The Winter's Tale recap

Leontes, king of Sicilia, becomes irrationally certain that his pregnant wife Hermione has had an affair with his friend Polixenes. Polixenes escapes, but Leontes imprisons Hermione, rejects their newborn daughter, and orders the baby abandoned. An oracle declares Hermione innocent; after news of their son Mamillius's death, Hermione is reported dead and Leontes repents. The baby, Perdita, is raised by shepherds in Bohemia. Sixteen years later she and Polixenes's son Florizel fall in love. When Polixenes opposes their marriage, they flee to Sicilia, where tokens reveal Perdita's royal identity. The kings reconcile and approve the match. Paulina then reveals a lifelike statue of Hermione, which comes to life: Hermione has survived in concealment. The family reunites, though the deaths caused by Leontes's jealousy cannot be undone.

Polixenes, king of Bohemia, has spent nine months visiting his childhood friend Leontes in Sicilia. When he prepares to leave, Leontes asks his pregnant wife Hermione to persuade him to stay. She succeeds, and Leontes abruptly interprets their warmth as proof of an affair. He convinces himself that Hermione's unborn child belongs to Polixenes and that his son Mamillius may not be his own. Leontes orders Camillo to poison Polixenes. Camillo knows the accusation is groundless, warns Polixenes, and escapes with him to Bohemia. Their flight only strengthens Leontes's certainty. He publicly accuses Hermione and has her taken to prison while sending messengers to consult Apollo's oracle.

Hermione gives birth in prison. Paulina carries the infant to Leontes, hoping the sight of his daughter will soften him, but he rejects the baby and orders Antigonus to abandon her in a remote place. Hermione is brought to trial and answers the charges with dignity. The oracle declares her innocent, identifies Leontes as a jealous tyrant, and warns that he will have no heir unless the lost child is found. Leontes refuses to believe it until news arrives that Mamillius has died. Hermione collapses, and Paulina reports that she too is dead. Faced with the consequences, Leontes accepts the oracle and resolves to mourn Hermione and their son for the rest of his life.

Antigonus takes the baby to the coast of Bohemia after a dream convinces him to name her Perdita. He leaves her with gold and identifying objects, then is killed by a bear while his ship is destroyed in a storm. An Old Shepherd finds Perdita, and his son reports the deaths at the coast. They take the child and treasure home. Time then advances the story by sixteen years. Leontes has continued his penance in Sicilia, while Perdita has grown up believing herself the shepherd's daughter in Bohemia.

In Bohemia, Polixenes wonders why his son Florizel has been spending time at the shepherd's home. He and Camillo attend a sheep-shearing festival in disguise. Perdita presides over the celebration, and Florizel, calling himself Doricles, promises to marry her. Autolycus, a thieving former servant, mingles with the guests as a peddler and steals from the country people. Polixenes questions the young couple, then reveals himself and furiously forbids the unequal match. Camillo advises Florizel and Perdita to flee to Sicilia, where they can seek Leontes's help, while secretly hoping the journey will let him return home. Autolycus redirects the shepherd and his son, who carry the objects found with Perdita and hope to prove that Florizel has married beneath his rank.

Florizel and Perdita reach Sicilia and are welcomed by the penitent Leontes, but Polixenes and Camillo soon arrive. The shepherd's evidence reveals that Perdita is the lost daughter of Leontes and Hermione, making her a suitable bride for Florizel. Leontes and Polixenes reconcile, and Perdita meets her father. At Paulina's house, the company views a statue of Hermione. The figure moves and steps down: Hermione has been alive, hidden until the oracle's promise could be fulfilled by Perdita's return. Husband, wife, and daughter embrace. Leontes asks forgiveness, approves Perdita's marriage to Florizel, and proposes that Camillo marry Paulina. The living families and kingdoms are reunited, although Mamillius and Antigonus remain casualties of the earlier disaster.

The company gathers at Paulina's house to see a statue said to represent Hermione. The figure appears to come alive, and Hermione is restored to Leontes after sixteen years of concealment. She embraces Perdita, explaining that hope created by the oracle kept her waiting for her daughter. Leontes and Polixenes are reconciled, and the marriage of Perdita and Florizel can proceed with both fathers' blessing. Leontes asks forgiveness of Hermione and Camillo, then pairs the faithful Camillo with Paulina. Mamillius and Antigonus remain dead, so the reunion does not erase the cost of Leontes's jealousy, but the divided families and kingdoms end the play reunited.