else he shall do it for him. Mrs. Malaprop enters and prepares Jack to meet her niece. She explains that Lucy is indeed a girl who is fixed on a poor fellow. She even has a note from that poor fellow (Beverly/Jack's note). Jack feigns being upset as he reads the note. Jack then tells Mrs. Malaprop to tell Lydia that he is actually Beverly, in hopes that she will then come and talk with him. When Jack finally gets to talk with Lydia she still thinks he is poor Beverly and is quite taken with the fact that her aunt actually thinks Beverly is Jack. Poverty is something that makes Lydia more attracted to a man. She asks Beverly once again why he loves her, but Jack, looking at his watch, realises that time is running out. His father has given him five minutes and will be coming back soon. Jack rushes off as Mrs. Malaprop comes in to find her niece still daydreaming about Beverly. Unfortunately, Jack is caught by his father who drags him back in to propose to Lydia. Finally the young woman learns the truth. She runs off renouncing both Beverly and Jack forever. Sir Anthony is upset; Mrs. Malaprop is upset; and chaos reigns! Outside the Brothel, a drunken Jack talks with Bob Acres and tells him that he has found Beverly and that the monster accepted his challenge to a duel. He insists on fighting tonight at 7:30. Bob wonders just what is going on. The Grenadiers appear suddenly from inside the brothel - each has a semi-undressed girl. It appears the men are all drinking because of their trouble with women as well. Jack grabs a few girls and goes inside. O'Trigger comes out of the Baths and joins with the other men in wondering just why men take just one wife when they really want many. Sir Anthony enters and sees O'Trigger who is ready to pick a quarrel with him. After a few insults back and forth, Anthony challenges O'Trigger to a duel at 7:30 in King's Mead-Field. Jack comes out and tries to stop his father; however, Sir Anthony has no desire to speak with his. After Sir Anthony leaves, O'Trigger insults him in front of Jack and learns that Jack is Anthony's son. A still upset Jack challenges O'Trigger to a duel at 7:25 in King's Mead-Field. Now that Jack has no woman to live for, he might as well try to save his father. Back in the Malaprop garden, Lydia is in tears. Lucy enters dressed as a lady. She is giving her notice to Mrs. Malaprop. She has saved her money, has bought a cottage in the country, and is getting married. Lydia is further upset that her servant will marry and wonders why is it that men can do as they wish and women must follow in their paths. Mrs. Malaprop enters with Bag, the servant, and informs the two women that something terrible is happening. Lydia tries to get her aunt to tell her just what it is, but the old woman just can't get to the point. Bag finally reveals that the men will all be duelling, and they all rush off to stop them before it is too late. In King's Mead-Field, O'Trigger is coaching Acres who is ready to fight Ensign Beverly. Jack appears and confesses to Acres that he is Beverly. Acres accepts that he can't fight his friend, but is prepared to fight O'Trigger who calls him a coward. Sir Anthony arrives wanting to be certain that he can still take part in his duel. The women come rushing in ready to stop the proceedings. Lydia runs to Jack and agrees to a life of luxury. O'Trigger says he must fight for his Delilah. Mrs. Malaprop quickly confesses to being the women he has been corresponding with. It is then that Lucy produces a key to Blunderbuss Hall (a country mansion) and confesses that she has purchased it with her life's savings and is prepared to take care of O'Trigger and restore him to his former glory. The little servant made a lot of money delivering all those notes. O'Trigger falls into her arms. It appears that loves does win out after all. But what about Mrs. Malaprop? Jack begins to speak and it looks like he is leading the woman to his father who flinches. Instead, he takes her to his good friend, Bob Acres. Mrs. Malaprop is smitten, and Bob Acres is befuddled. Sir Anthony wraps up the show commenting that everyone is well matched.
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