Act 1
ACT ONE: Outside Doctor Graziano’s House
SCENE ONE: Columbina
Columbina waits alone in the dark, complaining of the circumstance and how she’s out every night till the crack of dawn delivering secret messages, and how she hates being a servant.
SCENE TWO: Columbina, Arlecchino
Arlecchino comes out of the house with Orazio’s reply to the note Columbina has just delivered. The two servants comment on each other’s weary appearance and poor health. They decide something must be done, since neither one can tolerate another sleepless night. They vow to get Orazio and Aurelia married somehow. A plan is formed: they will convince Pantalone/Graziano that Graziano/Pantalone has inherited a large sum of money and that their children can now get married. Columbina goes off.
SCENE THREE: Arlecchino, Orazio
Orazio comes out of the house, looking for Arlecchino. Arlecchino explains the plan.
SCENE FOUR: Arlecchino, Orazio, The Doctor
When the Doctor comes out of the house, Orazio and Arlecchino convince him that Pantalone has inherited money and now plans to pay a huge dowry for Aurelia.