Romeo and...Julius?

Act 1 Scene 3

A beach. Benvolio and Romeo walk and talk.

Benvolio: What do you mean it is no longer a problem?

Romeo: It isn't. I no longer love Mercutio.

Benvolio: You don't? Then who do you love? Earlier you agreed to Mercutio's "A fool in love" judgement.

Romeo: A Capulet, Coz, but he loves me back and promised that the feuds of our fathers mean nothing to us. When we are together it is not our names that matter. I am no longer a Montague and he not a Capulet.

Benvolio: When did you meet?

Mercutio appears behind them

Mercutio: When did who meet?

Benvolio and Romeo spin around in shock

Benvolio: uh! Errrr... Romeo and uh...

Romeo: -Julius.

Benvolio/Mercutio: Julius?

Romeo: Julius Capulet. I love him.

Mercutio: Is this what you've been hiding? Secretly confiding in each other? You're gay.

Romeo: Yes.

Mercutio sinks to the sand.

Mercutio: Then what was the deal with Rosaline?

Romeo: A cover-up. Benvolio's idea.

Mercutio: Was it also Benvolio's idea that you didn't tell me.

Romeo: It was both of ours.

Benvolio: We didn't know how you would react.

Mercutio: When did you first know...that you were...

People walk by and Mercutio lowers his voice.

Mercutio: ...that you liked the less-fair sex?

Romeo: Only recently, when I first fell in love.

Benvolio: (aside) Tread carefully.

Mercutio: Who?

Romeo: Oh...just some guy.

Mercutio: You said you were in love. It wasn't just some guy. I know you Romeo. Who was it?

Romeo: You.

Silence. Mercutio nods then stands.

Mercutio: I see why you kept it quiet.

Mercutio exits

Benvolio: I told you to tread carefully.

Benvolio exits. Romeo stands alone on the beach. Nurse enters

Nurse: You must be the hardest man to find in the whole city.

Romeo: Why are you here?

Nurse: Julius sent me. He said you were going to arrange something...some sort of legal union...

Curtain closes

END ACT ONE