Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum to Serbia
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister delivers an impossible ultimatum to Serbian diplomats, demanding full compliance within 48 hours after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The Serbian amba
Setting
Ballhausplatz, Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Ministry - A grand, high-ceilinged diplomatic chamber with ornate decor, heavy curtains partially drawn, and a large polished oak table at the center where the ultimatum is being delivered.
Characters
Serbian Ambassador
primary
A middle-aged man with a distinguished bearing, his sharp features and neatly trimmed beard accentuating his diplomatic poise. His dark eyes, usually calm and calculating, now reflect the shock of the moment.
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister
primary
A tall, imposing man in his late 50s with a stern, angular face, sharp gray eyes, and a meticulously groomed mustache. His posture is rigid, exuding authority and control.
Austro-Hungarian Aide
secondary
A young man in his late 20s, slender build with a slightly hunched posture from years of desk work. His sharp features are accentuated by a neatly trimmed mustache, and his nervous energy is evident in his quick, darting movements.
Serbian Diplomat
secondary
A middle-aged man with a wiry build and sharp facial features, his dark hair streaked with grey, dressed in the formal attire of a Serbian diplomat. His keen eyes dart between his superior and the Austro-Hungarian officials, betraying his anxiety.
Court Secretary
background
A middle-aged man of slight build, with thinning dark hair combed neatly back and wire-rimmed spectacles perched low on his nose. His hands are ink-stained from years of meticulous record-keeping, and his posture suggests a lifetime spent bent over documents.
Dialog
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister
His Imperial Majesty demands Serbia’s unconditional acceptance of these terms within forty-eight hours. Any deviation, however slight, shall be regarded as a declaration of war.
Serbian Ambassador
This... this is not an ultimatum. It is a death sentence for Serbian sovereignty!
Serbian Diplomat
Excellency, Article Five demands our government surrender its own officials to your courts. This is impossible.
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister
Impossible? Then your nation shall bear the consequences.
Serbian Ambassador
You leave us no choice but to... to consult with our government.
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister
Consult swiftly, Ambassador. The clock is ticking.
Serbian Diplomat
Excellency, we must depart at once. Belgrade must hear of this before dawn.