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The title character of Don Pasquale is a miserly old bachelor, who finds himself in his twilight years with no son to call an heir. He does, however, have a nephew, Ernesto, and Pasquale intends for his nephew to marry a rich woman, to be chosen by Pasquale, of course. Ernesto, in love with the penniless Norina, refuses, but Pasquale threatens to disinherit him if he disobeys him in this matter. Further, Pasquale announces that if Ernesto will not marry to his wishes, then the old man will take an appropriate wife himself. Norina conspires with Pasquale's friend, Dr. Malatesta, to hatch a plot that will convince the miser that this is supremely foolish. Passing herself off as Sofronia, a naïve, innocent girl fresh from the convent, Norina captures Pasquale's heart and arranges a fake marriage. Once married, Norina turns into an abominable shrew and makes Pasquale's life miserable. She even takes over as master of the house, and after declaring Pasquale unfit, takes Ernesto on as her public escort. Things go from bad to worse until Pasquale is convinced to grant Ernesto's request that he be allowed to marry as he wishes. The lovers reveal the trick they have played upon the old man, who is delighted to discover that he is not really married.