Execution of Charles I
Charles I, the King of England, is about to be executed by beheading outside the Banqueting House at Whitehall. The scaffold is prepared, the crowd is silent, and the moment of regicide is imminent.
Setting
Outside the Banqueting House at Whitehall Palace, London. A raised wooden scaffold covered in black cloth stands before the grand Palladian facade. The execution platform is surrounded by a thick crowd, with soldiers maintaining order. The palace windows overlook the scene.
Characters
Charles I
primary
A man of middling height with a slender build, his once-regal bearing now weighed down by captivity. His face is pale, with deep-set eyes shadowed by exhaustion, framed by shoulder-length auburn hair streaked with grey. A carefully trimmed pointed beard and moustache adorn his face, though they appear less groomed than in his royal portraits. His hands, though delicate, bear the marks of recent cold.
Executioner
primary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 30s, his identity concealed by a black leather mask with narrow eye slits. His hands are large and calloused, gripping the executioner's axe with practiced ease. The mask obscures any distinguishing features, adding to the ominous aura surrounding him.
Bishop Juxon
secondary
A tall, gaunt man in his late 60s with a deeply lined face and thinning gray hair. His pale blue eyes are watery with emotion, and his hands are slightly trembling. He carries himself with the quiet dignity of a clergyman, though his shoulders are slightly hunched under the weight of the moment.
Guard Captain
secondary
A stern, middle-aged man with a muscular build, his face weathered from years of military service. His dark brown hair is cropped short, and a thick mustache frames his tight-lipped mouth. His sharp, watchful eyes scan the crowd and his soldiers with equal intensity.
Soldier
background
A young man in his mid-twenties, lean but strong from military training, with a weathered face marked by the hardships of war. His short, unkempt brown hair is partially hidden under a steel helmet, and his piercing blue eyes scan the crowd warily. His jaw is clenched tightly, revealing the tension in his muscles.
Dialog
Charles I
We go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.
Bishop Juxon
Your Majesty, it is meet that you commend your spirit unto God, as our blessed Lord did upon the cross.
Executioner
Make ready.
Charles I
Remember...
Bishop Juxon
In manus tuas, Domine...
Executioner
To the block.
Charles I
Let it be done.