This bawdy French comedy is a re-imagination of the life and times of Molière, one of the great writers of his generation. We join the story when Molière is an impetuous 22 year-old, his theatre troupe is a failure, he is bankrupt and in prison because he can't pay his debts. It is mid-17th century Paris and Molière is a long way from realizing his legacy as the father and true master of comic satire. His release from prison, we discover, is funded by wealthy Monsieur Jourdain who grants Molière his freedom only in return for tutoring. Jourdain is a buffoon, and he enlists Molière to help him woo the affection of a French Countess with a series of love letters. At the same time, the young Molière is entwined in a secret love affair with Jourdain's wife, and if that's not complicated enough, he is also trying to stop Jourdain's daughter from eloping with her secret boyfriend.