La Serva Padrona

Uberto, an elderly bachelor, is angry and impatient with his maidservant, Serpina, because she has not brought him his breakfast. Serpina has become so arrogant that she acts like she is the mistress of the household.

Indeed, when Uberto calls for his hat, wig and coat, Serpina forbids him to leave the house, adding that from then on he will have to obey her orders. Uberto orders the mute servant, Vespone, to find him a woman to marry so that he can finally rid himself of Serpina.

Serpina convinces Vespone to trick Uberto into marrying her. She informs Uberto that she is to marry a military man named Tempesta. She will be leaving his home and manipulatively apologizes for her behavior. Vespone, disguised as Tempesta, arrives and, without saying a word, demands 4,000 crowns for a dowry. Uberto balks, and refuses to pay such a sum for his servant. Tempesta threatens him to either pay the dowry or marry the girl himself. Uberto, frugally, agrees to marry Serpina himself. Serpina and Vespone reveal their trick; but Uberto realizes that he has loved the girl all along. They marry after all, and Serpina takes her place as the one true mistress of the household.