Arthur's mother, Constance, arrives and demands that her son be recognized as the rightful heir to the throne. King John refuses, claiming that Arthur is too young and inexperienced to rule. Constance appeals to King Philip for support, but he is hesitant to get involved in England's internal affairs.

The scene ends with King John and Queen Eleanor plotting to eliminate Arthur as a threat to the throne. They are interrupted by the arrival of the Bastard, a loyal follower of King John who provides some comic relief with his witty comments and bawdy humor.

Overall, Scene 1 sets the stage for the political intrigue and power struggles that will unfold throughout the rest of the play. It also highlights the themes of family loyalty, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of power.

They are interrupted by the arrival of a messenger from France, who delivers a message from Philip demanding that John relinquish his crown and pay homage to him. John is outraged and refuses, but Queen Elinor suggests that they send a message back to Philip offering to negotiate a peace treaty.

Next, the scene shifts to a conversation between the Bastard and Hubert. The Bastard expresses his loyalty to King John and his hope that he will be rewarded for his service. Hubert warns the Bastard that he should not be too trusting of John and that he may be betrayed at any moment. The Bastard dismisses Hubert's warnings and leaves.

The final part of the scene features a conversation between Philip and his advisors. They discuss their plans to invade England and overthrow John. Philip expresses his confidence in their ability to win the war.

At this point, the French ambassador arrives with a message from his king, demanding that John surrender his throne to the rightful heir, Arthur. John refuses, and the ambassador warns him of the consequences of his defiance. The nobles urge John to negotiate with the French, but he stubbornly refuses.

As the meeting breaks up, John's mother, Queen Eleanor, arrives and attempts to calm him down. She reminds him of his duty to the country and the importance of maintaining the support of his subjects. John finally agrees to negotiate with the French, but only on his own terms.

The scene ends with John declaring his determination to maintain his hold on the throne, despite the challenges he faces. The audience is left with a sense of tension and uncertainty, as the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance.

The two leaders exchange heated words, with the Duke accusing King John of being a usurper and a murderer. King John responds by insulting the Duke's family and threatening to hang his nephew, who is currently in his custody.

As the argument intensifies, the Duke draws his sword and challenges King John to a duel. However, before the fight can begin, the Bastard (a character loyal to King John) intervenes and challenges the Duke to a duel instead. The Duke accepts and the two engage in a fierce battle.

In the end, the Bastard emerges victorious and kills the Duke. King John is pleased with the outcome and rewards the Bastard for his loyalty. The scene ends with King John contemplating his next move in the war against Austria.

As they speak, a messenger arrives with news that Arthur has escaped from his confinement and is believed to be dead, having fallen from the walls of the castle into the river below. John is relieved by the news, but Hubert is suspicious and demands to see the body for himself. When they arrive at the river, however, they find a young boy who resembles Arthur and who claims to be him.

Hubert is torn between his loyalty to the King and his conscience, but ultimately decides to help the boy escape, hoping that this will be enough to convince John that Arthur is truly dead. The scene ends with both men contemplating the consequences of their actions and the uncertain future that lies ahead.

The conversation then turns to the fate of Arthur, who is currently being held captive by John's men. Queen Eleanor urges John to have Arthur killed, but John is hesitant and unsure of what to do. The French ambassador leaves, disappointed with John's refusal to cooperate.

After the ambassador's departure, John is left alone with his mother. They argue about the best course of action regarding Arthur. Queen Eleanor continues to push for Arthur's death, but John is torn between his duty as king and his familial loyalty to his nephew.

The scene ends with John still undecided about what to do, and Queen Eleanor leaving in frustration. The tension between mother and son is palpable, and the audience is left wondering what John will ultimately decide regarding the fate of Prince Arthur.

Shortly after, the French king, Philip, arrives at John's camp and demands that John surrender his crown to Arthur. John refuses and the two kings prepare for battle. However, before the fighting can begin, Hubert returns and reveals that he was unable to carry out John's order to kill Arthur. Instead, he has hidden the boy away and spread a false rumor of his death to appease John. John is initially angry, but is relieved when he learns that Arthur is still alive. He decides to offer a compromise to the French king: he will keep the crown, but in exchange, he will marry his niece to Philip's son, Louis, and make him his heir.

Philip agrees to the proposal and the two kings sign a treaty. However, as soon as Philip leaves, John reveals his true intentions to his followers. He plans to break the treaty and keep the crown for himself, while marrying his own son to Philip's niece and making him the heir instead. The scene ends with John and his followers plotting their next move.