Juliet arrives at the Friar's to be met by Paris, who is busy discussing their wedding plans. The Friar suggests a dangerous solution (Act 4 Scene 1) He threatens to disown her when she asks for the marriage to be at least postponed, and she runs to the Friar for advice and help. Believing her grief to be for the death of her cousin, Juliet's father tries to cheer Juliet by arranging her immediate marriage to Paris. They are immediately parted though, as Romeo must leave for banishment in Mantua or die if he is found in Verona. The unhappy couple are parted (Act 3 Scene 5)Īrranged by the Friar and the Nurse, Romeo and Juliet have spent their wedding night together. The Prince arrives and, on hearing the full story, banishes Romeo rather than have him executed. As Romeo tries to break up the fight, Tybalt kills Mercutio and, enraged, Romeo then kills Tybalt. Romeo refuses to fight and his friend Mercutio is so disgusted by this 'cowardice' that the takes up the challenge instead.

Romeo meets Tybalt in the street, and is challenged by him to a duel. Romeo angrily kills Juliet's cousin, Tybalt (Act 3 Scene 1) Juliet tells her parents she is going to make her confession to Friar Laurence, meets Romeo there and, despite some personal misgivings, the friar marries them immediately. The wedding is held in secret (Act 2 Scene 5) This famous scene, known as the Balcony Scene, is numbered Act 2, Scene 2 in many editions. They reveal their mutual love and Romeo leaves, promising to arrange a secret marriage and let Juliet's messenger, her old Nurse, have the details the following morning. When everyone has left the party, Romeo creeps into the Capulet garden and sees Juliet on her balcony. Romeo risks death to meet Juliet again (Act 2 Scene 1)

Not knowing who she is, he falls in love with Juliet the moment he sees her, and she, equally ignorant that he is a Montague, falls just as instantly for him (this is Act 1, Scene 5 in many editions). Romeo is persuaded to attend a masked party at the Capulet household. The lovers meet for the first time (Act 1 Scene 4) Montague and Capulet servants clash in the street, the Prince threatens dire punishment if another such brawl should take place, and Romeo tells his friend, Benvolio, of his obsession with Rosaline. Act and scene numbers vary with different editions. We refer to the RSC Shakespeare edition of the plays. Every director will choose their own key moments in Romeo and Juliet depending on how they are interpreting the play. Here we've listed some important moments in the order in which they appear in the play.

Play script for romeo and juliet