King Leontes unjustly accuses his wife Hermione of adultery with King Polixenes. He imprisons Hermione, who falls into a swoon he believes is death, and orders her infant daughter to be abandoned on the shore. Sixteen years later, their daughter falls in love with Polixenes's son and when they come to Leontes' kingdom, her identity is revealed. Leontes and Polixenes become friends again, and Hermione is found to be alive after all.

Cruel Angelo is left in charge of Vienna when the Duke pretends to leave town. Angelo revives an old law against fornication and sentences Claudio to death for seducing Juliet, Claudio's betrothed. Claudio's sister, Isabella, pleads for his life and Angelo offers to spare him in exchange for her virginity. Angelo's corruption and severity are punished when the Duke reveals that he has witnessed it all.

Twins Sebastian and Viola are separated after a shipwreck and believe each other dead. Viola disguises herself as a page boy, Cesario, to work for Duke Orsino and falls in love with him, but he loves Olivia, who falls in love with Cesario. Seeing Sebastian one day, she mistakes him for Cesario and marries him. The confusion is cleared up when Viola and Sebastian meet again, and the Duke marries Viola. The subplot concerns the efforts of Sir Toby and...

Shakespeare's play about the weak and despicable King John, who tries to fend off the royal claims of Arthur, Duke of Brittany, who is supported by the King of France. In spite of the support of Faulconbridge, John alienates the English nobility and runs afoul of the Pope. In the end he is poisoned and his son Henry III becomes King.