@Fehérvári : hope I did it justice
Soundtrack:
Ferenc Erkel - László Hunyadi - Overture
*exterior* *Hungary* *montage of new cloth-spinning factories that have been built* *cut to men at an ironworks pouring out molten metal* *cut to Karl of Brunswick inspecting one of his mines* *Hermine has made herself useful in the mining "village" by establishing what's clearly a hospital tent and a "school" tent while we see men building the actual hospital* *we see a steamship or two plying the Danube* *cut to land being cleared for railways* [1] *cut the countryside is waving fields of wheat* *cut to the fields where we see farm-workers looking up from harvesting the wheat to cheer a train steaming past*
*exterior* *Pressburg* *we see the imperial train arriving at the station [2]* *from the first coach disembarks King Ferdinand and Queen Maria Anna* *from the second disembarks a rather wide-eyed thirteen-year-old Archduke Franz [Joseph] [3] accompanied by railway president, Count György Andrássy*
Franzi: *in Hungarian* do you really mean it? That one day we'll be able to travel all over with trains?
Andrássy: of course, your Royal Highness, with time and peace, I have no doubt that Hungary will be able to prosper as much as Bohemia or even England.
Franzi: I should like it if that were to happen.
Andrássy: as would we all, sir. It is our society's [4] most fervent wish.
*conversation is ended by Franzi being called to his uncle's side for the "official welcome"*
*cut to the Städtischer Aupark* *there's an exhibition of sorts going on* *it looks like a cross between a country fair and an industrial exhibition* *we see Franzi presenting the prizes to the winners in each category* *including him pinning a prize ribbon on a frankly massive Hungarian Grey bull [5]* *we then see the elderly Dániel Csapó Tagyosi coming forward on stage* *Franzi is making a short speech in Hungarian
honouring Csapó's "life's work" in the modernization of Hungary 's agricultural sector. For successfully being able to bind quicksand and making the ground useable. For his work in sheep and horse farming. And for the recent publication of his work
Gazdasági kistükör [Economic Mirror]* *in honour of these accomplishments Franzi asks that Csapó accept a small token - "certainly not commeasurate with the amount of good you have done for our kingdom" - of gratitude* *the old man bows as Franzi places "by Order of His Most Apostolic Majesty" the ribbon of the Order of Saint Stephen around his neck [6]* *the old man straightens and faces the crowd* *he looks like he wants to cry*
From the crowd: Long Life to His Majesty! Long Life to Archduke Franz!
*cut to the Diet*
Archduke Joseph: *announces a debate about the regency bill that the Emperor has made, naming Frankie as regent in the event of his demise before his grandson's majority* *his tone just sounds like he's done this dance before*
Count Lajos Batthyány: *rises from his seat* I call to mind the speech made from this very throne that should we agree to his Imperial Majesty's wishes, he would regard us better than the Venetians. But now he clearly distrusts not only
us but also the Palatine that he appointed to steer the kingdom through such crises. How many more proofs of loyalty must Hungary give?
Prince Pál Esterházy: how very like a cur like you, Batthyány, to try to try to conflate the two issues.
Count Istvan Széchenyi: and how like an Esterházy to be willing to cut Hungary's own throat for the payment of Austria.
Esterházy: how is your steamboat fleet faring on the Danube, Count?
Széchenyi: *doesn't answer*
Esterházy: do you not have
not only our gracious Palatine to
thank for you to be allowed to indulge such a whim but
also thanks to the successful lobbying of the duke of Reichstadt?
Széchenyi: that is not the quite the same. *looks at Joseph* I am very grateful for the confidence that his Royal Highness has placed in me, and I am very grateful for the duke of Reichstadt's patronage-
Esterházy: but
not grateful enough to support this bill?
Batthyány: my honourable colleague is entirely correct when he mentions that these matters are chalk and cheese. We cannot allow the duke of Reichstadt to "run" Hungary from Vienna. We must be watchful Prince Esterházy.
Esterházy: so by that imagery, Batthyány, if he were to come set up shop in Buda, you would find no quarrel with the idea.
Batthyány: do not put words in my mouth. I am simply pointing out that there is no evidence to suggest that his Serene Highness will understand the intricacies of Hungarian politics. Or respect them.
Esterházy: and you are basing this on what evidence exactly? The duke of Reichstadt could hardly have been expected to understand the "intricacies" of the government of Venice, and yet...here we sit...with him having clearly
mastered the intricacies.
Széchenyi: But Hungary and Venice are unfortunately, very different.
Esterházy: and you think your cousin, Metternich, will
leave Archduke Joseph in place once the emperor dies?
Széchenyi: he will have no choice. Prince Metternich will not have the power to remove the Palatine-
Esterházy: Prince Metternich was also supposed to have had the power to
curb the duke of Reichstadt. He hasn't done that. In fact, the main thing Hungary has to be grateful for is that the duke of Reichstadt has given him a new target for his ire so that he can no longer pester the Palatine.
Batthyány: but as long as the king remains opposed to Prince Metternich the Palatine will be safe.
Esterházy: how charmingly naive of you, Batthyány. The king is not strong enough to stand against Metternich. That is why the emperor has devised this scheme. So that Metternich will have someone to stand up
for the king. A champion as it were. If it were up to Metternich, we should've forfeited the lands in Silesia and Italy that Hungary's sons fought and died for. Prince Metternich will sweep the Palatine aside and impose someone who will lick his boots...likely that fool, Rainier *to Joseph* I apologize for insulting your Highness' brother, but what else am I to think of a man who cannot even rally his own troops.
Batthyány: and will
you rally
your troops to defend the Palatine, Esterházy, or will you simply look out for your own interests? Is it not true that his Serene Highness has
tipped you for leading the embassy to Paris?
Esterházy: I resent the implication, Count Batthyány, that I am only driven by self-interest. It is one thing that I'm grateful to this recent Fronde in France for demonstrating that
loyalty to the crown
does still count for something. Even one who repents so late in the day like Maréchal Ney has now been rewarded with the French ministry of education, much like the duke of Reichstadt was. When you accuse me of "benefitting", perhaps you should fix your eyes upon how Count Széchenyi looked as if he had just beheld the Virgin Mary herself when there was talk at yesterday's session of Hungary being allowed into the Steuerverein. Or does that not count as self-serving enough for you?
Batthyány: *glares at his colleague*
Esterházy: the fact of the matter remains, gentlemen, that if you wish for the Palatine to remain in charge, you would support the duke of Reichstadt as regent. However misguided attempts are such as his endorsing your steamboats, Széchenyi, or wishing for Hungary to join the Steuerverein, he is at least an honourable man. Which is more than I ever thought I would say of a Bonaparte. Prince Metternich has already showed that he is
not above backstabbing his own allies if it achieves his ends. Yet you would rather have Metternich in charge?
*cut to interior of the Royal Palace in Pressburg* *Franzi is standing in a corner of the hallway* *Stephan comes walking past* *sees him*
Stephan: you're a little old for playing hide-and-seek aren't you?
Franzi: *half snooty tone* *hushed voice* I'm not playing hide-and-seek. I'm just
hiding so that Erzsi doesn't find me.
Stephan: *hushed voice* and why is my sister looking for you?
Franzi: because she's decided that we're going to get married. And have lots of children and-
Stephan: *seriously* and you don't want to get married.
Franzi: *terrifiedly* not to her I don't.
Stephan: come along, [step]Mother has told her my rooms are off limits. So she won't look for you there. And if anyone asks, you can say we were busy discussing my "rock collection".
Franzi: *falling in beside him as they walk* I don't really like rocks. That's more...Maxi's thing.
Stephan: don't worry. I won't talk about rocks.
*cut to Stephan's study* *Stephan's "rescue dog", Bela, is lying snoozing in front of the fireplace*
Stephan: *motions to Franzi to sit down on the sofa* *takes a seat in the revolving chair at the desk*
Franzi: *looks at it* does it spin all the way around?
Stephan: *demonstrates*
Franzi: that's more interesting than a collection of rocks.
Stephan: you like mechanics?
Franzi: Leopold [Archduke Rainer's son] is teaching me about them.
Stephan: and you're enjoying it.
Franzi: *nods as Bela pads up to investigate*
Stephan: *suddenly serious* do you know what they're discussing at the Diet today?
Franzi: Hungary's entrance into the Steuerverein
Stephan: among other things. Has your grandfather or your uncle told you about how he wants to name your Uncle Frankie regent if he dies before you're eighteen?
Franzi: Uncle Klemens [Metternich] says its a bad idea. But every time I ask him why, he tells me not to worry about it.
Stephan: and what do you think of it?
Franzi: nobody tells me what it's about so I do what Uncle Klemens says and "I don't worry about it".
Stephan: *to himself* of course he did. *to Franzi* simply put, the bill says that when your grandpa dies, Uncle Frankie is going to be the one in charge until you're eighteen.
Franzi: not Uncle Ferdinand?
Stephan: Uncle Ferdinand is sick...you've seen him. Uncle Frankie is going to be regent for him-
Franzi: until he gets better?
Stephan: until he gets better. Or you turn eighteen. Then you will be able to take over.
Franzi: but what about Uncle Frankie? What'll he do after that?
Stephan: he needs to get the job first.
Franzi: you mean he won't? But what about Uncle Ferdinand being sick.
Stephan: Metternich is going to try to convince everyone that there's nothing wrong with Uncle Ferdinand- you've seen how he parades him around in Vienna to try and convince everyone he's not sick, haven't you?
Franzi: *nods* *he's taken to absently stroking Bela*
Stephan: that's so he won't need a regency. And then, Prince Metternich will be the one in charge. And he
hates your Uncle Frankie, my father, me-
Franzi: why?
Stephan: you know how some people carry a picture around in their heads about how they think something should look. And they're not happy until it looks like that?
Franzi: like a painter?
Stephan: *nods* now, Prince Metternich has
one picture in his head. Uncle Frankie, my father, myself, Cousin Albert, even Uncle Karl [of Teschen] have a different picture. In Prince Metternich's picture...Uncle Frankie's not there. My father is not there.
Franzi: because they make his life difficult?
Stephan: yes.
Franzi: so you're like the good Bourbons and the wicked Orléans who cut off the king's head?
Stephan: yes. You being here? If it were up to Prince Metternich, you'd never have to leave Vienna. Cousin Leopold wouldn't be teaching you about mechanics and Prince Felix [Schwarzenberg] wouldn't be your tutor. You'd have some man who's starched outside and sawdust inside instead.
Franzi: like Louis XVII?
Stephan: except your Temple will be the Hofburg. He'll take Uncle Frankie, your Mama, Papa, Annchen, Lisa [7] away from you. He'll lock you up all alone.
Franzi: *looks at his cousin with big eyes*
Stephan: the bill in the diet is about that. Father had to promise them that he will...look at some legislation about removing some of Prince Metternich's censorship laws.
Franzi: he says those laws are necessary. That if we didn't have them, we'd all be in terrible danger all the time. And we'd wind up like Louis XVI.
Stephan: Father and Uncle Frankie want to change that. Not allow anyone to say what they like, but rather to add a penalty for if they say something that puts people - not just us - at risk. Like that the newspapers will be fined, or forced to print a retraction if they say something like...Uncle Frankie is Maxi's dad.
Franzi: mama cries whenever she hears them say that. And that I'm Prince Gustaf's son, not Papa's.
Stephan: you asked about Louis XVI, did you see what happened to him when they said his son wasn't his.
Franzi: *draws a finger across his throat*
Stephan: and five decades of civil war. Father and Uncle Frankie want to make it so that people who write things like that end up in jail. They don't want to do what Prince Metternich does and just jail people because they
thought it.
Franzi: why not just chop of Prince Metternich's head and be done with it? It's what Louis XVI should've done with Philippe Égalité.
Stephan: because then we're just as bad as him [8]
*cut to Vienna*
Prince Metternich: *tosses a newspaper angrily into the fireplace* *as we see the flames licking at it greedily we see the headline "Hungarian Diet Passes Regency Bill for Duke of Reichstadt. Censorship Laws Relaxed"* *for an illustration, there is a boat on a lake [Balaton?]* *in the boat - at one end - are Metternich, Archdukes Johann, Ludwig and Rainier* *in the boat's prow that's lifted out of the water is Frankie standing with Franz [Joseph] trying to "balance" the boat* *on the dock, Archduke Joseph waits for the boat to arrive so he can step in, clearly on Frankie's end* *Teschen is shown on the edge of the picture asking "room for one more?"* *to which the cartoon Metternich gestures to the vacant seat beside him*
Metternich: *face almost purple with rage* *stalks out of room*
*fade to black*
[1] while this may seem "unlikely", Hungary hasn't actually been suffering from the war in the same way that parts of Bohemia and Moravia have, so it's not unthinkable that, in fear of getting shelled, more than a few iron-works in Bohemia and Moravia have opened a "Hungarian branch" (or gone into partnership with Hungarian owners). Also, railways would be deemed as "essential services" so I could see a lot of people being "drafted" to work on the railways and roads. It gives those recently freed serfs something to do (and let's them feel like they're "involved" in the country), lets them be seen as productive (by parts of society that might otherwise be skeptical of the benefit of freeing the serfs) and they likely earn an income. Even if its not for the "technical work" they can at least be put to use clearing and excavating land for tracks, building bridges for railway routes, feeding the hungry workmen's camp etc etc. It beats starving to death in the cities
[2] Bratislava's main station was only completed in 1848, so it might be more along the lines of a "platform" than a "stationhouse", although presumably the station
could have probably been built earlier
[3] this might be his first trip "on his own" (sans Archduchess Sophie etc)
[4] this would be the National Hungarian Economic Association (while OTL it was pretty much just farming and farming equipment, I could see it having expanded its reach industrially)
[5] this exhibition is a combination of the 1850 exhibit in Budapest and the 1841 exhibit organized by the the patron of the National Hungarian Economic Association, Archduke Joseph. The war delayed the 1841 exhibit but timing it to coincide with a royal visit doesn't seem unthinkable. As for Franzi presenting the prizes, this is both to get him "exposure" in Hungary and because Ferdinand's epilepsy could make it very awkward if he starts having a fit in the middle of it.
[6] the order of Saint Stephen's statutes stipulate that the bearer must have "seize quartiers" of nobility. Csapó is the son of wealthy commoners. Figure he's a year away from dying and the man
has worked his ass off (the Economic Mirror being published when he was 65yo) for it.
[7] Franz Joseph's TTL sisters, Maria Anna (b.1835) and Elisabeth Sophie (b.1837)
[8] this is not to say that Frankie
hasn't imagined several ways of separating the man's head from his body with a blunt pair of gardening shears. Just you don't want to make Franz Joseph think that that's the way to rule
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