ACT III.i.123-195 O, I am Fortunes fool!

A public place BENVOLIO (nervously) Here comes the furious Tybalt back again ROMEO (with anger and hate, shouting) Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now! Re-enter Tybalt Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, That late thou gavest me; for Mercutios soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, most go with him. TYBALT (spitting out words, with hate) Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. ROMEO (confidently) This shall determine that. They fight; TYBALT falls
Center stage, facing audience Gripping onto sword with fear Center stage, facing audience; next to Benvolio Grabbing for sword

From Left wing to Center stage, next to Romeo Romeo draws sword quickly; Benvolio scrambles to hide behind a box/crate (Upstage right)

Romeo points sword at Tybalt Romeo and Tybalt step forward, still center stage

Slowly draws sword

Romeo and Tybalt fight with swords; Romeo stabs Tybalt in the chest; Tybalt collapses dramatically to the ground (between Center and Downstage center)

BENVOLIO (afraid, anxious) Benvolio runs out from behind box and to Romeo Romeo, away, be gone! Bends down to examine Tybalts body The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stands up and pushes Romeo away Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death, If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away! ROMEO (with worry and regret) O, I am fortunes fool! BENVOLIO (disappointed, with a sigh) Why dost thou stay? Exit ROMEO Enter Citizens, & company
Looks up and throws hands into the air

Turns back and looks down at Tybalt Romeo exits toward Left wing; Benvolio paces near Tybalt anxiously Enter Left wing, to Center stage with Benvolio

FIRST CITIZEN (out of breath, angry) Which way ran he that killd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? BENVOLIO (morosely) There lies that Tybalt. FIRST CITIZEN (urgently) Up sir, go with me; I charge thee in the princes name, obey.

Stumbling to Benvolio, Center stage

Nods head toward Tybalts body

Benvolio nods to say yes

Enter from Left Wing; Prince to Center behind Tybalts body facing audience, Lady Capulet to Tybalt, kneeling; Enter Prince, attended; MONTAGUE, CAPULET, their Benvolio Center, facing Prince and audience; First Citizen Wives, and others walks to Left center stage, watching

PRINCE (loud, authoritatively) Where are the vile beginners of this fray? BENVOLIO (grief-stricken) O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

Stands straight; Hands on hips

Kneels onto ground in front of Prince, in reverence

Holds Tybalt close, still kneeling on ground LADY CAPULET (with grief, in tears) Nearly cries Tybalt, my cousin! O my brothers child! O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is split O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. O cousin, cousin!

PRINCE (loud, authoritatively) Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? BENVOLIO (rushed, dramatically) Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeos hand did slay; Romeo that spoke him fair Could not take truce with the unruly spleen Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutios breast, Romeo he cries aloud, Hold friends! friends, part! and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm

Looks at Benvolio

Uses hand to gesture toward Tybalt Still kneeling, looking at Prince Stands up Steps forward as If tilting, hand on sword Places hand on chest Holds arms in the air, acting as Romeo Draws sword and reenacts fight

An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; But by and by comes back to Romeo, And to t they go like lightning, for, ere I Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain. And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. LADY CAPULET (with hate) He is a kinsman to the Montague; Affection makes him false; he speaks not true: Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life. I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give; Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live. PRINCE (questioningly, pondering) Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? BENVOLIO (innocently, defensively) Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutios friend; His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt. PRINCE (seriously) And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence: I have an interest in your hates proceeding, My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; But Ill amerce you with so strong a fine That you shall all repent the loss of mine: I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when hes found, that hour is his last. Bear hence this body and attend our will: Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. Exuent

Acts out one final blow with the sword

Reenacts fighting again, quickly Looks at Tybalt with a hint of sadness Put sword back in place Raises hand in allegiance, other hand over heart

Still holds on to Tybalt Looks up at Prince, then at Benvolio, alternating

Looks down at Tybalt, then at Benvolio

Shakes head Turn toward Tybalt

Point finger up in resolution/decision/declaration Hands back on hips; looks from Benvolio to Lady Capulet All but Prince look down respectively and listen, nodding heads

Waves hand to dismiss Benvolio, Lady Capulet End of scene. All exit to Left wing, including Tybalt