Chimes at Midnight - Plot

Plot

The film opens with Sir John Falstaff and Justice Shallow walking through the snow, then to a warm fire inside the Boar's Head Tavern as the two reminisce. After a main credit sequence, the narrator explains that King Henry IV of England has succeeded Richard II, whom he had killed. Richard II's true heir, Edmund Mortimer, is a prisoner in Wales. Mortimer's cousins Northumberland, Worcester and Northumberland's son Hotspur demand that Henry IV rescues Mortimer. Henry IV refuses and Northumberland, Worcester and Hotspur begin to plot his overthrow.

To Henry IV's great dissatisfaction, his son Prince Hal spends most of his time at the Boar's Head Tavern drinking and carousing with prostitutes, thieves and other criminals under the influence of the patriarchal John Falstaff. Falstaff insists that he and Hal should think of themselves as gentlemen, but Hal warns Falstaff that one day he will reject both this lifestyle and Falstaff. The next morning Hal, Falstaff, Bardolph, Peto, and Poins put on disguises in Gadshill to prepare for the robbery of a group of traveling Pilgrims. After Falstaff, Bardolph and Peto rob the Pilgrims, Hal and Poins jump out in disguises and take the stolen treasure from Falstaff as a joke.

Back at the Boar's Head Tavern, Falstaff begins to tell Hal and Poins with increasingly growing exaggeration the story of how the stolen money was stolen from him. Hal and Poins poke holes in Falstaff's tall-tale until they reveal their joke to the entire group. In celebration of the newly recovered stolen treasure Falstaff and Hal take turns impersonating Henry IV, complete with a cooking pot crown and vocal impression. Falstaff's Henry IV chastises Hal for spending his time with common criminals, but names Sir John Falstaff as his one virtuous friend. Hal's Henry IV calls Falstaff a "misleader of youth."

Hal visits the King at the castle and Henry IV scolds him for his criminal and unethical lifestyle. Henry IV warns Hal about Hotspur's growing army and threat to his crown. Hal passionately vows to his unimpressed father that he will defend Henry IV and redeem his good name. The King's army, including Falstaff, parades through the streets and off to war. Before the battle Henry IV meets with Worchester and offers to forgive of all of Hotspur's men of treason if they surrender immediately. Hal vows to personally kill Hotspur. Worcester returns to his camp and lies to Hotspur, telling him that Henry IV intends to execute all traitors.

The two armies meet in the Battle of Shrewsbury, but Falstaff ends up hiding in the shrubs for most of the conflict. After a long and bloody fight, the king's men win. At the end of the battle, Hotspur and Hal meet alone and duel. Falstaff watches as Hal kills Hotspur. Henry IV sentences Worcester to death and takes his men as prisoners. Falstaff brings Hotspur's body to Henry IV, claiming that he killed Hotspur. Henry IV does not believe Falstaff but looks disapprovingly at Hal and the ignoble company that he chooses to keep.

"I know thee not, old man: fall to thy prayers;
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester!
I have long dream'd of such a kind of man,
So surfeit-swell'd, so old and so profane;
But, being awaked, I do despise my dream."
— Henry IV, Part 2, Act 5, Scene 5

The narrator explains that all of Henry IV's rebellious enemies have been killed by 1408, but that Henry IV's health has begun to deteriorate. At the castle Henry IV becomes upset when told that Hal is once again spending time with Falstaff and collapses. Hal visits the castle and discovers that Henry IV is sicker than he had realized. Hal vows to Henry IV to be a good and noble king. Henry IV finally has faith in Hal and gives him advice on how to be a king. Henry IV dies and Hal informs his men that he is now King Henry V.

Falstaff, Shallow and Silence sit in front of a warm fire, continuing from the first scene of the film. They receive news that Henry IV has died and that Hal's coronation is that morning. Falstaff becomes ecstatic and goes directly to the castle thinking that he will become a great and powerful nobleman under King Henry V. At the coronation Falstaff cannot contain his excitement and interrupts the entire ceremony, announcing himself to Hal. Hal turns his back on Falstaff and proclaims that he is now finished with his former lifestyle. As Falstaff looks up at Hal with a mixture of pride and despair, the new king banishes Falstaff. The coronation continues into the castle as Falstaff walks away, stating that he will be sent for that evening. That night Falstaff dies at the Boar's Head Tavern and his friends mourn him, saying that he died of a broken heart. The narrator explains that Hal went on to become a good and noble king.