Act V, Scene III

Paris said, This is that banish'd haughty Montague, that murder's my love's cousin, with which grief, it is supposed, the fair creature died; and here is come to do some villainous shame to the dead bodies: I will apprehend him." He follows Romeo into the tomb. Inside, he hides behind behind a pillar and listens to what Romeo tells Juliet:

"...O my love! My wife! Death, that suck'd the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there."

Paris couldn't believe the lies Romeo had spoke. There was no possible way they could be married. There was no way a Capulet would ever love a Montague! He steps out from behind the pillar, "Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague!" Romeo snapped his head around to face Paris, shock written across it. "What you say is lies! The fair Juliet was to marry myself, not thee!"

"Never! Me and my Juliet hath been married a fortnight, " Romeo replied.

~ Dramatic Stare-Down ~

Paris finally said, "'Tis only one way to decide."

"Battle to thy Death!" They both shouted at once, drawing their swords.

They fought and fought. The only sound heard for awhile was metal clashing against metal. Time seemed to escape them, it could have lasted seconds, minutes, even hours, but eventually Romeo had a clear shot of Paris. He lunged. At the last second, Paris twisted and escaped. Romeo's sword ended up going through Juliet's stomach.

"NO!" He screamed as soon as he saw what he'd done. Romeo rounded on Paris, fury etched on his face, and kicked him in the gut. He flew across the tomb and fell against the wall; his sword clinging on the floor.

Blood dripping from his head, he instantly died from a snapped neck.

Romeo, not daring to look at Paris and see the proof of what he had done, turned to Juliet and fell to his knees. A single sob escaped his lips as he kissed her hand. "My love, my life. I'm sorry, so sorry." He dropped his head as the tears took over. After a few minutes, a groan escaped Juliet's lips. Still, he continued to cry. Another groan. He looked up. Juliet's eyelashes fluttered. "Juliet?" He whispered.

"Romeo..." Her voice was weak and barely heard.

"Juliet. My Juliet. You're alive. You're hurt. I hurt you. I'm sorry. It's all my fault..." Romeo continued to ramble.

"No, 'tis not your fault. I was dead just moments ago. Not your fault." She assured him, through she had no idea what she was assuring of.

He nodded, though didn't believe what she'd said. It would always be his fault.

"I love you," he said. He wanted to tell her one last time before it was too late.

"I know. I love... you... too..." Her voice had trailed off as she fell asleep, never to awake again.

Romeo let out a sob, "I will join you, my love... Wait for me." He took out the poison, pulled off the stopper, and drank.

Then, he died.