After halting a duel between warring nobles Bolingbroke (Rory Kinnear) and Mowbray (James Purefoy), Richard II (Ben Wishaw) banishes both men from his kingdom. Following the death of Bolingbroke's father, John of Gaunt (Patrick Stewart), Richard seizes his money and land to pay for wars against rebels in Ireland. Bolingbroke returns to claim his birthright and more.