TOUCHING THE OTHER SIDE

A one-act play
By Kerisa Van Gorden

Contact:
Kerisa Van Gorden
223 14th St. NW
Cleveland, TN 37311
kvango00@leeu.edu
(615) 627-6527

CHARACTERS

JULIET
--an actor in her early 20s playing as a 16-year-old American boarding school girl from a
high-class family
ROM EO
--an actor in his early 20s playing as an 18-year-old American boarding school boy from a lowclass family
ROSALINE
--an actor in her early 20s playing as an 18-year old American boarding school girl from a highclass family
BENVOLIO
--an actor in his early 20s playing as an 18-year-old American boarding school boy from a lowclass family
M ALE CHORUS
--an actor in his mid 30s playing a police officer and Principal Escalus
FEM ALE CHORUS
-- an actors in her late 20s playing a police officer, a teacher, and a Capulet family friend named
Narissa

**Playwright's note: Blind casting is encouraged.

SETTING

Present day, a wealthy area in Tennessee. Two primary locations are an abandoned mill and
Verona Boarding School, but the play explores multiple locations within the school grounds
including the auditorium, a central courtyard, a girl's dorm room, and the exterior of the House
M ontague dormitory.
The structures of the mill should be minimalistic, enough for the audience to understand what
they are looking at and give the scene a sense of charm despite the abandoned buildings.
In Verona Boarding School, the auditorium has a small stage on one end and rows of seating on
the other. The central courtyard's primary piece is a large, tiered fountain. The dorm room should
contain at least a bed. The exterior of the House M ontague dormitory should have the
appearance of a large, well-kept building but not elegant or intricate in detail.
There are also vehicles involved onstage at various points in the play. These vehicles are a
flipped-over car and a fire truck.

SCENE 1
(The outlying buildings of a modern-day abandoned mill.
A flipped-over car. A corpse lays a few feet away from
the car. Another corpse is crumpled on the ground next to
the open drivers door. ROM EO stands on stage, and
JULIET kneels next to the corpse on the ground. She
holds a pistol in her hands.)
ROM EO
Julie... Dont do it, Julie.
(Juliet puts the gun to her temple. Romeo moves closer to
her.)
Put the damn thing down, Juliet! This ghostly existence is not what you want.
(Juliet hesitates.)
Drop it, Julie. Save yourself from this place while you have the chance, please.
(Beat.)
JULIET
No. Fear will not keep me, Romeo. Ill be quick and come to rest.
(Romeo tries to stop her, but he cant.)
ROM EO
Stop it! JULIET, NO!
(Juliet fires and kills herself.)
Oh God...
(Romeo sinks to his knees. He tries to touch Juliet but is
unable to.)

2.

Why?
(He looks up at the sky.)
You could at least let me hold her!
(Juliet opens her eyes.)
JULIET
Romeo?
ROM EO
Julie? Juliet, I told you not to!
(He grabs her by the shoulders.)
Why didnt you listen to me?
JULIET
Told me not to do what? Romeo, youre scaring me. Were together. Isnt that what
matters?
(Romeo helps Juliet to her feet. Her corpse appears
onstage.)
ROM EO
Just look around for a second. We arent exactly in paradise.
(Juliet tries to look at her feet so she can get her bearings.)
I said look around, not down!
(He moves her away from the corpses. Juliet looks and
sees the corpse crumpled up next to the car.)
JULIET
Paris. Id forgotten. Where is he? If hes dead, he should be here.
(Beat.)

3.

And you killed him. Didnt you?

ROM EO
Yeah, I killed him. I killed him to avenge you.
JULIET
Romeo, he rear-ended me!
ROM EO
Well, I thought you were dead! And I was not going to let him just walk away when he
was the murderer.
JULIET
But he wasnt, and if youd taken ten seconds to make sure I wasnt dead, you would
have seen that. Geez, Romeo, youre the one who was the murderer. How am I supposed
to feel about that?
ROM EO
I dont know! Its not like I planned on killing someone tonight. Look, now that I know
he didnt kill you, I wish I hadnt killed him, but I did. You have to believe I did it for
you.
(Beat.)
JULIET
That doesnt make it okay.
ROM EO
I...I know. But I dont regret thinking only of you. Everything Ive done.
(Beat.)
You shouldnt have sacrificed yourself for me. I told you not to pull the trigger. Why
couldnt you just listen?
JULIET
Why do you keep saying that? You were dead, and I was alone with a couple of corpses.

4.

ROM EO
M aybe you couldnt see me, but I could have sworn you heard me. You know you did.
JULIET
I...Im not sure. It doesnt matter, though. Were here now.
(Beat.)
You still love me, dont you?
ROM EO
Of course I do. Why do you think I was so upset? Youre right, though. Were here now,
together. No one can keep us apart anymore.
JULIET
Not quite what I expected eloping to be like.
(They kiss but are interrupted by the rumble of a car
coming to a stop M ALE CHORUS and FEM ALE
CHORUS run onstage.)
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
Damn it! Were too late.
(Female Chorus takes latex gloves from her duty belt and
puts them on. She checks for a pulse on Romeo and
Juliets corpses.)
Theres no point, Garwood. Theyre beyond saving now.
FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE
OFFICER
Its protocol to make sure.
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
The Capulets are not going to be happy when they hear about this. I didnt believe them
when they said it was an emergency.
(Female Chorus checks other corpse for a pulse.)

5.

JULIET
You think theyre going to call my parents? Im not sure I want M um and Dad to see
this.
ROM EO
Why not? Theyll see that we loved each other. Theyll see what all their bickering and
prejudice against the M ontagues has done. Isnt that a good thing? For them to
understand us?
JULIET
I hadnt thought of it that way.
FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE
OFFICER
We should tape the area off. Get the detectives down here to piece together what
happened.
JULIET
You really think the House War will end?
ROM EO
Id bet my life on it.
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
For crying out loud, Garwood, do you have to be so stiff about this?
FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE
OFFICER
Yes, Thompson. I do. Now are you going to contact the chief or should I?
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
You can take a minute to mourn.
FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE
OFFICER
Over the fact that they threw their lives away over some petty conflict and have hurt
everyone who knows them? Ill pass.
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
Theres no need to jump to conclusions.

6.

FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE

OFFICER
The girl is holding a gun, Thompson, and the Capulets didnt call because they were
afraid of a random stalker. M aybe the tests havent been run yet, but I can connect dots.
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
Id prefer it if you left that to the detectives.
FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE
OFFICER
Ill get the tape.
(Female Chorus exits.)
ROM EO
Dont worry about her. Just you wait and see. Well go to the school tomorrow, and
everyone will be mourning the feud that drove us to our untimely deaths.
JULIET
Id like that. The thought we could have changed everything.
ROM EO
You bet. Thats for tomorrow, though. What do you say we take right now to get away?
JULIET
Romeo!
ROM EO
What? You know you want to.
(Female Chorus returns with yellow caution tape. She
starts to mark the perimeter of the scene.)
FEM ALE CHORUS / POLICE
OFFICER
The detectives are on their way. And so are the Capulets. They called again, and chief
told them to wait, but there was no stopping them.
JULIET
Alright. Lets go.

7.

(She takes Romeos hand and pulls him toward the mill
buildings upstage. M ale Chorus helps Female Chorus
with the caution tape.)
M ALE CHORUS / POLICE OFFICER
Are we getting any backup? Id hate for us to be the only two officers trying to keep
M rs. Capulet at a distance from all this.
(Blackout.)

SCENE 2
(The Verona Boarding School auditorium. A podium.
LIGHTS are at a normal setting, and the rafters and
podium are draped in black. Students are shuffling around
and whispering. Romeo and Juliet stand to the side,
watching. ROSALINE and BENVOLIO sit on opposite
sides of the stage.)
JULIET
You think the teachers are waiting to tell everyone?
ROM EO
It would explain why theyre all acting so normal. Almost like they dont notice the
lovely decorations.
(Female Chorus runs onstage and up to the podium. She
taps the mic.)
FEM ALE CHORUS / TEACHER
M ay I have your attention?
(The students ignore her. She taps the mic again.)
Attention, please!
(The auditorium quiets.)
JULIET
Here goes.

8.

(She takes Romeos hand.)

FEM ALE CHORUS / TEACHER
Thank you. This morning, we are going to take a break from our normal routine. Principal
Escalus has an announcement he would like to make.
(M ale Chorus enters and takes his place behind the
podium. Female Chorus stands to the side.)
M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL
ESCALUS
Thank you, M s. Simpson. Good morning, students. Im sure there have been rumors
floating around about the disappearance of Paris Alistor and the presence of police on
campus last night.
ROM EO
Paris?!
JULIET
Ow!
(She pulls her hand out of Romeos grip.)
M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL
ESCALUS
Allow me to put those rumors to rest. Last night, at the Old Springsten M ill, Paris
Alistor was found dead.
(M uttering from the students.)
ROM EO
How dare they...
M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL
ESCALUS
With him were Romeo M ontague and Juliet Capulet, also dead.
(The students go silent.)
JULIET
This doesnt look good, Romeo.

9.

M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL

ESCALUS
Police are still investigating the details, but it appears that this series of events was the
result of two students-ROSALINE
(under her breath)
One student and one former student.
ROM EO
Shut your mouth, Rosa.
JULIET
Romeo.
M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL
ESCALUS
--pushed to the point of desperation by the prejudice between their Houses. Based on
interviews with some of our parents last night, we can only assume that Romeo and Juliet
planned to meet, and something terrible happened that resulted in their deaths and the
death of Paris.
ROSALINE
The murder of Paris, more likely.
(Benvolio stands.)
BENVOLIO
I heard that, Capulet scum. Implying that your precious princess Juliet killed him?
ROSALINE
Of course not. Only a M ontague dog would attack a respected member of our
community.
FEM ALE CHORUS / TEACHER
Thats enough, you two! Sit down, Benvolio, and both of you can keep quiet.
(Benvolio sits.)
JULIET
Romeo, are you okay?

10.

ROM EO
(gritted teeth)
Im fine.
M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL
ESCALUS
Nothing is certain right now except for this: the two lovers were found in each others
arms, a sign that this tragedy was, for them, a way to express their love and defy the
stigma that has been held against M ontague House since its establishment in 1968. Now.
Let us have a moment of silence out of respect for these three who have passed on. For
Paris, who was an outstanding former student and a dedicated Resident Director of
Capulet House. And for Romeo and Juliet, two students who tried to move beyond the
years of anger and disdain between their Houses and aim toward a brighter future.
(M ale Chorus bows his head. There is a slight pause, just
long enough for the stage to go completely quiet.)
ROSALINE
And death is such a bright future for my little cousin.
ROM EO
Still trying to ruin things, arent you Rosaline?
JULIET
Stop it, Romeo. You know I have no regrets. Forget what she says.
BENVOLIO
Can it, Rosaline. Your little cousin is responsible for this mess, getting Romeo mixed up
with your kind so he didnt feel like he could defend his own name! If it werent for her,
theyd both still be alive.
ROM EO
What the heck, Ben?
FEM ALE CHORUS / TEACHER
Quiet! Where is your respect for the dead?
(Rosaline walks over to Benvolio and shoves him in the
chest.)

11.

ROSALINE
How dare you! As if your M ontague trash didnt take advantage of her naivete and lure
her into a fake fairy tale romance.
JULIET
Romeo, we should go.
BENVOLIO
Thats it!
(Benvolio twists Rosalines arm behind her back. A
student brawl breaks out.)
Take it back, Rosaline.
(Juliet tries to pull Romeo offstage, but he wont budge.
Female Chorus tries to separate Benvolio and Rosaline.
M ale Chorus gets out his phone and dials.)
M ALE CHORUS / PRINCIPAL
ESCALUS
Yes, this is Principal Escalus. I need security in the auditorium to separate the Houses,
now!
(Blackout.)

SCENE 3
(Student Chorus, Benvolio, and Rosaline are in the middle
of a wrestling and fist fight in the seating of the Verona
Boarding School auditorium. Romeo is watching, and
Juliet is trying to get him to leave.)
JULIET
Romeo, please. Youre scaring me a little.
ROM EO
Shush, Julie, Im trying to think.
JULIET
And youre going to do that best with a brawl going on five feet away?

12.

ROM EO
The brawl is what Im trying to think about. They shouldnt be fighting. Im hoping that
if I watch them, I can figure out whats going on in their heads, why theyre reacting this
way. Somethings not right about it.
JULIET
What are you talking about? You heard Rosaline and Benvolio. Whether we like it or not,
this is how they feel about us. Its not--its not what we wanted or expected, but theres
nothing we can do to change it.
ROM EO
I refuse to believe that.
JULIET
For crying out loud, Romeo, open your eyes! They are literally fighting over which of us
caused everyone to get killed. The words sacrifice and true love arent even on their
radar.
ROM EO
But they should be.
(Chorus Leader enters from stage right and forces the
students apart. He stands between the two Houses.)
CHORUS LEADER
Alright, break it up, break it up! You should be ashamed of yourselves, the lot of you,
turning a memorial into your own personal insult and clobber fest.
ROM EO
Listen to me, Julie. If Principal Escalus got the message, our Houses should have gotten
it, too. Someone must be interfering, turning them on each other so that they lose sight of
the bigger problem you and I were facing when we tried to run away.
CHORUS LEADER
You are to consider M orning Assembly adjourned and take the extra time before classes
to think about the mess yall are going to make if you dont stop this fighting. Think good
and hard about what Principal Escalus said about those deaths last night and how we
should apply em to our own situation at Verona Boarding School.
JULIET
Someone interfering? Like who?

13.

ROM EO
Paris.
(Student Chorus, Rosaline, and Benvolio shuffle out of
the s.)
CHORUS LEADER
Except for you, Rosaline and Benvolio. The principal would like a word with you before
first period.
(Student Chorus exits stage right.)
JULIET
Paris. Romeo, Paris is dead-ROM EO
And thats exactly why I think its him. I know you heard me talking to you last night,
trying to defend myself after you got out of the wreck, while you were still alive but I
was dead.
(Beat.)
We can talk to them, and so can Paris.
CHORUS LEADER
You two better come with me. Ill take you to the principals office.
(He leads Rosaline and Benvolio toward the exit.)
JULIET
Right.
(She turns and approaches Rosaline, getting into
Rosalines personal space.)
Well, in that case, Ill just waltz up to Rosaline and say, Hello, Rosaline dear, do you
think you could stop spreading those nasty rumors about my boyfriend and me not being
good for each other? Thanks, Id really appreciate it.
(Rosaline flinches and stops.)

14.

BENVOLIO
Getting cold feet about what you said, Capulet?
ROSALINE
None of your business, Benvolio.
(She shoves past him and exits stage right with Chorus
Leader. Benvolio exits.)
ROM EO
Well then. What do you make of that? You know she didnt just freeze up for no reason.
JULIET
Looks like...maybe youre right. And I guess I owe you an apology for being a snarky
little know-it-all.
ROM EO
You think?
(He bumps her shoulder, and she smiles back.)
JULIET
You know what this means, though, dont you?
ROM EO
Yeah. We need to go after Paris.
JULIET
Well, not exactly-ROM EO
But that is exactly what we need to do, Juliet. Cant you see hes pulling the strings,
planting the seeds of dissension so that the students turn against us?
JULIET
The seeds of dissension, as youre calling them, have always been there, Romeo. Even if
Paris is speaking to the students, which we have no way of knowing because we havent
so much as seen him since before we died, he isnt telling them something new. Honestly,
Id think that someone from your family would understand that better than anyone.

15.

ROM EO
But didnt you hear Principal Escalus? He understood the reasons behind our running
away and everything else.
JULIET
Well, of course he understood; hes in the administration. Theyve always favored
integrating the M ontagues and the Capulets, and we just became their poster children.
ROM EO
Theres no need to be so melodramatic, Julie. Besides, were wasting time. Right this
minute, Paris could be convincing Rosaline or Benvolio or some other student to do his
dirty work. We need to stop him.
JULIET
Okay, fine, whatever. This isnt worth arguing over. But if were going to stop Paris, we
need to know where he is first, and its not like theres a trail of ectoplasm we can find
and follow.
ROM EO
I know. The best thing I can think of is trying to predict his movements, but thats not
much help. He was your Head of House. What do you think he would do?
JULIET
The Heads of House are the most influential students on campus. It looks like Benvolio
and Rosaline got those positions after you and Paris died. M y guess is Paris is targeting
one of them, and House Capulet has more students, so its probably Rosaline.
ROM EO
True. Its a place to start, at least.
JULIET
If we hurry, we may be able to get to the principals office before she leaves, and we can
keep an eye on her while we wait for Paris.
ROM EO
Sounds like a plan. Lets go for it!
(Blackout.)

16.

SCENE 4
(The school courtyard. A tiered fountain with a pool base
is in the center, and perhaps a tree or two are artfully
placed on the grounds. Romeo and Juliet enter stage right,
having just left the academic buildings foyer. The sun is
low but not yet setting. Romeo marches purposefully
forward, Juliet dawdling behind him. Suddenly,
ROSALINE storms onto the scene from stage left.)
ROSALINE
Jesus, M ary, and Joseph, Narissa, no! I wont do it!
(Romeo stops in his tracks, startled. Juliet comes up next
to him, more intrigued. Huffing, NARISSA hurries
onstage after Rosaline. Juliet glares at Narissa and takes
Romeos arm possessively, but not out of jealousy.)
NARISSA
But why not, Rosa? Cant you see its perfect? What better way can you think of to
cement the new peace, the new union, between M ontague and Capulet?
(Rosaline whirls on Narissa and laughs darkly. She makes
a point of getting in Narissas space, attacking the other
woman with her posture.)
ROSALINE
Not my circus, not my monkeys, Nari. And what if we did become this symbol, eh?
What if we went through with this lunacy and it all fell apart? Horror of horrors, what if
Benvolio and I broke up after you all pushed us together? M aybe the Houses would go
right back to fighting. Heavens knows theyre hotheaded enough to do it. No, I dont
want any part in your schemes. You asinine meddlers are going to have to figure out how
to cement the peace yourselves.
(Narissa, Romeo, and Juliet all speak at once, each with a
different inflection.)
NARISSA
(shocked)
Rosaline!

17.

ROM EO
(angry)
Rosaline!
JULIET
(surprised, but in an awed way)
Rosa?
(Rosaline turns toward Romeo and Juliet, her face ashen
as if she is about to cry.)
ROSALINE
Julie?
NARISSA
Do not change the subject, Rosaline! This is unacceptable behavior from you.
(Juliets instinct is to shrink away, but she stands firm
and lets go of Romeos arm. Romeo gives her a confused
look.)
ROSALINE
Quiet, Nari! I thought... I thought I heard little Julie, saying my name.
(Narissa takes Rosalines hand and guides her to the
fountain. They sit on the edge of the pool base, Narissa
on the left and Rosaline on the right. They do not touch.
Juliet walks up and sits down next to Rosaline, placing
her invisible hand over Rosalines. Romeo follows Juliet
slowly but does not sit. He stands with his arms folded
across his chest.)
NARISSA
(gentle)
You must have imagined it, my dear. Do you miss her?
ROSALINE
What kind of a question is that? Of course, I miss her! She was like my little sister when
she first came here.

18.

NARISSA
Then think of her if I cant persuade you. Dont you think she would have wanted you to
find true love? Oh, she must have thought it the most important thing in the world!
(Juliet flinches at this pronouncement, but Romeo beams
and sits down next to Juliet, his posture becoming much
more relaxed.)
ROM EO
Tell her, Julie! Tell her that Narissa is right.
(Juliet bites her lip but has no time to speak.)
ROSALINE
The most important thing in the world? Nari, it killed her before she even had the chance
to do anything with her life!
NARISSA
Perhaps not with her life, but she did so much with her death. If she hadnt died, the
Houses would still be at war, and we would have lost her anyway. She would have
eloped with Romeo, and you probably never would have seen her again.
(Romeo places his arm around Juliets shoulders. Juliet
looks down at her lap.)
ROM EO
(defensive)
As if that would have been a bad thing!
ROSALINE
So now what? Youre telling me that its better for Juliet to be dead?
(Rosaline stands up, and Juliet looks up, leaning against
Romeo as she watches Rosaline.)
Well, I tell you that youre wrong. About Juliet, about me, about this whole damn
business! But youre not going to give up, are you? None of you will, and in that respect,
Im going to respond exactly how Juliet did. Im not going to let you control me!
(Juliet hunches over, starting to rock herself back and
forth.

19.

Romeo tries to get her to look at him.Rosaline walks back

the way she came, and Narissa scrambles after her,
grabbing her arm and tugging on her.)
ROM EO
Julie? Whats wrong? Talk to me, sweetheart.
(Juliet shakes her head.)
JULIET
Please, Romeo. Its too much right now.
ROM EO
What do you mean? Whats too much?
(Narissa succeeds in getting Rosalines attention and
dragging her back onto the stage.)
NARISSA
What do you mean, Rosaline? Where are you going?
ROSALINE
Where I was planning to go after I graduated, but I cant stay here any longer with you
and the school breathing down my back. Find another Capulet to date Benvolio. I wont
do your dirty work for you.
(Romeo jumps to his feet and moves to go after
Rosaline.)
ROM EO
Well, if you wont try to talk some sense into her, Juliet, then I will. She has no idea what
shes saying.
(Juliet scrambles to her feet and grabs his arm.)
JULIET
Romeo, just stop, okay?
NARISSA
Rosaline, have a heart! The boy is in love with you! Have you no pity or compassion for
him?

20.

(Romeo tries to shrug Juliet away.)

ROM EO
But she needs our help! She and Benvolio both do! Cant you see?
ROSALINE
No, he has enough pity for himself to make me sick. And if anyone in this whole debacle
needs pity and compassion, its M ercutio, whos determined to get his degree despite
what everyone else says about him.
(Rosaline yanks herself away from Narissa, and Romeo
angrily tries to go after her. Juliet holds him back.)
ROM EO
(attempting to be intimidating)
ROSALINE!
(Rosaline shows no signs of having heard Romeo but
continues with her thoughts on M ercutio and the school.)
ROSALINE
M aybe the school should think more about helping him and less about finding a live pair
of star-crossed lovers to champion and fawn over.
(Rosaline exits. Narissa clenches her fists, and her body
contorts into a posture of extreme frustration.)
NARISSA
Damn that stubborn girl!
(Narissa stomps offstage. Juliet finally releases Romeo,
and he turns on her, towering over her.)
ROM EO
What the hell, Julie? Why did you stop me? I could have shown her how wrong she is
and saved her and Benvolio from their misery!
(Juliet folds her arms over her chest; she isnt backing
down now.)

21.

JULIET
What makes you think she would be so happy if she found true love? And what makes
you think that shed want to be in a relationship with Benvolio, of all people? Did you
not hear the contempt in her voice when she talked about him? You know nothing about
her!
ROM EO
I dont have to know anything about her! How could she not want what we have? How
could she not want true love?
JULIET
(nearly screaming)
I dont know, maybe because she decided a long time ago that she wanted to become a
nun! Or did you forget that little detail about her?!
ROM EO
(sulkily)
Its not like I forgot. I did want to date her before I met you, you know. But do you
really think she could be happy living like that? Especially after you know what its like
to have someone to love?
JULIET
Stop it, Romeo. Just stop.
(Romeo shakes his head.)
ROM EO
I shouldnt have let you convince me to take you here. Its changed you, Julie. Cant you
see that Im worried about you?
(Romeo caresses her face.)
JULIET
Youre not worried about me. Not really.
ROM EO
But of course I am. This place is hurting you, Julie. Its making you lose your faith. We
need to go back to the mill where you wont have to worry about your memories of these
people attacking and confining you.

22.

JULIET
No.
(Romeos hand and arm stiffen, his fingers barely
touching her cheek.)
ROM EO
But Juliet-(Juliet distances herself from Romeo and clenches her
fists.)
JULIET
No. You leave if you want. Im staying here. This is where I want to be.
ROM EO
But you died to be with me! How can you want for us to be apart?
JULIET
I didnt say you had to leave. I only said that Im staying here. If you decide to stay, then
well work on figuring this relationship thing out and find a way to live together.
(Romeo approaches her aggressively.)
ROM EO
This relationship thing is figured out! Were dating. Were in love. We were going to get
married! Theres no way to find and nothing to figure out! I love you, you love me, and
were going to do whats best for us, which is getting away from this school.
JULIET
(yelling)
And what if I dont anymore? Damn it, Romeo, sometimes you and your assumptions
make me wish I was dead!
(Romeo leans toward her, arms outstretched in a pleading
gesture.)
ROM EO
Juliet, that doesnt even make any sense!
(Juliet covers her face with her hands.)

23.

JULIET
Stop trying to control me!
(Juliet runs from Romeo, exiting stage left after Rosaline
and Narissa. Romeo is left on the stage, staring after her.
He shakes his head and meanders toward the fountain,
sitting down on the ledge. He puts his face in his hands.
Blackout.)

SCENE 5
(A split stage. Stage right, Rosalines dorm room. She is
packing her things together, drawers opened crazily and a
suitcase on her bed. Juliet sits on the bed watching her.
Stage left, Romeo is in the courtyard, still sitting on the
fountain ledge. There should be a small sheet hanging
from the ceiling near the back of the stage. The scene
starts with the whole stage LIT for a second or so.
LIGHTS SHIFT to Rosalines room, but Romeo does not
freeze.)
ROSALINE
I cant believe this. Four years here, I almost have my degree, and I feel like I have to
leave in the middle of my last term because these knuckleheads wont leave me alone!
First it was Romeo making ga-ga eyes at me from across the hallway, and now this!
(She aggressively throws something into her suitcase.)
JULIET
Is it really so bad, do you think, Rosaline? Being in love? It didnt used to be that way,
not for me, at least.
ROSALINE
If only the whole school wasnt against me! I mean, I could handle it if I just had to deal
with Benvolio. Ive done that before. But now...
(She shakes her head and clenches her fists.)

24.

Now I cant walk down the halls, enter a classroom, without someone asking me when
Benvolio and I are going to get together, when were going to make things right. Huh, as if
that would make things better again.
JULIET
Im sorry, Rosaline. I didnt mean to do this to you. You know that, right? I just wish I
wasnt so confused myself. I wish...
(Juliet should express some emotion of sadness, longing,
and frustration. A nervous laugh or squeezing her arms
around herself or something similar.)
I wish you could help me! And Im not even sure you can! I dont know if youd
understand.
(LIGHTS SHIFT to the courtyard. Again, Rosaline and
Juliet remain in motion, Rosaline still packing and Juliet
still trying to process her thoughts.)
ROM EO
(voice cracking)
Im sorry, Julie. Im sorry.
(He lifts his head and rubs his hands together, looking
around the courtyard as if he can find answers there.)
How did we end up like this? I didnt mean... I wasnt trying...
(He shakes his head.)
God, I screwed up so bad. I just wanted what was best for us. I wanted us to be able to
remember.
(LIGHTS SHIFT to the sheet. The actors onstage freeze.
Shadows or puppets should be used to enact the
following scene, spoken by Romeo and Juliet with their
eyes closed. The scene begins with Romeos shadow
alone on the screen. Juliet drives up and gets out of her
car. Narissa is in the passenger seat and drives the car
away, leaving the two lovers alone. Juliet runs up and
embraces Romeo.)

25.

ROM EO
(throaty, disbelieving)
You actually came.
JULIET
Of course I did. Did you really think Id leave you hanging? Or maybe you thought Id
forget.
ROM EO
I dont know what I thought. I just know I wouldnt be able to stand it if you didnt
make it.
JULIET
Really?
ROM EO
Honest to God. Come on.
(He makes a grand, flourishing bow.)
Your dinner awaits you.
(Juliet laughs. Romeo takes her hand, and the
puppets/shadows mimic walking and then stop in front
of a doorway. Juliet gasps.)
JULIET
Oh, its perfect! You really did think of everything, didnt you?
ROM EO
That was the goal. Shall I escort you to your seat, my lady?
JULIET
(with mock formality)
Why, thank you, kind sir.
(The puppets/shadows mimic walking forward again, and
Romeo helps Juliet sit down. He then walks around and
sits down facing her. They are sitting on cushions on the
floor, and their dinner is a picnic spread out on a blanket
between them. They begin eating.)

26.

JULIET
Romeo?
ROM EO
Yes, Juliet?
JULIET
Do you really think we can make this work? What if everyone finds out?
ROM EO
What are they gonna do, try to get us expelled? I know itd be awkward, but its not like
there are rules against anybody dating anybody else.
JULIET
What if our parents find out?
(Romeo crawls over to Juliet and takes her onto his lap,
holding her close.)
ROM EO
Theyre gong to find out eventually, you know. If we get married. When we get married.
JULIET
I know that, but thats not now. Thats in the future. It seems a lot less scary than if they
found out right now. Right now, they could separate us, disown us, do anything, really.
ROM EO
I know. Heck, they might disown us after were married and theres nothing else they can
do about it. Im willing to take that, risk, though, to be with you. Together, we can work
through anything.
JULIET
You really think so?
ROM EO
I wouldnt say it if I didnt believe it. Dont you believe it, too?
JULIET
I believe you.
(There is a slight pause.)

27.

Romeo?
ROM EO
Yes, Juliet?
JULIET
I love you.
ROM EO
I know, Julie. I love you, too. M ore than anything.
(Juliet turns around in Romeos arms.)
JULIET
No, Romeo. I love you.
(She kisses him, a passionate kiss. There is a slight
pause.)
ROM EO
Are you sure?
JULIET
Yes.
ROM EO
Wait a second.
(He slides her off his lap and starts moving the leftover
food off the blanket.)
Do you want me to blow the candles out? They might get knocked over.
(Juliet nods.)
JULIET
I think itll be easier if I cant see you all the way.
ROM EO
Hey, we dont have to do this.

28.

JULIET
No, I want to. Im just nervous is all. Arent you?
ROM EO
(a little breathless)
Yeah.
(Romeo mimics blowing candles out, one by one.)
ROM EO
Hwooh, hwooh, hwooh, hwooh.
JULIET
Hwooh.
(As Juliet blows out the last candle, the LIGHTS
SWITCH OFF. The stage is dark.)
ROM EO
Juliet?
JULIET
Im here.
(Crawling noises. Then the sound of two people bumping
their heads together. Romeo and Juliet giggle nervously.)
ROM EO
Whoops. You okay?
JULIET
Ahuh. Gosh, and I thought rehearsing to play Briseis was awkward.
ROM EO
M aybe because this is real and thats pretend.
JULIET
Yeah. Romeo?
ROM EO
Yes, Juliet?

29.

JULIET
Youre not going to let anything bad happen to me, will you?
(There is a very slight pause, just enough for Romeo to
sound sincere.)
ROM EO
Never.
(LIGHTS UP on the full stage. Romeo and Juliet open
their eyes.)
ROM EO
I meant it, Juliet. I wasnt going to let you get hurt. I didnt mean for you to die!
JULIET
Oh, Romeo. I know you didnt mean to break your promise. I know you care more about
me than anyone else in the world. I just dont understand the way you work sometimes.
Its like you forget who I am, forget how I told you I wanted to touch the human soul and
breathe life into another persons art.
(Juliets voice gradually rises in pitch and intensity, her
anger and frustration bubbling over.)
You told me I was a jewel among women for saying those things. Dont you remember,
the night we first met? And now I feel like youve taken all that back, like youre stifling
me, like you cant live with anything if its not done your way!
(LIGHTS SHIFT to Rosalines room. Rosaline slams her
suitcase shut and leans forward.)
ROSALINE
Why do they think everything has to be their way?! I dont understand it! Im part of
this school, too. Shouldnt I get a say on my place in it?
(LIGHTS SHIFT to the courtyard. Rosaline is still
breathing heavily in her room.)

30.

ROM EO
Ill find a way to make it better, Juliet. I promise, Ill find a way. Just let me take you
away from here. Let me take you back to that night, just me and you with nothing
between us.
(LIGHTS SHIFT back to Rosalines room. Rosaline
glares at the door, but it is with a wounded anger. There is
more pain than hatred in her posture and voice.)
ROSALINE
I didnt come here to get married. I didnt think any of us did. We came here to learn, to
move toward something bigger than ourselves, to find the place where we fit into the
world.
(She closes her eyes and tilts her head back.)
And I found it, too. I know what I want with my life.
(She looks directly at the audience.)
Call me crazy if you want, but I know. I want to teach, but even more than that, I want
to be able to reach out to children who have no one else. Juliet knew.
(She looks down at her suitcase.)
She didnt laugh at me, either, when I told her I wanted to become a nun. A missionary
nun, I guess you might say.
(Juliet scoots closer to Rosaline on the bed and places her
hand on Rosalines.)
JULIET
(firm, focused)
No, I didnt laugh. I was a little nervous at first, Ill admit. I thought maybe you should
talk more with your Father Confessor about it, and well, I thought a lot of things. But I
trusted you. Now I kind of wish Id trusted you with more.
(Rosaline starts and jerks away from Juliet, pale and stiff.
She puts her hands over her ears.)

31.

ROSALINE
I am not going crazy. Lord have mercy, its like staying here is literally driving me insane.
(LIGHTS SHIFT to the courtyard. Romeo curls his
fingers in his hair.)
ROM EO
Agh, this is driving me insane!
(He jumps to his feet.)
Ive got to find her. Ive got to fix this before its too late.
(Romeo exits stage left. LIGHTS SHIFT to Rosalines
room. Juliet scrambles to her feet and tries to touch
Rosaline reassuringly in some way, but she cant.)
JULIET
(nervous, speaking too fast)
Oh, gosh, Rosa, thats not what I meant! I meant... No, thats not it. I wanted to talk to
you, okay? Please! I need to talk this out with you. Please dont be afraid...
ROSALINE
Im not sure if I want to hear her voice again or if that will only make it worse.
(Rosaline lets her hands drop to her sides slowly.)
Oh, Julie! Im not sure about this, you know. It feels an awful lot like running away, and
you know I told you never to run away. I told you to be strong. I just, I dont know if I
can anymore. Not with you so recently gone.
JULIET
Well, Im doing my best to come back if youd just listen to me!
(She scrubs her hand over her face.)
Im gonna have to work on this. If only-(She stops herself before finishing the thought. Fire truck,
ambulance, and police car sirens wail in the distance,
quickly moving closer. Juliet and Rosaline jerk to
attention and exit stage right at a run. Blackout.)

32.

SCENE 6
(LIGHTS UP on Chorus member as a policeman standing
in the center of the stage. The rest of the stage should be
dark except for M ontague House, which should glow
with an orange-ish red light. M ontague House takes up
most of stage right, and the buildings entrance faces the
stages center. This is the Houses front entrance, which
looks out on an open field and the road leading off
campus. The front of the building is in flames, and a fire
truck sits upstage, keeping the fire at bay with a water
hose. In one hand, Chorus member holds a flashlight and
scans the stage with it. He listens in to his radio and nods
a couple of times.)
CHORUS M EM BER
Ive got everyone moved to the other side of the building, and were doing a full
evacuation just in case we cant get this thing under control.
(The radio crackles, a quick question.)
Yes, we identified the witness. Kingsleys questioning him now, and well work on
getting a warrant in the morning. Okay. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
(LIGHT FOLLOWS Chorus member as he walks around
the back of M ontague House, giving it a wide berth, and
exits. For a moment, the stage is dark except for the
headlights of the fire truck and the glow of the burning
building. LIGHTS UP on Rosaline and Juliet as they
enter downstage from the right. Rosaline is using her
phone as a flashlight. She gasps and crosses herself after
the Roman Catholic fashion.)
ROSALINE
M other of God! What on earth happened?
JULIET
(under her breath)
Id bet my tongue whoever did it was a Capulet. I told Romeo that our deaths hadnt
really changed anything!

33.

(Rosaline looks around, looking for someone, anyone.

Juliet stays close to her, hovering like a protective
guardian angel.)
ROSALINE
Everyone must be in the courtyard, away from the fire. Heavens, I hope no one got hurt!
(She shakes her head.)
Well, I shouldnt just stand around here. They might need help back there calming the
younger students and getting them out of the way. Theres no telling what kind of chaos
is going on.
(LIGHT FOLLOWS Rosaline as she goes to exit the way
she came. Juliet trots after her. The Chorus member as
M r. Riviera enters and collides with Rosaline. Romeo is
trailing the Chorus member and instinctively jumps back
from the collision. If he enters the light, it should be only
for a moment, not long enough for Juliet to notice. Chorus
member and Rosaline should stumble off-balance for a
moment, but Chorus member grabs Rosalines shoulders
and rights her.)
CHORUS M EM BER
M ercutio, is that you?
ROSALINE
M r. Riviera? What are you doing here? Shouldnt you be helping the other teachers with
the M ontague students?
CHORUS M EM BER
The M ontague students?
(There is a slight pause. Chorus member stares at
Rosaline, puzzled. Rosaline folds her arms over her chest
and gives him a pointed look.)
Ah yes, the M ontague students! You mean with the evacuation and all. Well, Im sure
they can handle all that without me. Tell me, have you seen M ercutio?

34.

ROSALINE
(suspiciously)
Not since this morning. Why?
CHORUS M EM BER
Oh, dash it all, because hes missing, thats why! I thought perhaps he had wandered
around here since he used to spend a lot of time with the M ontagues-JULIET
Or maybe he went to the theater because he knows hes supposed to have rehearsal.
CHORUS M EM BER
--but...
ROSALINE
He wasnt here?
JULIET
Good grief, its like everyones forgotten one of the most important chunks of his life!
(Romeo steps around toward Juliet.)
ROM EO
(with a hint of jealousy)
Everyone but you apparently.
(Juliet starts and takes a step back, not trusting, not
wanting him there.)
CHORUS M EM BER
I didnt get the chance to look. Now if youll excuse me, Ill be on my way. I suggest you
return to your dorm before curfew.
(As Chorus member turns to leave, Romeo runs up to
Juliet and takes her hands.)
ROM EO
Im sorry, Julie. I didnt mean... I didnt mean to say that. It just kind of slipped out. Oh
gosh.

35.

ROSALINE
It was you who saw the fire first, wasnt it? You called the police in. Who did this, M r.
Riviera?
CHORUS M EM BER
(stiffly)
I dont know. Good evening, Rosaline.
(Chorus member exits. Rosaline scowls.)
ROSALINE
Teachers!
(Rosaline exits, following after Chorus member. Juliet
turns her face away from Romeo and nods toward the
exit.)
JULIET
Hes lying.
ROM EO
I know. I was looking for you when the cops pulled him aside to ask some questions.
JULIET
You were?
ROM EO
Yeah. I wanted to apologize. Im sorry I got so angry at you. I shouldnt have yelled and
let myself get so upset. And...and I think youre right now, about the school. I told you
that they didnt need us anymore, but its not fixed yet. I know that now.
JULIET
Because you know who set your House on fire, is that it?
ROM EO
Dont be like that, Julie. Are you even listening to me?
JULIET
Yes. You were trying to apologize and tell me why I was right about the school. Go on.

36.

ROM EO
Juliet! Gosh, darn it, why am I even trying?
(Romeo turns away from her and makes nervous, agitated
motions. Juliets posture loosens slightly, but she does
not approach him.)
JULIET
Well, who was it?
(Romeo turns to face her.)
ROM EO
What?
JULIET
Who set the House on fire? I know it was a Capulet. I guessed that. And I can see it in
your eyes, like you dont want to hurt me by saying the name.
(Romeo looks down, self-conscious.)
It was Tybault, wasnt it? I cant think of anyone else whod be hot-headed enough for
the job. But I thought he was expelled! Didnt you overhear some of the kids talking
about it earlier today?
ROM EO
M hm. Turns out he snuck back on campus. Guess he wasnt satisfied with the Houses
being at peace.
(He kicks the ground and paces a little bit.)
God, it almost makes me want to haunt him forever instead of staying here!
JULIET
Why dont you? You could haunt him, you know. Do anything you want to do.
ROM EO
But I wouldnt have you. I came to make things right between us, Juliet, to help us find
our way back to each other. Granted, Im still not sure this school is the best place for us,
but I can see that they need us now. I want to help them, just like you wanted me to.

37.

JULIET
No, I wanted to help them. Cut the crap, Romeo. All this talk is about you, you, but this
isnt about you, its about me! You came here to apologize to me, and I dont think
youre really sorry at all! This whole time, you havent asked me once, not once, about
what I think or want or anything. So you want to stay here now? Thats great. Thats
freaking fantastic! But what do you think Im going to be doing while youre going around
saving everybody from their own insanity, hm? You think Ill just be trailing along and
doing whatever you say?
ROM EO
Actually, I think you should leave.
JULIET
(disgusted)
Oh my God!
ROM EO
Would you hear me out on this?
JULIET
I dont really want to, no.
ROM EO
Please, Julie, just listen!
JULIET
Why should I listen to you when youve ignored literally everything Ive said or tried to
do since we died? Why?
(Romeo is confused at first, but realization starts to dawn
as the LIGHTS FADE to blackout.)

SCENE 7
(Romeo and Juliet have not moved. They remain still,
frozen in place. M ontague House is no longer burning.
The fire truck has done its work and is still. LIGHTS UP
GRADUALLY on the stage as the other characters enter
and take their places. The stage should not be fully lit
until at least most of the characters are present.

38.

M ercutio enters from stage right behind Romeo and

Juliet. He faces the audience.)
M ERCUTIO
I want to be an actor, but my brain has forgotten how. I know, but I cannot remember.
They tell me to stop trying to remember.
(Chorus member as M r. Riviera enters from stage right
and walks past M ercutio. He also faces the audience.)
CHORUS M EM BER
I want the war to end, but I am reminded of it every day.
(He glances at M ercutio quickly, angrily, and then turns
back to the audience.)
We thought reason, disguised as passion, had won. That victory was a lie.
(Rosaline enters from stage right, moving close to Juliets
position but still remaining upstage. She faces the
audience.)
ROSALINE
I want to teach, but they have other plans for me.
(She turns her head and glares at Chorus member.)
Why did they let me come here if it wasnt going to change what I did?
(Narissa enters from stage left, and walks toward
Rosaline. She keeps her distance and looks at her
wistfully.)
NARISSA
All I wanted was for the children of my friends to find love. It was something I never had.
I was only trying to save them.
(A scrim begins to descend slowly, separating Romeo and
Juliet from the others onstage. Everything that happens
behind the scrim should happen at the same time as
Romeo and Juliets conversation.

39.

There should be no breaks separating the action that is

simultaneously occurring on the two different planes of
existence.)
JULIET
I want you to answer me, Romeo! You dont get to brush this away. Why should I have
to listen to you?
(Romeo looks away from her, hunching over and curling
in on himself.)
ROM EO
I dont know.
JULIET
You dont know? Is that the best you can do?
ROM EO
I dont know! Damn it, Juliet, its not like Ive had to think about it before. Youve
always listened to me! Its not a should or should not thing, its the way it is, for Petes
sake.
(Juliet looks ready to attack, and Romeo senses he said
something wrong. He adopts a pleading tone.)
Or at least the way it always has been! You cant bust me for that.
(As the scrim is descending, Chorus member finds
M ercutio and leads him off stage right.)
JULIET
Yes, I can, and I am!
ROM EO
Well, what do you want from me? Do you want me to kneel, to grovel? Do you want me
to beg at your feet for forgiveness because I erroneously believed you wanted me to take
charge? I dont have the answer this time, Julie, okay? There, I said it. Is that what you
wanted?
JULIET
I want you to listen to me.

40.

ROM EO
Well, Im listening as hard as I can right now, I swear on my own damn grave.
(Behind the scrim, Narissa finds Rosaline and grabs her.
They struggle for a moment in a battle of words and
physical force, but Rosaline breaks free and exits stage
right. Narissa exits stage left, dejected.)
JULIET
I dont need you to act all self-righteous for taking charge as you say. I...I want your
help for some things. Sometimes I feel like I need it.
ROM EO
(exasperated)
Then why-JULIET
Dont! Interrupt!
(Romeo and Juliet fume at each other for a moment,
nostrils flaring and looking like they want to break
something.)
ROM EO
I-(He stops himself from speaking and turns away, trying
to keep his emotions under control.)
JULIET
You what?
ROM EO
Nothing.
(Juliet nods and presses forward.)

41.

JULIET
What I was going to say was that even though sometimes I feel like I need you and
everything seems more stable when Im around you and I love it when you take care of
me, its not always that way. Sometimes--ooh--sometimes, I really dont need your help,
and I know exactly what I want to do without you telling me!
(Romeo looks back at her, confused again.)
ROM EO
Wait a minute. Are you saying that you still love me?
JULIET
Well, yeah, but thats not the point. Did you hear anything I just said?
(Romeo takes her hands.)
ROM EO
But Julie, that is the point for me. I thought I was losing you to this place, that staying
here meant you didnt want to stay with me.
JULIET
Why would you think that?
ROM EO
I...I dunno. Didnt you ever feel like some places were us and some places werent?
Didnt you ever get that connection?
JULIET
Not really, no. You mean like the mill? I cannot stand your fixation on that place.
ROM EO
But I need that place, Julie. Just like you need the people here.
JULIET
We cant have both, Romeo. I understand that now. I didnt before.
ROM EO
No, I think we can. Not all at the same time, but we can work both in. Work together.
Work for each other.
(Juliet turns away from him slowly, nervously.)

42.

JULIET
I dont know.
(Romeo walks up behind her and wraps his arms around
her slowly, carefully, afraid hell do something wrong
again. She lets him, but she doesnt lean into him.)
ROM EO
M e neither. But we could give it a go. Please.
(Juliet hesitates for a moment. She closes her eyes and
leans back into Romeo.)
JULIET
Okay. Ill give you one go. Well come back here later and try.
ROM EO
What do you mean later?
(Juliet steps away from Romeo and turns around to face
him. Not quickly or with a lot of excitement and gusto.
She is calm, weighing options and confirming things
within herself.)
JULIET
Its too late to give it a go today. We should go back to the mill tonight, maybe practice
some before we come back.
ROM EO
You really mean that?
JULIET
Yeah, I think so.
(They dont embrace. They simply smile at each other,
nervous but expectant. Blackout. End of play.)