Back at Petruchio’s house, Kate is complaining to Grumio that Petruchio is preventing her from eating and sleeping, while saying at the same time that he does it out of love for her. Fed up, Kate finally tells Grumio to get out.

Grumio leaves just as Petruchio and Hortensio show up, and Petruchio has brought Kate some food. But he wants Kate to say “thank you” first, and she finally does. Then Petruchio distracts Kate from her food by bringing in a tailor and a hat-maker who have been designing new clothes for Kate to wear on a trip back to Baptista’s house. Kate loves the hat and clothes, but Petruchio hates them both and sends the men away. Petruchio tells Kate they’ll just have to travel in the clothes they’re wearing.

Petruchio says if they leave soon, they should get to Padua by lunch. When Kate points out that it’s already much later in the day, Petruchio says he doesn’t want to be contradicted, and so he cancels the trip entirely. Even Hortensio is surprised that Petruchio thinks it’s up to him to say what time of day it is.