Rita, or The Beaten Husband

Rita, a successful innkeeper, has a happy marriage. Her husband Beppe is under her thumb, and she follows the carrot-and-stick policy. She owes her happiness to her first husband Gaspar who left all his savings and became a pirate three years ago.

Beppe returns after shopping. Rita finds out that he has broken a cup from a family service by accident, so she makes up her mind to change mercy to wrath and gives him a box on the ear. Beppe curses his miserable life. He is tired of living in fear and wearing bruises.

Gaspar, a brave pirate, comes in and demands a room and some rum. Tomorrow he is leaving for Algeria to marry his beloved Janet. All of a sudden the two ex-spouses, Rita and Gaspar, recognize each other, but don’t show it. Neither of them is glad to meet each other. Both of them have been sure that the other spouse is dead and there’s no need to rise from the dead and interfere into the common mode of life.

To frighten Rita off, Gaspar pretends to be a cruel despot and teaches the beaten Beppe to rule his wife with a rod of iron. Having looked through the passport of the guest, Beppe recognizes Rita’s first husband in him. He shows unexpected persistence in persuading the pirate to stay here rather than hurry to Algeria, and to teach his wife to be respectful.

The men draw lots to decide who should stay with Rita. Each man prays to lose to the other. Rita falls to Gaspar’s lot. There are no barriers of Beppe’s happiness: imagining himself as a free bird, he rejoices at the long-awaited freedom and gives the despondent Gaspar some advice about getting on with the shark called Rita.

Pretending to be happy, Gaspar hugs the newfound wife. Their sweet dialogue turns into a quarrel as Rita doesn’t recognize Gaspar’s right to the matrimony. They both decide that their marriage is doomed to end. Having received his passport back, Gaspar is going to set off, but Beppe prevents him from doing it again.

To attract the grasping Rita, Beppe quotes an article from their marriage settlement which states that all the money acquired by ‘legal robbery’ goes to the wife. In response Gaspar pretends to be disabled with an arm bitten off by sharks.

Rita hesitates between the money of the maimed Gaspar and the quiet Beppe. Finally, she makes up her mind and throws herself into Gaspar’s arms, crying ‘I love you!’ Taking an opportunity, the pirate seizes the settlement and tries to slip away. Beppe, who is putting festive dinner with shish kebab on the table, appears in his way again. The men start fighting a duel with skewers; the duel is finally won by Beppe.

Rita admires Beppe’s bravery and swears to be a kind and compliant wife henceforth. The secret of family well-being is discovered: live in concord, believe in happiness, and love each other!