Shakespeare accompanies her, disguised as her female cousin. Then, Viola is summoned to court to receive approval for her proposed marriage to Lord Wessex. Inspired by her, Shakespeare writes quickly, with help from his friend and rival playwright Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe, completely transforming the play into what will become Romeo and Juliet. When he discovers her true identity, they begin a secret affair. Wessex also asks Will's name, to which he replies that he is Christopher Marlowe. While dancing with Viola, Shakespeare is struck speechless, and after being forcibly ejected by Wessex, uses Thomas Kent as a go-between to woo her. He sneaks into the house with the minstrels playing that night at the ball, where her parents are arranging her betrothal to Lord Wessex, an impoverished aristocrat. Shakespeare pursues Kent to Viola's house and leaves a note with the nurse, asking Thomas Kent to begin rehearsals at the Rose.
Viola de Lesseps, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who has seen Shakespeare's plays at court, disguises herself as "Thomas Kent" to audition, then runs away. Suffering from writer's block, he has barely begun the play, but starts auditioning players. Shakespeare is working on a new comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter.
In 1593 London, William Shakespeare is a sometime player in the Lord Chamberlain's Men and poor playwright for Philip Henslowe, owner of The Rose Theatre.