All language subtitles for Il Mistero di Oberwald (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1980)_eng

THE OBERWALD MYSTERY

Can you tell me what you are
doing with that piece of wood?

Well! I don't see the reason
for all these fires.

There is a storm.
It is stifling.

The Queen likes to have a fire
with the windows open.

But when the windows are open,
bugs and bats can fly inside

The Queen likes bugs and
bats.

- Do you love the Queen, Felix?
- What did you say?

You can't open your mouth without
telling me something unpleasant.

Tell me: what should I do
for you to like me?

Respect the etiquette,
the ceremonial.

These are the things that
matter in the Court.

The Queen couldn't care less about
the etiquette and the ceremonial.

That is why her mother-in-law
makes me keep them everywhere.

It was the Archduchess who
put you near the Queen.

I am here, near the Queen,
because the King wanted it so

The King is dead, my Felix.
The Archduchess is alive.

I find you so beautiful holding
that candlestick, Edith!

You find me beautiful holding
the candlestick.

Yes.

and now?

Very beautiful.

- I don't like the storm.
- The Queen instead will be happy.

This morning she told me:
"I'm lucky, Edith.

In my first night at Oberwald
there will be a storm."

She loves only violence.

- Learn, my dear Duke...
- She doesn't love your violence.

She says so.
But if I were weak and submissive

she couldn't stand me by
her side, not for a minute.

Which means that since you
find me weak and submissive

she can not stand me
by her side.

For Her Majesty you are like a
piece of furniture,

an object, my dear Felix.

- You have to accept it.
- I was a friend of the King's.

This is the only reason why
she makes allowances for you

Edith, are you jealous?

Me, jealous?

Oh, this is good!

Do you know what's the date
today?

Ten years ago,
on this very day

King Frederic was murdered

the morning of his wedding day.

Tonight the Queen will dine
with the shadow of the King.

This is the kind of man you are.
A man who dare loves the Queen

and be jealous of the
shadow of the King!

- You are crazy!
- I was crazy,

- about you.
- Edith!

Quiet!

It was the Archduchess who
opposed our wedding.

The Archduchess completely
understood you before I did.

It was she who opened my
eyes.

"That young fool does not
love you, my child.

He is trying any way possible
to get near the Queen."

I thought the Archduchess was
afraid for one of her maids

of honor to be influenced by
one of the King's friends,

one of those she held
responsible

for her son marrying a woman
she had always detested.

- But then I understood, too.
- What did you understand?

That you treated me like a
rival,

like an obstacle between
the Queen and yourself.

Tell me it isn't so?

Why would I have needed to use
you to get near the Queen

since, if I am not mistaken,
I get near her as much

as you do? I am the Queen's
reader, her only confident.

The Queen doesn't love you,
Felix, accept it.

The Queen doesn't love you

and I don't love you anymore.

I'll be as sincere as you are.

I don't like your role of spy
paid by the Archduchess.

- How dare you!
- It's better we say everything.

I was in love with you, Edith,
and I may still be, but you say

I'm not in love with you anymore
since I'm with the Queen.

It may be so.

I dreamed we both would love her.

This is impossible because you
are a woman and the Queen

is unattainable.

I'll be happy to serve her with
you, and my happiness

will be in seeing her smile.

You seem to forget that I am
the only one the Queen has

shown her face to since
the King's death.

- I saw her face too, Edith.
- Where? How?

In Wolmer, through the gallery
I heard the sound of

the door slam. Only she slams
doors in that way.

I hid myself,
I could see the whole gallery

and at the end of it the Queen
was coming towards me.

She was coming towards me as
if she were alone in the world

without her veil, her head
erect, so pale, so light

almost detached from her
body.

She was walKing very slowly,
looKing in the direction

of my hiding place.

For a moment - it was
unbearable - she stopped,

then, with her back towards me,
she left the way she came

Here she is.
Open the windows!

Will you please go away,
yes or no?

I told you to leave!

I won't allow you to raise your
voice to me in this way...

Don't be ridiculous!

There was a time when you
would not talk to me this way.

Leave!

- Are you alone?
- Yes, ma'am,

the Duke of
Willenstein has just left.

- Madam!
- How boring you are, my child

"Look out for lightning."
Your speech is predictable.

Do you want me to close
the shutters?

To close the windows, to draw
the drapes, to shut ourselves in

to hide ourselves, to deny
ourselves this marvellous sight

But why? This is my kind of
weather, Edith.

and the storm has its whims
and I have mine.

But a thunderbolt could strike
the trees nearby and come in.

My geneaological tree is not
interested. It is decrepit.

It knows how to self destruct.
Let it come in, Edith...

It already has.

I was waiting for Your Majesty to
get permission to call the workers.

Apparently a part of the roof
collapsed.

It will cost quite a lot
of money.

Indeed.

The King liked this dilapidated
house, built by who knows who.

- Are you afraid?
- I am.

Afraid of what?
Of dying?

The only thing I have always
been afraid of is the quiet.

Do you know why I love storms?
Because they upset the etiquette.

The Archduchess is the
etiquette, I am the storm.

You can go to bed, Edith.

Hide yourself under the blankets

pray if you feel like,
and try to sleep.

If I need anything, I'll call
Tony.

Here's another one who's
afraid of the storm.

The Archduchess would punish
me if I left the Wueen alone.

Are you at my service or
the Archduchess'?

I am afraid I cannot obey the
Queen.

I'll stay up and be ready to
be of service to Your Majesty,

Again? My etiquette, my
etiquette demands that

nobody in the world may
enter my room tonight,

Not even if lightning
strikes the castle.

Good evening
Mademoiselle de Borg.

I was joKing. Good night,

Good night, little Edith.

We deserved a little peace.

This is the mountaineer's food.

It is what distracted us from
the monstrous ceremony.

Frederic, you were maKing
such an ugly face.

The crown was not meant for
you,

my poor love,

and when the Archbishop put
it on your head you almost

Burst into laughter while the
Archduchess kept on saying

to me "Keep straight"
I was standing up straight

in the middle of the crowd,
showered with all those flowers,

We were spared nothing of
that endless celebration the

evening we got into
the carriage.

And here we are.

We are no longer King and queen,

just two people in love
having dinner together.

And now Frederic, since the
Archduchess isn't here to stop me

I'll read your fortune.

We used to have gypsies do
it for us, do you remember

when we went hunting?

It hurt.

They're shooting, Frederic.
Shooting.

If that were new, you would
surprise me.

Cards, you can turn them and
turn them

and say the same thing.

Look: one, two, three, four, five,
the queen.

One, two, three four, five,
the King.

One, two, three, four, five,

a bad woman.

Do you recognize her, Frederic?

One, two, three, four, five,

an ambitious girl

Edith de Berg.

One, two, three, four, five,
problem with money.

One, two, three, four, five,
a bad man.

Count of Foehn,
you are always present!

One, two, three, four, five,

death.

One, two, three, four, five,

here is a boy.

Who is he, Frederic,
who is he?

Frederic!

Get up!
Can you hear me?

Get up, quick,

You have stained the blanket
with blood.

- Is it you, Edith?
- Madam!

Come in!

What's the matter?
Not feeling well?

A serious matter. I thought
I could allow myself...

Have you seen a ghost?

- It's a serious matter to disobey me.
- Has the Queen heard the shots?

- The police?
- The police?

It was Your Majesty's police
shooting, the men are here below.

I didn't understand anything.
Is Count Foehn down here?

No, ma'am. But the
commander of the patrol

is coming to see Your Majesty
on behalf of Count Foehn.

- What does he want?
- They were chasing a criminal

who got into the park
of the castle.

What!

The commander of the patrol
urges Your Majesty to give him

permission to search the park
and the servant's quarters.

They shouldn't bother me
with this nonsense.

This is not nonsense.

If Your Majesty allows me
to tell you everything.

- That's what I've been waiting for.
- They are chasing a murderer.

- Did he kill somebody?
- No ma'am, but he wanted to kill.

- Who?
- You.

Better and better. I go from one
castle to another without letting

anybody know. I decided yesterday
that'd I'd spend the night in Oberwald.

Isn't it strange that both the
police and the murderer are

aware of my most secret
decisions?

The commander said a dangerous group
was conspiring to harm you.

They had chosen a young man
to carry out their plan.

Not knowing where you were,
he went to his mother's house.

She is a peasant living in Oberwald.

Count Foehn, who expected
you to come here, to Oberwald,

thought the criminal would come here
to make an attempt on your life,

but the moment the patrol surrounded
the house, the man fled.

He may be hiding in the park.

But why are you so upset?
I'm not dead.

No, and the men of Count Foehn
are watching the castle.

They are going to make an
attempt on the Queen

and Count Foehn doesn't think
it worthwhile to come here

in person.

He sends me a patrol.
I'd like to know whether the

chief of police has a vague
idea of who this criminal is.

- Does Your Majesty know?
- Is it Count Foehn?

Your Majesty is joKing.

The criminal is the author of
the poem published in secret

that Your Majesty had the weakness
to approve and learn by heart.

Well, then, my dear Edith,
you found me safe and sound.

The storm is calming down,
the police are watching.

You can finally sleep.

Don't disturb me anymore.

Does Your Majesty allow me
at least to close the windows?

Go ahead and close them.

It doesn't matter anymore.

You can get up.

You heard. I suppose there are now
no more secrets between us.

What is your name?

I'll tell you.

Your name is Sebastian.

You've published under the
pseudonym of Aznavar,

a nice name,
"the angel of death",

a little poem entitled
"End of the Royalty",

that tried to attack me and
was much talked about.

It was neither prose nor verse,
it was an original work, anonymous,

very different from anything else.

Not to be like anything else,
not to be like anybody else.

There is no better praise.

Come closer,

come closer.

That's the King's portrait.

It was painted when we
were engaged.

The King was 25 years old.

How old are you?

I suppose you are aware of
this extraordinary resemblance.

Your accomplices probably thought
that your resemblance to the King

would help you carry out the
attempt on my life,

but things don't always turn
out the way one thinks.

Am I wrong?

This is the third time I've asked...

How did you know I was in the
castle of Oberwald?

Did they sew your mouth?

Well, my dear, I have kept
quiet for ten years.

For ten years I have forced
myself never to utter a word

or show my face to anybody
expect my reader.

Tonight I talk and
show my face.

I was complaining because nothing
ever happened in Oberwald.

Finally, something new.

I can show my face and talk.
It's marvelous.

So tell me about your
adventure.

Bandage your knee.

I'll bandage it myself.

Stretch your leg out.

You're impossible.

I can stand silence, but not
the sight of blood.

Tell me your story.

Actually no, I'll tell you.

They gave you the order to
kill me.

They told you to find out in
which castle I'd be,

since I kept moving from
one to another.

They may have mentioned
Wolmar or maybe Oberwald.

Now, even if somebody I am
suspicious of guessed

I was going to be in Oberwald,

it would be impossible to know
in which room I would be.

I have four,

and you came directly to mine.

I have to salute you
as my destiny.

Tonight I was going to remember
the anniversary of the King's death

The armchair was his.

Honey and goat cheese
his favorite meal.

A shot.
Dogs barking.

You make another effort,
you climb I don't know what

and you arrive here,
I don't know how.

For a moment I thought I was
seeing the King's ghost.

Get closer to the fire,
your clothes are all wet.

The King was murdered in his
carriage

while we were coming to
Oberwald after the ceremony.

The day of our wedding.

A man jumped on the carriage
step with a bunch of flowers,

I thought he was squashing the
flowers against Frederic's

chest.

I was laughing. The King died
before I could understand.

When the knife was pulled out,

the blood flowed on my knees.

You must be hungry,

eat, drink something.

I am not asking you to talk.

I am asking you to sit here,
on the King's chair.

I am offering it to you because
I've decided to treat you as my

equal. As far as I'm concerned,
I cannot treat you as a man.

You are my death, and I hide my
death, and - let's be clear,

I defend my death.

I can see you understand me.

That is clear.

The King was killed because

he wanted to build theaters
and castles.

They want to kill me because
I am like him.

What can you do if our families
have such a strong passion for art?

Since the King's death I have
been feeling dead, too.

But this death,
which is only imagined,

is not enough for me anymore.
I need to die the way my King died.

In the same terrible way.

I have poison that I always
carry with me.

It is wonderful.

The capsule dissolves slowly.
I swallow it, I wear my

I swallow it, I wear my riding
costume, I mount my horse,

I ride away, and I get excited.

When the poison begins to take
effect I fall from my horse.

The horse drags me, and that's it.

But this is not so easy, since
destiny must act by itself

and you are my destiny,
and I like that.

Come on, say something!

Yell!

Insult me!

Do you realize what is
happening?

If instead of staggering
the way you did,

you had recognized me
and killed me,

what would you have become?

A murderer.

You fainted, instead.
Is that my fault?

I helped you.
I hid you and saved you.

Certainly now it will be more
difficult for you to kill me.

It is a different matter.
Shooting point blank is nothing:

Killing in cold blood
requires a different hand.

But you cannot go back
any longer.

Nobody can avoid the
conclusion of this story,

no force except one,
the worst: weakness.

But I don't want to offend you
by believing you are capable

of such a ridiculous let down.

Finally!

Do you know Count Foehn?
The chief of police.

He is a terrible person.
He plots against me.

He dreams of becoming
Regent and the Archduchess

I think she is in
love with him.

It would be funny if you,
without knowing it,

would be a secret weapon.

This would explain the fact that
you so easily escaped him.

In general, Count Foehn does
not miss his prey.

Poor Count!
If only he knew what he's done to me.

But let's leave the gentleman
alone and let's settle our business.

You are my prisoner,
but you are free.

I see you have a knife.

You dropped it.

You also have a revolver,

that you can keep.

I am giving you three days to
do me this service I expect.

If you spare me,
I won't spare you.

Your only contract will be
with me.

I'll say that you are my new
reader and that I organized this

romantic night to introduce
you to Oberwald.

Tomorrow morning, Mademoiselle
de Berg, the Archduchess' informer,

will have spread the news
of the scandal.

As you can see, we don't have
a moment to spare.

None.

If you don't kill me,
I'll kill you.

The storm is over.

The trees smell so nice.

The stars,

the moon taking her ruins
around ours.

The snow, the glaciers.

How brief storms are,

how brief violence is,

Everything ends,
everything falls asleep.

Don't be afraid.

Tony is the only one
I trust completely.

Good night.
Take care and try to sleep.

Tomorrow will be a
tiring day.

Do you know what happened here?

I know the castle is in turmoil
from last night's alarm.

- Did they find the man?
- The man is in the castle.

- What are you saying?
- She's hiding him in Oberwald.

He got wounded in the park,

at least this is what
they think,

but on her bed cover
are blood stains.

And the guards, you forget
the guards.

The commander sides with the Queen.
He gave a false alarm.

There was shouting, gunshots, but
the order was not to hit him.

They wounded him.

What do you plan to do?

Inform the Archduchess so
she may intervene?

What's important is not to
lose one's head,

to remain calm.

Good morning, Edith.

Felix, I wanted to tell you,
I had a new reader come

I had a new reader come
to Oberwald.

I have many reasons to think
he is exceptional.

He is a student, native
to these parts.

His resemblance to the King
is really striking and that

persuaded me more than any
other recommendation.

He's poor.
He doesn't have any noble titles.

No, I'm wrong,
he is a poet.

He published a libel against
me that I like.

The young are always anarchists,
always fighting the present,

they dream of other things.

If I were not a queen I might
be an anarchist myself.

This is why the Court fears me
and the people love me, and

this is why that young man found
himself in agreement with me.

You are at my service.

I wouldn't like you to
misinterpret my actions.

I would be grateful to you if
you could show that young

man that in our world there
is still some interior elegance.

That's all. You can go.

Does Your Majesty need me?

I said you can go.

I was target shooting.

I like hunting less and less
but I like to shoot.

- Are you a good shot?
- I'm not bad.

Try.

Congratulations.

You almost hit the mark.

I hit it a little to the left.

I hope your knee is better.

- Did you sleep?
- I slept very well.

My knee hurts less.

Of course, one sleeps well
when one is twenty years old.

Twenty five.

In comparison to you,
I am an old lady.

- Did you study?
- I studied on my own, almost.

Mademoiselle de Berg can barely
read in her own language.

I am not going to lose
in the change.

I like to hear you read,
since you've been appointed reader.

Sit here.

You won't refuse to read
your poem.

I'd like to hear your own
voice reading it.

Are you afraid?

Don't forget that you are in
Oberwald to kill me.

We made a pact.

A pact?

Maybe you think my life begins
in Oberwald. Before, I didn't exist.

But there was a poem of mine that
excited you, roused your interest,

that flattered you, maybe.

So you created this extraordinary
picture of me,

of a ghost coming,
who knows from where,

to kill you.

What a nice story!

Then I arrived.

Where do you think I
sprang from?

From the darkness?

And who looked for me
in the darkness?

You,

because you're not one of
those people that things

happen to by chance.

You decree everything that has to
happen even when you're not doing it.

You are the one who,
without realizing it,

gave me that spirit of
rebellion, made me meet

those men with whom I was hoping
to find violence and freedom.

You were the one to dictate,
even if unaware of that my

comrades voted to lay a
snare for you.

Things that no Tribunal would
admit, but I tell you.

I was fifteen years old,

coming down from the
mountains.

There, everything was simple.

In your capital,
I found intrigue,

hatred, the ferocious police

I met men who felt revulsion
for these shameful things.

They attribute them to
your government,

and I also felt
stained by shame.

And you?

Where were you?
Living your dream from afar,

as if you were on a cloud,

throwing away fortunes, hiding from
the spectacle of our miseries.

They killed your King.

Is it my fault?
These are the risks of your job.

By killing the King,
they killed me too.

They killed you so little that
now you want to be killed again.

You adored the King,
but what kind of love is this?

They raised you for the throne,
making you a monster of pride.

One day they took you to meet
a man that you didn't even know,

but who was sitting on
the throne. You liked him,

but even if you didn't,
it would have been the same.

You went hunting, riding, together,
then you got married.

They killed him.

I, since childhood, was
suffocated with love.

It wasn't enough for me to
be excited by a face though,

I wanted to be excited
by a cause.

Then I entered your room

I was pushed by a crazy idea,
the idea of a crazy man.

I had the weakness of fainting,

when I came to, I was a wounded man
in the house of a woman.

You, instead, kept on
feeding your myth,

considering me as a death sentence.
I let you talk long enough.

I thought you decided that
any protocol be abolished,

that we should treat each
other as equals.

It was a mystical pact between
the one who would bring me death

not an unknown person who got
into the castle during the night.

I got into the castle,
why didn't you yell?

Why didn't you ring the bell?
Make them arrest me!

Hand me over to your justice,
these are still the queen pleasures.

Now you are the one to yell,
you'll bring the castle turmoil.

I don't care. Don't you see
I'm going crazy?

Shoot.

Shoot me!

Soon it will be too late.

Should I repeat to you
what I have already said?

If you don't kill me,
I'll kill you.

Then kill me.

Sit down and pretend
you are reading.

- Edith?
- Ma'am.

What's the matter,
Edith?

Come in.

Please, excuse me,
ma'am,

but I heard a shot and
I was afraid...

When will you stop being afraid?
I was target shooting.

If you dared come closer,

you would have heard how
readers, who can read, read.

I am sovereignly - this is the
appropriate word - displeased

that somebody listens
at the door.

Edith,
I am very unhappy with you.

Your behavior, which is getting
more and more indiscreet,

forces me to put you under
arrest in your room.

Tony will bring you
what's necessary.

Now, hide yourself.

I'm having a visit and I don't
want you to miss a word.

We'll talk about it later.

My dear Count,
good morning!

Come in, come in.

Your Majesty, I apologize for
appearing in this condition.

The road is long and in
very bad condition.

Oh, I have been asking for a
long time to have it repaired,

but I find it logical that the
expenses be charged to the State.

Our ministers, instead, think
that it is my business.

So the road will stay
as it is.

The State is poor, ma'am,
and we're in a recession.

You speak like my
Finance Minister.

The castle of Wolmar is on a cliff.
Labor is costly.

They say that jewel of yours
cost Your Majesty a fortune.

Now you talk like the
Archduchess.

Maybe, ma'am, but the Archduchess
deplores in affectionate terms,

the fact that
Your Majesty has debt

and she is sorry
she is not able to help you.

Everybody knows that these
debts concern only your riches.

The people never suffered.

And they all know it!

You amuse me, Count.

Where do these absurd
rumors about me come from?

I despise the people?

These are the lies they spread
about me to rouse the people.

The Archduchess is the first
to deplore the word affairs

and if it weren't so, I would
not have the honor

of being here to pay
homage to Your Majesty.

Yes, I was sure of it.
You came to reproach me.

Your Majesty is joking!

Ah, it's about the ceremony
for the anniversary.

My absence made, in the
words of the press,

a very bad impression.

The Archduchess thinks the
Queen should have made an

effort for her son's memory.

The reason for my
voluntary exile

is precisely due to my
sorrow for her son's death,

but my mourning doesn't consist
in parading in a carriage.

- The Archduchess is aware of that.
- What does she want then?

She doesn't "want".
She advises you.

She advises Your Majesty to
change those habits a little;

those habits of seclusion that
in the eyes of the fools -

and there are so many of them
- risk to be considered, contempt.

I cannot change "a little".

Either one shows himself or
hides himself.

I have eliminated the term
"a litte" from my vocabulary.

When one does think "a little",
it is like not doing them at all.

If my motto were not "I'm
forced to do the impossible",

I'd choose the words of that
Indian Chief who was

criticized for having eaten
"a little too much"

at a dinner at the Embassy.

"A little too much," he said

"it was barely enough for me".

Does Your Majesty allow me to report
the words of the Indian Chief

to the Archduchess?
They will serve you as an answer.

Oberwald is splendid!

Did your Majesty arrive
here yesterday?

Oberwald is a shack, Count.

The ceiling in the room I slept
last night is leaking.

The library here caught fire,
but I feel well here.

I arrived here yesterday morning.

I was dead tired and
I slept soundly.

That's good,
I was afraid that my manhunt

might have disturbed
Your Majesty's sleep.

But where's my head?

Mademoiselle de Berg asked if her
policemen could search the park

But you,
weren't you there?

I didn't want to give the
matter unnecessary importance

by arriving at the castle
in the middle of the night.

I stayed in the village,
at the village inn.

And did you find your man?

Somebody who wanted to kill me,
if I am not mistaken.

I can tell my men talk
too much.

I don't know whether your men talk
too much; Mademoiselle de Berg does,

and she always gets interested
in things that don't concern her.

I wonder how that man
knew that you were

going to sleep here,
in Oberwald.

I, for one, didn't.

Anyway, we organized a very
good round up.

And you failed. Your man is
probably still running.

My patrols don't deserve
Your Majesty's criticism.

They caught him.

Interesting.

At dawn he was trying to
escape towards the mountains.

He must have been
exhausted.

He surrendered.

Which kind of person is he?
A labourer?

A poet.

What?

Your Majesty, if you allow
me to say so,

is wrong in being interested
in poets.

They are people who end
up bringing disorder

to our society.

You are saying that a poet
wanted to kill me?

He did, but then he didn't
show so much courage.

In five minutes he sat at a table,
so my men said, and confessed,

confessed everything.

He blabbed the names of his
accomplices, the place they met.

A good catch.

Count Master di Foehn,
my congratulations!

Yesterday I was surprised by
your absence, and this afternoon

I wondered whether you were
coming to certify my death.

You are terrible, Your Majesty.

At times. As I am too,
sometimes,

dear Count.

I apologize for this untimely
visit that you must have

considered very annoying

in this atmosphere of
meditation and work.

May I ask you about
Mademoiselle de Berg?

She is not feeling well, nothing
serious, she's in her room.

I'll tell her that you
asked about her.

Tony will see you out.

Goodbye, Count.

- It's monstrous.
- That's the way the Count is.

I cause trouble for
the Archduchess.

The Count favors a murderer,
the murderer fails,

Foehn abandons him.

Do you understand?

If you weren't hidden
in this castle,

his men wouldn't have
hesitated to eliminate you.

Actually, it's because the
Count is sure to eliminate you

that he did not hesitate to
talk to me about you.

I should give myself up.

Nonsense!

Foehn is looking for you.

The reason for his visit was to find
out what I knew and search the castle.

I took precautions to avoid him
meeting Mademoiselle de Berg,

he suspects something.

I am sure of Willenstein's
silence,

but the situation we find ourselves
in escapes any police.

I dragged you here by force,

now it is my turn to try to get
a clear idea about this situation.

I am a difficult object, a
dangerous one, am I not?

You are a solitude in front
of another solitude.

This is they way you are.

It's the beauty of tragedy,
it's human,

better, superhuman interest.

To put on the stage only
those who live above the law.

Who were we last night?

I cite your words:

"We were an idea in
front of an idea."

And what are we now?

A woman and a man,

both hunted.

Two people who are equal.

Why don't we go outside
to talk?

What I find most difficult to bear
with my comrades, is their silence.

You don't talk?

I thought every action of yours was
preceded by a lot of talking.

It was. But we never talked
of our personal problems.

Our personal problems
did not matter.

Our relationship with nature,
for instance.

Nature and men are the same,
they're are all that matters.

Does your mother live
in the village?

I have no mother. The peasant
of Oberwald is my stepmom.

I had hidden some papers there.
I had to burn them.

Can you see Count Foehn
from your hiding place?

His face?

Yes, I could see it. I'm
grateful you kept your calm.

I resisted with all my strength
not to come out.

I would have strangled him.

He would not have been
surprised.

That man considers me crazy
and you insane.

Yesterday, while he was at Oberwald,
he was probably smiling, saying:

"The Queen believes she
is a poem,

the murderer believes
he is a poet".

All this is very amusing.

Don't forget

that your comrades probably
share his view.

Why did you have to burn some
papers last night?

I was afraid they would
do a search.

- Were they poems?
- Not all of them.

And after burning those
poems or documents,

what were you planning
to do?

To kill the Queen.

The newspapers would
have said:

"The Queen falls victim to a
savage atempt on her life".

The Archduchess and the
Count would watch your

execution and wear
mourning clothes.

There would be funeral
services, bells ringing.

Then a Regend would be appointed,
as the constitution requires.

The Archduchess would govern,

but in fact it would be
Count Foehn that governs.

- This is how politics work.
- Who knows?

Perhaps things would
have been different.

So, you were supposed to
kill the Queen?

Well, you have carried out
your orders.

That's done.

You killed me.

You killed the Queen,
Sebastian.

More than you wanted to do.

When I was a child they'd
torment me in order to

prepare me to reign.

They wanted me to become
a queen and they

wouldn't teach me how
to spell.

King Frederic was a great
surprise for me.

I thought only of love.

I was going to become a
woman,

but I couldn't.

I hadn't lived.

They killed Frederic

the eve of that
extraordinary day.

I buried myself in
my castles.

Then you arrived

and upset this balance.

What quiet after the storm.

At first I didn't like
that quiet. Now I do.

I want the castle to stay
the way it is now,

as if it were under a spell.

There are balances formed by
so many unknown details

that one has to wonder

if they can exist or be
destroyed by the slightest blow.

I love you, Sebastian.

I love you too.

Come here, near me.

I loved you as soon as you
came into my room.

But then I was ashamed of
myself.

I've loved you...

- This is from Tony.
- Thank you.

Mademoiselle de Berg threw out
a letter to the Count.

So the Count knows
everything.

You don't have anything
to fear for tonight.

Mme. de Berg will stay in her
room until I decide what to do.

She is the only one who
can enter my quarters.

Tomorrow morning, Tony will take
you to my former hunting pavilion.

Not far from it there is a farm
with some trustworthy keepers.

- And then...
- There is no then.

Sebastian...

Listen, I believe you and you
must also believe me.

You lived outside real life and
it is my duty to help you.

You saved me,
now I have to save you.

The Queen has to govern, she has
to accept the burden of power.

They conspire against you and
you don't do a thing.

Go back to the capital, speak
to the Archduchess.

Go there as a Queen and not
a daughter-in-law.

Appoint the Duke of
Willenstein as general in chief

instead of the Count.

Give Count of Foehn's
soldiers to him.

You don't have to dissolve the
Houses or appoint new ministers.

No one will touch you,
I assure you.

I will hide in the mountains.
I've known them forever.

No police will be able
to find me.

When you need me, you'll have
them fire a cannon shot.

I'll know then that you are
announcing your victory.

Hurry up, hurry up!

Well, Felix?
What Face!

Why are you surprised?

Oh, I forgot, I am showing my
face to two men.

I left my veil, Felix, I'm going
back to the Court.

We will all leave
tomorrow morning.

Have the carriage and
gig ready.

Mademoiselle de Berg is
leaving my service.

The Archduchess will hire her
as one of her maids of honor.

As soon as we get into the
forts, you'll occupy them.

You will precede me to
the city with 150 men.

Tomorrow at noon you'll gather
all my cavalry in the castle yard

and as soon as I arrive you will
have the royal anthem played.

It will mark the beginning
of my reign.

I rely on your devotion to me

and your loyalty to my cause.

You can go.

Are you pleased with
your pupil?

Quite.

Good morning.
Am I disturbing you?

The Queen wants to take some
books, and I was reading them.

- Is she riding?
- Yes, I think in the forest.

She said she'd be back about noon.
You haven't seen her yet?

I was prisoner, my dear Sir.

Tony finally came to open
my door at 10:00.

I was informed about the
extraordinary trip to be taken.

Yes, I think the Queen wants
to go back to the capital.

For a young man like you, it'll
be marvelous to follow her there.

You must be very happy.

Her Majesty doesn't do me the
honor of taking me with her.

I will stay in Oberwald.

I know Her Majesty.

She'll be back after
three days.

She'll go to Wolmar,
or she'll go to the lakes.

Do you know Count Foehn?

- No.
- He is an exceptional man.

It may surprise you, but I have an
assignment on behalf of the Count.

- For me?
- For you.

I thought he had already
left Oberwald.

He was supposed to
leave at dawn,

but he may have been disconcerted
by what is happening here.

They accuse me of being nosy,

but the Count's curiosity
is boundless.

He is still in Oberwald. I just
saw him, he's looking for you.

I can't see how somebody like
me may interest Count Foehn.

He didn't tell me,
but he wants to see you.

It is a great honor for me,

but is the Queen informed
about this?

You see, Count Foehn would
rather the Queen not be

troubled by a simple
investigation.

He told me to tell you that he
was asking you for your help,

and that the Queen's
tranquility was at stake.

I don't know the Count
that well.

Is this the way the Chief of
Police would formulate an order?

More or less.

I suppose that Count Foehn does
not wish our conversation,

as you put it,
be heard by the Queen.

He doesn't.

What if the Queen comes back
to look for me?

The Queen is riding, and when
she does, she goes very far.

There's no danger.

I'll see to it that
nothing goes wrong.

You are very loyal to
Count Foehn.

I am devoted to the Queen,
my dear Sir.

It's the same thing.

I a slave to the Chief
of Police's orders.

But why do you always say
"Chief of Police"?

It is Count Foehn, the minister
Who wants to see you.

I'm sorry for disturbing you,

but in my capacity

I never know in advance

what I have to do.

My job, even if this may
sound strange to you,

entails some poetry,

better still is based on
the imponderable.

But you are a poet,
isn't it true,

and you can understand me
better than anybody else.

You are a poet, right?

At times I happen to write
verses.

One of your poems was
published by a leftist newspaper.

The Queen, who doesn't dislike
rebellion,

was interested.

She made many copies and had them
distributed to the entire Court.

That poem doesn't have any
value for me

and I was surprised when I heard
that Her Majesty had read it.

I'm not interested in knowing
how Her Majesty who, I repeat,

is completely free in her actions,

got in touch with you.

I'll know it when I return.

What I want to know now is what
your role was in Oberwald

and how you managed to

make her change in such a
radical way,

that nobody would
have expected.

Which role are you referring
to, Mr. Foehn?

Her Majesty was kind enough
to try me as her reader.

I could not aspire to
anything else.

Fine.

Now, since your presence in
Oberwald has nothing to do

with the Queen's change

would you explain me yours?

I don't understand you.

I am asking you to explain
to me how

a young writer of the
opposition

suddenly decided to

serve power.

Sometimes, by chance, people get
published in unsuitable circles.

The Queen was accused of
many turpitudes.

I accepted her offer in order
to be able to act accordingly.

You bear a striking
resemblance to the King.

What does the Queen think
of it?

I believe my resemblance helped
me more than my personality.

Damn...

In the hands of some people,
this resemblance could

stimulate the imagination
of the people

and create legends.

We die of legends,
they suffocate us.

The Queen's legend causes
big problems.

This is why I wanted to thank
you for the decision taken by

Her Majesty.
a very wise decision.

I want to give you an example
of my sincerity.

Don't think you are in front
of the Chief of Police.

We are just chatting.

Come and sit here.

I am going to be sincere.

when I was with the Queen
I thought you were witnessing

unseen,

our conversation.

Be calm,

I didn't say you listened
to our conversation,

I merely said that I had
that impression.

The Chief of Police must
always be suspicious.

And the next day,
in the library,

I used with you a trick
that almost never fails.

I told Her Majesty that my men
had caught you

and you had confessed
a plan to kill her.

Be calm.

What do you want from me?

I'll tell you.

I don't believe what you
want me to believe,

not a single word of it,

but I like the idea
of you trying.

The Queen has decided to
break off her funerary habits

and retake her place
at the Court.

We know she also made this choice
because of your enthusiasm.

But what would be the
purpose of a spectacular trip

if it were only like
a fireworks show?

It wouldn't serve much
purpose.

Instead, the Queen has to go
back to the public life

convinced the Archduchess is
her friend

and doesn't plot behind
her back.

On the contrary, she's pushed by
desire to relive her of governing.

The Archduchess is used to it,
since she took upon herself

the nasty part of it, and
endures it with heroism.

A man would be needed,
a man who doesn't belong

to the court, who agrees to
convince the Queen that the

Archduchess loves her as a
daughter and only tries to take

upon herself the boring task
of that obscure job

that is governing.

Who could that man be?

- Do you understand me?
- It could be me.

The role of a courtesan is
a role I don't want to play,

If you think in those terms, it's
clear you don't want to cooperate.

Count,

I was hidden in the library,
I heard everything.

I never doubted it.

The Queen wanted to know the
opinion of an ordinary man,

I am one, and for me,
protocol does not exist:

the Queen was asking questions,
I'd tell her what I thought.

And could I know what
you think?

I think the Archduchess is
bothered by a Queen no one sees.

She plots to attract her

to the capital, to exasperate
her, humiliate her,

to push her to extremes to
make everybody

believe that she's mad.

This way she could get the two
Houses to indict her.

What an imagination!

Time is passing by, and the
Queen can arriave at any moment.

Let's put all the cards
in the open.

In one day, you managed to
get from the Queen

what we couldn't in ten years.

No os pido que lo admit�is,
ni que revel�is c�mo lo hicisteis.

I'm not asking you to admit it,
nor tell me how you did it.

Instead I am asking you again
to do your best to follow her

to the capital and prevent the
chaos that would certainly

derive from the Queen's
hostility towards the

Archduchess, the Ministers,
and the Crown Council.

Have I been clear?

I understand you less and less.

The Court is like a slaughter-
house, and would take a very

short time to consider scanalous
the fact that the last to arrive

has such an influence.

Yes, but one cannot get rid of
the Court with just one lash.

But the Queen may choose
the reader she likes,

provided the Archduchess
approves.

Without our approval, you are
an object of scandal.

But if you are supported by
the Archduchess and her ministers

you are no longer an object of
scandal, and because of your

resemblance to the King, the
Court will be fascinated by you.

The power of the Chief of
Police? None.

And if I stay in Oberwald?

You are charged for leading an
attempt on Her Majesty's life.

I have a warrant for your
arrest in my pocket.

If I accept, what are you going
to give me in return?

The greatest gift on earth:

Freedom.

Let's be clear:
if my mysterious influence exists

and I use it to hand the Queen over
to you with her hands and feet tied,

do you pledge to erase my name
from the police's black list?

Who said anything about
handing the Queen over?

And to whom?
And why?

What we are asking you is
only to serve as a liaison

agent between two fields that
are believed to be hostile,

even if they still defend
the same cause.

Be reasonable!

Do you realize for the last hour
I've been trying to save your life?

I'm staying.

It's a shame we haven't been
able to come to an agreement

but I like you,
as I told you before.

And since I love poetry - even
if this may surprise you -

I am going to give you an hour
to say goodbye to the Queen.

Remember that the castle
is surrounded.

I'll wait for you at the entrance
door on the servant's side.

My goodness!

Yesterday it was so dark I
couldn't see you well.

You undoubtedly look
like the King.

I congratulate you, Sir.

Her Majesty just informed me that
I'm no longer part of her retinue.

I'll be back at the
Archduchess' service.

I suppose the fact I was fired
means that you're taking my place.

- Edith!
- Leave me in peace.

Is it so?

I've already told you that
I'm not following the Queen.

- Are you staying in Oberwald?
- Neither. I'm leaving.

If nobody replaces me, could you
tell me why I fell in disfavor?

Edith, please! Let's not mix a
stranger with our private affairs.

As if he did not meddle
in them!

I was the Queen's reader and I'm
not more because you arrived.

What did you tell her?
What did you put in her head?

Her Majesty!

Is it you, Mademoiselle de Berg,
that's shouting that way?

Do you plan to spend your life
arguing with the Duke?

Good morning, Felix.

Morning.

Please leave us of things to
do and say

before our departure.

So, F�lix, is Edith
continuing to torture you?

I summoned you to organize
the preparation for the escort.

First I'll take care of the books.
I'll call you in a little bit.

Willenstein was looking at
me with wide eyes.

I've been rather hard
on Edith de Berg,

they probably think I am
nervous about my departure.

The truth is, I couldn't
take it anymore.

I wanted to be alone
with you.

My love!

- Say it again.
- My love!

Today my horse was like a thunder-
bolt, galloping, flying.

It seemed as if he wanted to jump,
to swim in the air,

to leave me on the other side
of the lake.

Then he stopped on the edge and
the only reason

is that he's not in love,
poor thing!

I want to live!

Before I thought only unhappiness
was worth living for.

But if happiness is as
terrible as unhappiness,

then it is marvelous.

I feel as if I'm discovering
the world!

I couldn't see anything either.

How many things I learned
in two days...

This morning, too, I had taken
with me the medallion and poison.

Death, as it was, kept
whispering in my ears:

"You want to live, my girl.
This is what is new".

I removed myself from the room.
I left it there.

I'll get it again when I'm
as old as the Archduchess

and you don't love
me anymore.

I'll throw it in
the lake.

Will you throw your poem in, too?
Did you write it for me?

- Yes, for you.
- Were always thinking of me?

- I was obsessed.
- Poor love!

Now my rebellion will be aimed
at those who want to harm you,

who conspire against you, since
the only thing they want is power.

Always stick to your rebellion,

I love it in you.

Will you be sorry if
I leave Oberwald?

I was the one to beg you
to leave.

If you were to stay,
I'd leave.

And if I stayed with you?
To live near you.

If I gave up my reign
for you?

Would you leave Oberwald?
Would you leave me?

It didn't take me long to
understand all the intrigues

of the Court, tricks of the
protocol, and bureaucracy.

This air at your back is
detroying your life.

Let's flee quickly, my Queen,
you one way, me the other.

Let's meet secretly,
like two thieves.

Tomorrow I'll be in the capital
and I'll try the act of force.

I'll do this thanks to you,
and for you.

You know my hunting pavilion,
wait for news from me there.

In two weeks I'll be back
in Oberwald.

Yes, love.

Don't trust anybody for
any reason.

- I'll send you some books.
- Yes.

Before yesterday I didn't
think we could do it

but today gives me confidence,

all because of you.

I still have to give Felix
some orders.

Go into my apartment, I'll
join you there before departure.

I must learn to part
from you.

It isn't easy.

What we are about to do
isn't easy.

Hurry up giving your orders.

- At Your Majesty's orders.
- Ready?

At one o'clock, you'll only have to
climb into your carriage and leave.

I've changed my mind, Felix.
I'll ride.

The carriage reminds me of
the King's tragic end.

Do you see any problem
if I ride?

Since I'm now showing my face I
better do it as much as possible.

What do you think?
Don't be afraid.

Does Your Majesty know that
Count Foehn is traveling with us?

I thought he had left Oberwald
this morning.

He probably learned of Your
Majesty's decision.

He's in Oberwald, for sure.
I saw him.

He told me he'd take care of
organizing law and order.

Let him organize it,

I'll do it by myself.

- How many men do you have?
- 100 cavalry and 100 guards.

And how many men are there
in the Count's patrol?

Fifty.

Very well.

At the last halt,
before entering the city,

arrest the Count of Foehn.

Arrest the Count
and his men.

That's an order.

Take the prisoner to
the fortress.

You'll have full power.

Have all the political
prisoners released.

This will be the first act
of my reign.

- Why that face?
- If you allow me,

under such serious circumstances,
I'd prefer not to leave you.

You're right, it's appropriate
I make a solemn entrance.

- Do you trust the commander?
- As if he were me.

Then you will trust him with
the Count of Foehn ans his men.

You'll give him the Count as
if he were the apple of my eye.

I'll follow Your Majesty's
orders.

Edith de Berg will travel in the
same carriage as Count of Foehn.

An ideal couple.

After the last half she'll have
all the carriage to herself

and will be more at ease
to reflect.

Willenstein,

I ask you never to forget what
I said and serve witness

in front of all men

that whatever may happen,

I willed it so.

What did you do?

I willed it.

Where's the medallion?

It's in your room.

Empty?

Sebastian!

You explained to me what happens
when one swallows the capsule.

I have very little time to live,
I wanted to see you before you left.

During your absence this morning
Count Foehn warned me

he was going to arrest me.
The police controls all exits.

The Queen was protecting you,

you had nothing to fear.

I realized it was better to
leave you free and disappear.

You're a coward.

Maybe.

You advised me,

pushed me,

tore me from my peace.

Don't come near me!

You betrayed me,

you were supposed to kill me
and you didn't do it.

I love you.

You love me.

You're losing your head!

I order you to address me
in a different tone.

- You're in front of the Queen.
- I couldn't do it.

You've robbed me! Robbed!

I'll tell you the truth,
you deserve to know.

Here everything is false,
it's an intrigue.

I thought you realized that.

To take you with me
embarassed me,

and I felt the same way seeing
you mingle in State affairs.

If the castle is surrounded by
police, it's just obeying my orders.

- My orders!
- Liar.

Don't you know that queens lie?

Remember your poem?

You describe in it queens
as they actually are.

I'll tell you their secrets
and mine, too.

I decided, yes, I decided -
because I can,

to charm you and so everything
would work beautifully.

You believed everything.

You're performing on me some
kind of horrible experiment.

I steal a poison you carried,
I kill myself with it,

and I give you a trial that
your enemies would have used to

their advantage to get you
involved in scandal.

Just a minute...

You were the one to explain and
praise to me this delayed suicide.

You were the one to tell me you
removed your medallion.

Answer me!

I am not used to being
questioned nor to

answer any questions.

I used you.

I took you where
I wanted to.

I had to hand you over to
the Count of Foehn.

You chose a different way.

As you like.

You shouldn't have betrayed
your comrades who trusted you.

You were their weapon.

You not only betrayed them,
but you had them arrested.

How could I trust a traitor?

How could I trust someone who
denied his ideas before my eyes?

I despise you.

They are calling me.

I won't have the pleasure
of seeing you die.

Forgive me, my love.

I had to go to make you crazy.

You would have never killed me.

My love.