CAST ACT ONE ACT TWO ACT THREE ACT FOUR ACT FIVE
ACT ONE, SCENE ONE SCENE TWO SCENE THREE
Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others with a Messenger.
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Leonato: I hear Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, is coming here to Messina tonight! Messenger: Yes, he has had great victory at war and many of his soldiers have survived. Leonato: I also hear he has given much honor to a young soldier named Claudio. Messenger: Yes, Claudio was was an honorable soldier! |
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Beatrice:
Messenger, did Signior Benedick survive the war?
Messenger: Oh, yes he did! Beatrice: What a foolish man he is! He stayed here once in Messina, and he thought he was smarter than me! I showed him otherwise. Messenger: He was a good soldier, lady. Beatrice: Yeah right! |
Enter Don Pedro, Don John, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and others.
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Don Pedro:
Hello Signior Leonato!
Leonato: Welcome! |
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Benedick: Oh, if it isn't Lady Disdain! Beatrice: It's impossible not to be disdainful when you are around. Benedick: Ha! There are many women who love me, alhtough I do not love any of them. Beatrice: Then you are doing them a favor! Anyway, I am glad I am hateful, for I do not want any man to love me. Benedick: I hope none do, for any man would have his face scratched by someone as viscous as you! Beatrice: If his face were anything like yours, scratching could not make it worse! |
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Don Pedro: Signior Benedick, Leonato has invited us all to stay here for the month. Come everyone, let's go inside. |
Exit all but Benedick and Claudio.
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Claudio: Benedick, did
you see Signior Leonato's daughter, Hero? Wasn't she beautiful?
Benedick: Not really. Claudio: How can you say that? She is the sweetest lady I've ever seen! I want her to be my wife! |
Re-enter Don Pedro.
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Don Pedro:
What keeps you two behind?
Benedick: Claudio says he's in love with Hero. Don Pedro: Well, she is a most worthy lady! Benedick: I don't think so. Besides, marriage is ridiculous! I will stay a bachelor forever. Don Pedro: Benedick, go into Leonato's and tell him I will be at dinner shortly. |
Exit Benedick.
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Don Pedro: Do you
really love Hero?
Claudio: Oh yes, I fell in love with her the moment I laid eyes on her! Don Pedro: Okay, I'll tell you what I'll do. At the dinner tonight, where we will all be masked, I'll disguise myself as you and woo Hero for you. She will be yours! |
ACT ONE, SCENE TWO
Enter Leonato and Antonio
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Antonio: Brother
Leonato, I have some news. A man of mine overheard Prince Pedro and Count
Claudio talking in the garden. Don Pedro said he was in love with your
daughter and plans on wooing her tonight.
Leonato: Oh my! I should go prepare Hero with the news. |
ACT ONE, SCENE THREE
Enter Don John and Conrade
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Conrade: Why are you
so sad my lord?
Don John: Only because I am a bastard brother of Don Pedro. I was born a bastard, and therefore born a villain! I must do something evil! |
Enter Borachio
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Borachio: Sir, I
have heard that Don Pedro is planning on helping his right hand Claudio to
marry lady Hero.
Don John: Ah ha! This gives me a chance to be evil! Will you help me ruin this intended marriage? Borachio: Of course, my lord! |