An introduction to the play; Setting (Verona); Key Characters (the Capulets and Montagues); foreshadowing "star-crossed lovers."

Two Capulet household employees (Samson and Gregory) are heard discussing their hate of the Montagues in the play's opening scene.

A quarrel starts when they encounter two servants from the Montague household. When Tybalt shows there, things worsen despite Benvolio's best efforts to break up the fight. Tybalt says, "As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: / Have at thee, coward!" (1.1.71-72). Something about "swords." (Possibly a double entendre); homosocial relationships between capulet servants and between montague servants.

Lord Montague and Lord Capulet are both involved in a massive street brawl that results from the conflict as it intensifies.

The fight eventually comes to a close with the prince of Verona breaks it up by stating, "On pain of torture, from those bloody hands / Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground" (1.1 86-87). "If ever you disturb our streets again / Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace" (1.1.96-97).

Lord and Lady Montague continue their conversation with Benvolio concerning their son Romeo, who has been gone all day, after everyone else has left. Benvolio pledges to discover Romeo's whereabouts and the source of his distress. Romeo tells Benvolio that Rosaline is not in love with him back, despite his feelings for her.

Capulet's ball dance; Juliet catches Romeo's eye and they kiss. Juliet says "My grave is to be like my wedding bed" (more foreshadowing). "You kiss by the book" (1.5.111) Book = bible?

Romeo enters the Capulets' garden by scaling the wall of the orchard. When he doesn't answer, Mercutio and Benvolio give up their search for him. "Go, then; for 'tis in vain / To seek him here that means not to be found"

Romeo observes Juliet from below as she approaches her balcony, saying "But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."

Romeo hears her talk about him and then addresses her. When Juliet asks him for "The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine," they confess their love for one another.

The Nurse summons Juliet from inside while they are conversing, hastening their plan to meet the following day and get married, with Juliet stating, "If that thy bent of love be honourable, / Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow"

As Friar Laurence gathers plants and herbs for his medication making and enchantments, he says "I must up-fill this osier cage of ours / With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers." Romeo joins the friar and confides in him that he wants to marry Juliet of the Capulet house. Initially, the Friar dismisses Romeo’s request because it was only yesterday that Romeo was talking about a girl named Rosaline. The Friar asks, "Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear, / So soon forsaken?" However, he eventually agrees, believing that the matrimony would help end the Capulet/Montague feud.

Romeo hasn't yet arrived back to his house, so Mercutio and Benvolio are still hunting for him. They make known Tybalt's dueling challenge to Romeo. Benvolio is informed by Mercutio that Tybalt is an excellent swordsman and declares, "O, he is the courageous captain of compliments." The three friends mock Romeo, asking him "Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo." Romeo is asked to talk by the Nurse as she comes in. By stating, "Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress," he assures her that his intentions are good and advises her to take Juliet to see Friar Laurence that afternoon so that they might get married.

Juliet says, "The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return," as she waits for the nurse to deliver the news of Romeo's proposal. When she returns after her rendezvous with Romeo, the Nurse is reluctant to give her the news, which aggravates her even more. "Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks, / They'll be in scarlet straight at any news," the Nurse says as she instructs Juliet to go to Friar Laurence, where she will be married.

In Friar Laurence's room, Romeo and Juliet meet secretly. The friar blesses them and says, "So smile the heavens upon this holy act." The Friar instructs them to "Come, come with me, and we will make short work; / For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till holy church incorporate two in one" as they go together to get married off stage.