The Importance of Being Earnest
(Oscar Wilde)

The play opens at Algernon Moncrieff’s flat in London. Algernon's Aunt Augusta (Lady Bracknell) and cousin Gwendolyn Fairfax are coming to visit, and Lane is preparing tea for them. Jack Worthing, a friend of Algernon's, arrives before the women do, announcing himself as "Ernest". Algernon finds this curious, since he found a cigarette case inscribed to an "Uncle Jack" from "little Cecily". Jack admits that he goes by Ernest in town and Jack in the country. "Little Cecily" is his young ward and believes Ernest to be Jack's older brother.

Algernon reveals that he, too, uses a made-up persona to escape from unwanted social situations. Algernon's is called Bunbury and is his invalid friend constantly on the edge of death. Using Bunbury as an excuse is called "Bunburying" and Algernon says Jack is an expert at it, with his "brother" Ernest. Jack protests that he isn't, and intends to get rid of Ernest as soon as he's married Gwendolyn, whom he plans to propose to today.

Lady Bracknell and Gwendolyn arrive, and Algernon uses Bunbury as an excuse not to go to his Aunt's dinner party. He distracts Lady Bracknell, giving Jack and Gwendolyn a chance to talk privately. Jack proposes, and Gwendolyn accepts, saying that it has always been her dream to marry a man named Ernest. Lady Bracknell comes back in and reproaches the two of them, telling Gwendolyn to leave. She questions Jack's intentions and his heritage to see if he is a suitable match for her daughter, but after finding out that Jack was found in a handbag at a railway station and has no parents, she declares that he will never marry Gwendolyn.

She leaves, and Gwendolyn comes back in. She asks for Jack's address in the country, so she can send him mail, and Algernon, eavesdropping, writes the address down. When everyone is gone, Algernon plans on taking a "bunbury" trip to Jack's estate to meet Cecily.

At Jack's manor, Cecily and her governess Miss Prism are in the garden. The Chasuble comes by, and Miss Prism takes a walk with him, flirting boldly. When the governess is gone, Merriman, the servant, announces the arrival of Ernest Worthing, and Algernon introduces himself to Cecily. He finds that he has finally met his match, as Cecily is as witty as he. Algernon falls in love with her and plans to stay until Monday, when Jack is scheduled to return.

Jack, however, returns early, dressed in mourning clothes, announcing the death of his wicked brother Ernest and asking the Chasuble if he can be christened. Cecily tells Jack that Ernest is inside and brings Algernon out. Jack is outraged at Algernon's deceit but doesn't reveal the truth. When Jack is gone, Algernon proposes to Cecily, for he has fallen for her beauty and wit. Cecily accepts because she has always wanted to marry a man named Ernest, and Algernon exits the stage, also to ask the Chasuble about his christening.

With the two men gone chasing the Chasuble, Cecily sits alone in the garden. Merriman announces the arrival of Gwendolyn Fairfax, and the two women sit down to tea. They soon begin arguing, since they both believe they are engaged to Ernest. The men return and their real identities are revealed. The women, scorned, go into the house.

Algernon and Jack argue in the garden, eating muffins, and Jack tries to get Algernon to leave. When he won't, the two decide to go into the house to confront the women. Cecily and Gwendolyn soon forgive them since they both have plans to be christened under the name "Ernest".

Lady Bracknell enters; she has followed Gwendolyn. She declares that neither couple will be married, but changes her mind when she discovers Cecily is heir to a small fortune. Jack tries to strike a deal with Lady Bracknell, saying he will give Cecily permission to marry if she gives Gwendolyn permission.

The Chasuble enters, followed by Miss Prism. Lady Bracknell demands Miss Prism tell her what happened to the baby. Twenty-eight years ago Miss Prism misplaced Algernon's older brother, leaving him in a handbag. Jack retrieves the bag and is revealed to be Ernest John Moncrieff. There is rejoicing, as all the couples can now be engaged.