Deciding to leave England to his three daughters, King Lear (Paul Scofield) bases the division on how much they say they love him. While Goneril (Irene Worth) & Regan (Susan Engel) exaggerate their claims of devotion, his favorite, Cordelia (Anne-Lise Gabold), tells him the truth: she loves him as a daughter should, no more, no less. Insulted, Lear banishes Cordelia & divides his realm between her two sisters. Later, finding Goneril & Regan ungrateful, Lear wanders the countryside, his anger turning to madness. Cordelia returns to England with an army, but is defeated by her sisters, who then turn upon themselves & are killed. Lear stumbles across Cordelia’s body & completely shattered by what he’s done, dies.