Mayerling Page #3

but this child is much too adorable

for you to hide away.

She must come

to my next reception.

Wouldn`t you like that, Maria?

- Well, Maria?

- What are you dreaming of?

The curtain`s going up.

I must fly.

- Have you kept me in mind, Countess?

- You? Why should l?

Oh yes, of course.

I never forget a thing.

Good-bye for now.

- Did you enjoy it?

- Yes, very much.

She`s wonderful.

What`s her name?

- Who?

- The ballerina.

Ah, the - I don`t know.

Georges, come with me to pay

your respects to Princess Emilie.

Wait for me here.

Look! It`s the Schratt woman

with the emperor.

- Where?

- In the middle of the box.

Who`s she?

You`ve heard of La Pompadour?

The emperor`s like Louis XV.

Did you see the archduke

bow to Madame Bischoff?

I hear he`s left her for a Frenchwoman,

Madame de Langeais.

It seems he`s keeping both.

- They say he has a gypsy too.

- Every man I know has a gypsy.

If the Turkish solution didn`t involve

the Balkan question, and St. Petersburg -

The girl in white in the sixth box -

striking, isn`t she?

Probably a debutante.

I`ve never met her.

I believe she`s Baroness Vetsera`s

youngest daughter.

I`ve heard a thing or two

about her - Maria Vetsera.

Vetsera, you say?

I`d be glad to know

Your Highness`s opinion.

Certainly.

Your Majesty.

I saw your performance two days ago.

You were more adorable than ever.

Good evening, Count.

Having a good time?

Good evening, my dear cousin.

Your Excellency.

Busy with affairs of state?

No, that requires

a vast knowledge of men,

and in Vienna you alone

can lay claim to that.

Except that like you,

I enjoy solitude, Your Highness.

There you are, cousin.

You`re as rarely seen these days

as a smile on your father`s face.

I haven`t seen you for ages,

and I suspect you aren`t even

Iistening to me now.

I was going to do you a favor.

That`s right. An opportunity

to demonstrate your generosity.

Ask what you will, cousin, but -

Oh, never mind.

I know what those ""buts`` mean.

I`d intended to mention

the Vetsera boy, but l`ll be going.

- Did you say Vetsera?

- I did indeed.

He dreams

of serving in your regiment.

Wasn`t a Vetsera

our ambassador in Constantinople?

Indeed. Your Highness has

a remarkable memory.

This Vetsera has a son?

And a daughter too.

You are incorrigible.

So when may he

introduce himself?

My darlings, what a crowd!

I thought l`d never get back

before the curtain.

Then she got up

on her toes, Nanny,

and whirled around and around,

faster and faster.

But he didn`t even see her.

He was looking

at our box the whole time.

Nanny, listen!

- I am listening, my love.

It was so lovely.

The lights,

the music, the jewels -

all for him.

- For whom?

Didn`t you understand a word I said?

For the prince.

The one I met at the Prater,

where he ringed the swan.

You know,

I think he recognized me.

The theater got you much too excited.

Go to sleep now.

Sleep?

I`ll never be able to sleep again.

He`s so handsome, Nanny,

with such sad eyes

and such a gentle smile.

Just thinking of him

will take up every hour of the day.

Please listen to me.

Don`t be afraid. Don`t move.

Is it really you?

This is wrong, I know,

but I had to speak to you,

and it was the only way.

Please, Your Highness.

Maria...

I tried to resist, but I couldn`t.

You`ve haunted me night and day.

Your Highness...

I see you so rarely,

but even that fills me with joy,

such emotion,

but also such anguish.

Just one moment.

I must see you again.

Don`t say no.

Don`t make me suffer.

But how? I`m never alone.

- I must see you.

- Really, Your Highness?

For you I have no title.

Promise me.

- But it`s impossible.

- Everything`s possible if you really want it.

Here`s Nanny. Good-bye.

- Where have you been?

- Here, waiting for you.

Nanny, do you think

a prince can be unhappy?

Just like anyone else, Maria.

Maria, you realize you`ve been playing

the same piece for two days now?

It`s so pretty, Mother.

- /s the baroness in?

- Yes, Countess.

Hello, my dear friend.

Hello, my child.

No, do go on. I love that song.

How can we ever thank you?

My son is ecstatic,

and it`s such an honor for the family.

- Don`t mention it.

- Please have a seat.

No, I like to keep moving.

It`s good for the nerves

and the figure.

May l?

Speaking of which, have you seen how

much weight Marquise Perutti has put on?

It`s as natural

as breathing to her.

You`d think she never ate at home.

These are delicious.

At the gala she looked

like a fat old ewe on her hind legs.

But no one noticed.

They only had eyes for your daughter.

Maria was

a tremendous success.

Everyone asked me about her.

She was the sensation of the evening.

You`ll make her vain.

Maria isn`t vain... are you?

Play louder

and listen carefully.

Princess Koralyi -

there`s a vain woman,

though she looks like a monkey

who scrambled down her family tree.

My cousin wants to see you.

Don`t tremble.

She went on and on

about her ancestors.

Keep calm, for heaven`s sake.

Don`t stop playing.

When she sighed

the other night,

she killed a butterfly.

Rudolf spoke of you for an hour.

You`ve quite bewitched him.

Play louder!

Oh, you`re invited

to old Princess Ursula`s

next Saturday.

How kind!

We`d be honored.

Not so loud, Maria.

It`s not a military march.

Your compliments

must have turned her head.

Few women would be unmoved.

Do you like my dress?

I`ve discovered a little dressmaker.

The craftsmanship of Berlin

and the elegance of Paris.

6:
.00 already!

I have a fitting.

You wouldn`t refuse me

a little favor, will you?

Promise me.

- Anything you wish, Countess.

I want to borrow Maria

for an hour.

Two heads are better

than one at fittings.

Besides, I get so bored alone.

You wouldn`t mind?

- Not at all.

Get ready quickly, Maria.

Yes, Countess.

Such a lovely child, your Maria.

Good-bye.

See you soon.

Have no fear, my dear.

Bratfisch, the cabman,

is devoted to Rudolf,

and no one at the palace will see you.

It`s as discreet as can be.

Look at me, child.

You`re not wearing any powder -

or not enough, anyway.

That`s better.

Your eyes are perfect.

Just lower them now and then to dazzle him

all the more later.

Hair back a little.

Very nice.

Forgive me,

but at your age one only knows

one`s faults and not one`s charms.

Thank you.

What a face!

Aren`t you happy?

Oh, I really am.

I just can`t believe l`m going,

that he really wants to see me.

/`m not in for anyone.

/ want to be undisturbed for an hour.

- Someone new, Your Highness?

- You guessed it, Loschek.

An actress?

A married woman?

- A young maiden.

- A real one?

So they say. In these times,

I wouldn`t fret for her virtue.

I saw her once,

I spun the usual yarn,

and she`ll be here

in a few minutes.

- That`s Bratfisch`s cab.

- Delivering the prince`s prey.

Who was that

with Countess Larisch?

- No idea. She`s new.

- We`ll need her name.

I`ll be back for you in an hour.

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