"LUDWIG II" "colour by technicolor" "13th June 1 886" "Ludwig!" "I'm coming." "Your Majesty, what's wrong?" " I fear Her Majesty is unwell." "We should return to Vienna." "I dreamed something terrible." " What did you see?" "Ludwig came overthe lake." "He strode over the waves, his coat flapping." "The Georgi knight?" " He kept calling my name." "I wanted to answer and grab him, but I couldn't." "It was as though we were separated by glass, and then... before my eyes, he sank into the depths." "They're coming!" "Louis and karl Theodor are carrying him." "Where's Ludwig?" "Where is the King?" "King Ludwig of Bavaria is dead." "No!" "No..." "He and and Dr Gudden..." "...drowned in Lake Starnberg." "It was all so sudden!" " Dr Gudden murdered him." "Bismarck did it." " No one murdered him." "He was just too good for these times." "Why are they playing Beethoven, and not Wagner, whom he so admired?" "He'd become like Wagner, his deranged music..." "It was all so sudden." " How could they let it happen?" "You're right." "I've always said:" "God's wrath shall faII upon us all." "How old is the King?" "20?" " 20 or 25, he won't marry you!" "But girls, you're not allowed to climb through the King's chamber window!" "He's coming!" "The Minister requests that Your Majesty conduct himself with utmost caution in the coming discussion with the Austrian emperor." "The Minister recommends using only such words and phrases which could remain open to later interpretation by the Ministers." "Herr von Pfistermeister, I will say exactly what I think." "Very good, Your Highness." " Thank you." "will we see the Empress now?" "Yes, Their Majesties are at the spa." " Yes." "The Empress bit me here once, when we were children." "I will make sure that it doesn't happen again." "God, what a wild girl Sissi was!" "Back then, when she wanted to jump from the Isar Bridge on her horse!" "You remember?" "You were there too." " No." " No?" "And I told her:" ""Sissi, when we marry, you may only ride upon a donkey."" "It's good that you didn't marry her." "No further, please." "excellent, absolutely excellent!" "Thank you." "Here comes Ludwig." "Since you didn't come to my inn, I'm coming to your spring." "I hope it agrees with you, Franz." "It's devilish stuff." "Good day." "I'm glad that you came." "Good day, Sissi." "What a beautiful day it is!" " Yes." "truly magnificent." "hello, Your Majesty." "hello, Sophie." " Forgive me." "For what?" "Oh, of course you may address your cousin informally." "Or should we drink a toast first?" " But not with that!" "I've had breakfast set out in the hall, so that Franz can drink a glass of champagne as a cure." "shall we?" "You must say something." "Otherwise they'II think we've argued." "But I can't say anything, Sissi." " Have I changed so much?" "I always thought that when we met again..." "We're not meeting again." "I'm seeing you for the first time." "Sophie asked if we'd Iike to take a carriage trip this afternoon." "Oh yes, if you'd Iike." "lovely." "Franz is sweet, isn't he?" "I must speak with him later." "For the first time, I'm to discuss with someone whether there should be peace or war." "It's a strange feeling." " War?" "I don't want to lose everything that's good in politics, and I shall not, the gentlemen can count on that." "Good day." " But you may only tell me that." "I'II tell everyone!" "It's enough to send one mad." "This is for you." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "It must be possible to rule without deception, without lies and betrayal and whatever else the people advise." "In a pure way." " You know, Ludwig..." "Everyone has his destiny." "And everyone must submit to it." "But I'm notjust anyone." "And neither are you." "I sense it." "Do you know Richard Wagner, Sissi?" "He's in Vienna, Iike you." "Richard Wagner?" "Who is he?" " Who is he?" "A composer!" "No, a genius." "A god!" "He writes operas." "No, musical dramas!" "You ask who he is!" "No one since Beethoven was so... bold, so sublime." "I'd Iike to have such people around me in Munich." "They shall be the influential ones." "I'd Iike..." "It may sound rather silly, but I'd Iike to build a kingdom... of muses, you know?" " Yes." "You will be a true ruler, and Bavaria a happy land." "Do everything according to your plan." "It would be wonderful if one of us could finally do that!" "Don't race ahead!" "We can't keep up!" "Excuse me, ladies." "Now I must speak with Ludwig." "alone." "May I, elisabeth?" " Of course, Franz." "Go ahead." "He doesn't notice me." "He doesn't notice me at all, Sissi!" "If we go out for a carriage ride later on... could you not arrange it so that I sit beside Ludwig?" "That won't be so easy." "Etiquette, you know..." "I have no time for wars, Franz." "I've more important things to do." " AII young men believe that." "But you're not an old man!" "I've learned that one must accept the inevitable." "Is it inevitable?" "Franz, is it inevitable?" "If you don't attack?" "That question is rather romantic." "After it's over, it's irrelevant who started it." "Then forgive me, I am a romantic." "To me, it's an important question." "Of course I will not initiate it." "What do you think?" "But Prussia will." " Then the question is superfluous." "An alliance between an emperor and a king... is sacred." " You see, my friend!" "So, we agree on that." "I suspect that this Bismarck fellow will visit you soon." "You'd better not mention the sacredness of the alliance to him." "Rather, you should say to him..." "What's wrong?" "Are you unwell?" " No, Your Majesty." "You look quite feverish." "How long have you been standing here?" " Four hours, Your Majesty." "That's a Iong time." "An armchair, please." "Armchair!" "Put it over there." "Sit down." "And when you're feeling better, you may stand again." "I'm sorry." "I see things more simply." "It's like a law of nature." "Nature allow things to ripen, and assigns us ourtasks." "We must fulfil them, or face our downfall." "German feudaIism has fulfilled its task, and now the German states seek a new form, a new vessel." "And this new vessel is called Germany, the "German Reich"." "And how will it look, your empire, which nature has decreed?" "It will, through progress, catch up with, and even overtake, other nations." "It will build railways and a huge industrial capability." "It will be connected to the world by a mighty shipping fleet." "Its wealth and renown will be given power and longevity by a mighty army." "And happiness..." "Forgive me for interrupting, Your excellency, but in the arsenal of your powerful rhetoric, the word "happiness"" "sounds rather strange." "Happiness is a thing of grace." "please take one." " Thank you, Your Majesty." "please, remain seated." "You see, Herr von Bismarck, I... have been crowned king of an old, beautiful land, whose inhabitants are happy and peaceful." "It is my sacred duty to preserve peace and happiness, and, God willing, to increase it." "Do not consider me an enemy of progress." "Art and culture are the fields in which I wish my people to wage battle." "Such aspirations are also favourable to a unified fatherIand." "My hope is that God grants me a few peaceful years for this." "It is the task of mortals to protect the immortal." "That's why you're building up a mighty army?" "Why do you want war with Austria?" "The Reich can only emerge through a war." "Do you know this music?" "Do you know what it means?" "I don't know, but..." "I sense what it means to you." "farewell, Bismarck." "I admire great men." "I Iove strength." "What great friends we could have been, had nature not given us such divergent tasks!" "I wish you, and us, a pIeasantjourney." "farewell." "I have a request, Your Majesty." "Yes?" "If Your Majesty would grant me the honour," "I'd Iike a portrait of Your Majesty in my study." "Of me?" "A portrait of a true king." "Summon Richard Wagner, Pfistermeister." "Richard Wagner?" "Yes?" "Eckert?" "Why so late?" "Master, I tried my best." " What?" "No money?" " No." "But "Lohengrin" was performed at the Grand Duke's opera!" "You conducted it yourself!" "Thus I am entitled to a share!" "They've taken it as credit." "You signed for something..." "So, they followed me all this way." "I can't pay for my room." "I've no money to travel anywhere." "I'II see what I can put together." "I'm not as young as you." "I've worked and struggled harder than most do in a hundred years." "It was in vain." "I've had enough." "It is no cause for shame for a musician to starve in a world in which Mozart starved, and was buried in a pauper's grave." " You will not starve!" "You have friends." "Not only here." "They're waiting for 'Die Meistersinger'..." "Who?" "Who is waiting?" "How many?" "Ten people?" "Or twenty?" "Here: "Tristan"." "Rejected just before its performance In Vienna." "And here: the "Ring der NibeIungen"." "I broke it off myself, because no one would perform it." "No, Eckert." "I shall write no more musical dramas." "A requiem, perhaps." "To German art." "Someone wants to talk with you." "It must be someone from Vienna." "help me, loyal Eckert!" "tell him that I have no money and..." "I am..." "I come at the request of His Majesty, King of Bavaria." "His Majesty sends you this ring, and his greetings." "He requests that you visit him." "What does the King want from me?" "Oh..." "I don't know." "He's expecting you." " Master..." "The young king is merely seeking a court musician." "But not a failed genius, seeking only a quiet place to die." "Nothing else." "shall I report that you will not be coming?" " Master!" "I'II come." "It may be unusual for a visitor to have the first word, but I must warn you of myself." "I don't make jolly entertainment for an evening celebration." "Misfortune clings to me." "My existence has reached a point where I am as fragile as glass." "I already have a crack." "One wrong word, and you'II have shards in your hand." "And bloody fingers." "Brother, here you will be free of the wretchedness of daily life." "The nights will shine." "The... finest artists in Europe will perform your works." "And I will stand before you." "And I will be the one who is endowed." "I welcome you." ""Descend, O night of love, Grant oblivion, that I may live." "Take me up into your bosom, release me from the world."" "But IsoIde is unattainable for Tristan." "She is promised to King Marke, to whom Tristan has sworn loyalty." "But love is more mighty than any other ties." "And what is denied them in life, is granted the lovers in death." "In death..." "When is the performance?" "How are rehearsals going?" "I have hidden it from you until now:" "The rehearsals are agonizing." "also for me." " What do you mean?" "At times I think this music is a monstrosity." "My friend BüIow believes it could send a person mad." "It has nothing in common with Mozart and Beethoven." "This music is a narcotic." "A poison which unties all bonds." "Oh yes, but it sets us free." "Free, and takes us to the loftiest heights." "Or into the darkest depths." "I sometimes fear myself." "But do you know..." "of a sea without horror, Wagner?" "If we want greatness, we must not be afraid... of depths, of heights, of insanity." "When is the performance, Wagner?" "I am happy, for the first time!" "I will invite the Austrian Emperor and... and the Empress." "The Empress..." "I'd Iike to be alone." "Away from the crowd." "Let's ride back to Berg castle, Sissi." "Yes." "It's the end of the path." " No, it's the beginning." "I often stand here." "I've no idea why." "I Iove it." "It is so peaceful." "Over there is Rose island." "And our childhood." "Why did you marry him?" "I was sixteen, Ludwig." "And no one told me that I'd one day be a woman, that I'd one day discover what music is, and... and a night sky, and a human being." " That's us." "Those two clouds." "close together, and yet so far apart." "Drifting towards one another." "And there's a boat." "shall we steal it, Iike we used to back then?" "shall we break the glass that separates us?" "And leave everything behind?" "We're not Iike everyone else, Ludwig." "You said so yourself." "Don't forget what you intended to do!" "You summoned Wagner." "Today was your first success." "You will maintain peace." "You will show us that one becomes human and a king only when one does good and remains pure." "No." "I'm not unhappy, Ludwig." "And neither should you be." "Through you I've learned how to laugh and cry." "And, whatever I do, I'II always be with you." "In my thoughts." "In thought..." "In the clouds." "Don't be angry that I didn't attend your opera yesterday." "But I had to do something else in the evening." "It was difficult, but now we are ready." "Let there be war, if that's what Bismarck wants." "gentlemen." "Thank you, Ludwig." "farewell." "farewell, Franz." "In thought." " In the clouds." "That isn't merely a theatre." "It is..." "It is a monument!" "And I know where it will stand." "On the banks of the River Isar." "Do you know where I mean?" "Surrounded by the most beautiful gardens in Germany." "Wagner, are you pleased?" " I'm afraid." "I know that feeling." "Stage fright before the unfamiliar." "But now, after the triumph of "Tristan"..." "I will be accused of exploiting you." "Of making you poor." "Have you heard what this concert hall will cost?" "Six million, they say." " I can't take responsibility for this." "For a year it's been like this." "plies of expenses for Wagner." "Here: 1 8,000 guiIders. 40,000 guiIders." "200,000, masked as a Ioan." "30,000 for rights to works that haven't yet been written." ""ParsifaI"." "What is that all about?" "I have more bills here for the court treasury." "Singers, conductors, French damask for his house..." "It'II cause a public scandal." " They already sing in mockery about him and the King." "In the taverns." "awful!" "This music is awful!" "Pfistermeister, please make Herr Wagner a payment." "He'II tell you how much." " 30,000." "What's the meaning of this?" " Your money." "The guiIders." "But that's absurd!" "I want my money in notes." "Pfistermeister instructed us to make the payment like this." "This is pure deviIry!" "What an outrageous affront!" "Return the sacks." "I'II be back!" "You must take them." "It's already debited." "I can't ride through the city with all that!" "Isn't that Wagner?" " Of course." "It's Wagner!" "Now he can make some more tunes!" "He's Ludwig's very own LoIa Montez." "Herr Wagner, with all that money you can sing for us!" "My God, what's the meaning of this, Richard?" "They want to humiliate me!" "They want to ridicule me!" "But I shall crush these creatures." "These envious fools." "Pfistermeister and HohenfeIs." "The entire administration!" "These underIings shall cower before me!" "I shall strike them with their own inferior means." "Through political means." " No!" "Consider your reputation!" "No, not in my name, Cosima." "As "AIberichs Indisguise"." "please, write!" "We consider it our duty, as people of Bavaria, to warn of a certain seIf-serving clique in the King's innermost circle." "The entire country..." "The entire country..." "gentlemen, one day, the entire country will be grateful when the world makes pilgrimage to Wagner's works." "You say 6 million." "You are fully aware that a war will cost at Ieast 50 million!" "Without the ministry and officials batting an eyelid." "The concert hall costs 6 million!" "It is not only about the issue, but about the person involved!" "Herr Wagner's lifestyle and conduct are an affront." " Every Bavarian city has sent a representative." "The hall is filled with people." "We are duty-bound to show Your Majesty these two documents." "A letter about Wagner's private life, and the true nature of his relationship with Cosima von BüIow, his friend's wife." "Pfistermeister, I have publicly vouched that these rumours are lies." "Does that suffice?" "I ask that Your Majesty read this letter." "And this article from the "Munich News", which Wagner wrote under a pseudonym." " In it, he attempts to ridicule Your Majesty's most trusted ministers, and calls for their downfall." "Your Majesty is squandering his favours on an unworthy man." "Thank you." "Richard, the King!" " finally!" "He has come!" "This is my salvation." "I knew it, Cosima." "ParsifaI doesn't abandon his grail." "No, please stay, my beloved!" "But you told him that we are not..." "My King!" "You have saved my Iife a second time." "But let us not talk of that, it is insignificant, but... that you, the King, stand by me..." "I can only show you my gratitude in my works." ""ParsifaI", my crowning work, is in progress." "And you, my King, were my inspiration." "And it shall tell the whole world of you, in the most pure, mysterious tones, which are, as you are:" "not of this world." "When a knight of the grail loses his honour, Wagner..." "What?" "What is your relationship to the wife of your best friend?" "What is your relationship to Cosima von BüIow?" "As I have said, this web of defamatory lies..." "No, I cannot deny it." "Condemn me." "I Iove Cosima." "And I will make her my wife." "I have found a fellow soul, after an eternity of suffering." "And you have also written anonymous articles about my ministers?" "Yes." "Then I ask you to leave my land, this very day." "You have always shown me goodness and love." "What you have just said... can't be true." "What about the concert hall?" "And the "Ring der NibeIungen"?" "And "ParsifaI"?" "Your works as much as mine." "Your works shall survive, Wagner." "But you will not, nor I." "I don't know how I shall bear this, but..." "I cannot keep you any longer." "Go." "Then..." "Then..." "Then, Your Majesty, my respects to dwarves and ghouls!" "My reverence to adders and snakes, who managed to make a king be unfaithful to himself." "I do not wish to stay a minute longer." "Cosima!" "We're leaving!" "We must pack!" "We'II go to SwitzIerIand, where there are no monarchs." " No, Richard!" "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but Count HoInstein insists..." "The cabinet asks Your Majesty to return to his residence." "Bismarck has marched on Saxony." "It's war." "MOBILIZATION ORDER" "Von der Tann, do you remember... as you stood in the hall many years ago." "I was about six, I slid down the banister, and fell directly at your feet." "Do you remember?" "You picked me up." "You were afraid for me, and I sensed your love for me." "You have all, at some point, shown affection for me." "Now I need you." "I do not want to sign." "We have no choice, Your Majesty." "Bismarck has begun and will not stop at Bavaria's border." "Even if we remain neutral." "We have to go to war." "We are compelled, Your Majesty." "I see no other way." "Max, the carriage." "We're returning to Berg castle." "Your Majesty should remain in his residence for a few days." "It is expected that Your Majesty address the departing troops." "Do you want me to do that?" "shall I say:" ""soldiers, you shall go to war, you will shoot your brothers down because destiny commands it." "Destiny, and a few gentlemen... on each side." "They didn't do it the easy way." "They have negotiated conditions and drafted contracts." "And these hands signed them." "Now you're taken from your farms in Bavaria and Prussia, and I, the King, shall say:" "'Show your brothers no mercy, they are the enemy!" "'" "Your enemy... your brothers." "May death be swift forthose who are destined to die." "May they forgive me, if they can."" "shall I say that?" "Then send for me." "1866" "KÖNIGGRÄTZ" "Come!" "Come!" "No need to be afraid." "It's just a storm in the mountains." "The war is over." "Yes." "Some believe they've won, others believe they've lost." "The carousel keeps turning, round and round." "A lovely creature." "So trusting!" "It probably knows that Your Majesty is not a hunter." "Max, offerthe gentlemen something." " gentlemen?" "We're in a great hurry." "The courier must report back to the peace negotiations today." "Strange, Pfistermeister." "actually... the people who negotiate war should not negotiate peace." "Something is amiss." "well, it's how it is." "So, what was it now?" "ReIinqishes..." "Bismarck has relinquished something?" "Ah, the territorial division." " Yes." "But only if we join a security alliance with Prussia." "We must consider this offer, under the given circumstances, a generous one." "It will strengthen our position." "Bavaria on the side of Prussia..." "It would take many words to describe the future benefits." "I know the benefits, HohenfeIs." "blood and iron, and our land as a province." " We'II demand, of course, that Bavaria maintains its independence." "As far as possible." "And... what steps may we take now?" "Whatever you want, Pfistermeister." "The victor is Otto von Bismarck." "If I may be permitted, Your Majesty, it appears that we may gain something in this defeat." "I may one day remind you of your words." "But you should leave now, gentlemen." "Otherwise darkness will faII and you'II be caught in the storm." "Adieu, Messieurs." "I must speak to you, Ludwig." "Like we used to as cadets." "You cannot carry on like this." "You must not be so unhappy!" "What must I not be?" " You must not be unhappy." "I understand you." "But your unhappiness is spreading over us all." "Over the farmers who talk about you, and the townsfolk who never see you." "They never see you, but they sympathize with you." "They idolize you." "They love you more than you know." "Don't cut yourself off from your people." "Go back to your residence." "There are people there who love you." "And you'II have to marry eventually." "The King's coming?" " HoInstein said so." "Took everyone by surprise." " Mama!" "Mama!" "Ludwig's coming!" " The King?" "Yes!" "Goodness, I'm so unhappy!" " But why?" "My hair looks terrible today." "Is there a mirror here?" "Otto!" "Otto, your brother's coming!" " Then I should ..." " Wait!" "He never notices me." "You could organise it so..." "Yes, I'II do it." " But don't forget!" "His Majesty the King." "Your Majesty, we are very pleased." "And notjust us in this hall." "half of Munich is cheering out there in the garden." "I presented myself to the people." "They were very satisfied." "Such a small gesture." "Oh well." "Otto!" "hello!" "It's been such a Iong time!" "How are you?" "well, thanks." "Except my headaches." "No!" "still?" "Are you getting treatment?" "Two doctors, but you think they find anything?" "You've grown." " I was too young for the war, though." "really?" "well, when the next one comes..." "But I've a diplomatic assignment." " Oh!" "I'm to take you to Sophie." " Sophie?" "Who is that?" "Chère tante." "Dear uncle Max." "hello." "How are you?" " Thank you." "Ah, I missed someone." "hello." "We last met in Kissingen, with the Empress, correct?" " Yes." "And you're Sophie?" "I thought you were still just a little girl!" "Did you tell Otto that I'm to come to you?" "But he shouldn't have told you, the blockhead!" "You..." "You should dance." " should I?" " Yes." "I shall!" "May I have the pleasure?" "When did you last see Sissi?" " I just visited her." "She's become so strange!" "really?" "She's always travelling." "She sometimes comes to Possenhofen, unannounced, and then she talks with Mama the whole night." "I don't think she is very happy with FranzI." "I've not seen the King like this for a Iong time." "An enchanting couple!" "Or don't you think so?" " Of course I do." "I'm just thinking further." "Have you seen the Prussian envoy?" "The King must have a friendly chat with him today." "But I didn't know you..." "The future belongs to Prussia." "And we belong at its side." " Bravo." "I'm sure it'II be in the papers, you opening the ball with me." "We'II dance again shortly, shall we?" "Yes!" "Then it'II be on the front page!" "So silly, such a conversation." "One can't really... hold a proper conversation!" "Come to visit me when you're next at Lake Starnberg." "You come to me." "Come to Hohenschwangau." "Yes!" "Good day, Sophie." "Enchanté, Comtesse." " Your Majesty." "Is this the Hapsburg room?" " Not really." "It's just the Hohenstaufen room, but that doesn't matter." "I always mix up the dynasties!" " Do you Iike it?" "Yes... it's really beautiful." "But?" "Speak the truth, Sophie." "To tell the truth," "I find it ever so slightly depressing." "But the historical character..." " It's not so important to Sophie." "She's right." "It is a little bit depressing." " Yes." "If I may, ladies?" "This is the Authari room." "And our tea is ready." "please take a seat." "So..." "please serve." " I can't sit down yet." "May I see the other rooms first?" "Yes, you may." "Come with me." " You look tired, Madame." "Restez, je vous prie." " please be seated." "This is the GueIph room." " Yes." "The Heroes' hall." "This is the music room." " There's a pianoforte!" "Locked?" "Yes." "Pity." "please." "play!" "Don't play that, Sophie." "please." "What's wrong?" "Ludwig!" "You shouldn't have come." "You can't feel it." "Are you not afraid?" "Why should I be afraid when I'm with you?" "I've wished forthis since I first saw you." "At your father's funeral." "You walked alone in the procession, so alone among the thousands." "Even then I felt that I wanted to help you." "Ludwig, look at me." "Let yourself be helped!" "Again!" "You don't notice me." "I do." "Sophie..." ""His Majesty has become engaged to Princess Sophie, daughter of Duke Max of Bavaria."" "What's the time?" " It's nine-thirty already." "A needle, please." "And hurry, if you would." "How can he collect you so late?" "The opera starts at eight!" "He should know when it starts." "It belongs to him!" "Has he time for such things, with the Prussian Crown Prince visiting?" "I'm more important to him than the war." "My shawl, please!" "I'II give it to you." "tell me, child, is Ludwig not a little too serious at times?" "I don't like joyful men." "I'm cheerful myself." "He sometimes seems a little strange to me." "He... is never strange!" "Why do you say that?" "We have an empress in the family... and she is not happy." "You must not become an unhappy queen." "Mama!" " Yes?" "His Majesty the King." "We're late!" "They're all in already." "They should wait until you've arrived." "Goodness, how they'II stare through their opera glasses!" "Ludwig!" " We'II hear "RheingoId" by Wagner." "No, I won't survive that!" "I'm afraid." "You said you weren't afraid when you're with me." "But now I'm afraid." "Ludwig, please tell me." "Why are you doing this?" "I have to show you how I'II live... if you stay with me." "alone, Sophie, away from people." "You know, I sometimes see a light." " What sort of light?" "Mine." "It leads me." "When people get too close, it goes away." "Then it's gone." "Do you see?" "I Iove you, Ludwig." "Like no one else on this earth." "But I couldn't live like this, so alone." "Without people." "Now it's gone." "I implore you." "Take me home." "please." "Come." "elisabeth!" "You?" " Mama," "Sophie sent me a telegram." "Where is she?" "She's unwell." "She won't speak to me." "What happened?" "I'II go straight to her." "I'II tell you later." "In there?" "Sophie!" "Sophie, what's wrong?" "Oh, Sissi!" "I Iove him so much." "I Iove him." "But why are you crying, my child?" "I... can't become his wife." "I can't." "I can't." " But why not?" "I cannot tell a single person that." "Not even you." "You?" "So suddenly?" "Why?" "Do you want to reproach me?" " I..." "I hear nothing from you in years, no letter..." "I read the papers to find out where you are;" "in italy, in Hungary, in Greece." "I have to get pictures of the places to see where you are." "Where are you?" "Sissi, where are you?" "You..." "Is it my fault?" "Did I forget to ask you to write?" "Did I forget that?" "AII right, I'II write to you." "I just don't know if I'II have time." "This life is one great distraction:" "The receptions and the balls, and countless opening ceremonies." "You wouldn't believe it!" "I often travel for my own pleasure, it's true." "Too often, Franz says." "The secret service has a special department to guard me." "They're afraid of anarchists, but I always manage to shake off the officials." "Then I walk freely among the people." "Nothing happens to me, and I can observe the crowds." "I see theirjoy, their sadness, and..." "Why don't you get along with Sophie?" "Why don't you marry her?" "She is my sister, after all." "We would've been one family." "Then we'd have maybe found peace." "My god..." "elisabeth." "Yes... it's actually much harder for you than for me." "What's become of your plans?" "Wagner has left." "Franz dragged you into a war." "You lost it, and you'II have to fight the next one if napoleon and Bismarck wish it." "Soon we'II only have the memories of your aspirations." "Righteousness, and purity..." "It's hot here." "Yes." "Come!" "How close eternity is..." "look!" "One step." "Light and peace are down there." "No, Ludwig, no." "Come." "No, Ludwig." "Not like this." "We don't need death." "We may live out our unhappiness." "And our happiness." "For it is a greatjoy to know that something remains pure in both our lives." "Even beyond death." "The royal major-domoship announces the engagement of His Majesty to Princess Sophie." "WAR WITH FRANCE" "MARS-LA-TOUR GRAVELOTTE" "VIONVILLE SEDAN" "BISMARCK PROCLAIMS THE GERMAN KAISER REICH" "PROUD PEACE THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE IN MUNICH" "In half an hour, Crown Prince Friedrich will arrive." "To the greatest victory celebration of the century." "Crown Prince Friedrich has led the Bavarian troops to victory." "Your Majesty must receive him at the station!" "absolutely!" "My brother Otto will take care of it." "gentlemen, please send for the Prince directly." "Come, Max." "This affront to Prussia..." " please, leave me alone!" "please go!" "You must receive him!" "He may be emperor tomorrow!" "What's this tone?" "Are you unwell?" "You did not see how we founded the Reich." "In VersaiIIes, in the mirrored hall." "Everyone was there except one." "A king." "Ludwig of Bavaria." "One and a half thousand were gathered." "A sea of people." "You should have heard it." "The organs, the music..." "And then, Iike thunder:" "Hurrah!" "Hurrah!" "And then the silence, as Bismarck spoke." "Wearing his cuirass, shining like silver." "Yes, and then the Emperor wept." "Then another roll of thunder came through the window." "really, it didn't sound like music." ""hall to thee in victor's garlands," "ruler of the fatherland, HaiI, Kaiser thee!" "In the radiance of your throne, May you feel the great glory" "To be beloved of the people..."" "Otto!" "Otto!" "There!" "Canons!" "Otto, that is music!" "It's just music!" " No, it's the canons." "I know them." "It's the Emperor's canons." "They're firing at us!" "You're safe here." "We have to leave the residence." "Come, away from this world!" "HoInstein!" "A doctor!" "What did you find, Dr Gudden?" "I have examined your brother." "It's not good news." "He is suffering from schizophrenia." "What is that?" "It describes a certain group of psychological illnesses." "Manias which..." "The cure..." "How long does it take to cure?" "I fear that the Prince in incurable." "Are the causes inheritabIe?" "We psychiatrists consider it seIf-evident that..." "Your Majesty!" " please continue." "We beg you, Majesty!" " Crown Prince Friedrich is arriving." "We urgently request Your Majesty to prepare for his reception." "would you please close the windows and draw the curtains?" "We understand that Your Majesty is preoccupied with this misfortune." "But the moment demands..." " It would be a scandal!" "An insult to the Prussian Crown Prince." "To our royal family." " HohenfeIs!" "Your Majesty," "I must insist." "Take the gentlemen out, Max." "If I may be frank:" "Private matters are secondary at a time like this." "You have a duty to your people." "By not receiving the Crown Prince, you sever yourself from your people, whose hearts he has already won." "I will not receive the successor to the throne, gentlemen." "Take all necessary steps." "I await your resignation." "Leave the residence, you will never set foot in here again." "I shall not see you again, I hope." ""hall!" "hall!" "hall to thee... in victor's garlands," "ruler of the fatherland!" "hall, Kaiser thee!" "In the radiance of your throne," "May you feel the great glory" "To be beloved of the people!" "hall, Kaiser thee!"" "Look, the new thaIer coin." " Who's face is that?" "It must be the King's." " My God, is that how he looks now?" "He has a beard, and he's fatter." " Looks like it." "Who knows?" "Nobody has seen him in ten, twelve years." "But I've seen him." " Oh?" "Where?" " In the forest." "About eight days ago, at three in the morning." "He came like the wind in his golden carriage, the horsemen up ahead with their burning torches." "I can tell you, it was eerie!" "truly eerie!" "If one only knew..." "If only one knew what was going on!" "I was sure he'd be sitting in his box today." ""Tristan", again after 20 years!" "Where could he be?" " He rides around." "In the mountains." "Yes." "Where he builds his castles." " Where are they, by the way?" "Linderhof is in the forest, hidden away." "Herrenchiemsee is on an island, out on a lake." "And now he wants to start a third." " Somewhere near Füssen." "Neuschwanstein, up on the rocks." "always alone!" " His relatives don't even see him." "He has no contact with anyone." "How can he bear it?" "He only has his servants around him." "Romantic." "He's a romantic." "We don't need a fairy-taIe king." "If he doesn't want to rule, he should abdicate!" " Mama!" "Minister Lutz rules this country." "The whole situation is complicated and delicate." "I have here the cost estimates for a new castle that the King plans to build." " What?" " Yes!" "And the debts for the others are considerable." "If these debts became known, it could be dangerous for you." "parliament would take pleasure in bringing about your downfall." "True." "And I would applaud it, for you, as the chairing minister, shouldn't have let things go so far." "Your method of equivocating..." " No, head groom, my method has worked perfectly well for many years." "What am I supposed to do?" "Considering the popularity, the romantic admiration he enjoys among the people..." "It's more complicated than you think." "You know him." "Not any more." "It's been 13 years." "I have not seen him since then." "I know what happens when one speaks frankly to him." "He lives with woodsmen, charcoaI-burners and masons." "You'd think he's lost his mind!" "Must Bavaria face ridicule just because his Majesty..." "But HoInstein." "Restrain yourself." "I'd Iike to discuss all this with you in quiet." "One evening, over a glass of beer." "I have just one more question, since we're getting along so well." "I'd Iike to know how the king lives, his thoughts, plans and so on." "His people are very loyal..." "But if one pays a little..." "Light the candles in the mirrored hall." "I'm expecting a visitor." "How long was it this time, Sissi?" "When did we last see one another?" "When I'm away, it seems like 100 years;" "when I'm here, Iike yesterday." "Let's go the Iast few steps on foot." "Do you want to?" " Oh, yes." "Do you Iike it?" " Yes, it's fantastic..." "I..." "I'm utterly dumbfounded." "It's magnificent!" "It's beautiful, isn't it?" " Yes, but something's missing." "people." "And music..." "I can see the people." "I can hearthe music..." "And the nice thing is, here the people have no shadows." "But real people, Ludwig!" "You won't invite guests?" "hold no parties?" " But Sissi, what do you think?" "The people will be filled with wonder, but they will also be given cause for reflection." "That's my aim." "Do you understand what I mean?" "Yes, I understand." "The people shall know that beauty exists here only for the sake of beauty." "Beauty without purpose, Sissi." "There must be someone in the land who doesn't only think of utility, of what benefits himself." "And if it's no other, then let it be the King." "I know what you're thinking." "You think the people don't understand me." "Forget them!" "Now I'II show you something different." "Neuschwanstein..." "You see, I've fought and struggled for this." "They must understand this, those gentlemen." "Everwhere, castles are falling into ruin: in italy, France and england." "Here, one is being built!" "You will see how necessary it still is." "Take my arm, Sissi." "Now, dreams have a place to live." "ParsifaI, Lohengrin," "WoIfram, Tannhäuser..." "Tristan!" "Our Tristan, my beloved Sissi." "And FaIkenstein, the grail castle, will be built up there." "Even higher..." "Even closer!" "Through the clouds in the sky!" "The foundation is laid." "When you return..." " No, Ludwig." "No." "What do you mean, "No"?" "I know what you want to say to people with this." "I know you well." "But no one else will understand." "They will take you for a misanthropist, for a squanderer!" "You can't carry on building." "I cannot?" "I'm afraid for you, Ludwig." "Can you not see that I'm afraid?" "I was in Munich recently." "They're plotting against you." "I don't know what, but I can sense it." "Who should harm me, Sissi?" "I don't harm anybody." "They have the people they want." "Bismarck rules in politics." "Nobody demands anything of me." " They do, Ludwig." "They demand that you stop building." "You don't know how people are!" "They do accounts, ask about money, they'II make you..." " I see!" "Who asked you to come here?" " Ludwig!" "surely you don't believe..." "Not of me..." "I've learned to believe many things." "Of everyone." "I belong in the mirrored hall, where the people have no shadows." "Ludwig?" "If you need me..." "then send for me, please." "What is wrong?" "A carriage is blocking the way." "They are marble columns for FaIkenstein." "What's that?" "That's not marble." "Mortar, gypsum and dirt." "I'II teach the gentlemen in Munich not to betray me!" "They even make stones into liars!" "It's is the naked truth." "The King's debts have increased by another 7 million." "I have explained to His Majesty that my ministry cannot come up with this sum." "But please, my dear." "His Majesty has asked Bismarck in berlin for advice." "Bismarck advised the King that we, the cabinet, should turn to parliament." "You know the balance of power in parliament." "It would give the King the money, but in return, demand that we resign." "Why us?" " Have we squandered money on pure extravagances?" "There are reasons to fear that the King is ill." "Thank you for coming." "We need you, Dr Gudden." ""His Majesty is suffering advanced mental illness." "He is suffering from a type of mental illness which is known to psychiatrists, namely, paranoia." "His power of free volition is obstructed by this, thus rendering His Majesty unfit to rule."" "So this raises the question of who will rule," "Your Highness." "How did you arrive at this diagnosis, Professor?" "By a thorough study of his complete reports, which I then referred to anotherthree doctors." "The witness reports are convincing." "Aren't your witnesses mainly from the King's domestic staff?" "The servants are the only people who've had contact with the King in recent times." "And what else is he accused of?" "alone the building of these castles ..." " Other Kings have also built!" "How much are the debts now?" " 13 million marks, Prinz LuitpoId." "13 million marks!" "How did it get so out of hand?" "Minister-President, you could have resigned before you allowed the debts to grow to such a huge sum." "And now I am supposed to accept responsibility for the King's incapacitation." "Do you know what you're asking?" "The withdrawal of His Majesty from all government business could, in a crisis, have serious consequences for Bavaria." "And the fatherland is more important than..." "Yes..." "Yes." "Your Majesty, OsterhoIzer is outside." "He said..." "That you forgot to bring my coat, Weber." "No, Your Majesty, He said..." "Your Majesty, there are three carriages." "The gentlemen are plotting something." "Pah!" "How much beer have you drunk?" "Your Majesty, I swear!" "Count HoInstein is there, too." " How about that!" "HoInstein?" "ShouIdn't we go up?" " No, it's better to wait here." "Do you have the chloroform?" "But gentlemen!" "In the middle of the night!" "You know that I go out at this time." "Why did you not announce yourselves?" "Gudden!" "My God, is it my brother?" "cowardly beasts!" "Guards!" "Take them to the tower!" "Herrn HoInstein first!" "Max!" "What are you staring at?" "Arrest him!" "The King will give no more orders." "He is incapacitated!" "I'm holding you all responsible for this!" "responsible?" "God will hold you responsible, you beast!" "cowardly beasts!" "You don't want a king, you want the whip!" "I'II give it to you!" "Those who torment shall be tortured!" "Those who torture shall be destroyed!" "Beasts who call themselves men!" "I denounce you!" "I denounce you!" "We won't get out of here." "Thank God!" " But you must take me with you!" "Come out!" "Come!" "Where are they?" "Where are they?" "They're afraid, Your Majesty." "The footman has fled." "He set the villains free." "Can you deliver a telegram?" " Yes, Your Majesty." " Bismarck," "Franz Joseph, Dürckheim." "You must send it from Austria, otherwise they'II catch you." "Doesn't it smell of chloroform here?" ""To His apostolic Majesty," "Kaiser Franz Joseph of Vienna..."" "This is a cry for help!" "I must..." "One should immediately..." "Yes..." "But what can I do?" "Your excellency can do nothing." "It's a Bavarian issue." "Take down a telegram." ""To Sergeant AIphons Weber, ViIs, Austria." "Advise Your Majesty to come to Munich at once and present himself to the people." "Everything depends on Your Majesty appearing decisive." "Your Majesty's loyal servant."" "Bismarck is right." "The people are waiting." "In the villages, farmers are forming mobs." "loyal officers are reporting from every garrison." "Certain regiments are at the ready." "Ready to give their blood to prove..." " blood?" "Their own blood?" " Your Majesty will command..." "will command..." "They want me to give another speech." "They want me to say:" ""soldiers, you shall go to war for Ludwig."" "We shan't go to Munich, dear Dürckheim." " Your Majesty." "The minister for war will accuse me of treason if I don't return immediately." " loyalty will be condemned." "You see?" "That is the truth, in this world." "Your Majesty, I'II stay with you." " Look at me." "I used to be as decorous as you." "Young." "You are dismissed." "If I deserted you now, Your Majesty, it wouId be treason." "They shall see how reasonable I can be." "I command you to commit treason!" "You saintIy Kings..." "How did you manage it, to be both saintIy and kings?" "One of them is called Ludwig, Sissi." "I'd Iike to ask him what they permitted him... or forbade him..." "One would have to ask Bismarck, for, you know, Sissi..." "Where are you?" "Where are you?" "Don't hide!" "We're not children any more." "Don't hide!" "But Ludwig!" "You're being unreasonable." "You speak with someone who isn't there." "Otto!" "Otto!" "Come!" "I'm happy that you're here." "How are you?" "You're looking good." "You are not, Ludwig." "Are you afraid?" "You don't need to be." "You've no idea how calm it is there." "I sometimes hear the canons and cheering from outside." "But the doctor has barred my window so no one can get in." "How is it, with Gudden?" "One gets used to him." "One gets used to him." "What should I do, brother?" "Submit, brother." "Submit..." "No!" "Your Majesty..." "Your Majesty, I..." "I am faced with the most difficult task of my Iife." "Your Majesty has been declared sick by four doctors." "In view of these doctors' judgements," "Prince LuitpoId has taken over the regency." "I have orders to accompany Your Majesy to Berg castle, where medical care awaits." "You must help me, karl!" "Take me to him." "please help me!" "Berg castle is guarded." "You can't go to him." "Maybe later." "But he won't hold out." "He'II die." "You must get him out..." "You must free him!" " He is sick, Sissi." "No!" "He is desperate and unhappy, but not sick!" "please help me!" "We can try." "How is the King?" " He's been at the window for hours." "What is it?" " I have the menu for His Majesty." "I'm going in anyway." "Give it here." "I've been doing it for 15 years, Professor." "Forgive me, Your Majesty." "It's time to eat." "please, Your Majesty." "Doesn't Your Majesty want to read?" "please, Your Majesty." ""My beloved, my brother awaits you tomorrow evening at seven-thirty by the south wall of the castle." "You must only cross the water, then you are free." "I'II wait for you." "elisabeth"." "will the Professor join us at the table?" "Your Majesty, I'm flattered." "I Iove this lake." "I used to ride here as a child." "I'd Iike... to walk there again." "please." " But of course!" "After the meal?" "No." "I'm too tired today." "Tomorrow, perhaps." "Yes." "At dusk." "Tomorrow!" "What day is it today, Professor?" "June 13, Your Majesty." "June 13..." "I've decided to start a new life today." "In freedom." "In great freedom." "How do you mean, Your Majesty?" "In inner freedom." "Your Majesty will also be externally free from things which have oppressed him." " I hope so." "Do you gentlemen have any chloroform with you today?" "Your Majesty, it was just routine..." "AII right." "What does he want?" " We have to go back." "This is the spot." "It's hot here." "Thank you." "Your Majesty, we must turn back." "It's the end of the path." "No..." "It's just the beginning." "It's just the beginning." "Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!" "Gudden!" "Forgive me." "subtitles alexander Zuckrow" "film und Video UntertiteIung Gerhard Lehmann AG"