“ROMEO AND JULIET”

Written by
William Shakespeare

Adapted by
Mr. Greenwood, Miss. Macmillan and Ms. Driver

Co-Directed by
Doga Harmanci and Tala Shamia

Malvern College Egypt

Cairo, Egypt, 11771
Email: Daniel.greenwood@malverncollege.edu.eg
Anne.macmillan@malverncollege.edu.eg
Amanda.driver@malverncollege.edu.eg

1
ROMEO…………………………………………………………………UMAR RIMI
JULIET………………………………………………………………PRISCILLA FRANSIS
TYBALT………………………………………………………………HANNA KORIEM
MERCUTIO…………………………………………………………ALISHA MOHAMED
FRIAR LAURENCE…………………………………………MAHMOUD MUSTAFA
BENVOLIO…………………………………………………………MARWA AHMED
CAPULET……………………………………………………………RAMMAH OSMAN
LADY CAPULET………………………………………………SALMA SAAD
MONTAGUE…………………………………………………………MICHAEL OGBALU
LADY MONTAGUE……………………………………………TASNEEM MOHAMAD
NURSE…………………………………………………………………ISABELLE FORGE
PARIS…………………………………………………………………ABDELAZIZ MESILHI
PRINCE………………………………………………………………DOGA HARMANCI
OTHER ROLES:
ABRAHAM……………………………………………………………MESKI KEMPSTER-WELDON
BALTHASAR………………………………………………………HANNA SAID
SAMPSON……………………………………………………………TAIF AL GHABSHI
GREGORY……………………………………………………………ADUKA KEMPSTER-WELDON
FRIAR JOHN……………………………………………………MENNATALLAH MOHAMED
APOTHECARY……………………………………………………SEIF ELDIN
FIRST CITIZEN……………………………………………MIRIAM ELNAKIB
FIRST SERVANT……………………………………………NORA ELGODY
SECOND SERVANT…………………………………………TALA SHAMIA
FIRST WATCHMAN…………………………………………LAILA BOTROS
SECOND WATCHMAN………………………………………MIRIAM ELNAKIB
PARTY GUESTS………………………………………………TAIF, ADUKA, MIRIAM AND LAILA
________________________________________________________________

ACT I: [PROLOGUE. PROJECTED AS SCROLLING TEXT. ACCOMPANIED BY

STAR WARS THEME SONG ON TWO SURROUNDING SPEAKERS.]

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

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[SCENE I. A public square. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY(4), of the
house of CAPULET, armed with lightsabers.]

SAMPSON
Gregory, I swear we can’t let them humiliate us. We won’t take
their garbage.

GREGORY (teasing SAMPSON)

No, because then we’d be garbage-men.

SAMPSON
What I mean is, if they make us angry, we should attack. I hit
hard when I am angry.

GREGORY
But it’s hard to make you angry.

SAMPSON
One of those dogs from the Montague house can make me angry.

GREGORY
The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.

SAMPSON
It’s all the same.

GREGORY
Draw your weapon! here comes two of the house of the Montagues.

SAMPSON
Fight and I’ll back you up.

GREGORY
I will frown as I pass by, and they can react however they want.

SAMPSON
You mean however they dare. I will bite my thumb at them. That’s
an insult, and if they let me get away with it, they’ll be
dishonored.

[Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR(6). SAMSON bites thumb towards

them, an insulting gesture.]

ABRAHAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, buckethead?

3
 SAMPSON
I do bite my thumb, scum.

ABRAHAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, buckethead?

SAMPSON
No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, but I
bite my thumb.

GREGORY
Are you trying to start a fight?

ABRAHAM
Start a fight? No, sir.

SAMPSON
If you want to fight, I am for you. I serve as good a man as you.

ABRAHAM
He’s not better than mine.

GREGORY
Say “better”. Here comes Benvolio.

SAMPSON
Yes, “better”, sir.

ABRAHAM
You lie.

SAMPSON
Draw, if you be brave enough.

[They fight. Enter BENVOLIO(5).]

BENVOLIO
Break it up, you fools. Put your sabers away.

[Beats down their lightsabers. Enter TYBALT(4).]

TYBALT
What? You fight with these worthless servants? Turn around,
Benvolio, and look at the person who’s going to kill you.

BENVOLIO

4
I only try to keep the peace. Either put away your weapon or use
it to help me stop this fight.

TYBALT
What? You draw your weapon and then talk about peace? I hate the
word peace like I hate all Montagues, and you. Let’s go at it,
coward!

[They fight. Enter, several of both houses, who join the fray;
then enter CITIZENS(6).]

FIRST CITIZEN
Hit them! Beat them down!
Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!

[Enter CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULET(2).]

CAPULET
What’s this noise? Give me my weapon!

LADY CAPULET
Why are you asking for a weapon?

CAPULET
I want my weapon. Old Montague is here,
and he’s waving his saber to anger me.

[Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE(3).]

MONTAGUE
Capulet you villain!

[CAPULET and MONTAGUE draw sabers. LADY CAPULET and LADY MONTAGUE
hold them back.]

MONTAGUE
Don’t stop me. Let me go.

LADY MONTAGUE
You’re not taking one more step towards them.

[Enter PRINCE, with ATTENDANTS(1)]

PRINCE
You rebels! Enemies of the peace!
You beasts, who satisfy your anger with fountains of each other’s
blood!

5
 I’ll have you tortured if you don’t put your weapons away and
listen to me (all weapons are put away).
Three times now riots have broken out in this city because of you
Montague, and you Capulet.
If you ever cause a disturbance on our streets again, you’ll pay
for it with you lives. Everyone else go away for now.
You, Capulet, come with me.
Montague, come to me this afternoon and I will tell you what I
want from you.
As for the rest of you, I’ll say this one more time: go away or
be put to death.

[Exeunt all but MONTAGUE, LADY MONTAGUE, and BENVOLIO(2&3.]

MONTAGUE
Who started this fight, nephew? Were you here when it started?

BENVOLIO
Your servants were fighting your enemies’ servants before I got
here. I drew my weapon to part them.
Then, the fiery Tybalt showed up with his saber ready.
As we traded blows, more people showed up to join the fight,
until the Prince came and broke everyone up.

LADY MONTAGUE
Oh, where’s Romeo? Have you seen him today? I’m glad he wasn’t
here for this fight.

BENVOLIO
I saw your son taking an early morning walk on the west side of
the city. I headed toward him, but he saw me coming and hid in
the woods. I figured he was avoiding me, and I was perfectly
happy to leave him alone and keep to myself.

MONTAGUE
He’s been seen there many mornings, but as soon as the sun rises,
my son comes home to escape the light.
He locks himself up alone in his bedroom.

BENVOLIO
My noble uncle, do you know the cause?

MONTAGUE
I don’t know and he will not tell me.

BENVOLIO
Have you done what you can to make him tell you the reason?

6
 MONTAGUE
Both by myself and many other friends, but he keeps his thought
to himself. If we could only find out why he’s sad, we’d be as
eager to help him as we were to learn the reason for his sadness.

[Enter ROMEO(3)]

BENVOLIO
See, here he comes: please, step aside;
I'll know his grievance, or be much denied.

MONTAGUE
Come, madam, let's go.

[Exeunt MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE(3)]

BENVOLIO
Good-morrow, cousin.

ROMEO
Is the day so young?

BENVOLIO
It has just struck nine.

ROMEO
Oh my, time goes so slowly when you’re sad.
Was that my father who just left?

BENVOLIO
It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?

ROMEO
I don’t have the thing that makes time fast.

BENVOLIO
In love?

ROMEO
Out—

BENVOLIO
Of love?
ROMEO
Out of her favour. I love someone who does not love me back.

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 BENVOLIO
Alas, this is sad. But love is rough when you experience it.

ROMEO
What’s sad is love can make you do whatever it wants.
Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold.
This is the love I feel, though no one loves me back.
Are you laughing?

BENVOLIO
No, coz, I am weeping.

ROMEO
Good man, why?

BENVOLIO
Because of how sad you are.

ROMEO
This is what love does. My sadness sits heavy in my chest.
I have too much sadness already, and now you’re going to make me
feel sadder by feeling sorry for you. Goodbye cousin.

BENVOLIO
Wait! I will come with you.
If you leave me like this, you’re doing me wrong.

ROMEO
I’m not myself. I am lost.
This isn’t Romeo – he is elsewhere.

BENVOLIO
Tell me, who is the one you love?

ROMEO
In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.
She won’t listen to words of love, or let you look at her with
loving eyes. She’s rich in beauty.

BENVOLIO
Listen to me, forget about her.

ROMEO
O, teach me how I should forget to think.
BENVOLIO
Allow yourself to seek another girl.

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 ROMEO
Farewell: you cannot teach me to forget.

BENVOLIO
I'll show you how to forget, or else die in your debt.

[Exeunt(3)]

[SCENE II. A street. Enter CAPULET, PARIS, and SECOND

SERVANT(2).]

CAPULET
But Montague has sworn an oath just like I have,
And he’s under the same penalty.
I don’t think it will be hard for men as old as we are to keep
the peace.

PARIS
You both have honourable reputations, and it’s too bad you’ve
been enemies for so long.
But what do you say to my request?

CAPULET
I can only say what I have said before. My daughter is still very
young. Let’s wait two more summers before we start thinking she’s
ready to get married.

PARIS
People her age often marry.

CAPULET
Girls who marry so young grow up too soon.
But go ahead and charm her, gentle Paris; make her love you.
If she agrees to marry you, then you have my blessing.
Tonight I’m having a feast that we have celebrated for years. You
are on the guest list. Once you see a lot of girls, you might not
think my daughter’s the best. Come along with me.

[To SECOND SERVANT, giving a paper.]

Go, little fellow, walk all around Verona.

Find the people on this list and tell them they are welcome at my
house tonight.

[Exeunt CAPULET and PARIS(2)]

SECOND SERVANT

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[Aside, cannot read] Find them out whose names are written here!
[Moans, groans, muttering] I’ve been sent to find the people
whose names are on this list, and I cannot read!
I’ve got to find somebody who knows how to read to help me.

[Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEO(3)]

Sir, can you read?

ROMEO
I can read my own fortune in my misery.

SECOND SERVANT
I see. Well that’s an honest answer. Have a nice day.

ROMEO
Stay, fellow. I can read. (Reads the letter) “Signor Martino and
his wife and daughters;
Count Anselme and his beauteous sisters;
the lady widow of Vitruvio;
Signor Placentio and his lovely nieces;
Mercutio and his brother Valentine;
My uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters;
my fair niece Rosaline and Livia;
Signor Valentio and his cousin Tybalt,
Lucio and the lively Helena.”
A fair assembly: whither should they come?

SECOND SERVANT
To supper; to our house.
my master is the great rich Capulet;
and if you do not belong to the house of Montagues, I pray, come
and drink a cup of wine. Have a nice day!

[SECOND SERVANT Exits(2)]

BENVOLIO
The beautiful Rosaline whom you love so much will be here. Go
there and compare her to all other beautiful women and she will
look as ugly as a crow to you.

ROMEO
I'll go along, not because I think you’ll show me anything
better, but so I can see the woman I love.
[Exeunt(3)]

10
[SCENE III. A room in CAPULET's house. Enter LADY CAPULET and
NURSE(2).]

LADY CAPULET
Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her to me.

NURSE
I already told her to come. Come on!
Where is she? What is she doing? What, Juliet!

[Enter JULIET(2)]

JULIET
What is it? Who’s calling me?

NURSE
Your mother.

JULIET
Madam, I am here. What do you want?

LADY CAPULET
This is the matter--Nurse, leave us alone a little while.
We must talk in secret:--nurse, come back again; I just
remembered you can listen to our secrets.
You know of my daughters age?

NURSE
I can tell her age down to the hour.
You were the prettiest baby I ever nursed. If I live to see you
get married someday, all my wishes will come true.

LADY CAPULET
Well, marriage is exactly what we have to discuss. Tell me, my
daughter Juliet, what is your attitude about getting married?

JULIET
It is an honour that I do not dream of.

LADY CAPULET
Well, think of marriage now;
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.

NURSE
A man, young lady! lady, such a man.
LADY CAPULET

11
 What do you say? can you love the gentleman? Tonight you’ll see
him at our feast. The man is single and lacks only a bride.
Can you accept Paris’ love?

JULIET
I’ll look and try to like, at least if what I see if likeable.
But I won’t let myself fall for him more than your permission
allows.

[Enter FIRST SERVANT(2)]

FIRST SERVANT
Madam, the guests are here, dinner is served, people are calling
for you and Juliet. I must go and serve the guests. Please follow
straight after me.

LADY CAPULET
We’ll follow you.

[Exit FIRST SERVANT(2)]

Juliet, the count is waiting for you.

NURSE
Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.

[Exeunt(2).]

[SCENE IV. A street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, ABRAHAM,

BALTHASAR all with masks(3).]

ROMEO
What, shall we say is our excuse for being here?

BENVOLIO
Come on, let’s knock and go in.
The minute we get in let’s all start dancing.

ROMEO
Let playful people with light hearts dance. I’ll watch you.
It looks like fun, but I’ll sit this one out.

MERCUTIO
Come on, we’re wasting precious daylight. Let’s go!

ROMEO

12
 We mean well to attend this ball, but wise it is not.

MERCUTIO
Why, may I ask?

ROMEO
I dreamed a dream last night.

MERCUTIO
And so did I.

ROMEO
Well, what was yours?

MERCUTIO
That dreamers often lie.

ROMEO
In bed asleep, while they dream about the truth.

MERCUTIO
O, then, I see Queen Mab has been with you.
She is the fairies' midwife.
She rides around in a wagon and she lies over men’s noses as they
lie sleeping.
In this her royal wagon, she rides every night through
the brains of lovers and makes them dream about love.
She rides over lawyers' fingers, and right
away, they dream about their fees. She rides over
ladies' lips, and they immediately dream of kisses.
Queen Mab often puts blisters on their lips because
their breath smells like candy, which makes her mad.
Sometimes she rides over a courtier's lips, and he
dreams of making money off of someone. Sometimes
she tickles a priest's nose with her hair, and he
dreams of a large donation. He's frightened, so he says a couple
of prayers and goes back to sleep. She is the same Mab
who tangles the hair in horses' manes at night and
makes the tangles hard in the dirty hairs, which bring
bad luck if they're untangled. Mab is the old hag who
gives false dreams to men and teaches them how
to hold a lover and bear a child. This is she--

ROMEO
Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace!
You talk of nothing.
MERCUTIO

13
 True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain.
As thin of substance as the air
And more inconstant than the wind.

BENVOLIO
This wind you talk of is blowing us off course!
Dinner is over and we’re going to get there too late.

ROMEO
I fear this will end in death; though whoever is in charge of my
life can steer me wherever they want. On, lusty people!

[Exeunt (3)]

[SCENE V. A hall in CAPULET's house. Enter SECOND SERVANT,

followed by FIRST SERVANT with napkins(2).]

FIRST SERVANT
You are looked for and called for, asked for and
sought for, in the great chamber.

SECOND SERVANT
We cannot be here and there too!

[Enter CAPULET, with JULIET, LADY CAPULET, TYBALT and others of

his house, meeting the GUESTS and MASKERS (1&2).]

CAPULET
Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes
Unplagued with corns will dance with you.
Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
Will now deny to dance? Whichever of you acts shy, I’ll swear she
has corns.

[Enter ROMEO, BENVOLIO, MERCUTIO, ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR(3)

CAPULET walks down stage left to greet.]

Welcome, fellows! There was a time when I could wear a mask and
charm a woman with only my voice, by whispering in her ear.
That time is gone, gone, gone. You are all welcome.
Come on, musicians, play music.

[Music plays, and they dance. ROMEO notices JULIET across the
room and is captivated by her.]

ROMEO

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 [To SECOND SERVANT] Who is the girl on the arm of that lucky
knight over there?

SECOND SERVANT
I know not, sir.

ROMEO
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

TYBALT
[Aside] This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my saber, boy.
How does this peasant dare to come here with his face covered by
a mask to sneer at and scorn our celebration?
Now, by the honour of my kin,
To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.

CAPULET
How now, nephew? What angers you so?

TYBALT
Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe.
He’s a villain and is here to mock our party.

CAPULET
Young Romeo, is it?

TYBALT
That’s him, that villain Romeo.

CAPULET
Calm down, gentle cousin. Leave him alone.
He carries himself like a gentleman and has a reputation as a
well-behaved young man.
I would not insult him in my house for all the wealth within this
town, so calm down. Just ignore him.

TYBALT
I'll not endure him.

CAPULET
He shall be endured because I say he will.
Am I the master here, or you?
Should you not endure him you will be responsible for causing
chaos among my guests.
TYBALT

15
 But uncle, we’re being disrespected.

CAPULET
Go on. You’re an insolent little boy. This stupidity will come
back to bite you. You have to contradict me.
Be quiet, or I'll make you quiet.

[Speaking to the guests, as he walks from TYBALT.]

Have fun, my friends!

TYBALT
I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall turn bitter for him.

[Exit(2). ROMEO and JULIET have met on the dance floor. ROMEO
takes JULIET’s hand and leads her offstage. Filmed.]

ROMEO
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this,
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

ROMEO
0, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

ROMEO
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

[Kisses her.]
Now my sin has been given to you.

16
 JULIET
Now I have the sin you have given to me.

ROMEO
Give me my sin back.

[They kiss again.]

JULIET
You kiss by the book.

[The NURSE sees them and runs to JULIET.]

NURSE
Madam, your mother craves a word with you.

[JULIET runs over to LADY CAPULET and PARIS.]

ROMEO
Who is her mother?

NURSE
Young man her mother is the lady of the house.

ROMEO
Is she a Capulet?

BENVOLIO
[To ROMEO] Come, let’s go! Now is the best time to leave.

CAPULET
I thank you for coming; good night.

[Music lowers. Exeunt all but JULIET and NURSE(2&3.]

JULIET
Come here, nurse. Who is that gentleman?

NURSE
His name is Romeo, and a Montague;
The only son of your great enemy.

JULIET
My only love sprung from my only hate!

[LADY CAPULET calls from offstage 'Juliet.']

17
 NURSE
Come, let’s go. The strangers are all gone.

[Exeunt(2)]

ACT II. SCENE I. PROLOGUE. Enter CHORUS. Pre-recorded.]

CHORUS
Now Romeo's old feelings of desire are dying, and a
new desire is eager to take their place. Romeo groaned
for the beautiful Rosaline and said he would die for
her, but compared with tender Juliet, Rosaline
doesn't seem beautiful now. Now someone loves
Romeo, and he's in love again-both of them falling
for each others' good looks. But he has to make his
speeches of love to a woman who's supposed to be his
enemy. And she's been hooked by someone she
should fear. Because he's an enemy, Romeo has no
chance to see Juliet and say the things a lover normally
says. And Juliet's just as much in love as he, but she
has even less opportunity to meet her lover. But love
gives them power, and time gives them the chance to
meet, sweetening the extreme danger with intense
pleasure.

[Exit]

[A lane by the wall of CAPULET's orchard. Enter ROMEO(5).]

ROMEO
Can I go away when my heart is here? I have to follow my heart.

[ROMEO sits. Enter BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO(3).]

BENVOLIO
Romeo! My cousin Romeo, Romeo!
He ran this way. Call him, good Mercutio.

MERCUTIO
Romeo! Show yourself! Speak one word and I’ll be satisfied.
Say just one lovely word to my good friend Venus.
Romeo doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t stir. He doesn’t move.
I must summon him. I summon thee by Rosaline's bright eyes,
By her high forehead and her scarlet lips,
I command you to appear before us in your true form.
BENVOLIO

18
 Come, he has hidden himself among these trees.
His love is blind, so it belongs in the night.

MERCUTIO
If love is blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Come, shall we go?

BENVOLIO
Let’s go. There’s no point in looking for him if he does not want
to be found.

[Exeunt(3)]

[SCENE II. CAPULET's orchard. Enter ROMEO.]

ROMEO
It is easy for one to joke about scars having not felt pain.

[JULIET appears above at a window.(1)]

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
O, I wish she knew how much I love her!

JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny your Father and change your name;
Or, if you won’t, just swear your love to me and I will stop
being a Capulet.
What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

ROMEO
I will change my name. I will never be known as Romeo again.

JULIET
How did you get in here? And why did you come?
If they see you, they will kill you.

ROMEO
The darkness will hide me here.
And if you don’t love me, let them find me here.
I’d rather they killed me than have to live without your love.

JULIET
Do you love me? I know you’ll say ‘yes’, and I’ll believe you.
ROMEO

19
 Lady, by our sacred moon I swear--

JULIET
O don’t swear by the moon. The moon is always changing.
Every month it’s position in the sky changes.

ROMEO
What shall I swear by?

JULIET
Don’t swear at all. But if you have to swear, swear by your
wonderful self and then I’ll believe you.

[NURSE calls within.]

Stay here for a moment, I will return.

[Exit, above(1).]

ROMEO
[Aside] I am afraid this is but a dream, too sweet to be real.

[Re-enter JULIET, above(1).]

JULIET
If your intentions are true and you want to marry me, send me
word tomorrow.
I’ll send a messenger to you, and you can pass a message telling
me when and where we are to be married.
A thousand times good night!

[Exit, above(1). ROMEO starts to leave, JULIET returns.]

Romeo! What time tomorrow should I send a messenger to you?

ROMEO
By nine o’clock.

JULIET
Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

[JULIET exits.]

ROMEO
I’ll go and begin our wedding arrangements immediately.

[Exit(3).]

20
[SCENE III. FRIAR LAURENCE's cell. Enter FRIAR LAURENCE, with a
basket(5).]

FRIAR LAURENCE
Now, before the sun comes up, I have to fill this basket with
poisonous weeds and medicinal flowers.

[Enter ROMEO(5).]

Inside this weak flower, there is both poison and medicine. If

you smell it, you feel good. But if you taste it, you die.
Just as with humans, there is good and evil in everything.

ROMEO
Good morrow, father.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Young man, something’s wrong if you’re out of bed so early.
Old men worry, and do not sleep but you’re a young man, you
should have plenty of sleep.
This means you’re either upset, anxious or have not been to bed.

ROMEO
Your last guess is right. I enjoyed a sweeter rest than sleep.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Where have you been?

ROMEO
I have been feasting with the enemy.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Speak plainly, make your meaning clear.

ROMEO
I love Capulet’s daughter and she loves me.
I’m begging you: please agree to marry us today.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Have you given up so quickly on Rosaline, whom you loved so much?
Young men love with their eyes, not their hearts.
You cannot expect women to be faithful when men are unreliable.

ROMEO
I beg you, don’t scold me. The girl I love now returns my love.
FRIAR LAURENCE

21
Come on, inconsistent young man, come with me. I’ll help you with
your secret wedding. This marriage my be lucky enough to turn the
hatred between your families into love.

ROMEO
Let’s get out of here. I am in a rush.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall.

[Exeunt.(5)]

[SCENE IV. A street. Enter BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO(3).]

MERCUTIO
Where the devil can Romeo be? Did he come home last night?

BENVOLIO
Not to his father’s. I asked a housekeeper.

MERCUTIO
Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline.
She will torment him until he goes insane.

BENVOLIO
Tybalt, old Capulet’s nephew, has sent a letter to Romeo’s
father’s house.

MERCUTIO
I bet it’s a challenge.

BENVOLIO
Romeo will answer it.

MERCUTIO
Any man that can write may answer a letter.

BENVOLIO
No, Romeo will respond to the letter’s writer, telling him
whether he accepts the challenge.

MERCUTIO
Oh poor Romeo! He’s already dead. Is he man enough at this point
to face off with Tybalt?

[Enter ROMEO(3).]
BENVOLIO

22
 Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.

MERCUTIO
Signor Romeo, bonjour! You gave us the slip fairly last night.

ROMEO
Good morrow to you both. What do you mean ‘the slip’?

MERCUTIO
The slip, sir, the slip. Can’t you understand what I say?

ROMEO
Excuse me, good Mercutio. I had very important business to take
care of. It was that important, I forgot about courtesy.

MERCUTIO
In other words “important business” made you flex your buttocks.

ROMEO
This is a bad joke. It’s all silliness.

MERCUTIO
Why, isn’t all this joking better than groaning about love?

[Enter NURSE and FIRST SERVANT(2).]

NURSE
Peter!

FIRST SERVANT
I’m at your service.

NURSE
Give me my fan.

MERCUTIO
Good Peter, give her her fan to hide her face. Her fan is
prettier than her face.

NURSE
Good morning, all.

MERCUTIO
Good afternoon, fair lady.

NURSE

23
 Is it now afternoon?

MERCUTIO
It’s not earlier than that, I tell you. The lusty hand of the
clock is now pricking noon.

NURSE
Get out of here! What kind of person are you?

MERCUTIO
My lady, I am one who was made to be ruined.

NURSE
I swear you speak the truth.
Can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo?

ROMEO
I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when
you have found him than he was when you sought him.

NURSE
You speak well.
If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you.

MERCUTIO
Romeo, are you coming to your fathers for lunch?

ROMEO
I’ll follow after you.

MERCUTIO
Farewell, ancient lady; farewell!

[Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO, laughing.(3)]

NURSE
Tell me, sir, who was that foulmouthed punk who was full of crude
jokes?

ROMEO
Nurse, this is a person who likes the sound of their own voice.

NURSE
That rotten scoundrel!
Now please, may I have a word with you, sir?
My young mistress asked me to find you. What she asked me to say,
I’ll keep it to myself.

24
 But first, let me tell you, if you lead her into a fool’s
paradise, it would be outrageous behaviour.
And if you trick here, this is a very evil thing to do.

ROMEO
Nurse, give my regards to your lady.
Tell her to devise a plan to get out of the house and come to
Friar Laurence’s cell this afternoon so we can be married.

NURSE
This afternoon, sir? She shall be there.

ROMEO
Give my compliments to your lady.

NURSE
Yes, a thousand times.

[Exit ROMEO(3).]

Peter!

FIRST SERVANT
I’m ready.

NURSE
Take my fan and go quickly.

[Exeunt(2).]

[SCENE V. CAPULET's orchard. Enter JULIET(1).]

JULIET
I sent the nurse at nine o’clock.
Oh, she’s slow! Now it’s noon.
That’s three hours since nine o’clock, but she hasn’t come back.
If she was young and passionate, she’d move as fast as a ball.
But a lot of old people act like they’re already dead – sluggish,
slow and colourless, like lead.

[Enter NURSE(1).]

Sweet nurse, what news do you bring? Have you spoken with him?

NURSE

25
 Can you wait for a moment?
Do you not see that I am out of breath?

JULIET
How can you be out of breath when you have enough breath to tell
me you’re out of breath?
Is the news good or bad? Answer that question.

NURSE
What a headache I’ve got! My head is pounding. It feels like it
will break into twenty pieces. My back aches too.

[JULIET rubs her back.]

Ohh, on the other side. My poor back! Curse you for sending me
running all over town. I could get sick and die.

JULIET
I am sorry you’re in pain.
Sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what did my love Romeo say?

NURSE
Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
--Where is your mother?

JULIET
Where is my mother! why, she is inside. Where should she be?
Your answer is so strange!
“Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
‘Where is your mother?'”

NURSE
Do you have permission to leave today?

JULIET
I do.

NURSE
Then hurry over to Friar Laurence’s cell.
There’s a husband waiting to make you his wife.

JULIET
Wish me luck. Thank you, dear Nurse.

[Exeunt(1).]

26
[SCENE VI. FRIAR LAURENCE's cell. Enter FRIAR LAURENCE and
ROMEO(5). A small, intimate wedding ceremony is performed.]

FRIAR LAURENCE
These violent delights have violent ends. They burn up in victory
like fire and gunpowder.
Too much honey is delicious, but it makes you sick to your
stomach. Therefore, love each other in moderation.

[Enter JULIET in a rush (5).]

Here comes the lady.

Come, come with me, and we’ll do the job quickly.

[Exeunt(5).]

ACT III. SCENE I. A public place. Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO,

ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR(3).]

BENVOLIO
I’m begging you, good Mercutio, let's call it a day.
The day is hot, the Capulets are wandering around,
And, if we meet, we’ll certainly get into a fight.

MERCUTIO
You’re like one of those who walks into a bar, slams their weapon
onto a table and yells “I pray I never have to use this”.

BENVOLIO
Am I really?

MERCUTIO
Come on, you can be as angry as anyone I know. When someone does
the smallest thing to make you angry, you get angry.

BENVOLIO
I am not in the habit of fighting the way you are.

MERCUTIO
That’s foolish.

[Enter TYBALT, SAMSON and GREGORY(2).]

BENVOLIO
Oh great, here comes the Capulets.

27
 MERCUTIO
By my heel, I care not.

TYBALT
Good day! A word with one of you.

MERCUTIO
But one word with one of us? couple it with
something else; make it a word and a blow.

TYBALT
You shall find me ready enough to do that, just give me reason.

MERCUTIO
Can you not find a reason without me giving you one?

TYBALT
Mercutio, you consort with Romeo.

MERCUTIO
Consort! What do you think we are, a band? If we are musicians,
then expect to hear nothing but noise.

[Reaches for lightsaber.]

This is my instrument, and I shall use it to make you dance.

BENVOLIO
We’re talking here in a public place. Either go some place
private, or talk this over rationally, or else just go away.
Out here everybody can see us.

MERCUTIO
The human eyes were made to look, so let them watch.

[Enter ROMEO(3).]

TYBALT
Well peace be with you. Here comes my man.
Romeo, there is nothing better I can say than you are a villain.

ROMEO
I do protest I have not caused you harm.
I love you more than you can understand the reason why.

MERCUTIO
This calm submission is dishonorable and vile.

28
[Draws lightsaber.]

Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

TYBALT
What do you want from me?

MERCUTIO
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives. After
that, I might beat the other eight lives out of you, too.

TYBALT
I am for you.

[Drawing lightsaber. They fight.]

ROMEO
Help Benvolio! Both of you, end this outrage!
Stop, Tybalt. Hold, good Mercutio.

[ROMEO tries to hold MERCUTIO back. TYBALT under ROMEO's arm

stabs MERCUTIO, and flees with his followers(2).]

MERCUTIO
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses!

BENVOLIO
What, are you hurt?

MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; but it’s enough.
Go boy. Get me a doctor.

[Exit BALTHASAR, running(3).]

ROMEO
Have courage, the wound cannot be much.

MERCUTIO
No, not as deep as a well, or wide as a door, but it is enough,
it will do. Ask for me tomorrow and you’ll find me in a grave.
A plague o’ both your houses!
Why did you come between us? I was hurt under your arm.

ROMEO
I thought all for the best.

29
 MERCUTIO
Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!
They have made worms' meat of me. I am done for - your houses!

[Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO(3).]

ROMEO
This gentleman Mercutio, the prince's near ally,
My very friend, has been wounded whilst defending me from
Tybalt’s slander – Tybalt who has been my cousin for one hour.

[Re-enter BENVOLIO(3).]

BENVOLIO
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!

[Re-enter TYBALT(2). They draw lightsabers.]

ROMEO
He’s alive whilst Mercutio dead?
Now, Tybalt, you can call me a ‘villain’ again.
Either you, or I, or both of us, must go with him.

[They fight; TYBALT crashes to the floor, limp, defeated.]

BENVOLIO
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt is dead.
The prince will give you the death penalty if you get caught, so
get out of here!

ROMEO
O, I am fortune's fool!

[Exit ROMEO. Enter PRINCE(1), attended; MONTAGUE(3), CAPULET(2),

their Wives, and others.]

PRINCE
Where are the vile beginners of this fight?

BENVOLIO
O noble prince, I can explain all.

LADY CAPULET
Tybalt! He was my brother’s son! Prince, as you are honourable,
take revenge for this murder by taking a Montague.

30
 PRINCE
Benvolio, who began this fight?

BENVOLIO
Tybalt started the fight, before he was killed by Romeo.
Romeo was polite to Tybalt, explaining the argument was silly.
He explained that you would not approve, but could not make peace
with Tybalt, who began to fight with Mercutio.
Romeo stepped between the two, but Tybalt slain Mercutio and fled
the scene.
Soon after, Tybalt returned for Romeo, who desired revenge.
Before I could react, Romeo had killed Tybalt.
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.

LADY CAPULET
Benvolio is a Montague; his loyalties make him lie.
I beg you for justice, Prince, and you can grant this.
Romeo killed Tybalt. Romeo must die.

PRINCE
Romeo killed Tybalt; Tybalt killed Mercutio.
Who should now pay the price for Mercutio’s life?

MONTAGUE
Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend.
His crime did justice’s job by taking Tybalt’s life.

PRINCE
And for that offence Romeo is hereby exiled.
Mercutio was my relative and he lies dead because of your feud.
Tell Romeo to leave the city immediately, or else, if he is
found, he will be killed.
Take away this body and do what I say. Showing mercy by pardoning
killers only causes more murders.

[Exeunt. Intermission.]

31
[SCENE II. CAPULET's orchard. Enter JULIET(1).]

JULIET
I wish the sun would hurry up and set and night would arrive.
When the night comes, Romeo will jump into my arms.
Come gentle night. Give me my Romeo and when he shall die, turn
him into stars and form a constellation in his image.

[Enter NURSE(1), with crying.]

Now, nurse, what news? Why do you look so upset?

NURSE
He's dead, he's dead, he's dead!
We’re ruined, lady, we’re ruined! What an awful day!
Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished;
Romeo has killed him and he is banished.

JULIET
Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?

NURSE
It did, it did. Curse the day this happened, but it did.

JULIET
O he’s like a snake, disguised as a flower.
I hate him, yet he seemed the most wonderful man.
He’s turned out to be the exact opposite of what he seemed.

NURSE
There's no trust, no faith, no honesty. Shame on Romeo!

JULIET
I hope sores cover your tongue for that. Shame does not belong
with Romeo.

NURSE
Will you speak well of the man who killed your cousin?

JULIET
I should say bad things about my own husband?
Why did you kill my cousin? Probably because my cousin
the villain would have killed my husband. I would cry with joy
that Romeo is alive, but I should cry tears of grief because
Tybalt is dead. My husband, whom Tybalt wanted to
kill, is alive. Why, then, should I cry?
"Tybalt is dead, and Romeo has been banished."

32
 Where are my father and my mother, Nurse?

NURSE
They are crying over Tybalt. Are you going to join them?

JULIET
Are they washing his wounds with their tears? I'll
cry tears for Romeo's banishment when theirs are dry.

NURSE
Go to your bedroom. I'll find Romeo. I know where he is. Listen,
your Romeo will be here tonight. I'll go to him. He's hiding out
in Friar Lawrence's cell.

JULIET
Give this ring to my knight! And tell him to come here to say his
last goodbye.

[Exeunt(1).]

[SCENE III. FRIAR LAURENCE's cell. Enter FRIAR LAURENCE(5)

making sure nobody is in the cell. He waves over ROMEO from
hiding.]

ROMEO
What’s the news? What punishment did the Prince announce?

FRIAR LAURENCE
He made a gentle decision. You will not die, but be banished.

ROMEO
Banishment? Be merciful, say 'death'. Do not say 'banishment.'

FRIAR LAURENCE
From now, you are banished from this city.
Be patient, endure, for the World is broad and wide.

ROMEO
There is no World for me outside these city walls, except
purgatory, torture, hell itself.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Oh rude, unthankful boy! You committed a sin that is punishable
by death, but our Prince took mercy on you.
This is kind mercy and you do not realise it.

33
 ROMEO
It’s torture, not mercy. Heaven is here, where Juliet lives.
Every cat, dog and even little mouse that lives here can see her,
but Romeo can’t?

FRIAR LAURENCE
You foolish madman, listen to me for a moment.

ROMEO
Oh you will just speak again of banishment.

[Knocking on the door, outside.]

FRIAR LAURENCE
Get up, somebody knocks at the door. Hide yourself, good Romeo.
Why do you knock so hard? What do you want?

NURSE
[Offstage] Let me come in, and you shall know why.
I came for Lady Juliet.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Welcome, then.

[Enter NURSE(5).]

NURSE
Tell me, where is my lady’s husband? Where is Romeo?

ROMEO
[Appears, runs to NURSE] Nurse!
Where is she? What does my wife say about our hidden love?

NURSE
O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Go be with your love, as it was decided at your wedding.
But get out of there before the watchmen take their positions.
Then you will escape the city until we can make your marriage
public and make peace between your families. We'll ask the Prince
to pardon you. Go ahead, Nurse.
Give my regards to your lady, and tell her to hurry
everybody in the house to bed. Romeo is coming.

NURSE
I could have stayed here all night listening to good advice.

34
 My Lord Romeo, I will tell Juliet you are coming.
Here sir, this is a ring she asked me to give to you. Hurry!

[NURSE hands the ring and Exits(5).]

ROMEO
This makes me feel much better.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Get out of here. Everything depends on this. Farewell.

ROMEO
I am going to experience the greatest joy of all. Farewell.

[Exeunt(5).]

[SCENE IV. A room in CAPULET's house. Enter CAPULET, LADY

CAPULET, and PARIS(2).]

CAPULET
I apologise that we have not had time to convince our daughter to
marry you, the timing has been most unlucky.
She loved her cousin Tybalt; she won’t be coming down tonight.

PARIS
These times of pain are not times to romance. Madam, goodnight.
Give my regards to your daughter.

LADY CAPULET
I will, and I will find out her thoughts on marriage tomorrow.

CAPULET
Wife, visit her in her room and tell her about Paris’s love.
Tell her on Wednesday – wait – what day is today?

PARIS
Monday, my lord.

CAPULET
Monday! Ha! Wednesday is too soon. Let it be Thursday.
On Thursday, tell her, she’ll be married to this noble earl.

PARIS
My lord, I wish Thursday was tomorrow.

CAPULET
Well go on home. Thursday it is, then.

35
[Exeunt(2).]

[SCENE V. CAPULET's orchard. Enter ROMEO and JULIET above(1), at

the window. ROMEO is ready to escape, before other’s wake up.]

JULIET
Are you going? It is a long time until morning, don’t be afraid.
That sound you heard was a nightingale, not the lark.

ROMEO
It was the lark, the bird that sings at dawn.
Look my love, there are streaks of light in the clouds.
If I want to live, I must go. If I stay, I’ll die.

JULIET
That light is not daylight, I know it.
So stay for a while. You don’t have to go yet.

ROMEO
Let me be captured and put to death. Come death, and welcome!
I’ll say I do not see daylight, or hear the lark ringing.

JULIET
It is, it is the lark, be gone, go away!
Oh go you now, I see more and more light.

[Enter NURSE(2), to the chamber.]

NURSE
Madam!
Your mother is coming. Daylight has broken. Be careful.

[Exit(2).]

JULIET
Then the window lets day in, and life goes out the window.

ROMEO
Farewell, farewell!

[ROMEO blows Juliet a kiss and climbs down. Exit(3).]

LADY CAPULET
[Offstage] Daughter! are you up?

[Enter LADY CAPULET(1).]

36
 What’s going on, Juliet?

JULIET
Madam, I am not well.

LADY CAPULET
Will you cry about Tybalt forever? Girl, you’re weeping not so
much for his death, but that the villain who killed him lives.

JULIET
What villain, madam?

LADY CAPULET
That villain, Romeo. We will have our vengeance, fear not.
I’ll send a man to where Romeo is hiding, to poison his drink.
But now, I have joyful news for you, girl.

JULIET
It is good to have joy in a joyless time? What is the news?

LADY CAPULET
Marriage, my child, on Thursday morning.
The young and noble Paris will make you a happy bride.

JULIET
Please tell my father I won’t marry yet.
When I do, it will be Romeo, who I know you hate, rather Paris.

LADY CAPULET
Here comes your father; tell him so yourself,
And see how he will take your news.

[Enter CAPULET and NURSE(1).]

CAPULET
Wife, have you told her our decision?

LADY CAPULET
Yes, but she says no. She says ‘thank you’ but refuses.

CAPULET
Wait! I don’t understand, is she ungrateful? Is she not proud of
such a match? Doesn’t she realise how unworthy of him she is?

JULIET
Not proud, but thankful for what you have found.
I can never be proud of what I hate, but can be thankful.

37
 CAPULET
What is this? Proud, thankful, no thank you. You spoiled girl.
Get yourself ready for Thursday, you’re going to marry Paris. If
not, I will drag you there, you disgust me, you worthless girl!

JULIET
Father, I’m begging you, be patient and listen to me…

CAPULET
You disobedient wretch! I’ll tell you, get married on Thursday,
or never look at me again. Don’t talk to me. I feel like slapping
you. We were cursed when we had her, she disgusts me.

NURSE
Can I say something?

CAPULET
Be quiet, mumbling fool! Talk with your gossiping friends.

LADY CAPULET
You are too hot.

CAPULET
My top priority has been to find her husband. If you do not
marry, you do not eat under my roof. If you don’t act like my
daughter, you can starve and die in the streets.

[Exit CAPULET(1).]

JULIET
Can nobody see my sadness, mother don’t throw me out!
Delay this marriage for a month, even a week.

LADY CAPULET
Don’t talk to me, because I won’t say a word.
Do as you please, because I am done worrying about you.

[Exit LADY CAPULET(1).]

JULIET
Oh nurse, how shall this be prevented? Give me comfort.

NURSE
This is what I must say: Romeo has been banished.
I think it is best that you marry Paris.

38
 JULIET
Are you speaking from your heart?

NURSE
And from my soul too.

JULIET
Well, you have given me comfort. Go inside and tell my mother
that I am gone.

NURSE
I will, this is a wise idea.

[Exit NURSE(1).]

JULIET
Ancient damnation! That wicked old lady! Away with you, Nurse.
From now on, I will never tell you what is in my heart.
I am going to Friar Laurence, if all else fails, in myself I have
the power to die.

[Exit JULIET(1), running.]

[ACT IV SCENE I. FRIAR LAURENCE’s cell. Enter FRIAR LAURENCE and

PARIS(5).]

FRIAR LAURENCE
On Thursday? That’s very soon.

PARIS
This is how Lord Capulet would like it.

FRIAR LAURENCE
You say you do not know what the girl thinks? I don’t like it.

PARIS
She is grieving too much over the death of Tybalt, I have not had
the chance to talk about her love. Her father thinks it’s
dangerous for her to be sad, so is rushing the wedding to stop
her from crying. Now you know the reason for the rush.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Here comes the lady now.

[JULIET knocks and enters(5).]

39
 PARIS
I am happy to meet you, my lady and my wife.

JULIET
That might be the case after I am married.

PARIS
Have you come to make a confession?

JULIET
If I answered, I would be confessing to you.

PARIS
Don’t deny to him that you love me.

JULIET
I’ll confess to you that I love him.

PARIS
You will also confess, I’m sure, that you love me.

JULIET
Do you have time for me now, Friar, or should I return?

FRIAR LAURENCE
I have time for you now, my sad daughter.

PARIS
Juliet, I will wake you early on Thursday. Until then, good-bye.

[PARIS shakes FRIAR’s hand and exits(5).]

JULIET
Oh this mess is beyond hope and past help!

FRIAR LAURENCE
Juliet I know of your situation, it’s a problem too hard for me
to solve. I hear you must marry Paris on Thursday.

JULIET
Don’t tell me you have heard unless you can help me prevent it.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Hold on, I do see a remedy. If you dare, I’ll give the solution.

40
 JULIET
Oh you can chain me up with wild bears to keep me away from
Paris. I will do anything without fear or doubt.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Hold on, then. Go home, be cheerful, and tell them
you agree to marry Paris. Tomorrow is Wednesday.
Tomorrow night make sure that you are alone. Don't
let the Nurse stay with you in your bedroom.
(showing her a vial) When you're in bed, take this vial and
drink. Your pulse will stop. Your flesh will be cold, and you'll
stop breathing. It will seem like you're dead. You'll remain in
this deathlike state for forty-two hours. Now, when the
bridegroom comes to get you out of bed on Thursday morning,
you'll seem dead.
I'll send Romeo word of our plan. He'll come here, and that
night, Romeo will take you away.

JULIET
Give me the vial, give it me! Don’t talk to me about fear!

[FRIAR LAURENCE hands the vial to JULIET.]

FRIAR LAURENCE
Now go along. I'll send a Friar with my letter for Romeo.

JULIET
Love will give me strength! Farewell Friar!

[Exeunt(5).]

[SCENE II. Hall in CAPULET's house. Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET,

NURSE, with FIRST SERVANT and SECOND SERVANT(2).]

CAPULET
Invite all of the guests on this list.

[CAPULET hands FIRST SERVANT paper. Exit FIRST SERVANT(2).]

You, go hire me twenty cooks.

SECOND SERVANT
You will not get a bad cook from me. I will make them lick their
fingers. Only a bad cook will not lick their fingers.

[Exit SECOND SERVANT(2).]

41
 CAPULET
Has my daughter gone to see Friar Laurence?

NURSE
Yes, she has.

CAPULET
It might do her good. She’s a stubborn brat.

[Enter JULIET(2).]

NURSE
Here she is and with a smile on her face.

CAPULET
So, my headstrong daughter, where have you been?

JULIET
I went to learn that disobedience to my father is a sin.
Forgive me, I beg you. From now on, I am ruled only by you.

CAPULET
Send for the count, this wedding will happen in the morning.

JULIET
Nurse, will you come with me to my closet to help me select my
clothes and jewelry to wear tomorrow?

[Exeunt(2).]

[SCENE III. JULIET's chamber(4). Enter NURSE, humming and

folding clothes. Enter JULIET, somberly.]

JULIET
Gentle Nurse, please leave me alone tonight.

[Enter LADY CAPULET(4).]

LADY CAPULET
Are you busy? Do you need my help?

JULIET
No madam, if it is okay with you, I’d like to be left alone.
Let the nurse sit up with you tonight, I am sure you have your
hands full with preparing for the sudden festivities.

42
 LADY CAPULET
Goodnight, go to bed and get some rest. You will need it.

[Exeunt LADY CAPULET and NURSE(4).]

JULIET
Goodbye. Who knows when we shall meet again. There is a cold fear
running through my veins.

[JULIET takes the vial.]

What if the mixture does not work? Will I be married tomorrow?

O, look! I think I see my cousin's ghost, seeking out Romeo.
Stay, Tybalt, stay! Romeo, I come! I drink to you.

[She falls into a slumber upon her bed, within the curtains.]

[SCENE IV. Hall in CAPULET's house. Night turns to morning.

Enter CAPULET. Enter FIRST SERVANT and SECOND SERVANT(2).]

CAPULET
Now, what have you got there?

FIRST SERVANT
Things for the cook, sir. But I don’t know what they are.

[Exit FIRST SERVANT(2).]

CAPULET
You! Fetch dry logs. Call Peter to show you where they are.

SECOND SERVANT
I am smart enough to find them myself without bothering Peter.

[Exit SECOND SERVANT(2). Music within.]

CAPULET
Right, well said. Peter’s funny. With a head is full of logs.
Nurse! Wife!

[Enter NURSE(2).]

Go wake Juliet and get her dressed. I’ll go and chat with Paris.
Hurry up, hurry up! The bridegroom is here. Hurry up, I say.

[Exeunt]

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[SCENE V. JULIET's chamber. Enter NURSE(4).]

NURSE
Mistress! Madam! Sweetheart! Hey, bride! What, you don’t say a
word. So sound asleep, I must wake her up.

[Undraws curtains.]

What? Still dressed in your clothes?

I must wake you up. Lady! Lady! Lady! Oh no, oh no! Help, help!
my lady's dead! My lord! My lady!

[Enter LADY CAPULET(4).]

LADY CAPULET
What is the matter?

NURSE
Look! Oh what a day!

LADY CAPULET
Oh my, oh my! My child, my reason for living, what up or I’ll die
without you. Help, help! Call for help.

[Enter CAPULET(4).]

NURSE
She's dead, deceased, she's dead. Curse the day!

LADY CAPULET
Curse the day. She's dead, she's dead, she's dead!

CAPULET
No, let me see her. Oh no! She’s cold. Her blood has stopped and
her joints are stiff. She’s been dead for some time.

[Enter FRIAR LAURENCE and PARIS(4).]

Oh son, on the night before your wedding, death has taken your
wife. There she lies. My daughter married death.

PARIS
Have I waited so long for this morning, only to see this?

LADY CAPULET
Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day!
I had only one child, and cruel death has stolen her from me.

44
 NURSE
Oh painful, painful day! The saddest day I ever did behold.

PARIS
Oh love! Oh life! There is no life, but my love is dead!

CAPULET
My child is dead. My child will be buried along with my joys.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Be quiet. The cure for confusion is not yelling and screaming.
Dry up your tears and in accordance with customs, carry her in
her best clothes.

CAPULET
All the things that we prepared for the wedding party, will now
be used for the funeral. Our happy music will now be sad.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Sir, you go in. And madam, you go with him. And you go too,
Paris. Prepare to take this beautiful corpse to it’s grave.

[Exeunt CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, PARIS, NURSE and FRIAR LAURENCE.

Carrying JULIET off stage(6).]

[ACT V. SCENE I. A street. Enter ROMEO(3).]

ROMEO
Oh how sweet it is to finally have the woman I love.

[Enter BALTHASAR, hurried(3).]

What news do you bring, Balthasar? Is it a letter from the Friar?

How is my wife? Is my father well? How is my Juliet? I ask
because nothing can be wrong if she is well.

BALTHASAR
Then she is well and nothing is wrong. Her body sleeps in the
Capulet tomb. I saw her buried in her family’s tomb, and then I
came here to tell you the news. Oh, pardon me for bringing this
bad news, but you told me it was my job, sir.

ROMEO
Is it really true? Get me some ink and paper, and hire some
horses. I will leave here tonight.

45
 BALTHASAR
Sir, have patience. You look pale and wild as if you are going to
hurt yourself.

ROMEO
Leave me and do what I told you to do.
Don’t you have a letter for me from the Friar?

BALTHASAR
No, my good lord.

ROMEO
Okay. Go and hire me the horses. I’ll be with you right away.

[Exit BALTHASAR(3).]

Juliet, I’ll lie with you tonight. Let’s see how destructive
thoughts come quickly to the minds of desperate men! I remember a
pharmacist who lives nearby who can provide me with poison. As I
remember this is where they live. Hey! Apothecary!

[Enter APOTHECARY, shady-looking(6).]

APOTHECARY
Who calls so loud?

ROMEO
Come here. I see that you are poor. Here is money, let me have a
shot of poison, something that works fast.

APOTHECARY
I have what you seek. Put this in any kind of liquid and drink it
down. This is enough to down twenty men.

ROMEO
There is your gold, Farewell.

[Exit APOTHECARY(6).]

[Aside] To Juliet's grave. That is where I must use it.

[Exeunt(3).]

[SCENE II. FRIAR LAURENCE's cell. Enter FRIAR JOHN and FRIAR
LAURENCE(5).]

46
 FRIAR LAURENCE
Welcome Friar John, what does Romeo say? Or, if he wrote his
thoughts, give me his letter.

FRIAR JOHN
I went to another Friar to accompany me; he was visiting the
sick. When I found him, the health officials quarantined us
incase we got sick, too. Therefore I could not go to Romeo.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Then who took my letter to Romeo?

FRIAR JOHN
I could not send it or give it to a messenger. I have it here.

[FRIAR JOHN gives the letter to FRIAR LAURENCE.]

FRIAR LAURENCE
Oh no, no, no, this letter was very important. It is very
dangerous that it has not been sent.

[Exit JOHN(5).]

I must go to the tomb alone, in three hours Juliet will wake.

She’ll be angry with me that Romeo does not know what happened.

[Exit, hurried(5).]

[SCENE III. A churchyard; in it a tomb belonging to the

CAPULET’s. Enter PARIS, with flowers, at JULIET’s corpse(2).]

PARIS
Sweet flower, I’m spreading flowers over your bridal bed.

[Enter ROMEO, with a letter and BALTHASAR. Outside of tomb(5).]

ROMEO
Here, take this letter and in the morning, deliver it to my
father. I command you, stay away from here and do not interrupt.

BALTHASAR
I’ll go, sir, and not trouble you.

ROMEO
That’s the way to show me friendship. Farewell, good fellow.

47
 BALTHASAR
[Aside] Despite what I said, I’ll hide nearby. I’m frightened by
the look on his face, and I doubt his intentions.

[BALTHASAR exits(5), and ROMEO enters tomb.]

PARIS
[Aside] It’s that arrogant Montague, the one who was banished. He
who killed my loves cousin. I’ll catch him.

[PARIS steps forward.]

Condemned villain, I’ve caught you. Come with me, you must die.

ROMEO
I must indeed, that’s why I came. Don’t mess with someone
desperate. Get away and leave me, do not make me angry.

PARIS
I refuse your request and am arresting you as a criminal.

ROMEO
You will provoke me? Very well, let’s fight.

[They fight. PARIS is slain. ROMEO kneels over him.]

Oh my love! My wife! Death is taken your breath, but it has not

taken your beauty. Oh, I’ll rest here forever. I’ll forget about
the bad luck that has troubled me. Eyes, look out for the last
time! Arms, make your last embrace! Here's to my love!

[ROMEO Drinks and dies, next to JULIET. Enter, outside of the

tomb, FRIAR LAURENCE and BALTHASAR(5).]

FRIAR LAURENCE
Who is it? Who is in the Capulet tomb?

BALTHASAR
I’m a friend who knows you well and in the tomb is Romeo.

FRIAR LAURENCE
How long has he been in there?

BALTHASAR
For a full half an hour.

48
 FRIAR LAURENCE
Enter with me.

BALTHASAR
I dare not, sir. My master doesn’t know I’m still here.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Stay then, I’ll go alone. I am suddenly afraid.

[BALTHASAR exits, as LAURENCE enters the tomb and sees

ROMEO(5).]

Romeo! Oh he’s pale! What, and Paris too? The lady is moving.

[JULIET wakes.]

JULIET
Oh Friar, I know where I am. Where is my Romeo?

[Noise within.]

FRIAR LAURENCE
A greater power than we can fight has ruined our plan. Come, come
away. Your husband lies there dead, and Paris too. People are
coming, we must go, good Juliet. I don’t dare stay longer.

[Noise again.]

JULIET
Go, get out of here. I am not going anywhere.

[FRIAR LAURENCE pauses and then exits(5).]

What’s this here? A cup in my true love’s hand. Poisoned.

How rude! He drank it all and didn’t leave any behind for me.

[JULIET Kisses ROMEO’s hand.]

FIRST WATCHMAN
[Outside Tomb] Lead, boy. Which way?

JULIET
Oh noise? Then I'll be brief.

[Snatching ROMEO's lightsaber. Stabs herself and falls on ROMEO,

dead. Enter FIRST WATCHMAN, with BALTHASAR and others(5).]

49
 BALTHASAR
This is the place.

FIRST WATCHMAN
This is a pitiful sight! The count is dead. Juliet is bleeding.
She seems to have just died despite being buried for two days. Go
tell the Prince. Run to the Capulet’s. Wake up the Montagues.

[Enter SECOND WATCHMAN, with BALTHASAR(5).]

SECOND WATCHMAN
Here’s Romeo’s man. We found him nearby.

FIRST WATCHMAN
Hold him in custody until the Prince arrives.

[Enter FRIAR LAURENCE(5).]

SECOND WATCHMAN
Here is a Friar, that trembles, sighs and weeps.

FIRST WATCHMAN
Very suspicious, hold the Friar.

[Enter the PRINCE and ATTENDANTS, followed by CAPULET and LADY

CAPULET, they step into the tomb(5).]

PRINCE
What is this awful thing that everyone shouts and cries about?

FIRST WATCHMAN
Prince, here lies Paris, killed. And Romeo dead.

SECOND WATCHMAN
And Juliet. She is warm and has not been dead for long.

CAPULET
Oh heavens! Oh wife, look how our daughter bleeds!

LADY CAPULET
Oh my! This sight of death is like a bell telling me I will die.

[Enter MONTAGUE and BENVOLIO, into tomb(5).]

PRINCE
Come Montague, you’re up early.

50
 MONTAGUE
Oh, my liege, my wife died tonight. Sadness over my son’s exile
stopped her breath. What further pain must I endure?

PRINCE
Look and you’ll see.

MONTAGUE
Where are your manners, boy? A son should not pass by his father
on his way to the grave.

PRINCE
We must know what happened. Bring forth those under suspicion.

FRIAR LAURENCE
I am under the most suspicion because I was here. You can
question me and punish me; I have already condemned myself.

PRINCE
Then tell us what you know about what has happened.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Romeo, who lies dead, was the husband of Juliet. And she was his
faithful wife. I married them in secret the day Tybalt died.
Juliet was sad because Romeo was banished. She came to me for
help in getting out of her marriage to Paris and threatened to
kill herself if I did not. So I gave her a sleeping potion to
seem dead. I wrote to Romeo, but the letter was not delivered.
I returned to move her to my cell until Romeo returned, but I was
too late and Romeo and Paris were already dead.
Juliet woke and I asked her to leave with me, but it seems she
killed herself when I left. Her nurse also knows of this.

PRINCE
Where's Romeo's friend? What can they say about this?

BALTHASAR
I brought my master news of Juliet’s death. Earlier this morning,
he gave me a letter to give to his father.
When he came here, he threatened me with death if I didn’t leave
him alone there.

PRINCE
Give me the letter.

[PRINCE reads the letter.]

51
This letter confirms the Friar’s account. It describes their love
and the news of her death.
He writes that he bought poison from a poor pharmacist. He
brought the poison to die and lie with Juliet. Capulet! Montague!
Do you see what results from your hate?
Because I looked the other way with your feud, I’ve lost family
members too. Everyone is punished.

CAPULET
Oh brother Montague, give me your hand.

MONTAGUE
I will raise a statue of Juliet in pure gold. There will be no
figure praised more than that of the true and faithful Juliet.

CAPULET
The statue I will make of Romeo to lie beside his Juliet
will be as rich. They were sacrifices of our rivalry!

PRINCE
We settle a dark peace; the sun is too sad to show itself. Let's
go. Some will be pardoned and some will be punished. For never
was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

[Exeunt(5).]

52