Olivo E Pasquale - Synopsis

Synopsis

Time: The eighteenth century

Place: Lisbon

Olivo and Pasquale are two brothers, both merchants from Lisbon: the first is hot-blooded and brutal, the other is sweet and shy. Olivo's daughter, Isabella, loves a young apprentice, Camillo, but her father wants her to marry a wealthy merchant from Cadiz, Le Bross. Isabella tells Le Bross that she loves another. At first he is led to believe that it is Columella, an old conceited and ridiculous man but shortly after he understands that it is Camillo. Olivo, realizing that his daughter dares to oppose his will, is furious and Le Bross, shocked by his disproportionate reaction, becomes Isabella and Camillo's ally and promises to help them get married. The lovers threaten to commit suicide at five o'clock if Olivo doesn't agree to let them get married, but he does not believe them and refuses to be blackmailed. At five, however, shots of a firearm echo: Pasquale faints and Olivo says that now he would have preferred Isabella to be Camillo's wife rather than dead. Fortunately, the threat of suicide was not true and the two appear at the door, Olivo embraces and blesses their union.