Summary on Much Ado About Nothing (chapter 1,2,3)

Act 1

Scene 1: Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, returns from battle and seeks refuge in Messina. Leonato, the Governor of Messina, welcomes Pedro and his soldiers with open arms, and the sudden influx of men into the town soon stirs up some romance. Claudio instantly falls in love with Hero, and Beatrice is reunited with her old flame, Benedick – the man she loves to hate.
Scene 2: Leonato is busily preparing a great supper to welcome the war heroes to Messina when his brother brings him news: Antonio explains that he overheard Claudio confessing his love for Hero.
Scene 3: The villainous Don John has also learned of Claudio’s love for Hero and vows to thwart their happiness. Don John is the “bastard” brother of Don Pedro – and he wants revenge for being defeated in battle.

Act 2

Scene 1: After supper, Leonato invites his guests to a great masked ball where Beatrice and Benedick continue to provide some light comedy – although they love each other, they can’t stop mocking each other long enough to admit it. Leonato gives permission for his daughter to marry Claudio in seven days time. Don Pedro and Hero decide to play cupid and plan to finally get Beatrice and Benedick to declare their love for each other.
Scene 2: Hearing that they only have one week to ruin the wedding, Don John and his henchmen soon devise a plan – they intend to trick Claudio with false evidence into thinking that Hero has been unfaithful to him the night before their wedding.
Scene 3: Meanwhile, Don Pedro tricks Benedick into thinking that Beatrice is head-over-heals in love with him, but dare not admit it in case Benedick mocks her. Benedick, who overhears this staged conversation, is completely fooled and starts musing on his love for Beatrice.

Act 3

Scene 1: Hero keeps her end of the bargain and manages to fool Beatrice into thinking that Benedick loves her, but dare not admit it to her. She, too, overhears Hero’s staged conversation and starts musing on her love for Benedick.
Scene 2: It is the night before the wedding and Don John prepares to execute his plan. He finds Claudio and tells him of Hero’s impurity. At first disbelieving, Claudio eventually agrees to go with Don John and see for himself.
Scene 3: Dogberry, a bumbling constable, instructs his watchmen to be extra vigilant because of the important wedding in the morning. The watchmen later overhear Don John’s henchmen drunkenly bragging about how they successfully tricked Claudio – they are promptly arrested.