All Is True

Here is a rephrased version of the plot:

As the embers of the Globe Theatre's fiery demise in 1613 still smolder, William Shakespeare (49) returns to Stratford-upon-Avon, weary from years of chasing the spotlight in London. His journey home is a poignant reminder that personal relationships often suffer at the altar of artistic ambition. For Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, their marriage has been a casualty of his extended absence. The couple's bond was already strained by the tragic loss of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, to the plague, an event that left a deep scar on Shakespeare's psyche. As he tends to his family's garden with renewed dedication, his struggles to find success serve as a poignant metaphor for the fragility of human connections.

Anne, meanwhile, remains rooted in her country ways, unable to read or write, while Shakespeare's daughters, Susanna and Judith (Hamnet's twin), embody the contradictions of their father's world. Susanna, married to the devout Doctor John Hall, has surrendered her independence to conform to her husband's rigid moral code. When a baseless adultery accusation threatens to tarnish her reputation, Shakespeare springs into action, employing his wit to intimidate the accuser and ultimately secure Susanna's acquittal.

Judith, the younger daughter, harbors deep-seated resentment towards her father for not acknowledging her own literary talents. Her confession that she, not Hamnet, was the true author of the poems they had previously attributed to him cuts to the heart of Shakespeare's paternal pride. As Anne reveals the truth about Hamnet's intellectual abilities, Shakespeare is forced to confront the imperfections of his beloved son and the complexities of his own relationships with those he loves.

As the Earl of Southampton pays a visit to the Shakespeares' humble abode, tensions run high for Anne, whose intuition whispers rumors of her husband's former dalliances. William Shakespeare, ever the wordsmith, recites Sonnet 29 with an air of longing, hoping that the earl might reciprocate his affections. Southampton's abrupt departure and subsequent recitation of the same sonnet sends a clear message: the feeling was indeed mutual.

As the days pass, the Shakespeares' relationships evolve. Anne and William rekindle their romance, with the latter making amends by including her in his will, ensuring she inherits the family's finest bed. Judith, freed from the weight of secrecy, warms up to her father and agrees to marry Thomas Quiney, a union Shakespeare welcomes with open arms.

However, this newfound harmony is short-lived, as Shakespeare becomes fixated on uncovering the truth behind his son Hamnet's untimely demise in 1596. His research reveals no recorded plague outbreak that year, leading him to question Anne and Judith about their silence. Anne's attempts to reassure him only fuel his suspicions, until Judith confesses the shocking truth: Hamnet did not write the poems after all.

The weight of this revelation becomes crushing as Shakespeare learns that his son's death was likely a result of his own guilt-ridden actions. The night before, Hamnet had confided in Judith about revealing the truth to their father; the next morning, he was found drowned in a nearby pond, with copies of the poems floating beside him. Anne and Judith's subsequent cover-up, attributing Hamnet's death to plague, served as a heavy burden for years to come.

As Shakespeare confronts the painful reality of his son's suicide, he is finally able to reconcile with his past and forge a new understanding of their complicated history. In the end, the truth, though difficult to swallow, proves a powerful balm for his soul.

As the calendar flips to April 1616, a poignant encounter unfolds between William Shakespeare and his longtime friend Ben Jonson (played by), whose shared experiences as playwrights lead them down a nostalgic path of reminiscence. Meanwhile, the Bard's domestic life is marked by a sense of quiet anticipation, as his wife and daughters prepare to celebrate his fifty-second birthday on April 23rd. The day arrives, however, to find Shakespeare's health beginning to falter, his usually robust vitality now somewhat diminished.

As he struggles with his mortality, the Shakespeares' family gather around him, determined to make his special day a memorable one. Susanna, ever the devoted educator, has been imparting her knowledge of reading and writing to their daughters Anne and Judith, fostering a newfound sense of literacy within them. In a touching display of maternal pride, Susanna presents Shakespeare with a surprise discovery: the Shakespeares' marriage certificate, now adorned with Anne's own handwritten signature – a remarkable milestone in the young woman's development.

Tragically, this joyous moment is soon tempered by the devastating news that Shakespeare has passed away on his birthday. In the days that follow, his grieving family pays their final respects to the departed playwright at his funeral, where they take up the haunting melody of "Fear No More" from Cymbeline – a poignant elegy that serves as a testament to Shakespeare's enduring legacy. As the three women recite the song in unison, it is clear that they have not only lost their beloved patriarch but also gained a newfound appreciation for the written word, thanks to Susanna's tireless efforts to educate them.