"Previously on "Still Star-Crossed"..." "No." "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." "I cannot let you do this, Romeo." "Then you'll have to raise a sword to me, and that, my father would kill you for, cousin." "You don't approve of this union?" " I do not." " Nor do I." "Benvolio Montague." "Rosaline Capulet." "Escalus, you must always put Verona first." "Yes, Father." "A new young prince, properly managed, could improve our fortunes and diminish the Montagues!" "Lord Capulet." "Lord Montague." "Montagues and Capulets have always fought." "Not like this, brother." "Take this potion, and you will appear to be dead." "I'll wait with you." "Thou art a true friend, fair Rosaline." "I come to mourn my wife." "She's my fiancée!" "Aah!" "A curse on the house of Montague!" "If you'd killed Tybalt yourself instead of letting Romeo do it, neither of our families would've lost their heirs." "Did you never think you could've kept Juliet from marrying my cousin in the first place?" "Maybe all this is on you." "To cement your families as allies, I order the marriage of Rosaline Capulet and Benvolio Montague." "So, you'd sell me off to a man I hate?" "We cannot be a city divided." "Leave Verona?" "Why?" "Because I am an old man." "And come a day not long from now, you will take my place upon the throne." "So I am sending you to Venice." "It's far away from the feud that threatens to rip our fair city apart." "No Montagues, no Capulets." "Just a place where you can learn to rule in peace." "I cannot leave you or my sister or the court." "Or..." "Rosaline Capulet?" "It is my great hope that when you become prince, you, too, will know all that goes on in this palace... who is scheming, who is profiting, who meets in secret with Rosaline Capulet in the stables." "I know all, my son." "And I know this... you can never be with a Capulet woman." "What?" "We must never choose between Montague and Capulet." "For now, they fight among themselves, as they have for 100 years." "But let the royal family get involved and it will mean the death of us all... mark my words." "No woman is worth that." "But I love her." "It matters not." "Your things have been sent ahead, my son." "I have to say goodbye." "Her father just died." "I love her." "Your carriage waits outside." "Now?" "Now." "I've found them." "Can you fix this?" "I think so." "Are you certain?" "You found her." "I did." "Has everything been settled, Your Grace?" "Yes, Lord Montague, it has." "The wedding will proceed as planned." "Excellent news." "Indeed." "Come, Rosaline." "Where are you going?" "To bed, Uncle." "It has been a long night." "You no longer sleep in the servants' quarters." "Then where am I to sleep?" "My Lord, I cannot." "I will not." "This is Juliet's room." "Yes, and Juliet is gone." "You are a Capulet Lady now." "It is your duty to behave as one." "And you have been promised." "I'm honor-bound to deliver you to the Montagues well-fed, well-cared for, and with your virtue intact." "And here is where you can best keep an eye on me." "And the door has a lock." "Uncle, what are you doing here?" "I'd ask you the same, but your presence in this whorehouse is rather predictable." " Stella, wait." " Let her run." "You screwed yourself out of the first marriage I arranged for you." "You're not going to screw yourself out of this one." "Meet me outside with your dignity... if you can find it." "The herbs you gave him aren't working." "Give them time." "Perhaps we should take him to a doctor." "Lady Capulet told you... no one can know Count Paris is here." "Yes, but if he's to stay alive..." "Do you question your mistress?" "If she says no one's to know, no one is to know." "You put her where?" "!" "She is betrothed to a Montague, which makes her a Lady." "She can't sleep amongst the servants." "So you put her in Juliet's bed?" "!" "Our daughter, whose sweet, precious body isn't yet cold." "Guiliana..." "And that insolent girl is already warming her sheets?" "The streets of Verona are running with blood." "Did you see what they called Juliet?" ""Harlot"!" "Who do you think did that?" "A Capulet?" "One of our own?" "Don't let your grief blind you." "Our future is at stake." "Our future is lying dead in a crypt, and apparently, only one of us cares." "How dare you say I don't care!" "For Verona, perhaps, but not for your own blood." "Father never had a Feast of the Great Houses before Christmas." "Father never had to." "Yes, of course." "The great ruler whose shoes I will never fill." "I didn't say that." "You didn't need to." "You've been on that throne a week and there's already been a riot." "Look at us, Escalus..." "young and untested." "The Houses of Verona need to see our strength." "You make it sound as if our noble Lords are a pack of dogs in the street." "I'm sure they can be reasoned with, given the chance." "Reason may have carried the day in Venice, but here, people only respond to strength." "How did you reason with Rosaline?" "I didn't have to." "I am her prince." "Marriage of Capulet and Montague was the right move, brother." "It raises Rosaline back where she belongs, brings her back to her friends at court." "And the longer their families fight, the weaker Verona becomes." "There is no greater invitation for invasion than a city divided." "I know all the reasons." "These men have been accused of murder, Your Grace." "Two Montagues and a Capulet." "Then they shall be put to death, as the Crown's law decrees." "Have mercy, Your Grace!" "Please!" "Please!" "Please!" "The Crown's law is barbaric." "Strength, brother." "Strength." "I'm sorry, My Lord, but you are already too far in debt." "The construction of the cathedral has temporarily sapped my funds." "And... with the loss of my only child, Juliet..." "My sympathies extend to all beneath your roof, but your losses cannot also be mine." "You can't think that you won't be repaid?" "My niece is soon to be betrothed, and I will receive a bride price that... that will more than cover the debt." "My Lord, your promises are as empty as my pockets." "But this kindness will I show... since you are in mourning, I will forgo the interest." "Only worry about the debt that is already owed." "My Lord." "The most successful routes have been through the Levant, not Genoa." "This is your inheritance now." "It would behoove you to take an interest." "I have other interests, Uncle." "Yes, I saw." "A century ago, our people were peasants, born with nothing, dying with nothing, making no mark upon this world." "I am offering you all this." "What, exactly, is so difficult about accepting it?" "A life that's mine only because your true heir lies dead?" "The Capulet girl doesn't want me any more than I want her." "And I may be many things, Uncle, but I've never been with a woman who wasn't willing." "Foolish boy." "Love is a matter of lust and circumstance." "The key to our family's survival is power." "When you make Rosaline Capulet Rosaline Montague, you add the power of her name to the money of our House." "What's the first thing you see when you look at Verona's skyline?" "Capulet's cathedral." "It'll be beautiful once it's finished." "You'll get no argument from me." "Two weeks ago, I noticed construction had stopped, and I haven't seen a single soul on its scaffolding since." "The Capulets have been building that church for two generations." "Yet not anymore, it seems." "I want you to find out why." "A Capulet architect isn't going to speak to a Montague." "Figure it out or I'll cut you off." "And I think you'll find whores don't tend to spread their legs for the poor." "Livia." "Thank God it's you." "Uncle says you're a Lady now..." "and I'm to serve you?" "What?" "Is it true you're to marry Benvolio Montague?" " No, no." " But Uncle says you're to be betrothed." "He may have lost his mind, but I have not lost mine." "I will not..." "I cannot marry a Montague." "But... if you marry, you and your husband could take me with you." "Do you forget the Montagues killed our father?" "I'd rather be a servant until the day I die than be the wife of a Montague." "And I would hope that you feel the same way." " Rosaline..." " I am not getting married." "How exactly do you plan to get out of it?" "I need to speak to the Prince." "Uncle was quite clear you're not to leave the room, and that I was not to let you out or there'd be grave consequences." "So... unless you can get the Prince to come to you..." "Is there anything I can bring you, my Lady?" "Livia..." "Anything at all?" "Actually, there is." "My Princess." "Lord Capulet, Lady Rosaline." "Princess Isabella, a visit from the palace is a great honor for Lady Rosaline." "Thank you for agreeing to see me." "I was thrilled you asked." " Since you..." " Since I'm Lady Rosaline now." "I know you're not thrilled with my brother's decision, but if it means that we can be friends again..." "I don't want to marry that Montague." "That's what I wanted to talk to you about." "I think your brother made a rash decision." "He is your prince." "If I could just talk to him..." "He won't change his mind." "Please." "Don't make me beg you." "Why don't you come to the feast tomorrow night?" "Of the Great Houses?" "Lady Capulet has declined on account of her grief." "You and your uncle could represent your House." "I'll tell Escalus you want to talk to him." "Will you attend?" "I would like that very much." "Yes, I will attend." "Thank you... my friend." "It's good to see you..." "Lady Rosaline." "Stop, thief!" "Give me back my chisels." "Didn't your mother tell you not to steal from artists?" "Everyone knows you only steal from the rich." "Let me go!" "You let go of the chisels, I'll let go of you." "Let her go." "Thank you..." "Benvolio." "You're a Montague, correct?" "I am, sir." "Looks like you're going to have to re-sharpen this one." "You work with stone?" " Sometimes bronze." " I'm yet to sculpt with marble." "Was that niello I saw on the outer frame of the duomo?" "Not just a stonemason, but an artist, as well." "It's more of a hobby." "All this talk of Capulets and Montagues... the real war is between artists and patrons." "They use us to increase their power and refuse to reward us for our work." "How can your patron not appreciate this?" "The proportions of these windows are perfect." "You are kind, but unfortunately, my patron holds his compliments and his funds too close to his chest." "Really?" "Hey!" "Well done, my little friend." "Thank you, My Lord." "Good morning, Uncle." "This is far earlier than your usual rise." "What trouble do you bring me at this hour?" " No trouble at all." " In fact, just the opposite." "I spoke with Capulet's architect for quite some time." "Capulet owes him and his stonemasons a large sum of money." "It's why they stopped their work with only a month left of construction." "So, Capulet is either cheap..." "Or broke." "You did our House proud, nephew." "And I think I have a way to reward you." "Is that so?" "You shall accompany me to the Royal Feast at the palace tonight as the heir to House Montague." "I'm sorry, Uncle, but spending an evening with a group of preening noblemen is certainly not my idea of a reward." "Then let's not call it a "reward."" "Let's call it an "obligation."" "How is he?" "Not well." "I fear he may not last through the night." "What is that?" "When my father was a soldier, this was how they treated wounds on the field of battle." "Boiling oil?" "He'll die before he's healed." "Aye." "He may." "Lady Capulet is already sick with grief." "Another loss would be too much for her to bear." "And my station in this house would sink even lower." "So, it's important we try everything we can to save him, wouldn't you agree?" "And I am sorry, My Lord." "But this going to hurt." "Shh." "His screams will wake the house." "Listen, My Lord, if you do not let me do this, you will die." "Do you understand?" "Good." "Now, bite down." "Do you know what you're going to say?" "Yes." "The marriage of Capulet and Montague will come as quite a shock." "Don't expect the news to go down easy." "These are rational men." "And ending this feud will benefit us all." "If you think that's all it will take..." "Do you have a better idea?" "No." "I understand the stakes, and I trust our guests will, as well." "Just remember... only one man at that table wears the crown." "And Father said that crown is about two things and two things only..." "Strength and sacrifice, sister." "I know." "What are you doing?" "Just thought I'd check in on my beloved." "Ugh." "You must be enjoying playing dress-ups with the noble ladies of the court." "If it were up to me, I'd be halfway to a nunnery by now." "A nunnery?" "You?" "You know nothing about me and you never will." "I do know some things." "Not enough to build a life together, but I suppose we'll get there." "Fear not." "We aren't going to have to." "Capulet, are you plotting something?" "Greetings." "I welcome the Great Houses of Verona to my table tonight to talk about the state of the world and our place within it." "Florence, Venice, Milan... our neighbors all wish to expand their borders and swallow up everything in their path." "I know there is a long history of animosity between some of your families, but I think we all agree that must end for Verona to survive." "So, let us not break bread tonight as Montagues or Capulets or Grimaldis or Ruspolis." "Let us break bread as a united Verona." "To our fair city." "Hear, hear." "As some of you may know, Lord Capulet and I are already putting the Prince's words into action." "My heir, Benvolio, is to marry Capulet's niece." "And in a gesture of solidarity, I'd like to suggest the Capulet cathedral as the location of their wedding." "As it nears completion, I'm sure we can all agree it will be the most beautiful structure in the world." "While I appreciate" "Lord Montague's generosity of spirit," "I believe Your Grace would like the wedding to take place sooner than the scheduled completion of the duomo." "I'm sure we could wait." "When will the cathedral be finished?" "I will not discuss my business affairs with a Montague." "You Capulets reek of snobbery." "You should be honored that the Capulets would even share a room with the Montagues after what they did to Juliet's statue." "All of Verona knows they only wrote the truth!" "How dare you speak of my daughter in that way!" "Tell your friends to stand down!" "You look to your own affairs!" "You think you speak to me like that?" "!" "I will speak to you any..." "Aah!" "Sit down." "Perhaps you didn't hear me." "Or you thought my words were mere suggestions, but I assure you they were not." "Peace in Verona is not a request... or a debate." "It is an order on pain of death." "Do... you... understand?" "Lord Montague." "Yes, Your Grace." "Lord Capulet." "Of course, Your Grace." "Good." "And I think having the wedding in Capulet's duomo is a splendid idea." "Greetings." "Good evening, My Lady." "I'm Friar Lawrence, your humble servant." "Friar Lawrence." "Are you here to mourn my Juliet?" "Yes, My Lady, as I have every day since her passing." "Did you know my daughter?" "No." "I had seen her from afar." "And I knew she was called "the flower of Verona."" "So, I supposed I come to mourn our city." "I am... so sorry for your loss." "I'll leave you in peace." "Wait." "May I ask you a question, Friar?" "Yes." "Yes, of course." "My daughter, so full of life and joy, and then one day... she takes her life." "It makes no sense." "Only God can know why someone so young has been taken from us." "Yes." "But that is what perplexes me so." "Not why." "How?" "She was so young, so naive." "Where would Juliet ever get such an idea?" "It makes no sense." "The Lord's work is not ours to question." "And I wouldn't if I knew she died at God's hand." "But you see, it makes no sense." "No sense at all." "What if she had someone whispering ideas in her ear?" "My Lady?" "Thank you, Friar Lawrence." "You've been a great help." "Juliet?" "Juliet." "No." "Who are you?" "I'm Livia, My Lord." "You saved my life." "Thank you, Livia." "You're welcome, My Lord." "You spoke with your brother?" "I did." "And?" "What did he say?" "Rosaline." "Escalus..." "Your Grace." "I thought it best we speak... alone." "You spoke with your sister?" "I did." "Am I still to marry that Montague?" "You ask as if I have a choice." "You rule this kingdom." "You can do anything you'd like." "I can't do anything I'd..." "You just put a fork through another man's hand." "I am the one without choice." "Rosaline..." "Lord Grimaldi, those men..." "I had to show them I have the power now." "I did what I had to do." "Did you?" "That's not who I am." "It is, though." "You are a man who is forcing me to marry another when you know that you and I..." "Rosaline... you know that it is for the good of Verona." "What about the good of me?" "Have you thought nothing about me?" "I should go." "I'm a Lady now, remember?" "A Lady can't be alone with a man, unchaperoned." "Rosaline, please." "Please what?" "What more do you want from me, Your Grace?" "What more can I give my fair Verona?" "Please... can't we just sit and talk?" "Not about Capulets or Montagues or politics or Verona." "Just for a few minutes." "I spent years wishing I could talk to you." "What would we talk about, Your Grace?" "What more is there to say, Your Grace?" "Stop calling me that." "Should I think of some other names to call you?" "You know what I mean." "You used to call me "Escalus."" "I can't do that anymore." "I love you." " Don't do that." " I love you." "Don't." "No." "No, you aren't marrying him." "I can't allow you to marry him." "But you just said it's for the good of Verona." "Verona needed a show of power." "I gave them one tonight, and I can give them another and another." "But I can't give them you." "I won't give them you." "Are you sure?" "You have to be sure." "I'm sure." "I love you." "I love you, too." "This is madness." "Then we are mad." "What?" "We have to not do that." "But..." "I don't understand." "You don want to kiss me?" "I want to kiss you." "But if I keep kissing you," "I'm gonna want to do more than kiss you and I'm not going to be able to stop." "Understand?" "Oh." "Do I have to go?" "I'm never letting you out of my sight again." "Stay." "We'll talk." "I'll tell you about Venice, and I'll be a gentleman." "And in the morning... we'll announce our news to everyone." "Shh." "Right." "Tell me about Venice." "My Lord." "It cannot be done." "You were supposed to be finished months ago." "Yes, and months ago, I told you that would require more materials and more men." "It cannot be completed if I cannot pay my workers." "I have given all that I can toward this project." "My Lord, are you saying you are no longer a man of great means?" "The Crown has decreed that the wedding will take place here." "Do you disobey your prince?" "Of course not." "But you will have to explain." "I will explain you have failed." "If you think I will look His Grace, Prince Escalus, in the eye and tell him that I am at fault, you underestimate me." "You forget your station, sir." "I don't care how powerful the Capulet name is." "I will not take the fall, My Lord, for what you lack in money and morals." "You may say that I lack money and morals, and, indeed, you may be right." "But you're wrong about one thing." "My Lord?" "You will take the fall." "Guiliana." "She was too young." "She made her do it." "What are you doing?" "Those are Rosaline's things." "There must be something..." "a diary, something." "She didn't just die." "Rosaline made her do it." "It doesn't make sense!" "I wouldn't have woken you, but it's Lord Montague's son." "Romeo." "Does Montague know?" "But if this gets out, it's war." "A war it is my sworn duty to prevent." "Not even the Capulets would do this." "Wipe down the walls." "Restore Romeo's body to its proper state as best you can." "Shroud it." "No one must know." "And leave this place as though it had never been disturbed." "Yes, Your Grace." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Are you going to tell my uncle?" "Or should I?" "Tell him what?" "That the betrothal is off." "That you and I..." "I spent the night here." "Yes, you did." "With your dear friend Isabella." "You are nobility again." "It's perfectly proper." "At least, that's what I could say." "I'm sorry?" "You said it yourself." "You spent the night here, so you're either the Princess's dear friend or the Prince's." "What?" "What changed?" "What do you want?" "It's not what I want." " You tricked me." " I didn't." "You brought me here, filled my head with lies." "I didn't." "What do you want?" " Rosaline..." " Say it." "I want you to marry Benvolio Montague." "I won't." "Then I will ruin your name." "I don't care about my name." "Does Livia?" "Do you think she'll marry with a harlot for a sister?" "Believe me, Rosaline..." "this is for the best." "Keep telling yourself that." "The other way." "In the path now." "Go on." "Get back." "The Crown made the law, and we must follow through." "I know." "It's a spectacle in service of our goals." "You can do this, brother." "I know." "Jacopo!" "Citizens of Verona!" "Two Montagues and a Capulet have been accused of murder during the riots that struck our fair city." "It is my great hope that they are the last of their kind." "Please, Your Grace, he's my only son." "Have mercy." "A city is only as strong as its people." "Without accord, it will fall." "Let this serve as a reminder that the Crown will not tolerate discord and that all are equal in the eyes of the law."