"THE DISMISSAL" "This film's scenes and dialogue depend on historical sources, especially on Bismarck's thoughts and memories." "Bismarck's address is drawn directly from his actual speeches." "H.M. the Kaiser and King had a sleepless night." "His pulse is very weak: 31" "His Majesty's health is weakening worryingly." "Berlin, 8 March, 1888 Dr. von Launer." "Decree of His Majesty, the Kaiser and King." "In view of my worsening physical health, and the severe illness of my son, His Imperial Highness," "Crown Prince Friedrich, I am assigning all my governmental duties to Prince Wilhelm." "Wilhelm." "Bismarck." "I'm afraid, Holstein." "Afraid?" "That word sounds unusual coming from you, Highness." "Yes, fear." "Real fear!" "I can't sleep." "This evening I read Russian newspapers." "Hostile ones." "No joy reading that." "The tsar's circle is hostile toward us." "The grand dukes are trying to drive him into the arms of the French." "Nevertheless, the tsar's friendship with our kaiser is genuine..." "Yes." "And has been reinforced politically." "Certainly, but our old gentleman's strengths are on the wane, and the crown prince has laryngeal cancer." "It can no longer be concealed!" "It will not be concealed any longer." "Professor von Bergmann operated on the crown prince yesterday in San Remo." "He's breathing through a tube, but he has lost his voice forever." "His life expectancy is a matter of weeks." "A few months at most." "And you're surprised that I'm scared?" "We are faced with an unnatural change in our history." "The transition from a 90-year-old kaiser to his 29-year-old grandson, whose horizon doesn't even extend beyond the gazebo in Potsdam!" "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our enemies to fish in muddy waters." "If Prince Bismarck is afraid, I wonder how the other statesmen sleep at night!" "I don't know if these gentlemen have consciences." "I have my doubts." "In France they're screaming for vengeance." "The March of 1870!" "What kind of idiocy is that?" "Vengeance for a mistake one made oneself." "Revenge, only to make the same mistake for a second time." "These Frenchmen are harmless as long as they are solitary, but..." "I sometimes dream that they won't stay solitary." "Mm hm, the remarks of your Highness bring me to the negotiations with Russia." "Yes, that is urgent." "The treaty is expiring." "What does Schuwalow think?" "The Russian ambassador has handed over his government's wishes for amendments to the secret Reinsurance Treaty, in order to extend it." "Amendments?" "Why?" "Something extraordinary or crucial?" "Come now!" "The usual postponements to make the ultimate accord more valuable." "You see, Holstein?" "This treaty guarantees that the French will remain on their own." "It is the firewall against enemy coalitions." "The Russian neutrality." "Yes, you're absolutely right." "But treaties don't last forever." "A war against Russia is almost unavoidable." "Perhaps, but I must prevent Russia and France attacking us simultaneously." "A war on two fronts would be a life-and-death battle." "We must keep the opponents apart." "If possible, attack them one at a time." "That's the central problem of my foreign policy." "The vital questions of the Reich." "I'm sorry to interrupt, Father." "What is it, Herbert?" "You are to come to the castle right away." "The time has come?" "Yes, the end is near." "Sabre, coat, carriage!" "The carriage has been readied." "Mr. von Bötticher." "Highness?" "Telegraph the crown prince in San Remo." "The crown prince is urged to return to Berlin immediately." "Yes sir, Doctor." "Now he's going to the deathbed of his power." "To the..." "To the deathbed of his power?" "His position in Europe has never been more powerful than now." "His majority in the Reichstag is the largest he has ever had!" "You are completely correct." "But he has only ever had one secure majority." "The old kaiser." "I wanted to see you one more time..." "And thank you... for everything..." "You did for me and my house." "All of my thoughts are in San Remo..." "With my Fritz." "My poor Fritz." "I beg of you, for the short time the crown prince has left, please remain at his side." "I will serve him as I have served you, Your Majesty." "I want to see Prince Wilhelm." "Prince Wilhelm is very inexperienced." "Very immature." "He needs your firm character at his side." "You will tell him the truth, the same way you always told me the truth." "Prince Bismarck built the German Reich." "He alone." "He handed us Hohenzollern the imperial crown." "We received it from his hands." "I hope you will always follow the advice of the prince, and that you trust his faithfulness and experience." "Promise me you won't abandon my grandson." "Until I draw my last breath, I will devote my strengths to the Reich, and the House Hohenzollern." "That is my last wish." "His Majesty is awaiting Your Highness." "Your Majesty." "The old world is being carried to the grave with your father." "You will give the people a new happiness." "I will soon follow him to the grave." "Kaiser Friedrich III:" "H.M. Kaiser and King passed away peacefully this morning." "You will now swear an oath of fealty and obedience to me." "And I vow to always to bear in mind that the eyes of my ancestors are looking down on me from another world." "And that I have to account to them for the glory and fame of the German army." "The army and I belong together." "We were as if born as one, and we want to remain bound inextricably." "Whether, according to God's will, there is peace or tempest." "I am determined to maintain peace, with everyone, as long as it's up to me!" "My dear Prince, you served my father and grandfather with all of your strength." "I pray to God that you may be at my side for many years to come." "Whether it be during peace, whether it be during war." "As long as His Majesty requires my advice, and is willing - rather with a sword in hand, battling and falling on the steps of the throne, than to shrink before danger - you will always have me at your side." "Regret and loyalty." "I swear, I would rather have every limb chopped off than ever allow myself to part ways with you!" "Mr. Waldersee, a beautiful scene, don't you think?" "Our young, radiant kaiser and the venerable, grand chancellor." "This is the purest honeymoon." "I hope so, dear Bötticher." "When an old man marries a young woman, it also starts with a honeymoon period." "But very soon the young woman begins to look about for other young people, and that's a good thing because it's natural." "Don't you think?" "Certainly, even the young generation has its right to life." "Incidentally, you phrased that charmingly." "I think the chancellor is correct in thinking of you as a born diplomat." "I am a soldier, Bötticher, nothing more." "That makes me happy." "For my part, I am only a politician, so our interests will never clash." "May I invite you to ride with me?" "Gladly!" "If you can drop me off at the Foreign Bureau." "Privy Councillor von Holstein is expecting me." "It's so dull, this pomposity." "I hate such days." "But my dear Baron, if you had been there..." "The greatest political genius of our time." "At the apex of his glory, his statue, his fulfilled life." "And next to him, our joyous monarch, with the shine of youth and the promise of great times ahead." "I'd like to devote the rest of my life to these men." "No one can serve two men." "Not even you, dear Eulenburg." "And don't you also serve both men?" "I serve politics." "In an abstract sense." "Yes, you're absolutely right." "But abstract concepts are immortal." "People come and go." "The chess match for power, with living chess pieces, that's the finest mental exhilaration." "Like higher mathematics." "I always got a D in mathematics." "But of course!" "Like all artists." "Good day, Privy Councillor." "My dear Count!" "I am completely exhausted." "I admire the chancellor that he can still withstand such hours-long ceremonies." "Why, it must be torture for the old gentleman." "Well, one must tolerate immortality." "Did you use the opportunity to catch a few rays of mercy sunshine?" "Oh, don't ruin the good mood, Holstein!" "You're an awful person." "You bury yourself here in the Foreign Bureau and live off irony and sarcasm." "Like the hermit who springs from the bitter roots of the enemy." "Bravo, Bötticher, bravo." "Well, it's a more reputable nourishment than the crumbs that fall from the grand men's tables." "To each his own." "But enough philosophizing." "Count Waldersee." "I'm concerned about Waldersee." "The kaiser thinks very highly of him." "Of course, but as a politician, too?" "Political generals didn't exist in Prussia in the old days." "That's an invention of the young kaiser." "Unfortunately, he's very ambitious." "Exactly." "But don't worry, the kaiser will see right through him." "Hopefully, hopefully." "Because Waldersee as political advisor..." "That would be a disaster." "Whereas von Bötticher would be a blessing in this instance, right?" "Absolutely!" "It is my honour, as the chancellor's deputy, to be able to take some of the worry and work off his plate." "But only with the knowledge that even a Bismarck won't govern forever, and is only indispensable at the crucial moment." "May I sign off, dear Count?" "Tomorrow morning I set sail." "The tsar is already on his way to Kronstadt." "I'm taking along eight warships." "That'll impress the tsar." "The Russian fleet isn't exactly the most modern." "I hope the tsar won't misunderstand this military demonstration, Majesty." "It won't hurt if he sees the German fleet is superior to his in the Baltic Sea." "Yes, but it could rub him the wrong way." "No one likes to see his own weakness." "As well, it's extremely important to me to keep the tsar in a good mood now." "The extension of our secret Reinsurance Treaty with Russia is coming up soon." "Good old Uncle Alexander will renew." "And if not, then it's to his detriment." "Thanks to you, Highness, our foreign-policy situation is splendid." "Er, because of its geographical position, Germany is never free of threat, Majesty." "For these threats we have our wonderful army, which our enemies fear." "Majesty, fear and hate are emotions that reside close together." "Influence-rich circles are trying to drive the tsar into the French camp." "It would be Your Majesty's task to indicate to him the ramifications of such a policy." "Yes, but using what arguments?" "The tsar is living in constant fear of the anarchists, who are constantly conspiring with the French." "Tell him, the day he pays tribute to the flag of the French, to the strains of the Marseillaise, he has dug a grave for himself and his empire." "A grand suggestion, Highness!" "I will advise the tsar thereof." "However, I find it impossible to imagine these people congregating." "The tsar, autocrat of all Russians, and the French Republic?" "Never!" "Majesty, in politics the word "never" all too often means "tomorrow"." "If Russia and France become allies against us," "Germany would have to fight for its life on two fronts." "In London one would pay a high price for that." "But, Highness, the Queen of England is my grandmother." "I can't believe she is pursuing such goals against me." "I am convinced, Your Majesty, that the queen dearly loves her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but the fates of peoples are decided based not on familial but political terms." "I always thought our alliance with Austria would make us strong enough for any event of war." "Indeed, but my deal with the tsar will forestall a" "European war outright." "But I will be in a difficult position when I meet with Kaiser Franz-Joseph." "Wouldn't it be possible to at least let him in on the Reinsurance Treaty?" "No, Majesty." "Austria may be our ally, but it is Russia's enemy on the Balkan." "One day it will come to a war there." "No, Majesty." "As long as Austria has to forgo our help against Russia, it won't risk a war." "You're right about that." "The preservation of peace is our most important duty." "Very well, I will do everything to win over the tsar on extending the treaty." "Er, I will lead the negotiations with Count Schuwalow here in Berlin." "It's crucial that a good atmosphere for the talks is fomented in St. Petersburg." "It shall happen, dear Prince, it shall happen." "Majesty, please bear in mind the character of the tsar." "He hates all military ostentation and the like, he is more secretive than talkative, and is always mistrustful." "Magnificently characterized!" "But don't you worry." "The psychological treatment of reigning uncles and cousins, with whom I have been amply blessed, is my specialty." "I must bid you goodbye now." "But I have one special request." "At your command, Your Majesty." "Yes, I would prefer to command, but I can only ask you." "Think of your health." "Go to Friedrichsruh." "Your son, Herbert, will take you place ably." "He has your full trust." "Be sparing with your strength, because you are my most valuable asset." "I thank Your Majesty for the gracious sentiments, but at age 75 one cannot expect all that much from one's body anymore." "But Highness, my grandfather reached age 91." "Well, the rider always endures longer than the horse, Majesty." "Count, the sendoff for you and His Majesty was scheduled for 20 minutes." "Now it has been going for more than one hour." "But you know His Eminence, Excellency." "He is a little impulsive and doesn't always follow the program." "But a thorough debate before four eyes, with His Majesty the Tsar, will surely bear rich fruit." "Long discussions make him tired." "That begets disagreement." "I tried everything to prevent the release of the toast." "But the German Kaiser insisted upon it." "His words will terrify the French." "One almost shakes one's head." "The tsar was sitting there as if made of stone." "He was visibly awkwardly touched." "A toast is not a fitting occasion to become aggressive." "The other officers!" "Stand to attention!" "Align yourselves!" "Eyes to the right!" "When are you coming to Berlin for a return visit?" "How about June?" "Unfortunately, my itinerary has not yet been settled." "I will instruct Schuwalow to get in contact with a high marshal." "My greetings to Victoria and the children." "They are greatly looking forward to seeing you again." "The farewell meeting took a full hour longer than the scheduled time." "Regrettably so, Majesty." "Couldn't one of you have broken in?" "I'm sorry, Majesty." "We didn't think we were permitted to interrupt the debate." "Someone could have come in with a message." "Splendid!" "It was simply overwhelming, Eulenburg." "This conference was of the greatest import." "I'm convinced of that, Majesty." "We should inform Bismarck by telegraph right away." "Spare me the name Bismarck for a moment." "From morning to night I hear nothing but" "Bismarck." "Always Bismarck, Bismarck..." "No one says a word about me." "That's a given, Majesty." "His long governance, the renown of his name." "But the tsar was perfectly gracious." "I wrapped him around my finger." "Good Uncle Alexander is eating out of my hand." "That is more important than the constant treaties and worries of the chancellor." "I handled the foreign policy of the Reich with my own personal influence." "Oh, that reminds me: a surprise." "I will send the tsar a farewell signal." "A... terrific idea, Majesty..." "We will signal the tsar..." "Schuwalow." "I see darkness." "As long as Bismarck still runs things in Berlin, it's fine." "But, my nephew?" "Of course he is naturally kind." "Very spirited, with interests in all kinds of things." "But... too confused, too erratic." "That will wear away over time." "He's still very youthful." "What is it now?" "Majesty, a message from His Majesty, the German kaiser." "Please read it, Schuwalow." "The Admiral of the Atlantic... sends greetings to the Admiral of the Pacific." "Don't joke around." "That's what it says, Majesty." "That can't be possible!" "Majesty, would you like to reply?" "Send the signal... "Have a good trip"." "Good day, Privy Councillor." "How's it going, Pinnow?" "Wonderfully, Privy Councillor." "Thank you." "Has he recovered well?" "He must, Privy Councillor." "Dr. Schwenninger forbade him to drink, and ensures he sticks to a good diet." "And what is the prince saying?" "He's saying nothing." "He's grousing." "This is really unbelievable!" "What's the young man thinking?" "He travels from one country to the next, and I'm sitting here for months doing nothing but gluing together the porcelain he has shattered with his silly toasts." "His Majesty is young." "He wants to prove that he can hold his own." "But he's wasting my time!" "He should learn something first." "Then he can masquerade as a politician." "I need a clear head for my work on the legislation." "It's high time for me to complete it." "Yes, but the social legislation of Your Highness is unique." "The accident and disability insurance, the pension plan..." "No other country..." "Yes, but that's just a beginning, Holstein." "Well, you are a foreign-policy politician." "You see it differently." "So, what else do you have?" "Nothing agreeable, for once?" "Well, a report from our consulate in Kiev." "About strategic movements in Russia." "Kiev?" "That's where that Raffauf is." "He doesn't understand anything about military things." "I guess he would like to earn a medal." "What?" "Russian deployment at the Austrian border?" "Third Gala regiment?" "I'll sign it." "He shouldn't take me for a fool." "As if he doesn't know that I can speak Russian." "The Third Gala Regiment in St. Petersburg has received a disciplinary transfer." "I read about that a month ago in Russian papers." "He can forget about that medal." "Send a copy of that to the general staff for their attention, and file this." "Shouldn't this report be shown to His Majesty?" "To what end?" "The kaiser will use this as an excuse to start sabre-rattling again." "And he'll send me an Order of the Red Eagle, even if it's a dummy." "Come in." "Oh, this too!" "I'm sorry, Highness." "Look at that, Holstein." "This is my breakfast." "Privy Councillor von Holstein, my good friend in the foreign bureau." "Dr. Schwenninger, my torture friend in the Ministry of the Interior." "Highness, you must lose weight." "Everyone can see that." "Plenus venter non studet libenter." "(A full belly does not like to study.)" "In the morning a cup of peppermint tea, an apple at the stroke of 11:00 a.m., and for lunch, oatmeal." "And for dinner, a herring." "Bismarck Herring." "It's amazing that His Highness is still alive." "For breakfast, a dozen eggs, sunny side up, at 11 bacon in Burgundy, for lunch a veal knuckle, and a whole duck as an appetizer." "That's how it used to be." "The chimney has to be fed by something, if one is to work this much!" "And sleep so little." "Because one can't sleep." "Because one eats so much!" "What?" "Well, what else?" "Now, why don't you go ahead and eat your apple, Highness." "OK, just give it me." "If I am to eat like a cow on a pasture, then at least properly." "There's a maggot in it." "I'll pick you up in 26 minutes for your walk." "Oh well... he is right, after all." "Don't you squeal on me!" "Look at this, Holstein." "And what is this?" "Look." "A Bock." "So tell me, what's new out of Berlin?" "Well, not much right now, Highness." "The usual scene." "The boss is away." "Each of the gentlemen is reflecting on the meaning of his own personality." "Oh, let them have that pleasure." "They enjoy it, and it does me no harm." "What is our friend Bötticher up to?" "Deputy." "He's taking great pains, to no avail, to show the world a Caesar-like face." "Is it fine, Excellency, or should I cut off another half-centimetre?" "No, no, thank you, it's wonderful." "Excellency, can you imagine my joy?" "Majesty gave me the title Court Barber." "Oh, congratulations!" "Many thanks." "Tomorrow there will be a new sign over the door." "A crown on the right and left." "Fantastic, fantastic!" "May I?" "Yes, please." "Do you want the hair as usual?" "Mm hm." "Certainly." "Your Majesty, incidentally, carries his hair a bit more combed up these days." "A two-and-a-half centimetre wave." "The chancellor couldn't pull that off." "Tell me, Excellency, is it true what Mr. von Eulenburg told me yesterday?" "The health of our chancellor is so poor." "He doesn't sleep at all anymore." "Don't take off too much, thanks." "And now his liver, too?" "Oh, what hogwash!" "He's doing much better since Dr. Schwenninger is always at his side." "Oh, I see, he has a doctor constantly with him." "Yes." "Interesting, interesting." "Goodbye, Excellency, goodbye." "Well, Reichstag Deputy von Websky recently told me..." "But confidential, of course; completely confidential... who will be the successor of the prince." "Well, now I'm curious!" "Well, you, your Excellency!" "Whom else?" "Ha, His Excellency doesn't want to admit it." "Excellency is discreet." "But the wife of Excellency von Wühl spoke with your revered wife." "Mrs. von Wühl told me that personally." "I am clued-in, Excellency, I am clued-in." "Is it to your liking?" "Brilliant, yes." "Yes, yes." "It's superb, yes." "Excellency will glisten tonight." "I will?" "Why?" "Excellency is hosting a tea today." "Oh, what, you know that already too?" "There were already several gentlemen here today who have the honour of being invited to Your Excellency's." "But my discretion is known throughout the city." "Yes, yes." "Mr. von Lucanus will be there, Count Eulenburg..." "My love stepped out of the neighbour's house, holding a little rose in her hand." "And I stood at the fence, couldn't stare long enough." "I was unable to find a word of greeting." "A highly gifted person." "A poet, musician, and diplomat." "And the kaiser is speaking informally with him." "That'll get us far." "..."Look at this little rose here."" ""Look, it's meant to be yours."" "In the time of the rose, the heart was so expansive, and the most beautiful little rose was mine." "One has to get in with him." "He was in England, Austria, and Russia with S.M." "And a friend of Bismarck's." "With both?" "If all goes well." "Adorable." "Heavenly!" "Another one." "Oh, please!" ""Wild Rose", yes?" "Oh, yes." "Do these young ladies that favour." "It's really endearing." "Endearing!" "Listen to this!" "The workers in the coal district are all on strike." "They want higher wages, and to have Sundays off." "What do you say to that?" "Just hit them in the kisser." "Sang a song about a wild rose." "My cousin Arnim is Bismarck's son-in-law." "The Beldaner line." "He says the same thing." "The old man is taking morphine." "Thorns all-around." "If only love were without thorns." "The poor kaiser." "He'll have to cast about for a new one soon." "Maybe our host?" "But it can turn out well." "As long as one is in Friedrichsruh and the other is in Berlin, yes." "But don't let them ever convene." "The kaiser supposedly said one should change the name of Friedrichsruh to Bismarckruh." "The kaiser is a dashing fellow." "The kaiser is heavenly." "Thorns, thorns!" "Pay no heed to the thorns, as soon as the flower blooms." "Dear Count, another artist." "A painter, ladies." "Good day, Mr. von Heyden." "I blush when a real artist appears." "Oh, no." "Ladies, this is Mr. von Heyden." "He is just now painting His Majesty." "Yes, but I also paint pretty ladies." "And other things." "Turn your head to the left." "Thanks." "Now this way again." "Stop!" "Perfect." "Try to hold this expression." "It has the noble, quiet strength I need." "Can't I sit down for a second?" "My legs are trembling." "No, no, stay standing." "That's perfect." "Your pained expression appears much more realistic that way." "Besides, next week we're done and you can sit as much as you want." "Can you paint another picture of me, Baron?" "My old lady could really use the couple of marks extra that I earn." "My dear friend, I can't just paint one Jesus Christ after another." "But, I'll see what I can do for you." "I spoke about you with an acquaintance." "My discussions with you were very informative to her." "I even spoke of you with His Majesty." "That won't pay my rent either." "His Majesty!" "What, His Majesty already?" "!" "He's coming up the stairs." "But it's only ten!" "Get lost, my boy." "His Majesty is already in the house?" "My God!" "Good morning, Mr. Pleiss." "We already had a wonderful walk this morning in the Tiergarten." "Eulenburg almost couldn't keep up." "You have been diligent, my good man." "Bravo!" "The tsar will be pleased." "It's very nice." "I would only put more of a shine on the crown." "Maybe a ray of sunshine." "Wonderful idea." "I will start on the completion immediately." "Please take your seat, Your Majesty." "Who the hell is that?" "That's my model for Jesus Christ, Majesty." "Please forgive me, Majesty." "I didn't expect you this early." "Scram, my boy." "No, no, why don't you stay!" "It's very interesting." "Is this the man you were telling me about?" "It is indeed, Majesty." "Come here." "Feel free to begin." "So you are this... this social democrat." "Yes, Majesty." "But I'm a strict monarchist." "Is that right?" "You were a soldier?" "Indeed, Majesty." "Corporal." "But I wounded people." "Medals?" "Aye, aye, sir." "Iron Cross." "Say, my good man, you seem to be a decent person." "What are you, a former corporal with an Iron Cross, doing as a social democrat?" "Aye, aye, Majesty." "I am 43 years old and have five children." "My wife spends the whole week washing clothes." "And my two eldest, who are 10 and 12, they work at Borsig." "Sundays I work as a waiter." "If all of us don't earn enough to pay the rent and eat until we are full, then there's something wrong with the world." "And that's why I'm a social democrat." "Ah, that's why you..." "And everyone else is in the same boat as us, and capitalism is to blame for that." "Because the businessmen aren't satisfied with their high dividends, millions of workers starve." "You don't understand." "If wages rose, German industry would no longer be competitive on the world market." "Then the factories might as well close." "And the workers will have nothing left." "No, no." "Let him speak, Eulenburg." "I understand it very well." "That's why the factories belong in the workers' hands, namely worldwide, then there is no more competition." "You seem to have considered these problems very thoroughly." "Aye, aye, Majesty." "That is also why I'm a social democrat." "But now it's really time for you to take a hike, my boy." "Yes, sir." "Good morning, Majesty." "Good morning." "Can you forgive me, Majesty?" "I'm inconsolable." "Naturally, I will make sure such a scene doesn't repeat itself." "I don't know what you want." "It was highly interesting." "One has to know about such things." "Those are poor, sympathetic people who get misled by a couple of unpatriotic knaves." "It's a menace." "Out of such sentiments, revolutions are born!" "One has to take the wind out of the sails of these Social Democrats." "I will get in touch with Bismarck immediately!" "Lately, the "social question" is near and dear to the heart of the kaiser." "To me, it has always been." "His Majesty would like to make an appeal." "And to enthusiastically express his warm feelings for even the least of his subjects." "Majesty wants to promise the workers a glittering future." "And thereby prevent the further growth of social democracy." "In what way does the kaiser intend to honour his promise?" "Majesty hasn't filled us in on that yet." "Hmm." "Above all, he wants to engender a different mood." "Majesty wants to win the hearts of the people." "Majesty is thinking of, for instance, the implementation of a common prayer service in the factories." "A lifting and cleansing of the spirits." "Fantastic idea." "Please arrange for the Reichstag MPs to report to me every morning at 10:15 in the Reichstag for communal prayer." "Highness." "No, no, dear Bötticher, one solves the social question not by talking about it, but by taking action." "The new blueprints are lying on my desk." "Health insurance, housing, childcare, etc." "And if it doesn't suit the parties, I will implement it without the parties." "So you want to fight again, Highness?" "If need be." "So, Highness is opposed to an appeal to the people?" "Yes." "I don't want to promise people mountains of gold as long as they don't have proper living conditions." "Majesty will be very disappointed." "Take a look at that, Bötticher." "A state grows by the same strict laws as nature." "It would be nice if one could grow humans the same way one grows trees." "Certainly, Highness, but humans don't grow as reliably as trees." "No." "It isn't always successful, but you, you are from my tree school, Bötticher." "Stay a good, strong tree." "I'd like to be able to depend on you." "Oh, I am so hungry again." "His Majesty was beside himself when I reported the outcome to him." "Sends me to Friedrichsruh and gets a straight refusal." "A refus." "What do you think of that?" "Well, old and young rarely tolerate each other." "Yes." "The founder of the Reich expands his state the way he wants to." "Majesty doesn't like to hear the term, "founder of the Reich"." "These days Majesty likes to say Kaiser Wilhelm the Great founded the Reich." "Yes, one can argue that as well." "Above all, Majesty has the ambition to do things himself, and not just always play the spectator." "That's a very understandable feeling." "Friedrich the Great would never have attained his position if he had encountered a Bismarck at the start of his governance." "My goodness!" "Now you're talking!" "Magnificent." "And moreover, the old man is very sick." "Sick?" "I must say, yesterday he seemed very fresh and feisty." "Well, as far as I know, he's taking morphine." "Do you know that for certain?" "But one really should inform the kaiser of that." "Gentlemen, we must be clear about that." "The chancellor will not be able to continue working as long as we had assumed." "Whether it's because of his illness, or because of our young gentleman." "You two still want to become chancellor?" "Oh, don't be so serious, gentlemen." "To your health." "I, personally, hate the secrecy." "It baffles the clarity of thought." "Give me a bit of sauce, okay?" "Me too, please." "I mean, I'm staying put." "Can we count on you?" "In fact, you must count on me." "Well, neither of you understands anything about foreign policy." "Keep on my good side, gentlemen." "I'm indispensable." "A masterful shot, Majesty." "All of my sharpshooters would envy your shot accuracy." "That's the 46th today." "We have to get 50." "Give me some glogg." "Majesty isn't only this accurate with a tin can." "The problem of knowing these woods and shooting right at the animal's heart is an unlearnable act of a genius." "Shhh!" "A shot to the heart!" "Shhh." "This is your first court hunt, Mr. von Bötticher?" "Yes, yes." "I find it glorious." "If you want to be invited again, I would advise you not to shoot all that well." "Why?" "Majesty doesn't like to share the limelight." "I'm obliged to you for telling me." "Please, gentlemen, tell me honestly and without flattery:" "Am I on the right path if I look after and accept my workers as a sovereign?" "Completely, Majesty." "An admirable deed, Majesty?" "Why is he hindering me?" "I don't understand him." "Maybe he doesn't understand Your Majesty's ideas." "He doesn't sense the revolt of these modern times." "An old, sick man who only keeps himself going by taking morphine." "History shall judge that I was worthy of my ancestors." "Yes, but even Friedrich the Great would never have become "The Great"" "if he had encountered a Bismarck at the start of his governance." "Yes." "Friedrich was only responsible to God, who appointed us." "Did you hear what they said?" "No." "Brace yourself." "They want to unseat Bismarck." "Bismarck?" "That's nonsense." "But they're speaking of it openly." "Earlier I was standing next to that tall, thin one there." "You see?" "Again, I thought my ears were deceiving me." "He says, "Today is the big-game hunt." "Today Bismarck will be brought down"." "That can't be possible!" "I find it absolutely urgent that you come back to Berlin right away, Father." "You must intervene." "A circle has formed around the kaiser, a camarilla that is constantly hustling and agitating against you." "Name names." "Waldersee, Heyden, Holstein, Bötticher..." "Well, I didn't expect any different from them." "Mediocrity always thrives as long as it is alone on the field." "When I come back, none of the gentlemen will dare open his mouth." "You shouldn't underestimate them, Father." "Together they are a force." "Many zeroes don't make a number." "But a single one in front of all those zeroes and you have a million." "This "one" is the kaiser." "He got his power from you, but he has it, and he wants to exert it." "They're blandishing him." "They're crawling around him and preventing an honest person from getting near him." "The way they present the world to him is different from how it really is." "You can see that with the "worker question"." "This amateurish gossip!" "My dear boy, to have enemies is an old custom for me." "There are perpetual conspiracies against me." "For 30 years I have continually been bothered." "All in all, I can say that at least my duty has not gotten boring." "With a heavy heart, I have been forced to acknowledge that in my most trusted circle of colleagues my intentions are misunderstood, and even controverted." "In fact, even the word "opposition" fits." "In my vicinity, an opposition is an absurdity." "Like the ivy wrapping itself around the knotty oak branch." "It adorns the tree with its foliage, and protects its crown when storms roar around." "In the same way, my colleagues envelop my house." "We, as we sit on the throne thanks to God's mercy, have imposed upon us a holy duty from the heavens above, that we embrace the poor and poorest." "Because they, too, are our brothers in Christ." "I will lead my people into glorious times!" "Those who want to help me in that endeavour are welcome." "But those who want to stand against me, I shall destroy them!" "Happy hunting!" "I will convene a Crown's Council." "Mr. von Bötticher, please advise the chancellor I am awaiting his return." "It was nice of you to pick me up." "I'm always glad when the first Berliner I meet is a friend." "Surely I may call you a friend?" "Of course, that's self-evident." "Well, it is not self-evident." "For example, when I walk into the office in Berlin, I will see a hundred bowed backs and will receive just as many amicable handshakes." "But in secret most of them are thinking, "If only we could get rid of the old man"." "Oh, Highness, really!" "Tell me, do you know what's on the agenda at the Crown's Council?" "No, regrettably." "We know nothing." "So it's a surprise from Majesty." "Yes, I imagine so." "If Majesty wants to make any meaningful proposals, we'll defer a decision until the state ministry has been advised internally." "Yes, as Highness wishes." "Please advise our colleagues of that before the Crown Council begins." "Therefore, I am determined to better the lot of my workers and subjects so much, that they are forced to silence any valid complaints." "The stipulation is that German industry remain competitive on the world market." "That can only be instituted through an international agreement." "With the conviction that other governments are also inspired by the same ideals as us, I have resolved to convene in Berlin a conference of all developed nations in Europe, to reach pertinent agreements." "For the protection and blessing of all workers in the German Reich, and in the whole world." "Berlin, January 27th, 1890." "This decree for the German people shall be proclaimed on my birthday!" "What do you think about that, Highness?" "The formulation of the ideas and the style of the appeal are admirable." "Too much praise for me alone." "Mr. von Bötticher helped me with it." "Mr. von Bötticher." "Yes, indeed." "Majesty was kind enough to call upon me." "So you are in agreement?" "Not fully, Majesty." "I have a few considerations." "But something must happen immediately." "Social democracy is getting ever, stronger, and elections are imminent." "That's exactly why I must dissuade Your Majesty from taking this step." "Therewith, we would hand the Social Democrats the best election slogan." "Throughout the world, the party speakers would shout," ""Here, read this." "The kaiser himself admits that we are right"." "Men loyal to the monarchy have advised me to take this step." "I am also loyal to the monarchy, Majesty." "But I bear the responsibility." "No, Majesty, I do." "Among monarchists, only the successes get attention." "The failings become the burden of the chancellor." "1 mark." "Have a good day." "Same to you." "You are just an enemy of workers." "I can only assume Your Majesty isn't quite aware of the meaning of that word." "Your Majesty seems to have forgotten that I have, for years now, worked on a major book on social laws." "You have no relationship with the people." "I am a farmer, Majesty." "I know all of my servants and workers by name." "I know the concerns of Farmer Nusche from Schönhausen just as well as those of brickyard worker, Krampke, from Varzin." "You see, to relate to the people one must live among the people." "I don't think anyone in this room is around regular people more than I am." "Please close the window, will you?" "Majesty, our goal is the same." "Only your method, Majesty, is not practicable." "You see, socialism is a national, not an international, matter." "The state, which can most easily raise the money, has to take control." "We should we strive for a German state socialism." "But not under pressure from the common people." "But it's not achievable!" "We would never get a majority for that in the Reichstag." "Then I will dissolve the Reichstag." "But do you want to fight again?" "For the good of the people, yes!" "But I don't want any blood spilled!" "The later the fight begins, the tougher it will have to be, because the enemy will have had time to gain strength." "If Your Majesty shrinks back from it today, the entire Reich might drown in blood one day." "So you are refusing to assent to my decree." "I advise against it." "But I want it this way!" "Indulge me for once, too!" "If Your Majesty no longer deems my advice meaningful," "I don't know if I can stay in my position as Reich chancellor." "Now I'm in a predicament." "What do you think, gentlemen?" "I agree with the chancellor's opinion." "Of course." "And the rest of you?" "I think the arguments of the Reich chancellor are correct." "I am of the same mind." "Yes, absolutely." "I agree with the Reich chancellor." "And you?" "Bötticher?" "Well... please excuse me." "One should reconsider the issue." "I could envision, maybe, in a cabinet session, via detailed consultation and changes to the formula, we could come to a bearable compromise for both sides." "Then I'll declare the privy council closed!" "A scandal!" "It's unbelievable!" "These are not my ministers." "They are Bismarck's." "And they sat there like punished schoolboys!" "Hahnke, Lucanus, what do you have to say?" "Majesty, I..." "The enterprise Bismarck and Son feels very secure." "Enterprise Bismarck and Son?" "That's brilliant." "And this Bötticher has been a great letdown." "Lowers himself like an eel!" "Highness, permit me a few words of explanation." "Majesty asked for my assistance, with the condition of greatest confidentiality." "I regret if Highness sees me in the wrong light because of this." "Let's proceed with the consultation." "I hope you gentlemen agree with me that the planned decrees of His Majesty are dangerous and therefore to be rejected." "I will ask Majesty for a vote of confidence on behalf of the cabinet." "I would like to know, gentlemen, how much I can count on you?" "If Your Majesty were forced to resign, all of us would vacate our offices." "Self-evidently." "Is that self-evident for the other gentlemen as well?" "Minister of War?" "I think we have to come to some accommodation with His Majesty." "One cannot simply alienate the kaiser like this." "Perhaps... perhaps one could phrase the decrees differently." "Yes, in some form, we should be able to bring about something in order to not displease His Majesty." "I mean, in order to gratify him." "Gratify him?" "When a minister conceals from his kaiser that he, in his opinion, is on a course that is dangerous to the state, that's a transition to treason!" "If the ministry wants to act only to please the kaiser," "I might as well have six mail carriers sitting here." "Bravo." "I stand unconditionally on the side of Your Highness." "I cannot relate to this attitude." "I respect the wishes of my sovereign." "I do, too." "Ultimately, we swore an oath of loyalty to His Majesty." "I mean..." "So that means the ministry is not in agreement with me." "I can see that, for the first time in 28 years I am being left in the lurch by my ministry on a question of critical importance." "That's disgraceful!" "The gentlemen are scared!" "I won't tolerate this tone, Secretary of State!" "He's absolutely right!" "That's right!" "How could you say something like that?" "Gentlemen." "I will accept the consequences of this situation." "I will ask Majesty to release me as the leader of domestic policy, and will limit myself in the future to foreign policy." "Whether my warnings were right will be established by the elections." "With the conviction that other governments are also informed by the same ideals as us, I am calling a conference of all developed nations to reach appropriate accords - for the protection and well-being of workers in Germany and the entire world!" ""Vote for Bebel"" "Bebel!" "Windthorst." "Von Kreiss-Rettwig." "Bebel." "Bebel." "Bebel." "Liberals: 228,564." "Conservatives: 440,294." "Centre Party: 568,845." "And the Social Democrats?" "989,654." "Thank you." "989,654!" "50% more than they got last time." "See, there he got the decision of his people." "It serves him right!" "Why didn't he listen to you, Otto?" "You know what, Highness?" "Just throw all the rubbish at the young kaiser's feet." "Grow your cabbage in Friedrichsruh and look after your health." "God knows you have done enough for immortality." "For immortality, yes, but not for Germany." "I can't just relinquish the Reich to the young man to use as a plaything." "Count Eulenburg." "Please forgive the late hour, Highness." "I am inconsolable, Princess." "Good evening, Herbert." "I'm just coming from the castle." "Doctor." "Majesty is aghast at the election results." "Now he's aghast!" "The ghosts he roused, he won't get rid of so fast." "Majesty is begging you to meet with him immediately, Highness." "I can't turn around the election results." "Majesty doesn't know how he will pass his military bill with this Reichstag." "And he's strongly counting on your help, Highness." "Pfft, my help?" "Now the kaiser suddenly needs my help!" "Only your authority, Highness, can sway this Reichtag to make wise decisions." "The kaiser has done everything to undermine my authority!" "It's all over town that I'm a disgrace!" "And now I'm supposed to advocate the kaiser's wishes in front of the Reichstag?" "Fine, tell the kaiser I'm coming." "But I'm only coming to get full powers for myself." "Unlimited powers." "If the kaiser needs me, then he'll have to stand behind me thoroughly." "Have you heard?" "The kaiser and Bismarck have reconciled again." "Bismarck has full powers." "Naturally." "What did you think?" "But it's terrible!" "Will we never be rid of the old man?" "Well, you are of course the first one he's going to throw out." "Appalling." "I wouldn't put it past him." "There was dreadful shouting up there." "Did you really think you could topple a Bismarck with your little scheme?" "For that you need sharper weapons, Excellency." "I hope you're still on my side, Privy Councillor." "You're interpreting that wrong." "At most, you could be on my side." "But I don't need feeble allies." "I am fine by myself." "So you're going to continue to fight against him?" "I don't understand you." "I hadn't even started yet." "Did you hear?" "The kaiser and Bismarck?" "I'm the first to hear developments." "Oh, you're here again?" "Yes, I am here, too!" "And I'm staying here, too!" "I won't let anyone throw me out!" "I'm going to the kaiser!" "Holstein?" "Yes, Highness, go ahead." "The cabinet order from September 7, 1852." "Yes, I shall have it found right away." "Absolutely, Highness, you're welcome." "Well then, that's a brilliant chess move." "Bismarck is having a cabinet order from the year 1852 fetched, copied six times, and delivered to various ministers today." "What does it contain?" "The cabinet order forbids the ministers to communicate directly with the kaiser, Mr. von Bötticher." "Now look at that, you aren't even allowed to go to the castle anymore." "The carriage for my father." "He's going to the Reichstag." "The people are tired of Prince Bismarck's dictatorship!" "He wants to embroil us in new wars." "Wars that will be conducted for the glory of Mr. von Bismarck, who might be proud to bear the sad sobriquet, "The Iron Chancellor"." "To that end, he needs ever more soldiers and ever more cannons!" "We should not hand over our last pennies for new taxes, merely for glory, or for the profit of country squires and chimney barons!" "Therefore I declare, in the name of my Social Democrat friends, that we, loyal to the pacifist policy of our international brotherhood, reject the military loans." "Bismarck is responding." "Bismarck is responding to the Socies." "That Member of Parliament Bebel rejects the military loans is neither meaningful to me, nor interesting." "In the quarter-century I have been standing in this place," "I have never once heard an assent from the left side of this house." "Despite this, the gentlemen are of the mind that for everything the government has accomplished over these years, it owes thanks to the German Reichstag." "Quite right." "It does." "I'm glad you agree, Mr. Singer." "Following your logic, gentlemen of the left, you, with your constant refusal of needed resources for the army, have achieved the greatest military results." "With this method, we liberated Schleswig-Holstein in 1864, won the 1866 battle at Königgrätz, and in the year 1870, defeated France." "Thus, even today I hope that your refusal to allow necessary military loans will result in the formation of a strong German army." "We achieved great successes with the last election, gentlemen." "But with what?" "In your stump speeches, you explained to the people that the state demands far too much money from the people." "It can make do with considerably less." "Now, everyone likes to hear such a thing, because paying taxes isn't one of the comforts of life." "And so the voters applaud him and say, "This gentleman speaks well"." ""We want to give him our vote."" "And thus a party is born, and the whole thing is called The Opposition." "Gentlemen like you exist in other countries, too, but, while they are bellowing out their phrases, they get along mutually with the blink of an eye that indicates they don't mean it maliciously." "Only our upright Germans allow these deceivers to put knives in their hands, in order to run amuck against their own state." "Boo!" "Such a party, that is prepared to attack its own homeland," "I will fight with everything I have at my disposal." "Medieval methods!" "You shouted something about "medieval" at me." "Absolutely!" "In medieval times, he who didn't want to protect the state, had to vanish from this state." "In the old German Reich it was called, "acht und bann" (to be outlawed)." "That's a tough admonition, for which we are too softhearted in this day and age." "But I am not!" "A sublime victory." "A real Bismarck day." "The kaiser will be happy." "He'll get his regiments, and a reconciliation with the prince, to boot." "Uh, do you really think so?" "Of course, the kaiser will be grateful to Bismarck." "Grateful?" "Monarchs are never grateful." "The kaiser will never forgive Bismarck that he had to beg him for help." "You always reckon only with the dark side of one's character." "You're absolutely right, but it has thus far always proven true." "Dear Eulenburg, please read this." "What do you think of it?" ""The Judge from Kiev"?" "Troop movements?" ""Report About Movements of Russian Troops on the Austrian Border."" "Austrian border?" "That sounds very threatening." "Oh, I see." "This is ages old." "I presented this important report to Bismarck back in the day." "I received explicit instructions not to pass it along, but rather to keep these important facts from the kaiser." "Intercept?" "Well, the chancellor will have had his reasons; surely very serious reasons." "Mmm, of course, of course." "The wish to keep the kaiser in the dark about the real political processes, in order to remain indispensible." "I don't believe that." "I will keep faith in the chancellor." "But my dear Eulenburg..." "And betray the kaiser?" "The schism between the two men is irreparable." "What to you hope to gain with this discussion anyway?" "I would like you to show the kaiser the reports from Kiev." "What an unreasonable demand!" "How can you ask me to be an informer?" "If you want a career in politics, you'll have to shake off the primitive sense of honour of the Prussian guardsman." "I'm not getting embroiled in this soiled affair." "As you wish." "I advise you to look for another career." "I'm indifferent to my diplomatic career." "And your friendship with the kaiser?" "Is my private business." "I will certainly inform the kaiser of the chancellor's methods." "I can't stop you." "I will also enlighten His Majesty that Count Eulenburg, his best friend, refused to warn him of threatening perils." "That is an outrage!" "It's..." "Politics." "I always assumed that your friendship with Majesty is honest." "The kaiser is my whole purpose in life." "Which you will now have to renounce." "If you can't decide:" "Bismarck or the kaiser." "Given my relationship to the Bismarcks, you should have spared me this plight." "To the contrary, I require your definitive decision!" "I have to contemplate this difficult situation most thoroughly." "I'm very sorry, but I can't involve myself in that." "His Majesty will be your hunting guest in Liebenburg." "An extraordinary proof of friendship!" "Too bad." "The kaiser will send you a cancellation." "I could... maybe... decide..." "If I were to, while studying the reports..." "Yes, of course..." "Get the impression that... the chancellor... made a conscious..." "That's redundant." "I understand nothing of foreign policy." "It is your duty to inform the kaiser that Bismarck has been knowingly withholding vital foreign policy circumstances from him." "I will bring even this sacrifice of friendship to my kaiser." "CABINET OF HIS MAJESTY THE KAISER AND KINGS." "Send it back to the foreign bureau immediately." "This exposed, Majesty?" "Yes, exposed!" "They should finally see that I'm here too!" ""Why didn't I receive these reports right away?"" ""You should have made me aware of the terribly threatening danger right away."" ""It is high time we warned the Austrians and to effect countermeasures."" ""The reports are first-rate." "Wilhelm I.R."" "My word!" "What do you say to that?" "To whom is that?" "To the boss!" "Did this note go through the foreign bureau open like this?" "Yes." "Open, so that everyone could read it!" "Yes." "Do you not grasp what this means?" "!" "The kaiser accuses my father of complete incompetence in the state office, and this goes fully exposed through all bureaus?" "!" "It was sent here open by His Majesty." "I can't even show this to my father." "That is, I must show it to him right away, but I don't know how I can inflict it on him." "How did these damned reports even get into the hands of the kaiser?" "I have no idea." "Maybe via the head of the general staff." "Thank you." "Mom, the kaiser's coming!" "Mom, the kaiser's coming!" "The kaiser!" "Goodness gracious, and it's only 8:30!" "And the boss is still sleeping!" "Good morning, Herbert." "Good morning, Majesty." "Highness." "Highness, get up, the kaiser!" "Oh, what is it?" "Highness, His Majesty is here." "Confide in me, dear Herbert." "Sorry, Majesty?" "How is your father's health really?" "Exceptional, thank God." "Really?" "I'm glad." "You see, I was told..." "His insomnia..." "Briefly..." "He took refuge in morphine." "I'm sorry, Majesty, but I don't believe I heard you right." "Morphine?" "Yes." "That's what I was told." "It would be pointless to ask who this anonymous informant is." "It could well be guessed." "But I can ensure Majesty..." "Do you know for sure?" "Morphine is a palliative..." "I will call Dr. Schwenninger, Majesty!" "As you wish." "It's an affront, a lack of consideration!" "The old kaiser didn't treat you like this, but this callow whippersnapper..." "Please, Johanna, don't insult Majesty." "You're not young enough anymore to handle the years in the penitentiary that would result." "I don't give a damn!" "I'll go over and tell him that you are unavailable to be seen at this time." "Please, don't make it any worse than it is." "Even this will blow over." "Has Your Majesty ever seen a 75-year-old morphine addict who could break several of our bones with his arms?" "He has not yet tried it with me." "I can ensure Your Majesty that these rumours are mischief." "Vicious mischief!" "It's a huge disgrace." "There, there, dear Professor." "Majesty." "I'm very sorry to come at such an inopportune time, dear Prince." "My sovereign has the right to rely on my service day or night." "I suppose I can leave, Your Majesty?" "As far as I'm concerned, you need not." "But your father seems to wish so." "Does Your Majesty have a specific reason for this early visit?" "Certainly." "Russia." "The reports from my consul in Kiev." "Majesty has accused me of treason in an open note, available to all of my bureaus." "Majesty expressed that I am knowingly concealing critical foreign-policy circumstances." "I have to insist that reports of such severe impact be submitted to me." "The reports from the Kiev consul are completely insignificant and the general staff has known about them for ages!" "But I'm not a child anymore!" "I would like to have an idea of the situation myself!" "Ultimately, I bear the charge from God." "Well, I cannot relieve Your Majesty of that responsibility, but I carry the charge of the Reich!" "Nonetheless, it's still my Reich." "Yes, Majesty, it is your Reich, but for how much longer?" "If you carry on destroying what I have built over decades against a thousand obstacles, you will rent the Reich asunder!" "But I won't let my life's work be smashed to pieces!" "I won't let the name Bismarck be rendered laughable by history!" "The Hohenzollern Dynasty is the one still sitting on the throne." "And not the Bismarck Dynasty." "When the Hohenzollerns were still castle counts in Nuremberg, the Bismarcks were already ancient nobility in Märkisch." "For their country, they voluntarily served the electoral prince of Brandenburg." "And when a member of the Hohenzollern Dynasty wanted to abdicate the throne of his ancestors, to avoid a battle with the parties " "That was in the year 1862, Majesty!" "It was a Bismarck who grasped the king by the lanyard and reminded him of his duties as a Prussian officer." "I don't need to be reminded of my obligations." "But I didn't get you out of bed at this for-you-unusual hour to get a history lesson from you." "I have decided to take the handling of Russia into my own hands." "In which form, Majesty?" "I have declared my intention to attend the tsar's hunting party." "My personal influence will get things on the right track again." "I see." "Well..." "I don't know if I would advise Your Majesty to make such a visit." "Do you have new intelligence?" "Not really new, but a report to the Hatzfeld embassy includes remarks that the tsar made about Your Majesty during his visit to London." "Why didn't I get that report?" "The report was not to show Your Majesty, because the tsar's remarks could offend." "Please read it to me." "That's totally impossible, Majesty." "I wouldn't dare." "Give it to me." ""...about Kaiser Wilhelm, 'a crackpot, a poorly brought-up young man'"" "And you want to negotiate treaties with such a man?" "The mindset of the tsar is regrettable." "But one cannot overestimate things that are uttered on impulse." "I am expecting Count Schuwalow today, and hope to finally execute the extension of the secret Reinsurance Treaty." "You believe in the value of this treaty, despite such remarks?" "Absolutely, because in politics interests are stronger than feelings." "Is it true that you have forbidden my ministers direct communication with me?" "While relying on a yellowed order from 1852, which not a soul knows anymore?" "Yes." "Without this order, it's impossible for me to bear the responsibility for the overall policy of this government." "And I'm not even allowed the right to deal with my ministers?" "No, Majesty." "The ministers don't have the right to address Your Majesty about things, about which they have no knowledge." "At any time, Your Majesty can decide in favour of the ministers and against me, the chancellor." "It remains Your Majesty's utmost right to appoint or dismiss the chancellor of the German Reich." "Nevertheless, I demand the repeal of the cabinet order." "I regret to not be able to fulfill the wish of Your Majesty." "Not even when your sovereign commands it?" "Not even then." "I hope you reconsider." "He's coming!" "Mom, the kaiser's coming!" "The kaiser was trembling with discomposure." "The state of milord cut me to the core!" "His Majesty depicted the terrible performance with moving words." "During the whole discussion he had his hand at his sword!" "He was afraid the chancellor would throw the inkpot at his head!" "For my part, I wish he had done it." "For God's sake!" "The sanctified person who is His Majesty!" "Then the split would at least have been final." "It is final." "Unless the world literally collapses." "Yes, unless." "I need to talk to you, Mr. von Holstein." "By all means, State Secretary." "Er, then I won't disturb..." "You can stay." "I would like an explanation." "The kaiser wasn't informed by the general staff." "I'll ask one more time, who gave him the reports from Kiev?" "No one." "Majesty took them himself." "What does that mean?" "I'd like a more precise disclosure." "During one of his visits, the kaiser wanted to honour me with a discussion." "I was absent-minded." "The reports happened to be lying on my table." "Coincidentally." "Right, and who was supervising the kaiser?" "Count Eulenburg." "If I'm properly informed, His Majesty stepped into this room and went straight for the work desk." "Don't think you can hide behind coincidences." "I will get clarification and take the appropriate actions." "You should know the Bismarck family well enough to know..." "Is Your Excellence speaking officially?" "Yes!" "And, as your superior, I forbid you to issue any file without my permission!" "This directive concerns His Majesty also." "I will refer to your order as the circumstances require, Excellency." "However, that it has practical value..." "Watch yourself." "You seem to be deeming me a dead man far too early." "His Majesty's general adjutant is just pulling up, Excellency." "I assume the visit concerns your father." "If Count Schuwalow gets in touch, my father wants to speak to him right away, and, moreover, before he has contact with other people." "His Majesty the Tsar has instructed his embassy only to negotiate with my father." "The treaty with Russia stands and falls with that requirement." "Perhaps that will give you pause, Privy Councillor." "For heaven's sake!" "And without this treaty, we're history." "Our entire foreign policy rested on this treaty with Russia." "Do you really think the tsar will only negotiate with Bismarck?" "Perhaps not, Herbert Bismarck!" "Perhaps the tsar will negotiate with the successor." "Out of the question." "You know how the tsar hates the kaiser." "He believes exclusively in Bismarck." "The treaty would not have come into existence with anyone else." "Well, then the prince has to stay." "And we are a lost cause." "Then we are a lost cause." "Please don't mistake me with you!" "We will not finalize the Reinsurance Treaty!" "What?" "Eulenburg has to change the kaiser's mind." "That can't be possible!" "Bötticher, get me Eulenburg." "He has to get into his office." "Move it, move it!" "Yeah." "Go!" "I'm here on orders of His Majesty." "I would like you, Highness, to consider that my duty does nothing to change my deep respect and esteem for you." "Please have a seat, Mr. von Hahnke." "His Majesty would like to know if Your Highness is prepared to reverse the cabinet order from the year 1852?" "No." "If I may permit myself a personal word, Highness..." "It is not possible to come to a concession with His Majesty." "I would be happy to be allowed to facilitate a settlement." "My dear Mr. von Hahnke, you cannot overlook the importance of this question." "Without this cabinet order, I have ceased to be the Reich chancellor." "I'm not hired help, Mr. von Hahnke." "But you're a soldier like me, Highness." "I have orders for you to follow His Majesty's commands." "On this matter, I refuse to take commands." "Then I must urge Your Highness to promptly hand in your resignation." "And at 2:00, show up at His Majesty's to personally accept your dismissal." "Please allow me to say to you, Your Highness..." "That I personally deeply regret it." "Tell His Majesty I will not be coming." "I will write." "The resignation?" "Yes." "That is iniquitous!" "That's unbelievable!" "It's..." "Silence." "We will have plenty of time to hate and condemn in Friedrichsruh." "Right now, I have more important things to do." "Schuwalow." "The treaty must be signed at all costs!" "Do you understand?" "Otherwise I will not find another peaceful moment in my life." "You can't let him slip away." "It has to happen." "It's imperative!" "The Russian ambassador is in Berlin." "The renewal of the treaty through Bismarck is imminent." "Tell your kaiser friend that he must continue to play Bismarck's game for the next six years." "That he, under no circumstances, at no time, will ever have a will of his own if he doesn't immediately begin a new German politics." "Privy Councillor, I thank you." "Dear friend, go to the kaiser, persuade him." "The Russian ambassador will be here in an hour." "Thank you, Privy Councillor." "Mr. von Engrad." "Privy Councillor?" "When the Russian ambassador comes, bring him to me right away, without a detour." "Yes, Privy Councillor." "No, no, inform the concierge!" "The entire treaty is a typical Bismarckian double-cross." "Unclear, devious, un-German." "And because of the unreliability of the tsar, extremely dangerous." "I will decide later." "The generals are waiting." "But it cannot abide a delay, Majesty." "If you insist." "Reject it." "I want to steer an open, clear course." "This Bismarckian "Juggler" politics is not in my nature anyway." "Holstein should teach the Russians gently." "It was an unavoidable decision for whoever decided to dismiss Prince Bismarck." "The holy rights of the Crown must be retained." "As successor to Prince Bismarck, and the second chancellor of the German Reich," "I have appointed the commanding general of the 10th army corps in Hannover," "General von Caprivi." "My sincere wishes for a successful chancellorship, Excellency." "I have openly submitted to Your Majesty for your consideration my qualms." "Whether I, with my dearth of political experience..." "Don't worry, Caprivi." "You'll get your instructions from me." "From now on, I shall assume the political leadership of the Reich." "My Excellency, the Russian ambassador." "Count Schuwalow, I have summoned you to..." "I am to deal only with His Highness, the Reich chancellor." "I have been instructed to inform you that the Reich chancellor just... signed his resignation papers." "That..." "That is something not a soul in all of Europe expected." "Nevertheless, I have to advise you that His Majesty, the tsar, still takes into account the wishes of the Reich chancellor." "I am authorized to finalize the Reinforcement Treaty, even with the successor of His Highness." "Um, you are authorized to finalize the treaty with the successor of Prince Bismarck." "An exceptional accommodation to" "His Majesty from the tsar." "Yes, um..." "I regret to inform you that, after the modified conditions..." "Sorry?" "How am I to understand this?" "His Majesty, the kaiser, has reached the conclusion..." "And?" "That it is better for both parties to not renew the treaty." "I have to admit that this sudden change in course... astonishes me." "You yourself, Privy Councillor, have always stressed the importance of this treaty." "Yes, Excellency, but changes of personnel foster important changes in the direction of politics." "I deplore that." "Yes, yes." "Naturally." "Don't you want to have a seat, Excellency?" "I would be happy to... explain the deeper motives behind the decisions of the foreign bureau." "Thank you, but I have other important proceedings to attend." "Good day, Mr. Schuwalow." "To the French embassy." "His Majesty's chief of cabinet." "Mr. von Lucanus." ""The Bird of the Dead."" "Pardon the late hour, Highness." "What would you like, Mr. von Lucanus?" "His Majesty instructed me to ask Your Highness why the requested farewell visit hasn't occurred yet." "The kaiser can dismiss me anytime." "I'm a public servant." "And ready to receive my lowbrow farewell at any time." "His Majesty is waiting." "I won't presume to take the responsibility for my resignation away from His Majesty." "After all these 28 years in office, which hasn't been without influence on the great Prussianness of this Reich," "I will take the time I need to formulate my resignation so the responsibility in the face of history is made clear once and for all." "His Majesty would hardly consent to a publication of your resignation letter." "I refuse to negotiate with you about it." "But His Majesty is willing to combine the departure of Your Highness with a visible demonstration of the utmost grace." "His Majesty will deliver to Your Highness a meaningful endowment." "A gift?" "Does he want to pay me off with a bonus, like a worn-out bookkeeper?" "Your Highness is misunderstanding His Majesty's intention." "Your Highness will receive the title, Duke of Lauenburg." "Duke of Lauenburg." "Tell the kaiser my name is Bismarck!" "This name has been good enough until today, and will be in the future, too!" "And, has Lucanus returned?" "No, Majesty, still no news." "This waiting!" "I beg you, Eulenburg, play something; sing something." "It's unbearable." "I have a hard time doing it, Majesty." "But if I beg you." "Something of yours." "An Old Norse song." "The one about Hochkant." ""I can only ride into battle merrily, if you trot at the right times." "And just wait joyously, the drink will come swaying, when your songs ring in the saloon,"" "said Hochkant." "Through the forests, my steed lets itself be steered." "I have to remember your bright forehead." "And all the treetops, they rustle deeply." "Of your friendship, the old songs." "The resignation is here." "Please keep playing." "And as they playfully rode to the forest, the loyal girl just rode in the middle." "Between Hochkant and Harald." "Good evening, Privy Councillor." "What time is it?" "4:30, Privy Councillor." "Stay, Holstein." "Forgive me, but I didn't expect to find your door open." "But you know, when one manages to get a dead man out of the house, doors and windows have a habit of staying open." "However, at least it's not my funeral cortege that is standing down there, but rather the furniture carriages of my successor, Mr. von Caprivi." "I am being evicted, like a tenant who can't pay his rent." "What are you doing here?" "Does the perpetrator have an urge to visit the scene of his crime?" "Please assume I came to tell you that I deeply lament the methods of the kaiser." "Because you didn't become my successor?" "I never made efforts to become your successor." "No, because you dread light." "You want to anonymously lord over the devious appointment of Caprivi, who knows nothing about politics." "You have accomplished it." "You have now become indispensible, and need not shoulder any responsibility." "Of that I am accusing you." "In politics, only he who is prepared to put himself and his whole life at stake daily, hourly, is allowed to reach power." "But you are too cowardly for that." "Every person has a destiny." "Wrong!" "Every person has his character, and his character is his destiny." "I despise you, Holstein!" "You sacrificed the interests of the Reich, of your homeland, to satisfy you hunger for power, which you disguise like an affliction." "Because, after all, you are not dumb." "You know that we are threatened with war on two fronts." "The kaiser doesn't know any better." "Like a child, he plays with people and crowns, and pins the blame on dear God." "But you... are a traitor!" "Get out of here!" "20 years ago, I stood there." "And now..." "Where do I stand now?" "But where I stand today is no longer critical." "Because what will outlive me is the Reich." "My Reich." "Germany!" "Yes." "My work is done." "It was just a beginning." "Who will complete it?" "Subtitles by BobbyFletcher/Radial/ Oliver L. for KG and SMz."