Malec Modern Romeo & Juliet

Chapter 27 Act 5 Scene 3

Underhill enters with his PAGE.

Underhill
Give me your torch, boy. Go away and stay apart from me. Put the torch out, so I can't be seen. Hide under the yew-trees over there. Listen to make sure no one is coming through the graveyard. If you hear anyone, whistle to me to signal that someone is approaching. Give me those flowers. Do as I tell you. Go.

The PAGE puts out the torch and gives Underhill the flowers.

PAGE
(to himself) I am almost afraid to stand alone here in the graveyard, but I'll take the risk.

The PAGE moves aside

Underhill
(he scatters flowers at Alec's closed tomb) Sweet flower, I'm spreading flowers over your bridal bed. Oh, pain! Your canopy is dust and stones. I'll water these flowers every night with sweet water. Or, if I don't do that, my nightly rituals to remember you will be to put flowers on your grave and weep.

The PAGE whistles

The boy is warning me that someone approaches. Who could be walking around here tonight? Who's ruining my rituals of true love?

It's someone with a torch! I must hide in the darkness for a while.

Underhill hides in the darkness. Magnus and Lorenzo enter with a torch, a pickaxe, and an iron crowbar.

Magnus
Give me that pickaxe and the crowbar. (he takes them from Lorenzo) Here, take this letter. Early in the morning deliver it to my father. (he gives the letter to Lorenzo) Give me the light. (he takes the torch from Lorenzo) Swear on your life, I command you, whatever you hear or see, stay away from me and do not interrupt me in my plan. I'm going down into this tomb of the dead, partly to behold my husband's face. But my main reason is to take a precious ring from his dead finger. I must use that ring for an important purpose. So, go on your way. But if you get curious and return to spy on me, I swear I'll tear you apart limb by limb and spread your body parts around to feed the hungry animals in the graveyard. My plan is wild and savage. I am more fierce in this endeavour than a hungry tiger or the raging sea.

Lorenzo
I'll go, sir, and I won't bother you.

Magnus
That's the way to show me friendship. Take this. (he gives Lorenzo money) Live and be prosperous. Farewell, good fellow.

Lorenzo
(speaking so that only Underhill can hear) Despite what I said, I'll hide nearby. I'm frightened by the look on his face, and I have doubts about his intentions.

Underhill moves aside and falls asleep.

Magnus
(speaking to the tomb) You horrible mouth of death! You've eaten up the dearest creature on Earth. Now I'm going to force open your rotten jaws and make you eat another body. (Magnus begins to open the tomb with his tools)

Underhill
(speaking so that Magnus can't hear) It's that arrogant Bane, the one who's been banished. He's the one who murdered my love's brother Jace. They think he died with grief for that brother. This guy has come here to commit awful crimes against the dead bodies. I'll catch him.

(to Magnus) Stop your evil work, vile Bane! Can you take revenge on dead bodies? Condemned villain, I've caught you. Obey and come with me. You must die.

Magnus
I must indeed. That's why I came here. Good and noble young man don't mess with someone who's desperate. Get away from here and leave me. Think about the ones who have died. Let them put fear in your heart. Please, young man, don't make me angry. I don't want to commit another crime. Oh, go away! I swear, I love you more than I love myself. For I've come here with weapons to use against myself. Don't stay here, go away. Live, and from now on, say a madman mercifully told you to run away.