What Richard Did

Richard Karlsen, a charming and self-assured young man, enjoys a life of luxury on Dublin’s Southside. Once a rugby player for his elite school’s Senior Cup team, he and his friends are living it up during their final summer before heading off to university. His feelings intensify for Lara Hogan, who happens to be the girlfriend of Conor Harris, an old teammate. As Richard begins to win her affection, tensions rise and his friendship with Conor starts to deteriorate.

One evening, they all attend a lavish party in a wealthy suburb, where an unexpected arrival from Conor adds to Richard’s jealousy of Lara’s ongoing friendship with him. After a brief escape to gather his thoughts, Richard finds himself blocked from re-entering the party, while Lara and Conor remain immersed in the festivities. As the night unfolds, Richard’s frustration peaks, resulting in a heated argument with Lara when she steps outside. Conor, upset after dealing with some gatecrashers, confronts Richard. This confrontation escalates, leading Conor to strike Richard in anger. Cian and Stephen, two mutual friends, intervene, landing a punch on Conor. As Conor lies on the ground, Richard impulsively delivers a devastating kick to his head. Richard, Lara, Cian, and Stephen depart while witnessing Conor struggling to return to the party.

The following day brings shocking news: Conor has been found dead. Richard meets with Cian and Stephen, and the trio decides to conceal the troubling incident, leaving only Lara in the loop. She comforts Richard, assuring him that she misled the Garda investigators, claiming they left prior to the fight. In a moment of misguided loyalty, Richard attends a Garda station and provides a misleading statement. However, he confides in his manic depressive father, Peter, who is distraught and advises Richard to distance himself by retreating to their family beach house. Struggling with his guilt, Richard has a breakdown during this solitude.

Days later, Peter learns through his connections that the Garda investigation is largely directing its focus toward the gatecrashers, bypassing any inquiries into Richard and his friends. At Conor’s goodbye gathering, the impact of loss weighs heavily on Richard, leading him to seek solace in alcohol and briefly connect with another girl from the party. However, during Conor’s funeral mass, guilt overwhelms him as Conor’s devastated mother delivers an emotional speech, expressing disbelief at the silence surrounding the attack. Torn between his conscience and desire for liberation, Richard suggests eloping with Lara but ultimately fails to follow through. As time passes, Richard is seen embarking on his university journey, carrying the heavy burden of unconfessed guilt with him.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 17:47