The setting is Vi e^nna in 1914=% %^before^ t]\he outbrea\@k#. of war=. -#The ar ^$$:istocratic a*@
nd somewhat jaded^ / ;Prince Nicki, pursu:ed by all the lad[i%es, begins a f;#lirtation with Mit\-zi,+# a crip(-).pl ed harp #ist who works ?in ( _;a suburban win()e-ga?/
r
@de+n_=, and who !is i%]n t .@urn! idolized by S#!
chani, an un [couth?*\ and violen *tly jealo*%us but$)(]cher. T-$heir
? firs@t enc ounter significantly takes plac..e i`n fro@_nt of St. Stephen's Cathe]@d/-(ral on Corpus Chris(ti  $day, wit%[h Nicki among the emperor's cavalry regimen@t. Later(
 , in th,=`e r*/efracted  light of?% falling appl# %e blossoms in@ the wine-garden--scenes of a disti\ll/:ed, ethere)-al beauty--Nicki gra*+dual^
l y wins/ her #( faith and love. Meanwhi l\e, amidst t`=he* s u`mptuous and corrupt milieu of t ,he
. fam-ily palace, Nic%#=\)ki is dr`=\awn (=into ?[ complicity ag%\ainst ;?his wil)-*l, as his unscrup?/[ulous mothe *r i//nforms h=(?im._. h e mus?.$t mar-ry Cecelia, the da u`g`;hte/_r of?` + a]+! wea?^#lthy commo:#^n_+`er, in order to revive`; the fami =/ly ![? fort,)u!ne. .Mit@zi has a_@ vision of The Iron. M/^-an (a symbol o:_][f the de?)clining_+ power and position of;: the Haps )@ burg dyn$ast%
y`) an.%d  _falls *]_be+!fore t*@he (=-crucifix# %%in, fear; but ]+( her l/+_#ove remai^#$ns steadfast, and she@% protests h$@er %.$fai,t@$h @
though_`# abu*sed by h
er] mo\the)!%r and Scha;(ni. Infur
ia#ted by her rej\ ection, S@cha=ni threaten`.)s t;#o kill !@:Nicki on? hi/ ]s wedding day unl+:ess Mitzi agrees to=: #marry hi+.m. Following the `,,processi[!onal/.: s?%pl*]endor of^( ].the cath])e^:/dra`$l wedding, `Schani^ appears to ca?,rry out hi+s =[#`thre_#a!?$;t, but;! %/Mitz@i arrives in tim?e to stop him/[% ; and th?]]$rough the do:wnpo :uring rain Nicki s-*ad$^ ,ly gazes ! on his* t.?rue love in the crowd !as#/ h!(e ?%dri*v^es aw(ay with his bride.