Scene i: The play opens in an unidentified street of London around the year 1480. Richard of Gloucester, the chief protagonist of the play is the brother of King Edward IV and of George, the Duke of Clarence, most often called "Clarence" in the play. Alone on stage, the figure of Richard, misshapen with a hunchback from his premature birth, first tells us that the recent civil wars between the houses of Lancaster and York are now over, that Richard's side (York) is victorious, but that he himself is discontent. Being "ill-formed" by nature, Richard is not suited to peaceful times when romance holds sway. That being so, he is "determined to prove a villain." He has laid a plot against his own brother, Clarence, inciting his other brother (the recently crowned King Edward) to arrest the innocent Clarence, by pouring "drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams" into the King's ear. After this extensive opening soliloquy is done, Clarence appears in the custody of the king's guards, headed for the prison Tower of London. Richard pretends to sympathize with Clarence, blaming King Edward's wife (Queen Elizabeth born the Lady Grey) for Clarence's plight. Clarence is led away, and the recently jailed Lord Hastings, arrives with news that the new King is gravely ill. When he departs, Richard has another opportunity to disclose his plans for his brother, saying that he will engineer Clarence execution because his brother is an obstacle to his own regal ambitions. Incredibly, he also reveals that he plans to marry the Lady Anne, whose husband (Edward, Prince of Wales) he helped to murder at the end of Henry VI: Part III.

     Scene ii: In another London street, we see the Lady Anne attending the funeral of Henry VI, her former father-in-law, a fallen monarch whom Richard of Gloucester also had a hand in killing. Richard then enters, and though he denies any involvement in the deaths of her husband and her father-in-law, Lady Anne calls him a "black magician" and a "hedgehog." For his part, Richard speaks of his desire to visit Lady Anne's bedchamber and eventually marry the woman he has made into a widow. At this perverse suggestion, she spits in his face while calling him a "foul toad." Claiming that any involvement in the murder of Anne's husband was motivated by his love for her beauty, Richard hands Lady Anne a dagger and opens his breast to its point. Anne refuses to be his executioner, and when Richard assumes a penitent stance, she agrees to accept a ring from him. After Lady Anne exits, Richard exalts in his own powers, asking the rhetorical question: "Was ever woman in this humor won?"

     Scene iii: The scene now shifts to the royal palace in London. Queen Elizabeth speaks with her relatives and expresses the fear that when the current monarch (Edward IV) dies, Richard of Gloucester will be named protector over his two sons, providing the uncle with a means to take the throne himself. She knows that this will also bode ill for her entire family, including her brother (the Lord Rivers) and her own sons (the Lords Dorset and Grey). One of the villain Richard's allies, Buckingham appears, and then Richard himself enters. Richard professes his innocence on all counts and argues with the old Queen Elizabeth. Accompanied by Hastings, Richard blames the Queen and her family for Hastings false imprisonment. Queen Margaret, the wife of the deceased Henry VI enters, and she too expresses her hatred toward Richard, warning Buckingham against him. When all of these characters except Richard himself depart, the villain reveals his plans to have Clarence killed in the Tower by two murderers. When they arrive, Richard tells the felons not to listen to Clarence's pleas for mercy.

     Scene iv: The scene shifts to Clarence's prison cell within the Tower of London. Clarence tells his jailer that he has had horrible dreams that seem to say that his real enemy is not the Queen, but his own brother, Richard of Gloucester. Richard's two henchmen appear. Against Richard's instructions, they speak with Clarence and disclose that Richard, in fact, hates Clarence. He implores them to relent. One of the murderers feels pangs of conscience, but the other says that to relent now would be "cowardly and womanish." He then stabs Clarence to death.

Act II

     Scene i The action shifts back to the royal palace where we see a gravely-ill King Edward IV anticipating his own death and trying to resolve the rancor that still divides his court into vengeful camps. Richard then arrives and reports that Clarence has been executed. Edward is deeply disturbed by this report, for he reversed his own punishment decree of his brother. The dying king expresses remorse at this sad turn of events as Richard feigns complete innocence.

     Scene ii: In another room of the palace, the two young sons of the murdered Clarence and their grandmother (the old Duchess of York, Richard's own mother) are on stage. She denies that Clarence is dead, but one of the boys says that his father has been killed at the order of King Richard and that he knows this because his good uncle, Richard of Gloucester told him so. She curses her son Richard, but the boys refuse to believe that he is behind their father's death. Queen Elizabeth arrives with word that her ailing husband, King Edward, has died. The villain Richard then appears accompanied by Buckingham and several other members of his party, including the nobles Hastings, Stanley, and Ratcliffe. Plans are made to bring one of the dead king's two young sons, the Prince of Wales, to London for coronation as the new monarch. When everyone leaves except for Richard and Buckingham, the two speak of their ultimate plan to make Richard himself England's next king.

     Scene iii: An example of a common Shakespearean device, the scene consists of three citizens speaking about the turbulent events that have already taken place and the dangers that lie ahead for England. They do not want to be ruled by a boy (the Prince of Wales) and they fear the Richard, Duke of Gloucester who is "full of danger." The prospect of still more civil wars lies ahead.

     Scene iv: Back at the palace, the widowed queen, the Duchess of York and the younger brother of the Prince of Wales (also a boy) speak of the impending arrival of the Prince of Wales for his coronation as successor to Edward IV's throne. Word arrives that Richard of Gloucester has had several of their family members and political allies jailed. Hearing this, the Queen says that she will flee London with her younger boy, rightfully fearing Richard's plans to put them out of the way.

Act III

     Scene i On a street in London, the young Prince of Wales arrives and meets with his uncle, Richard and his confederate Buckingham. Richard tells the young prince that he and his younger brother are to be housed in the Tower of London until the ceremony takes place. The young Prince of Wales says that he does not like the Tower, and in an exchange with his uncle Richard, the youth shows himself to be wise beyond his years and we sense that he sees through Richard's false, tender front. The Prince's younger brother arrives and the two are sent to the Tower to repose. When the other characters exit, Richard conspires with Buckingham. He says that he has sent the noble Catesby to sound out Lord Hastings about whether he would support Richard's plans to become king. If Hastings refuses to support this plot, then Richard will have him executed. Richard also tells Buckingham that his loyal service will be rewarded with an earldom once he becomes king.

     Scene ii: At the home of Lord Hastings, a messenger arrives from Lord Stanley who says that a plot is afoot, that two councils of state will be held, and that Hastings should flee with him at once. Hastings tells Stanley's messenger that he does not fear the divided council. Just then, Catesby arrives and reveals Richard's plan to become King of England. Hastings refuses to join Richard's side, affirming his support for the Prince of Wales, and thereby inadvertently seals his own doom.

     Scene iii: At the execution grounds of Pomfret Castle, several of Richard's political opponents (the nobles Rivers, Grey and Vaughn) are seen in chains and bound for execution. They curse Richard and the fate that has befallen them.

     Scene iv: At the Tower of London, a council of state is in session, with Buckingham and several of Richard's other minions in attendance, including the defiant Hastings. Richard leaves for a moment, and then returns in a furor, claiming that he is under a spell of black magic cast by Edward's widow, Queen Elizabeth. When Hastings defends her honor, Richard calls him a traitor and commands that Hastings's head be cut off. The victim now realizes what Richard has had in mind all the time, and he predicts that Richard and his ilk will soon be in the grave alongside him.

     Scene v: In front of the Tower walls, Richard and Buckingham tell the Mayor of London that Hastings is a traitor and is about to be executed without trial. The Mayor believes their false stories about Hastings and says that he will report Hastings's execution to the people as being justly caused. When the Mayor leaves, Richard instructs Buckingham to raise questions about the legitimacy of Edward's two sons. This, in turn, will provide a pretext for the Protector of the Prince of Wales, Richard himself, to replace the boy as England's king.

     Scene vi: In another common Shakespearean device, a scrivener (or herald) reads an indictment of Hastings to the citizens of London that speaks of the (already executed) nobleman as a traitor who deserves death.

     Scene vii: At his home (or lair) in London's Baynard's Castle, Richard is told by Buckingham that the Mayor of London has been persuaded to speak to the people on behalf of making him King of England, bypassing the illegitimate Prince of Wales. But the Mayor's words have fallen on deaf ears, for the citizens are dumbstruck by this proposal and refuse to join in on the cry of "Long live Richard, King of England." Richard must appear before the people himself and pretend to be a reluctant candidate for the throne. Led by the Mayor, a crowd of citizens appears. Buckingham addresses them as Richard stands between two clergymen. Buckingham puts forth a full spiel to the people of London: he says that the Prince of Wales (and his younger brother) are bastards and the Richard of Gloucester is the rightful successor to his brother Edward. Richard feigns a reluctance to become king, crown, but then returns and announces that he will take the crown for England's sake, naming tomorrow as his coronation day.

Act IV

     Scene i: Before the Tower of London, with widowed Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York speak with Lady Anne (who has, in fact, become the villain Richard's wife). The mother and grandmother of the two boy princes are told that Richard will not permit them to visit the young royals. Lord Stanley enters with word that Richard of Gloucester is now King Richard III. He assists the Queen and the Duchess to make plans for escape. Lady Anne realizes that Richard is a villain but she must be crowned as his new queen.

     Scene ii: At the royal palace, King Richard III speaks with Buckingham and tells him that he wants the two princes dead. Buckingham, however, is not completely willing to go along with their execution. Richard summons a discontented gentleman, Tyrell, to murder the two young princes. He also orders that a rumor be started that his wife, Lady Anne, is deathly ill: in fact, he plans to do away with her as well and then marry the daughter of Queen Elizabeth, cementing the legitimacy of his own reign. Buckingham appears and claims his reward of an earldom. Richard refuses, telling his erstwhile ally that he is not in a giving vein today.

     Scene iii: Some time thereafter and still at the palace, Tyrell tells Richard III that "the tyrannous and bloody act is done," the two princes have been smothered to death. In a very complex part of his plot, Richard schemes on killing the Earl of Richmond, who is a suitor to the daughter of Queen Elizabeth. News then comes that Richmond is assembling a force to depose Richard and that he has been joined by Buckingham in this cause.

     Scene iv: Continuing at the palace, another set of complications arises, as news of the young princes' murder reaches their mother and grandmother. Richard III then appears and is denounced by his own mother, the old Duchess of York. But he presses on with his plans and proposes to the widowed Queen Elizabeth that he wed her daughter, arguing that this will allow her future grandsons to become kings after Richard's reign is over. She berates him but she also plays along with his proposal. Word comes that Richmond is on the seas with an invasion force and that Buckingham is in the field with an army intent upon ridding England of its murdering, tyrant king. Fearing that Lord Stanley will go over to the other side, Richard orders Stanley's son to be taken into custody: should Stanley betray him, Richard will order young George Stanley's execution. More messages arrive from the front: Richmond's invasion force has been scattered by a storm; Buckingham has been captured. Richard is elated by these events and plans to lead his own army against the remaining rebels.

     Scene v: At the home of Lord Stanley, the nobleman speaks with one of Richmond's representatives, asking that he tell Richmond that he will take the field on Richard's side only because of the threat that Richard has made toward the life of his young son.

Act V

     Scene i At an open place near Salisbury, the captured Buckingham is led away to execution, ruing his involvement with Richard and the assassination of Henry VI.

     Scene ii: At a camp on the English coast, Richmond relishes the prospect of relieving England of Richard's yoke of tyranny and accepts the message that Stanley is only on Richard's side because of the coercive threat to his son.

     Scene iii: On Bosworth Field (where the remainder of the play unfolds), Richard and his remaining loyal allies appear in a tent on one side of the stage, while Richmond and his rebels are seen in a tent on the other side of the stage. Lord Stanley enters and goes to Richmond's tent, promising that he will try to sabotage Richard's battle plans by delaying the arrival of forces under his command. Between the two tents a succession of ghosts appears---Henry VI, Clarence, Rivers, Grey, Vaughn, the murdered princes, Hastings, Lady Anne and Buckingham---each of whom accuses the sleeping Richard of the foul deeds committed against them and curses his cause and then blesses the sleeping Richmond. Richard awakes and acknowledges his guilt; Richmond awakes ready for the battle at hand. Richmond addresses his troops, appealing to their patriotism; Richard speaks to his men, disparaging the enemy as lowly scum. Word arrives that Lord Stanley refuses to march into battle; Richard orders the execution of Stanley's son, but delays action until the battle of Bosworth Field has been won.

     Scene iv: On the battlefield, we learn that Richard has fought like a man possessed seeking out Richmond on foot because his own horse has been slain. Richard appears, crying out "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

     Scene v: In the plays final scene, Richard and Richmond come together in hand-to-hand combat and Richard is slain. Stanley arrives and learns that no harm has come to his son. The crown of England is offered to Richmond. He, in turn, says that he will now marry the daughter of Queen Elizabeth, uniting the families of York and Lancaster, and thereby bringing England's protracted civil wars to an end.