Romeo and Juliet Page #5

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I've sent a letter writ

to Romeo, whom you consort with.

Consort with? (LAUGHS)

What? Do you imagine us

a pair of minstrels?

For if you do,

expect the sharpest notes.

Here's my baton that

shall make you dance.

"Consorts," indeed.

Mercutio, Tybalt,

this is a public place.

Either withdraw into

some private place

and there dispute

your grievance,

or else, and better yet,

go home.

Men's eyes were made to look

and let them gaze.

I will not budge

for no man's pleasure, I.

Whoa...

- (GRUNTS)

- Peace be with you, sir.

- Here comes my man.

- MERCUTIO:
Your man?

I do not see him

in your livery.

How dare you call

a Montague your man!

Benvolio!

- Is something here amiss?

- TYBALT:
Romeo!

The hate I bear thee can afford

no better term than this:

Thou art a villain.

Tybalt, the reason

that I have to love thee

does much excuse

the appertaining rage

to such a greeting.

Villain am I none.

Therefore, farewell.

I see you know me not.

Boy! This will not temper

the injuries you have done me.

Therefore, turn and fight.

I do insist I never

injured you, but loved you

better than you'll understand,

till you do know the reason.

So, good Capulet,

a name I love as dearly

as my own, be satisfied.

A smooth, dishonorable,

vile submission!

Tybalt. (SPITS)

You rat catcher.

Will you walk this way?

What do you want from me?

Good king of cats,

just one of your nine lives.

You have it to spare,

with eight to use hereafter.

What, do you dither now

to draw your sword?

Make haste or I will

pluck you ere it's out.

- I am for you.

- No, Mercutio, I beg you,

- put your sword down.

- MERCUTIO:
Come, sir.

Are you ready?

Let's begin.

ROMEO:
Mercutio, stop! Benvolio,

help me hold them back!

We must stop! Please!

Mercutio! Tybalt!

(GRUNTING)

Gentlemen, for shame!

Stop this brawl now!

You know the prince

has made his wishes clear:

an end to fighting

in Verona's streets!

Tybalt, good Mercutio, hold!

It is time for peace!

(GROANS)

Let's away.

I am dead.

Is Tybalt gone

with no wound to bear?

ROMEO:
You, sir, run to my

father's house! Fetch a surgeon!

Tybalt!

Romeo!

Villain! Dog!

If thou art brave,

come settle with me, boy.

Have courage, man.

The wound cannot be much.

No.

'Tis not so deep as a well,

nor so wide as a church door,

but 'tis enough.

'Twill serve.

Ask for me tomorrow, and you

shall find me a grave man.

I am peppered, I warrant,

for this world.

Why the devil came you

between us?

He stabbed me

under your arm.

I thought all for the best.

Our best intentions

pave the way to hell.

To hell with

the Montagues and Capulets...

...whose angry war

has stolen all my days.

Plague on both your houses.

(MERCUTIO GASPING)

He's dead.

His gallant spirit

is among the clouds.

Stay here, Benvolio.

Be what help you may.

I have some business

with a new relation.

No! But, Romeo, stay!

ROMEO:
Tybalt!

Let him pass.

What, Romeo? Is it cowardice

that holds you back?

(GASPS)

(GROANS)

Many have died

in this place, Montague.

Befriend their spirits

while you still have time.

They wait to welcome you

with open arms.

They wait for one of us.

That much is sure.

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTING)

Cousin!

- We're here, Tybalt.

- We're here for you, sir.

Leave us!

(GRUNTING)

- (TYBALT GROANS)

- No!

MAN:
My Lord! My Lord?

(GASPING)

(WHEEZING EXHALE)

BENVOLIO:
Romeo, away!

The gods themselves are angry.

Tybalt's killed!

- MAN:
Tybalt is slain!

- Don't stand there dazed. Go!

The prince will have your head

if you are taken. Go!

Oh, I am fortune's fool.

MAN:
Romeo, begone.

Away you now!

(CROWD CLAMORING)

(CLAMORING CONTINUES)

LADY CAPULET:

Tybalt, my nephew.

He was my brother's child.

See how the blood is spilled

of my dear kinsmen.

Prince, as you are true,

for blood of ours,

shed blood of Montague.

Benvolio, who began

this bloody fight?

Tybalt, here slain,

and I was witness how.

Romeo did beg him to desist.

Alas, nothing could stay

the rage of angry Tybalt,

whose ears were deaf to peace.

But what of the second act?

Mercutio lies dead,

and in his grief does

blinded Romeo entertain revenge.

He is a cousin

of the Montagues.

Affection makes him false.

Romeo killed Tybalt.

Romeo must not live.

Romeo killed him.

He killed Mercutio.

Who is the guilty man

in all this grief?

MONTAGUE:
Not Romeo, Prince.

He was Mercutio's friend,

and killed his murderer.

The very end the law

would have exacted.

(SIGHS)

This offense means we do now,

at once, exile him hence.

I will be deaf to

pleading and excuse.

Therefore, use none.

Let Romeo leave in haste.

For if he's found,

that hour will be his last.

(CRYING)

Did Romeo's hand

shed Tybalt's blood?

It did.

I weep to say it,

but it did.

And now the prince

has exiled Tybalt's murderer.

- No.

- Shame on your Romeo.

Blister your tongue!

Oh, what a beast I've

been to chide him.

Did Tybalt not first

stab Mercutio?

Will you speak well of him

that killed your cousin?

Shall I speak ill of him

that is my husband?

How stupid I have been to rail,

when now your news of him

is worse than Tybalt's death.

Worse than your cousin's death?

Indeed. You told me

Romeo is banished.

And that one word is greater

grief to me than Father, Mother,

Tybalt and myself

all dead and buried.

Stay in your room,

and I'll find Romeo.

I promise you

a husband for tonight.

Give this ring

to my true knight

and bid him come

to take his last farewell.

I will.

(SOBBING)

What have I done

but murdered my tomorrow?

In killing him

whom she most truly loved,

I have tried and sentenced

my own heart to death.

But if she can pity me

my suffering,

then were it worth

a thousand torments more.

Disasters follow you

like trusty dogs.

You must be married to calamity.

Tell me the prince's verdict.

Am I to die so young?

Not yet at least.

His judgment has more pity

than you dread.

He seeks to have you

banished and not dead.

Not banishment.

Be merciful, say "death,"

for exile has more terror in its

look, much more than death.

Do not say "banishment."

All he asks is that

you leave Verona.

It's not so much.

The world is broad and wide.

There is no world

beyond the city's walls.

Just purgatory, torture,

hell itself.

And exile is

another word for "death."

The prince's kindness

is a golden axe

that cuts my head off.

Rude, unthankful boy.

The prince, in gentleness,

overturns the law!

This is sweet mercy,

and you see it not!

'Tis torture and not mercy.

Heaven is here,

where Juliet lives,

and every cat and dog

and little mouse,

every unworthy thing,

live here in heaven and may look

on her, but Romeo may not.

More validity,

more honorable state,

more courtship lives

in carrion flies than Romeo.

And they may seize on the white

wonder of dear Juliet's hand.

I mean, flies may do this,

but I from this must fly.

They are free men,

but I am banished.

Cease, Romeo,

in your ingratitude.

You cannot talk

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