Scene 5.
At the ball, Romeo and Juliet fall in love; each is appalled to learn the identity of the other. Juliet's cousin Tybalt realizes who the masked interloper is; he is only restrained from challenging Romeo by Capulet, who will not let him harm a guest.
ACT II
Scene 1.
Romeo hides in Capulet's orchard. Mercutio and Benvolio give up searching for him and leave.
Scene 2.
Romeo overhears Juliet at a window, speaking of her love for him. He affirms his love for her and they agree to marry that day.
Scene 3.
Romeo goes to the cell of Friar Laurence and tells him of his new love. The Friar is struck by the young man's fickleness, but agrees to marry him to Juliet, hoping that the union will turn their "households " rancour to pure love.
Scene 4.
Mercutio and Benvolio find Romeo. They joke together and then turn their attentions to teasing Juliet's Nurse who has come in search of Romeo. He sends a message to Juliet, telling her to meet him at Friar Laurence's cell that afternoon.
Scene 5.
Juliet waits impatiently for her Nurse. When the old woman finally returns, it takes some time to prize the message from her.
Scene 6.
Romeo and Juliet meet at Friar Laurence's cell to be married.
ACT III
Scene 1.
The irate Tybalt stops Benvolio and Mercutio on the street. Romeo, aware of his new, special bond with the Capulets, has no desire to fight. Mercutio is frustrated by Romeo's passivity and fights with Tybalt. He is mortally wounded. Romeo kills Tybalt and escapes immediately. On hearing Benvolio's account of events, Prince Escalus decides not to condemn Romeo to death, but rather to send him into exile.
Scene 2.
Juliet is devastated by the news of the fight. She sends the Nurse to bring her husband to her before he flies the city.
Scene 3.
The Nurse finds Romeo, distraught, in Friar Laurence's cell.
Scene 4.
Capulet agrees that Paris should be married to Juliet next Thursday.
Scene 5.
Romeo goes to Juliet and stays with her till dawn, when he must flee from the city. Capulet tells her of her forthcoming marriage to Paris. Juliet objects, and her furious father says he will throw her out of his house if she refuses to obey. Juliet's nurse counsels pragmatism, suggesting that under the circumstances the girl may as well marry Paris.
ACT IV
Scene 1.
Juliet goes to Friar Laurence who devises a plan to solve her terrible predicament. She should agree to marry Paris; the Friar will then give her a special liquid which she must drink the night before the wedding; this will send her into a sleep so deep that she will appear dead. Later, she will be taken to the family vault where she will regain consciousness. In the meantime Romeo will have been told all and will be ready, on her awakening, to take her to Mantua.
Scene 2.
Juliet tells her father that she will marry Paris.
Scene 3.
Full of trepidation, Juliet takes the Friar's potion.
Scene 4.
The house is busy with wedding-preparations.
Scene 5.
The Nurse discovers Juliet's seemingly lifeless body and excitement turns to grief. Friar Laurerice instructs them to take the girl to the Capulets' tomb.
ACT V
Scene 1.
Believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo's servant hurries to Mantua to tell his master. The grief stricken Romeo goes to a poor apothecary who sells him illegal poison.
Scene 2.
Meanwhile, Friar John, who was to deliver Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo, returns to Friar Laurence explaining that he was detained in Verona and could not get to Romeo.
Scene 3.
Paris goes to the Capulet vault to put flowets on Juliet's beir. He finds Romeo there who, bound up in his grief, begs Paris to leave. They fight and Paris is killed. Romeo finds Juliet's inert body. He embraces her and swallows the poison. Friar Laurence arrives and urges the waking Juliet to fly with him. He is frightened away by the approaching watch. Juliet sees Romeo dead. She takes his dagger and stabs herself. Watchmen enter and send for Prince Escalus, the Montagues and Capulets. When Friar Laurence has explained everything, Montague and Capulet realize too late the effect of their feud and make amends, promising to erect gold statues of the lovers.
END
