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All's Well That Ends
Well Play
All's Well That Ends Well tells the story of
love between different classes. Helena, the main character
in All's Well That Ends Well is the orphaned
daughter of the late physician Gerard de Narbon, now
taken in by the Countess of Rousillon. In the Countess'
care, she falls deeply in love with Bertram, the Countess'
son but keeps her feelings hidden. Bertram pays no attention
to this lowly maid. Now serving in the King of Frances'
court, Bertram learns the King suffers from festula.
If only the esteemed physician Gerard de Narbon were
alive, the King could be saved...
Meanwhile poor Helena still yearns for Bertram but
fears her social station will make a relationship impossible.
The Countess senses Helena's pain, learning it is from
being separated from Bertram. Helena reveals her intention
to go to Paris and cure the King with potion her late
father made, allowing her be close to Bertram again.
The Countess encourages Helena in her plan, happy Helena
loves her son. Helena tries to cure the King but he
will have none of it; he is sick of cures that don't
work. Seizing the initiative, Helena stakes her very
life on the potion, but should it work, she asks to
have the hand of any available gentleman in the King's
court. The potion works, Helena choosing Bertram to
be her husband...
However Bertram has other ideas; he cannot love nor
marry the daughter of a physician nor will he try. The
King says otherwise and so they are married but Bertram
hasn't accepted marriage lying down, escaping after
the wedding for a miltary campagn in Italy. Before leaving,
he sends his new wife home to Rousillon to join his
mother, declaring by letter that though he may be wed,
he has not consummated the marriage nor will he ever!
Bertram by letter, also tells Helena that only once
she can place the ring on his finger and has
borne him a child, can she call him her husband. Helena,
distraught, goes on pilgrimage, arriving in Florence,
Italy where she takes lodgings under an old widow who
has a daughter named Diana. Diana tells Helena of a
countryman who has gained great honor in a battle, a
certain Count Rousillon. Helena claims to know this
man only by name. It turns out Bertram has been trying
to seduce Diana, Helena, wishing the Count could love
her, his wife.
Helena recounts her ordeal to the widow and Diana,
gaining help in getting Helena's husband back. Diana
tricks Bertram into giving her his wedding ring, arranging
to bed Bertram at midnight. Instead Helena takes Diana's
place in the dark, the two finally making love. Helena
then places a ring on Bertram's finger given to her
by the King of France. Back in Rousillon, The Countess,
believing Helena dead, urges her son home. Now in Rousillon,
Bertram realises he lost a loving and devoted wife,
admitting to the King that he did love Helena... Forgiving
Bertram for his mistake, the King decides Bertram shall
remarry but spotting the ring he gave Helena on Bertram's
hand, he inquires how it got there, Bertram desperately
trying to avoid revealing anything. Diana appears, revealing
how that ring got there, demanding Bertram's hand. Helena
now arrives with the widow claiming she not only bears
Bertram's ring but carries child as well, Bertram happily
acknowledging Helena as his wife.
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI,
Scene VII
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Epilogue
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