Stratford Boy

The year is 1582. Mary and John Shakespeare are beset with problems not least of which is their son William. He has been sowing his wild oats all over Stratford and a few have been scattered around Sir Thomas Lucy's domain. As his mother bustles around in her kitchen she fondly hopes that, his wild days over, he will settle to an honest job and be respected like his father; but his sister Joan knows better. She is so close to her brother that she can sense already he is different. An additional worry for Mary Shakespeare is the fact that they are recusant Catholics, paying their fines rather than attend the new English church services; so far they have been left in peace, but Sir Thomas Lucy has great power in punishing those of the old religion who will not conform. When Lady Lucy arrives in Mary's kitchen to complain of an insulting rhyme fixed to the gates of their home, it seems that will's errant ways may bring disaster to the whole family. Mary satisfies Lady Lucy that the rhyme was not penned by Will and my lady departs in none too good a humour. Close on her heels comes Anne Hathaway, who tells Mary and Joan that she is expecting Will's child; he is at that moment arranging a quick wedding. At last, Mary decides her son's desire to go to London with the players must be fulfilled, in spite of Anne's wish to hold her husband-to-be in Stratford. The clatter of a runaway horse breaks across the family crisis and soon Lady Lucy returns; it was her mount which had run amok and apparently, Will saved her from serious injury or death. She is an honest woman and admits her debt to young Shakespeare; now with an ally in the Lucy household, Will's path to London is clear - a path which he must travel whether Anne be willing to tread it with him or not.