All's Well That Ends Well

Act 1, Scene 1: At the court of Count Rossillion, the Countess is morning her husband, who recently died, and sending off her son to the King of France as a ward.  Bertram, her son and therefore the new count, does not want to go but knows that he must.  Lafew, a minister, and Helena, a young lady who serves the countess, are also present at the farewell.  They discuss that the King of France is ill with an ulcer, and they wish that Helena’s recently deceased father were still alive to cure him because her father is a world-renowned physician.  The Countess tells Helena not to grieve so vehemently for her father, and after the farewell’s end, Helena reveals to the audience that her grief is more about the fact that Bertram is leaving because she is in love with him.  Her position, however, dictates that she could never have him.  Her friend Parolles enters and they have a lively conversation about virginity but he then has to leave to go to the French court with Bertram.  Since the King of France needs to be healed, Helena comes up with a plan to help though she doesn’t reveal how.

Act 1, Scene 2: Bertram and Parolles arrive at the French court and present themselves to the king. The King praises the dead count and offers positions in the military to the young men.  He then asks about the famous physician but is informed that Helena’s father is dead. 

Act 1, Scene 3: The Countess meets with her steward Rinaldo and her clown Lavatch.  Rinaldo informs her that he overheard Helena talking about her love for Bertram.  The Countess calls Helena and asks the Steward to leave since it wasn’t the first time she’d heard this rumor.  Helena enters and the Countess, sympathetic to the young girl who she loves like a daughter, gets her to confess her love.  She also confesses her scheme to go to Paris to heal the king with remedies her father left her in order to earn her a position in which she could marry Bertram.  The Countess then gives her permission to go through with the plan and wishes her luck. 

Act 2, Scene 1: The men of the King’s court leave to fight in the wars but Bertram is too young and not allowed to go.  Parolles tells him to steal away and go anyway and Bertram decides that is a good idea.  Lafew enters and asks the King if he will see Helena because Lafew thinks she can cure him.  The King assents and she enters to give him her remedy.  He, at first however, tells her that he will not have even though she is the daughter of Gerard de Narbon.  Helena continues to convince him however, offering her self up to torture and death if she fails.  If she succeeds however, the King must agree to have her marry any man she chooses.  The King, inspired by her confidence, agrees to her bargain. 

Act 2, Scene 2: The Countess seeks out Lavatch and wants him to go to the French court.  He does not want to go, but she first cajoles him them threatens him and finally he agrees to take a letter to Helena at the French court. 

Act 2, Scene 3: Helena cures the King and he gathers everyone for her naming of a husband.  Helena looks at all of the young men the King has brought forward and chooses Bertram.  The boy is outraged saying that she is too lowly a citizen for him.  The King, in answer, gives her titles so that she is worthy of him.  Bertram still complains but the King threatens him, and in the end he agrees to the marriage.  After everyone leaves, Lafew, who is jealous of Bertram’s misfortune, starts a small feud with Parolles who supports Bertram.  Bertram then enters and refuses to consummate his marriage, and instead decides to go off and fight in the wars and send Helena back to his mother’s house.