Mayerling

His Excellency the prime minister,

Count Taaffe.

I`ve been waiting five minutes.

Forgive me, Your Majesty,

but I was detained.

Fine. Proceed.

The wedding preparations

are all in order:.

procession, carriages,

accolades, police.

Next matter.

I must draw

Your Majesty`s attention

to the intolerable student

demonstrations.

Still?

With greater frequency

and violence by the day.

I`d point out in particular

the campaign that Mr. Szeps

continues to wage

in his notorious liberal rag.

He knows exactly how far he can go

and stops there.

I cannot touch him

unless I bend the law slightly.

He`d be less brazen

without his friends in high places.

Meaning what? You know

I like things stated clearly.

It`s just my impression,

but I believe

that Szeps is a rather too frequent

visitor to the prince`s apartments.

- Albert.

- Your Majesty?

These croissants don`t taste the same.

Did we change bakers?

I`m sorry, Your Majesty,

but our baker is ill.

When he`s ill,

breakfast is inedible.

My illnesses entail less consequence.

Where were we?

Szeps and his frequent visits.

We were, in fact, discussing the students.

What do you intend to do?

Do I have permission

to use force?

It`s strength that commands respect,

my dear Taaffe.

Your passports, quickly.

Nationality?

- Czech.

- Croat.

We recognize neither Czechs nor Croats,

only faithful subjects of His Majesty.

Subjects, yes.

Faithful is another matter.

- If you believe what passports say -

- Take them away!

Send in the next ten

to see the inspector.

Silence!

Take off your hats!

- Your name and papers.

- Here they are, sir.

I was just attending classes

and knew nothing about it. My father -

Fine, fine. Let him go.

Next.

Szeps, managing editor

of the new paper in Vienna?

How did you get

mixed up in this brawl?

I was merely passing by.

You will kindly remain

at the disposal of the police.

Have him sign the form.

Next. Papers?

- I have none.

No papers. Name?

Rudolf.

This is no place for jokes.

Rudolf who?

- Of Hapsburg.

- What?

Rudolf of Habsburg?

The archduke?

But Your Excellency...

The heir to the Austrian throne

rounded up with this Szeps by the police.

You mix with scoundrels

and side with the rabble.

You have friends who would bring down

the monarchy, even destroy the empire.

You, the emperor`s son.

- Spare me the lecture, Father.

I`m learning to rule my people

by listening to them.

Let others listen for you.

You have secretaries, ministers, police.

You should be devoting yourself to your

soon-to-be bride rather than this Szeps.

Please don`t expect me to play the lover.

This marriage was your idea.

To ensure the crown

and your happiness.

The two are unfortunately

irreconcilable.

I`ve seen that in my mother`s eyes

since I was a child.

Does she complain?

No more than l.

I`ve agreed to marry Stephanie,

but don`t expect a show of joy.

Rudolf, is there a woman

in your life?

A woman? There are ten.

A hundred.

All the ones I want,

and even those I don`t.

But let us say no more. I will marry

the princess and produce an heir.

The interests of the state will be served.

Ask no more of me than that.

A magnificent spectacle.

No one escapes

his destiny, my son.

God grant

that you learn that with time.

God grant that I never meet

the great love of my life.

I`m soaked to the skin.

The more it rains out here,

the more they live it up inside.

What a rotten job!

At least we have the honor of being

attached to His Highness in person.

Look, a new arrival.

That`s Count Hoyos getting out.

- They`re drinking companions.

Like you and me.

Who`s the other one?

Colonel of the 4th Hussars,

Baron Cravet.

Hold on.

I`ll write that down.

Start a new page.

It`s after midnight.

You`re right.

It`s May 10th now.

Hey, isn`t that funny?

- What?

- May 10th.

- What about it?

He was married five years ago.

You`re right.

Exactly five years ago.

Well, if / dared go out

on our anniversary,

Mimi would give me hell.

- We`ll be here till dawn.

- Or until they`re done.

Let us drink

So tomorrow we`// be brave

Let us sing

And our father/and we`// save

Let us march

On to victory`s brink

But first fa// in /ove

/t makes you bo/der than you think

And so my friends, /et`s drink

Tired, Your Highness?

Bored, Josef.

Bored to death.

Won`t you drink with us,

Your Highness?

This is your wedding anniversary.

Thank you, Josef!

Gentlemen, it seems that today

is my wedding anniversary.

You ask for a toast?

Here it is:
.

to the health

of the happy couple.

Well? Won`t you drink

to my happiness?

To Their Highnesses` health.

Marinka, won`t you sing

in honor of the occasion?

Your Highness has only to ask.

Philipp.

Is Szeps here?

- Not yet, Your Highness.

He is, as always, with Hoyos,

Prince Philipp, and the rest.

- And Marinka?

- Marinka too, of course.

My agents report to me

every 1 5 minutes.

- Still no Szeps?

- No.

Are you sure he`ll go

to Sacher`s?

Absolutely. He still needs

the documents for his article tomorrow.

- Our agents never leave his side.

- So he hasn`t seen the archduke yet.

If I could just prove

they`re working together.

I must have those papers

at any cost!

Rest assured, Your Excellency.

They may be crafty, but I know my job.

Why do I love you?

/s it your beautifu/ eyes,

your hair

The tender sound of your voice

Oh, why?

Y es, why?

For dinner?

For your money?

Your crue/ ways?

The prestige of your name?

No, not at a//

Why do / /ove you?

Ask not the reason

for my /ove

As /ong as / know

And / /ike you, that`s enough

Why do / /ove you?

There `s no reason / shou/d say

But in my arms

your cares wi// fade away

You`re dreaming, my dear -

of me, I trust.

You`ll forsake me soon,

like all the rest.

Who can know these things?

Trust to destiny as I trust you.

- She`s jealous, Your Highness.

- Gypsy blood.

She denies it, but she`s madly

in love with Your Highness.

Madly in love...

- Well?

- He isn`t here yet.

I must know the moment he arrives,

or you`ll pay.

- Will you wait here?

- However long it takes.

I want to arrest Szeps myself.

- I understand.

Congratulations, Marinka.

You sing even more sweetly

for the police.

You play the paramour,

but you`re really a parasite.

Bill yourself as

""the gypsy policewoman,``

with your new orchestra

leader here.

- Who sent you?

- Your Highness -

What ""highness``!

You treat me like your prey,

like a thief, a common criminal.

Who sent you?

Tell me!

Tell me,

or l`ll wring it out of you!

Your Majesty, please -

Afraid of the prime minister, are you?

Taaffe sent you, didn`t he?

Your Majesty...

Too cowardly even to confess.

You disgust me.

Here, Marinka. I`d hate you to lose

the money you sold me for.

After last night,

my patience is at an end.

- Forget all that.

- No, l`ve had enough.

Sometimes I just want to disappear.

I`m constantly watched.

Without even looking, I can tell you

that two detectives are following us now.

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