Ralph: Welcome back, everyone. I'm sitting here with Baptista's younger daughter, Bianca, to find out how her Latin lesson has been coming along. You know, some really breaking news kind of stuff. So you're her teacher, Cambio. Maybe you should tell us how things have been going. 

Lucentio as Cambio: Oh no, I think the student can speak for herself. Speaking well is part of the goal. Are you learning anything from what you've been reading, Bianca? 

Kate: Well, I would like to know what you've been reading. Tell me that first. 

Lucentio as Cambio: No, come on, you go first. 

Kate: No, you go first. 

Lucentio as Cambio: No, you go first. 

Kate: I really think you should ask him what he's been reading, that's the real story here. 

Ralph: Somehow I think you already know the answer, but OK. So what are you reading, Cambio? 

Lucentio as Cambio: I'm reading about what I teach-- The Art to Love. 

Ralph: Ah, the classic Latin text by Ovid, Ars Amatoria. Oh, but you just said that you're reading about what you teach. I thought you were teaching Bianca Latin but, when you put it that way, it makes it sound like you're teaching her the real thing, the art of love. 

Lucentio as Cambio: You're very perceptive, Ralph. 

Kate: And may he prove master of his art. 

Ralph: Oh dear. Is it getting hot in here? It feels a little hot in here. 

Lucentio as Cambio: So Ralph, maybe the two of us could get back to our lesson now, if you know what I mean. 

Ralph: Well sure, I'd hate to get in the way of the lesson. But it's right about now actually, that, well I guess we can call him Tranio because Bianca knows what's going on. And I guess I don't need to be calling you Camio either, do I? Well anyway, Tranio shows up to tell you, Bianca-- calling you his gentle love-- it sounds like he's still pretending to be you, Lucentio-- anyway, he tells you that he and Hortensio have both abandoned you. They are no longer going to be your suitors. Though, of course, Tranio never really was. Is everybody getting this? 

Kate: Oh no! Have both my suitors forsworn me? 

Ralph: Well, that's what he's saying. 

Lucentio: So we've gotten rid of Litio? 

Ralph: Apparently. According to Tranio, Hortensio has gone after a "lusty "widow"-- his words-- who will be wooed and wedded in a day. Huh, I thought he said three days. 

Kate: May god give him joy. 

Ralph: Oh, and then Tranio says that Hortensio plans to "tame" his new wife. I don't remember Hortensio saying that either. 

Kate: But that is what Tranio is saying? 

Ralph: Yes. He says that Hortensio has gone to the taming school. 

Kate: The taming school? Is there really such a place? 

Ralph: According to Tranio, there is. He says that Petruchio is the master of that art who teaches tricks to and I quote, "Tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue." So does this widow need taming too? Oh, and then an excited Biondello-- one of your servants, Lucentio-- shows up to tell Tranio that he spotted an "old angel," as he puts it, coming down the hill. I guess he means a kindly, older gentleman who is approaching town. Anyway, Biondello says this person could "serve the turn." Serve the turn? 

Lucentio: Um. Hm. That just means serve the purpose, be right for the job. 

Ralph: OK. Well, so he tells Tranio that this guy must be a merchant or a teacher, he's not sure which, because he's dressed pretty nicely and that he looks and walks a lot like your father. 

Lucentio: So what about him? 

Ralph: Hm. Yes, why is that newsworthy? Oh, that's right so this is about that plan to find someone to pretend to be your father, Vincentio, so that he can assure your father, Bianca, of all the money and property that Tranio promised to Baptista when he was pretending to be you, Lucentio. Whew, lots of balls in the air, as we like to say around here. Anyway, let's see. Tranio says he has a plan for what to tell this guy to convince him to pretend to be your father, Vincentio 

Lucentio: Awesome. So can we get back to our lesson here? 

Ralph: Oh, uh, sure. I suppose you can. But not here, you're going to need to go somewhere else. Let's go back to Sofia for more on Tranio and that guy coming down the hill.