Romeo and Juliet

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(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS)

(HORSE WHINNYING)

(CROWD CHEERING)

NARRATOR:
Two households,

both alike in dignity,

in Fair Verona,

where we lay our scene,

from ancient grudge

break to new mutiny,

where civil blood

makes civil hands unclean.

And so the prince

has called a tournament

to keep the battle

from the city streets.

Now rival Capulets

and Montagues,

they try their strength

to gain the royal ring.

(WHINNYING)

Ride, cousin!

(CHUCKLES)

(CROWD CHEERING)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

(WHINNIES)

(SNORTS)

(SPITS)

We here declare Mercutio,

from the house of Montague,

our champion.

And so I bid you all

enjoy the day.

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

NURSE:
Juliet?

Juliet, please.

My lady and my lord

will soon be home

with news of

the tournament.

Then hurry, nurse.

Why do you dally so?

Oh, I should so hurry

till my heart gives out.

Your heart is made

of sterner stuff than that.

Your heart is made

of sterner stuff...

(JULIET CHUCKLES)

...that you should laugh

to see me so wore out.

I keep you fast to make you

young and strong.

SERVANT:
Here,

what about this one?

- (GRUNTS)

- (GLASS SHATTERS)

Do you not choke to see Lord

Tybalt bested by a Montague dog?

Leave it. The quarrel

is between our masters.

The quarrel is between

our masters and us, their men.

(SPITS)

Stop!

(GRUNTING)

Stop!

Put down your sword!

You know not what you do.

Hold up there.

Turn now, Benvolio,

and look upon thy death.

Tybalt, I do

but keep the peace.

Put up your sword or manage it

to part these men with me.

What? Do you draw your sword

and talk of peace?

I hate the word

as I hate hell,

all Montagues and thee.

MONTAGUE:
Back, Tybalt!

You argue with a child.

Turn now and fight

your equal if you dare.

(GRUNTING)

Old Montague doth flourish

his blade in spite of me!

- No!

- Enough!

SERVANT:

The prince! The prince!

Rebellious subjects!

Stop this!

Enemies to peace would stain

the pleasure of a tournament

with bitter blood?

Throw your ill-tempered weapons

to the ground...

...and hear the sentence

of your angry prince.

Three civil brawls,

bred of a foolish word by thee,

Lord Capulet or Montague,

have thrice destroyed

the calm of our streets.

If ever you disturb

our town again,

your lives will pay the price

for the offense.

You, Capulet,

you go along with me.

And, Montague,

come you this afternoon.

And now, on pain of death,

all fighting men depart.

(SNORTS, WHINNIES)

- Good afternoon, my cousin.

- Is it so?

I thought it should be night.

Not much past 4:
00.

When I am sad,

the hours seem long.

(HAMMERING)

What sadness

lengthens Romeo's hours?

I lack the thing which, if I had

it, would make them short.

I see. You're in love.

- How was the tournament?

- It served its turn...

...to launch another

clash with Capulets.

So you must fence with hate,

and I with love.

Love is a harsh tyrant

where he rules.

(SIGHS) Love is a smoke,

raised on the fume of sighs,

a madness drenched in syrup

and choked with rage.

May I not know

who it is you love?

I love a woman.

- That much I found unaided.

- Who loves me not.

Sweet cousin, say not so,

but may I have a name?

Rosaline.

Rosaline?

- The niece of Lord Capulet?

- The same.

Be ruled by me

and forget to think of her.

Oh, teach me how I

should forget to think.

Love will not

call on you but once,

nor stay forever

when he comes.

Release your eyes.

Be glad she does not care.

- Examine other beauties.

- To what purpose?

Cousin, I pray

you change your mind.

My child is still a stranger

to this world.

Let two more summers

wither in their pride

before we judge her right

to be a wife.

Younger than she

are happy mothers now.

Juliet is my only living child.

She's the hopeful lady

of my earth...

...but woo her, gentle Paris.

Win her heart.

Now, Peter, sir,

come hither, pray.

Take this list...

...of the last and final names,

search them through Verona,

bid them come

to feast and welcome

at my house this night.

Go.

- (PEOPLE CHATTERING)

- (DOGS BARKING)

PETER:
Find out those men

whose names are written here.

I must first find out

what names he here has writ.

Pray you, sir.

Can you read?

Aye. If I know the letters

and the language.

Stay, fellow.

I can read.

"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, Count Tybalt,

and Lucio and lively Helena,

my fairness, Rosaline."

What assembly is this?

A masked gathering tonight

at our house.

- Who's house?

- My master,

the great Lord Capulet.

If you not be

of the House of Montague,

you're right welcome

for your help.

I bid you thanks.

So Rosaline sups

with Capulet this night.

Do but compare her face

with some I know,

and I will make you think

your swan a crow.

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.

Hmm.

Now, stay here.

Heavens, child.

- What are you thinking?

- Go, go, go on.

Make haste. The guests

will be long gone

ere you are ready

to receive them.

(SIGHS)

What is it, Mother?

Juliet...

- ...you're a woman now.

- (CHUCKLES) Not a woman.

Well,

she's nearly a woman.

Nearly, but not yet.

Nurse, I know

my daughter's age.

I think of her birth

as if 'twere yesterday.

I remember, too,

one day when she did fall

and cut her brow,

my husband, rest his soul,

picked up the child.

"Why do you fall

on your face?" says he,

"You will fall backward

when you have more wit."

And looking up at him,

the child said, "Yes."

Enough of this. I pray you,

hold your peace.

Yet, madam, I must laugh

to think a child

could stop crying like that

and then say "yes" to Jack.

Nurse, I pray you, stop.

I beg.

Peace, I have done.

But I must say,

you were the prettiest babe

I ever nursed till now.

If I could live to see you wed,

I'll have my wish.

And that is the very theme

that I came to talk about.

Tell me, daughter,

what do you think of marriage?

- I never think of it.

- Well, think of it now.

Younger than you

are mothers.

I was your mother, too,

when I was your age.

I know it.

Count Paris wants you

for his wife and love.

Count Paris?

So, daughter...

- ...can you love the man?

- I hardly know him.

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.

I'll look and try to like him,

if that is my parents' wish.

ROMEO:
Should we attempt

to talk our way inside

or sweep past in a crowd

without a word?

Say nothing,

lest you say too much.

We will not challenge them

for fear they challenge us.

We'll enter,

take the lady's measure,

and having taken it,

depart.

MERCUTIO:
Nay, gentle Romeo,

we must see you dance.

ROMEO:
Not I, Mercutio.

You have the dancing shoes

and dancing feet to fill them.

My soul is made of lead.

It sticks me to the ground,

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