William Shakespeare's Henry IV Part I tells the story of Henry IV's young son, Prince Hal, who has abandoned his courtly duties in favor of time in taverns with drunks like his friend, Falstaff. When a group of rebels arise in an attempt to take the thrown from Henry IV, Hal must resume his place amount the nobles while not abandoning the charisma that made him such a loveable person to the casual folk in the taverns.
Henry IV, Part II is a historical play and part of a four-part epic dramatizing the reign of the English Kings from Richard II to Henry V. It focuses on Henry's relationship with the scurrilous Falstaff and with the clash between their friendship, Falstaff's expectations of cronyism, and Henry's feelings of duty to the people of England. It ends with Henry choosing England and purging London's streets of crime and licentiousness.