William Shakespeare's play, All's well that ends well, begins with a young Bertram assuming the title of Count of Rossillion upon the death of his father. Helena is the orphaned daughter of a great doctor, and for years lived in the Rossillion household under the care of Bertram's mother, the Countess. Over the years, Helena has developed a secret love for Bertram, although she dares not tell him. The Countess, however, is well aware of Helena's feelings and approves of them although Bertram may not.
Soon into the play, the King of France takes ill and Bertram leaves to attend the King's court. Helena follows him to Paris, bearing a prescription of her father's that she feels might hold a cure for the dying king. Helena's cure works and in the King's gratitude, he offers her, her pick of the bachelors in his court to take as a husband.
Helena chooses Bertram, and to Helena's dismay, Bertram is disgusted in the very thought of it.
Bertram feels that Helena is beneath him in status and would like nothing to do with her.
To Bertram's misfortune, the King keeps his word and Bertram is forced to marry Helena but immediately afterwards escapes with his friend, Parolles to Tuscany where a war is being fought.
Assuming her husband won't be far behind her, Helena returns to Rossillion and the Countess but soon she receives a message that Bertram will not be returning and that she may not call him husband until she gets his ring, which he always wears and bares him a child.
This of course is presumed impossible since Bertram is not even in the country and never intends on consummating the marriage.
The stubborn Helena takes the matter into her own hands and follows Bertram to Italy arriving in Florence to (as chance would have it) end up staying with a widow, whose daughter Diana, is the subject of Bertram's love.
Helena and Diana set out to beat Bertram at his own game.
Diana accepts Bertram's advances so that they exchange rings so she gets his ring before they have sex. In the dark, Helena and Diana switch places and they kill two birds with one stone: Helena acquires the ring and gets pregnant.
Back in France, a rumor of Helena's death has been spread, Bertram hears the rumor in Italy and feels that it is safe for him to return to France, free of an unworthy wife.
Back in France, Bertram is caught in a series of lies by the King who has Bertram arrested because he feels that Bertram has murdered Helena because he is wearing a ring that the King recognizes as Helena's.
Diana and her mother, the widow also arrive in France demanding justice which makes Bertram look even worse.
Helena finally appears, bearing Bertram's ring and carrying his child, she reveals the truth to all. Bertram repents of his wrong doings and declares his true love for Helena and as Shakespeare would have us believe, all's well that ends well.
