Summary

Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are turned orphans when their parents suddenly die in a house fire. They are sent by the manager of their parents' funds, Mr. Poe, to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf. Count Olaf was an evil man, making them do chores and cook for his theatre troupe, who are equally evil people. One day Count Olaf orders the children to perform in a play called the Marvelous Marriage. In which case he asks his next door neighbor, Justice Strauss (a judge) to play herself in the play, violet to play his fiancee, and he will play the groom. Since a justice of the peace is present and they would sign actual marriage licenses, the marriage would be legal and he would be in charge of the rich fortune that was to await Violet when she turned 18. Klaus uncovers this plan after reading a book on nuptial law. Klaus confronts Olaf and Violet refuses to play the part but she is forced to because Olaf takes Sunny and places her in a cage on the top of a tower and threatens to drop her off the top of the tower. Violet is forced to play the part, so she goes through with the whole play. Once the marriage license is signed, Olaf announces to the crowd that he is legally married to Violet. Then Violet announces that she signed the license with her left hand. Everyone watching the play tries to capture Olaf and his theatre troupe, but they quickly turn off all the lights and the whole troupe escapes in a car.