Don Pasquale is an elderly single wealthy shipowner, who finally decided to get married. In the morning, he is impatiently waiting for his doctor Malatesta, who has to tell him the name of his future bride. It is a shy and pretty sister of Malatesta, a monastery disciple Sofronia. Delighted by what he hears, Don Pasquale pushes his friend out of the house and demands that he immediately “deliver” this purest example of beauty to him. The old man dreams of a family and six children, and already imagines how he is playing with them.
Ernesto, the nephew of Don Pasquale, who lives from his money, returns from a date. His uncle is angry because Ernesto refuses to marry the rich bride he found for him because of his love for the impoverished widow Norina.
He threatens to throw Ernesto out of the house and eventually announces that he himself intends to get married. This is, of course, terrible news for Ernesto. Now he will be deprived of his inheritance and unable to marry his beloved. The man unhesitatingly replies that his heart only belongs to Norina.
Ernesto tries to bring his uncle back on the right path and asks to consult with Malatesta in the hope that he will talk him out of it. Happy Don Pasquale, admits that he intends to marry not just anyone, but the sister of the doctor himself, whom he chose for him. Poor Ernesto realises that Malatesta, whom he has always trusted, has betrayed him. Kicked out and depressed, he leaves his uncle’s house.
In the morning, Norina is reading a book about love that Ernesto gave her as a gift. She remembers all her suitors but she only loves Ernesto.
The woman is waiting for Malatesta to hear about some plan of his. Meanwhile, she receives a letter from Ernesto, in which he calls Malatesta a scoundrel, and informs her that he will be deprived of his inheritance thanks to his uncle’s marriage, and plans to leave his hometown as soon as possible.
Malatesta calms down the agitated woman: she should not pay attention to the letter, because Ernesto does not yet know about Malatesta’s intention to fool selfish Don Pasquale.
He offers Norina to teach the old man a lesson. She will temporarily become Sofronia, a modest woman raised in the walls of a monastery, and then with the help of a fake notary (his cousin) a fictitious marriage will be concluded between her and Don Pasquale. She will have to lead such an unbearable life for her husband that he would be happy to run away from home.
In despair, Ernesto imagines his bleak future. However, he wishes Norina to find her love with someone else.
In anticipation of happiness, Don Pasquale enters his salon. Malatesta brings the “bride” Norina disguised as Sofronia. She is modest and incredibly shy. Don Pasquale falls in love with her at first sight and immediately intends to marry her. Prudent and cunning Malatesta invites a “notary” who “legitimises” their marriage.
At that moment, Ernesto returns to say goodbye to his uncle. The servants, according to Don Pasquale’s previous order, do not let the young man in. However, he breaks into the house, not knowing anything about Malatesta’s incredible plan, and almost ruins the entire “scenario”. Malatesta, however, manages to take him aside and tell him that the contract is fake. Somewhat reassured by his explanations, Ernesto agrees to take part in this show. Finally, the document is signed and the notary leaves.
Having become the “wife” of Don Pasquale, “Sofronia” turns into an evil fury in front of her “husband”. She pushes Don Pasquale away when he tries to embrace her and tells him that he is too old even to go out for a walk with her. Ernesto will do it for him instead! Next, the woman orders the salaries of the servants to be doubled and instructs the housekeeper to immediately hire at least twenty-four more servants. All of them must be young and beautiful. But she does not stop there. Sofronia orders to buy new furniture. Meanwhile, Don Pasquale mutters that this will destroy him. Norina ignores his objection and is persistent in her wishes, saying that tomorrow she might give a thousand more orders. Enraptured Ernesto and Malatesta congratulate each other, and Don Pasquale curses his fate.
A few days after the wedding, the old man’s house can hardly be recognised. It is full of servants and delivery people from various stores with goods and bills that Don Pasquale has to pay. Norina appears. She is going to the theatre. Her “husband” is outraged, but she not only ignores him but declares that “old people should go to bed early”. She pushes him away and seems to accidentally drop the letter.
From the note, Pasquale learns that his wife made an appointment with her lover tonight. The old man leaves clutching his head. The servants hired by Norina continue to ravage Don Pasquale’s house. Unhappy, he calls Dr Malatesta for help.
Meanwhile, Malatesta and Ernesto discuss Ernesto’s future rendezvous, because, of course, he was the one who wrote the love letter. They decide that Ernesto must leave at the moment when Don Pasquale and Malatesta appear.
The doctor quickly comes to his patient and listens to his complaints: he gets nothing but quarrels and beating from his wife. She does not even let him close to her. And finally, she makes dates with her lovers. He asks Malatesta to help him catch Sofronia by surprise and get rid of her by breaking up the marriage. Both decide to catch the “lovers” red-handed.
Ernesto sings a serenade in anticipation of meeting his beloved. Norina appears and they declare their love for each other. As soon as Pasquale and Malatesta appear, Ernesto leaves, and Norina declares that no one was in the garden. The plan to expose his wife failed and Pasquale is in despair. Malatesta settles the dispute. He promises to talk to Sofronia.
Malatesta tells her that tomorrow there will be another mistress in this house – Ernesto’s wife Norina. Sofronia/Norina explodes with feigned anger. She says that she will never live under the same roof with another woman and that she is going to leave Don Pasquale. However, first, she demands that Ernesto’s marriage take place right there in her presence because she suspects that they want to deceive her to drive her away.
Malatesta convinces Don Pasquale to immediately marry Ernesto and Norina, otherwise “Sofronia” will not yield. Pasquale agrees. He asks to bring Norina as soon as possible.
At this moment, Malatesta finally reveals the whole deception. Don Pasquale understands how he was played. At first, he is indignant, and then with joy, he blesses the newlyweds and rejoices that he has thrown off the unbearable shackles of “married life” with his young wife.
Norina reveals the moral of this story: there is a time for everything and “he who marries in old age is foolish because he exposes himself to many unpleasant adventures”.