PLOT

PROLOGUE

The Countess Livia Serpieri toyingly avoids the amorous advances of the young lawyer Gino. At the same time her mind travels back in time to an episode in her life 16 years before.

ACT ONE

A party is being given in the salon of the Serpieri Palazzo in Venice. Livia questions her cousin Roberto Donà regarding the pamphlets proclaiming independence she has just seen at the opera. As the conversation continues, Livia describes her passionless relationship with her husband, the Count Serpieri, and muses about the nature of love. As the Count introduces her to the Austrian Commandant Hauptmann, Roberto invites all the guests to chase out all the foreigners from Venice. Hans, an Austrian oficer, makes fun of him. Robert wishes demand satisfaction. Livia is attracted to Hans by his brash gesture and after asking the Commandant to be introduced, remains alone with the young oficer. A courtship ensues and the couple soon and themselves sharing a night of passion in Livia’s bedroom. Against the background of a Gondolier’s voice heard through the window, Livia implores Hans to continue loving her. The servant Giustina announces the sudden arrival of Roberto, Livia’s cousin. As Hans hides, Livia receives her cousin, who entrusts her with a jewel box containing money. At the same time he tells her to beware of the cynically libertine nature of the Austrian lieutenant. After Roberto departs, Hans asks Livia to give him the money, but for the moment she responds by offering him a medallion of hers. The couple resume their passionate embrace. The Austrian Oficers Club. The soldiers flirt with and deride their Italian female servants. The women, in turn, refuse these advances while hinting at the imminent revolt of their countrymen. Livia arrives in search of Hans, but his fellow oficers sarcastically inform her that she will not and him there. Hans is elsewhere, no doubt enjoying the tender company of his girlfriend of the moment. Shocked, Livia faints. Hans arrives and revives her. With his typical guile, renews his deceitful but reassuring wows of love. From outside we hear voices proclaiming the Kingdom of Piedmont’s declaration of war on Austria.

ACT TWO

From the window of her room Livia hears the clashing sounds of the war. Hans enters and she tries desperately to and a way to salvage him from the dangers of the battlefield. He reveals his idea of buying his way out of military duty with the help of a compliant doctor who, if bribed, will provide a medical certificate that sends him on sick leave to Verona. But the money for this scheme is needed immediately and Livia, after a brief hesitation, hands over to Hans the only funds she has – the contents of the jewel box entrusted to her by her cousin Roberto. The oficer greedily grabs the box’s contents and flees. The Count and Roberto enter the room and expound their differing opinions of the current political situation. Left alone with Livia, Roberto asks her to return the box and its contents. When he learns that the money has been given away, he is he is indignant and surprised. He abandons Livia – but not before demanding that she replace the money, at all costs. Giustina asks Lilvia permission to absent herself, invoking her mother’s illness as the reason. In a field hospital, after the defeat at Custoza, Roberto is at the bedside of a wounded comrade. Commandant Hauptmann arrives to investigate the enemy’s intentions and finds his opponent by now resigned to surrender. At the same time, news of the success of Garibaldi’s campaign lights the hearts of the Italians. Livia has secretly journeyed to Verona, in search of Hans. Arriving at the address he had given her, she sees Giustina lewdly embracing Hans. The two mock the passionate feelings of the Countess, from whom they have received the money that maintains their debauched lifestyle. Desparate, Livia decides to turn Hans in to his superiors. After having send a message to the Commandant with her coachman, she enters the house. Stunned, she listens – along with a disturbed Giustina – to Hans’ cinical comments and uncomfortable revelations.Upon the Commandant’s arrival, Hans is arrested. His crime is punishable by death. Giustina follows him and Livia is left alone. As she reads the last deceiving letter from her lover, the shots of the firing squad are heard outside.

EPILOGUE

The remembrances have ceased... Once again we find Livia with Gino, ever adulant despite the Countess’ silence.