophie? -Swapped places?

[Anna] If one of us did not want to do something,

the other had to do it instead.

I always had to play the piano, which wasn't her forte.

Though she did marry the late Emperor's brother in return.

That's enough.

We could do that again sometime, Sophie. What say you? Swap our roles?

Ruling Habsburg.

Just how hard can it be?

[laughs]

Not hard at all. [laughs]

Your Majesty, why do you look at me like that?

[classical piano music playing]

Maybe it is time to talk about business?

I am sure Wilhelm and I will find a quick solution.

I agree with you. [inhales sharply]

What kind of solution?

That Prussia drops all of its demands, I assume.

I would like to postpone political questions until tomorrow.

I can ask the question all the same.

You have been rejecting us for a year. Has anything changed at all?

We supported the Prussian army in the war against Denmark, if you recall.

And we thank Austria with such deep gratitude.

You wanted to stop the expansion of Denmark,

you did not do it for Prussia.

[Wilhelm] You heard the Emperor just now.

What he said about friendship.

Decades ago, Austria pledged to protect all German state borders.

Yours included.

A pledge made years ago may no longer be suitable.

And do you concur, dear Wilhelm?

[Wilhelm] I…

[hesitating]

The king and I are in agreement

that the current order simply cannot remain in place.

[Wilhelm breathing heavily]

[gasps, grunts]

It's rather hot…

Drink a glass of water.

[grunting] Yes.

-[all gasp] -[Franz] Your Majesty!

[Sophie] Help the King!

[Wilhelm grunting, gasping]

-[Anna] Calm down, dear Wilhelm. -[Wilhelm gagging]

Bring the King a glass of schnapps.

It was just a brief fainting spell. He'll be fine in a moment.

-Come, sit up. -[Wilhelm grunting]

Please escort His Majesty to his chamber. And send for the court doctor.

Come, Your Majesty.

We'll adjourn until tomorrow.

If you'll excuse me.

[Anna] Now it's just the two of us.

Let's have another drink.

I told you to behave in an appropriate manner.

-But what have I done? -You encouraged Wilhelm to drink too much!

But that was not my doing?

[sighs]

[footsteps approaching]

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

I have prepared everything for the talks with the Prussians.

My wife must know the truth.

[inhales deeply]

-I will tell her about my sons. -Don't do that.

It will only lead to more misery.

Things cannot remain this way.

I despise myself.

Some secrets must be carried alone.

Even if it's difficult.

Your Majesty.

[curious music playing]

[sniffing]

[Theo] What are you doing?

I…

I just wanted to…

The Emperor left his jacket.

[footsteps receding]

[exhales sharply]

[horse snorting]

[dog barking in distance]

[footsteps approaching]

Is the King not visiting you?

Dinner didn't take very long.

If I had known that you were coming, I would have kept them awake.

No, I understand that.

[inhales deeply]

It means so much to me

that we are able to share this moment together.

[Elisabeth] Is he not here?

No, Your Majesty.

He wanted to go out again.

Out so late?

Where to?

Where is he, Theo?

I am sorry, Your Majesty.

[curious music playing]

[footsteps approaching]

To Josef and Karlchen.

Thank you for taking good care of them.

[Terese chuckles softly]

[breathes sharply]

I will keep our secret.

-Stay the night. -No.

No.

-Why not? -I do not wish to.

Then why did you come here?

You know exactly why I came. To see the children.

-I think you are lying. -Excuse me?

I have heard it said that for weeks now

you have not slept in the same bed as the Empress.

-It's all rumours and lies. -They say that the Empress is sad.

-And that your marriage is in difficulty? -Now, you just shut your mouth.

I know that I would never be sad by your side.

-That's enough. -[baby babbling]

If you continue to ensure that the boys and I can get by, then…

I will leave you alone.

[music fades]

[crow cawing]

Majesty, are you still faint?

Yes.

Your pulse is normal, Your Majesty. Your heart sounds good.

[Wilhelm groans softly]

Are you quite certain, Doctor?

It was a minor issue with your circulation.

But there is no cause for concern.

The Emperor expects us in half an hour, Majesty.

Uh, should I not rest a little longer though?

No. There is no need. Just don't overexert yourself.

The meeting will take place. I will confirm.

Uh, no. I really do feel that I should not get up.

Your Majesty.

Honourable Minister. I shall take my leave.

We will not return empty-handed to Berlin, will we, Your Majesty?

We must insist on our demands.

Mmm. All of those things that we dream of, Otto,

the Emperor will not consent to them.

That's immaterial. As long as we both remember our plan.

-[Wilhelm exhales] -Step by step by step.

[exhales] Hmm.

[groaning] No. No.

I am not well enough. You speak to him.

-What? -Do it.

Then you will incur his wrath and not me.

Your Majesty.

It is not tight enough.

Tighten it more, please.

And tighter.

Your Majesty.

[Franz] Good morning.

Good morning.

I will have this cup of coffee and then I am due to go riding.

I have a surprise for you.

These last weeks, I have not paid you enough attention.

Forgive me.

Thank you.

[cup clinks]

Where were you last night?

I needed some air after dinner. So I went to stretch my legs.

To stretch them?

You are disappearing rather often.

Mornings. Night-time.

-And Theo told me… -Theo?

-What does Theo have to do with it? -He seemed embarrassed.

You are imagining it.

No, I am not.

It would not be the first time.

You could just tell me where you have been.

I have to let my wife know whenever I go out?

Or ask her permission if I have a last-minute meeting?

That is not what I said.

Do you ask my permission when you correspond with Hungary?

Pardon?

You know that I disagree with your opinions about Hungary,

and yet I still tolerate it.

-All while Austria needs you. -And what does Austria need from me?

I'd like to talk with the King of Prussia now.

Is that all right with you?

[dramatic music playing]

[cup clinks]

[horse chuffing]

[neighing]

[Elisabeth] Calm. Calm down.

Go on. And again!

Head up.

-Now turn. -[horse neighs]

[neighs]

Easy.

Don't pull.

Don't pull. Stop!

-[neighing] -[gasps]

Shh. Calm now.

Easy.

Easy now.

[horse nickering]

[chuffing]

Good morning.

Does the horse feel pain when you pull like that?

It needs to learn dressage.

Otherwise, it will not look pretty.

Are all your lessons completed?

I am doing them now, Your Majesty.

[breathes deeply]

[bell tolling]

I heard the King got very drunk.

[chuckling] Just a little bit.

Did you have a chance to speak to the Empress?

You must tell her, Charlotte.

Or have you changed your mind?

I will tell her.

[door opens]

[footsteps approaching]

[valet] His Majesty the Emperor.

[Bismarck] Your Majesty.

The King is not here?

His Majesty is still unwell. He sends his apologies.

King Wilhelm has given me full authority to lead the negotiations.

I do not doubt that.

-Please. -I thank you.

[Bismarck breathes deeply]

We can cut this meeting short, Prime Minister.

I will not allow the expansion of Prussia.

Prussia is only claiming territories

that want to become part of the Prussian kingdom.

It's not exactly expansion.

Borderlines of the German states

are based on principles that preserve peace in Europe.

-And preserve your power. -Excuse me?

I said the borders maintain your power, not peace.

I understood the first time.

Then why did you ask?

[breathes deeply]

And what if Austria attempts possession of the northern German lands?

I am not interested in expanding my territory.

[chuckles]

Easy to say when your empire is the largest.

Why are you taking this risk now?

As things stand…

Those there,

all the small kingdoms and the principalities…

This is just primitive.

It is the old order.

Or disorder.

And where there is disorder, order must be created.

I have pledged to protect all German states, Prime Minister.

That may feel like a limitation to you.

But I am also protecting Prussia.

[inhales deeply]

[tense music playing]

[exhales]

No.

Prussia and Austria.

We are suffocating each other.

Can you not see that?

One of us must give way.

How about we come to a compromise?

Prussia takes over the administration of Schleswig,

Austria takes over Holstein.

Yes.

That would suit us.

But if you initiate annexation of another sovereign German state,

I will consider it a declaration of war.

You have my word.

Just Schleswig.

Do you believe in loyalty, Prime Minister?

I could ask you the same question, Majesty.

[bell rings]

[valet] His Majesty the Emperor.

[Franz] Would you excuse us, please?

[sighs] What is it?

[door closes]

I saw her again, the girl from last year.

[breathes deeply]

You were with her while I looked for you.

[inhales deeply]

-I am sorry I lied to you, Elisabeth. -You made me feel like I was paranoid.

I'm not in love with her.

I have never loved her.

-But you sleep with her? -Not any more, I assure you.

Then what are you saying?

She gave birth.

To twins.

My children.

[breathing shakily]

How old?

A year.

Two sons.

Two boys.

[thunder rumbling]

[sombre music playing]

-Elisabeth… -Leave.

-Please. -Now.

[inhales sharply]

[thunder rumbling]

[horses neighing]

[horses kicking]

[neighing]

[grunting]

[panting]

[music fades]

[birds chirping]

[door opens]

[Charlotte] Good morning.

Sorry to wake you so early.

And you brought me tea as well.

It gets quite chilly in here.

[horse neighing]

How are you?

I cannot really say.

It will all resolve itself. Between you both.

It always does.

Maybe not this time, though.

You are very strong, Elisabeth.

Don't forget that.

What would I do without you, my dear?

What is it?

I can see there is something on your mind.

No.

Go on, tell me.

The doctor asked for my hand.

And would you like that?

-[giggles] -[chuckling] Really?

I would have to leave.

He wants to train women across the country

so they can be doctors too.

And he wants to train me.

I understand.

Being your lady-in-waiting, Elisabeth,

it was my life's dream.

But this…

Achieving something with him, though…

That could be my true calling.

Then go with him.

[sobbing]

Thank you.

[sniffles]

Till then, I'm yours.

[bell rings]

[valet] Your Majesty.

[Elisabeth] Has the cabinet already convened?

-As far as I know, half an hour ago. -Good.

Have Ida summoned. Straight away.

This agreement with Bismarck is a grave mistake.

It was the moment to make a compromise.

If we take Prussia in earnest, then peace should be secured.

On the contrary.

We offered Bismarck our hand, and now he will tear our whole arm off.

I do not think Prussia will risk a war with Austria.

They have no military capability to go to war, Your Majesty.

Majesty, might I say something?

I just received new reports that Bismarck has already been looking for allies

in Italy and Russia in the last few weeks.

Excuse me?

At least one of us arose early and is well prepared.

Tell me who he seeks as an ally?

Bismarck was travelling around our empire, so I heard.

He was in Hungary, I believe.

[door opens]

[valet] Her Majesty the Empress.

Your Majesty.

Good morning.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

The Emperor has allowed me to present a request to you this week.

We were just talking about Hungary.

You may proceed immediately, Your Majesty.

[Elisabeth] Gentlemen.

We all know Vienna and Buda are internal enemies.

The next uprising, the next civil war,

we are only preventing them by force.

The Hungarians have perpetually refused to pay any of their taxes.

They even refuse to recognise our laws or our government.

Because for years, we have not met even one of their demands.

We fear our power will be lost.

No, because ever since the revolution,

the Hungarians have made demands they have no right to make.

The Hungarian cornfields feed us all.

In the Emperor's army, one in three soldiers is a Hungarian.

A third of our population is Hungarian.

That is not a minority.

They're the same as we are.

Not all people are equal, Your Majesty.

Some nations, like ours, are made to rule over others,

because we possess the mental tenacity.

-And Hungary must be ruled. -[Elisabeth] No!

Not one of our subjects is worth anything less than us.

What do you propose, Your Majesty?

An independent Hungary?

That would mark the end of the Empire.

A new unity.

Hungary gains the right to govern itself.

Its own government,

Hungarian as the official language, and their own constitution.

No. Our empire has existed for hundreds of years,

and you will not destroy it on one of your whims.

All of us here, you and I,

we will die before Hungary will stop fighting for its freedom.

[sighs]

[footsteps approaching]

You were simply wonderful.

[chuckles]

[Sophie grunting]

[exhales deeply]

Is it back? Your skin?

Can I help you?

No!

I wanted to apologise for the evening with Wilhelm.

Do you remember how Mother used to bring in slugs

so you could let them crawl over your inflamed skin?

Yes.

Ludovica even ate one.

She was always a sweet child, but a rather simple one.

The storm has abated.

It's time you went back home now.

Are 1,000 guilders enough?

Why do you despise me so?

You only ever come to visit when you are in need of money.

Because, otherwise, I might never see you.

Is that why you hate me?

Because I am allowed to live the life that was denied to you?

You blame me for that, do you not?

And exactly who else do you think could be blamed for it, Anna?

[melancholy music playing]

Your Majesty.

Good day.

Could we paint another portrait of me? Something different.

May I ask for what reason?

You think this does not do you justice?

Oh, it is me.

But I am more than that.

BERLIN - KINGDOM OF PRUSSIA

Hm, no. Too common.

[knocking on door]

What?

[sighs] It's rather late.

Your Majesty, it will only take a moment.

[Wilhelm] Mm-hmm.

May I introduce you to the engineer von Dreyse.

Hmm, yes.

-Your Majesty. It is my honour. -Mm-hmm.

What is that there?

You said you would never attack the Austrians

without help from our allies, because we would lose.

And because Franz is my friend.

Give it here.

Your Majesty, this rifle fires ten shots per minute.

Ten shots per minute? That… That cannot be.

That's not all.

This rifle is not loaded from the front, but from the back.

Our soldiers do not have to stand up to load it,

so they have cover.

We will be many times more dangerous to the enemy.

Majesty, one day the whole world will have German weaponry.

But right now we are the only ones with this in our armoury.

[pensive music playing]

[exhales shakily]

We should not wait to march into Holstein another moment.

-Now is the time. -Um…

Uh, can we invade in a way that doesn't destroy our friendship?

He's only your friend to bend you to his will.

Ah.

[Wilhelm inhales deeply]

Your Majesty, this gown is for a king.

But you want to be an emperor.

And an emperor

must have an empire.

[exhales]

[music ends]

That was a very good speech.

I said nothing you were not already aware of.

I was nevertheless impressed.

Or you are feeling guilty.

Excuse me.

Please hear me out.

I believe that the Prussians want to take us to war.

And soon at that.

We have information that Bismarck is trying

to win the Hungarians as allies.

It would be of help to us if you could go to Buda as soon as possible

and win over the Hungarian leadership.

[Elisabeth scoffs]

Is that so?

Now that you need them, you reach out to them.

If Hungary turns against us, it would be catastrophic.

Must I beg?

You must face them yourself. They must see their Emperor.

[contemplative music playing]

[exhales] They will listen to you.

You know it's true.

If we want Hungary's help, we must offer them something.

I won't go empty-handed.

I will write a proposal for them.

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

[Ida] I can hardly believe that we are actually going to Hungary.

Finally.

Your Majesty.

Mr Winterhalter has just delivered the two portraits of the Empress.

Two?

[Elisabeth] Out.

Out onto the open sea.

A wild longing drives me.

Out.

Out onto the open sea.

[mellow music playing]

[music ends]