Romeo and Juliet Page #3

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- BENVOLIO:
Romeo!

- (MERCUTIO LAUGHS)

MERCUTIO:
Romeo?

Romeo?

Cousin Romeo?

He is wise, and on my life,

has stolen home to bed.

He ran this way.

(SIGHS) I know

he's jumped the wall.

Let's call him,

good Mercutio.

Romeo?

Suitor!

Madman!

He jests at scars

that never felt a wound.

But soft, what light through

yonder window breaks?

It is the east,

and Juliet is the sun.

Arise, fair sun

and kill the envious moon

who's already sick

and pale with grief

that thou, her maid,

are far more fair than she.

(BIRD SINGING)

Wait...

...it is my lady.

Oh, it is my love.

Oh, that she knew she were.

The brightness of her cheek

would shame the stars

as daylight doth a lamp.

Her eyes set in heaven

would give forth such light

that birds would sing

and think it were not night.

See how she leans her

cheek upon her hand.

Oh, that I were a glove

upon that hand

that I might touch

that cheek.

Ah, me.

She speaks.

Oh, speak again,

bright angel.

Oh, Romeo, Romeo,

where for art thou,

Romeo?

Deny thy father

and refuse thy name,

or if thou wilt not,

but be sworn my love,

and I'll no longer be

a Capulet.

Shall I hear more

or shall I speak at this?

'Tis but thy name

that is my enemy.

You'd be yourself

if you were not called Montague.

What's in a name?

That which we call a rose by any

other name would smell as sweet.

So Romeo would.

Romeo, cast off thy name,

and for that name,

which is no part of you,

take all of me.

- I take you at your word.

- (GASPS)

Call me your love, and I'll be

new baptized henceforth.

- I never will be Romeo.

- What man are you

that hides within the shadows

of the night to spy on me?

I know not how to

tell you who I am.

My name, dear saint,

is hateful to myself

because it is an enemy to you.

I have not heard you

speak a hundred words,

yet I do know the sound

of that sweet voice.

Are you not Romeo

and a Montague?

Neither, dear love,

if either you dislike.

Why have you come?

This place is death if any

of my kinsmen find you here.

With love's light wings

did I o'er perch these walls...

...for stony limits

cannot hold love out,

and what love can do,

that dares love attempt.

Therefore thy kinsmen

are no stop to me.

To see you look severe

more frightens me

than 20 of their swords.

(SIGHS)

Look you but sweet, and I am

proof against their enmity.

I would not for the world

they saw you here.

But I would not have missed

the words you spoke.

(SIGHS)

I blush to think

what you have heard tonight.

If I should ask you now

for vows of love,

I know you would say

aye...

...but if you swear,

you may prove false.

They say that Jove does laugh

at lovers' perjuries.

And will you now

call me too fast?

When had you not heard me,

I should be slow as ice.

Romeo, trust me,

and I will prove more true

than those who play the game

with far more cunning wit.

Lady, by yonder moon I swear

that tips with silver

all the fruit tree tops.

Oh, swear not by the moon,

the inconstant moon

that monthly changes

in her circled orb,

lest that your love prove

likewise variable.

What shall I swear by?

Do not swear at all,

and listen hard.

Are we too rash,

too unadvised, too quick?

No, for this bud of love

in summer's breath

will prove a beauteous flower

when next we meet.

- I promise.

- NURSE:
Juliet?

Go and good night,

and let sweet rest come to your

heart and mine within my breast.

But will you leave me

so unsatisfied?

What satisfaction

would you have tonight?

The exchange of your love's

faithful vow for mine.

I gave you mine

before you did request it.

NURSE:
My lady?

- Madam?

- Anon, good nurse.

Sweet Montague, be true.

Stay here a while,

and I will come again.

I'm afraid all this is

but a dream.

Too flattering sweet

to be substantial.

Think if your love be pure,

your purpose marriage?

It is, my lady.

Then I will send to you

to learn my fate,

where and what time

we will perform the rite,

and all my fortunes

at your feet I lay

and follow you, my lord,

throughout the world.

NURSE:
Juliet!

My lady?

A thousand times,

good night.

A thousand times the worse,

to miss your light.

- Romeo.

- My love.

(SIGHS)

What time tomorrow

shall I send to you?

- At 9:
00.

- I will not fail.

'Tis 20 years till then.

I have forgotten

why I called you back.

Let me stand here

till you remember it.

I should forget

to have thee still stand there,

remembering how

I love thy company.

And I'll still stay

to have thee still forget,

forgetting any other

home but this.

(SIGHS)

Good night, good night.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Let us just say good night

till it be morrow.

Sleep dwell upon thine eyes,

peace in thy breast.

Oh! Lady, come in.

You will catch a chill.

Would I were sleep and peace,

so sweet to rest.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

The earth is nature's mother

and her tomb.

Within the petal trim

of this small flower,

poison has residence

and medicine power.

Boiled and mixed, the smell

will bring us health.

- And swallowed?

- The result is instant death.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Good morning, Father.

Romeo!

Up and about in early morn.

I do not look to see

the young at dawn.

Care keeps the old awake

and wakes them soon,

but young men sleep

a golden sleep till noon.

Or if they don't,

and here I'll guess it right,

our Romeo hath not been

in bed tonight.

That last is true,

but a sweet rest was mine.

God pardon sin.

Were you with Rosaline?

(LAUGHS)

Ah, I pray you were not

playing Satan's game.

Who is Rosaline?

I have forgot the name.

That's good, my son.

Where then have you been?

I'll tell you,

'ere you ask it me again.

Oh, Father,

know my heart's desire

is set on the fair daughter

of rich Capulet.

As mine on hers,

so hers is set as well.

And how we met and woo'd,

and how I fell I'll say

as we walk back.

But this I pray:

you consent to marry us today.

(GASPS)

Holy St. Francis!

What a change is here.

Why is she cast off,

that you did love so dear?

Jesu Maria!

What a deal of brine

has washed your sallow

cheeks for Rosaline!

You scolded me for

loving Rosaline.

I scolded you

for moping like a child.

I'd not believe

you'd tasted true love's joy.

Then scold no more, for God has

taught me now to know true love,

and Juliet has her face.

Speak you so,

though she be a Capulet?

What care I for

the quarrels of the past?

Or rivalries now

buried in the tomb?

Well, well.

If this could carry

all before...

...I think I see a chance

to end the city's strife.

If, as I pray, your marriage

should prove sweet,

you'll turn your families'

rancor to pure love.

Come... you waverer,

and go along with me.

I'll grant your wish...

...and be your wedding priest.

MERCUTIO:
Where then

is our Romeo?

Did he come home last night?

Not to this house.

I've spoken with his man.

Mercutio, there's news.

Tybalt has sent a letter here,

addressed to him.

A challenge on my life.

Which Romeo will meet.

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