What Richard Did (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Conor died from a severe head injury caused by Richard's kick. After Conor was knocked to the ground by Cian and Stephen, Richard delivered a single, powerful kick to his head. While Richard did not intend to kill him, the kick struck Conor's head with enough force to cause fatal injuries. Conor was found dead the next day.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Richard as physically imposing and quick-tempered, with his rugby background hinting at his capacity for sudden, violent action.

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Richard kicked Conor in a moment of impulse and rage after being struck by Conor during a confrontation. The argument had escalated quickly, Richard was frustrated over his jealousy regarding Lara, blocked from re-entering the party, and then struck by Conor. When Conor was knocked down by Cian and Stephen, Richard acted without thinking, delivering the fatal kick in a fit of anger and adrenaline.

Foreshadowing: Richard's jealousy and frustration build throughout the evening, with his inability to re-enter the party marking a turning point where his emotions spiral.

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Lara lied to protect Richard, whom she had developed strong feelings for. After Richard won her affection away from Conor, she sided with him emotionally. She provided the Gardaí with a false statement claiming they left before the fight occurred, effectively covering for Richard and his friends despite knowing the truth about what happened.

Foreshadowing: Lara's shift in allegiance is evident throughout the party scene as she chooses to leave with Richard rather than stay with Conor.

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Richard's father Peter, who suffers from manic depression, believed sending Richard to the family beach house would help him escape the stress of the investigation. However, this decision was misguided, instead of relieving Richard's guilt, the isolation intensified his psychological torment, leading to a breakdown. Peter's own emotional instability and poor judgment exacerbated the situation rather than helping.

Foreshadowing: Peter's introduction establishes his mental health struggles, suggesting his advice would be flawed and potentially harmful.

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Richard, Cian, and Stephen chose to conceal the incident out of fear of consequences. They were all from privileged backgrounds with promising futures ahead of them. The prospect of arrest, criminal charges, and ruining their lives led them to make the fatal decision to stay silent. Lara was the only one who knew the truth and chose to protect Richard by lying to investigators.

Foreshadowing: The friends' privileged upbringing and Richard's carefree lifestyle establish their tendency to prioritize their futures over accountability.

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The Garda investigation focused on gatecrashers because they were the obvious suspects, unknown outsiders who had already caused trouble at the party. Peter Karlsen learned through his connections that police were not looking at Richard or his friends. This allowed Richard temporary relief from fear of arrest, though it did nothing to alleviate his crushing guilt.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the party, gatecrashers are mentioned as causing trouble, making them convenient suspects for investigators.

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Richard's breakdown at the beach house was caused by the overwhelming guilt he carried alone. Isolated from his friends and surrounded by silence, he was forced to confront the reality of what he had done, killed another person and concealed it. The weight of his secret, combined with the realization that he had gotten away with it scot-free, shattered him psychologically.

Foreshadowing: Richard's guilt is visible from the moment he learns of Conor's death, with his emotional state deteriorating progressively.

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Richard fails to confess due to a combination of cowardice and the desire to escape his circumstances. At the funeral, he briefly considers confessing when Conor's mother speaks about the silence surrounding her son's death. However, he ultimately cannot bring himself to sacrifice his freedom and future. His failed attempt to elope with Lara represents his final grasp at escaping his guilt through running away rather than facing it.

Foreshadowing: The funeral scene marks Richard's closest moment to confession, as Conor's mother's words clearly pierce his conscience.

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Richard was drawn to Lara despite her being Conor's girlfriend because their connection represented something forbidden and exciting during his last summer before university. Lara's continued friendship with Conor, even after Richard began pursuing her, fueled Richard's jealousy and intensified his desire. This complicated love triangle directly contributed to the tensions that led to the fatal confrontation.

Foreshadowing: Richard's feelings for Lara develop early, with his jealousy growing as he observes her interacting with Conor at the party.

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The ending shows Richard beginning university while permanently burdened by his unconfessed guilt. There is no redemption or catharsis, Richard simply carries forward with his life, forever marked by the secret of what he did. The film suggests he will continue living with this weight, potentially destroying his ability to form genuine connections or find peace. The title's implication is clear: Richard killed someone and got away with it, but lost his soul in the process.

Foreshadowing: The entire narrative builds toward this outcome, with the lack of resolution being the deliberate thematic choice of the film.

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Richard attended the funeral because he could not stay away, despite his guilt. His presence was driven by a mix of obligation, grief for his former friend, and perhaps a subconscious desire to be confronted. However, his guilt proved too overwhelming, he couldn't face Conor's mother or the truth, leading him to seek escape through alcohol and eventually suggest eloping with Lara as an alternative to dealing with his conscience.

Foreshadowing: Richard's emotional state at the goodbye gathering shows his inability to process grief healthily.

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Cian and Stephen were involved in the fight by intervening on Richard's behalf, Cian landed the first punch that knocked Conor to the ground. Together with Richard, they decided to conceal the incident and not speak to police. They are last seen at Conor's goodbye gathering, but unlike Richard, they do not appear to experience the same level of moral crisis. Their fates beyond the story remain unknown, though they share Richard's secret.

Foreshadowing: Cian and Stephen's loyalty to Richard is established early in their friendship dynamics.

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