ACT I: Scene 2 A Street
(Enter CAPULET, PARIS,
and SERVANT.)
CAPULET
If both Montague and I are alike
and receive the same penalty, I do
not think we will have a hard time
keeping the peace.
PARIS
True, you are both honorable men,
and it is a shame that you have been
at this feud for so long. So, what
do you think about my proposition?
CAPULET
My daughter is only thirteen years
old. Let’s wait a couple more years
for her to mature, before we make
her a bride.
PARIS
Many girls younger than her are
mothers by now.
CAPULET
However, those girls marry too
young. My daughter means the
world to me. So, date her, Paris,
and try to win her heart, because
my consent means nothing, if she
does not agree. Why don’t you
come to my house tonight? We are
having a party and I have invited
many of my friends. One more
guest won’t hurt. You will be
surrounded by young girls, as many
as the stars in the skies. After that,
you may not have your heart set on
my daughter. Here is a list of the
guests.
(Hands SERVANT a paper.)
Go find the people on this list and
tell them they are invited to the
party. Come on, Paris. Let’s go.
(Exit CAPULET and PARIS.)
SERVANT
Find the guests on the list! A
shoemaker works in his yard, a
tailor works on his art, a fisher
works with his pencil and a painter
works with his nets! Me, I am sent
to find his guests whose names I
cannot make out. I must learn to
read, eventually! Here comes
someone to help.
(Enter BENVOLIO and
ROMEO)
ACT I: Scene 2 A Street
BENVOLIO
Hey, one man loses a lover while
another one gains, and one finds
pain while another one is taken
away. Don’t be so hard on
yourself. Look up. If you find a
new girl, you will feel better.
ROMEO
You think you know the cure for
what ails me.
BENVOLIO
Cure for what?
ROMEO
My broken leg.
BENVOLIO
Are you crazy, Romeo?
ROMEO
Only crazy in love, crazy like a
locked-up madman hungering for
food and tortured every day.
(To SERVANT)
Hello.
SERVANT
Good evening, sir. May I ask if you
can read?
ROMEO
I can read my fortune and it is
miserable.
SERVANT
Perhaps you have graduated from
the school of hard knocks, but can
you read words?
ROMEO
If I know the language, I can read
it.
SERVANT
Wise guy, eh? Well, have a good
day.
ROMEO
Stay, man. I’m just in a foul mood.
I can read.
(Reads)
Sir Martino and his wife and
daughters; Count Anselmo and his
beautiful sisters; the widow of
Vitruvio; Sir Placentio and his
lovely nieces; Mercutio and his
brother Valentine; mine uncle
Capulet, his wife, and daughters; my
fair niece Rosaline; Livia; Sir
Valentio and his cousin Tybalt;
ACT I: Scene 2 A Street
Lucio and the lovely Helena. A
good list you have here.
(Returns the paper.)
For what is this list?
SERVANT
A party, sir.
ROMEO
A party? Up. Where?
SERVANT
A dinner party is being thrown at
our house.
ROMEO
Whose house?
SERVANT
My master’s house.
ROMEO
I should have asked who your
master was in the first place.
SERVANT
I’ll tell you. My master is the great
and rich Capulet, and if you are not
related to the Montagues, then
come to the party. Good Evening!
(Exit SERVANT.)
BENVOLIO
Rosaline is going to be at the party
with all of the other beautiful girls
of Verona. Let’s go and compare
her to the others. I’ll show you she
is not as perfect as you think.
ROMEO
Finding someone as beautiful as her
is impossible. Even speaking of
such a thing makes you a liar and
makes me want to tear out my eyes.
The sun has never set upon another
as beautiful as Rosaline.
BENVOLIO
Well, it won’t hurt to just look. If
you don’t see anyone as beautiful,
fine, but if you do…
ROMEO
Fine, I’ll go with you, but only to
see my love.
(Exit BENVOLIO and
ROMEO)