GThe palace intrigues thicken in the second episode of the miniseries The long night – the fall of the Duce (broadcast tonight at 9.30pm on Rai 1). Dino Grandi seems to be framed, but at the last minute Mussolini withdraws the arrest order against him. The president of the Chamber of Fasci he is ready to negotiate with the King, then with Umberto and Maria, just to see the Duce fall.
It also puts itself in the hands of Galeazzo Ciano and his followers to make Benito fall into the minority, who in the meantime, at Hitler’s behest, called the Grand Council. In fact, on 19 July 1943 the Duce met the Führer in Belluno to discuss the burdensome progress of the war, and more. Mussolini wants to look in the face the traitor hierarchs and eliminate them. Meanwhile, Edda has Clara thrown out of Palazzo Venezia.
The long night – the fall of the Duce: plot of the second episode
Dino Grandi (Alessio Boni) awaits arrest in his room. However, a call from the Duce cancels the order. Mussolini wants to use Grandi to understand who is plotting with him, Dino instead wants to find a way to oust the Duce and then take over as Prime Minister in a post-fascist future. He tries to speak to the King again, but Vittorio Emanuele III has no intention of intervening at the hands of the army. He entrusts the time to his son Umberto (Flavio Parenti).
«Only the army is responsible for removing the Duce» Grandi says to the heir to the throne. «It would be high treason», replies Umberto. Maria Jose (Aurora Ruffino) has the courage to take a step forward thinking about her future as sovereign: without her husband’s knowledge, she weaves the net for an agreement with the Anglo-Americans. Umberto learns of his wife’s moves, who risks being exiled and never seeing her children again. But Umberto doesn’t give in dictate of his father and decides to act on his own for the first time.
The meeting between Hitler and Mussolini
On 19 July 1943 Mussolini (Duccio Camerini) met Hitler in Belluno to discuss the complicated situation of the war. The allies have taken Palermo and are about to move up the peninsula. Rome is bombed. The Dux, on the instructions of the Führer, sends the convocation of the Grand Council to his hierarchs. What Dino had hoped for until now. But what does the Duce have in mind?
Mussolini wants to find internal enemies: he agrees to convene the Grand Council to look all traitors in the face. «I want to watch them stick their heads in the noose that will strangle them». Meanwhile, Dino Grandi together with Federzoni and Bottai are looking for allies to put the Duce in the minority: they need the help of Galeazzo Ciano, Benito’s son-in-law. Conquering him would also mean conquering the novices and the undecided. However, Ciano wants to grab his vote a post as Prime Minister in an Italy without Mussolini. She will have to deal with Dino.
Alessio Boni is Dino Grandi.
Edda Ciano’s jealousy for Clara Petacci
Edda Ciano’s (Lorenza Guidone) marriage to Galeazzo is in troublebut Mussolini’s daughter is more jealous of Clara than of her husband’s lovers. Hate that leech woman: his goal is to see her far from her father and outside Palazzo Venezia. She will succeed in her aim thanks to the help of her husband. In fact, Galeazzo discovers how Clara and her family work alongside the Duce to extract money from him. Edda reports everything to the Duce who chases Petacci out of her rooms. Clara has revenge in store.
Duccio Camerini and Martina Stella. (Photo by Benedetto)
The long night: the pure love between Italo and Beatrice
Italian (Riccardo De Rinaldis) continues to see Beatrice (Emma Benini), while the girl from Cremona continues to volunteer for the Red Cross. The bombing of Rome shows young people the horror of war. The two love each other despite Italo is increasingly closer to anti-fascist circles. She also has a tough one-on-one with Dino.
He and his friends, belonging to the Action Partythey have the dream of one Parliamentary republic with freedom of vote also for women women. Antonietta (Ana Caterina Morariu) prevents her niece from seeing Italo. Dino has the boy followed and decides to have Beatrice leave for Cremona, where his parents live.
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