Promptbook Pages Act 3,

Scene 1 (Original Text)

Removal Justification and

Stage Directions

New Lines and Script Notes

Benvolio:
I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets
retire.
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
And if we meet we shall not scape a
brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad
blood stirring.

Benvolio and Mercutio are sitting at

bar in saloon (at back left of stage)
and order two beers
Benvolio slams down cup of beer and
wipes mouth with back of hand

Partner lets get on home. Its

scorching out here and the Culets
are hounding for us. If we meet it will
all come a cropper because the heat
makes curly wolves out of normal
folk.

You're like one of those

partners that comes into the saloon not
wanting to use his gun but after the
second drink is pulling it on the
barkeep when there aint a hot reason in
all the West!

Mercutio:
Thou art like one of these fellows
that, when he enters
the confines of a tavern, claps me his
sword upon the
table, and says, God send me no
need of thee! and by
the operation of the second cup
draws him on the
drawer, when indeed there is no
need.
Benvolio:
Am I like such a fellow?
Mercutio:
Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in
thy mood as any

Raises eyebrow

Am I such a partner?
You get angry so easily partner. And
when you wanna fight, you're gonna
find a fight

in Italy, and as soon movd to be

moody, and as soon
moody to be movd.
Benvolio:
And what to?
Mercutio:
Nay, and there were two such, we
should have none
shortly, for one would kill the other.
Thou? Why, thou
wilt quarrel with a man that hath a
hair
more or a hair less in his beard than
thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel
other reason but
because thou hast hazel eyes. What
eye but such an eye
would spy out such a quarrel? Thy
head is as full of
quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and
yet thy head hath
been beaten as addle as an egg for
quarrelling. Thou
hast quarrelld with a man for
coughing in the street,
because he hath wakend thy dog that
hath lain asleep
in the sun. Didst thou not fall out

Sarcastically

Yea?

Just picture this; two of you in a room

would beat the life out of each other!
You'd fight someone with a better beard.
Or even a worse beard. You're fights can
be so useless. You're always looking for
a fight too. You fought a man for waking
up a sleeping dog because of a cough.
There's so much more you did too

with a tailor for

wearing his new doublet before
Easter? With another for
tying his new shoes with old riband?
And yet thou wilt
tutor me from quarrelling!
Benvolio:
And I were so apt to quarrel as thou
art, any man should
buy the fee-simple of my life for an
hour and a quarter.
Mercutio:
The fee-simple! O simple!
Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others. .

Remove these lines, as it is just

simple banter between Benvolio and
Mercutio, which has occurred for
previously and is not very significant
to scene. Begin again at the entrance
of Tybalt
Remove the character of Petruchio
because he does not have any lines
and is not very significant to play or
scene
Looks over shoulder

Benvolio:
By my head, here comes the Capulets.
Mercutio:
By my heel, I care not.
Tybalt:
Follow me close, for I will speak to.
Gentlemen, good den, a word with
one of you.

Tybalt enters at back of stage through

saloon doors and walk up to bar and
slam hand on tab
Remove the beginning line as the
characters Tybalt is with have
been removed as they are not very
significant

By the brim of my hat, here come

those deadbeat Capulets
By the spokes of my boots, I don't
care a continental!
Howdy partners. Can I have a word?

Mercutio:
And but one word with one of us?
Couple it with something, make it
a word and a blow.

You only want one word? At least

make it a word and a whistle.

Tybalt:
You shall find me apt enough to that,
sir, and you will
give me occasion.

Youll find me ready enough to do

that sir, if you give me a reason.

Mercutio:
Could you not take some occasion
without giving?
Tybalt:
Mercutio, thou consortest with
Romeo
Mercutio:
Consort! What, dost thou make us
minstrels? And thou
make minstrels of us, look to hear
nothing but discords.
Heres my fiddlestick, heres that
shall make you dance.
Zounds, consort!
Benvolio:
We talk here in the public haunt of
men.

Can you not find an excuse without

my help?
Tybalt, Mercutio, and Benvolio move
to center stage and face opposite
each other

Mercutio, youre friends with that

Romeo feller
Friends?! Do you think we're
musicians in a little marching band?
Gosh darn it! Here's my fiddlestick
and it'll make you dance!

Looking around the saloon nervously

Either withdraw unto some private

place,
Or reason coldly of your grievances,
Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on
us.

I aint down on doin this at center

stage, lets take your flannel mouths
elsewhere and you can bury the
hatchet with no spectators gazing
down your neck

Mercutio:
Mens eyes were made to look, and
let them gaze;
I will not budge for no mans
pleasure, I.
Enter Romeo.
Tybalt:
Well, peace be with you, sir, here
comes my man.
Mercutio:
But Ill be hangd, sir, if he wear your
livery.
Marry, go before to field, hell be your
follower;
Your worship in that sense may call
him man.
Tybalt:
Romeo, the love I bear thee can
afford
No better term than this: thou art a

Eyes were made to see, so let these

folks see.
Romeo enters at stage left and walks
over to Mercutio and Benvolio
Points at Romeo

Theres that feller Ive been searching

for.

He's not your feller! Go to the field

and he'll follow you. For that you can
call him a feller.

Romeo, theres only one thing I can

call you: youre a no good varmint.

villain.
Romeo:
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love
thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining
rage
To such a greeting. Villain am I none;
Therefore farewell, I see thou
knowest me not.
Tybalt:
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me, therefore
turn and draw.
Romeo:
I do protest I never injuried thee,
But love thee better than thou canst
devise,
Till thou shalt know the reason of my
love,
And so, good Capuletwhich name I
tender
As dearly as mine ownbe satisfied.
Mercutio:
O calm, dishonorable, vile
submission!
Alia stoccato carries it away

Tybalt,I have more reason to buy you

a beer than to shoot you right here
on the spot. You've got no clue who
you're talkin' to, so run along now.
Points at Romeos gun and takes out
own

Nothing can be done now. Youve

done me wrong partner, take out
your gun.

I've never hurt yuh! I love you more

than I love myself, which I know you
can't really understand, but you
should leave it at that.

Take out your gun and fight like a man,

Tybalt.

Draws.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you
walk?
Tybalt:
What wouldst thou have with me?

Tybalt faces Mercutio and becomes

angry

Mercutio:
Good King of Cats, nothing but one of
your nine lives;
that I mean to make bold withal, and
as you shall use
me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the
eight. Will you
pluck your sword out of his pilcher
by the ears? Make
haste, lest mine be about your ears
ere it be out.
Tybalt:
I am for you.
Romeo:
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Mercutio:
Come, sir, your passado.
They fight.

What do you want from me,

buckaroo?
Good King of Cats, Ill take one of
your nine lives. And depending on
your actions, the other eight will be
beefed out of ya too. Will you fight or
skedaddle?

I will fight you

Tybalt gets angrier and more
aggressive
Instead of fighting with guns, the
characters of Tybalt and Mercutio
will fight using the game Wild
Wild West. They will do two
shields, 1 load, and then Tybalt
will kill Mercutio

C'mon now Mercutio, put that gun

way'

Romeo:
Draw, Benvolio, beat down their
weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this
outrage!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince
expressly hath
Forbid this bandying in Verona
streets.
Romeo steps between them.
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
Tybalt under Romeos arm thrusts
Mercutio in. Away Tybalt with his
followers.
Mercutio:
I am hurt.
A plague a both houses! I am sped.
Is he gone and hath nothing?
Benvolio:
What, art thou hurt?
Mercutio:
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch, marry, tis
enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a

Benvolio, we gotta stop em'. Take

your gun out! Stop fellas! Stop it now!
You all know the sheriff's gone and
banned all standoffs in his town!
Romeo will distract Tybalt by
running into a tumbleweed sending it
into Mercutios face, Mercutio will be
momentarily stunned and Tybalt will
shoot him using the Wild Wild
West format.
Tybalt wounds Mercutio and Mercutio
fall to the ground. Tybalt exits at
stage right
Ahhh, I am hurt!
Did you forget Im allergic to
tumbleweed partner?
Lifts Mercutios arm and kneels beside
him

Wheres your wound

Ouu, thats enough partner. Go give the
doctor a hoot!

surgeon.
Exit Page.
Romeo:
Courage, man, the hurt cannot be
much.
Mercutio:
No, tis not so deep as a well, nor so
wide as a churchdoor, but tis enough, twill serve. Ask
for me tomorrow,
and you shall find me a grave man. I
am pepperd, I
warrant, for this world. A plague a
both your houses!
Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat,
to scratch a man to
death! A braggart, a rogue, a villain,
that fights by the
book of arithmetic! Why the devl
came you between us?
I was hurt under your arm.
Romeo:
I thought all for the best.
Mercutio:
Help me into some house, Benvolio,

Romeo comes to kneel beside Mercutio

and Benvolio

It can't hurt that much now Mercutio,

be brave boy!
Its not very deep or wide, but its
enough. Youll find me over in that
there cemetery tomorrow and I think
this is my last yippie-ki-yay. I hope
both of your families get the plague!
But why did you let him come between
us partner? Im all banged up because
of you.

I was just tryin' to help yuh out.

Or I shall faint. A plague a both your

houses!
Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.
Romeo:
This gentleman, the Princes near
ally,
My very friend, hath got this mortal
hurt
In my behalf; my reputation staind
With Tybalts slanderTybalt, that
an hour
Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me
effeminate,
And in my temper softned valors
steel!
Enter Benvolio.
Benvolio:
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is
dead!
That gallant spirit hath aspird the
clouds,
Which too untimely here did scorn
the earth.

Mercutio and Benvolio exit at stage

left. Mercutio dies offstage

Help a feller out Benvolio. Yalls made

me a dead body. Catch ya on the other
side. They have made worms meat of
me.
My best friend! The sheriff's righthand man! Killed while protecting
me! Tybalt's only been my blood for
an hour now and look what he's
done! Juliet oh you've made me weak.
My bravery's been turned to putty.

Benvolio barges out of saloon doors

Greif stricken voice

Romeo! Our partner Mercutio bit the

bullet. His spirit is floating with the
tumbleweeds in the sky

Romeo:
This days black fate on more days
doth depend,
This but begins the woe others must
end.
Enter Tybalt.
Benvolio:
Here comes the furious Tybalt back
again.

Whatever 'appens now is all cause of

what we gone and done today.

Tybalt runs back onstage very angry

and agitated. Benvolio and Romeo are
at stage left and glance over

Here comes the curly wolf Tybalt!

Worried and slightly angry voice

Romeo:
He gone in triumph, and Mercutio
slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyd fury be my conduct
now!
Now, Tybalt, take the villain back
again

Mercutio's dead and Tybalt's walkin

around with no more than a
scratch?!? This is no good! Listen
here Tybalt! One of us is gonna
follow Mercutio there up to the
heavens.

Tybalt:
Thou wretched boy, that didst
consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.

Hey wrangler, youll be going where

your friend went when I git
through with you

Romeo:
This shall determine that.
They fight; Tybalt falls.

In a mocking/sarcastic tone

Again, Tybalt and Romeo will fight

using the Wild Wild West game
Romeo will shoot Tybalt while
Tybalt is loading his gun

Let's see about that!

Benvolio:
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
Stand not amazed, the Prince will
doom thee death
If thou art taken. Hence be gone,
away!

Panicked and frantic actions and voice

Romeo get to your horse and ride
like the wind! Dont stand like a
nail in a board waiting for the
hammer to send you to your fate

Romeo:
O, I am fortunes fool!

Oh man my luck is shot!

Benvolio:
Why dost thou stay?

Frustration in voice

Exit Romeo.
Enter Officer

Romeo exit at stage left

Officer enters at stage right

Officer:
Which way ran he that killd
Mercutio?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran
he?
Benvolio:
There lies that Tybalt.
Officer:
Up, sir, go with me;
I charge thee in the Princes name,
obey

What in tarnation are you still doing

here?!

That vermin who done killed

Mercutio, where did he go? Tybalt, he
done it, that scoundrel, where did he
go?
Meek voice and gestures with head
Walks across stage with Benvolio

There lies the beefed Tybalt

Stop lying there like a maggot on the
back side of a cow patty and come
her. I order ya ta. Under the
authority of the Sheriff

Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet,

their Wives, and all.
Prince:
Where are the vile beginners of this
fray?
Benvolio:
O noble Prince, I can discover all
The unlucky manage of this fatal
brawl:
There lies the man, slain by young
Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave
Mercutio.
Lady Capulet:
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brothers
child!
O Prince! O husband! O, the blood is
spilld
Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou
art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of
Montague.
O cousin, cousin!
Prince:
Benvolio, who began this bloody
fray?

Prince, Montague, and all enter at

stage right

Where are the vermin who done

began this here duel?

Note that the character of the Prince

is portrayed as the mayor of the town
for the sake of better assimilation
into the time period
Takes deep breath to steady

Howdy sheriff, I can shed some light

on this sitiation. There lies the
beefed Tybalt done in by the
buckaroo Romeo for slaying his
kinsmen good Mercutio

Remove the character of Lady

Capulet in this scene as there is no
real significance to her being here
and the removal of this character
has no major impacts on the
understanding of the reader

Benvolio, who done it?

Benvolio:
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeos
hand did slay!
Romeo that spoke him fair, bid him
bethink
How nice the quarrel was, and urgd
withal
Your high displeasure; all this,
uttered
With gentle breath, calm look, knees
humbly bowed,
Could not take truce with the unruly
spleen
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he
tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutios
breast,
Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to
point,
And, with a martial scorn, with one
hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other
sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud,
Hold, friends! Friends, part! and
swifter than his tongue,
His agile arm beats down their fatal
points,
And twixt them rushes; underneath

Shaky and in shock

Well sheriff, Romeo cleaned Tybalts

plow and left him beefed here.
Romeo begged him to back down and
thought only of yalls anger with
the gentle touch of a lady. But I
dont think a raging bull couldve
stopped these two
Tybalt clogged his ears with cotton
and fired one steel bullet into the
open flesh of Mercutios chest. And
with hate in is eyes Tybalt done
stand and watch Mercutio fall at his
feet
The hand of death done scopped
good Mercutio into its cold grip and
sends up to stay with the wild
stalions in the sky
Partners! Partners stop! Romeo did
cry but faster than the words
could leave his mouth
Them vermin done fought like
Kilkenny cats
And above Romeos bend comes

whose arm
An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the
life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt
fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertaind
revenge,
And tot they go like lightning, for,
ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout
Tybalt slain;
And as he fell, did Romeo turn and
fly.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
Lady Capulet:
He is a kinsman to the Montague,
Affection makes him false, he speaks
not true.
Some twenty of them fought in this
black strife,
And all those twenty could but kill
one life.
I beg for justice, which thou, Prince,
must give:
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not
live.

Tybalts strike that done beefed

Mercutio
Tybalt dry gulched Mertutio then
hopped on his crowbait and rode off
into the sunset
And riding out of the sunset comes
Romeo. Eyes and hands itching to
wrnagke young Tybalts neck
And they fought like a tornado
bearing down on the ole farm
house
They go into an oletimey shootout
And as Tybalt lay beeched Romeo did
hop back onto his stallion and aint
this the truth or so shoot me right
her in the gullet
Character removed see above
explanation

Prince:
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Who now the price of his dear blood
doth owe?
Montague:
Not Romeo, Prince, he was
Mercutios friend;
His fault concludes but what the law
should end,
The life of Tybalt.
Prince:
And for that offense
Immediately we do exile him hence.
I have an interest in your hearts
proceeding;
My blood for your rude brawls doth
lie a-bleeding;
But Ill amerce you with so strong a
fine
That you shall all repent the loss of
mine.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses,
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase
out abuses;
Therefore use none. Let Romeo
hence in haste,
Else, when he is found, that hour is
his last.

Romeo shot Tybalt, but then Tybalt

done went and shot Mercutio.
Who should be punished for the
life of that there Mercutio?
Distraught and begging on knees

Not Romeo, Sheriff, he was

Mercutios partner;

For this here crime, I decree that

Romeo is outlawed. I am drawn
into yalls savage quarrels.
Mercutio was of my family, and he
lies, havin bit the bullet Tybalt
fired, cause of yall beef-headed
feud. You will rue the day you
caused me such a heart heavy loss.
And I wont hear no hootin and
hollerin, none dem there tears
neither. Call out to that Romeo. He
best leave my town right now or if
he is found hidin away he will be
shot. Get rid of that corps too,
before the vultures come and peck
at em. Do what I done tell ya.
Lettin scoundrels off with just

Bear hence this body and attend our

will;
Mercy but murders, pardoning those
that kill.
Exeunt.

warning shot will only bring more

such scoundrels.

All characters exit at stage left