1808, in Paris: Napoleon is increasingly anxious about having an heir, and the citizens of France are also agitated over the absence of same. His doctor says he's perfectly capable of having a child, but Josphine reinforces rumors that he's impotent and she refuses to voluntarily give him a divorce.
Napoleon's selection of a Russian Duchess to become his new wife after an intended divorce, but she becomes betrothed to another. Considerable political intrigues abound on the subject, but when his mistress Marie Waleska becomes pregnant, he hopes that will solve the problem. Holm is quite forceful hre, divorcing Josephine after all, while letting her retain the title of empress.
Unable to prove that Marie Waleska's pregnancy was his doing, he finally settles on a plan to marry Maria-Luisa of Austria.
Maria-Luisa gets the title of this episode, but does not appear. Instead, it is the machinations and heartbreak expressed by Billie Whitgelaw as Josephine that power the segment, alongside Ian Holm's sharp temper as Napoleon, seemingly thwarted in his ambition to secure a successor. Except for a few tender moments with the mistress played by Cahterine Schell as Marie Waleska, there is no love in this vignette.
Napoleon's selection of a Russian Duchess to become his new wife after an intended divorce, but she becomes betrothed to another. Considerable political intrigues abound on the subject, but when his mistress Marie Waleska becomes pregnant, he hopes that will solve the problem. Holm is quite forceful hre, divorcing Josephine after all, while letting her retain the title of empress.
Unable to prove that Marie Waleska's pregnancy was his doing, he finally settles on a plan to marry Maria-Luisa of Austria.
Maria-Luisa gets the title of this episode, but does not appear. Instead, it is the machinations and heartbreak expressed by Billie Whitgelaw as Josephine that power the segment, alongside Ian Holm's sharp temper as Napoleon, seemingly thwarted in his ambition to secure a successor. Except for a few tender moments with the mistress played by Cahterine Schell as Marie Waleska, there is no love in this vignette.