Act I

It is December 1823 and Spain's King Ferdinand VII is in Madrid. Ferdinand discusses past, present, and future with his advisor, Francisco Tadeo Calomarde. Ferdinand has just been restored to the throne with help from the French, and he and Calomarde discuss what to do with his political enemies, the Liberals. Of special note is the letter that the king's men have intercepted. It is from Francisco Goya to a friend. The letter contains words against Ferdinand, and for this Calomarde wants Goya hanged. Ferdinand appears calm and instructs Calomarde to arrange two meetings: first, with the commander-general of the Royal Volunteers, the king's army/police; second, with Don Jose Duaso y Latre, a priest and chaplain to the king. Suspense is aroused as a result of Ferdinand's order to Calomarde not to allow Father Duaso and the commander-general to see each other.

Scene two opens at...