The year is 1599. William Shakespeare is at the palace of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
The Queen has ordered Shakespeare to write another play.
Mr Shakespeare. Tell me about my new play.
Your Majesty, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy,
in which Sir John Falstaff tries to trick two married ladies into giving him money behind
their husbands' backs.
Falstaff! Hahaha! He is such a wicked man... that's why I like him.
Or maybe he reminds me of our dear friend Sir Walter Raleigh, who brings me treasure
from around the world.
Look at my pearls, taken from a Spanish ship by Raleigh and brought to me as a gift.
They are beautiful, your Majesty. Whoever could guess that such a creature,
deep in the ocean, could contain the most beautiful, precious treasure: a pearl?!
Yessss... to Raleigh, the whole world is an oyster... full of treasure, ready for the taking.
By force if need be... he is not afraid to use the sword to bring me my treasure.
Mr Raleigh is your loyal servant, your Majesty, as am I.
To Falstaff. What of his trickery?
Your Majesty, while Falstaff is trying to get money from the wives,
his friend Pistol is trying to get money out of him!
Hahaha! Does he get it?
Falstaff tells Pistol he won't give him a penny. Pistol becomes angry and says he'll
get his sword and open up Falstaff's money bag -
or any money bag he can find - like he's opening an oyster with a knife!
It goes like this: I will not lend thee a penny...
I will not lend thee a penny.
Why, then the world's mine oyster. Which I with sword will open.
The world's mine oyster. It's full of money and treasure.
Quite right, Mr Shakespeare, quite right.
We'll leave them there for now.
The world is your oyster. It's up to you to find the pearls.
If you learn foreign languages, the world's your oyster.
Mr Shakespeare: I am pleased. Your actors will perform this play for me.
To perform, or not to perform: I'll just do what she tells me.