Modern Romeo and Juliet Script Casts: Prince Escalus PRINCE OF VERONA Paris A YOUNG COUNT Montague HEAD OF THE HOUSE OF MONTAGUE Capulet HEAD OF THE HOUSE OF CAPULET Romeo MONTAGUE’S SON Mercutio KINSMAN TO THE PRINCE, FRIEND TO ROMEO Benvolio NEPHEW TO MONTAGUE, FRIEND TO ROMEO Tybalt NEPHEW TO LADY CAPULET Juliet DAUGHTER TO CAPULET Nurse to Juliet Lady Montague WIFE TO MONTAGUE Lady Capulet WIFE TO CAPULET Friar Lawrence OF THE FRANCISCAN ORDER, FRIEND TO ROMEO Friar John OF THE FRANCISCAN ORDER Balthazar SERVANT TO ROMEO Sampson & Gregory SERVANTS TO CAPULET Abraham Citizens, Revellers And Others
Prologue Chorus: 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: From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star crossed lovers take their life: Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
Hmm... I am not really sure if you understand this, let me rephrase with a more modern version; In Verona there are two families that have hated each other for a long time. They yell in the streets (1. Down with the Capulets!), and (2. Down with the Montagues!) There is a fight in the street that is so disruptive that the Prince, tired of this violence, lays down the law: (3. If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit.)
Scene 1 A street ENTER SAMPSON and GREGORY of the house of Capulet, in conversation. GREGORY: Here come two of the house of Montague. ENTER two other servingmen, ABRAHAM and BALTHAZAR SAMPSON: I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it. [He bites his thumb1] ABRAHAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON I do bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON [to GREGORY] Is the law of our side if I say ay? GREGORY No. SAMPSON No sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAM You lie.
SAMPSON Draw if you be men. They FIGHT. ENTER BENVOLIO2 BENVOLIO Part, fools. Put up your swords, you know not what you do. CHORUS, TYBALT, etc. enter and fight. Both the Montagues and the Capulet enters and looked at each pther. The couples remain either side of the stage, the women holding their husbands back either by force, argument or childish with-holding of weapons. The SERVANTS, BENVOLIO and TYBALT remain in combat with the CITIZENS, centre stage ENTER PRINCE ESCALUS PRINCE (V.O.): Stop! No more fighting. SERVANT: Why should we do as you say? PRINCE: Because I am the Prince! This is not a democracy. No fighting! ( Romeo sits as BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO enter.) Meanwhile, Romeo has been staying out all night and sleeping all day because he is in love with Rosaline who doesn’t love him back. His friends, Benvolio and Mercutio are headed for a party at the Capulets’ house. It's a masked ball, so they all can sneak in undetected and no one will know who they are. Benvolio is excited because the ball will give Romeo a chance to get over Rosaline. ROMEO: Oh, woe. Woe! Woe! I am feeling emo today. Woe woe woe! BENVOLIO: Whoaaaaa, what’s up with you? ROMEO: Oh woe, woe, woe is me! I love Rosaline but she won’t love me back. Look, I wrote a love poem for her: Am I more than you bargained for yet I've been dying to tell you anything you want to hear Cause that's just who I am this week Lie in the grass, next to the mausoleum I'm just a notch in your bedpost But you're just a line in a sonnet MERCUTIO: Romeo, you’re so lame. BENVOLIO: Hey! Capulet’s holding a party tonight! Let’s sneak in and see a bunch of Capulet women knowing full well that if we get caught we shall be killed!
M/B: Yeah! MERCUTIO: This reminds me of a dream I once had! About Queen Mab and her symbolism! BEVOLIO: Oh nonsense. MERCUTIO: Blah di blahblah, symbolism, blah blah blah, fairies, night, motifs, blah da blahblah! (They drag him offstage)
SCENE 2 NURSE ties a corset on JULIET. NURSE: Pull it in Juliet, pull it in! JULIET: I’m sucking as hard as I can! Nurse, why are you pulling my corset so tightly? NURSE: So that you might marry Count Paris. Lady Capulet; Faster girls!! The party is going to start soon! Count Paris is attending tonight, you better look good! (People run in noisily.) NURSE: Oh look, the party’s started! JULIET: Am I released? NURSE: Yes. There, at this party, is where Romeo first sees Juliet. (6. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!) They dance. They kiss. She says, (7. You kiss by the book.) Only at the end of the party do they learn that the other is from their own family’s hated enemy. It’s too late, they are in love with each other. Romeo sneaks away from his friends, climbs the wall into the Capulet’s orchard, and sees Juliet at her window (8. But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?) Juliet, not knowing Romeo is nearby, says (9. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?) They confess their love to each other, but Juliet is called inside. Romeo says, (10. Wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?) Juliet says, (11. If that thy bent of love be honorable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.) They enlist the help of Juliet’s Nurse to send messages and Friar Lawrence to marry them. At Capulet’s house: Opera singers.. then change to Waltz (ROMEO mourns.) BENVOLIO: Romeo, are you still being emo? ROMEO: Yes. (sees Juliet) Who is that? BENVOLIO: I don’t know ROMEO: She’s beautiful. BENVOLIO: Want to go talk to her. ROMEO: Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
MERCUTIO: Yeah, she’s pretty hot. Maybe you should go talk to her. ROMEO: I seems she hands upon the cheek of night, BENVOLIO: I hear a sonnet coming on. ROMEO: Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear, BENVOLIO: This is where I leave. ROMEO: Beauty too rich for use, for earth, too dear. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. Ohhhhhhh TYBALT: Hmm.. that guy must be a Montague, I shall kill him/ Lord Capulet: Not so fast Tybalt. Let us see what he is up to. (Over at JULIET. ROMEO sneaks up behind her and talks to her. Startling Juliet) ROMEO: Don’t scream dear lady. JULIET: Ooh, you’re cute. ROMEO: You are like a holy shrine. I would like to kiss you. JULIET: Well, if we hold hands it’s like hand-kissing. ROMEO: But I’d much rather lip-kiss. NURSE (O.S.): Juliet! Juliet! JULIET: oh no. Too bad! (She runs away.)
ROMEO (Aside) I am in love! ROMEO I wish I caught her name. NURSE: That’s Juliet, the only daughter of Lord Capulet. In a room JULIET I am in love! But what’s his name? NURSE His name is Romeo. He’s a Montague. ROMEO A Capulet, my only enemy? JULIET A Montague, my only enemy? BOTH No!!
SCENE 3 Balcony. JULIET: (overdone) Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou, Romeo. Deny Thy Father and Forbid thy name, Or if thou wilt not be but sworn my love, and I shall no longer be a capulet! Roooooooomeo, Rooooooomeo wherefore arrrrrrrrrrrrr thou Rooooooooooooomeo. Denyyyyyyyyyyyy they fatherrrrrrr and forbiiiiiiiiiiiiid thy naaaaaaaaaaaame. Or iiiiiiiiiiif thou wilt noooooooooot, be but swoooooooooorn my looove, and I shall nooooooooo longer beeeeeeee a Capulettttttttttt. ROMEO: Juliet!!! JULIET: Are your intentions honorable? ROMEO: Yes. JULIET: Swear it. ROMEO: I swear by the moon— JULIET: Swear not by the moon! The inconstant moon! Always changing in its shape and position in the sky. Swear by something else. ROMEO: What should I swear by? JULIET: Swear by your own sweet self. ROMEO: I swear by my own sweet self— JULIET: No! ROMEO: What? ROMEO: I… I swear… JULIET: You know what, don’t even BOTHER swearing! ROMEO: That’s what I— JULIET: Let’s just get married. ROMEO: What? JULIET: Let’s get married. Big white wedding, pretty dress, fancy chapel… ROMEO: Isn’t that a bit fast? JULIET: Honeymoon… ROMEO: Honeymoon? JULIET: I was thinking a week in Venice, a few days on the canals, with pink rose petals and a small musical ensemble— ROMEO: I am going to make a rash, hormonally-charged decision and say yes! NURSE (OS): JULIET! JULIET: Oh not again!!. Good bye my Romeo! ROMEO: Goodbye my Juliet! Pause. JULIET: You go first. ROMEO: No you go first. JULIET: No you go first! Pause. JULIET: We’ll go at the same time.
ROMEO: Okay. They turn around as if to leave, then both stop. They look over their shoulder.
SCENE 4 Romeo runs up to Friar. ROMEO: Friar Lawrence! (Trips)Friar Lawrence! FRIAR: (Without bothering to look) For the last time Romeo, I can neither create a love potion for Rosaline; the clergy does not condone witchcraft. Nor can I ask God to appear to her in a vision demanding that she love you. God doesn’t work that way. ROMEO: Brother! FRIAR: What? ROMEO: I’m getting married. FRIAR: What? ROMEO: I am getting married. FRIAR: What did you put in her drink? ROMEO: Not to Rosaline you senile old man. FRIAR: I beg your pardon— ROMEO: To Juliet! The fair, fair Juliet! FRIAR: Who? ROMEO: You know old Capulet, right? FRIAR: What did you put in her drink? ROMEO: Nothing! We are to be married. FRIAR: I’m not doing it. ROMEO: But Brother Lawrence. FRIAR: No! Yesterday you’re like, Oh Friar Lawrence, I love Rosaline, get me Rosaline—Rosaline, Rosaline, Rosaline. And now you’re all, Oh, I want Juliet. Give me Juliet. And Romeo, I know you, tomorrow you’ll be all, oh, I want Ophelia, give me Ophelia, annul me Brother Lawrence. You’re a stupid hormonal teenager thinks only with your… I won’t marry you. ROMEO: Please? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease? FRIAR:No, I—(Epiphany) Wait. If you marry Juliet, then your families will have to make up. And there will be peace throughout the land! ROMEO: Tight. I’ll see you at nine. FRIAR: There will be a happy ending to the story of Romeo and Juliet! SCENE 5
Even so, the feud continues. In the town square, Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, comes looking for Romeo. Mercutio takes the bait. (12. Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?) Tybalt angrily answers, (13. I am for you.) They fight. Romeo tries to peacefully break them up, but only gets in Mercutio’s way, allowing Tybalt to stab Mercutio. Mercutio dies, and Tybalt runs away. A few minutes later, (14. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again!) In a fury, Romeo kills Tybalt. He immediately realizes his horrible mistake and says, (15. O, I am Fortune’s Fool!) The Prince banishes Romeo to Mantua for killing Tybalt. TYBALT: Hello. I am Tybalt, the Prince of Cats. Hiss. ROMEO: Cousin! TYBALT: Hiss. ROMEO: Cousin! TYBALT: Hiss. MERCUTIO: Dude, are you gonna let him just stand there and hiss at you? ROMEO: Yes, for I love him! He is my cousin now! TYBALT: Hiss. MERCUTIO: Stop being a pansy Romeo. Take him! TYBALT: Hiss. MERCUTIO: God dammit Romeo, must I do everything! (They clash for a second, then Tybalt slays him) MERCUTIO: (mumbled) A plague on both your houses. ROMEO: What? MERCUTIO: (mumbled) A plague on both your houses. ROMEO: Your statement contains both symbolism and foreshadowing; please say it louder! MERCUTIO: A plague on both your houses! A plague on both your houses! A plague on both your houses! A plague on both your houses! A plague on both your houses! (Tybalt sidles over and low-key stabs him. He collapses) ROMEO: Mercutio! Mercutio! You. Tybalt! My name is Romeo Montague. You killed my Mercutio. Prepare to die. TYBALT: This is not good! Epic fight scene. ROMEO stabs him ROMEO: oh NO! PRINCE (V.O.): BANISH-ED ROMEO: No Way!
SCENE 6 JULIET: Oh, I do love being married. NURSE: Julliet. I have a bad news. Romeo has killed Tybalt your cousin! And now he is banished to Mantua! JULIET: What? Oh,, No my Romeo.... I will follow him!
SCENE 7 Before Romeo leaves Verona, he spends the night with Juliet. As he climbs out her window the next morning, she says (16. Then, window, let day in, and let life out.) Juliet’s parents burst in to inform her that they have arranged for her to marry the County Paris. She says (I’ll not marry yet.) Her father, angry that Juliet is refusing him, says, (18. Hang thee, young baggage, Disobedient wretch!) and tells her that if she won’t marry Paris he will cast her into the streets to beg. JULIET: Sigh. Romeo had to leave so he wouldn’t die. How depressing. (Nurse walks in.) NURSE: Juliet, guess what! You’re getting married! To Paris! JULIET: What? No! I’m already married! To Romeo! NURSE: Too bad! You father has arranged for you to get married with Paris! (She leaves. JULIET goes to the friar) Juliet and the Friar come up with a plan. Juliet will take a potion in order to appear dead so her parents will put her body in their funeral monument. Then Friar Lawrence will fetch her and take her to Mantua. Juliet takes the potion (19. Romeo! Here’s drink – I drink to thee.) It works. Her nurse and her mother find her in the morning (20. Alack the day, she’s dead, she’s dead, she’s dead!) They put her body in the tomb.
JULIET: Friar! What do I do? FRIAR: Here Juliet. Drink this and you will look dead. Romeo will know to come for you. JULIET: How will he know? FRIAR: I will send my trusty brother Friar John who is currently preaching to plague victims to go to Romeo and tell him! JULIET: Alright! (Takes drink) CLERGY ASSISTANT: Um, Friar Lawrence? John can’t go. He has the plague. FRIAR: He has the what?
FRIAR: Oh no. Juliet don’t— JULIET: Mmm tastes like— (She falls asleep.) FRIAR: (to assistant) You. We were never here. Scene 7 In Mantua, Romeo gets the news that Juliet is dead. He buys some poison and heads to the tomb to join Juliet in death. Friar Lawrence is on his way to the tomb, as well, to get Juliet and take her to Mantua. Paris is also heading to the tomb to mourn his almost-wife. Paris gets there first, and tries to defend the tomb from Romeo. Romeo kills him (21. O, I am slain!). Then Romeo drinks his poison and bids Juliet a final farewell (22. Here’s to my love... thus with a kiss I die.)
ROMEO: No! My beloved wife of twenty-four hours! She’s dead! I shall drink this poison and die. (He drinks it. Juliet awakens) JULIET: Oooh, I am awake. And look, here’s Romeo! ROMEO: Wait, you’re... you’re not... I didn’t have to... oh no...(They lock eyes. He dies.) Friar Lawrence arrives to find Romeo dead, Juliet waking up, and the city of Verona on its way to see what the commotion was. He tries to console Juliet and hurry her away (23. I’ll dispose of thee among a sisterhood of holy nuns), but Juliet refuses to leave. Friar Lawrence runs away, and Juliet decides to join Romeo in death. (24. O, happy dagger, this is thy sheath.) They are discovered by their families who finally see that their quarrels have gone too far. They vow to make peace, for (25. Never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.)
