Romeo & Juliet [Script & Behind the Scenes]

Script: Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

EXT. CAPULET’S GARDEN. NIGHT.

ROMEO

He jests at scars that never felt A wound.

Now he sees the house. As he watches, two shutters are opened and the candlelight illuminates the scene. The figure of a young girl is visible behind the opaque glass. Juliet is writing in her diary.

ROMEO (CONT’D)

But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

That thou, her maid, are far more fair than she.

He has approached the light, and now it is clear that the lit window opens on to a balcony. Juliet pushes the panes ajar.

It is my lady, Oh, it is my love!

Oh, that she knew she were!

The brightness of her cheek,

Would shame the stars, as daylight doth a lamp.

Her eyes set in heaven would give forth such light,

That birds would sing and think it were not night.

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand!

ROMEO (CONT’D)

Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand,

That I might touch that cheek!

Now Juliet steps out on to the balcony. She sighs.

JULIET

Ah, me.

ROMEO

She speaks. Oh, speak again, bright angel.

The balcony is long, running the width of the palazzo, and now, as she paces it, she seems to walk towards Romeo. She stops and looks up at the starry sky.

JULIET

Oh, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

ROMEO

Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

JULIET

‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy;

You’d be yourself, if you were not called Montague.

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet;

So Romeo would. Romeo, cast off thy name,

And for that name, which is no part of you,

Take all of me.

He cannot stop himself from answering.

ROMEO

I take you at your word.

Call me your love, and I’ll be new baptised;

Henceforth I never will be Romeo.