Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition (Initial Situation)
When the Cat's Away the Mice Will Play
During the exposition, we meet Face, Subtle, and Doll and find out that they've been running a bunch of scams out of Lovewit's house while the dude's been away from home.
Rising Action (Conflict, Complication)
Meet the Victims
Jonson trots out all of the victims, or "gulls." (Not to be confused with the trash-eating seabird.) Our con artists are cruising right along, managing to run several scams at once, and have managed to keep most of their victims from bumping into each other.
Good job, con artists.
Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)
Yikes—All the Victims Start Showing up at Once
Whoops. When all the victims start showing up at the house at the same time, our cons have to throw one of the victims (Dapper) in the outhouse and stuff a gag in his mouth to keep him quiet. (The gag is made of gingerbread, because these are the world's nicest con artists.)
Falling Action
Juggling All the Victims is Hard Work
The swindlers work desperately to keep their "gulls" away from each other…but it's getting harder and harder not to get caught.
Resolution (Denouement)
Busted (Sort Of)
Lovewit shows up and all of the victims find out they've been totally duped. Face (a.k.a. Jeremy the Butler) avoids punishment by promising to help his master hook up with a rich young widow.