Death of Richard II
Richard II, the deposed king of England, is imprisoned in Pontefract Castle. Sir Piers Exton, acting on ambiguous orders from Henry IV, enters Richard's cell with the intent to kill him. Richard, weak
Setting
A cold, damp dungeon cell within Pontefract Castle, a formidable Norman fortress in West Yorkshire. The stone walls are thick and rough, with only a small, barred window near the ceiling allowing a glimpse of the night sky. The floor is strewn with moldy straw, and the air is heavy with the scent of decay.
Characters
Richard II
primary
A man in his early 30s, though imprisonment has aged him prematurely. His once-regal bearing is now bowed, his frame gaunt from poor sustenance. His fair hair, once meticulously groomed, is now lank and unkempt, framing a face marked by deep shadows under his eyes and the pallor of confinement. His hands, once adorned with rings of state, are bare and show the signs of nervous fidgeting.
Sir Piers Exton
primary
A broad-shouldered knight in his early 40s, with a weathered face marked by a deep scar running from his left temple to the corner of his mouth. His short, dark brown hair is streaked with grey, and his beard is neatly trimmed. His steely grey eyes are sharp and unyielding, and his muscular build suggests years of combat training.
Dungeon Guard
secondary
A broad-shouldered man in his late thirties, with a weather-beaten face and deep-set eyes that have seen much. His beard is short and unkempt, and his hands are calloused from years of wielding weapons. He stands with the quiet authority of a seasoned soldier.
Servant Boy
background
A thin, pale boy of about 12 years with tousled brown hair and large, wary eyes. His small frame suggests malnutrition, and his hands are rough from menial labor. A faint scar runs along his right cheekbone.
Dialog
Richard II
What fate hast thou brought to this hallowed ground, Sir Piers? Speak plainly, for a king deserves no less than truth in his final hour.
Sir Piers Exton
The writ is sealed, my lord. God and England demand it done.
Richard II
God? Nay, ‘tis the will of usurpers thou servest, not the Almighty. Yet even now, I am anointed—no earthly hand can strip that grace.
Sir Piers Exton
Grace matters not to steel, sire.
Richard II
Then let it be swift, that men may remember how a king met his end—unbowed.