"I needed to relieve myself" is actually in the episode as an excuse. I've now seen the second episode, and it turns out I have misremembered about Katte/Wilhelmine as an official secondary pairing; they're just having A Moment at one point. Also, there are only two parts, the rest of the two folders are filled with repeats.
So, here's what happens in part II
Fritz: *tries to have a serious conversation with his father which starts with both of them attempting to reach out to the other and ends with FW exploding again, because the moment Fritz tries to proclaim his filial love, FW, who until that point actually has made an effort to explain royal responsibility and how Prussia is still a small state and what he hopes for the future, suspects his son is secretly mocking him, a lying liar who lies and starts with the abuse again*
FW: *orders F to come along on the next big hunting expedition*
F: *starts to get drunk on said expedition, grabs Seckendorf and plainly asks whether the Emperor would help him by inviting him or ordering him to take a journey RIGHT NOW*
Seckendorf: Um. Sure, we could do that for you. And help you out with some money for books. But you know what else would be cool? For you not to marry the King of England's daughter.
FW: Fritz, come here, be a man, drink some more!
F: *gets totally drunk, calls the Prussian uniform he wears a Sterbekittel (deathbed shroud), then declares he loves his father the tyrant anyway, really, DAD I LOVE YOU! *passes out*
FW: What the hell was that?
F: *is at secret hideout with books, meets Dorothea "Doris" Ritter*
D: I live downstairs and heard your wonderful flute playing. Let's make music together! I also write poetry.
F: You have great taste in music. From you, even German poetry is okay by me.
*Romance "The Prince and the shy, musically gifted middle class girl" ensues*
SD: My children, my day of triumph has finally dawned. Today, your father will receive the English ambassador and make both your marriages definite.
F: Err.
W: Fritz, this is our day! Freedom at last! They're going to make you governor of Hannover and you'll be away from Dad's supervision for good!
F: *does not protest or mention Doris to anyone ever again*
British ambassador: So, instead of us paying Princess Amelia a big dowry, she's getting Hannover itself in that your son is going to run it for us. Otoh, you won't have to pay a dowry for your daughter, either.
FW: Sounds good to me. You know, if you'd offered those terms, you could have had my daughter three years ago when she was a bit fresher and prettier than she's now. Women age so quickly, eh?
British ambassador: ...also, since we're doing all this in the spirit of British/Prussian harmony: dismiss Grumpkow, please. He's totally bribed by the Austrians and always hanging out with Seckendorff.
FW: How dare you insult my loyal servant Grumpkow!!! The marriages are off! *assaults British Ambassador, has to be pulled off him*
Katte: Bad news. Your father just assaulted the British ambassador.
F: Okay, Hans, get me a chat with the British ambassador alone, I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
Katte: Dear Sir, before you talk to the crown prince: please keep him from doing something stupid.
F: So, if I were to, say, run off, and come to Uncle George, would you help me?
British Ambassador: Youth can be so romantic. I wish you all the best, your highness, but we're not starting a war with Prussia over you.
Keith: *exists after all, but only in this second part*
FW: *gets drunk with Grumpkow and Seckendorff*: You know, I actually regret that British marriage didn't work out. I hate him, he hates me, him being in Hannover would have given us a break from each other. Grumpkow, I don't get people. I wish I was a simple landowner, I could do that. Just as long as I don't have to understand what the hell that boy is thinking!
F: *thinks*
Katte: Your highness, here's a letter from your brother I wasn't supposed to give you until he's off with the King.
W: *reads* ZOMG! Oh no! What if he does do it this time!
Katte: Don't worry. I've told him how dangerous and ill advised this plan is. And then I took drastic measures. I'm his bff, after all, he won't desert without me, and I'm staying right here in Berlin. Which he knows. So he won't desert.
W: *literal quote* "You are very sure of my brother, Katte." ("Sie sind sich meines Bruders sehr sicher, Katte.")
Katte: Well, yeah.
W: *another literal quote from episode*: "Why is there all this bitterness between us, Hans?*
(Me: Okay, now you're Hans-ing him, too? And this Moment must be what I was misremembering.)
Katte: *touches her shoulder, sort of murmurs in her ear* No bitterness on my part. I have only respect for you*
*end of moment*
Meanwhile, on the road:
F: So, Keith, organize an escape horse for me. We're deserting.
Keith: *gulp*
Escape attempt: *fails*
Keith: *confesses all to FW*
FW vs F confrontation: *happens in several parts, including an almost son-stabbing prevented by loyal officer*
FW: *shows up at his wife's palace two minutes after his courier who was supposed to deliver a "prepare the Queen: this happened" letter to Frau von Ramen does, thus catches wife and daughter unawares*: Your son is dead!
SD: *breaks down*
FW:...to me, I mean he's dead to me!
W: what happened to Fritz?
FW: You are a traitor, too! *lunges, hair drags*
Frau von Ramen: Don't go Philipp and Peter the Great on us, your highness.
FW: I respect you for saying that. Take care of the queen. But as for you, Wilhelmine, punishment awaits!
*sadly, this is the last we see in this miniseries of Wilhelmine, this is how we leave her*
FW: *arrests Katte*
Katte: *is calm and loyal, but inadvertendly manages to let it slip Fritz owns books; Detective FW is on the case*
FW: *finds secret book hideout with poor Doris Ritter* : WHORE! Doctor and midwife, pay test that theory for me.
Doctor and midwife: Sorry, Sir, she's a virgin like she said she was.
FW: She stiill gets whipped in every public place in Potsdam and then locked up for life.
Doris Ritter: *exits this story*
FW: *paces up and down, and we soon realise he's waiting for a message from the war tribunal*
Grumpkow: Sorry, your highness, they sent it back again with the same conclusion.
FW: *has dialogue with Grumpkow consisting of literal quotes from his letters to the war tribunal*
Grumpkow: I just realise I'm the closest thing you have to a therapist in this tale, your majesty, and I'd just like to say, this isn't what I signed up for. Also, don't kill your son. I just think he'd make a better successor than the nice kid which comes next.
FW: But he needs to finally learn his lesson. Okay, I'll send some instructions with the Katte sentence.
F: Is sullen and pissed off but not repentant and clearly not expecting anything worse to happen than him getting locked up for a few months, until FW's letter arrives, upon which: NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'll resign my sucession rights, I'll do anything! Let me talk to my father again!
Küstrin staff: Sorry, but that sentence will get carried out tomorrow morning.
Katte: *arrives at Küstrin*
Pastor from opening scene: *tries to comfort Fritz, then Katte*
FW and SD: have their only scene in both parts where they're not wearing wigs. Instead, a sleepless, dishevelled FW shows up in his wife's bedroom for the first time since years:
FW: I can't bear to be alone anymore. I only meant for the best, Fieke (Prussian nickname for "Sophie"), do you understand that? I only ever meant for the best. ("Ich wollte doch nur das Beste.") *stars sobbing*
SD: *stares in disbelief, relunctantly embraces husband*
A few hours later, Küstrin, early in the morning:
Fritz: *has to be dragged to the window, sobbing*
Katte: *is calm and collected*
Fritz: Forgive me!
Katte: No forgiveness necessary. This is God's will.
(Me: "This is God's will?" what happened to "I die for you with joy in my heart" or "It's easy to die for so sweet a prince"?)
Fritz: *faints*
Executioner: *swings*
Opening scene with the Pastor writing his letter to FW: *is repeated, ending on the close-up of Fritz' tormented face*
Credits: Tell us Fritz became King ten years after, and for the rest of his life was lonely and paranoid and the ruler who made Prussia into a European superpower with questionable means.
Scenes of particular note:
6:36: Fritz gets drunk at the hunting, talks to Seckendorff, gets more drunk and has his "I hate my life! I love you, Dad!" outburst. (W & SD are also present and watch with rising degrees of horror)
(30:50: the other drunk scene, FW with Seckendorff and Grumpkow has his "how is this my life? I don't get people" moment)
36:26: Wilhelmine and Katte are having their chat
44:07: First post-escape attempt FW vs F confrontation
50:52: FW shows up at SD's to arrest Katte and to deliver his "your son is dead" declaration
58:05: FW paces, waiting for Katte's sentence by tribunal, reacts when Grumpkow passes it on
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Re: Alternate universes where everyone is at least incrementally more happy
Date: 2019-10-28 07:54 pm (UTC)So, here's what happens in part II
Fritz: *tries to have a serious conversation with his father which starts with both of them attempting to reach out to the other and ends with FW exploding again, because the moment Fritz tries to proclaim his filial love, FW, who until that point actually has made an effort to explain royal responsibility and how Prussia is still a small state and what he hopes for the future, suspects his son is secretly mocking him, a lying liar who lies and starts with the abuse again*
FW: *orders F to come along on the next big hunting expedition*
F: *starts to get drunk on said expedition, grabs Seckendorf and plainly asks whether the Emperor would help him by inviting him or ordering him to take a journey RIGHT NOW*
Seckendorf: Um. Sure, we could do that for you. And help you out with some money for books. But you know what else would be cool? For you not to marry the King of England's daughter.
FW: Fritz, come here, be a man, drink some more!
F: *gets totally drunk, calls the Prussian uniform he wears a Sterbekittel (deathbed shroud), then declares he loves his father the tyrant anyway, really, DAD I LOVE YOU! *passes out*
FW: What the hell was that?
F: *is at secret hideout with books, meets Dorothea "Doris" Ritter*
D: I live downstairs and heard your wonderful flute playing. Let's make music together! I also write poetry.
F: You have great taste in music. From you, even German poetry is okay by me.
*Romance "The Prince and the shy, musically gifted middle class girl" ensues*
SD: My children, my day of triumph has finally dawned. Today, your father will receive the English ambassador and make both your marriages definite.
F: Err.
W: Fritz, this is our day! Freedom at last! They're going to make you governor of Hannover and you'll be away from Dad's supervision for good!
F: *does not protest or mention Doris to anyone ever again*
British ambassador: So, instead of us paying Princess Amelia a big dowry, she's getting Hannover itself in that your son is going to run it for us. Otoh, you won't have to pay a dowry for your daughter, either.
FW: Sounds good to me. You know, if you'd offered those terms, you could have had my daughter three years ago when she was a bit fresher and prettier than she's now. Women age so quickly, eh?
British ambassador: ...also, since we're doing all this in the spirit of British/Prussian harmony: dismiss Grumpkow, please. He's totally bribed by the Austrians and always hanging out with Seckendorff.
FW: How dare you insult my loyal servant Grumpkow!!! The marriages are off! *assaults British Ambassador, has to be pulled off him*
Katte: Bad news. Your father just assaulted the British ambassador.
F: Okay, Hans, get me a chat with the British ambassador alone, I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
Katte: Dear Sir, before you talk to the crown prince: please keep him from doing something stupid.
F: So, if I were to, say, run off, and come to Uncle George, would you help me?
British Ambassador: Youth can be so romantic. I wish you all the best, your highness, but we're not starting a war with Prussia over you.
Keith: *exists after all, but only in this second part*
FW: *gets drunk with Grumpkow and Seckendorff*: You know, I actually regret that British marriage didn't work out. I hate him, he hates me, him being in Hannover would have given us a break from each other. Grumpkow, I don't get people. I wish I was a simple landowner, I could do that. Just as long as I don't have to understand what the hell that boy is thinking!
F: *thinks*
Katte: Your highness, here's a letter from your brother I wasn't supposed to give you until he's off with the King.
W: *reads* ZOMG! Oh no! What if he does do it this time!
Katte: Don't worry. I've told him how dangerous and ill advised this plan is. And then I took drastic measures. I'm his bff, after all, he won't desert without me, and I'm staying right here in Berlin. Which he knows. So he won't desert.
W: *literal quote* "You are very sure of my brother, Katte." ("Sie sind sich meines Bruders sehr sicher, Katte.")
Katte: Well, yeah.
W: *another literal quote from episode*: "Why is there all this bitterness between us, Hans?*
(Me: Okay, now you're Hans-ing him, too? And this Moment must be what I was misremembering.)
Katte: *touches her shoulder, sort of murmurs in her ear* No bitterness on my part. I have only respect for you*
*end of moment*
Meanwhile, on the road:
F: So, Keith, organize an escape horse for me. We're deserting.
Keith: *gulp*
Escape attempt: *fails*
Keith: *confesses all to FW*
FW vs F confrontation: *happens in several parts, including an almost son-stabbing prevented by loyal officer*
FW: *shows up at his wife's palace two minutes after his courier who was supposed to deliver a "prepare the Queen: this happened" letter to Frau von Ramen does, thus catches wife and daughter unawares*: Your son is dead!
SD: *breaks down*
FW:...to me, I mean he's dead to me!
W: what happened to Fritz?
FW: You are a traitor, too! *lunges, hair drags*
Frau von Ramen: Don't go Philipp and Peter the Great on us, your highness.
FW: I respect you for saying that. Take care of the queen. But as for you, Wilhelmine, punishment awaits!
*sadly, this is the last we see in this miniseries of Wilhelmine, this is how we leave her*
FW: *arrests Katte*
Katte: *is calm and loyal, but inadvertendly manages to let it slip Fritz owns books; Detective FW is on the case*
FW: *finds secret book hideout with poor Doris Ritter* : WHORE! Doctor and midwife, pay test that theory for me.
Doctor and midwife: Sorry, Sir, she's a virgin like she said she was.
FW: She stiill gets whipped in every public place in Potsdam and then locked up for life.
Doris Ritter: *exits this story*
FW: *paces up and down, and we soon realise he's waiting for a message from the war tribunal*
Grumpkow: Sorry, your highness, they sent it back again with the same conclusion.
FW: *has dialogue with Grumpkow consisting of literal quotes from his letters to the war tribunal*
Grumpkow: I just realise I'm the closest thing you have to a therapist in this tale, your majesty, and I'd just like to say, this isn't what I signed up for. Also, don't kill your son. I just think he'd make a better successor than the nice kid which comes next.
FW: But he needs to finally learn his lesson. Okay, I'll send some instructions with the Katte sentence.
F: Is sullen and pissed off but not repentant and clearly not expecting anything worse to happen than him getting locked up for a few months, until FW's letter arrives, upon which: NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'll resign my sucession rights, I'll do anything! Let me talk to my father again!
Küstrin staff: Sorry, but that sentence will get carried out tomorrow morning.
Katte: *arrives at Küstrin*
Pastor from opening scene: *tries to comfort Fritz, then Katte*
FW and SD: have their only scene in both parts where they're not wearing wigs. Instead, a sleepless, dishevelled FW shows up in his wife's bedroom for the first time since years:
FW: I can't bear to be alone anymore. I only meant for the best, Fieke (Prussian nickname for "Sophie"), do you understand that? I only ever meant for the best. ("Ich wollte doch nur das Beste.") *stars sobbing*
SD: *stares in disbelief, relunctantly embraces husband*
A few hours later, Küstrin, early in the morning:
Fritz: *has to be dragged to the window, sobbing*
Katte: *is calm and collected*
Fritz: Forgive me!
Katte: No forgiveness necessary. This is God's will.
(Me: "This is God's will?" what happened to "I die for you with joy in my heart" or "It's easy to die for so sweet a prince"?)
Fritz: *faints*
Executioner: *swings*
Opening scene with the Pastor writing his letter to FW: *is repeated, ending on the close-up of Fritz' tormented face*
Credits: Tell us Fritz became King ten years after, and for the rest of his life was lonely and paranoid and the ruler who made Prussia into a European superpower with questionable means.
Scenes of particular note:
6:36: Fritz gets drunk at the hunting, talks to Seckendorff, gets more drunk and has his "I hate my life! I love you, Dad!" outburst. (W & SD are also present and watch with rising degrees of horror)
(30:50: the other drunk scene, FW with Seckendorff and Grumpkow has his "how is this my life? I don't get people" moment)
36:26: Wilhelmine and Katte are having their chat
44:07: First post-escape attempt FW vs F confrontation
50:52: FW shows up at SD's to arrest Katte and to deliver his "your son is dead" declaration
58:05: FW paces, waiting for Katte's sentence by tribunal, reacts when Grumpkow passes it on
107:18: Katte arrives at Küstrin.