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ROMEO
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 is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
JULIET
Ay me!
ROMEO
She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
ROMEO
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET
What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
JULIET
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
ROMEO
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 let to me.
JULIET
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
ROMEO
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
JULIET
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
ROMEO
I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;
And but thou love me, let them find me here:
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
JULIET
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
ROMEO
By love, who first did prompt me to inquire;
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far
As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea,
I would adventure for such merchandise.
JULIET
Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'
And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries
Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light:
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
ROMEO
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
ROMEO
What shall I swear by?
JULIET
Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
ROMEO
If my heart's dear love--
JULIET
Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract to-night:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night!
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!
ROMEO
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
JULIET
What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
ROMEO
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
JULIET
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again.
ROMEO
Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
JULIET
But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
Nurse calls within
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
Exit, above
ROMEO
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
Re-enter JULIET, above
JULIET
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite;
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
Nurse
[Within] Madam!
JULIET
I come, anon.--But if thou mean'st not well,
I do beseech thee--
Nurse
[Within] Madam!
JULIET
By and by, I come:--
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send.
ROMEO
So thrive my soul--
JULIET
A thousand times good night!
Exit, above
ROMEO
A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from
their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Retiring
Re-enter JULIET, above
JULIET
Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer's voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
With repetition of my Romeo's name.
ROMEO
It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
JULIET
Romeo!
ROMEO
My dear?
JULIET
At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?
ROMEO
At the hour of nine.
JULIET
I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
ROMEO
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
JULIET
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
ROMEO
And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
JULIET
'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no further than a wanton's bird;
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.
ROMEO
I would I were thy bird.
JULIET
Sweet, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night! parting is such
sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Exit above
ROMEO
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
Exit
Excerpted from Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare.
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ROMEO
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
Romeo's question is answered as out onto the verandah comes Juliet. She is still clad in her angel robe, but without
the halo and wings. She slowly descends to pool level.
ROMEO
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid, since she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it.
Juliet stands on the top step of the pool stairs. She is
directly below Romeo as he whispers.
ROMEO (CONT.)
Cast it off!
Juliet sits on the edge of the pool, her legs dangle in the
water.
ROMEO (CONT.)
It is my lady. O, it is my love!
O that she knew she were!
Juliet sighs.
JULIET
Ay me!
ROMEO
(whispers)
She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel!
Juliet looks longingly toward the stars.
JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo! - Whyfore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
CLOSE ON: Romeo. Incredulous.
ROMEO
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou are thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is not hand nor foot
Nor arm nor face nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
Romeo wildly calls:
ROMEO
I take thee at thy word!
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptised.
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Romeo jumps down from the wall. Juliet screams, and turns,
toppling backwards. Romeo grabs her hand but her momentum overbalances him and they both plunge headlong into the pool.
EXT. CAPULET MANSION - POOL - UNDERWATER. NIGHT.
Underwater shot: A slow motion phosphorescent tangle of
arms, legs and bodies.
EXT. CAPULET MANSION - BACK GARDEN. NIGHT.
CUT TO: A security guard. Alerted by the noise he moves
toward the pool area.
EXT. CAPULET MANSION - POOL GARDEN - NIGHT.
CUT TO: Above water, real time: Romeo and Juliet surface
spluttering. Juliet thrashes the water in an attempt to get
distance from her attacker.
JULIET
What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night,
So stumblest on my counsel?
Romeo: A calming gesture as he tries to tread water.
ROMEO
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself
Because it is an enemy to thee.
The ferocious barking of a guard dog arrests the teenagers
attention. A moment, then they slide beneath the water.
CUT TO: The security guard and dog appearing above the pool area.
GUARD'S P.O.V.: The rippling surface of the water.
CUT TO - UNDERWATER SHOT: Romeo and Juliet submerged, hair streaming, stare at each other like two beautiful fish.
CUT TO: The guard. He can see noisy caterers cleaning up
around the other side of the house. Frowning, he returns
the way he came.
CUT TO: Romeo and Juliet. Gasping for air, they cautiously
surface. A moment - then Juliet, a small smile.
JULIET
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
Juliet looks nervously toward the house. She drags Romeo
toward a small grotto at the end of the pool.
JULIET
How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and whyfore?
The garden walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art.
ROMEO
(with splashy bravado)
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.
Juliet drags Romeo firmly into the grotto.
JULIET
(a real fear)
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Romeo slowly pulls Juliet toward him.
ROMEO
I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes.
And but thou love me, let them find me here.
My life were better ended by their hate
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
The lovers kiss long and deep. Then Juliet, suddenly
fearful, pushes Romeo away.
JULIET
Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek,
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form - fain, fain deny
What I have spoke. But farewell compliment!
Dost thou love me?
Romeo tries to speak, Juliet silences him.
JULIET (CONT.)
I know thou wilt say 'Ay',
and I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swearest,
Thou mayst prove false. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
I'll frown, and be perverse, and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo. But else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
And therefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light.
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
ROMEO
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops -
JULIET
O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
ROMEO
What shall I swear by?
JULIET
Do not swear at all.
Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
She touches his cheek. Romeo moves his lips close.
ROMEO
If my heart's dear love -
Confused, Juliet breaks away.
JULIET
Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'it lightens.' Sweet, good night.
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast.
She rushes up the stairs - Romeo follows desperately.
ROMEO
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Juliet - a shocked look.
JULIET
What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
CLOSE ON: Romeo.
ROMEO
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
CLOSE ON: Juliet. She runs joyously to Romeo.
JULIET
I gave thee mind before thou didst request it!
Kissing him passionately.
JULIET (CONT.)
And yet I would it were to give again.
ROMEO
Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose love?
JULIET
But to be frank and give it thee again.
They kiss again. The Nurse calls from inside.
NURSE (O/S)
Juliet!
Juliet looks to the house.
JULIET
(breathlessly)
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy bent of love be honourable.
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
NURSE (O/S)
Madam!
JULIET
I come, anon - But if thou meanest not well,
I do beseech thee...
NURSE (O/S)
Madam!
JULIET
(to Nurse)
By and by I come!
To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief.
Tomorrow will I send.
Romeo holds Juliet's gaze.
ROMEO
So thrive my soul.
NURSE (O/S)
Madam!
Juliet breaks away.
JULIET
A thousand times good night!
With a final kiss, Juliet runs inside.
ROMEO
A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books;
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Juliet re-appears at the upper balcony.
JULIET
Romeo! What o'clock tomorrow
Shall I send to thee?
ROMEO
By the hour of nine.
Juliet unclasps a delicate silver necklace from around her
neck.
JULIET
I will not fail. 'Tis twenty year till then.
Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow.
That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.
She lets the necklace fall from her hand. Romeo catches it
and she is gone.
ROMEO
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast,
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest.
Excerpted from the 1996 screenplay, Romeo + Juliet (1996), written by Craig Pearce & Baz Luhrmann, which was adapted from William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.
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