Act I
Scene I
A conversation unfolds between Richard Follywit and a small following including Mawworm and Hoboy. They laugh about their vices and Follywit details a plan to get even more money for himself. The crowd is notably vicious. Follywit's plan is to extort his own grandfather. A man by the name of Penitent Brothel enters and comments against Follywit for his plot, but alas, Brothel is no better—he has plans to extort Mr. Hairbrain of his wife by hiring a prostitute as the wife's personal mentor to corrupt her character.
There is a Courtesan whose mother has been prostituting her to Sir Bounteous Progress for profit. There are also two elders from powerful families Inesse and Possibility whose names are indications of the way they stole their lands (by predatory lending practices). The Courtesan's mother allows them to suit her daughter.
Scene II
Hairbrain, paranoid of his wife cheating on him, hires watch guards to spy on his own family. The Courtesan enters as Penitent Brothel's hired prostitute for Mrs. Hairbrain's moral instruction. Hairbrain doesn't let his wife read anything even mildly erotic, taking every step to prevent her moral corruption. He indicates that he expects sexual services as his wife's way of paying rent. The young prostitute instructs Mrs. Hairbrain on how to navigate her husband's abusive arrangement, and Mrs. Hairbrain and her husband struggle to reconcile their differing moral views. Alas, the arrangement is unnecessary; it seems Mrs. Hairbrain already has intentions of cheating with Penitent Brothel.
Act II
Scene I
Sir Bounteous meets Follywit who has disguised himself as Lord Owemuch, along with his cohort, disguised as servants. Sir Bounteous kindly explains that Follywit is listed as his inheritance and he asks Owemuch to care for Follywit.
Scene II
The disguised group is given quarter by Sir Bounteous, and once in their rooms, they change into new costumes, this time with masks to cover their faces.
Scene III
The Courtesan sends a messenger to Brothel with a plan to win him Mrs. Hairbrain.
Scene IV
Follywit and the gang rebel against Bounteous's house and subdue his servants, robbing the property of its valuables. Bounteous asks the robbers about his guests not knowing that it is his guests behind the masks. The would-be burglars confess that they bounded the guests as well as the servants, and after carrying Bounteous away, they do tie each other up to keep up the trick.
Scene V
The young prostitute explains to Brothel what her plan consists of. The young woman will feign ill and beg the wife to visit her in her illness. When she does so, Brothel can be in disguise as the Courtesan's doctor. They will sneak away, and in the process, they hope to extort Innes and Possibility of their money to help make the Courtesan healthy again.
Scene VI
The neverending hospitality of Sir Bounteous continues. Follywit, his own grandson, disguised as Owemuch, continues the ruse, but his follower, Mawworm, discovers that Bounteous is planning to replace what was allegedly stolen from his guests, not knowing that they are the theives.
Act III
Scene I
When Innes and Possibility arrive at Hairbrain's house, they learn of the Courtesan's illness. Mr. Hairbrain, paranoid still about his wife being unfaithful, offers to let the two men spend time with his wife to see how she behaves, but she feigns illness, and the husband wonders if his jealousy has led him to mild insanity.
Scene II
Sir Bounteous visits the young Courtesan. Penitent Brothel is disguised as the doctor, according to plan. Bounteous worries that the young prostitute has morning sickness from an unwanted pregnancy (apparently, even Sir Bounteous has slept with her). He gives money to Brothel for the young lady's care. Innes and Possibility enter and do the same. The Courtesan pretends to have bathroom issues to make them leave, and then Mrs. Hairbrain arrives.
The Courtesan loudly pretends to give moral advise so Mr. Hairbrain will stay outside the room while Mrs. Hairbrain has sex with Penitent Brothel. They agree to do the same ruse in three days time.
Scene III
Follywit realizes that the Courtesan now poses a threat to his inheritance if she really is pregnant with Bounteous's baby. He calculates a new plot, this time costuming himself in drag as a lady of the night. (The costume is intentionally flamboyant and ridiculous).
Act IV
Scene I
Penitent learns from a religious pamphlet that he is not supposed to involve himself in adultery, and he becomes concerned for his soul. Suddenly, Mrs. Hairbrain comes back into his room for another romp in the hay, but according to Arthurian legend, he resists the woman until finally, he sees that she is not even the real Mrs. Hairbrain, but a succubus—a demon that has come for his soul. He is shocked and refuses to accept female company again.
Scene II
Gunwater, Bounteous's servant, tells his master that the young prostitute has arrived, but there's a problem. Her face is wrapped in cloth. Bounteous is in the mood for a rendezvous, so he pays no mind to the face wrapping.
Scene III
Gunwater prepares the room for his master and the Countess. Under the veil is Follywit who silently robs the estate when no one is looking. When the Bounteous arrives "aroused" he does have one issue to resolve with the Countess—her breath smelled of alcohol and tobacco. While they talk, he discovers that "she" has stolen from him, and they "break up."
Scene IV
Penitent visits Hairbrain to gain closure regarding his encounter with a succubus. Mrs. Hairbrain confirms that it wasn't her. Penitent says that Mrs. Hairbrain should honor her wedding vows, and her husband, overhearing the advice, becomes pleased with Penitent and invites him for a dinner feast.
Scene V
When Follywit meets the Courtesan on a street in London, he instantly falls for her. He pursues the coquettish girl whose mother explains that she is shy with men because she is, after all, a virgin and an honorable young lady. Follywit is all-the-more aroused. The Courtesan agrees to meet the man, who proposes immediately. They agree to celebrate the engagement at Bounteous's dinner party.
Act V
Scene I
The feast day. Sir Bounteous is readying the dinner when the Hairbrains arrive with their guest, Penitent. Follywit arrives in costume and gives a play for Bounteous as a gift from Owemuch (still Follywit). The Courtesan arrives with her mother, but Bounteous won't have them as guests—not after the young prostitute stole from his estate, but when she denies any knowledge of the event, he allows her to stay. Follywit rearrives as an actor who allegedly needs a few costly items as props for their next play.
Scene II
Follywit's play is cut short by the police. A constable arrives and arrests Follywit's company, but the constable is treated by the party as a part of the play, and through Follywit's cunning, the man ends up bound and gagged. Bounteous frees the constable after a short time and realizes that—again—he's been robbed.
Follywit shows up and Bounteous explains that he just missed a crazy robbery. He feigns shock, but Bounteous hears his watch in the young man's pockets. Follywit says it was just a little prank because he wanted to tell everyone that he's married. Bounteous realizes that his young nephew has married Sir Bounteous's prostitute. He toasts to the trickster finally getting a taste of his own medicine.
