Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are three intelligent children who receive the unfortunate news that their parents have died. Mr. Poe tries to find a guardian among their relatives – Montgomery or Josephine Anwhistle. They end up living with the worst of them: Count Olaf, who only wants to steal their fortune. To implement his plan, Olaf disguises himself as Assistant Stephano and Captain Julio Sham.