Script Romeo and Juliet

8/20/2019 Script Romeo and Juliet

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CHARACTERS

Escalus, prince of Verona

Paris, a young nobleman

Montague, Capulet, heads of arring households

!ld man, cousin to Capulet

Romeo, son to Montague

Mercutio, "insman to the prince, and friend to Romeo

#en$olio, nephe to Montague, and friend to Romeo

Tybalt, nephe to %ady Capulet

&riar %aurence, &riar 'ohn, &ranciscans

#althasar, ser$ant to Romeo

Sampson, (regory, ser$ants to Capulet

Peter, ser$ant to 'uliet)s nurse

Abraham, ser$ant to Montague

An Apothecary

Three Musicians

Page to Paris* another Page* an !fficer

%ady Montague, ife to Montague

%ady Capulet, ife to Capulet

'uliet, daughter to Capulet

+urse to 'uliet

Citiens of Verona* Mas"ers, (uards, -atchmen, and Attendants

Chorus


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SAMPS!+ and (RE(!R., ser$ants of the Capulet family, enter carrying sords and smallshields/

SAMPS!+0 sear, (regory, e can1t let them humiliate us, as if e ere carrying coal/

(RE(!R.+o, because then e1d be li"e coal miners/

SAMPS!+0 mean, if they ma"e us angry, e1ll dra our sords/

(RE(!R..ou seem to focus more on getting yourself out of any trouble that might lead to the hangman1scollar/

SAMPS!+0 hit hard, hen 01m moti$ated/

(RE(!R.

#ut you a$oid getting 2moti$ated,3 so you don1t e$er ha$e to hit/

SAMPS!+!ne of those Montague 4er"s ould moti$ate me/

(RE(!R.To be moti$ated is to act, hile to be $aliant is to face a fight/ -hen you1re moti$ated, you 4ust runaay/

SAMPS!+0f 0 sa a Montague, 01d face him/ 01d al" on the side of the street closer to the all 5forcing theMontague into the gutter6/

(RE(!R.Then you must be a ea"ling, because it1s the ea" ho get sho$ed up against a all/

SAMPS!+That1s true, hich is hy omen, being the ea"er se7, get 2thrust to the all/3 So 01ll pushMontague1s men into the gutter, and thrust Montague omen to the all/

(RE(!R.The feud is beteen our masters and us, their ser$ants/

SAMPS!+0t1s all the same/ 01ll be the Montague1s master/ After fighting ith the men, 01ll be nice to the maids801ll cut off their heads/

(RE(!R..ou1ll cut off the heads of the maids9

SAMPS!+The heads of the maids or their maidenheads/ 0nterpret my comment hoe$er you prefer/

(RE(!R.0t1s the maids you rape or "ill or ho ill ha$e to sense it/

SAMPS!+The maids ill feel me as long as 0 can stand upright/ E$eryone "nos 01m a stud/

(RE(!R.

0t1s a good thing you1re not a fish, or else you1d be dried and shri$eled li"e salted fish/

A#RAM and another ser$ant of the Montagues enter/


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:ra your sord; Here come some Montague ser$ants

SAMPS!+01$e dran my na"ed sord/ &ight them/ 01ll bac" you up/

(RE(!R.Ho9 #y turning your bac" and running9

SAMPS!+:on1t orry about me/

(RE(!R.Sorry, but 0 do orry about you/

SAMPS!+%et1s ma"e sure the la is on our sides by getting them to start the fight/

(RE(!R.

01ll fron at them as 0 pass them/ Ho they respond is up to them/

SAMPS!++o, 01ll bite my thumb at them/ That1s an insult, and they1ll be disgraced if they don1t react/

A#RAME7cuse me, sir, are you biting your thumb at us9

SAMPS!+0 am biting my thumb/

A#RAM#ut are you biting your thumb at us9

SAMPS!+5hispering to (RE(!R.6 0s the la on our side if 0 say yes9

(RE(!R.5hispering to SAMPS!+6 +o/

SAMPS!+01m not biting my thumb at you/ #ut 0 am biting my thumb/

(RE(!R.:o you ant to fight us9

A#RAM

&ight9 +o/

SAMPS!+0f you do ant to fight, then 01m up for it/ My master is as good as yours/

A#RAM#ut not better than mine/

SAMPS!+-ell///

#E+V!%0! enters/

(RE(!R.5hispering to SAMPS!+6 Say 2better/3 !ne of our master1s "insmen has 4ust arri$ed/


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SAMPS!+.es, my master is better than yours, sir/

A#RAM.ou1re a liar/

SAMPS!+:ra your sords, if you1re men/ (regory, get ready to slash them/

They fight

#E+V!%0!5hits their sords ith his on6 #rea" it up, fools; Put aay your sords/ .ou don1t "no hatyou1re doing/

T.#A%T enters/

T.#A%T-hat, ha$e you dran your sord to fight ith ser$ants9 Turn around, #en$olio, and see the manho ill "ill you/

#E+V!%0!01m 4ust trying to "eep the peace/ Put aay your sord, or else use it to help me stop this fighting/

T.#A%T.ou hold a dran sord, and say 2peace93 0 hate that ord, 4ust as 0 hate hell, all Montagues, andyou/ +o e fight, coard;

#E+V!%0! and T.#A%T fight/ !ther Montagues and Capulets enter and also start fighting/Veronese C0T0


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home/ Capulet, you come ith me in order to hear hat else 0 ant from you/ Montague, youcome this afternoon to old &ree>ton, here 0 deli$er my 4udgments/ E$eryone else, lea$e thisplace right no or 0 ill ha$e you "illed/

E$eryone e7its e7cept M!+TA(=E, %A:. M!+TA(=E, and #E+V!%0!/

M!+TA(=ETell me, nephe/ -ho startes this old fight up again9 -ere you here to see it begin9

#E+V!%0!.our ser$ants ere fighting Montague1s ser$ants hen 0 arri$ed/ 0 dre my sord to try to stopthem/ 'ust then, the rec"less Tybalt shoed up ith his sord dran/ He pushed me hilesinging his sord through the air/ As e fought, more and more Capulets and Montaguesshoed up to 4oin the battle/ &inally, the Prince came and stopped the fighting/

%A:. M!+TA(=E-here1s Romeo9 Ha$e you seen him at all today9 01m happy he asn1t around for this fight/

#E+V!%0!Madam, my mind as troubled this morning, so an hour before dan 0 ent out for a al"/ As 0

al"ed, 0 sa your son beneath the sycamore tree/ 0 al"ed toard him, but he noticed me andran and hid in the oods/ 0 assumed that he must be feeling the same ay 0 as and did not antto be bothered, since a person is often at his busiest hen he is alone/ So 0 continued on, happyto let him be and pursue my on pri$ate thoughts/

M!+TA(=EHe1s been seen sad and crying at that spot on many mornings/ Then, as soon as the happy sunbegins to dan, my unhappy son comes home in order to hide from the light/ He "eeps to himselfin his bedroom, shutting his indos to "eep out the daylight so that he can sit in an artificial night/His bad mood is li"ely to ha$e a bad result, unless someone can gi$e him good ad$ice andremo$e the cause of his sadness/ This mood of his is going to bring bad nes, unless someonesmart can fi7 hat1s bothering him/

#E+V!%0!My noble uncle, do you "no hat1s causing his mood9

M!+TA(=E0 don1t/ And he refuses to tell me/

#E+V!%0!Ha$e you done e$erything possible to get him to e7plain9

M!+TA(=E#oth 0 and many of our friends ha$e tried to spea" ith him/ #ut he insists on sharing his thoughtsonly ith himself, though 0 don1t "no ho good the ad$ice that he1s gi$ing himself is / 0f e could 4ust find out the cause of his sadness, e1d try to help him as eagerly as e ha$e tried to learn the

reason for his sadness/

R!ME! enters/

#E+V!%0!Here he comes/ 0f it1s all right, please lea$e us alone/ 01ll ma"e him either tell me hat1s rong orforce him to refuse me/

M!+TA(=E0 hope you get to hear the true story/ Come lo$e, let1s go/

M!+TA(=E and %A:. M!+TA(=E e7it/ R!ME! enters/

#E+V!%0!

(ood morning, cousin/


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R!ME!0s it still morning9

#E+V!%0!0t1s 4ust barely after nine/

R!ME!!h, my; Time goes by sloly hen you1re sad/-as that my father ho 4ust rushed aay9

#E+V!%0!0t as/ -hat sadness is ma"ing your hours long9

R!ME!%ac"ing the thing hich ould ma"e them short/

#E+V!%0! Are you in lo$e9

R!ME!

!ut/

#E+V!%0!So you1re not in lo$e9

R!ME!0 am in lo$e/ #ut the one 0 lo$e does not lo$e me/

#E+V!%0!!h, it is sad ho lo$e, hich in theory seems li"e such a gentle thing, should in actual e7periencebe so rough;

R!ME!

Ho can lo$e, hich is supposed to be blind, force you to be able to do hat it ants9 -hereshould e eat95+oticing blood6 -ait, hat fighting happened here9 +o, don1t tell me/ 0 already"no? it as something that had a lot to ith hate, but e$en more to do ith lo$e/ ! lo$ing hate;%o$e that originates from nothing; Hea$y lightness/ %o$e is li"e hea$y feathers, bright smo"e, coldfire, a"ing sleep, the opposite of hat it is; That1s the lo$e 0 feel, since no one lo$es me in return/:o you laugh9

#E+V!%0!+o, cousin, 0 cry/

R!ME!#ut hy, my good man9

#E+V!%0!

#eacuse of ho lo$e has oppreseed your heart/

R!ME!That1s ho it or"s ith lo$e/ My on sadness is a hea$y eight on my chest, and no you1regoing to add your on sadness to mine/ The lo$e you are shoing me is only increasing my grief/%o$e is li"e a smo"e made out of the sighs of lo$ers/ -hen the smo"e clears, lo$e is a fire burningin the lo$ers eyes/ -hat else is lo$e9 A ise madness/ A seet candy that ma"es you cho"e/(oodbye, my cousin/

#E+V!%0!-ait; 01ll come ith you/ 0f you lea$e me behind, you1ll be insulting me/

R!ME!

Man; 01m not acting li"e myself/ 0t1s as if 01m not e$en here/ This is not Romeo, he1s somehereelse/


7/53

#E+V!%0!Tell me, seriously, ho is the one you lo$e9

R!ME!-hat9 Should 0 cry out the name in a groan of sadness9

#E+V!%0!(roan9 +o/ 'ust tell me ho she is/

R!ME!.ou ouldn1t as" a sic" man to 2seriously3 rite out his ill8it ould only ma"e him feel orse/Seriously, cousin, 0 lo$e a oman/

#E+V!%0!0 figured that hen 0 guessed you ere in lo$e;

R!ME!Then you ha$e good aim; The oman 0 lo$e is beautiful/

#E+V!%0!

A beautiful 2target,3 my cousin, is usually the one that hits 5 mo$es li"e if shooting an arro 6fastest/

R!ME!-ell, no you are ong/ She on1t be hit by Cupid1s arro/ She is immune to the ea" andchildish arros of lo$e/ She ignores ords of lo$e, refuses to e$en let you loo" at her ith lo$ingeyes/ She1s rich in beauty/ #ut she1s also poor, because hen she dies her beauty ill bedestroyed along ith her/

#E+V!%0!So she1s sorn to li$e her life a $irgin 9

R!ME!

She has, and in doing so she astes her beauty/ She1s too beautiful, too smart, to be alloed togain entrance to Hea$en by ma"ing me despair/ She1s sorn ne$er to lo$e, and in that $o shehas sentenced me to a "ind of li$ing death/

#E+V!%0!%isten to me/ Stop thin"ing about her/

R!ME!Ho can 0 stop myself from thin"ing9

#E+V!%0!#y letting your eyes ander, and loo"ing at other good>loo"ing girls/

R!ME!

Such comparisons ill only ma"e her on beauty more ob$ious/ A blind man can1t forget theprecious eyesight he lost/ Sho me any beautiful girl/ Her beauty is no more than a reminder ofhere 0 can see someone ho is e$en more beautiful/ (oodbye/ .ou can1t teach me to forget/

#E+V!%0!01ll ta"e that bet, or else die in debt/

They e7it/

%A:. CAP=%ET and the +=RSE enter/

%A:. CAP=%ET+urse, here1s my daughter9 Tell her to come here/


8/53

+=RSE0 sear, 0 told her to come/ -hat is this9; Hea$en forbid; -here is she9 'uliet;

'=%0ET enters/

'=%0ET-hat9 -ho1s calling me9

+=RSE.our mother/

'=%0ETMadam, 01m here/ -hat do you ant9

%A:. CAP=%ETHere1s hat 0 ant8+urse, lea$e us for a bit hile e tal" pri$ately8ait, no, +urse, come bac"/0 4ust remembered, you can listen to our secrets/ .ou "no my daughter1s age/

+=RSE.es, 0 "no her age perfectly/

%A:. CAP=%ETShe1s not yet fourteen/

+=RSE01d bet fourteen of my teeth8but, to be honest, 0 actually only ha$e four teeth8that she1s notfourteen/ Ho long is it until %ammastide9

%A:. CAP=%ETTo ee"s and a fe odd days/

+=RSEShe1ll be fouteen in %ammas E$e/ She and my daughter Susan8(od rest all Christian souls8ere born that same day/ -ell, Susan died and is no ith (od/ #ut, as 0 said, on the night of%ammas E$e, 'uliet ill be fourteen/ .es, she ill indeed/ 0 remember it ell/ 0t1s been ele$enyears since the earth@ua"e/ 01ll ne$er forget it// .our husband and you ere in Mantua/ !h my,hat a great memory 0 ha$e; That1s hen the earth@ua"e hit and the do$ehouse started to sha"e/.ou didn1t ha$e to tell me to get out of there/ 0t1s been ele$en years since then/ She could stand upby herself then/ +o, in fact, by then she could run and addle all o$er the place/ 0 rememberbecause 4ust the day before she had cut her forehead/ My husband8(od rest his soul, he as amerry man8he made 'uliet to stop crying that day

%A:. CAP=%ETEnough/ Please be @uiet/

+=RSE.es ,madam/ #ut 0 ha$e to laugh hen 0 thin" that the baby stopped crying and said

'=%0ETStop no, +urse, please/

+=RSEPeace/ 01m done/ May you recie$e (od1s grace/ .ou ere the prettiest baby 0 e$er nursed/ 0f 0 li$eto see you get married someday, my ishes ill be fulfilled/

%A:. CAP=%ET0n fact, marriage is e7actly hat 0 came here to discuss/ Tell me, 'uliet my daughter, hat do youthin" about getting married9

'=%0ET


9/53

0t*s an honor that 0 don1t thin" about at all/

+=RSE2An honor;3 0f 0 eren1t the only nurse you1$e had, 01d say you1d suc"ed isdom from the breastthat fed you/

%A:. CAP=%ET-ell, you should start thin"ing about marriage/ 0n Verona girls from noble families ho areyounger than you ha$e already become mothers/ #y my count, 0 as already your mother ataround your age, hile you remain a $irgin/ So, to be brief? the $aliant Paris ants to marry you/

+=RSE-hat a man, young lady; He1s a man as great as any other in the orld/ He1s so perfect it1s as ifhe ere sculpted from a7/

%A:. CAP=%ETVerona in the summertime has no floer as fine as him/

+=RSEHe1s a fine floer, absolutely, a floer/

%A:. CAP=%ET-hat do you say, 'uliet9 :o you li"e Paris9 He is a fine and handsome gentleman, and if youmarry him, you ould posses e$erything he posseses/ Also you ould be e@ualy lo$ed/

+=RSE%ose nothing9 +o, you1d get bigger/ Men ma"e omen bigger 5editor1s note? by ma"ing thempregnant6/

%A:. CAP=%ET Anser me no/ Can you lo$e Paris9

'=%0ET

01ll loo" at him ith the intent to li"e him, if loo"ing at him mo$es me to li"e him/ #ut 0 on1t letmyself fall for him any more than your permission allos/

PETER enters/

PETERMadam, the guests are here and dinner is ser$ed/ .our guests call for you and 'uliet, hile theser$ants in the pantry are cursing the +urse/ Things are getting out of control/ 0 must rush off toser$e the guests/ Please, follo right after me/

%A:. CAP=%ET-e1ll follo you/ 'uliet, Paris is aiting for you/

+=RSE(o, 'uliet, and find the man ho1ll gi$e you happy nights that follo happy days/

All e7it/

PETER and other SERV0+(ME+ enter, carrying nap"ins

PETER

-here1s Potpan, ho1s not helping us clear the table9 Has he e$en mo$ed or scraped aplate9


10/53

&0RST SERV0+(MA+-hen all the good manners are oned by 4ust one or to men, and e$en those to aredirty, it1s a bad thing/

PETERClear aay the stools, sideboards, and plates/ My friend, sa$e me a piece of maripan, and

if you lo$e me, ha$e the porter let in Susan (rindstone and +ell/ Antony and Potpan;

SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+.es, boy, 01m ready/

PETER.ou1re being called for, as"ed after, and loo"ed for in the great chamber/

&0RST SERV0+(MA+-e can1t be both here and there at once; #e cheerful, boys/ #e @uic" for a hile, and maythe longest li$ed ta"e e$erything/

PETER and the SERV0+(ME+ e7it/

CAP=%ET enters ith his cousin, T.#A%T, %A:. CAP=%ET, '=%0ET, and other Capulets/They meet R!ME!, #E+V!%0!, MERC=T0!, and other guests and MASBERS

CAP=%ET-elcome, gentlemen/ E$ery ladie here is looping forard to dance ith you all/ Come,musicians, play/ 5music plays and they dance6 Ma"e room in the hall; Ma"e room; :ance,girls/ 5to SERV0+(ME+6 More light/ Mo$e the tables out of the ay/ Put out the fire8it1sgetting hot in here/ 5to his C!=S0+6 Ah, sir, these une7pected guests are elcome/ +o, sit,sit, my Capulet cousin/ -e1re too old to dance/ Ho long has it been since you and 0 last

ore mas"s9

CAP=%ET1S C!=S0+01d sear thirty years/

CAP=%ET-hat, man9 0t1s not been that long/ 0t as at %ucentio1s edding/ +o matter ho @uic"ly theyears fly by, it1s been 4ust tenty>fi$e years since e ore mas"s/

CAP=%ET1S C!=S0+%onger, longer/ %ucentio1s son is older than that, sir/ He1s thirty/

CAP=%ETHo can you say that9 His son as still a minor to years ago/

R!ME!5to a SERV0+(MA+6 -ho is that girl decorating the arm of that man o$er there9

SERV0+(MA+0 don1t "no, sir/

R!ME!!h she loo"s so perfect standing there/ !H and those beautiful eyes she has; :id 0 e$erlo$e anyone before this moment9 Renounce that lo$e, my eyes; 0 ne$er sa true beautyuntil this night/

T.#A%T

#y his $oice 0 "no that this man is a Montague/ 5to hisPA(E6 (et my sord, boy/8Hodare this pun" come here ith his face co$ered by a mas" so he can moc" our celebration9


11/53

To defend the honor of my family, 0 don1t thin" it ould be a sin to "ill him/

CAP=%ET-hat1s all this, nephe9 -hy are so furious9

T.#A%T=ncle, that is a Montague8our ri$al/ He1s an enemy ho1s come here out of e$ilness toruin our celebration/

CAP=%ET0t1s young Romeo, right9

T.#A%TThat1s him, that $illain Romeo/

CAP=%ETCalm yourself, gentle cousin/ %ea$e him be/ He seems li"e a polite and ell beha$ed youngman/ 'ust pretend you didnt see him/

T.#A%T

0t1s the ay to beha$e hen a 4er" li"e him shos up/ 0 on1t stand him coming here/

CAP=%ET.ou ill stand him/ And if not/ (et out of here/ 0m the master here,and 0 "no you ell, you1llstart a riot among my guests; And you1ll cro li"e a rooster, li"e you1re the man;

T.#A%T#ut, uncle, e1re being dishonered/

CAP=%ETCome on, come on/ .ou1re an impertinent boy/ 5 to the (=ESTS6 -ell done, mydears; 5to T.#A%T6.ou1re an insolent boy, no shoo/ Beep your mouth shut8 5to SERV0+(ME+6 more light, more light; 5toT.#A%T6 8 01ll ma"e you be @uiet/ 5to the

guests6 Party on, my friends;

The music plays again, and the guests dance

T.#A%T 01ll lea$e, but 01ll ma"e Romeo regret this pran", hich at the moment seems to him li"esuch great fun/

T.#A%T e7its/

R!ME!5ta"ing '=%0ET1s hand6 0f 0 offend you by touching your holy hand ith my on unorthyone, then my lips stand ready, to smooth my rough touch ith a gentle "iss/

'=%0ET(ood, you are unfair to your hand/ .our hand shos proper de$otion by touching mine, 4ustas angels reach out to touch the hands of saints/ Holding palm to palm is li"e an angels"iss/

R!ME!:on1t saints, and angels too, ha$e lips9

'=%0ET

.es, angel8lips they1re supposed to use to pray/

R!ME!


12/53

!h, then, saint, let lips do hat hands do? pray/ (rant my prayer or my faith ill turn todespair/

'=%0ETSaints don1t mo$e, though they do grant prayers/

R!ME!Then remain still hile 0 pray/

He "isses her

+o your lips ha$e cleaned the sin from mine/

'=%0ETThen my lips no ha$e the sin they too" from yours/

R!ME!Sin from my lips9 !h ho you urge me on to another crime/ (i$e me bac" my sin/

They "iss again

'=%0ET.ou "iss as if you1$e studied ho/ 5Editor1s note? 'uliet is also teasing about ho Romeoused religion, the #ible or 2the boo",3 to steal to "isses6

+=RSEMadam, your mother ants to spea" ith you/

'=%0ET mo$es aay

R!ME!-ho is her mother9

+=RSE-ell, young man, her mother is the lady of the house/ A good, ise, and $irtuous lady/ 0nursed her daughter, ho you ere 2tal"ing3 to 4ust no/ 0 tell you, the man ho marries thatgirl ill be rich/

R!ME!5to himself6 0s she a Capulet9 !h, hat a price 01$e paid; My life is no oned by myenemy/

#E+V!%0!5to R!ME!6 %et1s go, let1s go, no hile e$erything is still perfect/

R!ME!.es, it is still perfect no/ #ut 01m afraid it ill ne$er be again/

CAP=%ET+o, gentlemen, don1t lea$e no/ -e ha$e a bit of dessert arri$ing any moment 8 5theyhisper something to him6 0s that so9 Then, 0 than" you/ 0 than" you, honest gentlemen/(ood night/ #ring more torches o$er here; Come on, let1s all get to bed/ 5tohis C!=S0+6 Ah, good sir, by (od, it1s late/ 01m going sleep/

E$eryone e7cept '=%0ET and +=RSE begins to e7it/


13/53

'=%0ETCome here, nurse/ -ho is that gentleman o$er there9

+=RSEThe son and heir of old Tiberio/

'=%0ET-ho1s the one going out the door9

+=RSEThat, 0 thin", is young Petruchio/

'=%0ET-hat about the one o$er there, ho ouldn1t dance9

+=RSE0 don1t "no him/

'=%0ET(o as"/ 5the nurse lea$es* '=%0ET spea"s to herself6 0f he1s married, 01d rather die than

marry someone else/

+=RSE5returning6 His name is Romeo/ He1s a Montague/ He1s the only son of your greatest enemy/

'=%0ET5to herself6 The one man 0 lo$e is the son of the one man 0 hate; 0 sa him before 0 "negho he as, and learned ho he as too late; -hat a monster lo$e is to ma"e me lo$e myorst enemy/

+=RSE-hat1s this9 -hat1s this9

'=%0ET A rhyme 0 learned 4ust no from somebody 0 danced ith/

Somebody calls 2'uliet;3 offstage/

+=RSE!n my ay, on my ay/ %et1s go/ The guests are all gone/

They e7it

CH!R=S

+o Romeo1s old desire is on its deathbed, hile a young lo$e pushes to ta"e its place/ The girlRomeo groaned after and ould ha$e died for, hen no compared to 'uliet, is no longerbeautiful to him/ +o Romeo is lo$ed and lo$es again8each beitched by the others1 beauty/#ut the girl he lo$es is supposed to be his enemy, and she1s ta"en the seet bait of lo$e from asharp hoo"/ #ecause the Capulets thin" him an enemy, Romeo may not be able to get closeenough to spea" his ords of lo$e to her/ And 'uliet, 4ust as much in lo$e, has e$en less poerto meet her ne lo$er anyhere/ .et passion gi$es them poer and time the opportunity tomeet, as they blend e7treme peril ith e7treme pleasure/

R!ME! enters alone/

R!ME!


14/53

Can 0 continue on hile my heart stays here9 01ll be nothing but an empty body unless 0 gobac" to find my heart/

R!ME! mo$es aay/ #E+V!%0! and MERC=T0! enter/

#E+V!%0!Romeo; Cousin Romeo; Romeo;

MERC=T0!He1s smart/ 01d bet my life he1s snuc" off home to go to bed/

#E+V!%0!He ran this ay and 4umped this orchard all/ Call him, Mercutio/

MERC=T0!+o, 01ll summon him as 0 ould a spirit/ Romeo; Humors; Madman; Passion; %o$er; Appearto me in the form of a sigh/ Spea" 4ust a single rhyme, and 01ll be satisfied/ Cry out, 2Ah me;3Say 2lo$e3 and 2do$e/3 Say one pretty ord to my good gossiping friend Venus/ Say the

nic"name of her blind son and heir, Cupid, ho shot arros so accurately and made BingCophetua fall in lo$e ith a beggar maid/8Romeo doesn1t hear me, stir, or mo$e/ The littlemon"ey is dead, so 0 must con4ure him to appear/8

#E+V!%0!.ou1ll ma"e him angry if he hears you/

MERC=T0!This on1t ma"e him angry/ 0t ould anger him if 0 con4ured a strange spirit into her roomthat she then slept ith/ That ould really anger him/ #ut hat 01m saying is fair and honest/01m 4ust saying the name of his lo$e in order to call him out from the dar"ness/

#E+V!%0!

Come on/ He1s hidden ithin these trees to be alone ith the night/ His lo$e is blind, so itsfitting he share it ith the dar"/

MERC=T0!0f lo$e is blind, it can1t hit the target/ (ood night, Romeo/ 01m off to my little trundle bed/ 0t1stoo cold in this field for me to sleep here/ Come on, #en$olio, shall e lea$e9

#E+V!%0!%et1s go/ 0t ould be orthless to search for someone ho doesn1t ant to be found/

#E+V!%0! and MERC=T0! e7it/

R!ME! returns/

R!ME!He 4o"es about scars from ounds he1s ne$er felt/

'=%0ET enters on the balcony/

-ait; -hat light is that in the indo o$er there9/ %oo" ho she leans her chee" againsther hand/ 0 ish 0 as a glo$e on that hand so 0 could touch that chee"/


15/53

'=%0ET!h, my;

R!ME!5to himself6 She spea"s/ Spea" again, bright angel/ &or tonight you are as glorious as anangel, shining abo$e my head li"e a inged messenger from hea$en/

'=%0ET!h, Romeo, Romeo, hy must you be Romeo9 :eny your father and gi$e up your name/!r, if you on1t change your name, 4ust sear your lo$e to me and 01ll gi$e up being aCapulet/

R!ME!5to himself6 Should 0 listen longer, or respond no to these ords9

'=%0ET!nly your name is my enemy/ .ou1d be yourself e$en if you ceased to be a Montague/ !h,change your name; -hat1s the significance of a name9 A rose by any other name, is still arose/ So e$en if Romeo had some other name, he ould still be perfect/ Romeo, ta"e offyour name8hich really has no connection to ho you are8and ta"e all of me instead/

R!ME!5!ut loud6 0 ta"e you at your ord/ 0f you call me your lo$e, 01ll ta"e a ne name/ &rom noon 01ll ne$er again be Romeo/

'=%0ET-ho are you, hiding in the dar"ness and ea$esdropping on my pri$ate thoughts9

R!ME!0 don1t "no ho to tell you ho 0 am by using a name/ 0 hate my name, dear saint, becauseit is your enemy/

'=%0ET

01$e not yet e$en heard you say a hundred ords, yet 0 recognie the sound of your $oice/ Aren1t you Romeo, the Montague9

R!ME!01ll be neither of those things, my lo$e, if you disli"e them/

'=%0ETHo and hy did you come here9 The orchard alls are high and difficult to climb/ And itill mean your death, because of ho you are, if any of my family find you here/

R!ME!

+o stone all can "eep lo$e out/ -hate$er a man in lo$e can do, lo$e ill ma"e himattempt to do it/ Therefore your relati$es can1t stop me/

'=%0ET0f they see you they1ll murder you/

R!ME!0 am more concerned about the loo" in your eye than 0 ould be ith tenty of yourrelati$es ith sords/ 0f you 4ust loo" at me ith lo$e, their hatred ould not be able to touchme/

'=%0ET01d gi$e the orld to ma"e sure they do not see you here/

R!ME!

The dar"ness of night ill hide me from their eyes/ And if you don1t lo$e me, then let themfind me/ 01d rather they "illed me in hatred than e7perience the prolonged death of life


16/53

ithout your lo$e/

'=%0ET-ho told you ho to find my my bedroom9

R!ME!

%o$e ad$ised me, hile 0 lent lo$e my eyes/ 01m no a sailor/ Still, e$en if you ere on theshore across the farthest sea, 0 ould set out to find you/

'=%0ETThe dar"ness of night mas"s my face, or else you1d see me blushing about the things youheard me say tonight :o you lo$e me9 0 "no you ill anser 2yes,3 and 0 ill trust you/ !hnoble Romeo, if you really lo$e me, say it in truth/ !r if you thin" 01m letting myself be ontoo easily, then 01ll fron and act superior and unapproachable so that you1ll oo me/ #ut ifthat1s not necessary, then 0 ould ne$er act that ay/ 0 li"e you too much, hich might ma"eit seem as if 0 am o$erly silly and flirtatious/

R!ME!%ady, 0 sear by the sacred moon, hich outlines in sil$er the tops of these fruit trees8

'=%0ETPlease don1t sear by the moon, the unreliable moon, hich changes its position in the s"yeach month/ 0 do not ant your lo$e to end up being similarly $ariable/

R!ME!-hat should 0 sear by9

'=%0ET:on1t sear at all/ !r, if you must sear, sear by your magnificent self, hich is the god 0orship li"e an idol, and 01ll belie$e you/

R!ME!

0f my heart1s dear lo$e8

'=%0ET-ell, don1t sear/ (ood night; 0 hope you fell in your heart the same seet calm and restthat 0 feel in mine/

R!ME! Are you going to lea$e me so unsatisfied9

'=%0ET-hat satisfaction could you ha$e tonight9

R!ME!0f e e7changed $os of lo$e/

'=%0ET0 pledged my lo$e before you e$en re@uested it/ #ut no 0 ish 0 could ta"e that promisebac" to gi$e again/

R!ME!.ou1d ta"e bac" your $o9 -hy, my lo$e9

'=%0ET0n order to generously gi$e it to you again/ #ut 01m ishing for something 0 ha$e already/ Mygenerosity to you is as endless as the sea, my lo$e as deep as the sea/ The more lo$e 0gi$e you, the more 0 ha$e/ #oth are infinite/

The +=RSE calls from offstage/


17/53

0 hear a noise from inside/ :ear lo$e, goodbye8'ust a second, +urse;8 Stay for amoment/ 01ll come right bac"/

'=%0ET e7its/

R!ME!!h, blessed, blessed night; #ecause it1s night, 01m scared that all this is a dream/ 0t is tooonderful to be real/

'=%0ET enters on her balcony/

'=%0ETThree ords, dear Romeo, and then good night/ 0f your lo$e is honorable and you ant tomarry me, send me ord tomorro/ 01ll find a messenger ho ill come to you, and you can

tell that messenger hen and here e ill be married/ All my fortunes 01ll lay at your feetand follo you, my lord, all o$er the orld/

+=RSE5offstage6 Madam;

'=%0ET01ll be right there; 5to R!ME!6 #ut if your intentions are not honorable, 0 beg you8

+=RSE5offstage6 Madam;

'=%0ET0n a second, 01m coming;8 5to R!ME!6 to gi$e up your efforts to in me and lea$e me togrie$e/ 01ll send the messenger tomorro/

R!ME!My soul depends on it8

'=%0ET A thousand times good night/

'=%0ET e7its/

R!ME!

0t is a thousand times orse to lea$e you/ A lo$er goes toard his belo$ed as 4oyfully as aschoolboy lea$ing his boo"s/ #ut hen a lo$er lea$es his belo$ed, he is as unhappy as aschoolboy on his ay to school/

R!ME! starts to lea$e/ '=%0ET returns, on her balcony/

'=%0ETPsst; Romeo; Psst; !h, 0 ish 0 could cry out li"e a falconer, so 0 could call my little falcon toreturn to me/ Stuc" as 0 am in my family1s house, 0 ha$e to be @uiet/ !therise 0 ould tearopen the ca$e here Echo sleeps and ma"e her call out my lo$e1s name until her $oicegre more hoarse than mine by repeating, 2My Romeo;3

R!ME!0t is my soul that calls out my name/ %o$ers $oices at night sound sil$er>seet, the most


18/53

lo$ely music to lo$ers1 ears/

'=%0ETRomeo;

R!ME!.es lo$e9

'=%0ET At hat time tomorro should 0 send the messenger to you9

R!ME!+ine o1cloc"/

'=%0ET0 on1t fail/ 0t ill feel li"e tenty years til then/ 01$e forgotten hy 0 called you bac"/

R!ME!01ll stand here until you remember/

'=%0ET01ll forget it, so you1ll ha$e to stand there fore$er, because of ho much 0 lo$e your company/

R!ME! And 01ll remain here, e$en if you "eep forgetting/ 01ll forget that 0 ha$e any other home buthere/

'=%0ET0t1s almost morning/ 0 ant to force you to go/ .et 0 ould not let you mo$e any further than aspoiled child ould let his pet bird go/ The child so lo$es the bird that he ill not let the birdhop any more than a small distance from his hand before pulling it bac" by a sil" thread/

R!ME!

0 ish 0 as your bird/

'=%0ETMy seet, so do 0/ #ut 0 ould pet you so much it ould "ill you/ (ood night/ (ood night;Parting is such seet sorro that 0 ill say good night until it becomes tomorro/

'=%0ET e7its/

R!ME!Sleep ell and peacefully/ 0 ish that 0 ere sleep and peace, so 0 could sleep ith you/&rom here 01ll go see my priest, to tell him of my luc" and as" for his help/

He e7its/

&R0AR %A-RE+CEThe morning smiles as it replaces froning night and strea"s light across the clouds in theeast/ :ar"ness lea$es as the sun blinds it/ The Earth is both nature1s mother and its tomb/&or there1s nothing on Earth that1s so e$il that it does not also pro$ide the earth ith some"ind of good/ +or is there anything so good that it can1t be turned bad if it1s abused andused incorrectly/ Virtue, hen misused, turns to $ice, hile $ice can sometimes become$irtue through proper action/

R!ME! enters/


19/53

-ithin the small rind of this little floer there is both poison and medicine/ 0f you smell it, youfeel good/ 0f you taste it, it stops your heart/ To opposing elements, good and e$il, reside inboth men and herbs/0n the cases here e$il predominates, death li"e a cancer ill soon "illthe plant or body/

R!ME!(ood morning, father/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE(od bless you/ -hose $oice greets me so seetly this early in the morning9 My son, 4umping so @uic"ly out of bed this early indicates some trouble in your thoughts/ All old menha$e concerns, and these orries ne$er let them sleep/ .oung men, though, should becarefree and ithout orry, and their sleep should be restful and long/ Therefore, the factthat you1re aa"e so early ma"es it clear that some an7iety has you in its grip/ !r, if that1snot true, then 01d guess that you actually ne$er ent to sleep at all tonight/

R!ME!That last is right/ The rest 0 had as seeter than sleep/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE(od forgi$e all sin;8:id you sleep ith Rosaline9

R!ME!-ith Rosaline, holy father9 +o, 0 ha$e forgotten her and the sadness she ga$e me/

&R0AR %A-RE+CEThat1s good, my son/ #ut here ere you, then9

R!ME!01ll tell you before you as" me again/ 01$e been at a party ith my enemy, here suddenlysomeone ounded me and as in return ounded by me/ #ut both of us can be cured by

your holy poer/ 0 hold no hatred, blessed father, because my re@uest ill also help myenemy/

&R0AR %A-RE+CESpea" plainly, my son/ #e clear/ A confusing confession ill result only in confusedabsolution/

R!ME!Here it is set plain? 0 lo$e the beautiful daughter of rich Capulet/ 0 lo$e her, and she lo$esme/ -e need only for you to marry us/ 0 pray that you ill agree to marry us today/

&R0AR %A-RE+CEHoly Saint &rancis, hat an incredible change; Ha$e you so @uic"ly abandoned Rosaline,

hom you lo$ed so much9 0f so, then young men lo$e not ith their hearts but ith theireyes/ My old ears are still ringing from your groans/ And loo", here on your chee" there1s astain from an old tear that has not yet been ashed off/ 0f you ere e$er yourself and thissorro yours, you and your sorro ere all for Rosaline/ And are you no changed9 Thensay the folloing? omen ill ne$er be faithful hen men are so unreliable/

R!ME!.ou often scolded me for lo$ing Rosaline/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE0 scolded you for obsessing, not for lo$ing, my student/

R!ME! And urged me to bury my lo$e/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE


20/53

#ut not to bury it in a gra$e in order to start a ne lo$e/

R!ME!0 beg you, don1t scold me/ The one 0 lo$e no returns my lo$e/ The other did not/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE!h, Rosaline "ne that you ere play>acting at lo$e but did actually understand hat lo$emeans/ #ut come ith me, my young unreliable friend/ 01ll help you, because it1s possiblethat this marriage may transform your to families1 hatred into pure lo$e/

R!ME!%et1s go, then; %et1s do this @uic"ly/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE-isely and sloly is best/ Those ho go too @uic"ly alays stumble/

They e7it/

MERC=T0!-here the de$il is Romeo9 :id he come home last night9

#E+V!%0!+ot to his father1s house/ 0 as"ed Romeo1s ser$ant/

MERC=T0!Rosaline, that pale>s"inned, hard>hearted ench, torments him so much that he1s going togo insane/

#E+V!%0!Tybalt, old Capulet1s "insman, has sent a letter to Romeo1s father1s house/

MERC=T0!0 bet it1s a challenge/

#E+V!%0!Romeo ill anser it/

MERC=T0! Any man ho can rite is able to anser a letter/

#E+V!%0!+o, Romeo ill respond to the letter riter and accept the challenge/

MERC=T0!Poor Romeo; He is already dead? stabbed by the blac" eye of a fair>s"inned girl, cut throughthe ear by a lo$e song/ The $ery core of his heart has been split by blind Cupid1s arro/ 0she really man enough to fight Tybalt9

#E+V!%0!-hy, hat1s up ith Tybalt9

MERC=T0!He1s more than 4ust the Prince of Cats/ He does e$erything according to plan/ He fights li"eyou sing printed music, carefully "eeping the correct time, distance, and rhythm/ He restshen it is proper to rest/ He1s a master duelist ho can hit any of his opponent1s buttonsthat he chooses/ He1s a gentleman ho learned at the finest fencing school, and he1s s"illed

at identifying insults to his honor so that he1s 2forced3 to fight/ He "nos the passado8theforard thrust8the punto re$erso8the bac"hand thrust8and the hai8the thrust for the


21/53

heart/

#E+V!%0!He "nos hat9

MERC=T0! A curse on these ild, pompous fellos ho are alays saying e7otic foreign phrases/These fellos, ho say things li"e? 2#y 'esus, this is a $ery good blade; A $ery bra$e man; A $ery good hore/3 0sn1t it a sad thing, good man, that e are forced to interact ith theseforeign flies, these fellos ho say 2pardon me3 and care so deeply about good mannersthat they can1t rela7 on a bench ithout groaning, 2!h, my aching bones;3

R!ME! enters/

#E+V!%0!Here comes Romeo/

MERC=T0!He loo"s s"inny/ !h my, you1$e turned pale as a fish/ +o he1s 4ust li"e Petrarch1s hopeless

lo$e poetry/ 5to R!ME!6 Signor Romeo, bon4our/ There1s a &rench greeting to match theloose high>fashion &rench pants you1re earing/ .ou tric"ed us good last night/

R!ME!(ood morning to you both/ -hat do you mean 0 tric"ed you9

MERC=T0!.ou ga$e us the slip, sir, the slip/ :o you understand me no9

R!ME!01m sorry, good Mercutio/ My business as so important that 0 must be forgi$en forstretching good manners and courtesy/

MERC=T0!So hat you1re saying is that your 2business3 forced you to fle7 your legs/

R!ME!Meaning ma"e a curtsy9

MERC=T0!+o you1$e 2hit it/3

R!ME!-hat a courteous e7planation/

MERC=T0!0ndeed, 0 am the $ery 2pin"3 of courtesy/

R!ME! As in pin" floer

MERC=T0!Right/

R!ME!-ell, then my pump is co$ered in floers/

MERC=T0! Ah, itty Romeo, no you1$e ta"en this 4o"e so far that it1s orn out your pump/ -ith thesole of your pump no orn aay, the 4o"e is all that remains/

R!ME!


22/53

This 4est has such a thin sole, and is uni@ue only because of its lameness/

MERC=T0!Please brea" up this ar of ords, #en$olio/ My its can1t "eep up/

R!ME!Continue, continue, or 01ll proclaim $ictory/

MERC=T0!+o, 01m done for/ .ou ha$e more ild goose in one of your 4o"es than 0 ha$e in fi$e of mine/-as 0 e$en close to you in our goose chase9

R!ME!.ou ould not ha$e been ith me for anything if you eren1t there for the goose/

MERC=T0!01ll bite you on the ear for that 4o"e/

R!ME!+o, good goose, don1t bite me/

MERC=T0!.our it is a bitter apple, a spicy sauce/

R!ME!0sn1t that the perfect sauce for a seet goose9

MERC=T0!!h, that 4o"e is made of leather so thin it has been stretched from an inch ide to a full fatyard/

R!ME!0 stretched it for that ord 2fat/3 Add that to the goose, and it ma"es you a fat goose/

MERC=T0!+o, isn1t this 4esting better than groaning about lo$e9 +o you1re being sociable/ +oyou1re Romeo/ +o you are hat you truly are, both naturally and through education/ 0ncontrast, this lo$e of yours made you li"e some fool ho runs all o$er the place loo"ing for ahole in hich to hide his precious trin"et/

#E+V!%0!Stop there, stop there/

MERC=T0!.ou1re as"ing me to stop my tale before it1s finished/

#E+V!%0!

Continuing on ould ha$e made your tale too long/

MERC=T0!.ou1re rong there/ 0 ould ha$e made it short/ 0 had come to the full depth of my tale, andintended to say nothing more about it/

The +=RSE enters ith her ser$ant, PETER/

R!ME!+o here1s something/

#E+V!%0! A sail, a sail;


23/53

MERC=T0!+o, to sails8a man in a shirt and a oman in a dress/

+=RSEPeter;

PETER0n a moment/

+=RSE(i$e me my fan, Peter/

MERC=T0!(ood Peter , please gi$e her the fan to hide her face/ Her fan is prettier than her face/

+=RSE(ood morning, gentlemen/

MERC=T0!(ood afternoon, fair lady/

+=RSE0s it afternoon9

MERC=T0!0t1s not any earlier, 0 tell you/ The rough hand of the cloc" is no upon the pric" of noon/

+=RSE(et out; -hat "ind of man are you9

MERC=T0! A man, good lady, hom (od has made for himself to ruin/

+=RSE0 sear, that seems the truth/ 2&or himself to ruin,3 he says/ (entlemen, can any of you tellme here 0 can find young Romeo9

R!ME!0 can tell you, but young Romeo ill be older hen you ha$e found him than he as henyou began to loo" for him/ 0 am the youngest man by that name, because there is noneyounger or orse/

+=RSE.ou spea" ell/

MERC=T0!0s the orst ell9 Very ell ta"en, in truth, $ery ise/

+=RSE0f you1re Romeo, sir, 0 ould li"e to ha$e a pri$ate con$ersation ith you/

#E+V!%0!She ill in$ite him to dinner/

MERC=T0! A pimp; A pimp; A pimp; That1s it;

R!ME!-hat ha$e you disco$ered9

MERC=T0!-ell, she can1t be a prostitute unless she1s so stale and old that she1s only tasted hen


24/53

nothing else is a$ailable/

5sings6!ld rabbit meat!ld rabbit meat0s good meat if you can1t get anything else,

#ut old moldy rabbit,0s a aste of your coin0f it goes moldy before you can eat it

5spea"ing6

Romeo, are you going to your father1s9 -e1re ha$ing lunch there/ %et1s go/

R!ME!01ll go later/

MERC=T0!&areell, old lady/ &areell, lady, lady, lady/ 5 singing 6

#E+V!%0! and MERC=T0! e7it/

+=RSEPlease tell me, sir, ho as that foulmouthed fello ith all his dirty 4o"es9

R!ME!+urse, he1s a gentleman ho lo$es to hear himself tal"/ He says more in one minute thanhe ill stand behind in a month/

+=RSE0f he says anything against me, 01ll teach him a lesson, e$en if he ere tougher than he is8

and tenty ise>asses li"e him/ And if 0 couldn1t ta"e him don myself, 01ll find someoneho can/ That rotten scoundrel; 01m not one of his flirty girls/ 01m not one of his lo>lifescheming friends/ 5to PETER6 And you 4ust stand aside, letting e$ery pun" ma"e fun of mefor pleasure9

PETER0 didn1t see anybody use you for pleasure/ 0f 0 had, 01d ha$e @uic"ly pulled out my eapon, 0assure you/ 0 dra my sord as @uic"ly as any other man if 0 see a good fight breing andthe la is on my side/

+=RSE+o, by (od, 01m so pissed that 01m sha"ing/ That 4er";5to R!ME!6 +o, good sir, may 0spea" ith you9 My young mistress sent me to find you/ -hat she told me to say, 0 ill "eep

to myself/ #ut first let me say? if you lead her into a fool1s paradise, as they say, it ould bee7tremely indecent beha$ior, as they say/ The girl is young/ So if you should decei$e her, itould be an aful thing to do to any oman and $ery poor manners/

R!ME!+urse, spea" ell of me to your mistress/ 0 pledge to you8

+=RSE.our heart is good, and 0 promise, 0 ill tell her that/ %ord, %ord, she ill be a 4oyful oman/

R!ME!-hat are you going to tell her, +urse9 .ou1re not understanding me/

+=RSE

0 ill tell her, sir, that you proposed to her, hich 0 thin" is a gentlemanly offer/


25/53

R!ME!Tell her to de$ise a ay to come to confession this afternoon/ And there, at &riar %arence1scell, she can ma"e confession and e ill be married/ 5Holds out some money to the+urse6 Here is a reard for your efforts/

+=RSE

+o, truly, sir/ 0 on1t ta"e your money/

R!ME!(o on, 0 insist/

+=RSE5ta"ing the money6 This afternoon, sir9 She ill be there/

R!ME!'ust a moment, good +urse/ 0n an hour, behind the abbey all, one of my ser$ants ill meetyou and gi$e you a rope ladder/ 01ll then use the ladder to secretly climb up to 'uliet1s roomtonight/ &areell/ #e orthy of my trust, and 01ll repay your help/ &areell/ Spea" ell of meto your mistress/

+=RSEMay (od in hea$en bless you/ +o listen, sir/

R!ME!-hat, my dear +urse9

+=RSECan your ser$ant be trusted9 Ha$e you e$er heard the saying, 2To men may "eep asecret, if one of them is dead/3

R!ME!0 guarantee, my man is as trustorthy/

+=RSE-ell, sir, my mistress is the seetest lady/ %ord, %ord, hen she as a little baby8!h,there is one nobleman in the city, Paris, ho ould gladly lay claim to her/ #ut 'uliet, goodsoul that she is, ould rather be ith a toad, a toad, than him/ Sometimes 0 ma"e her angryby telling her that Paris is better loo"ing than you/ 0 sear to you, hen 0 say that she turnsas hite as any sheet in the entire orld/ :on1t 2rosemary3 and 2Romeo3 begin ith thesame letter9

R!ME!.es, +urse, hat about that9 #oth begin ith an 2R/3

+=RSE Ah, you 4o"ester8that1s the dog1s name/ 2R3 is for the8no, 0 "no that ord begins ith

another letter/ 5Editor1s note? the nurse is thin"ing of the ord 2arse/36 She says such prettythings about you and rosemary that it ould do you good to hear them/

R!ME!Spea" ell of me to your lady/

+=RSE.es, a thousand times 8 Peter;

PETER01m ready/

+=RSE(o ahead of me, and @uic"ly/

All e7it/


26/53

'=%0ET E+TERS A%!+E0t as nine o1cloc" hen 0 sent the +urse/ She promised to be bac" in half an hour/ Maybeshe can1t find him/ She hasn1t come bac" 0f she as young and in lo$e, she1d mo$e as fastas a struc" tennis ball/

The +=RSE and PETER enter/

!h (od, she1s here; Seet +urse, hat1s your nes9 :id you meet ith him9 Send yourser$ant aay/

+=RSEPeter, go bac" and ait at the gate/

PETER e7its/

'=%0ET+o, good seet +urse8!h %ord, hy do you loo" so sad9

+=RSE01m eary/ (i$e me some time alone/

'=%0ET0 ish you had my bones, and 0 had your nes/ 0 beg you, spea", good +urse, spea"/

+=RSE'esus, hat a rush; Can1t you ait for ahile9 :on1t you see that 01m out of breath9

'=%0ETTell me at least that/ 0s it good or bad9

+=RSE

His hands and feet and body aren1t much to spea" of, and yet they1re beyond compare/ Heisn1t the most courteous man, but, 01d sear that he1s as gentle as a lamb/ So do hat youant, girl/ #e good/ Hey, ha$e you already eaten lunch9

'=%0ET+o, no/ 0 already "ne e$erything you 4ust said/ -hat did he say about our marriage9 -hatabout that9

+=RSE%ord, 0 ha$e such a headache; 0t1s pounding as if it1s about to brea" into tenty pieces/ Andon my other side my bac" is aching8ah, my bac"; Curse your heart for sending me out andabout/ 0 could get sic" and die from all this 4ourneying around/

'=%0ET0 sear, 01m sorry you1re in pain/ Seet, seet, seet +urse, tell me, hat says my lo$e9

+=RSE.our lo$e says, li"e an honorable, courteous, "ind, handsome, and, 0 belie$e, $irtuousgentleman 8 here is your mother9

'=%0ET-here1s my mother9 she1s inside/ -here else ould she be9 -hat a strange anser; 2.our


27/53

lo$e says, li"e an honorable gentleman, -here is your mother913

+=RSEMary, mother of (od; Are you in such a hurry9 0ndeed, you need to calm don/ 0s this theay to soothe my aching bones9 &rom here on out, carry your on messages/

'=%0ET-hat a fuss you1re ma"ing/ Please, hat did Romeo say9

+=RSE:o you ha$e permission to go to confession today9

'=%0ET0 do/

+=RSEThen hurry up and go to &riar %arence1s cell/ There aits a husband to ma"e you his ife/#ut soon, tonight, you1ll be doing your 2ifely or"3 ith Romeo/ (o/ 01ll go to lunch/ .ou goto &riar %arence1s cell/

'=%0ET0 go to claim my luc"/ %oyal +urse, fareell/

They e7it/

#E+V!%0!01m begging you, good Mercutio, let1s go home/ 0t1s hot, and the Capulets are all o$er theplace/ 0f e should meet up ith them, e1ll end up fighting them/

MERC=T0!.ou1re the "ind of guy ho al"s into a bar, slaps his sord don on the table and says, 20hope 0 don1t ha$e to use you/3 #y the time he1s ha$ing his second drin", he dras his sordon the bartender for no reason/

#E+V!%0!.ou thin" 01m li"e that9

MERC=T0!Come no/ .ou can be as hot>blooded as any man in 0taly/ .ou get angry at the smallestthing, and hen you1re in the mood to get angry you alays findsomething to get angryabout/

#E+V!%0!

So hat9

MERC=T0!So, if there ere to men such as you, it ouldn1t ta"e long for there to be none becauseeach of you ould "ill the other/

#E+V!%0!0f 0 ere as @uic" to get into fights as you are, my life insurance rates ould be immense/

MERC=T0!.our life insurance9 .ou1re a fool;

T.#A%T, PETR=CH0!, and some other CAP=%ETS enter/


28/53

#E+V!%0!#y (od, Here come the Capulets/

MERC=T0!0 couldn1t care less/

T.#A%T5to his men6 &ollo me closely/ 01ll spea" to them/ 5to#E+V!%0! and MERC=T0!6 (oodafternoon, gentlemen/ 01d li"e to ha$e a ord ith one of you/

MERC=T0!.ou ant a single ord ith one of us9 Combine it ith something else/ Ma"e it a ord anda blo/

T.#A%T.ou1ll find me happy to do that, sir, if you gi$e me a reason/

MERC=T0!.ou can1t find a reason ithout me gi$ing you one9

T.#A%TMercutio, you hang ith Romeo/

MERC=T0!2Hang93 -hat, are e musicians in a band9 0f e loo" li"e musicians to you, you can e7pectto hear nothing but noise/ 5touching his sord6 This is my fiddlestic"/ 0t ill ma"e you dance/My (od 8 2hang;3

#E+V!%0!-e1re tal"ing here in public/ Either let1s go somehere pri$ate and calmly discuss yourgrie$ance, or else 4ust go our separates ays/ Here, e$erybody can see us/

MERC=T0!

Men1s eyes ere made to see/ %et them atch/ 0 on1t mo$e for anyone/

R!ME! enters/

T.#A%T-ell, may peace be ith you/ Here comes the man 01m after/

MERC=T0!01ll be hanged if he1s your ser$ant/ -al" out into a field and he1ll chase you/ That1s the onlysense in hich you can call him your 2man/3

T.#A%T

Romeo, 0 ha$e 4ust one thing to say to you? you1re a $illain/

R!ME!Tybalt, 0 lo$e you for a reason that allos me to ignore the rage 0 ould normally feel inresponse to such a greeting/ 01m not a $illain/ Therefore, goodbye/ 0 can see that you don1t"no me at all/

T.#A%T#oy, these ords don1t e7cuse the in4uries you1$e done to me/ Turn and dra your sord/

R!ME!01$e ne$er done you harm/ 0n fact, 0 lo$e you more than you1ll be able to understand until you"no the reason behind my lo$e/ And so, good Capulet8hich is a name 0 lo$e as dearly

as my on8be satisfied/

MERC=T0!


29/53

Such a calm submission is both dishonorable and $ile; A fight itha sord ill seep itaay/ 5dras his sord6 Tybalt, you rat>catcher, ill you duel ith me9

T.#A%T-hat do you ant from me9

MERC=T0!(ood Bing of Cats, 0 ant nothing more than one of your nine li$es/ 01ll boldly ta"e that one,and, depending on ho you beha$e after that, 0 4ust may also beat the rest of the eight outof you too/ -ill you fight9 Hurry, or 0 ill "illyou before you ha$e yours out/

T.#A%T01ll duel ith you/ 5dras his sord6

R!ME!+oble Mercutio, put your sord aay/

MERC=T0!5to T.#A%T6 (et on ith it, sir, attac"/

MERC=T0! and T.#A%T fight

R!ME!5dras his sord6 :ra your sord, #en$olio, and help me beat don their eapons/(entlemen, this is shameful Tybalt; Mercutio; The Prince has e7plicitly forbidden fighting inthe streets of Verona/ Stop; Tybalt; (ood Mercutio;

R!ME! tries to brea" up the fight/ T.#A%T stabs Mercutio under R!ME!1s outstretchedarm/

PETR=CH0!

%et1s get out of here, Tybalt/

T.#A%T, PETR=CH0!, and the other CAP=%ETS e7it/

MERC=T0!01m hurt/ May a plague stri"e both your families/ 01m done/ :id he get aay ithout in4ury9

#E+V!%0!-hat, are you hurt9

MERC=T0!.es, yes/ A scratch, 4ust a scratch/ .et it1s enough/ -here is my page9/ (et a doctor/

MERC=T0!1S PA(E e7its/

R!ME!Ha$e courage, man/ The in4ury can1t be so bad/

MERC=T0!0t1s not as deep as a ell or as ide as a church door, but it1s enough/ As" for me tomorro,and you1ll find me a gra$e man/ My time in this orld is done, 0 belie$e/ May a plague stri"eboth your families/ (od; That dog, that rat, that mouse, that cat has scratched me to death;That braggart, that scoundrel, that $illain ho fights as if he learned it all from some manual;

5To R!ME!6 -hy the de$il did you step beteen us9 He ounded me by reaching underyour arm/


30/53

R!ME!0 as trying to do hat as right/

MERC=T0!Carry me inside some house, #en$olio, or else 0 ill faint/ May a plague stri"e both yourfamilies; They1$e made me ea"

MERC=T0! and #E+V!%0! e7it/

R!ME!This gentleman, a "insman of the Prince and my friend, as "illed hile fighting on mybehalf, to defend me against Tybalt1s insults/ Tybalt, ho has been my on "insman for anhour; !h, seet 'uliet, your beauty has made me effeminate and softened the steel of my$alor/

#E+V!%0! enters/

#E+V!%0!!h Romeo, Romeo, bra$e Mercutio is dead; His noble spirit has gone to hea$en, but it astoo early for him to lea$e this life/

R!ME!Today1s dar" fate ill determine the future/ These e$ents are only the begining of the sorrothat ill come/

T.#A%T enters/

#E+V!%0!The furious Tybalt has returned/;

R!ME! Ali$e and triumphant, hile Mercutio is dead9 #egone, respect and compassion/ Rage andfury ill be my guide/ +o, Tybalt, ta"e bac" the 2$illain3 that you called me earlier/Mercutio1s soul is aiting 4ust a bit abo$e our heads for you to 4oin him/ Either you, 0, or bothof us must go ith him/

T.#A%Tstupid boy, you hung out ith him here on earth, and no you1re going to go ith him tohea$en/

R!ME!

!ur fight ill decide ho goes to hea$en/

They fight/ T.#A%T falls and dies/

#E+V!%0!Romeo, get aay from here/ The citiens are coming, and Tybalt is dead/ :on1t 4ust standthere staring/ 0f you1re caught, the Prince ill e7ecute you/ (et out of here;

R!ME!!h, fate has played me for a fool;

#E+V!%0!-hy are you still here9


31/53

R!ME! e7its/

The C0T0


32/53

And for that crime, Romeo is no e7iled from Verona/ 01m no caught up in the fightbeteen your families/ My "insman is no dead because of your dam dispute/ 01ll punishyou ith a fine so large that you1ll regret the loss you1$e caused me/ 0 refuse to listen to anyof your pleas or e7cuses/ +either crying nor praying ill help you to escape this punishment,so don1t e$en try/ Romeo must lea$e the city immediately, or else, if he1s found, he1ll beimmediately "illed/ Carry aay this body, and obey my commands/ &orgi$ing murderers 4ust

creates more murders by ma"ing e$ery ould>be murderer thin" that they1ll probably bepardoned too/

They e7it/

'=%0ETMo$e faster, the sun is setting toard its nighttime resting place/ Come night, ith yourdar"ness, so that Romeo can come to me ithout anyone "noing and leap into my arms/0n the dar", lo$ers can still see enough, by the light of their on beauty, to ma"e lo$e/ !r, iflo$e is blind, then it is best suited to the night/ Hide the blood rushing to my chee"s in yourdar"ness, until my shy lo$e gros bold enough to thin" of lo$e>ma"ing as simple and true/Come, night/ Come, Romeo// And hen 0 die, ta"e him and cut him into stars that ill ma"ethe night s"y so beautiful that the entire orld ill fall in lo$e ith the night and forget aboutthe tasteless sun/

The +=RSE enters carrying the rope ladder/

+o, +urse, hat1s your nes9 -hat is that you ha$e there9 The rope ladder Romeo toldyou to get9

+=RSE

.es, yes, the ladder/

'=%0ET!h no, hat1s your nes9 -hy are you ringing your hands9

+=RSE Alas; He1s dead/ He1s dead/ He1s dead; -e1re done for, lady, done for; Curse the day; He1sgone/ He1s "illed/ He1s dead;

'=%0ETCan (od be so cruel9

+=RSERomeo can be, though (od is not/ !h, Romeo, Romeo; -ho e$er ould ha$e guessed9Romeo;

'=%0ET-hat "ind of a de$il are you to torment me in this ay9 This sort of torture is fit only for hell/Has Romeo "illed himself9 Say 2yes3 and that single ord ill poison me to dead/ 0 illcease to be myself if you say that Romeo "illed himself/ 0f he1s dead, say 2.es/3 0f not, say2+o/3 Those little ords ill determine my 4oy or pain/

'=%0ET.ou1re lea$ing9 0t1s not yet close to daytime/ The sound you 4ust heard as a nightingale,

+=RSE0 sa the ound/ 0 sa it ith my on eyes/ (od bless that ound8here on his manlychest/ A pitiful corpse, a bloody, pitiful corpse/ Pale, pale as ashes and co$ered in blood/ Soco$ered ith blood/ 0 fainted at the sight of it/

'=%0ET!h, my poor, ban"rupt heart is brea"ing/ (o to prison, eyes, so you ill ne$er again be freeto loo" at the orld/ 01ll bury my body in the earth, here it ill lie motionless and share asingle coffin ith Romeo/

+=RSE!h Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend 0 e$er had/ !h, ell>mannered, honorable Tybalt/ 0f only 0had not li$ed long enough to see him die/

'=%0ET-hat storm is this to cause so many different disasters9 Has Romeo been "illed, and Tybalttoo9 Tybalt, my dearest cousin, and Romeo ho as my husband as e$en more dear tome9 0 ish 0 could die no, because ho could remain ali$e if those to are gone9

+=RSETybalt is dead/ Romeo has been banished/ 0t as Romeo ho "illed Tybalt, hich is hy heas banished/

'=%0ET!h (od, as TybaltDs death RomeoDs doing9

+=RSE0t as/ =nfortunately it as/

'=%0ET!h, he has a traitor1s heart hidden behind a pretty face; He1s a beautiful tyrant; A hatefulreality hidden by a beautiful appearance/ The e7act opposite of hat he seemed/ He1s a$illain ho seemed honorable; !h nature, hat ere you doing in hell hen you placed thesoul of a de$il in the paradise of such a perfect man9 !h, ho could such betrayal hide insuch a gorgeous body;

+=RSEThere is no trust, faith, or honesty in men/ They all brea" their promises/ They1re all ic"ed/They all lie/ -here1s my ser$ant9 8 (et me some brandy 8 These griefs, these miseries,

these sorros ma"e me old/ Shame on Romeo;

'=%0ETMay blisters co$er your tongue for ma"ing a ish li"e that; Romeo as not born to ha$eanything to do ith shame/ Shame could ne$er be connected to him, because he isdestined only to e7perience great and total honor/ !h, 0 as such a beast to condemn him/

+=RSE.ou1re going to spea" ell of the man ho "illed your cousin9

'=%0ETShould 0 spea" badly of my on husband9 Ah, my poor husband, ho ill spea" ell of youhen 0, your ife of three hours, ha$e been calling you such dreadful names9 #ut hy, you$illain, did you "ill my cousin9 0 refuse to cry/ These tears hich seem li"e sadness forTybalt1s death are actually tears of 4oy that Romeo is still ali$e/ My husband, hom Tybaltould ha$e "illed, is ali$e/ And Tybalt, ho anted to "ill my husband, is dead/ This is goodnes/ So hy am 0 crying9 2Tybalt is dead, and Romeo has been banished/3 #ut to tell methat Tybalt1s is dead and then say, 2Romeo has been banished/3 The death contained inthose four ords is infinite,unmeasurable/ +o ords can e7press that misery/ -here are myfather and mother, +urse9

+=RSECrying o$er Tybalt1s corpse/ -ill you 4oin them9 01ll bring you there/

'=%0ET:o they ash Tybalt1s ounds ith their tears9 My tears ill still be floing because ofRomeo1s banishment hen their tears for Tybalt ha$e gone dry/ Ta"e this rope ladder, hich

is of no use no that Romeo has been e7iled/ He made this ladder to be his passageay tomy bed, but 0 am a $irgin and no ill die a $irgin and a ido/;

+=RSE(o to your bedroom/ 01ll go bring Romeo to comfort you/ 0 "no here he is/ Pay attention?your Romeo ill be here tonight/ 01ll get him/ He1s hiding in &riar %arence1s cell/

'=%0ET5gi$es the +=RSE a ring6 !h, find him; (i$e this ring to my true "night; Tell him to come

CAP=%ETE$erything has gone so badly, sir, that e ha$en1t had any time to spea" ith 'uliet aboutmarrying you/ She lo$ed her cousin Tybalt dearly, as did 0/ -ell, e ere all born to die/ 0t1s$ery late, she on1t be coming donstairs tonight/ 0n fact, if 0 asn1t meeting ith you 01dha$e gone to bed an hour ago/

PAR0SPainful times pro$ide no chance for lo$e/ %ady Capulet, good night/ Spea" ell of me toyour daughter/

%A:. CAP=%ET0 ill/ And 01ll find out ho she feels about marrying you early tomorro/ Tonight she isloc"ed in her room ith her sadness/

CAP=%ETSir Paris, 01ll ma"e a desperate present of my child1s lo$e/ 0 thin" she1ll do hate$er 0 tell herto 0 say/ +o, 01m sure she ill/ -ife, go to see her before you go to bed/ E7plain to her homy son Paris lo$es her/ And tell her, listen to me, on -ednesday8-ait8-hat day istoday9

PAR0SMonday, my lord/

CAP=%ETMonday; Ha, ha; -ell, -ednesday is too soon/ Ma"e it Thursday/ !n Thursday, tell her,she1ll be married to this noble man/ -ill you be ready, Paris9 -e on1t ha$e a big party,in$iting 4ust a friend or to/ #ecause Tybalt as 4ust "illed, people might thin" that e didn1tcare enough about our cousin if celebrate too much/ Therefore e1ll in$ite 4ust a half doenfriends to the edding, and no more/ So, hat do you say to Thursday9

PAR0SMy lord, 0 ish Thursday ere tomorro/

CAP=%ET-ell, get on home/ Thursday it ill be, then/ 5to %A:. CAP=%ET6 (o see 'uliet before yougo to bed/ (et her ready, my ife, for her edding day/ 5to PAR0S6 &areell, my lord/ 01mgoing to my bedroom/ My gosh; 0t1s so late that in moments e ill be saying that it1s early/(ood night/

They all e7it/


33/53

not a lar"/ Each night the nightingale sings on that pomegranate tree/ #elie$e me, lo$e, itas the nightingale/

R!ME!0t as the lar", ho sings to greet the dan, not the nightingale/ %oo", lo$e, at the strea"silluminating the clouds parting in the east9 +ight is o$er/ :ay is creeping o$er the mountain

tops/ 0 must lea$e in order to li$e/ 0f 0 stay, 01ll die/

'=%0ETThat light isn1t daylight, 0 "no it/ 0t1s some meteor sent from the sun to be a torch in order tolight your ay to Mantua/ So stay for a bit longer/ .ou don1t ha$e lea$e/

R!ME!%et me be caught/ %et me be put to death/ 01ll be happy, if that1s ho you ant it/ 01ll say thegreyness o$er there is not the coming morning/ Rather, it1s a pale reflection of the moon/ And that isn1t the lar" singing in the s"y abo$e our heads/ 01d rather stay than go/ Come,death, and elcome; 'uliet ills it/ Ho are you, my lo$e9 %et1s tal"/ 0t is not day/

'=%0ET0t1s day/ 0t is/ (et going, be gone, go aay; 0t1s the lar" that1s singing so harshly and out oftune/ Some say the lar"1s singing ma"es a seet transition beteen day and night/ That1snot true, because the song di$ides the to of us/ Some say the lar" and the disgusting toadtraded eyes/ +o 0 ish they had also traded $oices because the lar"1s $oice pulls us fromeach other1s arms and sets men hunting after you/ !h, get going/ 0t1s getting more and morelight/

R!ME!The lighter it gets, the dar"er is our misery/

The +=RSE enters

+=RSEMadam/

'=%0ET+urse9

+=RSE.our mother is on her ay to your bedroom/ :ay has arri$ed/ #e careful/ -atch out/

The +=RSE e7its

'=%0ETThe indo lets day in, and no my life goes out the indo/

R!ME!&areell, fareell; !ne more "iss, and 01ll go don/

They "iss/ R!ME! climbs out the indo and don the all/

'=%0ET Are you gone 4ust li"e that, my lo$e, my lord9 Husband, lo$er, 0 must hear from you e$eryday/ There are many days in each minute/ !h, by this count 01ll be so much older before 0see you again, my Romeo/

R!ME!&areell; 01ll ta"e e$ery opportunity to send my lo$e to you/

'=%0ET!h, do you thin" e1ll e$er meet again9

R!ME!

They e7it/


34/53

0 don1t doubt it/ -hen e1re older these difficulties ill 4ust be stories that e tell each other/

'=%0ET!h (od, my soul senses some coming e$il; 0t seems to me that, standing don there asyou are, you loo" as if you are lying dead in the bottom of a tomb/ Either my eyesight isfailing me, or you loo" pale/

R!ME!Trust me, lo$e, in my eyes you loo" pale as ell/ Sadness steals our color/ (oodbye,goodbye;

R!ME! e7its

'=%0ET!h, &ortune/ People say that you are indecisi$e, alays changing your mind/ 0f you are sofic"le, hat ill you do to Romeo, ho1s ell "non for being faithful9 #e fic"le, fortune, anddo not "eep him aay long/ 0nstead send him bac" to Verona soon/

%A:. CAP=%ET5offstage6 Hello, my daughter; Are you up9

'=%0ET-ho1s calling9 My mother9 -hy is she up so late, or so early9 -hat could possibly be herreason for coming to see me9

%A:. CAP=%ET enters/

%A:. CAP=%ET-hat1s the matter, 'uliet9

'=%0ETMadam, 01m not feeling ell/

%A:. CAP=%ET Are you going to eep fore$er about your cousin1s death9 :o you thin" you can ash himout of his gra$e ith tears9 E$en if you could, you couldn1t bring him bac" to life/ So stopcrying/ Some grief shos a lot of lo$e/ #ut too much grief ma"es you loo" silly/

'=%0ET%et me eep for such a terrible loss/

%A:. CAP=%ETCrying li"e this ill ma"e you feel the loss, but on1t help you feel the friend you1$e lost/

'=%0ET&eeling the loss so strongly, 0 can1t help but cry for him fore$er/

%A:. CAP=%ET-ell, girl, you1re crying not for his death, but rather because the $illain ho murdered himstill li$es/

'=%0ET-hat $illain, madam9

%A:. CAP=%ETThat same $illain, Romeo/

'=%0ET5to herself6 He1s far from a $illain/ 5to %A:. CAP=%ET6May (od pardon him; 0 do, ith allmy heart/ And yet he ma"es my heart grie$e more than any other man/

%A:. CAP=%ET


35/53

That1s because the traitorous murderer still li$es/

'=%0ET.es, madam, because he li$es outside the reach of my hands/ 0 ish that 0 as the only oneho could a$enge my cousin1s death;

%A:. CAP=%ET-e1ll get re$enge for it, don1t you orry/ Stop your eeping/ 01ll send a note to a certain mane "no in Mantua, hich is here that banished rebel Romeo is li$ing/ The man illpoison Romeo so that Romeo ill soon be "eeping Tybalt company in death/ And then, 0hope, you1ll be satisfied/

'=%0ET0n fact, 01ll ne$er be satisfied ith Romeo until 0 see him/ / / dead is the ay my poor heartfeels hen 0 thin" of my poor cousin/ Madam, if you could only find a man ith poison, 01dmi7 it myself so that Romeo ould, once dosed ith it, sleep @uietly/ !h, 0 hate to hear hisname and not be able to go after him; Ho 01d li"e to ta"e my lo$e for my cousin and ta"e itout on the body of the man ho "illed him;

%A:. CAP=%ET&ind a ay to do it, and 01ll find the man e need to help you/ #ut no 01ll tell you some 4oyfulnes, girl/

'=%0ET0t1s good hen there is 4oy during such sad times/ -hat1s the nes, please9

%A:. CAP=%ET-ell, you ha$e a father ho cares for you, child/ To help you escape your sadness, he hasarranged a soon>to>come day of 4oy that you didn1t e7pect and that 0 had not considered/

'=%0ETMadam, @uic"ly, hat day is that9

%A:. CAP=%ET-ell, my child, early Thursday morning, at Saint Peter1s Church, the gallant, young, andnoble gentleman Count Paris ill ma"e you a 4oyful bride/

'=%0ETRight no 0 sear by Saint Peter1s Church and Peter too that he ill not ma"e me a 4oyfulbride/ 01m confused by this sudden hurry/ -hy ould 0 marry this ould>be husband beforehe1s e$en come to court me9 0 beg you, tell my father, madam, 0 on1t marry yet/ And hen 0do marry, 0 sear, 01d marry Romeo, hom you "no 0 hate, before 01d marry Paris/ +o thatis nes;

%A:. CAP=%ETHere comes your father/ Tell him so yourself, and see ho he ta"es it from you/

CAP=%ET and the +=RSE enter/

CAP=%ET-hen the sun sets the air driles droplets of ater/ #ut hen the son of my brother died, itrained $ery hard/ 5to '=%0ET6 -hat1s ith you9 Are you a fountain9 Still crying9 -ill you cryfore$er9 .ou1re li"e a ship, the sea, and the inds/ %i"e the sea, your eyes shrin" and floith tears/ .our body is li"e the ship, sailing in the salt ater of your tears/ The inds areyour sighs, hich rage ith tears and, unless you immediately calm don, ill toss yourbody as if it1s in a storm and sin" you/ So hat1s the story, ife9 Ha$e you told her about our announcement9

%A:. CAP=%ET.es/ And in reply she says than" you but no than"s/ May the fool be married to her gra$e;

CAP=%ET


36/53

-hat9 E7plain this to me again, ife/ She refuses9 She doesn1t 4ust say than" you9 0s shenot proud of the match9 0s she not counting her blessings that e ha$e found for her,unorthy as she is, such a noble gentleman to be her bridegroom9

'=%0ET01m not proud of hat you found, but than"ful for your efforts/ 0 can1t be proud of hat 0 hate/

#ut 0 can be than"ful for hat 0 hate, if it as meant ith lo$e/

CAP=%ET-hat, hat, hat, hat9 0nsane logic; -hat is this9 Ho can you say 2proud3 and 20 than"you3 and 2no than" you3 and 2not proud93 .ou spoiled brat, don1t gi$e me these 2than" youno than" yous3 and 2proud not prouds/3 'ust get yourself together for Thursday hen you1llbe going ith Paris to Saint Peter1s Church/ And if you refuse to go, 01ll drag you there/

%A:. CAP=%ET5to CAP=%ET6 Shame on you; -hat, are you cray9

'=%0ET(ood father, 01m on my "nees, begging you, please be patient and le me say 4ust one thing/

CAP=%ET.ou disobedient piece of a orthless girl; 01ll tell you hat? get yourself to church onThursday or ne$er again loo" me in the face/ :on1t spea"/ :on1t reply/ :on1t anserme/ 5'=%0ET rises6 My fingers itch to slap you/ -ife, e ne$er thought e had been blessedthat (od ga$e us 4ust this one child, but no 0 see that this one is one too many/ -e erecursed hen e had her/ She sic"ens me/

+=RSE(od in hea$en bless her; .ou1re rong, my lord, to shout at her that ay/

CAP=%ET And hy is that, my lady of such isdom9 +o shut up/ (o chatter ith your gossipingbuddies/

+=RSE01$e not said anything rong/

CAP=%ET!h, (od/

+=RSECan1t 0 spea"9

CAP=%ETuiet, you mumbling fool; Sa$e your isdom for your gossiping buddies/ -e don1t need it/

%A:. CAP=%ET.ou1re too angry/

CAP=%ET#y (od; 0t ma"es me angry; 01$e or"ed day and night to get her a fine match/ +o, 01$egotten her a noble gentleman, ho1s good>loo"ing, young, ell>educated, and honorable,ho1s the man of any girl1s dreams/ And this brat, crying fool, li"e a hining puppet,responds to this good fortune by ansering, 20 on1t marry/ 0 can1t lo$e/ 01m too young/&orgi$e me/3 -ell, if you on1t get married, here1s ho 01ll forgi$e you/ Eat here$er youant, e7cept in my house/ Co$er your heart ith your hand and listen to my ad$ice/ Act li"emy daughter, and 01ll marry you to my friend/ :on1t, and you can beg, star$e, and die in thestreets/ 0 sear, 01ll ne$er again ac"noledge or help you/ Count on it/ Thin" about it/ 0 on1tbrea" this oath/

CAP=%ET e7its/


37/53

'=%0ET0s there no god abo$e that sees this in4ustice9 !h, seet mother, don1t thro me out; :elaythis marriage for a month, or 4ust a ee"/ !r, else, ma"e my edding bed in the family crypthere Tybalt lies/

%A:. CAP=%ET

:on1t tal" to me/ 0 on1t say a ord/ :o as you please, because 01m done ith you/

%A:. CAP=%ET e7its/

'=%0ET!h (od;8!h +urse, ho can e stop this9 My husband is ali$e on earth, our $os are upin hea$en/ Ho can those $os come bac" don to earth, unless my husband dies andgoes to hea$en and sends them bac" don by doing so9 Comfort me/ Tell me hat to do/!h, oh, hy does (od play li"e this ith someone as small as me9 Comfort me, +urse/

+=RSEHere1s hat 0 thin"/ Romeo1s banished/ There1s no chance that he ould e$er come bac" tochallenge you if you get married/ And if he does come bac", he can only do so by snea"ingin/ Since that1s the ay things are, 0 thin" the best thing for you to do is to marry the count/He1s a lo$ely gentleman; Romeo1s a dishcloth compared to him/ Curse my heart, but 0 thin"you1re luc"y to ha$e this second husband, because he surpasses your first/ And e$en if hedidn1t, your first husband is dead, or as good as dead, since Romeo doesn1t li$e hereanymore/

'=%0ET:o you spea" from your heart9

+=RSE&rom my heart and my soul too/ 0f not, curse them both/

'=%0ET Amen;

+=RSE-hat9

'=%0ET-ell, you ha$e comforted me greatly/ (o inside and tell my mother that, because 0 made myfather angry, 01$e gone to &riar %arence1s cell to confess and be absol$ed/

+=RSE0ndeed, 0 ill/ This is the isest course/

The +=RSE e7its/

'=%0ET:amned old lady; 0s it a orse sin for her to tell me to brea" my $os or to criticie myhusband ith the same tongue she used to praise him so many times before9 #e gone,+urse, ith your ad$ice/ 01ll ne$er again tell you the true feelings of my heart/ 01ll go to the&riar to see if he has a solution/ And if all else fails, at least 0 ha$e the poer to "ill myself/

'=%0ET e7its/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE!n Thursday, sir9 That1s e7tremely soon/

PAR0S

My father>in>la Capulet ants it that ay, and 01m not at all interested in sloing him don/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE


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.ou say you don1t "no hat 'uliet ants/ That1s a dangerous road/ 0 don1t li"e it/

PAR0SShe1s grie$ing too much o$er Tybalt1s death, so 0 ha$en1t tal"ed to her about lo$e/ Romanticlo$e can1t flourish during times of mourning/ +o, sir, her father thin"s it1s dangerous thatshe has gi$en herself so fully to sorro/ 0n his isdom, he1s rushing our marriage in order to

stop her tears/ Some company might help her to stop crying/ +o you "no the reason forthis hurry to the edding/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE5to himself6 0 ish 0 didn1t "no the reason hy it should be sloed don/ %oo", sir, herecomes the lady toard my cell/

'=%0ET enters/

PAR0S01m happy to see you, my lady and my ife/

'=%0ETThat might be, sir, hen 01m married/

PAR0SThat 2may be3 must be, lo$e, on Thursday/

'=%0ET-hat must be ill be/

&R0AR %A-RE+CEThat1s a certain truth/

PAR0SHa$e you come to ma"e confession to &ather %arence9

'=%0ET0f 0 ansered that, 01d be confessing to you/

PAR0S:on1t deny to him that you lo$e me/

'=%0ET01ll confess to you that 0 lo$e him/

PAR0S.ou ill also confess, 01m sure, that you lo$e me/

'=%0ET0f 0 do so, it ill be orth more if 0 say it behind your bac" than if 0 say it to your face/

PAR0SPoor dear, your face has been abused by so many tears/

'=%0ETThe tears ha$en1t on much, since my face asn1t all that nice before 0 started to cry/

PAR0S+o you1re abusing your face to say something untrue li"e that about it/

'=%0ET0t is no lie, sir/ 0t1s the truth/ And hat 0 said, 0 said to my face/

PAR0S.our face is mine, and you ha$e slandered it/


39/53

'=%0ETThat may be true, since my face is not my on/85to &R0AR %A-RE+CE6 Are you free,&ather, or should 0 come to you at e$ening mass9

&R0AR %A-RE+CE0 ha$e time, my sad daughter/ 5to PAR0S6 My lord, e must as" you for some time alone/

PAR0S(od forbid that 0 should intrude on confession; 'uliet, 0 ill a"e you early on Thursday/5"issing her6 =ntil then, good>bye, and "eep this holy "iss/

PAR0S e7its/

'=%0ET!h, shut the door; And hen you1$e done that, come eep ith me/ My situation is beyondhope, beyond cure, beyond help;

&R0AR %A-RE+CE!h, 'uliet, 0 already "no hy you1re so sad/ 0t1s too difficult a problem for me to "no hoto sol$e/ 01$e heard that on the coming Thursday you must marry this count, and nothing can

delay it/

'=%0ET:on1t tell me, &riar, that you1$e heard all this unless you can tell me ho 0 can pre$ent it/ 0fith all your isdom e$en you can1t help, then you must agree that my solution is ise, andthat this "nife is the "ey to the solution 5'=%0ET re$eals a "nife6/ #efore my hand or heart8hich are bound to Romeo8are gi$en to another man, 01ll use this "nife to "ill myself/ Soeither use your long e7perience and education to gi$e me some ad$ice about hat to do, oratch as 0 use this "nife li"e a 4udge to honorably resol$e the e7treme situation in hich 01mcaught/ :on1t ait long to spea"/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE-ait, daughter, 0 see a ray of hope/ #ut it ill re@uire an act as desperate as the situation

e ant to a$oid/ 0f you ha$e the illpoer to "ill yourself rather than marry Count Paris,then you1ll li"ely agree to e7perience something li"e death to escape this problem/ 0f youdare to do it, 01ll gi$e you the solution/

'=%0ETTo a$oid marrying Paris 01d do anything e$en if it means ris"ing my on life/ Thin"ing aboutit ma"es me tremble but 01ll do anything ithout fear or dread in order to be a pure ife tomy seet lo$e/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE#e strong, then/ (o home, be cheerful, and agree to marry Paris/ Tomorro is -ednesday/Tomorro night ma"e sure that you go to sleep alone/ :on1t let the +urse sleep in yourbedroom/ 5shos '=%0ET a $ial6 :rin" this li@uor hen you1re in bed/ A cold, sleepy feeling

ill then run through your $eins, and your pulse ill cease to beat/ .our body ill go cold,and you1ll stop breathing/ .our body ill lose control o$er its on mo$ement, and illbecome stiff as that of a corpse/ .ou1ll remain in this simulation of death for forty>to hours,and then you1ll a"e as if from a pleasant sleep/ So hen the bridegroom comes to a"eyou from your bed in the morning, he ill thin" that you are dead/ Then, as is the tradition of our city, you1ll be dressed in your best clothes and placed on an unco$ered funeral platformand carried to the Capulet tomb that holds all of your dead relati$es/ Meanhile, before youa"e up, 01ll send ord to Romeo of our plan/ He1ll come here, and e1ll "eep a atch o$eryou as you a"e/ That night, Romeo ill ta"e you ith him to Mantua/ So, as long as youdon1t change your mind or let your omanly fear interfere ith your courage, you1ll be freefrom the current situation hich threatens to force you into sin/

'=%0ET

(i$e it to me; :on1t tal" to me about fear/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE


40/53

5gi$ing her the $ial6 +o go/ #e strong and good luc"/ 01ll send a friar speeding to Mantuaith my letter to Romeo/

'=%0ET%o$e gi$es me strength, and strength the ill, help me follo through on this plan/ (oodbye,dear &ather/

They e7it in opposite directions/

CAP=%ET5gi$ing a paper to the &0RST SERV0+(MA+6 0n$ite all the guests ritten on this list/

The &0RST SERV0+(MA+ e7its/

5to SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+6 (o hire tenty s"illed coo"s/

SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+0 on1t hire any bad coo"s/ 01ll test them by ma"ing them lic" their fingers/

CAP=%ETHo does that or"9

SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+-ell, sir, it1s a bad coo" ho refuses to lic" his on fingers/ So 0 on1t hire any coo"s hoon1t lic" their on fingers/

CAP=%ET(et going/

The SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+ e7its/

-e1re not going to be prepared for this edding celebration/ 5to the +=RSE6 Has mydaughter gone to see &riar %arence9

+=RSE.es, that1s the truth/

CAP=%ET-ell, there1s a chance he may do her some good/ She1s a stubborn good>for>nothing littlebrat/

'=%0ET enters/

+=RSE%oo", she1s bac" from confession loo"ing happier/

CAP=%ETHo are you, my headstrong daughter9 -here ha$e you been9

'=%0ET-here 0 learned to repent for the sin of being disobedient to my father and his commands/ 0am instructed by holy &ather %arence to "neel don and beg your forgi$eness/ 5she"neels6 &orgi$e me, 0 beg you/ &rom no on 01ll do hat you tell me to/

CAP=%ETSend for the Count/ Tell him about this/ -e1ll mo$e the edding to tomorro morning/

'=%0ET0 met the youthful lord at %arence1s cell/ 0 treated him ith the proper lo$e, ithoutbrea"ing the proper rules of modesty/


41/53

CAP=%ET01m glad; This is good/ Stand up/

'=%0ET stands up/

This is ho it should be/ 0 ant to see the count/ .es, o"ay, go, 0 say, and bring him here/+o, 0 sear before (od, our hole city oes a great deal to this friar/

'=%0ET+urse, ill you come ith me to my room and help me pic" out the clothes and 4eelry that 0should ear tomorro9

%A:. CAP=%ET+o, not until Thursday/ There1s enough time/

CAP=%ET(o, +urse/ (o ith her/ -e1ll go to the church and ha$e the edding tomorro/

'=%0ET and the +=RSE e7it/

%A:. CAP=%ET-e on1t ha$e enough food or drin" for the party/ 0t1s almost night already/

CAP=%ET+onsense, 01ll get to or" and e$erything ill or" out ell, 0 promise/ (o to 'uliet and helpdress her/ 01m not going to go to bed tonight/ %ea$e me alone/ 01ll act as the houseife foronce/

%A:. CAP=%ET e7its

-hat9 They1re all gone9 -ell, 01ll al" by myself to Count Paris to prepare him fortomorro/

CAP=%ET e7its

%A:. CAP=%ET-ait/ Ta"e these "eys and go get more spices, +urse/

+=RSEThey1re calling for dates in the "itchen/

CAP=%ET enters/

CAP=%ETCome on, get mo$ing, get mo$ing, get mo$ing; The second coc" has croed/ The curfe>

bell has rung/ 0t1s three o1cloc"/ (o get the ba"ed meats, good Angelica/ :on1t orry aboutthe cost/

+=RSE!h, you cottage houseife, you/ (o to bed, my (od/ .ou1ll be sic" tomorro from stayingup all night/

CAP=%ET+o, no, not at all/ 01$e stayed up all night before for less important reasons, and ne$er gottensic" from it/

%A:. CAP=%ET.es, you ere a oman>chaser in your time/ #ut 01ll "eep an eye on you to ma"e sure you

don1t stay up for those reasons any more/

%A:. CAP=%ET and the +=RSE e7it/


42/53

CAP=%ETShe has become a 4ealous oman;

Three or four SERV0+(ME+ enter carrying spits, logs, and bas"ets/

+o, fello, hat are you carrying9

&0RST SERV0+(MA+Things for the coo", sir/ #ut 0 don1t "no e7actly/

CAP=%ETHurry up, hurry up/

The &0RST SERV0+(MA+ e7its/

5to SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+6 &etch logs that are drier/ Call Peter/ He1ll sho you herethey are/

SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+0 can find the logs ithout bothering Peter/

The SEC!+: SERV0+(MA+ e7its/

CAP=%ETRight, and ell said/ -hat a funny son of a gun that guy is, ha; His head is full of logs/ My(od, it1s day time/ The count ill be here soon ith music, as he said he ould/ 0 hear himcoming/

Music plays offstage/

+urse;

The +=RSE returns/

(o a"e 'uliet and get her dressed/ (o, hurry up, hurry up;

All e7it/

+=RSEMistress; Hey, mistress; 'uliet; &ast asleep, 0 bet/ Hey, lamb; Hey, lady; Hey, yousleepyhead; Hey, lo$e, 0 say; Madam; Seetheart; Hey, bride; -hat, not a single ord tosay9 En4oy this last bit of sleep no/ 0 must a"e you/ %ady, lady, lady; +o, no; Help, help;My lady1s dead; !h curse the day 0 as born; Hey; (et me some li@uor; My lord; My lady;

%A:. CAP=%ET enters/

%A:. CAP=%ET-hat1s ith all the noise9

+=RSE!h, terrible day;

%A:. CAP=%ET-hat1s the matter9

+=RSE


43/53

%oo", loo"; !h, hat an aful day;

%A:. CAP=%ET!h no, oh no; My child,Help, help; Call for help/

CAP=%ET enters/

CAP=%ET(et 'uliet out here/ Her bridegroom has arri$ed/

+=RSEShe1s dead/ Curse the day;

%A:. CAP=%ETCurse the day/ She1s dead, she1s dead, she1s dead;

CAP=%ET-hat9 +o; She1s cold/ Her blood has stopped, and her 4oints are stiff/ %ife left her body along hile ago/

+=RSE!h terrible day;

%A:. CAP=%ET!h aful time;

CAP=%ET0 am de$astated/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE and PAR0S enter ith M=S0C0A+S/

&R0AR %A-RE+CECome, is the bride ready to go to church9

CAP=%ETShe1s ready to go, but not to return/ 5to PAR0S6 !h son; !n the night before your eddingday, death has slept ith your ife/

PAR0S0 ha$e aited to see this morning for so long, only for it to loo" li"e this9

%A:. CAP=%ETThe most miserable hour that e$er e7isted in all of time/ 0 had 4ust one child, one poor child,one poor and lo$ing child/ +o cruel :eath has stolen it from my sight;

+=RSEThe saddest day, most miserable day that 0 e$er, e$er sa; !h day; !h day; !h day; !h

hateful day; There has ne$er been a day as blac" as this one/

PAR0SShe as tric"ed, di$orced, ronged, spited, "illed; :etestable :eath tric"ed her/ Cruel, cruel:eath murdered her/

CAP=%ET-hy did you come no, :eath, to murder, murder our 4oy9 !h child; !h child; My soul andnot my child; .ou are dead; +o; My child is dead/ My child ill be buried together ith my 4oy/

&R0AR %A-RE+CE#oth you and hea$en played a part in gi$ing you your child/ +o hea$en has her, and she is

better off/ The part of her that came from you could not stop her from dying, but the part shegot from hea$en gi$es her eternal life/ The most you could hope for her as that she marryell/ .our idea of hea$en for her as that she mo$e up the social ladder/ .et no you eep,


44/53

e$en though she has risen up abo$e the clouds, all the ay to hea$en itself9 :ry yourtears, and place your rosemary5editor1s note? rosemary signifies enduring lo$e6 on thisbeautiful corpse/ And, as is the custom, put her in her finest clothes and carry her to church/

CAP=%ETThe things that e prepared for the edding no ill be used instead for the funeral/ !ur

music instruments ill be e7changed for mourning bells/ !ur edding ban@uet ill beinstead a sad burial feast/ E$erything ill be used for the purpose opposite that hich ee7pected/

&R0AR %A-RE+CESir, you go in/ Madam, go ith him/ And you too, Sir Paris/ E$eryone prepare to follo thisbeautiful corpse to her gra$e/

CAP=%ET, %A:. CAP=%ET, PAR0S, and &R0AR %A-RE+CE e7it/

&0RST M=S0C0A+0 guess e can put our pipes aay and lea$e/

+=RSE

Honest good men, yes, put them aay, aay/ As you "no, this is a sad case/

The +=RSE e7its/

&0RST M=S0C0A+.es, but this case at least can be mended/ 5editor1s note? the musician is referring to thecase for his flute, hich is bro"en6

PETER enters/

PETERMusicians, oh, musicians, play 2Heart1s Ease,3 2Heart1s Ease/3 !h, if you ant me to li$e,play 2Heart1s Ease/3

&0RST M=S0C0A+-hy 2Heart1s Ease39

PETER!h, musicians, because my heart itself is playing 2My Heart is &ull of -oe/3 !h, play mesome happy mournful tune to comfort me/

&0RST M=S0C0A++o, e on1t play a sad song/ +o is not the time for it/

PETER.ou on1t, then9

&0RST M=S0C0A++o/

PETERThen 01ll gi$e you something you on1t forget/

&0RST M=S0C0A+-hat ill you gi$e us9

PETER+ot money, 0 sear/ #ut 01ll insult you/

&0RST M=S0C0A+

Then 01ll call you a loly ser$ant/

PETER


45/53

Then 01ll ta"e my ser$ing "nife to smac" you upside the head/ 0 on1t need to sing/ 01ll ma"eyou sing/ :o you hear me9

&0RST M=S0C0A+0f you ma"e us sing, you1ll hear us/

SEC!+: M=S0C0A+Please, put aay your "nife and sho some its/

PETER01ll attac" you ith my it; 01ll put aay my iron dagger and thrash you ith my ic"ed it/ Anser me li"e men/5sings6-hen grief ounds your heart, And sadness presses on your mind,Then music ith her sil$er sound85spea"s6 -hy 2sil$er sound39 -hat does 2music ith her sil$er sound3 mean9 -hat do yousay, Simon Catling9

&0RST M=S0C0A+-ell, sir, because sil$er has a seet sound/

PETER A itty reply; -hat do you say, Hugh Rebec"9

SEC!+: M=S0C0A

Documents

Script Romeo and Juliet