ACT 1

Scene 1- The story begins in Messian, at the house of Leonato, the governer. A war has just ended and a messenger brings the new that few soldiers and no important ones died. Beatrice makes mean comments about Benedick when he, Don Pedro, and Claudio arrive. They are welcomed to stay, and Benedick and Beatrice exchange insults. When they leave, Claudio tells Benedick his love for Hero, and Benedick tells it to Don Pedro. Don Pedro then offers to woo Hero, in Claudio's name, at the masquerade ball.

Scene 2-Antonio had been listening to them all talk in the last scene, and he tells Leonato that the Prince wants to woo Claudio for himself. He had misunderstood.

Scene 3- Don John is talking to Conrade when Borachio enters with news of an intended wedding between Claudio and Hero. Don John vows to ruin the wedding.

ACT 2

Scene 1- Leonato, Hero, Antonio, and Beatrice are having a conversation over the fact that Beatrice should be married. She says she cannot find the right man. Then came in the Prince, Claudio, and Benedick in masks. Don Pedro wins Hero's heart for Claudio. Then Beatrice pretends she cannot tell Benedick under his disguise, and mocks him. Don John, Borachio, and Claudio stay when everyone leaves. They think Claudio is Benedick, and tells him Don Pedro woos for himself. Claudio is saddened. Claudio tells Benedick, who talks to Don Pedro about it. He said they were wrong. Leonato then offers Hero to Claudio. After Benedick and Beatrice are gone, they plan to make them fall in love with each other.

Scene 2- At Leonato's house, Don John and Borachio plan to break up Hero and Claudio by making everone think Hero is permiscuous by dressing up her maid in Hero's clothes and then having them make love on the balcony in front of Claudio and Don Pedro.

Scene 3- Balthasar, Don Pedro, and Claudio talk in the garden with Benedick, saying how much Beatrice is in love with him. After they leave, Beatrice is told to invite him to dinner, and she scorns Benedick. However, he sees compliments in her insults.

ACT 3

Scene 1- In Leonato's garden. Hero, Ursula, and Margaret talk of Signior Benedicks's love for Beatrice. Beatrice overhears, and thinks it is actually true.

Scene 2- Because Benedick wants Beatrice to like him, he shaves his beard. Don John and Claudio joke around with him about his love to Beatrice. Benedick and Leonato leave, and Don John comes in and tells the Prince and Claudio the Hero has been unfaithful. Claudio says if it is true, he will shame Hero at the altar.

Scene 3- in a street, the village idiots talk about their duties as a watches and constables. Borachio and Conrade enter, and they hide. The tow talk fo the plan, of how it worked, and of how everyone was involved. The watches then apprehend them.

Scene 4- Hero is peparing for her wedding, but araget is lowering morale by making bad comments on Hero's dress. Beatrice enters and talks of how she doesn't feel good...she is in love.

Scene 5- In another room in Leonato's house, Dogberry and Verges try to tell Leonato of the two villians, but he can't understand. He tells them to work it out with the Sexton
ACT 4

Scene 1- At the church, as they are being wed, Claudio refuses Hero an accuses her of permisquiety. She says it isn't tru, but faints after the many insults. Her father, ashamed of her, wishes her death. The friar steps in and says for them to tell everyone Claudio killed Hero, so Claudio will miss her. Beatrice then converses with Benedick. She says that if he loves her, then he will kill Claudio He agrees.

Scene 2- The idiots (watches) take the villaians to the Sexton. Borachio admits his villainy, but said that Margaret had othing to do with it.

ACT 5

Scene 1- Leonato and Antonio tell Don Pedro and Claudio that they had wronged Hero. They even challenge Claudio to a duel. When they leave, Benedick comes and challenges Claudio as well. Then, the watches come in with Borachio, who confesses his story to Don Pedro and Claudio. They are saddened becasue they believe they killed Hero. In repentence, Claudio agrees to marry Antonio's daughter (it is really Hero).

Scene 2- Benedick and Margaret meet in the garden to help Benedick write a poem to Beatrice. Beatrice comes in and converses with Benedick about why they like each other.

Scene 3- At a church Claudio reads an epitaph and sings a song to Hero's tomb (it is fake because she still lives). He and Don Pedro then leave.

Scene 4- At Leoonato's house, they talk about the whole mess. Leonato, Benedick, Beatrice, and Benedick decide to marry, and Claudio finds Hero to be the supposed daughter of Antonio. A messenger comes and tell them that they caught Don John whe had fled when the plot was uncovered. They deal with him later, and they use this happy time to dance.