BEATRICE: [aside] What the hell is he doing here? [To BRIGHELLA] Buongiorno, amico. [Good day, friend.] Tell me, what brings you to Venice?

BRIGHELLA: I am the proud owner of Brighella’s Inn. [To BEATRICE] Signora Beatrice, is that really you?

BEATRICE: Ah, that’s wonderful, congratulations.

She moves closer to him.

For the love of heaven, I beg of you, do not reveal my identity.

BRIGHELLA: Grazie [Thank you], and you will have to stay in my inn. [To BEATRICE] I will do my best.

PANTALONA: You two know each other?

BEATRICE: Sì, we do. Definitely.

BRIGHELLA: [to PANTALONA] Yes, of course. We go way, way back.

PANTALONA: Excellent. [To BRIGHELLA] So that’s definitely Rasponi?

BRIGHELLA: Sì, Signora. Definitely. Definitely.

PANTALONA: [to BEATRICE] Good. Now, about our business. Everything is in order and I will have your money very soon. Arrivederci. [See you later.]

PANTALONA exits.

BRIGHELLA: What’s going on, Signora Beatrice? I’ve put my neck on the line for you!

BEATRICE: Please don’t say a word to anyone, or betray me, dear Brighella. Dear friend. My dearest dear. My poor brother is dead, killed at the hand of my love, Florindo Aretusi. It’s a disaster! Do you remember how my brother did not want us to be together? It all happened so quickly—they started fighting and Federigo died and then Florindo, for fear of getting arrested, escaped. Heaven knows how much I grieved for the loss of my brother and how much I cried, but there is no bringing him back, and now I grieve for the loss of Florindo. I knew that he fled to Venice and so I decided to follow him. And here I am in the hope of finding my love. Signora Pantalona believes me to be Federigo. This isn’t a swindle. Pantalona’s money is rightfully mine! My brother is dead and I am his heir. So once we have settled the accounts, I will be paid and I can use the money to help Florindo. Understand that I cannot disclose my true identity otherwise I won’t achieve anything. As a man I am free and I want and need that freedom. It’ll be short-lived. But in the meantime things will sort themselves out. Look what love drives you to do.

BRIGHELLA: Nice story … So Pantalona’s money is yours, hey? Well then, you’ll be staying at Brighella’s Inn. [Aside] That’s my inn and it’s going to be very, very expensive.

BEATRICE: It’ll be my pleasure, dear, dear—

BRIGHELLA: Save it.

BEATRICE and BRIGHELLA exit.

SCENE TWO

Outside Brighella’s Inn.

TRUFFALDINO enters.

Lazzo of ‘Truffaldino’s Inner Conflict’: TRUFFALDINO battles with his angelic and demonic side. The text that follows may be used in this lazzo.

TRUFFALDINO: I have to wait here for my master … Oh, can you smell that? No, I must obey the master, but how can I when I am a slave to my stomach?

TRUFFALDINO’S DEVIL: Then you should listen to your stomach.

TRUFFALDINO’S ANGEL: If you listen to your stomach now you’ll regret it later when you have no master.