ACT I

Couschi is only a boy when his home in a village on the island of Saint Croix is set on fire.

He is captured and sent to the other end of the earth on a Danish ship.

He arrives in Stockholm, a gift to the Swedish queen Louisa Ulrika. Since she is inspired by Rosseau, and therefore believes that an education free from the control of others will result in a well-adapted adult, Couschi is allowed to run free.

There is a banquet at the palace. When Couschi and Crown Prince Gustav make mischief, Gustav is reprimanded while Couschi is allowed to continue. The courtiers want to control Couschi, but he is protected by the queen. He is nicknamed Badin because of his behaviour.

The queen decides to have Badin christened, which makes him an official member of the royal family and of the Church of Sweden. He is given the name Adolf Ludvig Gustav Fredrik Albert, all of them names of kings of Sweden. Badin and Crown Prince Gustav are brought up as equals, and they dress the same. They both have an interest in ballet and drama, introduced to them by Louis Gallodier.

Badin has great freedom, but the lack of direction makes him insecure. The queen agrees to rein him in and ensures he is given a formal education. Despite the courtiers’ disapproval, she is protective of her foster son, who in some respects enjoys more privileges than the royal children. In her mind, he is not only an experiment – she loves him like her own son. Badin is reminded of his own mother’s fate and struggles to find meaning in his new life.

The royal children stage a play at the Drottningholm Palace theatre. Gustav and Badin enjoy performing, but Badin has trouble adjusting to his situation in life. The two are as close as real brothers, but Gustav despises his mother, who has always been hard and demanding towards him but is affectionate towards Badin. The boys swear each other eternal friendship.

Queen Louisa Ulrika intends to strengthen the bond between Sweden and Prussia by marrying off her son, but the Councillor of State suggests that he becomes engaged to Princess Sophia Magdalena of Denmark. Crown Prince Gustav agrees, both in defiance of his mother and as a way of withdrawing from her sphere of influence.

The wedding reception takes place at Drottningholm Palace. The marriage thwarts Louisa Ulrika’s plans and creates an insurmountable rift between mother and son.

There is no love between the spouses. On the wedding night, the newlyweds lie stiffly next to each other.

Badin sees Sophia Albertina in secret. Their love and friendship grow. Badin is devoted to the queen and her son, so their affair must be secret.

ACT II

Louisa Ulrika’s husband, King Adolf Fredrik, dies and is buried on July 30, 1771.

The crown passes to the Crown Prince, who becomes Gustav III. During the celebrations, Badin dances in tribute to the new king and gets standing ovations for his talent and passion for the arts. The new king notices that the people’s affection for Badin is stronger than their loyalty to him, it makes him envious.

Badin likes to engage in royal affairs, but he also takes an interest in Bible studies. Inspired by the tale of Joseph and his brothers, he begins to see himself as protector of the royal family, sent by God. By forgiving them for having enslaved him, he believes he can guide them and protect them.

Louisa Ulrika is proud of her son, but she resents her demotion to unpopular queen dowager. She does not give up her power plans, however, and asks Badin to spy on the king. Badin consents, well aware that he must make sure to remain loyal to both.

The marriage between Gustav III and Sophia Magdalena is frosty; nearly ten years later they still haven’t produced an heir. The king solicits the services of his equerry, Count Adolf Fredrik Munck, to assist him in the royal bedchamber – it proves successful.

Tongues start wagging as soon as people hear of Munck’s part in the conception. He is a notorious womanizer, and there are rumours that he is the father of the future crown prince. Louisa Ulrika, who despises Sophia Magdalena, has been expecting these rumours.

Louisa Ulrika asks Badin if the rumours are true. He denies that they are and tells her that looking into the matter would harm the royal family. The king is enraged by his mother’s meddling. He threatens to banish her to Swedish Pomerania. He tells her to draw up and sign a formal rejection of the rumours, stating that Gustav III is the legitimate father.

The love between Badin and Sofia Albertina grows. To most people Badin appears confident, but with her he becomes vulnerable. They know that they can never be together publicly, but their mutual devotion endures long after the end of the affair.

On her deathbed, Louisa Ulrika asks Badin to burn all her papers after she is gone, which he does with the help of the king’s other siblings, well aware that it will upset the king. The paternity certificate is also destroyed. Burning the documents brings up memories of the fire at his childhood home.

Gustav III discovers what has happened and confronts his childhood friend, threatening to behead him. The King challenges Badin to a duel. The King wins, but then he remembers the pledge of eternal friendship and shakes Badin’s hand. They become reconciled at the death of the queen dowager. Gustav III offers Badin a position at court, but Badin choses life as a free man.

TRANSLATION Katarina Trodden