The Night Is Young

When Archduke Paul Gustave announces he will attend her next performance, Fanni's world shifts with ambition and naïve bravado. She decides to pursue Willy Fitch, the wealthy carriage driver, and frames this gambit as patriotism to her friend Lisl Gluck. The decision sets the stage for a web of desire, duty, and social maneuvering.

She confides her scheme to Lisl, presenting it as patriotic duty rather than personal ambition. Lisl's groundedness contrasts with Fanni's bravado, yet she listens as the plan takes shape. The idea to attract Willy Fitch is framed as serving art and status.

Szereny, the archduke's valet, presses Lisl to accept a summons to Paul’s villa. Reluctant at first, she eventually agrees, stepping into a world defined by discretion and protocol. The invitation marks the first physical crossing into the archducal orbit.

Lisl learns that the archduke demands distance and discretion, confining any relationship to special quarters and the routine he maintains. The arrangement is not about love, but control and convenience. Lisl begins to grasp the limits of their potential bond.

Paul is surprised to realize that Lisl does not seek love in return, signaling a pragmatic bond rather than romance. They begin to acknowledge their shared constraints and the possibility of a connection within duty. A quiet accord forms between them.

Paul spends an evening with Countess Rafay, while Lisl enjoys merriment with Toni and Willy. The separate social lives underscore their divergent paths and the widening gap between duty and desire. The night reveals the different pressures on each of them.

When Paul returns, his irritation gives way to warmth upon hearing Lisl sing. Her voice and presence break through his stern exterior, hinting at a genuine connection. The moment plants the seeds for a deeper bond.

An unlikely accident on a carnival Ferris wheel forces Paul and Lisl into close proximity. They spend the night near each other, letting a fragile romance take root. The incident marks a turning point in their relationship.

The next day, Toni accuses Lisl of abandoning their planned marriage. However, he relents when he learns the archduke intends to finance the ballet, a potential lifeline for their ambitions. The threat and opportunity collide in rapid succession.

Paul remains torn between his legitimate obligations and the pull of Lisl. He contemplates sacrificing his title to marry her, signaling a deep internal crisis driven by affection and obligation. The tension intensifies as personal happiness collides with political reality.

The emperor's command insists that the arranged marriage proceed regardless of personal costs. Paul's options shrink as duty trumps desire. The state intervention makes the personal tragedy more acute.

Paul informs Lisl that he must leave her; despair overtakes her. Szereny offers quiet consolation as she endures a tearful farewell dinner. The romance collapses under the weight of obligation.

Paul asks Lisl to kiss him one last time, then turn away and never look back. Their romance remains a memory tempered by duty and the heavy weight of obligation. The closing moment sets the terms of their separate fates.