SCHICCHI 2.0

Florence, 1 September 1299

The body of the recently deceased wealthy nobleman Buoso Donati lies on the deathbed surrounded by relatives there to mourn him, or more properly speaking, to angle for his inheritance. They have good reason to worry, and not just because they are a big family: there are rumours going around the area that Buoso has left his entire estate to a monastery. They turn over the entire house in search of his will. The document is found at last by the young Rinuccio, who makes his Aunt Zita promise him that if there is enough money for him, he can marry his love, Lauretta. As it turns out, the gossip is true: Buoso Donati has left all of his money to the monks. Rinuccio counsels the despairing relations to seek the help of Lauretta's father, Gianni Schicchi, the low-born "businessman" who has nevertheless prospered from his own wits. Schicchi arrives with his daughter. Meeting, however, with arrogance, disdain and antipathy from the noble family, he is about to depart when his daughter speaks directly to his heart: she will die if she can't marry Rinuccio! Schicchi agrees to the game. The plan is ready: they have to get rid of the body, and he himself will play the dying Donati in front of the notary. Suddenly the doctor knocks on the door: he is there to examine the extremely ill Donati. In a different voice, Schicchi assures the doctor that he is better now. Schicchi sends the relatives to summon the notary, and then wearing Donati's sleeping cap on his head proceeds to dictate his final will and testament. The relatives each try to bribe Schicchi to favour them over the other relatives, and Schicchi nods at each of them, reminding them separately that they must forever remain silent about the ruse, or they'll be taken from Florence in chains for fraud. The notary arrives, and Schicchi dictates his will, but to everyone's mute astonishment, leaves most of the inheritance, as well as Donati's house in Florence, to himself, Gianni Schicchi! The family rages, but they cannot say a word lest the deception be discovered. When the notary departs, they fall on Schicchi and steal what they can, but Schicchi ejects them from his newly acquired house and looks with satisfaction at the loving couple, Rinuccio and Lauretta – the true winners of the trick.