Still Star-Crossed

No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I cannot let you do this.

Then you'll have to raise a sword to me,

and that, my father would kill you for.

You came.

I'm here.

I love you.

I love you.

I'm sure as a serving girl, it must thrill you to no end

to see the rules of Veronan society

flouted before your very eyes.

As it happens, my Lord, I am both a servant and a Capulet.

You don't approve of this union?

- I do not. - Nor do I.

Benvolio Montague.

Rosaline Capulet.

Friar Lawrence: Shall we begin?

This is madness, Friar.

I know not why you'd perform a wedding

- between Capulet and Montague. - Rosaline.

Because I have performed too many funerals

for both your families this summer.

And who's to say that love won't succeed

where violence has failed?

- - Come, Romeo, Juliet.

Join hands in front of God and your witnesses.

I'll tell my father.

And I'll tell mine.

Go now. Tell him it's done.

Y-You made the proclamation? As I instructed?

That any man accused...

Accused of murder in the city of Verona

will be executed without trial.

- I did it. It's done. - -

Father.

Escalus, my son.

I came as soon as I heard. I'm so sorry.

For what?

Death comes to us all.

Isabella.

When you marry...

you will strengthen Verona

in the face of all her enemies.

Father...

Listen to me, my son.

It has been a bloody summer.

Worse than any I remember.

Never forget...

that if either house...

is permitted to gain the upper hand,

their next target will be the Crown.

You must always put Verona first.

Yes, Father.

Tybalt hates you more than the rest of us put together.

I did kill his cousin.

For stealing his horse.

Maybe I should've killed Tybalt, too.

Oh, come, Mercutio.

Does every Capulet really deserve to die?

Mercutio: Lord Montague.

Ah, Father.

Romeo.

Late night?

A night with friends is one well spent, indeed.

There's breakfast upstairs.

Enough for you, too, Mercutio.

Thank you, my Lord.

And as for you, nephew,

you broke off your betrothal to Minola's daughter.

Because I don't love her.

Love?

The Minolas are rich and powerful,

and you were meant to bring their blood into our house.

But instead, you shamed our family name

with your drinking and your whoring.

If you paid anything for the betrothal,

I'll find a way to repay you.

You have nothing that isn't mine!

Mauricio: My Lord.

Yes, Mauricio?

News from the palace...

Prince Cosimo is dead.

So Escalus will rule Verona...

a young man, untested,

still learning his place on the throne.

If you had a single thought in that wine-soaked head of yours

for politics, it might occur to you

what an opportunity this is for House Montague.

But you don't.

Go, Benvolio.

Wash the stink of the night off you.

Lord Capulet: Escalus and his sister...

They're going to let us go.

They're never going to let us go.

Giuliana:...to bring them to the ball is...

Lord Capulet: Is what, Giuliana? Compassionate?

They are our nieces.

My brother's children, rest his soul!

And after their parents died, we took them in.

As servants!

A decision that has weighed on my soul ever since.

I am lady of this house.

It was not your decision to make.

Do you hear her? She hate us.

She'd rather die than bring us.

Oh, we can hope.

I love that you can always hope.

Giuliana: ...if it wasn't for our compassion.

Escalus and his sister were their friends

- when the girls were at Court. - And?

A new young prince, properly managed,

could improve our fortunes

and diminish those of the Montagues!

It's just a ball.

Just a ball?

Mm.

It's the prince's ball.

I need a rich husband,

and I'm never going to find him stuck in here.

And if I don't find a husband

who'll pay your bride price and mine,

you'll never get to go be with your beloved nuns.

I'd hardly call them beloved.

Then why on Earth do you wish to go join them?

Praying all day and never having any fun again.

A prayer here and there.

But you don't see the fun in being your own mistress?

Of reading your own books, of sleeping in your own bed.

Of never being at the whim of whichever man

happens to be in charge of you.

A man who might love you,

who might want you to be happy.

His Lordship wants to see you both.

You requested us, my Lord?

It is a great kindness we show you tonight

to allow you to attend the Prince's ball.

Really?

Mother, Father.

Rosaline, Livia.

Darling, why aren't you dressed for the ball?

You look tired.

I am... tired.

Ill.

I thought I would get some rest.

What a shame.

Very well. We'll miss you.

Do you need help, my Lady?

No, thank you, Rosaline. I'm fine.

Tired... but fine.

I'll tell them later.

Lord Capulet.

Lord Montague.

So, it's true.

The Prince really did invite everyone.

It's worse than it's ever been.

Montagues and Capulets have always fought.

Not like this, Brother.

Never like this.

Capulet's fields were burned in June.

No proof, of course, but it was Montague's work.

It goes on from there.

A Capulet stabs a Montague in the streets,

a Montague bludgeons a Capulet in the hills.

Until our father proclaimed...

That anyone who commits murder will be executed without trial.

I am well aware of what Father proclaimed.

But Father is dead, and I've come home.

Herald: The sovereign of our fair Verona,

His Grace, Prince Escalus

and his sister, Her Grace, Princess Isabella!

Thank you, Your Grace, for this beautiful night.

You're welcome, Livia.

Enjoy.

Greetings, My Princess.

You know you don't have to be so formal.

Really?

I thought everything in this court

was about following rules.

- Rosaline... - Thank you, Your Grace,

for giving your loyal subjects this ball.

It's good to see you back in Verona, Your Grace.

Rosaline.

Prince Escalus.

How disconcerting this must be.

When last you saw my niece, Rosaline, she was your peer.

She is my guest,

and a welcome one here at the palace.

I was so sorry to hear of your parents' deaths.

Thank you, Your Grace.

Livia: Aren't you even the least bit excited

to dance and drink and do as we please?

Rosaline: Not quite as we please.

Unlike you, sweet sister, the idea of finding a husband

doesn't actually displease me.

Somewhere out here is my one true love.

What if we meet a man

- who falls in love with you instead? -

Would you marry so we could both be free?