After 60 years as King, Lear commits the most fatal, consequential and disastrous act of his life.
Failing to secure his fortune on the road, Edmund intends to steal his brother Edgar's inheritance and usurp his father Gloucester's authority, killing both if necessary.
Goneril decides the time is ripe to destroy her father's remaining power. Lear reacts violently, precipitating the battle she wants. Storming out to take refuge with Regan, he begins to understand how he wronged Cordelia, his youngest daughter.
Edgar, in disbelief, flees in terror when Edmund tells him their father, Gloucester, wants to have him killed. Regan and Cornwall arrive at Gloucester's where Regan plans to meet her sister Goneril to plot Lear's total destruction.
Kent, serving Lear in disguise, arrives at Gloucester's. Seeing Oswald, he is enraged and tries to kill him. Stopped by Cornwall and protesting vehemently, he is put in the stocks. Edgar, fleeing for his life, decides to become a beggar in disguise.
Arriving at Gloucester's Lear is enraged to find Kent stocked. When Regan and Cornwall appear the confrontation builds as he attacks Cornwall. It reaches its zenith after Goneril arrives. Lear rails against his daughters and is forced out into a wild storm, followed by Kent and Fool.
Kent, having lost Lear in the storm, searches desperately for him. Lear, halfway to insanity, rails against nature, himself and all of mankind. Kent finally convinces Lear to seek shelter against the fiercest storm he has ever seen.
Gloucester mistakenly confides to Edmund his support for Lear. In the storm Lear, Kent and Fool find Edgar disguised as a madman. Lear's mind finally cracks and he befriends Edgar as a soul brother. Amidst their ranting and raving Gloucester arrives to give them shelter.
Edmund betrays Gloucester. Lear, in his madness, puts Regan and Goneril on trial for their brutal behavior. Gloucester is captured and endures Cornwall's revenge.
Edgar, in disguise, comes upon his blind father, who wants to die. Now intimate, Goneril and Edmund plot Albany's demise. During a brutal confrontation between Goneril and Albany a messenger tells of Gloucester's blinding and Cornwall's death.
Kent hears Cordelia has arrived with an army. Learning Lear is at Dover in a state of madness, she orders a search for him. Oswald defies Regan's demand to read Goneril's letter to Edmund. She orders her guard to kill him but he escapes.
Staged by Edgar, Gloucester survives a suicide attempt. Lear appears, totally mad. After a grotesque, frightening scene he runs off pursued by Cordelia's search party. Oswald tries to kill Gloucester, Edgar kills him and then finds Goneril's note to Edmund.
Lear is brought to Cordelia's tent. After a short respite, he is awakened. Though at first lost in confusion and shame, he finally recognizes Cordelia and they are reunited. To Kent's grief, Lear still does not recognize him fully. Watch the scene for free.
After assuring Regan he loves her, Edmund and Goneril plot to kill Albany and marry. The British army defeats the French in battle. Edgar takes Gloucester to a safe haven. Lear and Cordelia are taken prisoner. Edmund tells his captain to murder them.
The evildoers fight among themselves. Edgar appears and challenges Edmund to mortal combat. Goneril poisons Regan and after Edmund is wounded fatally kills herself. Kent wants to bid Lear good night. Suddenly they see him in the distance carrying the dead Cordelia, utterly heartbroken.
