Mozart Asks Salieri for Help
After Count Orsini-Rosenberg destroys several pages of Mozart's German opera, Mozart goes to Salieri to vent and to find a solution to his problems. Salieri, however, unbeknownst to Mozart, is working with Count-Orsini Rosenberg to sabotage Mozart's opera. In fact, Salieri is the mastermind behind many of Mozart's troubles; however, to put on an air of camaraderie, Salieri makes a promise to Mozart. He promises to talk to Emperor Joseph II of Austria on Mozart's behalf and to try to convince the emperor to give Mozart more creative license. Salieri does not act on his promise, but when the emperor coincidentally comes to a rehearsal and rules in Mozart's favor, Salieri takes credit and Mozart starts to believe that he has found a comrade.
Mozart's Alienation
Mozart feels alienated. No one wants to hire him to tutor their daughters. He tells Salieri about his current state. Salieri offers sympathy, but it is false sympathy because Salieri is the reason why Mozart is unable to find any employment: Salieri spread a rumor that Mozart has a tendency to have sexual relationships with female students.
The Requiem
Salieri commissions Mozart to write a Requiem and plans to not only take credit for the Requiem, but also to perform it at Mozart's funeral after he kills Mozart. Salieri's plans, however, are disrupted when the emotional and physical stress of composing the Requiem kills Mozart before Salieri can. In the end, the Requiem proves completely useless to Salieri. Mozart dies before completing it, and Constanze locks away the unfinished piece.
Mozart's Death
Mozart, considered by many to be the greatest composer of his time, has a pauper's funeral. His funeral does not consist of a grand procession or an ornate coffin, and very few people attend it. Moreover, Mozart's body is dumped in a mass grave and does not even receive a tombstone.
