Romeo and Juliet with a Not-So-Straight Twist
Scene 2: Rain That Touches All
At the Graveyard
[Montague]
Benvolio, here. How goes Romeo?
[Benvolio]
Never I pray one more smile bless his face.
[Lady Montague]
O, my son! O, my blood! O, he weeps so!
What I would give for my sunshine's beaming!
[Montague] Th'were close.
[Benvolio] Ay, they were.
[Montague] What, a sigh?
[Benvolio] Nay, nay.
[Montague]
What hand may brush aside the stubborn clouds?
[Benvolio] But I wish 'twere mine.
[Montague] True, as do we all –
Stint thy crying.
[Lady Montague] O, Mercutio! Why?
[Benvolio]
Please, madam, I beseech thee. Please do stop.
The grass and dirt are moist from a clear sky;
Stretching oak trees thrive on less showering.
[Lady Montague]
May they turn to cactuses! I care not!
[Benvolio]
Thy tears silently urge my eyes water.
[Lady Montague]
The reason stands alone; I shall stint now.
[Montague]
Benvolio, go. Speak to Romeo.
Ancient elms can not reach the tiny sprouts. –
All Montague, away! Capulets come!
Romeo, come!
[Romeo] Nay, let me stay awhile.
[Montague] Then stay you, Benvolio.
[Benvolio] Ay.
[Montague] Away!
Exit all Montagues but Benvolio and Romeo.
[Benvolio]
Gentle coz, why stay thou here where ghosts haunt?
Thou knowest memory will not but taunt.
Wilt thou not hear? Romeo, awaken!
Death is stubborn and will not be shaken!
[Romeo]
The rock, 'tis so revoltingly simple.
Polished as a tablet of a temple
Whose wide arms embrace, then soon swiftly stab,
Deeper betrayal than a group of Queen Mab.
Mercutio, the word carved in the stone.
O, but may 't be writ my very own!
[Benvolio]
Romeo, Romeo! Thou art a madman!
[Romeo]
Ay, mad of love, mad of hate. O madness!
I embrace thee as I do this wet ground.
[Benvolio]
Up, man! Come, Romeo! We must depart!
The Capulets are abroad; they come hither!
[Romeo]
Let them come! What canst they offer to him
But bitter flowers and no Tybalt limb.
O, that Tybalt, the vile deformed beast!
Tear him to ground flesh I should at least!
Come he, the traitor?
[Benvolio] Ay, flowers in hand.
[Romeo] Give me thy sword.
[Benvolio] What, to spill blood on grave?
[Romeo] To avenge my Mercutio.
[Benvolio] Nay, halt!
The Capulets approach.
[Capulet]
A drawn sword threatening on a moist grave?
Do mine eyes deceive?
[Lady Capulet] Nay, 'tis Montagues!
[Capulet] Why art thou drawn?
[Romeo] The sword seeks sweet revenge.
[Lady Capulet] Ay, me!
[Benvolio] Give it here!
[Romeo] Nay, 'till I shed blood.
[Tybalt]
Step back, Juliet. I shall be thy shield.
[Romeo]
Thy shield shall shatter at point. I swear it.
[Tybalt]
Boy! I shall kill thee as I did thy friend!
Let these wretched flowers taste thy home ground!
[Romeo]
Nothing less from thy heartless murderer.
[Tybalt]
Heartless? Cut me open, I dare thee now!
Thou shalt see if a rhythm lies within.
[Romeo]
Indeed, 'tis what intend I. – Let me go!
[Benvolio] Thou art mad!
[Romeo] I care not! Let the insane!
[Benvolio] (aside)
I can afford not to lose thee as well.
[Romeo] Here is revenge!
[Tybalt] Nay, here is discipline!
They fight.
[Benvolio]
Hold, part! Wilt thou shame his grave with blood?
[Romeo] Nay, but quench it!
[Juliet] O, Lord, 'tis a nightmare!
My lord, my father, stop them, I beseech thee!
[Capulet] I can not.
[Juliet] Why?
[Capulet] They shall turn not an ear.
[Juliet] But they shall kill each other!
[Montague] Hush, my faith.
Friar Lawrence enters.
[Friar Lawrence]
What is this fray? – Romeo, Tybalt, part!
Below thine feet rests a dead soul, still heart,
Yet in view of monument thou breaks peace!
Hast thou no shame? Art thou blind? Now hold cease!
One stone thrust into lake shocks the still surface,
And thou shakes it with a helping of curses! –
Crushed flowers? Hast thou no respect, Tybalt? –
Romeo, thou pours over dead my salt. –
Were thou standing by? Would thou let it be,
Though sure death lies clear where all eyes can see?
Never have I beheld such! Nor dreamed!
Allow this warning now be deemed.
Fight no more, kill no more, nor curse no more,
Or in hell's fire thou shalt find thyselves poor!
Depart, Capulets! Depart, Montagues!
All leave but Romeo and Juliet.
[Juliet]
Romeo! Romeo, husband, hear me!
[Romeo]
Husband? Ah, but true, we were married yest.
[Juliet] Thou dost not remember?
[Romeo] I can think not.
[Juliet] But dost thou love?
[Romeo] Ay, I do.
[Juliet] Whom?
[Romeo] This name.
[Juliet] 'T can not be.
[Romeo] What of it?
[Juliet] He is man –
[Romeo] To hell, to hell!
[Juliet] Romeo –
[Romeo] Pray, leave me.
[Juliet]
As thou wishes. But take thy ring back now.
Good day, Romeo. I always love thee.
Juliet departs.
[Romeo]
Ring, thou art love and bondage for the two. –
Flowers grow on the grave. Gentle, loyal.
This one reaches are. How soft is its skin,
Wet with dew are its outstretched scarred limbs.
It has a sharp tongue. Like my Mercutio.
Little flower, I propose to thee here.
I slip the ring on thy sturdy, strong stem.
Mercutio, I shall say 't right now,
And dream that thou says the same. I love thee.
End of Scene 2.