[ WP ] You 're a history major . Your final exam is to travel back in time and successfully pass as a normal , everyday citizen . It 's not going well .

The chatter of the townsfolk in the courtyard below was drifting through the tiny window at the top of my cell and echoing around the small, dank chamber. I listened to the small-talk of the washer-women, interspersed with the screaming of playing children and horses hooves while I watched the latest drip of moisture make its slow journey from the high window to the floor. 
 
 Half of the mouldy bread roll I'd found next to the door three days ago still lay in my hand; I'd been forcing myself to ration, but dare n't leave it on the floor for the rats. The twentieth drip had almost reached the floor now, soon I could allow myself another bite of the roll, but not before I'd shifted my body across the floor, placed my head beneath the drip, extended my tongue and savoured the sweet, cold moisture. I ate my next portion of the damp, green bread as slowly as possible, savouring every chew. 
 
 Nobody had visited my cell in three days, and god only knew how long it would be before the next. 
 
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 *Wikipedia* 
 
 *The Prisoner of the Eastern Tower ( Person ) * 
 
 The Prisoner of the Eastern Tower *refers to the unknown man who was taken captive by the forces at* Galdor Castle *for unclear reasons during a particularly bloody civil war. He went on to remain captive in the castle for over three years after the war finished. * 
 
 *There is little literature regarding the identity of the prisoner apart from excerpts of his diary, written while in captivity, discovered in 1994 between the pages of a book in the castle's library. Originally the source of controversy, they were eventually proven authentic when the ink and paper were subjected to radio-carbon dating in 1999. * 
 
 *The fact that the man could read and write, a rarity among the majority of the population at the time, has led some to suggest that he was a member of the clergy, although this is disputed by historians who cite the strange style of language used, which was closer to modern English than any other document from the time; the clergy at the time wrote exclusively in Latin. * 
 
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 When I next opened my eyes there was nothing but blackness. I must have finally slept. That's when I heard the sound of scraping metal and footsteps on stone, faintly echoing through the narrow corridor outside. Gradually an orange flickering glow became visible, shapeless at first, indistinguishable between reality and a dream, the silhouette of the archway which formed the entrance to my cell began to take form, growing brighter and brighter with every heavy footstep. 
 
 Instinctively I reached for my weapon, and for the hundredth time cursed myself under my breath for losing it in the manner I had. The scraping of metal armour and the jangling of keys grew louder until two large figures stood blocking the light in the doorway. The iron bars screeched as one of the men dragged open the heavy iron doorframe. More strange words were angrily barked in my direction, presumably an order to stand and follow them. An order I would have happily followed if only I'd had the strength. Instead I was dragged out of my cell by my feet and back into the darkness of the corridor. 
 
 As we began to descend the stairs, still being dragged by my feet, I lost consciousness on the first step. 
 
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 *The diary and written literature are not clear on what became of the prisoner; some accounts from the time refer to the'disappearance' of a long-term prisoner from the castle, but whether this refers to him or another prisoner is unclear due to the entry being undated. * 
 
 *Historians argue over how he wrote with ink and paper while in captivity, most have indicated the possibility that he was given the freedom of the castle when it was liberated by the King's troops, although not granted full freedom for some reason. While many wild theories abound as to the eventual demise of the prisoner, the general consensus is that he either died in captivity or soon after release. * 
 
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 My head pounded from behind, the world span, I touched the back of my head and screamed in agony as I made contact; my hair was matted with blood and I could feel it trickling down my spine. I tried to open my eyes but immediately dry heaved, with no food or water for days I had nothing to vomit. The head injury combined with the dehydration meant that I had n't even noticed my broken ribs or ruptured spleen. 
 
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 *The Prisoner of the Eastern Tower ( Movie ) * 
 
 *The Prisoner of the Eastern Tower is a cult movie released by previously unknown director Stephen Quinn in 2017, premiering at the Cannes film festival of the same year and based on the controversial diary excerpts from Galdor Castle which are held at the Museum of London. * 
 
 *The movie stars Jesse Eisenberg as Richard, a young post-grad history student in the future who, in order to complete his degree, has to visit his chosen historical event in the past and successfully pass himself off as a local. The movie has been praised for incorporating local myths and spoken legend within the plot, which have been attributed to the movie ammassing a huge cult following. * 
 
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 I awoke to cold water passing over my lips, I eagerly drank, licking my dry, flaking lips as I tried to divert every drip of moisture into my mouth. I peeled open my eyes and peered into the blurry half-light, trying to focus on something for the first time in what felt like months. A kindly face, a woman. As my vision cleared, I noticed it was an elderly peasant woman, her wrinkled skin and hands showed a life of hard work, but mostly they had the typical elderly peasant look of hard-earned wisdom. I tried to utter hello in my best accent, but all that came out was a gargled croak. 
 
 “ Hush now. ” Spoke a kindly voice in unfaltering modern English. “ Drink and rest, swallow this, open your mouth. ” As I obliged, she placed the bread onto my tongue. It was wet, and tasted bitter and rancid on my tongue. 
 
 “ Now swallow, ” she ordered in a stern yet gentle voice. 
 
 I swallowed the bread, took another drink of the water and stared back at her. Her eyes looked younger than her face. 
 
 “ Who are you? ” I croaked, unsure if she'd understand my rasping attempt at speech. 
 
 “ A friend. ” 
 
 It only hit me now that this woman had been speaking modern English to me. I had no words, my mind was still reeling as I tried to understand what was happening. She looked into my eyes, as if hearing my thoughts. 
 
 “ They moved you here to be presented before the King tomorrow. I know you have questions, but this is n't the time. ” She was staring at her palm, swiping her fingers across it as if it were a tablet. “ The guards wo n't come past again for 12 minutes, and the diversion team will be here in 4. ” She grinned at me now, suddenly much more relaxed. She looked much younger than she had, her wrinkles seemed to be fading away. 
 
 Whatever she'd made me eat was starting to work, my bloody and bandaged head felt almost normal, I could breathe easily now without pain and my legs already felt stronger. I cleared my throat, licking my parched lips and took another sip of the water. 
 
 “ You're from the future too, right? That's why you can change your appearance like that. So this is a rescue mission? ” 
 
 “ Oh it's definitely a rescue! ” Grinning from ear to ear, she took my hand, her wrinkles now all but gone and her hair now shimmering blonde, “ but I'm definitely not *from* the future. ” She giggled. 
 
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 *The Prisoner in the Eastern Tower ( 2017 ): Plot Synopsis* 
 
 *Arriving a few weeks before the famous siege, Richard ( Eisenberg ) becomes side-tracked rescuing a young girl from the hands of a group of soldiers in the woods. The men return to kill him and he is forced into hiding with the girl and the local villagers. Eventually captured, his equipment is hidden by the girl's family, who attempt a rescue with the help of other villagers. * 
 
 *While the rescue ultimately fails and Eisenberg's character goes on to become the fabled'Prisoner in the East Tower', his various interactions with the villagers and their attempted rescue turns the common public against their dislikeable feudal lord. The commoners' uprising coincides with an attack on the rebel castle by the King's troops and becomes the deciding factor in the battle, subsequently ending the war. * 
 
 *Like the diary, the movie's conclusion is unclear on what later becomes of the protagonist. The closing scene shows the young girl digging up the time-traveller's equipment, fiddling with the controls, and staring up at the castle. * 

