Romeo and Juliet Page #2

---

I cannot move.

You are a lover.

Borrow Cupid's wings and fly.

(MAN ANNOUNCING

THE ARRIVAL OF GUESTS)

ROMEO:
But should we enter?

I start to fear some consequence

yet hanging in the stars

shall bitterly begin

this fearful date.

Maybe we should consider

what we do.

I dreamed a dream last night.

(CHUCKLES) And so did I.

Well, what was yours?

That dreamers often lie.

In bed asleep,

where they do dream things true.

Ha! Then I see Queen Mab

has been with you.

She is the fairies' midwife,

and she comes in shape no bigger

than an agate stone

on the forefinger

of an alderman,

drawn with a team

of little atomies,

athwart men's noses

as they lie asleep.

Her chariot

is an empty hazelnut,

and in this state,

she gallops night by night

through lovers brains,

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 dream.

Peace, peace,

Mercutio, enough.

You talk of nothing.

True, I talk of dreams,

which are the children

of an idle brain

begot of nothing

but vain fantasy,

which is as thin

of substance as the air

and more inconstant

than the wind.

Much more of this,

and we shall be too late.

Come, let us brave our

fears and steer our course.

Whatever it may prove.

On, lusty gentlemen.

- (LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING)

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Welcome, gentlemen.

Ladies that have their toes

unplagued with corns

will walk about with you.

(LAUGHTER)

I welcome you all.

Come, musicians play.

(DANCING MUSIC BEGINS)

CAPULET:
A hall, a hall.

Make room.

Methinks we have

the pick of what's on show.

They all look hungrier

than a starving dog.

- (BARKS)

- (CHUCKLES)

PARIS:
My lady Juliet.

Count Paris.

Can I beseech that you will

pity me enough to dance

and warm my evening

with a heavenly smile?

Keep your unmannered hand

for lesser prey...

...and leave the fair one

to her own device.

Is that not Rosaline?

Aye, it is she.

Should you not start

to make your case?

My case? When you

carried me hither,

that I might see

I have no case to make?

Go, you speak with her.

The Montagues

in Capulet's domain?

Messer Benvolio,

have you all run mad?

He that I stand for has run mad

for love of your green eyes.

Since Romeo is here,

why is he in need of deputies?

Of course, he means

to plead his cause himself.

(SCOFFS) Indeed.

From where we stand,

he looks well occupied.

(VOCALIZING)

The lady Rosaline

is well disposed

but trembles

for your safety.

ROMEO:
What lady is that

who doth enrich

the hand of yonder knight?

I do not know.

But Rosaline...

Oh, she does teach

the torches to burn bright.

It seems she hangs

upon the cheek of night

like a fine jewel

in an Ethiope's ear.

Beauty too rich for use,

for earth too dear.

So shows the snowy dove

trooping with crows,

as yonder lady o'er

her fellow shows.

But what of your old love,

Rosaline?

Did my heart love till now?

Forswear the sight.

I never saw true beauty

till this night.

- Sirrah, I must protest.

- I have a prior claim.

WOMAN:
Count Paris,

come dance with me.

What claim is that?

The claim of love

that ever must be heard.

Then shall I take

advantage of this turn,

try my chances

with fair Rosaline?

(LAUGHS)

Now, by the shield

and honor of my blood,

to strike him dead,

I hold it not a sin.

Why, how now, Tybalt,

why storm you so?

Uncle, the man Juliet

is with is a Montague.

- Young Romeo, is it?

- (APPLAUSE)

It's him,

that villain Romeo.

Content thee,

gentle coz.

Let him alone.

You heard the prince's

warning at the joust.

To harm a Montague

under this roof means riot,

and in its bloody wake,

our deaths.

I would not for

the wealth of all the town

let any harm beset him

in my house.

I'll not endure it.

You will endure it,

for I say you will.

Am I master here or you?

You'll make a mutiny

among the guests.

You will set cock-a-hoop,

you'll be the man!

- Uncle, 'tis a shame!

- Go to, go to.

You shall contrary me.

You are a princox, go.

Good my lord husband,

why are you so hot?

He may be hot,

but I am hotter still

to see a Montague

at leisure here.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES:

The Morisca!

Morisca?

Why, what a perfect

dance for our amusement.

To find the dance

that's fit for Romeo,

we first need to put

a rope around his neck.

Nay, cousin, come,

tread a length with me,

and I shall coax you

into company.

Lead her, gentle nephew,

in a country dance

that we may see your

anger is forsworn.

(SCOFFS)

If you so order, Uncle,

but be warned,

this foul invasion,

that you think so sweet,

shall turn to bitter gall

before the end.

(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYS)

(PANTING SOFTLY)

Speak, sir.

You are too grave for one

who cuts a country dance.

If I profane with

my own worthiest hand

this holy shrine...

...my lips,

two blushing pilgrims,

ready stand to smooth that rough

touch with a tender kiss.

(SIGHS)

Good pilgrim,

you do wrong your hand too much.

Which mannerly devotion

shows in this,

for saints have hands

that pilgrim's hands do touch,

palm to palm

is holy palmers' kiss.

Have saints not lips,

and holy palmers, too?

Aye, pilgrim, lips that

they must use in prayer.

Oh, then, dear saint,

let lips do what hands do.

They pray,

grant thou, lest faith

turn to despair.

Saints do not move,

though grant for prayers' sake.

Then move not...

...while my prayers'

effect I take.

Thus from my lips,

by yours, my sin is purged.

Then have my lips the sin

that they have took.

Sin from my lips?

Oh, trespass sweetly urged.

Give me my sin again.

You kiss by the book.

Madam... your mother

craves a word with you.

Who is her mother?

Her mother is

the lady of the house.

- You mean she's a Capulet?

- She is.

And I tell you,

he that can lay hold of Juliet

shall have the chinks.

Oh, my dear God.

My life is my foe's debt.

(GRUNTS)

Know you the man

my cousin has made welcome?

Nay, but he would seem

a goodly youth.

Goodly and deadly.

He is Romeo,

- hope of the House of Montague.

- (GASPS)

Come hither, Nurse.

Who is that gentleman

going through the door?

His name is Romeo

and a Montague.

The only son

of your great enemy.

My only love sprung

from my only hate.

To early seen unknown

and known too late.

What's this? What's this?

It's nothing.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

A somber face

to wear after a ball.

If I am young,

must I always be glad?

No blaggard then, has

cracked your peace of mind?

- What blaggard would this be?

- None I would name...

...nor let their name

be spoken in this house.

Cousin, I love thee.

Tybalt, I know it.

Your honor is as dear

to me as life.

(SIGHS)

And with that warming thought,

I'll take my leave.

- (OWL HOOTING)

- (DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE)

MERCUTIO:
Romeo?

BENVOLIO:
Romeo!

Can I go home

when all my heart is here?

BENVOLIO:
Cousin Romeo?

MERCUTIO:
Romeo?

Should I go home

when all my heart is here?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote