La lunga notte - La caduta del Duce (2024)

The King discovers that his son and daughter-in-law have devised a peace plan with the English without his knowledge and orders their removal from Rome. Petacci shows up at Palazzo Venezia while the meeting is in progress and she leaves him a written message. Party secretary Scorza presents another agenda but Grandi opposes it and gets his to be put to the vote: surprisingly, with 19 votes in favor (including that of Ciano), 8 against and 1 abstention, the motion of the President of the party passes Room. After the defeat, Mussolini prepares revenge against the traitors and meets Claretta again. Approached by an emissary of the King, Grandi denies wanting any role in a future government but opposes the possibility that Badoglio could be the Duce's successor. Once he returns home, Grandi discovers that his wife never left and that she has disappeared.

July 25th. Mussolini downplays the incident and proposes to arrest all the conspirators who, according to him, undermined the stability of the homeland. The Duce reveals that the Council could change the dynastic line and that many hierarchs would not look kindly on Prince Umberto. The King makes him understand that he has lost on every front and that they will discuss a new government together. At the end of the meeting, however, Mussolini was picked up by the Carabinieri with an excuse and then arrested. Grandi shows up at the OVRA and warns Ruggeri against touching the wife of the future Prime Minister; Antonietta is then freed. Shortly afterwards the King chooses Badoglio as the new Prime Minister, the fascist headquarters are stormed and the Petacci family and the Grandi manage to escape just in time while Beatrice, having returned to Rome after a change of heart, is reunited with Italo.