Leontes, the King of Sicily is a jealous fool. He is convinced that his pregnant wife Hermione is having an affair with his ally Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. Outraged and concerned for his safety, Polixenes flees Sicily. Hermione is thrown into prison, much to her distress and gives birth to her daughter. She later dies, and her death is followed by the death of her grief-stricken young son, the heir to the throne of Sicily. Leontes realizes his mistakes, but not before throwing his daughter into the wilderness to die. Luckily, she is found by a Bohemian shepherd and his wife and raised as a cheerful and beautiful young woman known as Perdita. Leontes resigns himself to a life of remorse and penance. 

 Siteen years later, Polixenes' son Florizel is acting strange. Investigating, he discovers his young son is in love with a shepherd's daughter named Perdita. He denounces the couple, seen as an unworthy match between his noble son and poor peasant. The young lovers plan to flee: to Sicily. Will all be revealed, or will they all be eaten by bears?