Scene 2.1: Market Benvolio So Rosaline sups with Capulet this night.

Benvolio So Rosaline sups with Capulet this night. Do but compare her face with some I
know, and I will make you think you swan a crow.

{CURTAINS OPENS }
Romeo As if there could be fairer than my love. I'll go tonight, but only to rejoice and
worship at the glory of my choice.
[Seller sells merchandise]

[Romeo exits]
[Peter enters]

{CURTAINS CLOSES}
Peter Find out those men whose names are written here. I must first find out what

Scene 2.2: Juliet's Room

names he here has writ.

[Peter looks around and goes towards Romeo and Benvolio]

{CURTAINS OPENS }
Peter Pray you, Sir. Can you read?
[Juliet's together with her nurse and gentlewomen]
Romeo Aye. If I know the letters and the language.
Nurse Hmm.
[Peter goes away]
[smiles]
Romeo Stay.
[Juliet attempted to escape]
[grabs Peter and the letter]
Nurse Now, stay here.
Romeo Fellow. I can read.
[Lady Capulet enters.]
[Peter peeps at the letter]
Lady Capulet Heavens, child.
Romeo "Signor Martino and his wife and daughters, Count Anselme and his beauteous
sisters, the lady widow of Vitravio, Signor Placentio and his lovely wife, my nephew, [walks and faces Juliet]
Count Tybalt,
Lady Capulet What are you thinking?
[stops for a second then looks at Benvolio]
Nurse [to the gentlewomen] Go, go go on
[Benvolio looks at Romeo also]
Lady Capulet Make haste. The guests will be long gone ere you are ready to receive
Romeo and Lucio and lively Helena, my fairness, Rosaline." What assembly is this? them.

Peter A mask gathering tonight at our house. [Lady Capulet looks a little furious]

Romeo Whose house? [Juliet clearing]

Peter My master, the great Lord Capulet. If you not be of the house of Montague, you're Juliet Wha-What is it, Mother?
right welcome for your help. I bid you thanks.
Lady Capulet Juliet…
[Peter smiles and exits]
[smiles]
[Romeo looks at Benvolio]
Lady Capulet You're a woman now.
[Nurse laughs] Lady Capulet So, daughter…can you love the man?

Nurse Ho, ho not a woman. Juliet I hardly know him.

Lady Capulet Well, she's nearly a woman. Lady Capulet Then learn to know him at the feast tonight. Seek how you feel. Study his
eyes and read the message there. See…if you can be happy with him.
Nurse Nearly, but not yet.
Juliet I'll look and try to like him, if that's my parents' wish.
Lady Capulet Nurse, I know my daughter's age.
{CURTIANS CLOSE}
Nurse I think of her age as if 'twere yesterday.

[Nurse acts as if she's about to cry]

Scene 2.3: Outside the Capulet's house

[Nurse starts reminiscing excitedly]

Nurse I remember, too, one day when she did fall and cut her brow, my husband, rest {CURTAINS OPENS }
his soul, picked up the child. "Why do you fall on your face?", says he, "You will fall
[Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio enters]
backward when you have more wit.", and looking up at him, the child said, "yes.".

Romeo Should we attempt to talk our way inside or sweep past in a crowd without a
Lady Capulet Enough of this. I pray you, hold your peace.
word?
Juliet Yet, Madam, I must laugh to think a child could stop crying like that and then
Benvolio Say nothing, lest you say too much. We will not challenge them for fear they
say "yes" to Jack.
challenge us.
Juliet Nurse, I pray you, stop. I beg.
Romeo We'll enter, take the lady's measure, and having taken it, depart.
Nurse Peace, I have done. But, I must say, you were the prettiest babe I ever nursed till
Mercutio Nay, gentle Romeo, we must see you dance.
now. If I could live to see you wed, I'll have my wish.

Romeo Not I, Mercutio. You have the dancing shoes and dancing feet to fill them. My
Lady Capulet And that is the very theme that I came to talk about. Tell me, daughter,
soul is made of lead. It sticks me to the ground, I cannot move.
what do you think of marriage?

Mercutio You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings and fly.

Juliet I never think of it.

[stops walking]
Lady Capulet Well, think of it now. Younger than you are mothers. I was your mother,
too, when I was your age.
Romeo But should we enter? I start to fear some consequences yet hanging in the stars
shall bitterly begin this fearful date.
Juliet I know it.

Mercutio Maybe we should consider what we do.

[Lady Capulet sighs then smiles]

Romeo I dreamed a dream last night.

Lady Capulet Count Paris wants you for his wife and love.

Mercutio And so did I.

Nurse Count Paris?

Romeo Well, what was yours?

[Nurse exaggerates]

Mercutio That dreamers often lie.

Romeo In bed asleep, where they do dream things true. [Paris takes Lady Capulet's hands and danced with her]

Mercutio Ha! Then I see Queen Mab has been with you. She's the fairies' midwife, and [Juliet enters]
she comes in shape no bigger than an agate stone on the fore finger of the alderman,
[Romeo's mesmerized by juliet]
drawn with a team of little atomies, athwart men's noses as they lie asleep. Her chariot,
is an empty hazelnut, and this state, she gallops night by night through lover's brains,
[They look at each other's eyes]
and then they dream of love, o'er courtiers knees that dream on curtsies straight, o'er
lawyers fingers who straight dream on fees, o'er ladies' lips, who straight on kisses Paris My lady Juliet.
dream.
[Juliet looks back]

Romeo Peace! Peace, Mercutio! Enough. You talk of nothing.

Juliet Count Paris…

Mercutio True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain begot of
Paris Can I beseech that you will pity me enough to dance and warm my evening with a
nothing but vain fantasy, which is as thin of substance as the air and more inconstant
heavenly smile?
than the wind.

[Juliet and Paris danced]

Benvolio Much more of this, and we shall be too late.

[Romeo furious]
Romeo Come, let us brave our fears and steer our course. Whatever it may prove. On,
lusty gentlemen. Romeo [to himself] Keep your unmannered hand for a lesser prey…and leave the fair
one to her own device.
{CURTAINS CLOSE}

Benvolio Is that not Rosaline?

Romeo Aye, it is she.

Scene 2.4: Masquerade Ball
Benvolio Should you not start to make your case?

{CURTAINS OPENS }
[Romeo looks at Juliet]

[Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio enters]

Romeo [to Benvolio] My case? When you carried me hither, that I might see I have no

Lord Capulet Welcome, gentlemen. Ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns case to make? Go you speak with her.

will walk about with you.

[Benvolio walks to Rosaline]

[visitors laugh]
Rosaline The Montagues in Capulet's domain? Messer Benvolio, have you all run mad?

Lord Capulet I welcome you all. Come, musicians play.

Benvolio He that I stand for has run mad for love of your green eyes.

[musicians play]
Rosaline Since Romeo is here, why is he in need of deputies?

Lord Capulet A hall! A hall! Make room.

Benvolio Of course, he means to plead his cause himself.

[visitors dance]
Rosaline Hmph-Indeed. From where we stand, he looks well occupied.

Mercutio [to Romeo] Methinks we have the pick of what's on show. They all look
[Rosaline walks away]
hungrier than a starving dog. Grr-Arff.
[Benvolio walks back to Romeo] Lord Capulet You will endure it if I say you will. Am I the master here or you? Then go,
break into mutiny! You are the man! You shall contrary me! Princox go.
Benvolio The lady Rosaline is well disposed but trembles for your safety.
Lady Capulet My dear husband why are you so hot?
Romeo What lady is that who doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?
Tybalt He may be hot but I'm hotter to see a Montague at leisure here.
Benvolio I do not know. But Rosaline…
Lord Capulet Lead her, gentle nephew, in a country dance that we may see your anger
Romeo Oh, she does teach the torches to burn bright. Did my heart love till now? I
is forsworn.
never saw true beauty till this night.
Tybalt Tss-If you so order uncle, but be warned.
[Romeo walks to Juliet and danced with her while Juliet escaped from Paris' clutches]
[Tybalt and Lady Capulet goes off and dance]
Juliet What claim is that?
[Juliet grabs Romeo and exits]
Romeo The claim of love that ever must be heard.
{CURTAINS CLOSE}
Benvolio [to himself] Then shall I take advantage of this turn, try my chances with fair
Rosaline?

[Tybalt gets his sword] Scene 2.5: The Two Lovers

Tybalt Now, by the shield and honor of my blood, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
{CURTAINS OPENS }
[Tybalt stands]
[Romeo and Juliet enters]
[Lord Capulet holds him]
Juliet Speak, Sir. You are too grave for one who cuts a country dance.
Lord Capulet Why now Tybalt, why storm so?
Romeo If I profane with my own worthiest hand.
Tybalt Uncle, the man Juliet is with is a Montague.
Juliet Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much.
Lord Capulet Young Romeo, is it?
Romeo Have saints, not lips, and holy palmers too?
Tybalt It's him, that villain Romeo.
Juliet Aye, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
[Tybalt attempted to run off]
Romeo Oh then dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
Lord Capulet Content thee, gentle coz. [made Tybalt sit] Let him alone. You heard the
Juliet Saints do not move but grant prayers.
Prince's warning at the joust. To harm a Montague under this roof means riot, and it
means death for us. Not in my house.
Romeo Then move not…

Tybalt I will not endure it.

[the two interlock hands]

[Tybalt stands up]

Romeo While my prayer's effect I take.

[Lord Capulet furiously drags him]

[Romeo holds Juliet's face]

[Nurse enters]
Nurse Madam! [dumbfounded] your mother craves a word with you.

[Juliet kisses Romeo at the cheeks then exits]

Romeo [to Juliet] Who is her mother?

Nurse Her mother is the lady of the house.

Romeo You mean she's a capulet?

Nurse She is. And I tell you, he that can lay hold of Juliet shall have the jinks.

Romeo Oh, my dear God. My life is my foe's debt.

[Nurse exits]

{CURTAINS CLOSES}