Romeo and Juliet: The Aftermath

Two families formerly foes
Toss flaming hatred to a funeral pyre;
Those they hated in Verona
They now regretfully admire.

Giving ground to one another
When they formerly would giveth none;
Conceding the moon to Montague
And to Capulet the sun.

Two houses side by side
Like two weeping eyes;
Tears drowning the feud-filled flames,
Leaving ashes of shame.

Dressed as the cheek of night
In the light of day;
Mourning two star-crossed lovers
Who six feet under lay.

Two entombed hearts
Facing stars they hath crossed;
Whispering wind bids farewell
To the lives they hath lost;

Aye, the dagger 'tis stained with blood;
Mortal flesh it kills;
Though it hath preserved an eternal love
That drips from poets' quills.

Scene I

The Montague and Capulet clans are gathered at Romeo and Juliet's funeral. Like two sabers crossed, Lord Montague and Lord Capulet lock on to each other's gaze.

Lord Capulet: How now, my Lord. It appears our future is not stitched in the certainty of thy garment's finely woven threads.

Lord Montague: I thank thee Lord Montague. Our feud's play ended with the unexpected final curtain of our children's demise.

Lord Capulet: Love is blind; amongst the living there are none so wise.

Lord Montague: I would agree with thy sentiment if we had not played the fools. Good day, sir.

Lord Capulet: Good day to thee, sir.

Both men and their families place flowers on Romeo and Juliet's tombs. All exit the scene leaving the tombs alone for a moment of silence. The curtains slowly close.

Scene II:

Later that day, within the house of Capulet.

Lord Capulet: Though there be no more stems sprouting and bearing fruit, the seeds of the feud are still planted in the field.

Lady Capulet: Thou hast accused me for the last time! Mark me my good husband! Do not water the feudal field with thy unfounded suspicions! If I hath told thee once, I hath told thee thrice! I am not having an affair with Lord Montague!

Lord Capulet: Shout louder woman! Thou mayest yet raise our daughter from the dead!

Lady Capulet:

Lord Montague, in love,
Hath ne'er been thy foe!
'Tis thy perverted imagination!
Now, for Jove's sake, let it go!

Curtain.

Scene III

Later that evening.

Narrator:

Until the cock's first crow,
And the Sun's first light,
The Capulet house slumbers
In bed-sheets of night.

A blanket of stars,
A quilt of quarter moon,
Anticipation's gentle kiss
Shall awaken her soon.

Now awake, she shall stand
Where Juliet once stood;
Waiting for her sweet pilgrim
Disguised with a hood.

Lady Capulet: Montague, Montague, wherefore art thou Montague?

I would refuse my name
If thy name I could lawfully take;
Though, what is in a name?
I do not love thee for mere name's sake.

Montague:

I am truly thy humble servant
Though a servant be my disguise;
I long to love thee openly;
No more deceptions and lies.

Lady Capulet:

Thy disguise hath allowed thee through my gate;
It enabled thee my security to penetrate;
My husband's suspicions are on the rise;
He would feed you to worms
If he e'er became wise.

The feud would start rather than end,
We must continue to pretend;
For those who fall in love fall on the sword;
Tis' the price we must pay for love's reward.

Montague: My dear sweet lady, an impetuous youth you are not. Thou art a ripened berry crushed to make fine wine.

Thy wisdom fills my cup,
Overflowing with thy passionate foam;
Let's use deception to escape
And make our new home.

Lady Capulet: What of our families, kin and friends?

Montague:

"For those who fall in love fall on the sword;
Tis' the price we must pay for love's reward."

My dear sweat lady,
Thou sayest it best;
The price is eloping
With thy hooded guest.

Lady Capulet: Then elope we shall. My vows to Capulet are forfeit. Meet me at the shipyards on the morrow at noon. We shall sail to the island of Lesbos where all debts of unrequited love are paid!

Lord Capulet: (Off stage.) Who goes there! My lady, where are you?

Montague: I hear the cock's crow.

Lady Capulet: Aye, 'tis time for you to now GO.

Montague: A kiss from me when thy glove touches thy cheek.

Lady Capulet: You at the shipyards tomorrow I'll seek.

Curtain.

Scene IV

Lord Capulet's chamber, a little past noon the next day. Lord Capulet and his servants Falstaff and Poins are present.

Lord Capulet: Where is my lady?! My wife?!

Falstaff: Beggin' yer pahdon, me Lohd, but she said she was goin' into town to do some shoppin'.

Poins: Is that what she told yew? Me Lohd, I took 'er me self in me buggy and dropped 'er off at the shipyards.

Lord Capulet: The SHIPYARDS?!

Poins: Why that's royght, me Lohd. She told me she 'ad to be theere by noon.

Lord Capulet: I knew it! She's running away with Lord Montague--the cretin, the KNAVE! When doth the next ship leave port?

Poins: Not fer awhile, me Lohd. The shipyard attendant said there'd be delays in the schedule due to pirate attacks.

Lord Capulet: Falstaff, gather the men and arms post haste! Pack my good sword! 'Tis time to pay Montague a visit!

Curtain.

Scene V

Lord Capulet and his men arrive at the shipyards only to be greeted by Lord Montague and his men. A brawl ensues. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague stare each other down once again. Only, this time, their real sabers cross.

Lord Capulet: The seeds have sprouted and bear the feud's fruit once again, SIR!

Lord Montague: A bloody scarlet rose shall be the fruit thy stems bear when I am done with thee, SIR!

Lord Capulet: Thou art a greedy Lord at a swine's banquet, SIR!

Lord Montague: Speak sharply, cretin! For thy tongue is as dull as thy sword!

Lord Capulet: Ha! The way to a man's heart is another's sword!

Lord Capulet then plunges his sword into Lord Montague's chest.

Lord Montague: Thou hast stolen my (cough) wife and now (cough) my life.....

Lord Capulet: The cavity on thy head reeks of the same defamatory stench as the cavity on thy A**! The Lord protesteth too much, me thinks!

Lord Montague gasps one last time then dies. The brawl stops cold.

Now, my good shipyard attendant, what hath this debased and debauched corpse that lies at mine feet done with my wife?!

Shipyard Attendant: He hath done nothing with thy wife, my Lord, as thou hast not plucked his wife's berries. Thy wife and his are lovers bound on a ship to Lesbos.

Lord Capulet:

I fall on my sword;
'Tis the price I'll pay
For my impetuous sin
Committed on this day.

A good man hath fallen;
A foe ne'er he was;
Our children are dead;
My misjudgment the cause....

Lord Capulet then plunges his sword into his heart and dies in the street.

Narrator:

The price of love
Need not be too high;
No need for thee
Or thy loved ones to die.

Just take a deep breath
And sniff the rose;
Avoid the thorns
Like two lovers of Lesbos.

THE END.