In Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well, the feisty but lowly Helena falls in love with Bertram, a haughty count. To gain his hand, she must perform a series of impossible tasks, which, even if accomplished, can hardly guarantee his love. Nevertheless, Helena, whether wise or not, refuses to give him up. Set against a background of sexism, snobbery and a battle between generations, the play turns fairytale logic on its head.