Act IV, Scenes 1, 2, 3— But Backwards!

Scene Three

-Lucio explains that he once got away with getting a woman pregnant when the Duke was in power.

-Lucio says that if the Duke were in power, then Claudio would not have been executed.

-The Duke tries to cheer up Isabella and tells her that he is returning to take power back from Angelo.

-Isabella comes to the jail and the Duke tells her that her brother was executed, hoping that this will make her happier when she finds out the truth.

-They send a dead man's head to Angelo in place of Barnardine's (in place of Claudio's.)

-Barnardine is avoids his executions by saying that he is tired and drunk.

Scene Two 

-Vincentio asks the provost to send Barnardine in place of Claudio in order to buy four more days for Claudio.

-Pompey agrees.

-The Provost asks Pompey to help execute Claudio and Barnardine in exchange for pardon.

Scene One 

-The Duke reassures her that her actions are virtuous.

-Mariana agrees to go with Isabella's plan.

-Isabella tells the Duke that she has agreed to Angelo’s plan, sharing that she told Angelo that she would be bringing a servant with her.

-Vincentio visits Mariana just as Isabella enters.