Ernesto wants to marry his beloved Norina, but his uncle Don Pasquale wants him to take a more noble wife so that he doesn’t have to take care of his nephew any longer. But Ernesto refuses, so Pasquale decides that he will take a wife to produce his own heir and have no obligations to his nephew. So Dr. Malatesta offers to introduce him to his sister.

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Norina and Malatesta consult the plan so that she can appear to be his sister, marry Pasquale and then make his life hell to win back Ernesto. They arrive at Pasquale’s house and it all works according to plan. Disguised as Sofronia, she manages to convince Pasquale that she is a tame woman. They elope (with a false notary) and then she suddenly reveals herself as fierce and difficult, making the unsuspecting Pasquale go bezerk from the mayhem his new wife creates.

Pasquale confronts his “wife” about her carefree spending but she dismisses him outright, seeking advice from Malatesta. Pasquale believes she has a secret affair. The two plan to discover her in the act. Ernesto brings Norina a serenade, the two meet in the garden and are subsequently “discovered.” Pasquale confronts his wife and she reveals herself to be Norina. Pasquale, thrilled that he is not married, allows the two young lovers to elope.