Yet to Benedick’s astonishment they still don’t notice that there is a man who has his ear poking through a plant, listening to their conversation. Instead if you thought that the men actually wanted Benedick to hear what they said, you would be right.
The three men exchange devious smiles, perhaps to indicate that a plan had commenced.
Then Claudio says in surprised manor, “Oh aye, stalk on, stalk on, the fowl sits. I did never think that lady would have loved any man” Claudio finishes his sentence with a burst of laughter, making the other two men with him, also laugh. Benedick looks confused, and wonders weather Beatrice could love a man?
Then Leonato, perhaps to avoid suspicion from Benedick, says very quickly almost like he had rehearsed it, “No nor I neither, but most wonderful, that she should dote on” then Don Pedro kicks Leonato under the table, and looks angrily at him, Leonato interprets this action as a signal to speak with more enthusiasm and slower, so quickly he concludes his sentence with the words, “Signor Benedick whom she hath in all outward behaviours seemed ever to abhor.” Don Pedro gives a disguised smile, to Leonato indicating that he had corrected his sentence, and it had passed off well.
Benedick changes his look of confusion to hope, and says quietly in an almost “dream like” manor, “Is’t possible?” he looks to the beautifully decorated ceiling of the restaurant “Sits the wind in that corner?” Benedick still starring at the ceiling, losses balance and falls of his chair, to the ground, a waiter carrying an open bottle of red wine is tripped by Benedick’s body, and accidentally pours the contents of the bottle onto Benedick’s clean white shirt, The waiter storms off into the kitchen, while Benedick looks dazed by the conversation he has just over heard, takes his seat again and acts as if almost nothing has happened. Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato know what has happened and all three face down into the table putting their fists into their mouth, to stop the sounds of laughter, portrayed by the rest of the restaurant.
Leonato then says, nearly forgetting what to say, “By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it”, he pauses, forgetting what to say and continues, “But that she loves him with an enraged affection, it is past infinite of thought.” Leonato speaks clearly and loudly, but the words, “love” and “enraged” are particularly said with exceptional enthusiasm.
The three men exchange wry smiles, while Benedick looks delighted and has a hideous grin on his face, with his white shirt stained with the red wine, and a distinct smell coming from him, would indicate to some that he was drunk.
Then Don Pedro says in an even louder voice towering above the noise of other customers, “May be she doth but counterfeit” Don Pedro then looks at the other two men while lifting his head in a boastful way; while Benedick lowers his head humbled by those words, looks worried at the prospect of losing his love just seconds after discovering it.
But then right on cue, Claudio restores some of Benedicks hopes, by saying, “Faith like enough” to which the other two men again give approval too by nodding.
Then a waiter comes over to Benedick’s table, pinching his nose to show his disgust at the smell Benedick is creating, the waiter used his other arm by waving it around, gesturing for Benedick to leave the restaurant, Benedick’s mind is paused and he concerns himself with the prospect of missing out in the conversation, and he thinks how he is going to pass Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato and pretend not to have seen or heard them before then. Benedick then walks slowly to the door, looks behind him and see the waiter has disappeared and notice’s that the three men are looking away from him, Benedick doesn’t waste any time, just pulls the table cloth high enough for him to get under and within a few seconds, Benedick is underneath the three men’s table, thinking he has tricked the waiter and the three men, he looks quite pleased with himself.
Leonato then says, “Oh God! Counterfeit? There was never counterfeit of passion, came so near the life of passion as she discovers it.” Leonato speaks confidently and directed his face towards the table, perhaps so that Benedick could hear clearly.
The three men are aware of the presence of Benedick, perhaps the heavy breathing, or the stench of wine, but Benedick foolishly doesn’t think that they know he is there.
Then Don Pedro asks, “Why what effects of passion shows she?” He says the word “passion” quieter than the rest of the sentence, which is spoken relatively loud, and at that point his head lowers looking onto his plate.
Claudio then says, “Bait the hook well, this fish will bite.” He says this under his breath, and at the end of his sentence he bangs his fist against the table, rattling the plates as he does so. Benedick doesn’t hear the words very well, and puts his ear to the table, in an attempt to hear more clearly, however he gets shocked by the bang of the fist on the table he falls down. Benedick is hit by someone’s foot, and the faces above the table indicate their pleasure in his pain, however Benedick struggles to conceal his pain, and even cries out at one point, but restraints himself from doing so again.
Benedick puts his fist in his mouth to prevent him from crying with pain, however he instead losses balance and falls to the ground, hitting one of the men’s foot, to which Leonato then kicks Benedick. Don Pedro pushes Leonato to tell him that the plan will be spoilt if Benedick knows that they are there. The three men look very content and happy with there trickery.
I believe that there is much comic potential within this scene, and I have tried to show this through my chosen setting.