Much ado by Akil
Storyboard Text
- When Don Pedro’s party arrive at the house, Leonato invites them to stay for at least a month. Leonato extends his hospitality to the surly Don John who has recently been reconciled to his brother, Don Pedro, and receives a curt acceptance. Claudio immediately falls in love with Hero which he confesses to Don Pedro, who offers to woo her on his behalf. Beatrice and Benedick are re-acquainted and exchange witty insults.
- Borachio explains to his master, Don John, and Conrad, a follower, how he can convince Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is unfaithful, thereby preventing Claudio’s marriage and injuring her father, Leonato. Borachio will stage a scene at Margaret’s window where she will pretend to be her mistress, Hero, as he woos her. This will dishonour Hero and Leonato.
- Margaret is sent to fetch Beatrice and warn her that Hero and Ursula are discussing her in the orchard. In an echo of Benedick’s gulling, Beatrice conceals herself and overhears Hero and Ursula discussing Benedick’s love for her and how she is too scornful to reciprocate.
- A drunken Borachio is overheard by the Watch telling Conrad how he has earned money from Don John by pretending to woo ‘Hero’, impersonated by an unwitting Margaret, at her window the night before her wedding. Having witnessed the scene with Don Pedro and egged on by the malevolent Don John, Claudio has sworn to shame Hero the next day in the church.
- During the wedding ceremony Claudio accuses Hero of being “an approved wanton” despite her modest appearance and hands her back to her father. Don Pedro tells Leonato that he too has been dishonoured because he arranged the match. Hero denies the encounter, then faints, and the groom’s party leave the church. Beatrice tries to help Hero but Leonato states it would be better if she was dead rather than disgraced.
- Claudio arrives with Don Pedro to wed Leonato’s ‘niece’. The women enter masked and Leonato insists that Claudio marry before removing the mask. Hero is revealed much to the amazement of Claudio and Leonato explains the deception.
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