Bastienne's Heartbreak
The young shepherdess Bastienne is heartbroken. Her beloved Bastien has been lured away by a rich noblewoman, and Bastienne fears she has lost him forever. She wanders through the meadows, pouring out her sorrow in song. The countryside that once seemed so beautiful now feels empty and joyless without him.
Colas the Sorcerer
Enter Colas — the village's self-proclaimed magician and all-purpose wise man. Bastienne tells him her troubles, and Colas, who has seen a hundred lovesick shepherdesses before, knows exactly what to do. He tells Bastienne to remember the good times with Bastien, and then prescribes his infallible remedy: pretend you don't care anymore. Act indifferent, and the wandering shepherd will come running back.
The Plan
Bastienne is not a natural actress, and the idea of pretending to be indifferent makes her nervous. But she agrees to try Colas's scheme. The two of them seal their conspiracy in a confident duet: follow my advice, sings Colas, and everything will turn out right. Bastienne heads off to put the plan into action, leaving Colas to prepare for Bastien's inevitable arrival.
Bastien's Return
Bastien arrives, looking for Colas. The noblewoman's charms have worn off, and he wants Bastienne back. But Colas delivers devastating news: Bastienne has found a new admirer and no longer cares about Bastien. The young shepherd is horrified — surely this cannot be true! Colas lets him squirm, enjoying every moment of the faithless lover's panic.
The Magic Spell
Bastien begs Colas for help, and the sorcerer obliges with his most theatrical performance: a magic incantation. Diggi, Daggi, Schurry, Murry — Colas chants pure nonsense with the gravity of a high priest, waving his arms and consulting his spell book. The 'magic' is completely fake, of course, but Bastien believes every word. Emboldened by the spell, he goes to find Bastienne.
The Quarrel
The lovers meet at last — and Colas's plan works perfectly. Bastien pours out his love, but Bastienne, following instructions, pretends she does not care. She acts cold and dismissive, and Bastien is devastated. The situation escalates into a spirited quarrel: Go away! Your stubbornness doesn't scare me! Both pretend to be finished with each other, but neither can walk away. The twelve-year-old Mozart captures the absurdity and tenderness of a lovers' tiff with astonishing accuracy.
Reconciliation
The game has gone far enough. Bastien, in genuine despair, threatens to harm himself if Bastienne truly no longer loves him. The pretence collapses: Bastienne cannot bear to see him suffer, and she drops her mask. They fall into each other's arms, and the quarrel evaporates in an instant. Colas arrives to find the crisis resolved — naturally, he takes all the credit. The three of them celebrate in a joyful final trio: let us remain true forever, and never let jealousy come between us again.