Act V
Romeo and Juliet rewritten by Debapria Das
Scene i Mantua. A Street.
Enter Carina
Carina: Oh what a joyous day if I can only see Romeo! I wonder where he sits in his dreamlike state.
Enter Romeo
Romeo: Tis a sad fate to be separated from the fair maiden, Juliet. I hope she thinks of me well.
Carina: Aside He sits there, on the beaten steps! Oh! How I wish he would see me! To stare into his eyes would be magnificent!
Enter Balthasar
Romeo: Thou brought the long awaited news? How is My Lady Juliet? Has the Friar sent letters? My Father is well?
Balthasar: I bring grave news, my lord. I am sorry to say that Juliet has deceased and now lies with Tybalt.
Romeo: And this morning I thought she was alive and well…. Tell me! How long has she been no more?
Balthasar: Less than a day. I beg of you, my lord, do not do anything rash!
Carina: Romeo! I could not help but to overhear your misfortune. Please forgive my ears, for they are always open.
Romeo: Carina. I wish that thou will tell not a soul about my ride to Verona.
Carina: No my lord, I will not tell a soul.
Balthasar: I ask of you again, my good lord, that you will not ride into Verona for the endangerment of your very life!
Romeo: Without my Lady, I have all the life that still burned inside of me. Now ready the horses.
Exit Balthasar
Carina: My lord, may I request that you take me with you?
Romeo: I must decline this request out of the pursuit of your well being. For I shall lie with Juliet before I return to Mantua.
Carina: Take me with you! I shall not be hurt by any of your actions. Besides, it would seem less suspicious.
Romeo: In what way?
Carina: Well, first of all my father would be very disgruntled if you left so soon. If you take me with you then he would think we just went out for a ride. Oh please take me with you!
Enter Balthasar
Balthasar: The horses are ready.
Romeo: If you insist.
Carina: Oh! Thank you Romeo!
Exit Balthasar
Carina: Aside Even with the death of his cousin, fair Romeo shall be mine yet! Exit
Romeo: Now while they prepare for our short journey I must find a kind apothecary who will give me my salvation! What, ho!
Enter Apothecary
Apothecary: Who calls with such urgency?
Romeo: It is I. Romeo.
Apothecary: State your business?
Romeo: I know you have the skills to conjure a poison.
Apothecary: And of what use will a poison be to you?
Romeo: Please question not, but let me ask for some.
Apothecary: I dare not make such a vile request!
Romeo: I shall pay you very generously!
Apothecary: Do not throw away your riches on something so foolish!
Romeo: If you do not fulfill a dying man's wish, I shall set forth a curse!
Apothecary: Wretched boy! Be gone with your poison!
Exit Apothecary
Romeo: At last! Now I shall be on my way.
Exit Romeo
Scene ii Verona. Lawrence's Cell.
Enter Friar John and Friar Lawrence
Lawrence: Welcome back from your long journey from Mantua! What word comes of our Romeo?
John: I fear that I saw your Romeo ride his stead into Verona!
Lawrence: I trust my letter was given to Romeo.
John: Sadly he passed by like he was escaping the plague! He was riding with a boy and a lady.
Lawrence: Cursed fortune! Romeo will surely be headed to Juliet's tomb! Friar John, go thither and get me an iron crow. Quickly!
John: I shall bring it to thee. Exit
Lawrence: Now I must make haste before the awakening of Juliet! Exit
Scene iii Churchyard: in it the tomb of the Capulets.
Enter Paris and his Page with flowers
Paris: Be gone boy. I wish to be alone with my wife that was to be. Leave my torch and the flowers, if you hear a sound give a whistle.
Page: As you wish it my Lord. Exit
Paris: Oh sweet Juliet! To think it has only been a few hours since last my eyes set upon your stunning face.You are sadly but a lovely flower, whose destiny is to wilt. But how I wish that the one flower, which I would keep in my hand, would be as fresh as though it had just been plucked.
Page whistles
The boy has make a sound, who approaches I wonder?
Enter Romeo, Balthasar, and Carina
It is the banished Montague! What, may I ask, concerns you presence!
Romeo: Leave me be gallant County Paris. I do not wish to fight.
Paris: Draw your sword! I shall not permit you to pass!
Carina: Let Romeo pass!
Romeo: Must you insist when I intend to spare your live?
Paris: Say whatever you will! They fight
Page: Oh I shall call the watch! Exit Page Paris falls
Paris: Oh I am stabbed! Be merciful and lay me with Juliet!
Romeo: If you stay hushed and are still you will live.
Paris: Is thou speaking of the truth?
Romeo: Yes. Stay here. I promise you that I will not harm the tomb. Balthasar and Carina, my wish is for you to leave and prosper.
Balthasar: As you wish. Exit
Romeo: Carina?
Carina: I refuse to leave you!
Romeo: You have to go back to Mantua eventually…
Carina: As long as you are here, I'll never leave!
Romeo: Carina, when I will go inside Juliet's tomb, I shall not come out.
Carina: Why not! Juliet's only your cousin! You should live so… you may have a wife!
Romeo: But, Juliet is not my coz.
Carina: She is not! Then who is she?
Romeo: She is my wife.
Carina: Aside Curse my ill luck! My love has already been taken by another!
Romeo: Carina, I beg of you to stay here.
Carina: I will have to tell you again, I will not leave!
Enter Juliet
Juliet: Is that Romeo I hear?
Romeo: Juliet! They kiss
Carina: Aside That wretched women!
Romeo: I had heard that you were dead!
Juliet: It was Friar Lawrence's doing! We slipped me a potion that made me appear dead so I may run away with you!
Romeo: I never heard of this plan.
Carina: Neither have I! No one from Verona came to our house.
Juliet: Then I suppose something happened to the messenger.
Enter Lawrence
Lawrence: Thank the Lord that both of you are alright! Carina! What are you doing here?
Carina: I followed Romeo to Juliet… to look less suspicious.
Lawrence: Very well. Romeo, I pled you run away with Juliet! Make haste! I saw a page run past.
Carina: Let them come to Mantua!
Romeo: I'm afraid that they will recognize my lady in Mantua.
Enter Balthasar
Balthasar: My Lord, Paris is dying!
Juliet: Friar, you must save him. It would cause an uprising if Paris is dead!
Lawrence: Yes. I shall be off! Be well… and make haste! Exit
Romeo: Balthasar, Why did you stay?
Balthasar: I was afraid for you, my Lord. Please forgive me.
Romeo: All is well. You are truly one of my friends. I thank you.
Balthasar: Thank you my Lord.
Carina: I hear footsteps coming closer. You should go Romeo.
Juliet: Yes. I thank you Balthasar and Carina.
Romeo: Me as well. Farwell my friends! I hope we meet again soon!
Carina: Were will you be?
Romeo: I shall send you news soon.
Balthasar: I shall await it. Farwell!
Carina: Farwell.
Juliet: Farwell.
Exit Romeo and Juliet
Carina: Aside My dear Romeo has left with that vile woman, but at least his face was filled with joy. Perhaps he will come back for me.
Balthasar: Aside My lord has gone; I suppose I shall tell of their love when the Montagues and the Capulets arrive.
Carina: They come closer.
Balthasar: Shall we tell them of this epic tale?
Carina: Yes. Maybe then the streets of Verona will be of peace. And to that the hearts of the lovers.
Exit Balthasar and Carina