Sissi

Good morning, Your Royal Highness.

Good morning to you.

Good… Oh, I've caught one!

And what a fine one it is!

That's a fine catch!

Children, come here!

I've got a bite!

Papa's caught a fish!

- What is it? - What happened?

Come down to the lake!

Papa caught a fish!

Children, come quickly! What's taking you so long?

Come quick! Have a look at it!

Isn't that a fine one?

It's got to weigh at least ten pounds!

Mama, Papa caught a fish!

- Yes, this big! - Happy fishing!

Someone has to hold the pole.

No, quiet, be still.

Let Gackl hold it. I have to go get the net.

Gackl!

Papa, Gackl fell in the water!

Just what I needed!

No need to be scared.

I've got the boy.

Do you have the pole?

Yes, but the fish got away.

Bravo!

Let's have breakfast.

Children, not so loud, not so fast.

Don't shout so loud.

Stop climbing on the table.

Max, take your hat off at the table.

- Are there enough left for me? - I guess so.

Two, four, six, eight, ten… That'll do.

Gackl!

You look like a wet poodle.

You too.

Thomas, change the princes' clothes.

Yes, they've wet their pants.

- I want to eat sausage, too! - Me too!

Behave yourselves.

Max, you're eating like a lumberjack again.

Because it tastes great.

But you should be a role model for the children.

- They eat like me anyway. - Yes, unfortunately.

- Where's Sissi anyway? - She went for a ride.

And Nene?

She never eats white sausages.

That's smart, it means enough for us.

- Can we go play ninepins? - Yes, off with you.

My poor head's pounding.

There you are. Just look at that.

Not a single one of them used silverware.

And Why?

Because you always eat with your fingers.

Sweetheart…

you've been trying to train me for 25 years.

I'm trying to make sure our home doesn't go completely to the dogs.

After all, I have to think about the future.

Five daughters, Helene is of marriageable age…

and who visits us?

Mr. Johann Petzmacher.

Have him come in.

You fraternize with innkeepers' sons from Vienna.

Top of the morning, Your Royal Highness.

Good morning.

Hello, Maxl.

- Hi. When did you get in? - Last night.

And you didn't tell me?

- Where have you been? - At the new post office.

I spent the whole morning watching the mail clerk tele…

What do they call that new invention?

Oh, yes, telegraphing.

Quite interesting, indeed. We've gone to watch ourselves.

Just think, he taps something out on his desk…

and you hear it in Munich.

I'm not the least bit impressed. I know how to telegraph myself.

Thomas.

Very well, Your Royal Highness.

- What did you telegraph him? - To bring us the mild red wine.

What's new in Vienna?

Oh, just that assassination attempt on our Emperor.

All the Emperor's men are still quite shaken.

Trembling in their boots, night and day.

The only man at the Hofburg is Soferl.

When you say Soferl…

I assume you mean the Emperor's mother…

Her Imperial Highness, the Archduchess Sophie?

Yes, her.

And now Soferl…

Pardon me, Your Imperial Sister wants her Franzl…

pardon me, Her Emperor…

that is to say, Our Emperor…

She wants him to get married.

Is there any mention of to whom?

No, there's been no mention of that yet.

Ah, '49.

Excellent.

If you don't like this one, you won't like any.

I like them all.

There.

And now let's drink to your Soferl.

I can't say I like her…

but if she gives me reason to raise my glass…

then three cheers to her.

And to the future Empress of Austria as well.

Cheers, Max.

Wasn't that Sissi?

I bet she's riding that wild horse again.

Sissi!

Good morning!

Jump over the roses!

No!

Stop in!

Use your spurs!

This is all too much excitement for me.

A wonderful girl.

Mittermeier.

Here I am, Princess.

Did Gretl jump well?

- Great. You should have seen her. - Like a deer in flight.

- She'll have extra oats today. - Yes, she deserves them.

- Where's the bird feed? - I put it over there.

Come on, Gretl.

Here's the milk for Xaverl.

- How is he doing? - Chipper.

But he won't let anyone feed him except Your Highness.

After all, I did find him.

Xaverl, come on, breakfast.

Barri! Bella! Bad dogs! In the corner!

Let Xaverl have breakfast.

Xaverl, chase him off, push him away.

That's right.

Good boy. Don't put up with that brute.

That's right, Xaverl. Defend yourself. Chase him away.

Get in the corner, you naughty dogs.

Come, Xaverl.

Come here.

You weren't expecting that.

Isn't that good, Xaverl?

Good morning, Princess.

Good morning, Mrs. Stoeckl.

How is your gout?

Well, I dare say I feel the rain in my fingers.

I'll bring you some rubbing alcohol.

But for external use only. She's always drinking it.

That's not true. I've never done that.

Good morning, Papa.

- Look. - Cute.

See him keep an eye on those three.

Quiet. Get on out of here.

You rode like a dream and jumped magnificently.

As a reward, I'll take you hunting with me.

Really?

What is it, Baroness?

This letter just arrived, Your Royal Highness.

From Vienna?

From the Hofburg?

This is magnificent.

Have Princess Nene come here immediately.

This is wonderful.

- You sent for me, Mama? - Yes, my child.

Nene, I just received a letter from Aunt Sophie.

She writes about you.

About me?

But you mustn't speak a word of this to anyone.

Especially not to Papa.

Aunt Sophie has expressly asked me not to.

This letter is for you and me alone.

But what does Aunt Sophie write?

She writes…

Mama!

- Mama? - Yes?

Papa's taking me hunting with him.

That's no reason to go around shouting.

Well, what did Aunt Sophie write?

That she's expecting us on August 17th, in Bad lschl and…

My God, I hardly dare to think of it.

What?

That you're to become the Empress of Austria.

- Me? - Yes.

Imagine your luck.

Franz Joseph is young, handsome, powerful, rich.

Immensely rich. The whole world will envy you.

What's wrong?

- Mama? - Yes?

- Is Nene with you? - Yes.

I wanted to ask her if she wants to join us.

No, Nene has no time for hunting. Go alone.

All right, I'll go alone.

- Kisses! - Yes, kisses.

Mama, Papa will get suspicious if we go to lschl alone.

That occurred to me, too.

What shall we do?

Maybe we should take Sissi along…

to make it seem like a perfectly innocent trip.

- Nene, darling, I'm so very happy. - Me too.

But I don't understand any of this.

Franz Joseph hardly spoke ten words to me when we met in Innsbruck.