Act 1
Two households, both alike in dignity
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),
From ancient grudge break in new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their death-marked love
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which, if your patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend
“Mr. Julian! Mr. Julian!” Came the shrill voice of a woman in her late 60’s. Frazzled red hair peeked around the slightly open door, worn bronze door handle creaking with old age.
“Yes, nurse! I’ll be up in a second!” A young man, 18 years old to be exact, stretches his arms above his head breathing in the light of the dawn. He yawned, not a single cell in his body wishing to hurry and get ready for the day.
“Mr. Julian, your mother wishes to talk to you!” The old woman clapped her hands enthusiastically, fringes of her dress bouncing.
“About what?” The young man questioned, pulling his fingers roughly through his curly brown hair.
“Oh, you will see Mr. Julian! Wonderful news!” As if on cue, a knock sounded on the door. “Oh, come in dear! Come in!” The nurse’s smile grew across her face, spring in her old step as she flitted to the door. Mrs. Capulet walked into the room, graceful step making her float across the hardwood floors of the bedroom. Her smile was bright, eyes lighting up with excitement as her pink lips opened.
“We’ve found you a fine young lady, Julian!” were the dooming words that fell from between those lips. Julian’s eyes darkened, countenance dropping despite the bright morning light flooding into the room. “She’s wonderful! Your father’s colleague’s daughter. Harvard graduate, so kind and polite!” The mother gushed, clasping her hands at her chest, a dreamy look in her eyes.
“She sounds lovely! Right Mr. Julian?” The nurse drew the young man’s chair from out under his desk, heavily sitting down on it.
“Mhm. Absolutely wonderful,” Julian mumbled, jaw tightening as he stared at the two women, who seemed completely oblivious to the hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“We’re going to dinner with her family tonight. 6 o’clock sharp! Be ready, and do not. I repeat, do not do anything to disgrace your father in front of his colleague.” Mrs. Capulet said, mood suddenly turning from putty to steel.
“Yes mom,” was her son’s strangled reply.
“Wonderful. Be ready for tonight Julian!” She hummed, mood turning back to sunshine as she floated back out of the room.
