Anna arrives in Siam to teach the King's children. The King receives a report Sir Edward, a British diplomat referred to Him as a barbarian. With Anna's assistance, the King hosts a dinner party to impress the visiting British.
When Anna learns a poor woman's baby is being sold to Kralahome's wife as a future servant she intervenes. This angers King Mongkut as he feels the governess is disrespecting the customs of his country.
The king is disappointed when Chulalongkorn's school marks are very low. It is up to governess Anna to convince King Mongkut that even a prince is only human and can have failures.
King Mongkut misunderstands Anna when she explains women need tenderness, assuming she wants to be his wife. Louis hears the rumor and runs away. Anna must extricate herself without hurting the King's ego.
The King orders a new invention from America in an attempt to stay up to date. But before anyone learns to ride it the monarch but first assemble it, a task he finds frustrating and nearly impossible.
Anna announces to the king that she is looking for a new position elsewhere. Mongkut starts to give her valuable gifts and also treats her son Louis well in hopes of getting her to stay.
King Mongkut tells the children an entertaining tale of ghostly spirits and hidden treasure. Taking the story as truth Louis and Prince Chula take off for a nearby temple where they expect to find gold.
An egg is thrown at the King during an audience and he decrees death to the culprit. What he doesn't realize is the perpetrator has taken refuge in governess Anna's quarters.
Louis finds himself in a dilemma when one of the King's daughters Kai Ling gets a crush on him. Anna advises her son on how to end the infatuation and also not incur Mongkut's wrath.
Thirteen year old Princess Serana rebels against the marriage her father the King has arranged for her. The young girl announces she wants to be a schoolteacher like her governess Anna.
