Marcantonio Ravì has a plan: to give his beautiful daughter, Stellina, in marriage to the elderly but hugely wealthy Don Diego Alcozèr. Justifying his decision to appalled family and neighbors, he encourages the lazy Pepè Alletto to take a longer view―in only a few years, following Don Diego’s death, a younger, more suitable husband can be found. Stellina herself is bitterly opposed to the marriage, fainting at her wedding party; and events spiral further out of control when Pepè’s bullish lawyer brother-in-law becomes involved.