How does Shakespeare represent relationships in Act 1, Scene 1 in Much Ado About Nothing?

It is obvious even before the men arrive, that Beatrice
and Benedick have had a relationship before the men went off to war.  Beatrice questions
the messenger in a playful manner which may sound insulting but in fact covers her true
feeling for him.  Leonato even tells the messenger, "You must not, sir, mistake my
niece.  There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her.  They never meet
but there's a skirmish of wit between them."  We see this immediately when the two meet
later in the scene.  They play verbal one-upmanship.  On both sides, these verbal games
hide their true feelng for each other.

The family
relationship of Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice is also established.  The cousins are close,
best friends, and life in Messina seems to be a good
one.

Claudio declares his love for Hero although until the
end of the play he really doesn't understand what love truly
is.

We also see the relationship of the the brothers, Don
Pedro and Don John which is a troubled one.  Don Pedro is a man of integrity and honor
whereas Don John hates his brother for the fact that Don Pedro is legitimate and he
isn't.

Friendship is another relationship introduced in Act
I, scene 1 and we see the wonderful relationship between Claudio and Benedick.  In fact
several masculine friendships forged in war are exposed and
explored.

All these relationships introduced during the
first scene of the play are explored and tested throughout the
play.