CHARACTERS

MONTICELSO:  A Cardinal; afterwards The Pope
FRANCISCO: Duke of Florence, Brother to ISABELLA
BRACHIANO:  Duke, Husband to ISABELLA, and in love with VITTORIA.
GIOVANNI: Son by ISABELLA & BRACHIANO 
ISABELLA: Sister to FRANCISCO, and Wife to BRACHIANO.
LODOVICO: Once a nobleman, but now banished for murder.
ANTONELLI: Friend of LODOVICO
VITTORIA: first married to CAMILLO, afterwards to BRACHIANO.
CAMILLO: Husband to VITTORIA.
FLAMINEO: Brother to VITTORIA; Secretary to BRACHIANO.
CORNELIA: Mother to VITTORIA, and FLAMINEO

SETTING

1950'S ITALY - VARIOUS LOCATIONS

ACT ONE SYNOPSIS

ACT 1 - SCENE 1

Lodovico laments his banishment to Antonelli. He is greeted by his beloved Isabella, who is on her way to Rome to be reunited with her husband Brachiano. They have a deep affection for one another; however, due to the exiled status they cannot pursue their affections. 

ACT 1 - SCENE 2 

After a brief encounter during a church service, Flamineo and Duke discuss further meeting arrangements between the former's sister Vittoria but find an obstacle in the form of her husband, Camillo, preventing this "hookup". Camillo, unable to have sex with his wife, meets with Flamineo to help his "drought". Flamineo obliges and persuades his sister to perform her wifely duties with her husband. She prentensly agrees to sleeping with Camille, and Flamineo adds to this promise only if Camillo stays in his chamber, under lock and key,  until she arrives. Once Flamineo gets Camillo out of the way, he makes arrangements for Vittoria and Brachiano to meet up. Both meet up and soon begin to develop deeper affections for one another despite the arrangement only being a brief encounter. Under the watchful eye of her mother, Cornelia, and Flamineo (hiding nearby), the two profess a deeper affection for one another that soon becomes a protest by Cornelia. She claims that Brachiano is simply using her daughter for sex and his words are all pretenses. Enraged, Brachiano chastises Cornelia and storms off, leaving Flamineo's plan in shambles. Flamieno resets. 

Act 1 - SCENE 3 

Days later, Isabella is now in Rome with her son, Giovanni. She is greeted by her brother, Franscico, to his surprise learns she has not seen her husband, Brachiano, since her return. Enraged by the knowledge that this behavior is because of Brachiano's affair with Vittoria, he must conduct a sit-down with the Duke, and Cardinal Monticelso to discuss matters of the Kingdom. This discussion turns ugly as the matter of Vittoria is brought into the conversation. After, Brachiano reunites with Isabella in which she confronts the Duke on his infidelity. After she leaves the room in ashes, Brachiano attempts to make amends with her but the result is meet with resistance but eventual acceptance. Flamino pounces on the opportunity to gain favor of the Duke by promising him that all obsticules will be removed.  Later that evening, Francisco and Monticelso send the cuckhold Camillo on a military mission to remove him from Rome, so he cannot perform his duties. At scene’s end, we see Vittoria look for forgiveness in her actions as she fully commits to her love of the Duke. 

Act 1 - SCENE 4

That same evening, Flamineo's plot thickens as Isabella is poisoned by a maid, and he strangles Camillo to death. The deed is confirmed, and payment is received from the Duke as he now can freely engage with Vittoria. At the same time of this meeting, Vittoria stumbles across the dead body of her husband and is falsely accused of the crime.

Act 1 - Scene 5

The next day as Vittoria is put on trail for the murder of her husband, Monticelso berates her for being a whore in which she vehemently denies the allegations, and professes her innocents. The Duke is pressed into testifying on behalf of her, but fails to claim her innocent of the crime and leaves the proceedings insulted by the Cardinal. Francisco pursades the Cardinal to drop the murder charge but to now charge her with adultery. Monticelso relents and finding her guilty of adultery sends her to a house of convertites. Vittoria does not go peacefully but is apprehended and taken there.  The scene ends with Giovanni and Francisco learning then mourning the death of Isabella. Francisco begins to realize the Duke may have been responsible for his sister's demise. 

INTERMISSION

Act 2 - Scene 1 

A proud Flamineo reflects upon his well-executed plan to eliminate those who stood in the way of his sister and the Duke's union which has financially benefited him and his family.  He spies the banished Lodovico and confronts him with the news about Isabella's passing. Their discussion is interrupted when the Pope,  upon his deathbed, lifts the creed of banishment from Lodovico with full pardon. He turns on Flamineo as his distain for Vittoria and her involvement with the Duke is shown now that he free to speak his mind. He leaves with the beginnings of revenge for the death of Isabella. 

Act 2 - Scene 2

In a confessional with Monticelso, Francisco begins his plot of revenge against Brachiano by enlisting the aid of the Cardinal. He is firmly resolved in his plan when he visited by the ghost of Isabella.  He writes a contrived letter that finds its way to Flamineo that launches his revenge plan into action. 

Act 2  - Scene 3 

Flamineo shares the feigned letter with Brachiano and, enraged, the Duke is taken to where Vittoria is housed. He accuses her of cheating on him as she vehemently denies the letter's content. Once seeing her innocents, he apologizes to her, and professing his true love, asks her to become his wife. 

Act 2 - Scene 4 

Upon learning the news from the newly elected Pope Monticelso that the Duke and his bride have fled Rome, he excommunicates the couple to the delight of Francisco, Lodovico (who now has joined forces with the former) and Antonelli. Lodovico professes this to the Pope and asks for forgiveness for his upcoming actions. The plot to kill Brachiano and Vittora is launched. The scene ends with the Pope recognizing that he is the insider to all the nefarious plots ahead making him the unseen top Boss. 

Act 2 - Scene 5

Enlisting both Lodovico and Antonelli, Francisco is disguised as an ally in the upcoming conflict between the two houses. They fool both the Duke and Flamineo and are part of the wedding celebration at the estate.  As the wedding is held,  the trio conspire to slip deadly poison into Brachiano's wine. After a celebratory wedding dance, the Duke toasts the happy couple and is instantly killed by the poisoned wine. After pandemonium ensues and the party departs, Francisco and Flamineo reflect upon the Duke as the latter understands his alliance has to be switched and sides with the former in the distain of the Duke. At scene’s The Duke rises from the dead and sees the ghost of Isabella. He is granted forgiveness by her, and they rest in peace together. 

Act  2 - Scene 6

A drunken Flamineo stumbles upon a fleeing Vittoria and presses her for his share of the Duke's fortune. She fends him off by promising him the wealth but questions his motives in all this. Infuriated by her words, Flamineo attacks her. They struggle which ends in the unfortunate demise of him. About to kill herself over all the misery, she is then confronted by Lodovico. Able to get his revenge, he attempts to kill her but is stopped by Giovanni's entrance.  He is wrongly accused of the murder of Flamineo, and taken away despite his protest.  Giovanni, in an act of forgiveness, reaches out and takes Vittoria's hand.  All is forgiven.