On their return journey to Padua, Petruchio continues to contradict Katherine at every turn. However, Katherine begins to go along with whatever he says. Petruchio decides to test her when they encounter an old man on the road, insisting that Katherine greet him as if he were a young woman. She does so, and she continues to play along even when Petruchio changes his mind and asserts that the supposed young woman is actually an old man.

After further conversation, the elderly man is revealed to be the real Vincentio, having come to Padua to visit his son, Lucentio. Petruchio informs the confused Vincentio of Lucentio and Bianca’s upcoming nuptials, of which the old man was previously unaware. The group then continue their journey into the city.