Buoso Donati’s bedroom in Florence, in the year 1299. While waiting to hear the will of the rich Florentine merchant Buoso Donati, his relatives mourn his recent death. But when they learn that Buoso has left all his possessions to the monks, their sorrow turns to anger. The young Rinuccio then proposes that they approach Gianni Schicchi, a man renowned for his cunning and with whose daughter, Lauretta, Rinuccio is in love. At first, the relatives say no, but then, for want of a better solution, they accept his advice. As far as he is concerned, Schicchi volunteers to help the Donatis only in order to please his daughter, who loves Rinuccio. Since nobody yet knows about Buoso’s death, Schicchi decides to substitute him and to dictate a new will. Accordingly, he has the corpse removed to an adjacent room. He then puts on Buoso’s clothes and takes his place in the bed. But these preparations are interrupted by an unexpected visit from the doctor, Maestro Spinelloccio, who, however, does not notice the deception, due to the semi-darkness and to Schicchi’s masterly impersonation of Buoso’s voice. The notary having been summoned, the women relatives, greedy for more conspicuous legacies, vie with one another to win Schicchi’s favor. The crafty man agrees to all their requests, but warns the bereaved parties that should their trick be uncovered, the culprit and his accomplices would be condemned to have their hands cut off and to exile. In the presence of the notary, accompanied by two witnesses, Schicchi dictates the new will. But after distributing among the relatives a few items of modest value, he appoints himself heir to the most substantial part of Buoso’s property. Whereupon he drives the enraged relatives out of the house that now belongs to him, while Lauretta and Rinuccio blissfully embrace.
