The young and virtuous physician’s child Helena desperately loves Count Bertram, but he regards her as beneath his notice. When Helena treatments the king of France of the mortal disease, he benefits her with Bertram’s hands, but before their relationship could be consummated the count flees. To win her husband back again, Helena forms a daring and resourceful program. A storyline to unmask the strutting soldier Parolles makes up another strand in this occasionally disturbing comedy of deception and disguise.