MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING SYNOPSIS

Leonato is the governor of Messina. He receives word from a messenger that the Prince of Aragon, Don Pedro, and his accompanying army of lords are on the way to town after a victorious battle. Leonato's niece, Beatrice, makes fun of one of the returning soldiers, a lord named Benedick.

When the army returns, the town of Messina celebrates their arrival. Leonato welcomes everyone back from battle, including Don John, the half-brother of Don Pedro who recently tried to start a failed revolt against his own brother. Don John and his associates Conrade and Borachio thank Leonato for his hospitability, but keep at a cold distance while the rest of the army and citizens enter the city.

Beatrice and Benedick immediately start to quarrel, exchanging jabs at one another for their own entertainment. 

Claudio, a young lord who has proven himself in battle and has become friends with Don Pedro and Benedick, confides in them that he has feelings for Hero, the daughter of Leonato. Don Pedro volunteers to help Claudio woo Hero at the party that night.

Antonio talks to Leonato after overhearing the conversation between Don Pedro and Claudio. He mistakenly tells Leonato that Don Pedro is actually the one in love with Hero.

Before the party that night, Leonato talks to Hero about what she'll say if she's proposed to by Don Pedro. Beatrice adds her own advice as well, telling her cousin to follow her own will and marry whomever she wants. Beatrice doubles down on her aversion to marriage.

When the guests arrive for the party, Don Pedro follows the plan of talking to Hero for Claudio. While Claudio waits, Don John - who is jealous of Claudio's popularity with his brother - lies and tells him that Don Pedro is actually going to steal Hero for himself. Claudio becomes upset and feels embarrassed that he fell for Don Pedro's trick. Benedick comes over to try and cheer the mistaken Claudio up, but doesn't succeed, so instead he just ends up talking about how Beatrice hurt his feelings.

Don Pedro returns and tells Claudio that Hero feels the same way. Realizing Don John was lying and Don Pedro actually was playing wingman (a true friend), Claudio is overjoyed and he and Hero step aside to talk about making plans to be married in a few days.

Reveling in his matchmaking abilities, Don Pedro proposes a plan to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love. He enlists the help of Leonato, Claudio and Hero. They all agree to help trick their friends.

Don John is once again frustrated that his plans to meddle and cause a disturbance for his brother and his friends failed. Borachio, a friend to Don John, pitches a new idea. Borachio and Margaret, one of Hero's friends and gentlewomen, have a pretty flirty relationship. He thinks that he can be seen with Margaret in Hero's room and convince Claudio and Don Pedro that it's actually Hero being disloyal. Don John loves the idea and pays Borachio for his work.

The next day, Benedick is once again talking about how he could never find a woman he'd fall in love with. He overhears Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato walking near and decides to hide and listen to their conversation. Knowing he's nearby, Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato start to talk about how much Beatrice is in love with Benedick (much to the surprise of Benedick).

Benedick decides he must be in love with Beatrice, too.

A little bit later, Hero and Ursula tell Margaret to run and tell Beatrice that they're talking about her. When Beatrice arrives, she hides to overhear their conversation. Ursula and Hero talk about how Benedick is in love with Beatrice (much to the surprise of Beatrice).

Beatrice decides she must be in love with Benedick, too.

The night before the wedding, Don John pretends to be a good friend and tells Claudio and Don Pedro that Hero is cheating on him. When they arrive at Hero's window, Claudio and Don Pedro are convinced that Margaret is actually Hero with Borachio. Heartbroken, Claudio leaves.

That same night, the Watch, a troupe of Messina citizens tasked with patrolling the streets and ensuring no mischief is happening, are being trained by leaders Dogberry and Verges. Though their instructions may not be clear, they make up for it in passion!

Borachio tells Conrade about how he and Don John tricked Claudio while the Watch are listening. They capture both Borachio and Conrade to be questioned by the Sexton.

In the morning, Hero is getting ready for the wedding with Margaret and Ursula. While they help pick out what she plans on wearing, a sick Beatrice joins their group. Margaret and Hero tease Beatrice about Benedick before Ursula tells them the wedding is getting ready to start.

At the wedding, Claudio, Don Pedro and Don John accuse Hero of being disloyal. She and Leonato deny the accusation, but Claudio refuses to marry her. Hero faints from the shock and Claudio and Don Pedro leave.

Friar Francis, who was supposed to officiate the wedding, steps up to the defense of Hero against a frustrated Leonato. Friar Francis crafts a plan to fake Hero's death until her name is cleared to make Claudio and Don Pedro feel guilty about their actions. Hero and Leonato agree and leave with him.

A distraught Beatrice cries in the church after, upset for her cousin. Benedick stays to comfort her.

They confess their feelings for one another. Beatrice asks Benedick to defend her cousin's honor and "Kill Claudio." At first Benedick refuses, but after Beatrice gives an impassioned speech about how society won't let her fight Claudio herself, Benedick agrees. He leaves to challenge Claudio to a duel.

Later that day, Dogberry, Verges and the rest of the Watch are interrogating Conrade and Borachio semi-successfully. Before being taken away to jail, Conrade calls Dogberry "an ass." He (and the rest of the Watch) take this as a sign of extreme disrespect. 

Leonato and Antonio bump into a distant Don Pedro and Claudio on the street. They both challenge him, but Claudio refuses to fight the old men. They tell Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero has died of grief while Borachio confesses to everyone how he helped play a hand in the action. Everyone learns that Don John has fled Messina to avoid any fallout.

Realizing the harm of his actions, Claudio asks Leonato to punish him in some way for the death of Hero. Leonato tells Claudio to marry an unknown cousin of Hero tomorrow to make up for it, as well as visit her grave and mourn her annually. He agrees.

The next day, everyone is at the church again, this time for a somber wedding. Claudio vows to love and marry the strange, veiled cousin, who is revealed to be the very-much still alive. She forgives him and the two embrace.

Benedick and Beatrice realize they've been tricked and pretend not to like each other any more in public. But after some coaxing, they confess they do love each other. Benedick asks Friar Francis to marry Beatrice and himself as well.

Word comes that Don John has been captured and brought back to Messina. Benedick urges Don Pedro not to think about him on such a happy day. Everyone dances.