Fact1: Claudio has been thinking of Leonato 's beautiful daughter Hero, Fact2: Don Pedro decides to arrange similar fate for Beatrice and Benedick Needing something to pass time until wedding, Fact3: Beatrice loves Benedick while knowing Benedick to be hiding within earshot, Fact4: Hero and Ursula play same trick upon Beatrice, Fact5: Don John has been searching for ways to stop marriage between Claudio and Hero
Output: Having just crushed an uprising by his halfbrother, Don John, Don Pedro of Aragon and his noblemen visit their friend Leonato in Messina. Accompanying Don Pedro is the witty Benedick, former lover of Leonatos equally sharptongued niece, Beatrice. Also present are Benedicks friend Claudio, a young count; and Don John who, despite his rebellion, has apparently reconciled with his brother. Claudio has been thinking of Leonatos beautiful daughter Hero since before he went to war, and returns to find her as attractive as ever. Don Pedro, learning of his friends feelings, decides to act on his behalf and arranges the match at a party. An unrepentant Don John attempts to foil it, but unsuccessfully – the match is made. Needing something to pass the time until the wedding, Don Pedro decides to arrange a similar fate for Beatrice and Benedick, whose animosity for each other is clear. Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio stage a conversation containing a false account of how much Beatrice loves Benedick, all the while knowing Benedick to be hiding within earshot. Hero and her gentlewoman Ursula play the same trick upon Beatrice. Each of them believes the story they hear about the other. In the midst of all of this goodnatured scheming, Don John has been searching for ways to stop the marriage between Claudio and Hero. The night before the wedding, Don Johns servant Borachio arranges a steamy liaison with Heros gentlewoman Margaret at Heros chamber window. Don John shows Don Pedro and Claudio this, and they believe that they are seeing Hero in the act of infidelity. Against the revelry of the evening, the noble but incompetent constable Dogberry appoints a watch to keep the peace. The three hapless watchmen happen to hear Borachio bragging to his colleague Conrade about how he and Don John had succeeded in stopping the wedding. The watchmen apprehend Borachio and Conrade, and, in the morning, Dogberry attempts to have Leonato interrogate the prisoners. However, a hurried Leonato is unable to decipher what the bumbling Dogberry is trying to tell him. Amidst the confusion, Don John quietly flees. At the wedding, Claudio publicly disgraces his wouldbe bride and storms away, along with most of the guests, except for Ursula, the Friar, Leonato, Beatrice, Antonio, and Benedick. They all agree to the Friars plan to publish the tale that Hero, upon the grief of Claudios accusations, suddenly died. Beatrice and Benedick linger a moment and eventually confess their love to one another. In the wake of this declaration, Beatrice asks Benedick to do the one thing that will satisfy her outrage with what has just happened – kill Claudio. With a heavy heart, he agrees to challenge his friend. Meanwhile, Borachio and Conrade are interrogated by Dogberry and his men. Despite Dogberrys incompetence, the truth of Don Johns sinister machinations is revealed. Moments after Benedicks challenge to Claudio, Leonato is made aware of what really happened. Leonato continues to pretend to Claudio that Hero is dead. Claudio entreats Leonato to impose whatever vengeance he sees fit for Claudios part in Heros disgrace and death. Leonato forgives Claudio on the condition that he publicly declare his wrongdoing and then marry Heros cousin the next morning. Claudio agrees, and carries out the former by reciting an epitaph at Heros tomb that night. When the bride is brought forth the next day, she is revealed to be none other than Hero herself. She and Claudio profess their true, undying love for each other, as do Beatrice and Benedick, who agree to marry. Benedick renounces his challenge against Claudio and embraces him. Moments later, Don John is marched in, having been captured before he could escape. Those gathered begin to dance, with the two happy couples at the middle. Don Pedro remains behind, still single, but happy for his friends.