After the Globe Theatre is engulfed in flames during a performance of Henry VIII in 1613, a weary William Shakespeare, portrayed by Ian McKellen, returns to his home in Stratford-upon-Avon at the age of 49. He seeks to reconnect with his estranged wife, Anne Hathaway, played by Judi Dench. Their relationship has grown distant, having been strained by a long separation where Shakespeare spent most of their marriage in London while Anne remained a grounded country woman who struggles with literacy. Their bond has particularly suffered since the tragic loss of their son, Hamnet, who succumbed to the plague at the tender age of 11 while his father was away.
Shakespeare immerses himself in tending to the family garden, yet finds little success in this endeavor. The couple's elder daughter, Susanna, is married to John Hall, a leading Puritan doctor, and is forced to suppress her true self to comply with his strict moral standards. When Susanna faces accusations of infidelity and the threat of public humiliation, Shakespeare boldly intimidates her accuser by claiming he knows of an African actor who would protect her honor fiercely. This ruse proves effective when the accuser ultimately fails to show up, leading to Susanna’s exoneration, much to Anne's admiration for her husband's unexpected prowess, despite his embellishments.
Meanwhile, Judith, Shakespeare's outspoken younger daughter, wrestles with the constraints placed on women of her time. Bitter and feeling unloved compared to her deceased brother, she confides a secret to her father: she is the true author of the poems attributed to Hamnet—her words had merely been written in his hand as she lacks the skills to write herself. The family struggles to cope with the fallout, especially as Anne quietly agrees with the notion that Hamnet was not intellectually gifted.
The story takes a turn with a visit from the Earl of Southampton, Shakespeare’s former patron and the muse behind his 154 sonnets. Anne feels uneasy, suspecting there may have been romantic undertones to their relationship. During a poignant moment, Shakespeare shares his feelings through Sonnet 29, only to be met with Southampton's ambiguous response that hints at shared sentiments.
As time passes, a sweet reconciliation occurs between William and Anne, leading to a renewed intimacy that transforms their marriage. Anne ultimately chooses to share their second-best bed with him, an act that signifies their regaining of love. Shakespeare also navigates Judith's newfound willingness to marry Thomas Quiney, despite the past scandal haunting him, as Judith becomes pregnant, much to her father's joy.
A shocking revelation arises when Shakespeare investigates the events surrounding Hamnet’s death, challenging the notion that the boy died from the plague. Torn between grief and anger, he probes his family's secret, ultimately discovering that Hamnet drowned while trying to escape the truth regarding the poems. In a poignant reveal, Judith confesses that she only told Hamnet of her intention to claim authorship after which he mysteriously drowned, raising whispered suspicions of suicide. This emotional reckoning allows Shakespeare to finally confront his past and honor the memories of his beloved son more truthfully.
As April 1616 unfolds, Shakespeare engages in reflective conversation with fellow playwright Ben Jonson, however, he begins to feel unwell on his birthday. Meanwhile, Susanna initiates a surprise for Anne and Judith, teaching them to read and write as Anne uncovers her marriage certificate, triumphantly signing her name for the first time. Sadly, on this significant day, Shakespeare passes away, leaving behind a rich legacy and a family bound together in newfound literacy and understanding. At his funeral, the three women unite in remembrance, reciting “Fear No More” from Cymbeline, honoring his memory and acknowledging their growth in the wake of profound loss.
