Murder of Thomas of Woodstock
Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, is being secretly murdered in his dungeon cell by a group of men sent by King Richard II. The executioner and guard captain enter the cell under the preten
Setting
Calais Castle, a grim stone fortress overlooking the English Channel. The scene takes place in a dimly lit dungeon cell with damp stone walls and a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bands.
Characters
Thomas of Woodstock
primary
A gaunt, middle-aged nobleman with sharp aristocratic features, deep-set eyes, and greying hair. His once-imposing frame has been weakened by imprisonment, but his bearing still carries remnants of royal dignity. His hands, though shackled, show the callouses of a lifetime of swordplay and governance.
Guard Captain
secondary
A hardened English soldier in his late 30s, with a muscular build and a scar running from his left eyebrow to his cheekbone. His weathered face speaks of years spent on battlefields and in service to the crown. His short, dark hair is streaked with gray, and his eyes are cold and calculating.
Executioner
secondary
A broad-shouldered, imposing figure clad in a dark hooded robe that conceals his face. His hands are covered in rough leather gloves, and his muscular frame suggests years of wielding heavy weapons. The only visible features beneath the hood are his cold, unblinking eyes.
Servant
background
A young male attendant, approximately 18-20 years old, with a slender build and unkempt brown hair. His face is pale with fear, and his hands tremble slightly as he holds the torch. His simple woolen tunic is slightly too large for him, suggesting it may be borrowed or handed down.
Dialog
Thomas of Woodstock
So, my nephew sends you to do his bidding like common cutthroats? Tell me, Captain, does your conscience trouble you, or has loyalty to the crown dulled it entirely?
Guard Captain
My duty is to the king, my lord. No more, no less.
Thomas of Woodstock
Duty? A fine word for murder. By what law does Richard condemn me? Where are my peers to judge me?
Guard Captain
The king's will is law.
Thomas of Woodstock
Then God have mercy on England when her king confuses will with justice. I pray He remembers this night when Richard stands before His judgment.
Guard Captain
Enough. The executioner comes.
Thomas of Woodstock
Then let him come! I fear not the hand of a hireling. But mark this - my blood will cry out from these stones until justice is done.