Act Deux: Concerning a Balcony and Two Boys

Romeo and Juliet

Act Deux: Concerning a Balcony and Two Boys

One more day down

Well everybody has those days

Where one soft sweet song's

Just enough to clear my head

Fall on real life

Is anybody left there sane?

If we just slide on over and accept fate

Then it's bound to be a powerful thing

One boy head strong

He thinks that living here's just plain

He's pushed down so hard

You can hear him start to sink

And it's one last round of petty conversation

You hold on boy cause

You won't go down like that

Just roll on over

And lay down till it's more than you can take

So one more day down

And everybody's changing

One more day down...

-- Rob Thomas, "Black and White People"

"He's lovestruck," Mercutio declared, putting his head in his hands, "a guy. And with Juliet Capulet."

"Juliet? Capulet??" Romeo's cousin, Benvolio, grabbed Mercutio's collar and hauled him upwards. "You're letting my cousin turn into a lovesick pansy?"

"I'm not letting him," Mercutio protested weakly, "it just sort of... happened..."

"And where is he now?"

"I don't know," said Mercutio helplessly, jerking away from Benvolio, "but it's no use looking for him if he doesn't want to be found. You and I both know Romeo."

"Yes, we do," Benvolio said exasperatedly, running a hand through his already-tousled brown hair which was sticking up on end. "And we know he won't be found if he doesn't want to."

"I just said that," said Mercutio. "Besides, I'm fairly willing to believe our dear, dear Romeo is up at that little slut's room right now, getting a nice piece of ass."

"You're near as bad as him, I should think," said the other, cuffing Mercutio across the ear.

"Gah! Hands off, hands off!" Mercutio narrowed his purple eyes and the corners of his lips curled up, exposing his white teeth. "More likely, Romeo's in his chamber, sitting oh so quietly and playing with himself, wishing that he were Juliet."

"Oh lord, Mercutio, let's just go to bed."

"To bed, to bed," Mercutio said. "I'll go to mine, and you go to yours. Just don't you follow me or I'll nip your manliness off and toss it out the window before rolling over and going peacefully to sleep."

Benvolio groaned and pushed Mercutio away.

*****

"I can't sleep," Romeo whispered to the tree he was sitting in, pressing his face to the ridged bark and breathing its scent in. "I can't sleep, because I'll dream of Juliet. So I'm here. Waiting. Watching."

A light flicked on somewhere upstairs, bathing the outdoors' dim blues and deep greens in a slight yellow wash.

Romeo's head jerked up and he murmured, "I think...it's Juliet. But I'm not sure. God, I hope it's him, though. I can't ever remember having this much feeling for a person--not even Mama or Papa--in my life. He's so damned beautiful, but it's not a damned thing at all. He's like the sun, I swear it. I'm left ever looking up to him and shielding my eyes so his incandescent beauty doesn't blind me."

His hazel eyes, clouded with emotions, played over a dark figure coming to the window. The window opened and its warmth flowed further out into the courtyard. A slender figure squeezed out of the window and spilled slowly onto the balcony. It was indeed Juliet of the midnight hair and indigo eyes, and Romeo pressed a hand to his mouth to keep from crying out in joy.

"My love, it's him," he whispered huskily to the tree, "It's him, I knew it would be. I wish I could marry him right now. Oh, God, he's like an angel...his eyes, I just want to fall into them. He's so beautiful, so very, very beautiful. I don't ever think I'd truly seen beauty until I met him."

A soft, sweet voice called, "Oh God!" from the balcony and Romeo's eyes fastened on him.

"He's speaking." Romeo whispered.

"God, God! Why is his name Montague? Why can't we just...change it somehow? Why, God, why? Romeo, Romeo, why does your name have to be Romeo? Wouldn't you be the same person if you'd been born a different name? Can't I change myself so I'm not a Capulet?" a pause, and then the cobalt eyes turned to the sky again. "If we called a rose a stinkweed, wouldn't it still smell sweet?"

Romeo inhaled sharply. 'Should I say something?' he thought.

"It's only your name that's my enemy, not yourself! Can't you just cast off the name? It's only a name! Oh, my love, Romeo, lose your name, lose your title, and I would still have you for yourself."

"I'll do that!" called Romeo, climbing off the tree and dropping to the ground. "From now on, call me only 'love' and I won't be Romeo anymore!"

"Who's there?" replied Juliet's voice. "Who's that? I can't see you! It's too dark! It's Romeo, isn't it? Romeo Montague?"

"Neither of those names if you don't like them, my beauty!"

"Oh, God! Romeo! How'd you get in here?" Juliet leaned over the balcony, his ebony hair falling onto his shoulder, and extended one hand. "The walls--even I can't climb them, and if any of my family finds youi here--oh, it'll be the devil to pay!"

Romeo reached up and his fingers grazed Juliet's. "My love--for you, Juliet--my love gave me wings, and I flew to you. And your family is no problem either; I'm not afraid."

"If they see you, they'll kill you," said Juliet, tears glistening in his eyes. "They'll kill you."

"I am protected by love. Your beauty is my shield against any of their swords, Juliet."

"God, I hope no one sees you here, my love."

Romeo laughed nervously, "I do too. But it's night and I know I can hardly be seen. And it's better I die early having lived and loved you than live to old age without you."

"Oh Romeo...do you love me as much as I love you? I do believe in love at first sight, because it's now happened to me. I think I love you far too much. My heart--loving you takes so much of it up I have hardly any room for anyone else. God, Romeo, I love you. Just the thought of you can bring a smile to my face--already! And I've just met you..." Juliet's fingers brushed Romeo's again and his hair, which had been taken out of its ponytail, spilled around his smiling face and insanely blue eyes like a halo.

"You are an angel," Romeo murmured, "and by the moon, I swear--"

"Oh, don't swear by the moon, Romeo, 'cause the moon disappears during the day."

"What should I swear by, then?"

"Don't swear by anything, or if you still want to swear, swear by your own beautiful self, which I love most."

"If my heart's love--"

"Well, don't swear. Though I love you and I love being near you, I don't love this contract we're making tonight. It's too sudden, too rash, too unadvised."

"Juliet, will you leave me so unsatisfied then?" Romeo asked, turning his face upwards and gazing at the silver-gilt moon.

"What can I give you tonight?"

He smiled. "Just say you love me like I love you."

"I've said that already, though!" there was a hint of amusement in Juliet's voice, but exasperation there too.

"Wouldn't you just say it again, please?"

Juliet smiled, ethereally, and the effect was utterly dazzling. "Yes, Romeo. My love is as endless as the see, and my love is as deep as the sea, and the more I give to you, the more I have, for it's infinite."

Juliet's head turned as he heard his name called from inside. "But my nurse! She's calling...Romeo, wait a little bit and I'll come back out, I promise." He turned and ran back inside.

"Oh, my love..." whispered Romeo, as he climbed back to his tree and waited for a few moments.

Juliet wriggled out of the window, laughing and tying his hair back. "Three words, Romeo! And good night! If your love is so true, marry me! Tomorrow, send me word, what time and where to be, and I'll be there with you!"

The nurse's hoarse old voice called, "JULIET!" from the room.

"Nurse, just a second!" cried Juliet loudly back, and then to Romeo, "But--"

"JULIET!"

"Just a minute, Nurse!" he turned back to Romeo, and said, urgently, "Good night! A throusand times, good night!" and, with a blown kiss, he climbed back through the window.

Romeo dropped out of the tree and turned to leave, smiling.

"Hsst! Romeo! Hsst!" came Juliet's voice from the window, and he whirled.

"My love?!" he called softly to the window where he could see Juliet's sweet face.

"What time tomorrow should I come to you?"

"Nine!"

"I'll be there! Oh...I forgot why I called you back..."

"I'll stand here till you remember it," said Romeo, smiling up at the window.

"I will never remember with you standing there because my thoughts stray to how much I love being around you!" Juliet looked at the sky and the setting moon. "It's almost morning. You should go. Good night...good night. God bless and good night. Parting is such a sweet sorrow."

Juliet blew a kiss to Romeo again and whirled and then the light flickered off again.

Romeo stood gazing at the window. "Sleep well, love, and have peace. But I have to go now to the friar for his help in this matter."

He turned and disappeared into the night.

*****

End Act Deux.

PS: SORRY! It took so very long, I am sadly aware. But now, *holds up Shakespeare book* I have the original play and the story will probably adhere more to the actual play. This scene is very close to the balcony dialogue. Again, sorry that it took so long. It'll take less time now that I am off work for the summer and I have the book. Ciau! Enjoy!