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Poor Lord Ritchie's Answer

A medieval lord’s mission to deliver a peace offering sword spirals into madness, forcing him to confront love, loss, and his own demons while battling the cruel influence of a hated wizard. Medieval Lord Ritchie is tasked with delivering his family's crucible sword to their enemies, a peace offering to save his royal family. Along the way, Ritchie encounters a series of surreal and disconnected events, leaving him to question whether these challenges are his own or if someone—or something—is manipulating him. Haunted by the possibility of a wizard's involvement, a notion he loathes, Ritchie's grasp on reality begins to falter. After a drunken attack in a public house, Ritchie finds himself alone in a room, experiencing a disorienting journey between past and present. As he faces his imminent death, he is transported back to the root of his tormented existence, revealing the full scope of his living horror. This screenplay, inspired by a short story chosen by the late actor Rutger Hauer for his 2004 contest, delves into the fragility of the human mind, the impact of vengeance, and the power of perception. Ritchie's earlier life as a pirate, detailed in the sequel "Breaking on Cave Island" from the “Giant Tales, World of Pirates” anthology, further illuminates the reasons behind his current descent into madness.