
He disguises his plan by telling the children and Justice Strauss that they’ll all be performing in a play called “The Marvelous Marriage.” Violet and Klaus read up on inheritance law in Justice Strauss’ library and figure out Olaf’s scheme. Olaf discovers that he can legally obtain Violet’s fortune by making her his wife.

The children experience small pockets of joy by spending time with neighbor Justice Strauss (a judge) and perusing her vast library. He gives the children unreasonable chores, threatens their lives and makes them share one small bed. Olaf is an evil actor who intends to steal the Baudelaire orphans’ fortune.

Poe, the will executor, places them with a distant relative named Count Olaf. When the parents of Violet (14), Klaus (12) and baby Sunny Baudelaire die in a house fire, Mr.
