ACT ONE begins in Don Pasquale's home. He's a rich old bachelor and has just had a quarrel with Ernesto, his nephew and heir. Ernesto is in love with Norina, who is young and beautiful — but poor. Pasquale wants Ernesto to marry an old, rich woman instead. When Ernesto balks at this, Pasquale is furious and threatens to disinherit him. Pasquale decides he should get married himself, and father a more suitable heir than Ernesto, but at his age he's not sure he's up to the challenge. So, he summons an old friend, Dr. Malatesta, and solicits advice. Malatesta pretends to sympathize, but he actually thinks Pasquale is a fool and resolves to teach the old geezer a lesson.
Malatesta proposes that Pasquale marry a lovely, convent-educated woman named Sofronia — who is supposedly Malatesta's own sister. Pasquale agrees and begins making arrangements. When Ernesto gets wind of this, he laughs in Pasquale's face. Pasquale orders Ernesto to move out of the house immediately.
Meanwhile, Malatesta visits Norina, and the two discuss the plot they're about to hatch on the unsuspecting Pasquale.
At the start of ACT TWO, back in Pasquale's house, Ernesto is in a quandary. He can't afford to marry Norina without his uncle's money and thinks he has no choice but to leave the country. When Ernesto leaves, Malatesta shows up with the disguised Norina, presenting her to Pasquale as Sofronia. She's wearing a veil and seems modest and innocent, much to Pasquale's delight. A notary shows up — actually Malatesta's cousin, also in disguise. Malatesta dictates the marriage contract, which makes Pasquale's new bride the mistress of his house and co-owner of all his posessions.
The proceedings are interrupted when Ernesto returns to have one last go at changing his uncle's mind. Ernesto is startled when he recognizes the disguised Norina, but Malatesta explains the secret without tipping off Pasquale. Ernesto agrees to witness the contract, and all the parties affix their signatures.
Before the ink is dry, "Sofronia" undergoes a spectacular transformation — changing from a blushing girl to a demanding shrew. Shrilly, she insists on a private carriage, more servants and a top-to-bottom renovation of the house — and she demands that Ernesto be kept on as her personal escort.
As ACT THREE begins, Don Pasquale is wallowing in bills for extravagances ordered by his new wife. Sofronia enters, dressed to the nines. She says she's going to the theater with Ernesto and suggests that it's past Pasquale's bedtime. When Pasquale protests, she slaps him and storms out. But on her way she drops a note on the floor — seemingly by accident. Pasquale picks it up and reads it in shock — it's a letter arranging a tryst with her lover for that very evening. Pasquale promptly sends for Dr. Malatesta, not realizing that the good doctor has been in on the scheme all along. Malatesta arrives to find Pasquale looking down and out. The two plan to spy on Sofronia's secret assignation and catch her in the act.
That evening, in the garden, a diguised Ernesto plays the role of Sofronia's lover and sings her a serenade. Suddenly, Pasquale and Malatesta jump out of the bushes. Ernesto escapes, and Sofronia insists to her enraged husband that no one else has been with her. Malatesta then takes charge. He reassures Pasquale, saying he has a plan to get rid of Sofronia for good and calls for Ernesto.
Malatesta tells Sofronia that Ernesto is going to marry Norina, who will then move in and take charge of the household. Sofronia is outraged, but the plan sounds fine to the befuddled Pasquale. He's desperate to be rid of Sofronia and promptly agrees to annul his own marriage. Too late, he discovers he has been duped. Sofronia is really Norina, and she is now free to marry Ernesto. Still, Pasquale is so happy to be done with his shrewish wife that he gives his blessing to the new couple. In the end, everyone agrees that when an old man marries a young woman, he's surely asking for trouble.
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