The story of intelligent, charming, but unlucky siblings; 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus, and their infant sister, Sunny, who are suddenly orphaned when their house burns down. The executor of their parents estate sends the children to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf, they realize that he has dastardly designs on the Baudelaire family fortune. The Baudelaire children are soon removed from Count Olaf's care and go to live with their Uncle Monty, a renowned snake expert. Things end badly after the arrival of a suspicious lab assistant named Stephano--Count Olaf in disguise. The children are then shuffled off to their fearful Aunt Josephine's. Sadly disaster ensues, due to the appearance of a mysterious peg-legged sailor--again Count Olaf, who then hatches his most dastardly plot of all.