Year 5 script for Romeo and Juliet

December 2012

Authors:

Act 1 – Sarah, Emily, Lizzie and Aimee

Act2 – Misty and Mollie

Act 3 – Marcus, Dermot and Thomas

Act 4 – Jasper and Luke

Act 5 – Maddie

Act 6 – Jasper and Luke

Act 7 – Joel and Seb

Act 8 – Ben and Roger

Act 9 – Matthew and Matty

Act 1- The party

Cast- Romeo, Nurse, Juliet, Tybalt and Lord Capulet (plus, two groups of dancers)

Setting- Capulet’s house is having a ball and chandeliers light up over the masked

dancers.

Narrator: On a warm summer’s evening, the Capulet household was the brightest

place in Verona. The walls of the ballroom were hung with tapestries, and the

candle-light, from a dozen chandeliers threw rainbows on to the heads of the

masked dancers as they twirled through the music.

Dancers: (girls on the left, talking, Juliet in the middle, men on the right, talking)

Romeo: (watching Juliet)

Tybalt and Lord Capulet: (stood at the back door with other men)

Narrator: On one side of the room, stood a young girl, Juliet, the daughter of

Lord and Lady Capulet. She removed her mask and loosened her black hair. Her

face, flushed from the heat of the dance, was radiant. She seemed unaware

someone was watching her.

Juliet: (removing mask and loosening hair)

Narrator: A few steps away, a young man stood gazing at her. He had never seen

such loveliness before in all his whole life.

Romeo: (gazing at Juliet, moving slowly towards her and lifting his mask,

whispering to himself). Surely I must be mistaken... Surely, if I look a SECOND

TIME... I will find that her eyes are too close together, her nose too long or her

mouth too wide! (pushing towards Juliet and taking her hand)

Juliet: (turning around to look at Romeo)

Narrator: Almost without thinking Romeo moved his way toward Juliet until he

found himself standing at her side. Gently he took her hand… Juliet turned her

head, her eyes wide with surprise.

Tybalt: (recognises Romeo, striding to the door)*

Narrator: On the other side of the room, Tybalt, Lord Capulet’s fiery young

nephew, recognised the young man who was holding Juliet’s hand.

Lord Capulet: (catching Tybalt’s arm) Where are you going?

Tybalt: To fetch my rapier, Lord Montague’s son, Romeo, has DARED to enter the

house.

Lord Capulet: LEAVE HIM!

Narrator: There was a terrible feud between the Capulets and the Montagues and

the Prince of Verona had forbidden any more fighting between the two families.

Tybalt: (raging) But tomorrow, Romeo will BOAST to his friends about how he

danced at the Capulet’s ball and escaped without being noticed! He will make us

look like FOOLS!

Lord Capulet: (putting hands on Tybalt’s shoulders forcing him to stop and listen) I

hate the Montague’s as deeply as you do Tybalt, our two families have been at war

with each other for as long as anyone can remember- but the Prince’s word is law in

this city, and there is to be no more fighting, you understand? Now if you cannot

keep your temper like a MAN, go to your room and SULK like a boy!

Tybalt: (breaking free from his uncle’s grasp and glaring across the room at Romeo

vowing softly) you will PAY for this one day, Montague! I will make you PAY!

Juliet: (gazing deeply into Romeo’s eyes for a long time)

Romeo: My lady, if my hand has offended yours by holding it, please forgive me!

Juliet: (smiling at Romeo) my hand is not offended sir, and.... and nor am I

Narrator: Romeo and Juliet looked deep in to each others eyes, unable to take

their eyes off of each other.

Romeo: (looking at Juliet) all those other times when I thought I was in love, I was

like a child playing a game. This time I am TRULY in love.

Nurse: (bursting in) my lady, your mother is asking for you

Juliet: (frowning, then shrugs helplessly at Romeo, turning and walking away)

Romeo: (holding nurse’s arm demanding) do you know that lady?

Nurse: Why sir, she is Juliet, Lord Capulet’s daughter, I’ve been her nurse since

she was a baby. And I know who you are too, young man. Take my advice and leave

this house before there’s any trouble!

Act 2 – The Balcony and Marriage

Setting-Romeo and Juliet meet on the balcony.

Cast- Romeo and Juliet

Narrator: That night Juliet couldn’t get to sleep. She could only think of Romeo. It

was warm and the moonlight was shining on the trees in the orchard below.

Juliet: (Steps into balcony yawning, looking to the sky) How can I be in love with

someone I ought to hate? OH ROMEO, why did you have to be a Montague? If you

have been born with another name I could tell you how much I love you!

Romeo: (Steps out of the shadows into the moonlight, reaching out) Call me your

love, it is the only name I want!

Juliet: (Looks down from her balcony and gasps) How did you get here? If anyone

catches you they will KILL you!

Romeo: (Climbing the orchard wall) I climb the orchard wall.... I had to see you

again! I loved you the moment I first saw you, and I wanted to know if you felt the

same.

Juliet: (Face brightens but then darkens) How can I be sure of your love? How can

I be sure that you will not forget me as soon as tonight is over?

Romeo: (Looks into Juliet’s eyes and declares) Meet me at Friar Lawrence’s chapel

at noon tomorrow, and we shall be married!

Juliet: (Laughs) MARRIED?? But we have only just met! And what will our parents

say?

Romeo: (sighs) Do we need to meet more than once to know that our love is strong,

and real? Must we live apart just because of our families’ hatred?

Narrator: A part of Juliet knew that for them to marry would be mad and

impossible, but another part of her knew that if she sent Romeo away now, she

might never see him again, and she wasn’t sure she could bear that.

Juliet: (HANDS ACCROSS CHEST) YES!!! I believe what we feel for each other is

true! And YES, I’ll meet you tomorrow at the chapel at noon!

Narrator: So the next day Romeo and Juliet were married.

Act 3 – The Main Square

Cast-Romeo, Tybalt, Mercutio, Benvolio, Tybalt friend (x2) and 2 guards

Setting-The main square of Verona, near a fountain on a hot day

Narrator: The bell in the clock tower of the cathedral tolled twice. The main square of

Verona sweltered in the hot sunshine. Two young men were lounging beside a fountain.

Mercutio: (dipping a handkerchief into water and mop your face, demanding) Where is he?

He should have been here an hour ago!

Benvolio: (smiling at Mercutio) Some important business must have detained him.

Mercutio: (snorting) A pair of pretty eyes more like! (sarcastically)

Romeo: (rushing in)

Mercutio: At last… I was beginning to think that the Queen of the fairies had carried you

off in your sleep!

Romeo: I have GREAT news. But you must promise to keep it a secret!

Mercutio: (looking curious) Oh?

Romeo: I’m in love

Benvolio: (laughs)

Mercutio: (groaning and shaking head) You are always in love! A girl only has to look at you

sideways to make you fall for her.

Romeo: It’s more than that this time. I am in love with...

Tybalt: (interrupting, harsh voice) Romeo

Romeo: (turning around)

Tybalt: (resting his hand on a sword) You were at my family’s house last night now you must

pay for your insolence. Draw your sword.

Romeo: (angry) I will not fight you Tybalt, it will be like fighting one of my own family.

Tybalt: Why you milksop. You’re as cowardly as the rest for the Montague’s.

Mercutio: (gasping) ROMEO! Are you going to stand there and do nothing while he insults

your family?

Romeo: I must... you don’t understand. I have no choice...

Mercutio: (snarling) But I do (drawing his sword) If you want a fight Tybalt. I am your

man.

Narrator: In a moment so fast, Tybalt brought out his sword and the two young men began

to fight at a dazzling speed.

Tybalt and Mercutio: (drawing their swords and fighting)

Romeo: (pleading) Help me to stop them Benvolio.

Tybalt: (stabbing Mercutio)

Romeo: (catching dying Mercutio)

Narrator: Romeo caught Mercutio, pinning his arms to his sides. Tybalt’s rapier driving

through Mercutio’s heart, fatally wounding him.

Mercutio: (suffering breathless, dying) A plague on both your houses.

Romeo: (raging) TYBALT... one of us must join Mercutio in death.

Tybalt: (snarling) then let our swords decide who it shall be.

Romeo and Tybalt: (stand face to face with swords locked together)

Narrator: Romeo hacked at Tybalt as though Tybalt were a tree that he wanted to cut

down. Tybalt was tiring and finding it difficult to defend himself.

Tybalt: (fumbling at his belt, drawing out a dagger)

Romeo: (stumbling and struggling with each other)

Narrator: Tybalt suddenly flicked out a foot, intending to trip Romeo, but instead he lost

his own balance and the two enemies tumbled to the ground. Romeo fell on Tybalt’s hand,

forcing the point of the dagger deep into Tybalt’s chest.

Tybalt: (tripping up Romeo, both fall, forcing dagger into his own chest, breathless,

dying)

Capulet: Quick! The prince’s guards

Benvolio: (Holding Romeo, dragging him away) come now, before it’s too late

Romeo: (shrugging off Benvolio staring at Tybalt) I have killed Juliet’s cousin. She cannot

love a murderer! She will never forgive me. How could I have let myself be such a fool?

Guards: (arrive to take Romeo)

Narrator: Romeo was still staring at Tybalt when the Prince’s guards reached him.

Act 4 – In Court

Cast- Prince of Verona, Juliet and Romeo

Setting – In court at night

Narrator: That night the Prince of Verona past judgment on Romeo.

Romeo: (worried)

Juliet: (crying)

Prince: The hatred of the Montague’s and the Capulet’s has cost TWO lives today. I want

no more bloodshed. I will spare Romeo his life, but (pointing to Mantua) I banish him to the

city of Mantua. He must leave tonight, and if he is ever found in Verona again, he will be

put to DEATH!

Romeo: (scared)

Act-5 – The Chapel

Setting- in the chapel at night

Cast: Friar Lawrence and Juliet

Friar: (kneeling in front of the alter, praying)

Narrator: When Friar Lawrence heard the news of Romeo’s banishment, he was deeply

upset. He had already married Romeo and Juliet in secret, hoping that one day, their love

would overcome the hatred between the Montagues and the Capulets – but it seemed that

the hate had been too strong. Friar Lawrence prayed for young newly weds.

Juliet: (sobbing and flinging herself at Friar Lawrence’s feet) HELP ME, Friar Lawrence!

My father wants me to marry Count Paris, but I’d rather DIE than forsake Romeo.

Friar: (urging) Do not despair my child, surely you can reason with your father?

Juliet: I could not bring myself to tell him about Romeo, I pleaded Tybalt’s death had

made me too full of grief to think of marriage. But father would not listen and the wedding

is to take place tomorrow.

Friar: (looking troubled) There may be a way for you and Romeo to be together, my child,

but it is dangerous, (taking a bottle of blue liquid out of his pocket) drink this tonight, and

you will fall into a sleep as deep as death. Your parents will believe that you are dead and

will put your body into the Capulet tomb-but in two days you will wake, alive and well.

Juliet: And...And Romeo?

Friar: I will send him a message explaining everything, after you wake, you can go to

Mantua in secret.

Act 6 – Capulet house

Cast – nurse and Juliet

Setting-Capulet’s house in the morning

Narrator: And so, on the morning of Juliet’s wedding to Paris, the screams of the nurse

woke the whole Capulet house.

Juliet: (laying dead on the floor)

Nurse: (screaming and awakes the whole family)

Act 7 – The letter

Cast – Benvolio, The monk

Setting - The monk is trying to get the message of Juliet’s plan to Romeo in

Mantua where Romeo has been banished to.

Narrator: When the news of Juliet’s death reached Benvolio. He rode straight to

Mantua to Romeo. One of the travellers he passed was a monk who recognised him.

The monk: (calling) LORD BENVOLIO...I have a letter for your cousin Romeo from

Friar Lawrence.

Benvolio: (shouting) OUT OF MY WAY. I HAVE NO TIME TO STOP

The monk: (watching)

Benvolio: (galloping off)

Narrator: The monk watched as Benvolio galloped by on the road to Mantua. At

that speed, the monk judged, Benvolio would be in the city before evening.

Act 8 – Mantua

Cast Romeo, Benvolio

Setting Romeo is on his bed at night with Benvolio, being comforted by Benvolio

and it is almost midnight. At daybreak he leaves the city to Mantua.

Narrator: When Benvolio told Romeo that Juliet was dead, Romeo’s heart broke

and for hours he lay sobbing on his bed, while outside day turned into night. During

that time, Benvolio stayed at Romeo’s side.

Benvolio: (comforting Romeo)

Romeo: (heartbroken, wiping away tears, angrily) I must go to her!

Benvolio: (astonished) If you are seen on the streets of Verona it will mean your

death!

Romeo: (looking to the sky proudly) I am NOT afraid of death. Without Juliet my

life would mean NOTHING. (Facing Benvolio) Go wake the grooms and tell them to

saddle my horse.

Benvolio: (leaves)

Narrator: When Benvolio had left him alone, Romeo searched through the wooden

chest at the foot of his bed until he found a glass bottle that contained a clear

liquid.

Romeo: I shall drink this poison and DIE at Juliet’s side. (at daybreak, leaves for

Mantua)

Act 9 – Juliet’s Tomb

Cast - Romeo, Juliet and Friar Lawrence

Scene It was night when he arrived and with a hood of his cloak drawn up to hide

his face.

Narrator: Romeo left Mantua at daybreak, he travelled through the country, trying

not to be seen. He arrived at night, with the hood of his cloak drawn up to hide his

face, he slipped in unrecognised. He went straight to the Capulet tomb and rushed

to Juliet’s side.

Romeo: (looking around rushing to Juliet’s side, covering her face with tears,

whispering) I cannot live without you I want your beauty to be the last thing my

eyes see. We could not be together in life, my sweet love, but in death nothing

shall part us! (taking a sip of poison)

Narrator: Romeo drew the cork from the poison bottle and raised it to his lips. He

felt the vile liquid sting his throat, the darkness swallowed him.

Romeo: (Falling on top or Juliet)

Juliet: (breathing, sitting up, dazed and confused)

Narrator: At first, she thought she was dreaming, but she smelt the bitter scent

of the poison, she knew that the nightmare was real and that Friar Lawrence’s plan

had gone terribly wrong. She cradled Romeo in her arms and wept.

Juliet: (whispering) If you had only waited a little longer.

Narrator: Juliet saw a gleam of light on Romeo’s dagger. She drew the weapon and

pressed its point into her heart.

Juliet: (Crying and cradling together, picking up Romeo’s dagger, stabbing herself).

Now dagger, take me to my love (falling back to die)

Friar Lawrence: (opening the door, shocked)

Narrator: When Romeo and Juliet died the hatred between the Montague’s and

the Capulet’s died with them. United by grief, the two families that Romeo and

Juliet should be buried together.