In Messina the governor Leonato, his daughter Hero
and her cousin Beatrice learn that Don Pedro is
returning home from war. He arrives with Claudio,
Benedick and Don John. Claudio falls in love with
Hero and Don Pedro vows to help bring them together.
Beatrice vows to never marry, just as Benedick had
vowed previously, but Don Pedro plans to bring them
together. Don John tries to keep Claudio and Hero
apart and spreads lies about Hero, telling Pedro
and Claudio that she is a whore. At the wedding,
Hero is accused of this by Pedro and Claudio. Leonato
vows to find the truth and the Friar suggests that
they pretend Hero has died of shame, to reveal the
source of the lie. Beatrice and Benedick privately
reveal their love for each other, and she asks him
to prove his love by killing Claudio. Benedick challenges
Claudio to a duel, but before they fight the truth
is revealed about the slander against Hero. Claudio
and Hero are reunited, Benedick asks Leonato for
Beatrice's hand in marriage and Don John is arrested.
