01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

The following programme
contains strong language

and scenes of a sexual nature

From the outset.

It's the Salieris!

Your bride is on the table.

We all know how beholden
you are to this Emperor!

SALIERI:
A new job has become available.

I was wondering if you might
bring me his manuscripts,

make his case for the Emperor.

But you are a woman. I am a man.

This is the way of things now.

[HISSES] Get yourself dressed!
Why, have you changed your mind?

A very rude chap...

You're gonna run out of students.
Fine!

Stanze!
[HORSE WHINNIES]

Pack your trunk. We're going away!

You are throwing away
the gift that God gave you.

You selfish little b*stard!

♪ [PLAYS DISCORDANT NOTES]

MAN: Sir, I'm sorry to tell you
that your son is dead.

The Mass for Raimund
is ready to perform.

♪ MOZART: Great Mass in C Minor

♪ [SOPRANO SOLO]

SALIERI: 'From this time on,

we are enemies, you and I.'

k*ll the man...

...k*ll the God.

[BELL TOLLS]

♪ [WOMAN HUMS
"EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK - ANDANTE"]

What's that you're singing?
Oh, it's nothing.

A tune I heard.

You go to the concerts?

I go to casinos.

There's usually
a string quartet.

Quintet, for that one.

But the tune, it stuck with you?

I haven't been able
to get it out my head.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you know who wrote it?

No.

I do.
[BELT BUCKLE CLINKS]

♪ [RESUMES HUMMING]

Keep singing it.
♪ [HUMS]

♪ [ORCHESTRA PLAYS
"EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK"]

Second movement - Andante.

Subdominant key of C major.

♪ [HUMS] It enters your brain,

tunnelling into your subconscious
like a spell.

[SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH]

Yes.

I didn't come here for absolution,
you understand?

Not... Not for pleasure.

I can give you whatever
you came here for. Just keep singing.

Enchant me like the Pied Piper.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Like a rat?

What would you do,
if you caught a rat?

Would you be kind to it?

No.
No, you'd want to punish it,

Wouldn't you?

You'd want to hurt it, crush it.

Harder!

[GROANS]

[PANTING]

Harder. Please.

♪ MOZART: Piano Concerto No.20
in D Minor

Woo-hoo!
[LAUGHTER]

♪ [PLAYS WALTZ]

[ANIMATED CHATTER]

MAN:
Did I ever tell you I was a priest

at the Church of San Luca?

I mean, the whole of Venice
is beautiful,

assuming you like canals -
which I don't, actually.

Although I do think
I was rather good

at the whole priest thing...

Save for the mistress.

I had two children with her,
which...

Anyway, they defrocked me,
if you can believe it.

Banished from Venice! Yes,
I can believe that, actually.

MAN: The Emperor
and his constant need for reforms!

I mean, it's outrageous.
Child labour outlawed,

Peasants allowed to move wherever
they want... How is Constanze these days?

She worries sometimes about,
you know... my students, and so on.

Your students? Yes, my students.
They're drying up.

Anyway, more importantly,

the Emperor has commissioned me
to write another opera!

I did hear that. What's it about?
No idea!

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

I was gonna ask you,
would you like to be a part of it?

Fancy putting some words
to the music?

Well, I'm sorry, darling,

but I have another master.

Do you?

That's funny. He never used to come
to these things.

Ah, I think lately
he's grown something of a dark side.

What do you mean?
Well, I heard

that they don't see him much
at church on Sundays any more.

Let's just say that.

MAN:
That's not going to happen to us!

The Emperor slaps the faces
of the aristocracy,

Asks us to turn the other cheek
and thank him [!]

Hello.
Oh, hi.

I don't really have anything
to say to you. I just thought,

if someone didn't step in
and start talking to you,

you might've m*rder*d one
of those men. Oh, I might still.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

I'm Franz Suessmayr.
Are you a friend of my husband's?

Oh, no. Just... an admirer.

Oh!

Oh, well, you fit in well here,
then. Very well.

Hm! I saw you sing last year.
Mm? The Mass.

Yes, I...
I still think about it.

Anyway, I'm glad I met you.

Have a nice evening.

Court Composer.

Excuse me.

What happened to your eye?
Oh...

I slipped getting out of the bath.

They're death traps.
Mm!

My wife insists on having
two a month!

I tell her she's taking her life
into her hands.[CHUCKLES]

How's the new work?
Oh, good.

Les Horaces. Operatic tragedy.

An operatic tragedy!

Well, it's been at least
five minutes since the last one [!]

The librettist?
Da Ponte.

Ugh! Feckless creature.

Ah, Lorenzo has his eccentricities,

But he's the best,
and only the best will do.

Mm.

How are you, Antonio?

I'm fine. It's just
you seem not yourself these days.

I'm not sure what it is. I worry.

You can tell me
if there's something wrong.

Are we talking
about our feelings, Giuseppe?

You're getting soft, Kapellmeister.

I'm perfectly fine.

Mm... I do have something
to talk to you about.

The Court
has commissioned Mozart again.

The Emperor likes him.
Well, he's a risk. Well, I mean...

you've heard it, Antonio.

My God, the boy can write!
You can't deny that.

Well, I think his talents
may be outweighed by his...

Eccentricities?

The Emperor wants
to give him another go.

My hands are tied.

We are opening ourselves up
to ridicule.

Joseph wants his opera houses
to be a shining light

for all of Europe to...
[CHOKING]

Giuseppe...
[CHOKING CONTINUES]

[CHOKING INTENSIFIES]

[PATRONS GASP]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

We're going to need
a new Kapellmeister.

Oh, look, there's Salieri.

Our new Kapellmeister.

Congratulations.
Thank you. Hm!

So, how does it feel?

No different. You have all of Vienna
and its musicians in your palm.

You must feel something.

We'll have to be quick today.
I have a lot of meetings.

Will you still be able
to... tutor me? Well...

A Kapellmeister
has to be very selective

over who he keeps
in his inner circle.

I am going to have to let
a lot of my pupils go.

But you, Katerina...

You, I intend to keep...

...in my palm.

♪ [PLAYS AND SINGS MELODIOUSLY]

♪ [FORTEPIANO BEING TUNED]
MOZART: Can you imagine?

Choking to death on beef,
of all things!

What's wrong with beef? Well, I can
think of better things to choke on.

STYLIST: There we are, sir.
I love it!

Anton, that sounds a bit flat to me.

Made er... they've made Salieri
Kapellmeister, did you hear?

Aloysia mentioned it
eight or nine times, yes.

He's actually summoned me
to go meet with him.

What does he want?
No, Anton, that's sharp now!

Just go through it all again,
I think, please.

I think he wants to talk to me
about the new opera.

Rosenberg thinks I might get a longer
run this time, which is good.

♪ [TUNING CONTINUES]

There was a boy at our party
a few weeks ago.

Erm, he'd been at Raimund's Mass.
Right...

He remembered hearing me sing.

Hadn't been able
to stop thinking about it.

Yes, well, it was a good piece,
and all that, wasn't it?

I was just thinking
about doing it again.

Doing...?
Singing.

Oh, as in... professionally, or...?

Well, I was a good enough soprano
when I was younger.

There are roles out there
in my range.

I mean...
Yes.

Yes, it's just singing a Mass
is one thing,

but opera's kind of...
weeks on end, sometimes months.

Anyway...

See you later.

♪ [TUNING CONTINUES]

[DOOR BANGS SHUT]

♪ [PLAYS SIMPLE PIECE]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Mozart! Come in, come in.

Oof! I was very sorry
to hear about Bonno.

Oh, yes, yes. Terrible.

It makes one wonder, doesn't it...

...in all this chaos,
what God's plan might be.

Yes, oh, now...
Your new commission. Erm...

I had to petition hard for you.

Er... there are still some
at the Court who needed persuading.

I don't wish to speak ill
of the dead,

but I think that Bonno's passing

may have been of benefit to you,

if you take my meaning?

Yes, absolutely, no, yes. Of course.

And er... believe me,
I'm grateful for everything.

I... I really am.

Still, what's the theme?
General idea of the thing.

No idea, I'm afraid.
I'm still working on that.

Really?

Well, we were all thinking

something a little fantastical.

Fantastical?

Gods, angels, kings, knights...

That sort of a thing.

Bit of a spectacle.
The Emperor wants crowd-pleasers.

You understand.
No, thank you, no.

I think people are bored of that now.

I was imagining, if anything,

Something a little bit
more sort of real life.

You know, just sort of relatable.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Mozart...

Audiences don't come to the opera

to see relatable characters.
They come to be inspired!

Yes, I think I can do both.

Of course you can.

I have er... given you

The librettist Argenti.

Argenti? [LAUGHS]
Mm-hm.

Are you joking?

Am I writing a birthday card, or
a singspiel for three-year-olds [?]

Argenti is
a more than competent librettist.

Argenti can barely spell
"librettist". He's a moron!

Be that as it may.

Everyone else is... is busy.

Oh, and I almost forgot:
the Emperor wants this

Before Christmas.

Before Christmas?
Yes, I'm sorry.

I... I hope that won't be a problem?

Not for me, but I suppose
I better tell Argenti

to start sharpening his quill.

Hope he doesn't
accidentally stab himself

up the arsehole with it [!]
Good!

Well, er... let me know the theme

as soon as possible.

Of course.
And my best to Constanze.

Thank you so much.

[RETREATING FOOTSTEPS]

♪ [GENTLE TUNE ON FORTEPIANO]

Uh... [CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]
I want to know what it's like

to make something beautiful.

Mm!

I'm reading the most wonderful book.

It's a play. It's banned, you know.

Banned by whom?
My uncle, obviously.

What's it about?

A marriage.

Lust...

...and desire.

And lies and truth.

Why has the Emperor banned this book?

He thinks it's dangerous.

It sounds so silly, doesn't it?

Being afraid of something
like a book or a song.

Well...

Words can be dangerous.

Perhaps... I quite like danger.

[CLEARS THROAT]

If I don't get what I want,

I get bored.

And I hate getting bored.

Well, sometimes life is boring, so...

If you can't give me what I want...

...then I don't see there's any point

in you being my tutor any more,

but I don't think you can afford
to lose me.

I mean...

...what are you gonna do without me?

Beg on the street?

[I'll make you beg.]

[GRUNTS]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[BODIES THUD AGAINST PIANO]

♪ [CACOPHONOUS CHORD]
[MOANS]

[PLEASURABLE MOANING]

[MUSIC SWELLS]

[MOANING cl*max]

This is a banned play.

It's banned
because there's truth in it.

It's banned
because it depicts the servants

as smarter than the masters.

Which they are.
Let me say,

as a particularly smart servant
myself,

You should find a different story.

OK. Let me play you something.

Something of what?
Of this.

I've already started writing it.
I can't stop thinking about it.

Well, try harder.

Come on.
No -

One aria! One aria, that's the deal.

Come on!
To what end?

Because you are gonna be
my librettist.[SCOFFS]

Thank you,
but I told you I'm spoken for

and my other half gets very jealous.

Do you want to spend all your life

Writing milquetoast operas
for Kapellmeister Salieri? Yes!

Don't you ever
just want an easy life?

No! Not at the expense of the music.

Come on, one aria.
All right.

What do you mean, you're quitting?

I've promised my services
to another composer.

Who?

Mozart.
But you're working for me! Yes.

No. Erm, it's just...
Yes, no, erm... "It's just" what?

[SIGHS]

He played me some of it.

[SCOFFS]

Well, I suppose
you could work on both at once.

Well, that won't be possible.

Why not?

You're leaving Vienna?
Just until we finish writing it,

Yes. "We"?
Me and Da Ponte.

Why can't you write it here?
Because if anybody finds out

about what we're doing,

they'll shut us down. What?
What is this opera?

It's a secret, Stanze.
I don't understand.

Look, this is how we have to do it.
It can't be ruined.

It's very...
You know, it's very delicate,

OK? I can't explain it to you.
No, no, you can't.It's very...

Erm,
and the... the Princess Elizabeth?

Her lessons?
I... I don't know. It's probably good

to have some time apart, frankly.

Time apart?
What do you mean, "Time apart"?

What happened?

Oh... no, nothing's happened. Those
lessons are important. I worked...

We worked really hard
to get you that job!

I can't be thinking
about f*cking music lessons, OK?

I have to do this.
I have to do it!

Yes, you have to leave. Yes!

Well, yes.

Will you be back next month?

I don't know.

Probably not. Why?

It'll be Raimund's anniversary.

[POIGNANT MUSIC]

But I will lay flowers
on your behalf, shall I?

[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]

MAN: Good afternoon, sir.

f*ck!

b*stard!

f*ck!
[BANGING AND CLATTERING]

b*stard!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[FRANTIC SCREECHING]

[HUNTING CRIES AND g*nshots]

Uh...

Your Majesty.

[HORSES SNORT AND WHINNY]

Your Majesty,
I have some rather unfortunate news.

You'll remember how,
at Bonno's insistence,

Mozart was given
another opera commission.

Well, I...
he's stolen my librettist, you see,

and what's more,
he's refusing to reveal

what his opera is even about.

Your Majesty, what... what happened?

One of the dogs bit me.

Tried to stop it mauling a stag.

I was stupid.

Bonno didn't commission Mozart -
I did.

Aren't there enough librettists in this
damn town to go around? Can't you all share?

Well, of course, of course...
of course we can.

There is, however, another matter,

a more sensitive matter

I thought you should be aware of.

There are rumours
that Mozart may have been erm...

in... indelicate with the Princess.

Indelicate? I'll have him whipped.

Oh, no. Just his manner, sir.

Nothing that would have crossed
that line, I assure you.

But even so...
Erm...

Yes, no, we can't have
any suggestion of impropriety,

Especially... given her temperament.

We can have him quietly removed
from the position.

No need for a scandal.

And I can find somebody
more appropriate to tutor her.

Fischer, perhaps?
No, you do it.

Me tutor her? Are you sure?

Yes, it's cleaner that way.

Besides, I've enough on my plate
as it is right now.

Of course. And, and... and the opera?

You're the Kapellmeister now.

If one of your composers
is writing a secret opera,

it is up to you
to find out what it is

before whining to me about it!

I'm gonna wash this sh*t off me.

DA PONTE: Amadeus! Amadeus!

[HORSES WHINNY AND SNORT]

[WHINES SOFTLY]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[COACHMAN URGES HORSES ON]

[BIRDSONG / COW LOWING]

DA PONTE: Jesus Christ!
Are you working?

Not in the carriage, Wolfgang!

This is a sacred space.

What's there to it, anyway?
Oi, excuse me!

It's a farce.

Everyone dresses up
as everyone else.

So-and-so hides
under so-and-so's frock.

They all f*ck each other. The end.

It's not that kind of farce.

There's more to it than that.
Figaro. Susanna.

They lose each other,
then find each other again.

It's complicated.
We need to capture the spirit of it.

Erm...

The Marriage Of Figaro.

Yes.

How's the Marriage of Mozart?
OK, look...

Pour me another drink!
[GRUNTS]

[INDISTINCT CAROUSING]

Go on.
Argh!

[GRUNTS]
Come on!

♪ [MERRY FOLK TUNE]

Wolfgang,
you've dragged me away from Vienna

To write an ill*gal opera with you.

I was under the impression

that we'd at least be very drunk -
very drunk!

I'm trying to work out the feeling
of this section. What is it?

The Count is confused.

He thinks Susanna doesn't love him.

OK, we can have her lie to him.

You know, give him a false hope,
a false promise.

Deception.Deception.
Betrayal.

Forgiveness?

Ooh![WOMAN GIGGLES]
Forgiveness is good.

Yeah, forgiveness is good.

OK, yes, a theme of forgiveness.

Wolfgang, I'm going
to invite some girls over now.

Uh-huh.

You could just put a pin
in the opera chat for five minutes.

Susanna and the Countess
have started working together,

That's why
Susanna goes to the Count.

But she needs to convince HIM
that she does love him.

That's all part of this amusing plot.

And it's, like, "Oh, finally!
Crudel! Perche finora..."

"Cruel girl,
why did you make me wait so long?"

You know, erm...
I was a priest in Venice.

And how does it end?
The opera?

Er, well,
they end up happily together.

So not like real life, then?

Oh, no, don't... don't say that.

He's so sweet,
he's writing this for his wife.

Anyway, thank you for the company.
This has been fun.

Where are you going?
I'm going to work!

f*cking hell.
You can't leave.

You've just told us all about your
opera, you have to play us some.

Well, the instruments
are all in my room, so I...

Well, you could play it to me
in your room, then.

[BOTTLES CLINK / DRUNKEN LAUGHTER]

Amadeus! Amadeus!
♪ [VIOLIN PLAYS]

Put your bow down and f*ck someone!

♪ [PLAYS TENDER MELODY]

That's the duet from the Third Act.

[CLEARS THROAT]
I didn't actually think

you were going to play me
your opera.

[Yes...]

Hmm...

Yes.

It was very nice, though.

And... you're writing it
for your wife?

Yes.

You could just... talk to her.

This is how I talk.

Well, it better be good, then.

Yes...

♪ [POIGNANT ORCHESTRAL CHORDS]

♪ MOZART: Crudel! Perche Finora duet
[The Marriage Of Figaro]

DA PONTE: ♪ Mi sento dal con ten to

♪ Pieno di gioia il cor

♪ Scusatemi se men to

♪ Voi che intendete amor ♪

Stanze!

♪ [HARMONIOUS DUET]

STANZE!

[APPLAUSE]

[CHURCH BELL TOLLS]

♪ HAYDN: Symphony No. 80,
Menuet - Trio

[NO AUDIBLE SPEECH]

SUESSMAYR: Hello, Frau Mozart?
Oh!

Sorry to startle you.

Franz Suessmayr.
We met a while ago.

Yes, yes, you rescued me

from a very boring conversation
at a party.

[CHUCKLES] Do you remember?
Yes. What can I do for you?

Well, I wondered if I could talk
to your husband? Oh, he's not here.

Oh, that's a shame.

I'm here on behalf of the Royal
Viennese School of Music, you see.

We've been writing to him
about performing for us.

You should come in.
Oh, no, I shouldn't.

You'll get washed away.

Come in.
Thank you.

So this performance...

For the school.

I mean, it would just need to be
a half an hour, just...

just some works on the forte piano,

maybe the viola -
whatever he wanted.

Two florins.
Two florins?

For an hour, yes.
He doesn't do half-hour concerts.

My husband is a royally commissioned
opera composer

and erstwhile tutor
to the Princess Elizabeth.

If you require a quartet,
we'll source the musicians

for a 15% cut of each of their fees.

Yes, of course.

Er, I just need to discuss that
with the Head of the School.

And the fee would need to be paid
up front, of course.Naturally.

You speak very plainly.

Is that a problem?
No.

No, not at all.

I like it.

Er, well... [CHUCKLES BASHFULLY]

It was a pleasure seeing you again.

Sorry.

You know,
this is probably an imposition,

but er... there's a concert
tomorrow, actually.

It's just a small thing,
but it's quite fun.

You and your husband
would be very welcome.

Well, my husband's away, so...

Yes, of course. You said.

Well... I mean, you could come.

I'll save you a table.
It's at Schuman's.

Do you know it?
Yes.

I could tell you all about
the school and the performance.

A couple of glasses of schnapps, I'm
sure you could even raise that fee

by a bit!
[CHUCKLES]

Yes, well... maybe.

Maybe. Maybe I'll come.

MOZART: Aah!

It's perfect.
Send a call-out for musicians.

Get them here within the week.

And you think they'll all come? Just
tell them that Mozart and Da Ponte

have written the greatest opera

they'll ever have the chance
to perform,

and then they'll come.
This will be erm...

worth it, won't it? Doing this?

Yes, I think she'll like it.

Erm, I was more talking about

whether its artistic merits

might be enough
to keep us out of jail

for disobeying the Emperor.
Hmm...

Well, that's part of the fun.

That's part of the fun.
That is part of the fun... OK.

OK, all right, thank you!

We'll take it.

♪ [GENTLE MELODY ON FORTEPIANO]

MOZART: 'My darling Constanze.

We have stopped in a small town
for a few weeks

in the hope of finding an opera...

and all of the pieces
are fitting into place

in ways even better than I could
have hoped...' ♪ [OPERA DUET]

'..and I feel so strongly that
when you listen to this opera,

you will see what's in my heart
in new ways,

in ways that I hope
you will truly understand.

I miss you

and I love you and I look forward
to when we are together...'

[MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY /
PAPER CRUMPLES]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER]

[LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS]

Hi.

[MUSIC CONCLUDES, APPLAUSE]

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
[AUDIENCE CHUCKLES]

Now, for this next performance
I need a female voice.

Who can sing here? Who do we know?

PATRON: Me!
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Madam, what about you?

No. [CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]

ALL: Oh... [SHE MOUTHS]
WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: Come on!

You came.

Yes.

Do you know this one?
Mm-hm.

♪ Bald wird sich auch dieses fuegen

♪ Dass wir eins in Zimmer sind

♪ Bald werde ich trotz allem Neide

♪ Freier at men von der Brust

♪ [VIOLIN TRILLS]

BOTH: [IN HARMONY]
♪ Wenn ich dir mein Herz und Hand

♪ Mit dem Jawort zugewandt

♪ Wenn ich dir mein Herz und Hand

♪ Mit dem Jawort zugewandt ♪

SUESSMAYR: So you'll never be
a prima Donna - so what?

A mediocre soprano
in a family full of coloraturas.

That wouldn't bother you?

It would bother me a little bit.

Then marry a prodigy
and see how that feels!

Your husband is exceptional.

Mm. That's one word for him.

Also useless, chaotic...

And no-one knows
what to do with him.

They can't rely on him,

but they can't let him go.

He's just like erm...

A moth dancing around in a lamp.

And he'll either fly away,
or he'll burn.

And me with him.

[CHUCKLES]

What?

"A moth in a lamp"?
Mm-hm.

It's a metaphor.
It's a good one. Shut up.

How long is he away for?

I don't know.
I got a letter from him

saying they'd found
a rehearsal space in Trebic...

At the end of the month.

I think they plan to stay there
till November, at least.

Where the hell's Trebic?

No idea.
Hmm!

November is a long time
to be alone.Hmm.

Yes, it is.

♪ [MELANCHOLY SOLO]

Trebic? They've booked
a rehearsal space there

for the end of the month.

Kapellmeister,

I hope you don't mind me
questioning you, but I...

Well, I don't want to feel
as if I'm engaging in subterfuge.

Oh, Franz.

I care deeply for Mozart.

He has the artist's proclivity
for self-destruction.

It's my job as Kapellmeister
and... his friend

To make sure he doesn't indulge
those instincts.

You can clear your conscience.

By helping me, you are helping him.

And his wife, as well.

[BIRDSONG]

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

Hello, baby.

I miss you.

Do you still listen to me sing?

I hope so.

♪ [PLAYS HESITANTLY]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

You must practise, Princess.

But I don't like to.

I'm sure...

you could think of a way
to help me remember it all...

...without the work.

Do you like it?

My uncle got it for me.

Ow!

♪ [PLAYING SINGLE NOTES]

There!
I've made a little map for you [!]

Don't play with me.

I never play games I can't win.

When's Wolfgang coming back?

Oh, he's not.

Hi, there. Hi, nice to see you.

Thank you so much.
Please, there's your entrance.

Hello, my friend.

Hi, sir, welcome.

Opera singers over there
with Lorenzo.

Violin...

Er... viola.
Are you still with viola, sir?

OK, so... everyone go to the pillar.

[HUBBUB]

OK...

All right!

Thank you, everybody,
for travelling all this way.

[CHATTER DIES DOWN]
You're probably wondering

why the clandestine nature
of this whole affair.

Well, Lorenzo and I
have a confession to make:

we're not just asking you here

to be co-collaborators
on this opera.

We're also asking you
to be co-conspirators.

What we're rehearsing today is
a version of The Marriage Of Figaro.

[SHOCKED MURMURS]

Just give us
a few hours of your time,

and if at the end of the rehearsal
you want to leave,

you can leave.

Well, here we go...

♪ MOZART: "Voi, Signor, Che Giusto
Siete" from The Marriage Of Figaro

♪ [CONCLUDING CHORDS]

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

[APPLAUSE CONTINUES]

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

[BIRD TWITTERS]

[BELL TINKLES]

Franz?

Constanze.

I was just passing...

Well, no. Actually, I...
I never pass by here.

It's miles from my apartment.

Extremely inconvenient.

But I came because...

I wanted to come and tell you...

I'm leaving.

For a bit.

I see.

I didn't want you to think
that I just... disappeared.

No.

No, no, that's very kind of you.

I will be back in Vienna
on the 10th of December.

Your husband...

He'll be back.
Yes.

Yes.
[CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

I th... I thought maybe I would
visit the St Michael's Church

on the evening I return.

If someone wanted to find me...
alone...

...that's where I'd be.

Why are you telling me that?

Because I think I would go mad
if I didn't.

[PENSIVE MUSIC]

[APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[RIPS ENVELOPE OPEN]

[MUSIC SWELLS]

SALIERI: I merely require
two minutes of His Majesty's time.

I'm afraid it's just not possible.

Young man, I have a weekly routine
with the Emperor

whereby I try to teach him
the forte piano

and he resolutely fails to retain

a single piece of my knowledge!

Now, we do this every Thursday
at this time.

Now, if he is too busy...

Herr Salieri, it is simply -

I'M THE KAPELLMEISTER OF
THE COURT OF EMPEROR JOSEPH II,

and I...
Antonio.

Your Majesty, I do apologise
for this cacophony, but...

Right, yes, come in.

[HUM OF CONVERSATION]

There's no time for a music lesson
today, I'm afraid, Antonio.

The Ottomans
have provoked Russia into w*r

and we are treaty-bound
to defend them...

with everything that we have.

Revolution brewing
in the Netherlands,

Prussians sabre-rattling
at the North.

There could hardly be
a more inopportune time for a w*r.

I have no experience of w*r.

Mm! I should hope you never will.

What was it that you wanted
to speak to me about? I...

[SILENCE]

Yes, erm...

I have heard word of a banned opera

being readied for performance.

Banned opera?
Yes.

The Marriage Of Figaro, Your
Majesty. You banned it yourself.

I've no memory of it.
What's it about?

Adultery, sin, betrayal,

upper classes
being depicted as fools,

the working poor their betters.

Who wrote it?
Mozart.

And the librettist?
Da Ponte.

I thought he was doing yours.

No.
Right, so it'll be in Italian.

Only the aristocrats
will understand it.

They're hardly likely
to start a revolution [!]

Look, Antonio,
I don't recall banning this play.

I also don't recall its title
being used as the primary motive

in any peasant uprisings
that may be occurring.

Let them put it on. Go with
Van Swieten to the opening night.

If the audience are moved
to leave the theatre

and march on the palace
demanding my head,

then you have my permission
to shut it down.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[DOOR OPENS]

[Constanze... I'm back.]

[Are you awake?]

[KISSES]

♪ [ORCHESTRAL PIECE
FROM "THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO"]

MOZART: Stanze!

I... I need to leave!

CONSTANZE: I'll meet you there.

Pardon?
I'll meet you there!

All right.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[DOOR SHUTS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Excuse me.

[MUSIC BUILDS]

DA PONTE: [Wolfgang... Wolfgang!]

[We need you backstage.]

MAN: Five minutes. Five minutes!

Are you all right?
Hmm?

Are you all right?
Yes.

Constanze isn't here yet, so...

I need...

Listen to me.

I quit the Kapellmeister's opera
to do this

because I believe in it.

And I believe in you.

But it does need to go well,
you understand?

Yes.
Now, what do we say?

We say f*ck 'em all. Yes?
f*ck 'em all. Yes.

f*ck 'em all. Good boy!

[MUTTERING] No! Turn around.

Sit down.

[ADMIRING GASPS]

[APPLAUSE]

♪ MOZART: The Marriage Of Figaro
[Overture]

♪ [CONCLUDING CHORDS]

[RAPTUROUS APPLAUSE]

[CHEERING]

♪ Contessa, per do no

♪ Perdono

♪ Perdo-o-o-o-ono

♪ Piu docile io sono

♪ E dico di si

SALIERI:
'He had secured greatness.

Written himself immortal.

And I said nothing.'

♪ Ah, tutti contenti

♪ Saremo cosi

♪ Saremo cosi

♪ Saremo

♪ Cosi [BOOING]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[JEERING DROWNS OUT SINGING]

Hey!

Where are you going?

♪ [PERFORMANCE CONTINUES]

[SCREAMING, CLAMOURING]

[MAYHEM]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]

[PANTING]

Our Emperor rides to w*r,

and you incite a mob?

You couldn't hear it, could you?

You never could.

[RETREATING FOOTSTEPS]

[COINS JINGLE]

Shame, you know.

I was starting to enjoy it.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪ [MARCHING DRUMBEAT]

[SYNCHRONISED
MARCHING FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]