Tomorrow is the wedding of Flaminia and Fulgenzio, but that can wait - today is Pantalone’s birthday. His family and friends plan a surprise to celebrate, only Pantalone mistakes their actions as a plot to kill him! He decides to fake his own death and leave everything to himself... but his family and friends have other ideas. Hijinks ensue, lovers quarrel and reconcile, and strangers wander into the sitting room but it all ends happily ever after.