To write his new play Will must confront Topcliffe; to achieve greatness, Richard must tell his father a harsh truth; Alice contemplates a perilous mission.
Will has an epiphany that could bring him success, yet he needs Alice's help. Meanwhile, a magnetic fugitive from Will's past comes forth with a dangerous obligation.
Will is shocked to learn of Alice's new passion. Haunted by his inability to write, Marlowe embarks on a self-destructive path. Plague haunts London, and Richard discovers what he believes in.
Tensions rise as Will (Laurie Davidson) and Alice (Olivia DeJonge) continue to collaborate, while Anne (Deirdre Mullins) attempts to adjust to London life. Love forces Marlowe (Jamie Campbell Bower) to confront his darkest fears. Presto (Lukas Rolfe) is forced to confront true evil.
Marlowe introduces Will to the decadent elite of London, but things take a macabre turn; Alice becomes disillusioned; Will must fight for all he holds dear.
An unexpected arrival sends Will's world spinning; a transcendental experience leads Marlowe to deal with his past; Topcliffe deciphers a code that throws Will into a life-and-death situation.
Wracked with guilt over Baxter's arrest, Will confesses to the rebellious Alice. The theatre is threatened when a rival tries to lure the crowd-pleasing actor, Kemp, away.
During a time of religious turmoil in England, Will Shakespeare arrives in London from the small town of Stratford with little more than a dream and a treasonous letter.