Scene 1

Narration: A street fight breaks out between the Montagues and the
Capulets, which is broken up by the ruler of Verona, Prince Escalus. He
threatens the Montagues and Capulets with death if they fight again.

Sampson: I’m ready for them. Just watch me. Let a Montague so much as
put a foot in the piazza and you’ll see how quick I am
Gregory: Sure, How quick you are to run away, you mean.
Sampson: Not from the Montagues. I’ll take on any of their men – or
women
Gregory: I know that’s your level,but our quarrel isn’t with the women.
Why quarrel with the women? This is between the men
Sampson: When I’ve dealt with the men I’ll take care of the women
Gregory: Well here’s your chance to show me
Sampson: We’re on. Pick a fight with them. I’ll be right behind you.
Abraham: Be careful. We mustn’t put ourselves in the wrong. Let them be
the ones to start
Gregory: I’ll frown as we pass them. Let’s see what they do.
Sampson: Good thinking And I’ll bite my thumb at them. If they take that
it will really show them up
Balthasar: Are you biting your thumb at us?
Sampson: I’m biting my thumb, as you can see. Do you want to make
something of it?’
Balthasar: No. We don’t want to make anything of it.
Sampson: Because if you do.I’m ready. I don’t know who you think you
are. ’ll have you know my master’s just as good a man as yours is.
Abraham :My master’s better than yours
Sampson: You’re a liar! Come on, draw your sword if you’re men.’
Prince: This is the third time that you, Capulet, and you, Montague, have
disturbed the tranquillity of our city and obliged the elders of Verona to
make peace between you. It seems it hasn’t worked. You are both so
blighted with hatred. So this is what I’m going to order. If you ever disturb
our streets again you’ll pay for it with your lives. Now go home, all of you!
Scene 2
Narration: A melancholy Romeo enters and is questioned by his cousin
Benvolio, who learns that the cause of Romeo’s sadness is unrequited
love.

Benvolio: Good morning Romeo

Rome: Good morning
Benvolio: Why do you look so sad?
Romeo: Out of the favour of the girl I love
Benvolio: Dear oh dear. ‘It’s a hard life. That love, such a gentle thing,
should be so rough when it comes down to it. Tell me who it is
Romeo: I can’t bear to say her name .She’s so beautiful, Benvolio. And she
said she’ll go through life alone and when she dies all beauty will die with
her. She says she’ll never love anyone so I’m destined for a living death
Benvolio: Will you trust me? I can tell you how to forget her.
Romeo: How?
Benvolio: Simple, Get out and Look at other girls.
Romeo: There’s no way I could forget her. There’s nothing you can do.
Benvolio: I’m taking that as a challenge, I’ll sort it out, don’t you worry.’
Scene 3
Narration: . In conversation with Capulet, Count Paris declares his wish
to marry Juliet. Capulet invites him to a party that night.Capulet gives a
servant the guest list for the party and orders him off to issue invitations.

Paris: I want to marry your daughter. What do you say to my proposition?

Capulet: My daughter is still a child: she’s not fourteen yet. Give it time. In
a couple of years she’ll be just about ready for marriage. My daughter is
very special to me. She’s my only surviving child. All my hopes rest on
her. Do you understand what I’m saying? Take it slowly, Paris. Gain her
confidence. If she agrees to marry you then my consent will follow. And
my blessing too.
Paris: That’s settled then
Capulet: Tonight I’m having a party. Why don’t you join us? I can promise
you, my humble house will be filled with gorgeous girls. Make yourself at
home: look at them, talk to them, dance with them. Perhaps you’ll even
like one of them better than my daughter. It’s alright with me if you do.
Marriage is a big step: you have to be sure. No use rushing these things
Capulet: Peter! Come in here, please. I want you to go all around Verona
and find the people on this list. Tell them they’re invited to my party
tonight.
Scene 4
Narration: The servant cannot read the list and asks for help from Romeo
and Benvolio. When they find out that Rosaline, on whom Romeo dotes, is
invited to the party, they decide to go too

Peter: Excuse me. Can you read?

Bonvolio: Yes I can. it’s a list of names Signior Martino. and his wife and
daughters. Capulet, his wife and daughters: and Rosaline. What’s it for?
Peter : It’s a party by the great rich Capulet. Everyone’s invited. As long as
you ‘re not a Montague you ‘re welcome. Thank you bye!
Bonvolio: Let’s go to Capulet’s party, Romeo. Rosaline’s going to be there.
No-one will mind. And let’s be objective about it. I’ll show you that the girl
you think is a swan is nothing more than a crow
Romeo: Alright, I’ll go,But not because I think you can show me anyone
better. I’m going only so that I can see her.’
Scene 5
Narration: Lady Capulet informs Juliet of Paris’s marriage proposal and
praises him extravagantly. Juliet says that she has not even dreamed of
marrying, but that she will consider Paris as a possible husband if her
parents wish her to.
Lady Capulet: Nurse! Where’s my daughter? I want to talk to her.
Nurse: She was just here
Juliet: Coming! Mother, What do you want?’
Lady Capulet: We need to talk, Nurse leave us. This is a private matter.
Tell me, Juliet, how do you feel about getting married?’
Juliet: I’ve never even thought about it
Lady Capulet: Well start thinking about it now. The Count of Paris wants to
marry you. Do you think you could love him? You’ll see him at the party.
Have a good look at him.
Juliet: I’ll look forward to seeing him. Yes. I’ll look at him but I’m not going
to rush into anything or do anything that you wouldn’t want me to

Scene 6
Narration: Romeo and Benvolio approach the Capulets’ party with their
friend Mercutio and others, wearing the disguises customarily donned by
“maskers.”

Benvolio: Come on, We’re wasting time.

Romeo: I know we mean no harm and all that but I don’t think it’s very
bright to go to this party.

Bonvolio: If we don’t get a move on all the food will be gone by the time
we get there.

Romeo: I have this feeling. A strong premonition that something’s going to

happen. Something’s going to happen tonight. I feel it’s going to end in
my having to repay a debt with my life. Alright then, off we go.

Scene 7

Narration: Romeo, watching the dance, is caught by the beauty of Juliet.

Overhearing Romeo ask about her, Tybalt recognizes his voice and is
enraged at the intrusion.

CAPULET: Welcome, gentlemen! Once there was a time when I could wear
a mask and charm a girl by whispering a story in her ear. No more, no
more, no more. You are welcome gentlemen. Come, musicians, play.
ROMEO: Who is that girl on the arm of that man over there?
ROMEO: Her beauty is too good to be used and worn, too precious for this
world. Like a white dove in a flock of crows, she surpasses all the other
women. When this dance ends, I’ll note where she stands, and then I’ll
touch her hand and thereby bless my ugly one. Did I ever love anyone
before this moment? Renounce that love, my eyes! I never saw true
beauty until this night.
TYBALT: By his voice I know that this man is a Montague. Get my sword,
boy. How dare this punk come here with his face covered by a mask so he
can mock and scorn our celebration? To defend the honor of my family, I
don’t think it would be a sin to kill him.
Capult: What’s all this, nephew? Why are you so furious?
TYBALT: Uncle, that is a Montague—our rival. He’s a rogue who’s come
here out of spite to scorn our celebration.
CAPULET: It’s young Romeo, right?
TYBALT: That’s him, that villain Romeo.
CAPULET: Calm yourself, gentle nephew. Leave him be. He holds himself
like a gentleman of good manners, and, to be honest, everyone in Verona
says that he is a virtuous and well-behaved youth. Not for all the wealth in
this town would I insult him in my own house. Be calm. Pretend you never
saw him. That is my command, and if you respect me, you’ll stop with all
these frowns, which is no way to behave at a party.
TYBALT: It’s the way to behave when a scoundrel like him shows up. I
won’t stand him coming here.
CAPULET: Don’t do anything
TYBALT: But, uncle, we’re being dishonored.
CAPULET: Come on, come on. You’re an impertinent boy. Is that really
how you think it is? This silliness is likely to come back to harm you. I
know what I’m doing, but you feel the need to contradict me. Well, I’ll
show you a thing or two.
Scene 8
Narration Romeo then meets Juliet, and they fall in love. Not until they
are separated do they discover that they belong to enemy houses.

ROMEO: If I offend you by touching your holy hand with my own unworthy
one, then my lips stand ready, like two blushing pilgrims, to smooth my
rough touch with a gentle kiss.
JULIET: Good pilgrim, you are unfair to your hand. Your hand shows proper
devotion by touching mine, just as pilgrims reach out to touch the hands
of saints. Holding palm to palm is like a pilgrim’s kiss.
ROMEO: Don’t saints have lips? And pilgrims, too?
JULIET: Yes, pilgrim—lips they’re supposed to use to pray.
ROMEO: Oh, then, saint, let lips do what hands do: pray. Grant my prayer
or my faith will turn to despair.
JULIET: Saints don’t move, though they do grant prayers.
ROMEO:Then remain still while I pray.
Now your lips have cleaned the sin from mine.
JULIET: Then my lips now have the sin they took from yours.
ROMEO: Sin from my lips? Oh, how you urge me on to another crime. Give
me back my sin.
JULIET: You are silly
Scene 9
NURSE: Madam, your mother wants to speak with you.
ROMEO: Who is her mother?
NURSE: Well, young man, her mother is the lady of the house. A good,
wise, and virtuous lady. I nursed her daughter, who you were talking to
just now. I tell you, the man who marries that girl will be rich.
ROMEO: Is she a Capulet? Oh, what a price I’ve paid! My life is now owned
by my enemy.
BENVOLIO: Let’s go, let’s go, now while everything is still perfect.
ROMEO: Yes, it is still perfect now. But I’m afraid it will never be perfect
again
Scene 10
JULIET: Who is that man?
NURSE: I don’t know him.
JULIET: Go ask him for his name.
NURSE: His name is Romeo. He’s a Montague. He’s the only son of your
greatest enemy.
JULIET: The one man I love is the son of the one man I hate! I saw him
before I knew who he was, and learned who he was too late! What a
monster love is to make me love my worst enemy.
Scene 11
Narration: Romeo finds himself so in love with Juliet that he cannot leave
her. He scales a wall and enters Capulet’s garden. Meanwhile Benvolio
and Mercutio look for him in vain. From Capulet’s garden Romeo
overhears Juliet express her love for him. When he answers her, they
acknowledge their love and their desire to be married.

Romeo: It’s her! Oh, it’s my love.

Juliet: Oh Romeo, Romeo, Why are you Romeo? I wish you could stop
being a Montague. Or if you won’t, just say you love me and I’ll stop being
a Capulet.
Romeo: Look down here
Juliet: How did you get here? The orchard walls are high, and hard to
climb. And this place is dangerous, considering who you are. If any of my
family finds you here

Romeo: Love can’t be stopped so how could your family stop me

Juliet: If they see you they’ll kill you!

Romeo: It’s alright, it’s dark. Anyway, if you don’t love me I’d rather be
caught by them than live without your love.
Juliet: Just a few more words and then it really will be goodnight, dear
Romeo. If you really mean it, and you want to marry me, send me a
message tomorrow. I’ll send someone to you at nine. Let me know where
and for what time you’ve arranged a wedding and I’ll come to you. Then
we’ll be together forever

Romeo: I will my love, Goodbye for now

Juliet: Good bye Romeo
Scene 12
Narration: Determined to marry Juliet, Romeo hurries to Friar Lawrence.
The Friar agrees to marry them, expressing the hope that the marriage
may end the feud between their families

Romeo: Good morning Father

Friar: What is it Romeo? visiting me so early in the morning? Is there

something wrong, my boy, being up so early? So to see you here so early
makes me think you’ve got something on your mind. In any case, I can tell
that you’ve not even been to bed tonight.

Romeo: I’ve fallen in love with Capulet’s daughter, and she with me. And
to cut a long story short, you must marry us, and you must agree to marry
us today.

Friar: Holy St. Francis, What a turnabout. Have you forgotten Rosaline?
Am I to understand that young men love with their eyes and not their
hearts?. You cried buckets for Rosaline. It was Rosaline this and Rosaline
that yesterday and now it’s all changed.

Romeo: Please, Don’t reprimand me. The one I love now loves me in
return. The other didn’t.

Friar: Come with me. This is one thing I can help you with. This could be
the answer: the thing to turn your households’ hatred into love.

Romeo: Thank you Father

Scene 13
Narration: Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse to return. Her impatience
grows when the Nurse, having returned, is slow to deliver Romeo’s
message. Finally Juliet learns that if she wants to marry Romeo, she need
only go to Friar Lawrence’s cell that afternoon.

Juliet: what did Romeo say?

Nurse: get yourself to Friar Lawrence’s cell as fast as you can. There’s a
husband waiting there to make you a wife. Hurry. I have one more thing to
do. I have to get a rope ladder so that your lover can climb up to your love
nest as soon as it’s dark. Off with you. Go on Hurry

Scene 14

Narration: Juliet meets Romeo at Friar Lawrence’s cell. After expressing

their mutual love, they exit with the Friar to be married.

FRIAR: Come on, come along with me, and we will do the ceremony
quickly. Because, with your permission, I won't leave you two alone until
you are united in holy matrimony

Friar: Do you Romeo of the House Montauge take Juliet as your lawfully
wedded wife for richer or for poorer in sickness and in health till death do
you part

Romeo: I do
Friar: Do you Juliet of the House Capulet take Romeo as your lawfully
wedded Husband for richer or for poorer in sickness and in health till
death do you part
Juliet: I do
Friar: I pronounce you as husband and wife, May the Lord bless you of
your marriage
Scene 15
Narration: Meanwhile, Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt on the
street.
Tybalt: gentlemen, good afternoon. I’d like a word with one of you
Mercutio: Let’s have a bit more than just one word. Add something to it:
make it a word and a blow
Benvoilio: Look here,This is a public place. Either discuss it rationally or
let’s go somewhere private. Or better still, let’s just go home. Everyone’s
looking at us.

Romeo: Benvolio! Mercutio!’

Tybalt: Well never mind, Here comes my man.

Romeo: What do you want Tybalt?

Tybalt: There’s only one thing I have to say to you Romeo you are a
scoundrel

( Mercutio was outraged and tried to kill Tybalt but failed and he was
struck by Tybalt’s sword)
Benvolio: Romeo! Mercutio’s dead!
Romeo: What have you done? You’ll pay for this!
(Romeo killed Tybalt)

(Word of Mercutio’s death had spread fast. As the Prince strode into the
piazza Montague’s men were bringing Mercutio’s body out. Montague and
his wife accompanied them. The Capulets came out of their house too,
and the four stood and faced the Prince as they had done only the day
before. The guards lifted Tybalt’s body and lay it beside Mercutio’s)

Prince: Where are those who started this quarrel?’

Benvolio: Noble Prince, I can tell you everything. He pointed to Tybalt’s

body. ‘There he is, killed by young Romeo for killing your cousin Mercutio.

Lady Capulet: Mercutio’s a Montague, Naturally he’s biased. And he’s

lying.: it wasn’t just the two of them fighting – there were at least twenty.
All fighting. I want justice and you must give it to me, Prince. Romeo
murdered Tybalt. Romeo must die

Prince: Romeo killed Tybalt and Tybalt killed Mercutio, who should pay the
price for Tybalt’s death?’
Benvolio: Not Romeo, Prince. He was Mercutio’s friend. He only did what the law
should have done.’

Prince: And for that we must exile him. I’m sick and tired of this. If I’m too lenient
there’ll only be more killing. Let Romeo go immediately, else when he’s found
that hour will be his last.

Scene 16

Nurse: Juliet I have some news!

Juliet: What is it nurse?

Nurse: Romeo killed Tybalt and the Prince banished him away from
Verona

Juliet: Oh goodness! Where is he right now?

Nurse: he’s hiding at Friar Lawrence’s chapel.’

Scene 17

Friar: Romeo! Come out of there. Come out.

Romeo: Father, have you have any news? What is the Prince’s sentence?
What’s going to happen to me?’

Friar: Its not bad. Its not death but banishment. You’ve been banished
from Verona. That’s all. Be grateful.
Romeo: There’s nothing beyond the walls of Verona, Only torture – hell
itself without my beloved Juliet.

Friar: I will help you. Go to Mantua. That’s where you’re going to live until
we get the chance to announce your marriage. We’ll beg the Prince’s
pardon and you’ll be able to come back. Joyfully.

Romeo: Thank You Father I owe my life to you

Scene 18

Narration: Paris again approaches Capulet about marrying Juliet. Capulet,

saying that Juliet will do as she is told, promises Paris that she will marry
him in three days.

Lady Capulet: Juliet I have some news for you

Juliet: And what’s that Mother?’

Lady Capulet: Well here it is. Early on Thursday morning… the charming,
young and noble gentleman, the Count of Paris, at St. Peter’s church…Will
make a joyful bride of you!’

Juliet: ‘No! if you like, he will not make a joyful bride of me. I can’t believe
this haste – that I should get married before the man who’s going to be
my husband comes to court me! Please tell my father that I don’t want to
get married yet and when I do I swear it will be to Romeo – who you know
I hate – before I marry Paris. What kind of joyful news is this?

Lady Capulet: Well here’s your father now,. Tell him yourself and see what
he’ll do.

Capulet: ‘Have you told her of my decision?’.

Lady Capulet: I have,‘But she won’t have it. She thanks you and declines.

Capulet: What? She won’t have it? Isn’t she grateful?’, that we have found
such an important gentleman to be her husband?’ Listen here, little girl.
Don’t give me any of your thanks and your prouds or any of that. Just get
yourself ready to go with Paris to St Peter’s church on Friday or I will drag
you there on a piece of fencing

Lady Capulet: Stop it!

Juliet: Father, ‘I beg of you, just let me say one thing. Please!’

Capulet: Disobedient wretch! ‘I’ll tell you what, ‘You get yourself to that
church on Thursday or never ask me for anything again!’

Juliet: Oh sweet mother don’t push me away, Postpone this marriage for a
month – a week. Or if you won’t then make the bridal bed in that dark
tomb where Tybalt’s lying.
Lady Capulet: Don’t talk to me, I’m not saying another word. You heard
your father, Do as you like. I’ve finished with you.

Scene 19

Friar: Oh Juliet, I already know what’s happened. I hear you have to marry
the Count on Thursday.’

Juliet: God joined my heart and Romeo’s and you joined our hands. Before
this hand does anything else I’ll use it to kill myself. So you’d better either
give me some advice or watch me die.

Friar:. If you really would sooner kill yourself than marry Paris then I think
you’d be prepared to take this on. You’d have to go through something
like death, though. If you dare then I’ll give you the remedy.

Juliet: Tell me what to do Father

Friar: Alright then, Go home, put on a happy face. Agree to marry Paris.
Tomorrow is Wednesday. Now look here. Make sure that when you go to
bed you’re alone in your room. Don’t let your nurse in.’ ‘Here. This is it.
When you’re in bed drink the liquid. In a little while your body fluids will
grow cold and you will have no pulse. There’ll be no warmth and no breath
to show that you’re alive. The colour in your face will go and your eyes will
close as though in death. Your limbs will be stiff and cold like a corpse’s.
‘Then, when the bridegroom arrives to wake you up on your wedding day,
there you’ll be: dead! After forty-two hours you’ll wake up as though from
a pleasant sleep.And then, according to custom, they’ll dress you in your
best clothes and take you to the ancient tomb where all the Capulets are
laid to rest. In the meantime, while I’m waiting for you to wake up, I’ll
send a letter to Romeo and he’ll come here. And he and I will watch you
wake up and that very night he’ll take you off to Mantua. That is the
solution if you have the courage to go through with it.

Juliet: Yes Father I will

Friar: I’ll send a friar to Mantua immediately, with a letter to Romeo.

Scene 20

Narration: Romeo’s man, Balthasar, arrives in Mantua with news of

Juliet’s death. Romeo sends him to hire horses for their immediate return
to Verona. Romeo then buys poison so that he can join Juliet in death in
the Capulets’ burial vault.

Balthasar: Romeo I have some bad news

Romeo: What is it?

Balthasar: Juliet is dead. She was found in her room by her family and they thibk
she killed herself
Romeo: What will I do, I cannot live without her. This isn’t happening I need to
see for myself

Balthasar: She was place at a tomb. Hurry! Before they close it

Scene 21

Romeo: Oh my beloved Juliet Why did this happen? I cannot live without you
Please tell me this is a dream. I will join you now my love, Wait for me as we
cross the heavens together

Juliet: Oh Romeo why have you killed yourself!? Please do not go without me! I
will walk with you if you will let me, I love you