Young writer Will Shakespeare arrives at his Stratford family home to a frosty reception from his wife Anne Hathaway. He is broke but hopes to use some of his company and his son Hamnet to stage a performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Hamnet is more into wrestling and hunting than the strange world of boy actors and is most unwilling to play a female on stage. His twin sister Judith and Meg the housekeeper help him out.