Taking place in the Elizabethan-era England, it recounts the story of Widge, an orphan whose master sends him to steal Hamlet from The Lord Chamberlain's Men.

Hamlet's performance so enraptures Widge that he forgets part of his assignment, and when he returns for a second try, his notebook is stolen.

Widge eventually settles into the acting troupe by posing as a hopeful player, and The Lord Chamberlain's Men accepts him.

Falconer continues to press Widge to steal the play, resulting in a constant cat and mouse chase between them.

After Falconer, who turned out to be Bass in disguise, dies in a duel with The Lord Chamberlain's Men shareholder Robert Armin, Widge remains at The Globe to work toward his dream of being a player.